Food file

By PEGGY ANDERS, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published May 29, 2002

Special events and food tastings

WATTLE CREEK WINE DINNER: 6:30 p.m. reception, dinner at 7 today, Fleming's Steakhouse and Wine Bar, 4322 W Boy Scout Blvd., Tampa. Sonoma newcomer Wattle Creek pairs varieties with saffron risotto cakes with fontina, smoked trout mousse on potato strips, duck breast with balsamic syrup, chocolate creme brulee and more; $80. Call (813) 874-9463.

NEW ZEALAND CUISINE DINNER: 7 p.m. Thur., Eric's New World Bistro, 1026 Florida Ave., Palm Harbor. Sacred Hill wines from New Zealand complement mussels with Applewood smoked bacon and Brie, blackberry peppercorn venison chop with sweet potato pancake, rosemary grilled lamb; $55 plus tax and tip. Call (727) 787-7734.

PROFUSION POURS JADOT: 7 p.m. Thur., Profusion, 2223 N West Shore Blvd., Tampa. Profusion's Asian influences combine with Louis Jadot wines in five-course menu that includes filet of snapper with muscat emulsion, veal rack in garlic and herb crust; $60. Call (813) 353-8400.

FRIDA'S FAB FIESTA: 6-8:15 Thur., Viva La Frida, 5901 N Florida Ave., Tampa. Chilled carrot ginger bisque, grilled tuna with mango chutney and candied asparagus, hazelnut honey ice cream are among dishes chefs Alfredo and Nicholas present in "aphrodisiac" dinner at 9 p.m., $36.99. Call (813) 231-9199.

GREAT GRAZING: 5-10 p.m. Fri., noon-10 p.m. Sat., noon-7 p.m. Sun., Vinoy Park, adjacent to the Renaissance Vinoy on Fifth Avenue NE in downtown St. Petersburg. Taste-tempting bites of signature dishes from 50 area restaurants, including Adobo Grill, Le Cheesecake, Papaya's Art Cafe, Snapper's and Urban Ciao, at 16th annual Taste of Pinellas; plus fireworks, ice carving, live music, benefits All Children's Hospital. Admission $3 adult, 12 and under free, food tastes $1-4. Call (727) 892-4193.

TAMPA BAY CULINARY CLUB: 3 p.m. Sat., Angithi Indian Cuisine, 2047 E Fowler Ave., Tampa. Take a culinary foray into Indian, Pakistani and Bangladesh cuisine with chef Mohammed Babul at this month's meeting of the Tampa Bay Culinary Club. Cost: $10. Call Jeanne at (727) 789-2605 to RSVP (required).

SEA GRAPES: 7-10 p.m. June 8, Florida Aquarium, 701 Channelside Drive, Tampa. Wine and dine among the Aquarium's undersea creatures at Sea Grapes tasting and art auction, which benefits the Aquarium's education programs; $45, $40 for members. Call (813) 273-4568 for tickets.

Wine and beer tastings, classes

PIC PAC SAMPLING: 5-7 p.m. Fri., Pic Pac Fine Wine, 6609 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Pic Pac's tasting features selection of wines from different wine-producing regions of the world; $5; (727) 347-0743.

A TASTE OF SPAIN: 6:30 p.m. Fri., Uncorked Fine Wines and Accesories, 2706 Fourth St. N., St. Petersburg. Sample varieties from Vega Sindoa and other other Spanish wines; $10, includes souvenir tasting glass; (727) 892-9463.

FRENCH WINE FINDS: Vintage Wine Cellars, 3629 Henderson Blvd., Tampa, features French wines from Bordeaux and Burgundy regions, 7 p.m. Fri., $20. Call (813) 879-2931.

Cooking classes

COOKING AT APRON'S: Apron's Cooking School at Publix Supermarket Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa. Elegant menu from guest chef James Brisson includes leek-encrusted fish, crispy Yukon Gold gaufrettes, lemon-raspberry trifle pudding, 6:30 p.m. Fri., $40; "Super Summer Salads" class makes main course salads that beat the heat, such as Tuscan grilled steak salad, shrimp Cobb salad, 6:30 p.m. Tue., $30. Call (813) 926-4465.

MASTERING SAUCEMAKING: La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Two sauce-themed classes: advanced skills class makes shellfish and pasta sauces that are ready in 10 minutes or less, like Newburg, concasse, alfredo, 2-4 p.m. Sat., $55; or versatile summer sauces such as pink peppercorn and purple basil wine sauce, raspberry demi-glace, peach coulis, in hands-on class, 6:30-9 p.m. June 5, $39.50; call (727) 736-3070.

Worth sending for

THE UNITED PLATES OF AMERICA: Kikkoman's free newsletter of teriyaki recipes, such as papaya salad with sweet teriyaki dressing, Kalua pork sub sandwich and sunset grilled fish, plus marinating secrets and coupons, is available by sending self-addressed, stamped business-size envelope to: Kikkoman, United Plates of America, 50 California St., Suite 3600, San Francisco, CA 94111.

-- Send news of coming events at least two weeks in advance of the publication date to Food File, the Times, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731.

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