Food file

By PEGGY ANDERS, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published June 12, 2002

Special events and food tastings

FLEMING'S BERINGER DINNER: 6:30 p.m. reception, 7 p.m. dinner, today, Fleming's Steakhouse and Wine Bar, 4322 W Boy Scout Blvd., Tampa. Taste reserve wines from the oldest continuously operating winery in Napa Valley, including Beringer's viognier, pinot noir and semillion-sauvignon blanc; menu items include seared wild mushroom salad, warm figs with manchego cheese, potato-crusted sea bass in chardonnay cream sauce, Asian-sauced filet mignon with fried leeks, and caramelized pears with cinnamon pound cake; $80. Call (813) 874-9463.

CHATEAU POTELLE AT ROY'S: 6:30 p.m. reception, 7 p.m. dinner, Thur., Roy's, 4342 W Boy Scout Blvd., Tampa. Chef Rand Packer pairs dishes of truffled sea scallops tartare, wild berry marinated ostrich with caramelized apple brandy reduction and more with Chateau Potelle wines. He also welcomes guest Jean-Noel Fourmeaux, owner of Chateau Potelle Winery; $80, plus tax and gratuity. Limited seating, reservations required. Call (813) 873-7697.

WINEMAKER DINNER PARTY: 6:30-9 p.m. Thur., La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Dinner pairs roasted corn and shrimp chowder, seafood stuffed beef tenderloin with cognac demi-glace, potato gratin with goat cheese and garlic with wines from Clos Pegase, Zaca Mesa, Silverado and Wild Horse; $55, plus tax and gratuity (includes wine). Call (727) 736-3070 to reserve.

JACK'S KNOWS WINE: 7 p.m. Tues., Jack's Bistro, 31876 U.S. 19 N, Palm Harbor. Five courses pair with vouvray, bordeaux and other wines in French wine-lover's dinner; menu includes oysters Bienville, tournedos rossini, pate chocolat; $63.95. Call (727) 784-1881 to reserve.

HARVEST FESTIVAL: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. June 21-22, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. June 23, Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards, U.S. 27, 3 miles south of Florida Turnpike Exit 285, near Clermont. Wine, food, grape stomping, winery tours and tastings, arts and crafts highlight 11th annual festival celebrating the fruit of the vine; $2 donation benefits Hospice Foundation. Call toll free (800) 768-9463 or (352) 394-8627.

Wine and beer tastings/classes

FATHER KNOWS BEST: 7 p.m. aperitif, 7:30 tasting, Fri., Vintage Wine Cellars, 3629 Henderson Blvd., Tampa. Bronson Mela, father of Vintage's owners, shares his wine knowledge and presents his top 10 favorite wines to taste, from Burgundy, Bordeaux and California: $20. Limited seating, call (813) 879-2931.

CLOS LA COUTALE: 6:30 p.m. Fri., Uncorked Fine Wines and Accessories, 2706 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Clos La Coutale wines from France is the featured family-produced wine sampled; $10, includes souvenir tasting glass; portion of proceeds benefits area SPCA; (727) 892-9463.

CAPTIVATING CABERNETS: 7-9 p.m. Fri., Grand Cru Wine Cellar, 11724 N Dale Mabry Highway (Main Street Shopping Center), Tampa. Taste big-flavored cabernet sauvignons; $15, includes accompaniments and coupon for wine purchase. Call (813) 269-8463.

GUENOC GOLD: 6 p.m. Fri., Grapevine at Westchase, Westchase Square, 12125 W Linebaugh Ave. (east of Racetrack Road), Tampa. Featured wine is 1995 Guenoc "Langtry," a meritage gold-medal winner that retails for about $54 per bottle; $5 tasting. Call (813) 818-9463 to reserve.

WINE FOR FATHERS: 1-3 p.m. Sat., Florida Orange Groves and Winery, 1500 Pasadena Ave. S, Pasadena. Father's Day tasting samples from among the winery's 20 varieties including peach, orange, blackberry, raspberry, along with complimentary hors d'oeuvres; free. Call (727) 347-4025.

RHONE BLENDS: 6:30 p.m. Mon., SideBern's, 2208 W Morrison Ave., Tampa. Bern's wine experts David Black and Ken Collura kick off summer with class on France's Rhone grapes: grenache, syrah and mourvedre; $25. Call (813) 250-9463 to reserve.

Cooking classes

SIZZLING BBQ AND A PICNIC FOR POP: Apron's Cooking School at Publix Supermarket Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa. Grilled scampi over baby spinach, marinated flank steak with fire-roasted onion and tomato salad and strawberry shortcakes, 6:30 p.m. Fri., $30; kids ages 8-12 can make pop proud with a picnic of Big Daddy Burgers and apple cinnamon bread pudding, 11 a.m. Sat., $20. Call (813) 926-4465.

SOUTHERN HEAT: 6:30 p.m. Mon., Mattison's, An American Bistro, 111 Second Ave. (the Plaza Tower), St. Petersburg. Chef Paul Mattison turns up the heat in his "Southern Heat and Hot Zones" class; $40, includes recipes, dinner and wine. Registration required, call (727) 895-2200.

VEGETARIAN JAPANESE: 6-8 p.m. Mon., Nature's Food Patch, 1225 Cleveland St., Clearwater. Learn to make suimono (clear soup) with scallion and shitake, bean sprouts with sesame dressing, tofu with ginger and more vegetarian fare; free. Call (727) 443-6703.

KEIKI CUISINE: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Tues., Roy's, 4342 W Boy Scout Blvd., Tampa. Bring your favorite little chef and learn how to prepare "keiki" cuisine with chef Rand Packer; $50, parent and child together, lunch and recipe book included. Limited seating, reservations required. Call (813) 873-7697.

COOKING BASICS: 6:30-9 p.m. June 19, La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Designed for the beginning cook, first in a three-part series focuses on cutlery skills and appetizers of salmon cakes with ginger aioli, grilled chicken with dried fruit, toasted coconut salsa and fruit fritters with caramel sauce; $59.99 or $164.99 for all three classes. Call (727) 736-3070.

SUMMER MEALS: 6:30 p.m. June 19, Nature's Food Patch, 1225 Cleveland St., Clearwater. Kerrie and Bobby Broe's cooking class features summertime recipes for basil gazpacho soup, mango-onion salsa, tropical chutney, banana-chip crust pie; free. Call (727) 443-6703.

Fun stuff

FRESH MARKET: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sat., Centennial Park, corner Ninth Avenue at 19th Street, Ybor City. Find new ways to use herbs and spices in cooking at the Fresh Market with Monica Brandies, plus baked treats, crisp produce and hard-to-find veggies; (813) 241-2442.

Table talk

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