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© St. Petersburg Times, published July 17, 2002
Special events and food tastings
GAVEL AND GRAPES: 6-10 p.m. Sat., on Tarpon Avenue between Ring Avenue and Alt. 19, Tarpon Springs. Sample select wines from around the world including new Australian varieties, food and beer available, silent and live auction of antiques, art, gifts at fourth annual Gavel and Grapes Festival; wine tasting $15 in advance, $17.50 at gate. Call: (727) 942-4675.
ALL ALE DINNER: Fri. and Sat. and July 26-27, Kelly's For Just About Anything, 319 Main St., Dunedin. Four-course dinner paired with beer, beer and more beer; menu includes Jamaican jerked shrimp with mango vinaigrette, brined and smoked pork tenderloin with pink peppercorn passionfruit sauce, peach and strawberry shortcake; $32.50. Call (727) 736-5284.
TROPICAL FRUIT TASTING: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat.-Sun., Jene's Tropicals, 6831 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Here's your chance to sample some unusual fresh tropical fruits from around the world, from longans to lychees, plus red Jamaican bananas, more than 10 mango varieties, ruby guavas, canistel (egg fruit), mamey and sapote; tropical chutneys and fruit desserts, other products for sale; (727) 344-1668, or visit www.tropicalfruit.com.
TRY THAI: 7 p.m. Tues., Siam Garden Thai Restaurant, 3125 Dr. M.L. King (Ninth) St. N, St. Petersburg. Join the Tampa Bay Vegetarians at a monthly dinner meeting, with a Thai menu that includes vegetarian spring rolls, pad Thai, cashew tofu, dessert and more; $14, includes tip and tax. Chachi Paez, owner of Vejutopia catering will speak after dinner on "Why I Love My Veggies." Limited seating, call (727) 392-0268 by Fri..
FESTIVAL DEL MAIZE: 6-10 p.m. July 25, Viva La Frida, 5901 N Florida Ave., Tampa. Fresh flavors of corn are celebrated in four-course dinner and "live art" performance by chef Fredo; $30, plus tax and gratuity. Call (813) 231-9199 "COME TOGETHER" PARTY: 5:30-8 p.m. July 26, Mise en Place, 442 W Kennedy Blvd., Tampa. Culinary artists, winemakers, artists, muscicians and special guest Louise Harrison, sister of Beatle George Harrison, converge for evening of wine tasting and hors d'oeuvre creations, plus talk by Harrison: "Earth Charter: A Declaration of Interdependence"; $35 inclusive, call (813) 254-8454 to RSVP.
BROOKWOOD WINE BENEFIT: 6-10 p.m. July 28, Eckerd College Lewis House, 4200 54th Ave. S, St. Petersburg. Dine on a full-course dinner paired with wines designed to complement each entree, plus silent auction, to benefit Brookwood Florida, non-profit agency providing aid to young women. Tickets $75, call Laura, (727) 822-4789, ext. 31; RSVP by Mon..
GREAT WINE BUYS: 6:30-8 p.m. Thur., La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Taste 15 wines ranging from $10-$40 per bottle, plus snacks; $25, or $10 with purchase of six bottles of wine, call (727) 736-3070.
SUMMER REFRESHER: 6:30 p.m. Fri., Uncorked Fine Wines and Accessories, 2706 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Spotlight is on light and refreshing summer wines; $10, includes souvenir tasting glass; portion of proceeds benefits American Diabetes Association; (727) 892-9463.
AMERICAN ZINFANDELS: 6:30 p.m. Mon., SideBern's, 2208 W Morrison Ave., Tampa. Bern's wine expert David Black leads class on zinfandel, the quintessential American grape variety; $25 Call (813) 250-9463 to reserve.
WINES ON MAIN: 5-7 p.m. Fri. and Sat., Tampa Bay Winery, 1350 Main St., Dunedin. From rosso grande to barolo, pinot grigio and even peach chardonnay, newly opened winery makes almost 28 varieties on premises; sample a selection of red, white, fruit and ice wines; free, or call to arrange private wine tasting for up to 15 friends. RSVP a must, call (727) 733-8000.
FUN WITH WINES: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tues., Fleming's Steakhouse and Wine Bar, 4322 W Boy Scout Blvd., Tampa. Swirl, taste and savor a selection of wines at informal wine tasting; $35, plus tax and gratuity. Call (813) 874-9463.
CLASSES AT THE PATCH: Nature's Food Patch, 1225 Cleveland St., Clearwater offers class on "Summer Raw, No Bake Pies" with recipes for fruit-nut crusts and tropical banana cream pie, 6:30 p.m. today; lecture with Kerrie and Bobby Broe on "Native Nutrition: Florida Foods" teaches the art of healthy eating, 7 p.m. Thur.; both free. Call (727) 443-6703.
HEALTHY SPA COOKING: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thur., Safety Harbor Resort & Spa, 105 N Bayshore Drive, Safety Harbor. Chef Tom Huling leads "Art of Gourmet Cooking" class; $25, includes buffet dinner, nutritional information. Call: (727) 726-1161, ext. 7825.
GALLO FAMILY VISIT: 6:30 p.m. Fri. and Sat., Aprons Cooking School at Publix Super Market Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway (corner of Ehrlich Road), Tampa. Stephanie Gallo, grandchild of California winemaking pioneers Earnest and Julio Gallo, showcases wines produced today by the Gallo family, while chef Jay Minzer creates dishes to pair with wines; $60. Call (813) 926-4465 to RSVP.
SHELLFISH SECRETS: 6:30 p.m. Mon., Aprons Cooking School at Publix Super Market Shoppes, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa. Learn the secrets to shellfish preparation, make crispy noodle-wrapped shrimp with Asian slaw, mussels sambuca and lobster Thermidor; $40. Call (813) 926-4465.
THAI AND SUSHI: La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin: Diversify your vegetarian repetoire by making green vegetable curry, crispy spring rolls with spicy sweet and sour lime sauce, black sticky rice pudding with mango cream in hands-on class, 6:30-9 p.m. Tues., $39.50; or learn sushi roll-making and presentation, and create spider rolls, rainbow rolls and spicy tuna rolls, 6:30-9 p.m. July 24, $45, or $85 for two people. Call (727) 736-3070.
THE AMAZING AVOCADO: 7 p.m. July 24, 10 a.m. July 25, Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Learn to make amazing avocado dishes in free vegetarian class with chef Debby DeGraaff. Call (813) 873-7428.
- Send news of coming events at least two weeks in advance of the publication date to Food File, St. Petersburg Times, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731.