ERIC'S ITALIAN WINE FEAST: 7 p.m. Thur., Eric's New World Bistro, 1026 Florida Ave., Palm Harbor. A 1997 Carpineto Chanti Classico Riserva and other Italian wines pair with five courses that include porcini-crusted sea bass on arugula salad, polenta-stuffed quail wrapped in prosciutto, veal roulade with gorgonzola, and truffled peach tiramisu; $60 plus tax and gratuity. Call (727) 787-7734.

AUGUST STOMP: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Aug. 17, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Aug. 18, Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards, U.S. 27, three miles south of Florida Turnpike Exit 285, near Clermont. Grape stomping, handcrafted wines, food, tours of the winery and tastings; $2 admission. Call toll-free 1-800-768-9463 or (352) 394-8627.

Wine and beer tastings/classes

GRAND TASTINGS: Grand Cru Wine Cellar, 11724 N Dale Mabry Highway (Main Street Shopping Center), Tampa. Tasting proves there's more to Italian wines than Chianti, 7-9 p.m. Fri.; or sample a selection of several lively Australian wines, 7-9 p.m. Aug. 9; each tasting costs $15 and includes snacks and a coupon for wine purchase. Call (813) 269-8463.

SPANISH REDS: 6:30 p.m. Mon., SideBern's, 2208 W Morrison Ave., Tampa. Red wines from Spain's more obscure wine-growing regions, Toro, Ribera del Duero, Priorat and Costers del Segre, are tasted in class with wine expert David Black; $25. Call (813) 250-9463 to reserve.

WINE BRATS ROAD TRIP: Take a road trip with the Tampa Bay Wine Brats to explore Sarasota's Epicurean Life Center. There, master sommelier Graham Thomson "sabres" a champagne bottle, then taste wines from the Old and New Worlds in blind a tasting. Lunch included; bus leaves at 10 a.m. Aug. 10 from WestShore Plaza parking lot, Tampa. Cost: $40. Limited seating; order tickets online at: http://tampa.winebrats.org.

Cooking classes

LIGHT LUNCHES: 7 tonight, 10 a.m. Thur., Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Chef Debby DeGraaff makes light vegetarian lunch dishes. Call (813) 873-7428.

FUN WITH PHYLLO: 5 p.m. Thur., Morton's Gourmet Market, 1925 S Osprey Ave., Sarasota. Chef Mario Martinez demonstrates his phyllo-rolling technique and makes broccoli ricotta roulade, baked salmon in kataifi "bird's nests" (kataifi is a shredded form of phyllo dough), and mango-pistachio strudel in free class. Call (941) 955-9856.

QUICK AND EASY MEALS: 6:30-9 p.m. Thur., La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Learn how to prepare make-ahead dishes chicken Florentine soup, grilled vegetable pot pie with puff pastry crust, grilled steak salad with green beans and gorgonzola, and chocolate-strawberry ice cream pie; $39.50. Call (727) 736-3070.

CAJUN COOKING: 6:30-9 p.m. Tue., La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Make shrimp and okra bisque, andouille stuffed chicken with creole mustard sauce, cajun fried zucchini and roasted pecan pralines with cajun chef Charles Stratton; $45. Call (727) 736-3070.

GREAT GARNISHING: 11 a.m. Sat., Apron's Cooking School at Publix Supermarket Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa. Chef Marguerite Jirau's hands-on class shows how to put finishing touches on meals and party dishes, and how to create table decorations and display pieces with food; $35. call (813) 926-4465.

LOWFAT DESSERTS: 7 p.m. Aug. 7, 10 a.m. Aug. 8, Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Make yummy desserts that are healthful and low in fat in free class. Call (813) 873-7428.

FEELING FRENCH: 11 a..m. Aug. 8, Apron's Cooking School at Publix Supermarket Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa. French food doesn't have to be fussy, as chef Michel Denis proves by demonstrating classic French techniques to create simple but elegant dishes; $30. Call (813) 926-4465.

Contests

GET GRILLING!: Fire up the grill and create the perfect burger for a chance to win up to $20,000 in the American Culinary Federation's "Build a Better Burger" contest. The burger can be made of chicken, tuna, sirloin or any other meat, but it must be an original recipe; finalists flown to Napa Valley to compete in contest cookoff: best beef burger wins $20,000, best alternative burger wins $10,000, and best consumer choice wins $5,000. For entry information, visit www.buildabetterburger.com or write to: Build a Better Burger Contest 2002, P.O. Box 844, St. Helena, CA 94574-0248. Deadline is Aug. 31.

CHEFS, DON YOUR APRONS!: 6:30 p.m. Thur., Apron's Cooking School at Publix Supermarket Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa. Chef Thomas McKinney-Steh of Oystercatchers and chef Parker Stafford of Splash! Ocean Grill square off in a competition to create the best menu with six ingredients: shrimp, monkfish, beets, plantains, tomatillos and peaches; chef Jay Minzer provides play-by-play of the contest; $50, (813) 926-4465.

- 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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