Food File

By PEGGY ANDERS, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published August 7, 2002

Special events and food tastings

AUGUST STOMP: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Aug. 17, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Aug. 18, Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards, U.S. 27, 3 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.

FRENCH WINE DINNER: 6 p.m. Aug. 23, Grand Ballroom of Aston Gardens, 12951 W Linebaugh Ave., Tampa. Savor Cote du Rhone, medoc, vouvray and other wines from France, paired with lobster with fennel and saffron sauce, citron sorbet, endive and asparagus salad, veal medallions with truffles, crepe Suzette and more; $60 per person. Limited seating; call the Grapevine at (813) 818-9463 for ticket purchase.

Wine and beer tastings/classes

FROM AUSTRALIA TO SPAIN: Grand Cru Wine Cellar, 11724 N Dale Mabry Highway (Main Street Shopping Center), Tampa. Sample a selection of lively Australian wines, 7-9 p.m. Fri.; or try Spanish wines with boquerones, delicate white anchovies cured in olive oil and vinegar and used in tapas and salads, 7-9 p.m. Aug. 16; each tasting $15, includes snacks and coupon for wine purchase. Call (813) 269-8463.

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 will "sabre" a Champagne bottle; then taste wines from the Old and New Worlds. Lunch included; bus leaves at 10 a.m. Sat. from West Shore Plaza parking lot, Tampa. Cost: $40. Limited seating; order tickets online and check for other Wine Brats upcoming events at: http://tampa.winebrats.org.

AN EVENING OF WINE AND TAPAS: 7 p.m. Aug. 14, Columbia Restaurant, 1241 Gulf Blvd., Sand Key. Sample a variety of California wines from Robert Mondavi and appetizers prepared by Columbia chefs. $25 per person, reservations required. Call (727) 596-8400.

DUNEDIN BEERS ON TAP: 7-10 p.m. Aug. 14, Flanagan's Irish Pub, 465 Main St., Dunedin. Sample the locally crafted beers and ales from Dunedin Brewery at free tasting; (727) 736-4994.

AUSSIE WINE WALKABOUT: 7-9 p.m. Aug. 15. Sample wines from Down Under as the Tampa Bay Wine Brats explore Australia's wine regions, including Margaret River, Barossa Valley, Hunter Valley and Coonawarra. Chef John Terczack of Perch prepares appetizers. Perch, 93 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Cost: $20 in advance, $25 at the door; order tickets online and check for other Wine Brats upcoming events at: http://tampa.winebrats.org.

Cooking classes

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

. . . AND MORE DESSERTS: 7-9 p.m. Thur., La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Healthy desserts, with menu of oat-crusted peach pie with streusel topping, mini cherry phyllo strudel, yeast risen whole wheat dough with assorted fillings; $25. Call (727) 736-3070.

CREATIVE CARVING: 5 p.m. Thur., Morton's Gourmet Market, 1925 S Osprey Ave., Sarasota. Get garnishing and fruit-carving tips, and learn to create an apple swan, a bouquet of vegetable "flowers" and a watermelon peacock with fruit kabobs and dipping sauce in free class. Call (941) 955-9856.

TOFU SAUCES AND DRESSINGS: 11 a.m. Sat., Nature's Food Patch, 1225 Cleveland St., Clearwater. Discover creamy and nutritious tofu sauces and dressings to use in salads, over noodles and grains, and even in desserts; free. Call (727) 443-6703.

WEEKNIGHT GOURMET: 6:30 p.m. Mon., Apron's Cooking School at Publix Supermarket Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa. Class focuses on how to plan a gourmet meal that requires only a quick trip to the grocery or the pantry; menu includes sherried beef, Italian tortellini soup, Italian pork chops with butternut squash bake; $40. Call (813) 926-4465.

SAFFRON'S SECRETS: 6:30 p.m. Mon., Saffron's Restaurant, 1700 Park St., St. Petersburg. Cook up some tropical treats with Caribbean chef Edyth James as she shows participants how to capture the flavors of the islands in monthly cooking class: $25, includes dinner and beverage. Call: (727) 345-6400

LATIN NIGHTS: 6:30-9 p.m. Tue., La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Hands-on class makes Florida orange and tomato gazpacho, Nicaraguan grilled beef tenderloin with chimichurri sauce, red beans and rice, lemon sorbet with biscotti; $39.50. Call (727) 736-3070.

ALL ABOUT ARAME: 7 p.m. Aug. 14, 10 a.m. Aug. 15, Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Chef Debby DeGraaff introduces class to arame, a delicate sea vegetable found near the waters of Japan and used in soups, salads and other dishes; free. Call (813) 873-7428.

AMERICAN REGIONAL TECHNIQUES: 6 p.m. Aug. 15, 22, 29 at Apron's Cooking School at Publix Supermarket Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa. Take a coast-to-coast tour of American cuisine, starting with Eastern regional dishes Aug. 15 in this hands-on advanced series; Southern and Southwestern cuisines follow; $150 for three-class series. Call (813) 926-4465.

HEALTHY SPA COOKING: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Aug. 15, Safety Harbor Resort & Spa, 105 N Bayshore Drive, Safety Harbor. Chef Tom Huling leads "Art of Gourmet Italian Cooking" class and shows how to create simple, healthy and elegant dishes; $25, includes buffet dinner, nutritional information and lifestyle eating tips. Call: (727) 726-1161, ext. 7825

Worth sending for

TIPS FROM TOPS: Get a free brochure from TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) on how to get the most for your money at the grocery store while loading up on foods that taste good and are good for you. ''Shopping and Eating Sensibly'' is available by sending a business-size, self-addressed, stamped envelope to: Tips from TOPS, Shopping Sensibly, TOPS Club Inc., P.O. Box 070360, Milwaukee, WI 53207-0360, or call toll-free 1-800-932-8677. Find a nearby TOPS chapter or get weight loss, nutrition and health info at the Web site: www.tops.org.

- 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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