AUSTRALIAN WINES AT ALFANO'S: 6:30 p.m. Thur., Alfano's Restaurant, 1702 Clearwater-Largo Road, Clearwater. Australian wines pair with Alfano's Italian specialties in dinner to benefit Abilities of Florida; wines from Jacob's Creek and Wyndham; menu includes summer corn and Maine lobster chowder, scallops on the half-shell Rockefeller, osso bucco with risotto and panna cotta with berries; $60 per person. Call (727) 538-7370, ext. 319.

AUGUST STOMP: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat., 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun., Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards, U.S. 27, 3 miles south of Florida Turnpike Exit 285, near Clermont. Grape stamping, 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 and more; $60 per person. Limited seating, call the Grapevine at (813) 818-9463 for ticket purchase.

TAMPA BAY CULINARY CLUB: noon, Aug. 24, Grill at Feather Sound, 2325 Ulmerton Road, Clearwater. Monthly meeting of the Tampa Bay Culinary Club, new members welcome. Cost: $10. Call Jeanne at (727) 789-2605 to RSVP (required).

Wine and beer tastings/classes

WORLDWIDE WINES: 5:30-7:30 p.m. today, ABC Fine Wines & Spirits, 23399 U.S. 19 N, Clearwater. Taste wines from domestic and international winemakers, plus beers and light snacks; $7 includes glass and coupon for wine purchase. Call (727) 797-1210.

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

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

WHITE WINES OF AMERICA: 7 p.m. Thur., Columbia Restaurant, 2217 E Seventh Ave., Ybor City. American white wines paired with tapas; $20. Limited seating, call (813) 248-4961 to reserve.

CHAMPAGNE SOIREE: 7-9 p.m. Fri., Vintage Wine Cellars, 3629 Henderson Blvd., Tampa. Sparkling wine soiree tastes Prosecco de Canella, varieties from Iron Horse, Laurent-Perrier, Bollinger, Gloria Ferrar and more; $10. Call (813) 879-2931.

SPANISH WINES: 7-9 p.m. Fri., Grand Cru Wine Cellar, 11724 N Dale Mabry Highway (Main Street Shopping Center), Tampa. Spanish wines served with boquerones, delicate white anchovies cured in olive oil and vinegar and used in tapas and salads; $15, includes snacks and coupon for wine purchase. Call (813) 269-8463.

NEW ZEALAND WONDERS: 6:30 p.m. Fri., Uncorked Fine Wines and Accessories, 2706 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. The spotlight is on New World wines from New Zealand; $10, includes souvenir tasting glass; portion of proceeds benefits A Brighter Day; (727) 892-9463.

GLORIOUS GIN: 7 p.m. Aug. 22, Columbia Restaurant, 2217 E Seventh Ave., Ybor City. Liquor-tasting series kicks off with a sampling of gin that includes those from Bombay Sapphire and Boodles, paired with an assortment of Columbia's tapas; $20. Limited seating, call (813) 248-4961 to reserve.

Cooking classes

REGIONAL ITALIAN: 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, this month featuring the regional cuisines of Italy; $25, includes buffet dinner. Call (727) 726-1161, ext. 7825

SCIENCE OF BREADMAKING: 5 p.m. Thur., Morton's Gourmet Market, 1925 S Osprey Ave., Sarasota. Free class delves into the process of making leavened breads; a yeast-leavened cheese and herb flat bread and biscuits are demonstrated in free class. Call (941) 955-9856.

SETTING THE MOOD WITH FOOD: 6:30-9 p.m. Fri., La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Prepare champagne laced with raspberry, asparagus-prosciutto rolls with goat cheese and dijon, Parmesan oysters, honeyed salmon, grapes rolled in almonds and ginger and more in hands-on class; $49.50, includes wine. Call (727) 736-3070.

SPICED UP DISHES: 6:30 p.m. Sat., or 5 p.m. Sun., Apron's Cooking School at Publix Supermarket Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway (corner of Ehrlich Road), Tampa. Guest chef Jason Gronlund shares his kicked-up secrets for cooking with Tabasco; $60 per class. Call (813) 926-4465.

JAPANESE CUISINE AND SAVVY SANDWICHES: Nature's Food Patch, 1225 Cleveland St., Clearwater. Free classes include simple sushi and vegetarian Japanese dishes, 6-8 p.m. Mon.; or learn to make savvy sandwiches like marinated mushroom pockets, rice paper rollups, more, 6:30 p.m. Aug. 21. Call (727) 443-6703.

DEEP SEA DELIGHTS: 6:30 p.m. Mon., Mattison's, An American Bistro, 111 Second Ave. (the Plaza Tower), St. Petersburg. Chef Paul Mattison shows how to work with seafood as he creates a deep sea dinner; $40 includes recipes, meal and wine. Call (727) 895-2200 to register.

COOKING AT CAPA: 6:30-9 p.m. Mon., Capa Italian Deli, 10839 Ulmerton Road (west of Seminole Boulevard), Largo. Bring an apron and a desire to have fun to this hands-on class; $25. Full meal and recipes provided. Limited class size; call Rosemarie at (727) 518-6222 to reserve.

COOKING WITH CHEF FRED: 7 p.m. Aug. 21, Drew Coffee Shop, 1907 Drew St., Clearwater. Baked salmon stuffed with sun-dried tomatoes and other culinary treats round out the menu in monthly cooking class; $24.99, includes dinner. Call (727) 441-2572.

PERFECT SUMMER PILAFS: 7 p.m. Aug. 21, 10 a.m. Aug. 22, Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Beat the heat with pilaf recipes for summer meals. Call (813) 873-7428.

KIDS COOK: 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Aug. 24, Mise en Place, 442 W Kennedy Blvd., Tampa. Chef Marty Blitz leads "Kids Cook" class where kids ages 6 to 12 (in two age groups) become chefs for a day and learn to create lunch and dessert using culinary basics; $25, includes goodie bag and lunch. Call (813) 254-5373.

-- 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.

Back to Taste

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright

Special Links

Recipes

From the Times Taste section

Fig fruition

Fox-hole fare was never this good

Food file

Dish

Nibbler: Asian flavor permeates both sides of the bay

You asked for it: Fruit salads deliver some cool surprises

From the features wire
Paparazzi boo Pamela Anderson at Cannes

Maestro Thomas meets `Godfather of Soul'

No theft charges for Lindsay Lohan

Rapper Ludacris to make `Simpsons' cameo

Manson's failed marriage `destroyed' him