EINSTEIN DINE: Fine food and wine pairings Sat. to benefit the Museum of Science and Industry; Fleming's, Marchand's at the Vinoy and Profusion among the restaurants providing food. Most seatings 6:30-7 p.m.; $150 per person. Call (813) 987-6077.

FRIDA'S FIESTA MENU: 6-8:30 p.m. Mon., Viva La Frida Cafe, 5901 N Florida Ave. (Seminole Heights), Tampa. Four-course dinner with menu taken from Frida's Fiestas cookbook celebrates Mexican independence day; $30; portion of dinner benefits Francis House, which helps people with HIV or AIDS. Call (813) 231-9199.

CAFE B.T. AND LOLONIS: 7 p.m. Tues., Cafe B.T., 3324 Gandy Blvd., Tampa. Wines of Lolonis Winery pair with six-course menu that includes: Maine lobster pancake with pea shoot and seaweed salad, poached hamachi with Vietnamese chutney, duck breast with peppercorns and blood orange juice, passionfruit mousse; $95. Call: (813) 831-9254 BLUE HERON WINE DINNER: 7 p.m. Wed., Blue Heron, 3285 Tampa Road, Palm Harbor. Wine dinner pairs chef Robert Stea's courses with white and red burgundies from Bouchard Aine & Fils; $60 per person. Call (727) 789-5176 to reserve.

HERB RECIPE EXCHANGE: 1 p.m. Sept. 18, Seminole Community Library, 9199 113th St. N, Seminole. Discover ways to use herbs in cooking at seed and recipe exchange with members of the Pinellas County Florida Herb Society. Bring prepared dish with herbs, if desired. Call (727) 393-3943.

COOKING FOR THE KIDS: 6:30 p.m. Sept. 19, Harborview Center, 300 Cleveland St., Clearwater. Chefs from area restaurants cook food to pair with wines, plus entertainment and silent auction. Benefits Help a Child charity; $75. Call (727) 864-2684.

CHOCOLATE DESSERTS: noon Sept. 21, Belleview Biltmore Resort, 25 Belleview Blvd., Clearwater. Pastry chef Nomeda Baronas creates chocolate desserts for tasting at this month's meeting of the Tampa Bay Culinary Club; new members welcome. $10. Call Jeanne at (727) 789-2605 to RSVP (required).

TASTE OF ARGENTINA: 6 p.m. Sept. 22, SideBerns, 1002 S Howard Ave., Tampa. Wine dinner pairs Argentine wines from winemakers Pedro Marchevsky and Mariano Di Paola with SideBerns courses; $85. Limited seating; call (813) 258-2233 to RSVP.

GONE WITH THE WINE: 6:30-9:30 p.m. Sept. 27, Tampa Theatre, 711 Franklin St., Tampa. Mingle with Rhett Butler, Scarlett and other characters from Gone With the Wind at wine tasting and Southern buffet to benefit the theater; Bonefish Grill, Mise en Place, Pane Rustica among restaurants participating. Tickets $45 and $75 at Tampa Theatre box office, (813) 274-8286, www.tampatheatre.org or through Ticketmaster.

Wine and beer tastings/classes

FROM MERITAGE TO PINOTAGE: 6:30 p.m. Fri., Uncorked Fine Wines and Accessories, 2706 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Meritage, pinotage and other wine blends and varietals are tasted; $10, souvenir tasting glass included. Portion of proceeds benefits St. Petersburg Free Clinic. Call (727) 892-9463.

WINES OF TUSCANY: 6-7 p.m. Fri., Bern's Fine Wine and Spirits, 2008 W Morrison Ave., Tampa. Tuscan white wines, chiantis and varieties from the sangiovese grape are featured; $15. Call for reservations (required) (813) 250-9463.

AUSTRALIAN WINES: 1-5 p.m. Sun., Purple Moon, 833 Douglas Ave., Dunedin. Wine tasting in conjunction with art exhibit features cabernet-merlot blends, chardonnay and other wines from Australia; free. Call (727) 738-1540.

GREAT PORTS: 6:30 p.m. Mon., Bern's Fine Wine and Spirits, 2008 W Morrison Ave., Tampa. Ports from the house of Warre are featured, plus appetizers from executive chef Jeannie Pierola; $50. RSVP (required) (813) 250-9463.

MYSTIC WINES: 5:30-8 p.m. Tue., Mystic Fish, 3253 Tampa Road, Palm Harbor. Complimentary wine tasting features Kriter Brut, Domaine St. George Vineyards varieties. Call (727) 771-1800.

GRILLMARKS TASTING: 6-8 p.m. Tues., Pappas' Grillmarks New World Bistro and Bar, 607 Clearwater-Largo Road (Alt. 19), Largo. Sample a selection of wines from around the world and nibble on appetizers in bistro setting at free tasting; (727) 584-6235.

OYSTERCATCHERS TASTING: 5:30-6:30 Sept. 18, Oystercatchers Restaurant at Hyatt Westshore, 6200 Courtney Campbell Causeway, Tampa. Wines include those from St. Supery, a Bonterra merlot and McDowell syrah; $10, tasting fee waived with each dinner entree purchased. Call: (813) 207-6815.

WINES OF CHILE: 7 p.m. Sept. 19, Columbia Restaurant, 2217 E Seventh Ave., Ybor City. Chardonnay and cabernet from Luis Felipe Edwards among Chilean wines paired with tapas from Columbia's chefs; $20 inclusive. Call (813) 248-4961 to reserve.

Cooking classes

TEACHING KIDS TO COOK: 7 tonight, 10 a.m. Thur., Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Chef Debby DeGraaff shows how to involve kids in everyday healthful cooking; free. Call (813) 873-7428.

DESSERTS FOR ENTERTAINING: 11 a.m. Sat., Apron's Cooking School, Publix Supermarket Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa. Learn to make fancy desserts and work with rolled fondant; menu includes flourless chocolate truffle cake; $30. Call (813) 926-4465.

FLORIDA FALL HARVEST: 6:30 p.m. Mon., Mattison's, 111 Second Ave. (the Plaza Tower), St. Petersburg. Chef Paul Mattison uses Florida seasonal ingredients to create wine dinner; $40 includes recipes, dinner and wine. Call (727) 895-2200 to register.

COOKING AT ROY'S: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Tue., Roy's, 4342 W Boy Scout Blvd., Tampa. Chef Rand Packer leads class on a three-course culinary adventure; $45, limited seating, reservations required. Call (813) 873-7697.

COOKING WITH CHEF FRED: 7 p.m. Sept. 18, Drew Coffee Shop, 1907 Drew St., Clearwater. Create culinary treats and enjoy complete dinner in monthly cooking class; $24.99. Call (727) 441-2572.

HEART SMART COOKERY: 2-4:30 p.m. Sept. 19, La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Second in a series of heart-healthy cooking classes; menu includes sesame chicken fingers, broiled salmon with fresh mint salsa, orange custard; $45. Call (727) 736-3070.

NEW WORLD CARIBBEAN CUISINE: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Sept. 19, Safety Harbor Resort & Spa, 105 N Bayshore Drive, Safety Harbor. Chef Tom Huling leads "Art of Gourmet Cooking" class, this month featuring Caribbean cuisine; $25, includes buffet dinner. Call (727) 726-1161, ext. 7825 OYSTERCATCHERS MENU FAVORITES: noon Sept. 21, Oystercatchers Restaurant at Hyatt Westshore, 6200 Courtney Campbell Causeway, Tampa. Learn to make Oystercatchers menu favorites as chef Thomas McKinney leads class from preparation to presentation of three-course meal; $50. Limited seating, call: (813) 207-6815.

SEAFOOD IN A SNAP: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Sept. 24, Margaret Ann's Catering, 5625 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Plan ahead for this class that makes seafood cooking easy; grilled grouper wraps, snapper provencale among menu items; $40. Call (727) 525-3983 to reserve.

-- 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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