Food File

By PEGGY ANDERS, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published September 25, 2002

Special events and food tastings

PROFUSION PERFECTION: 7 p.m. today, Profusion, 2223 N West Shore Blvd. (at Bay Street, International Plaza), Tampa. Four courses, including sesame-crusted shrimp and seared tuna paired with wines from France's Louis Bernard winery; $65, plus tax and tip. Call (813) 353-8400.

CHOICE WINES: 6:30 p.m. Thur., T.C. Choy's Asian Bistro, 301 S Howard Ave., Tampa. Wine dinner features dim sum, spicy beef and Peking duck with riesling and sauvignon blanc, vanilla walnut shrimp, lemongrass chicken with basil and Korean short ribs with pinot noir or pouilly fuisse; $50 plus tax and tip; call (813) 251-1191 to reserve.

GONE WITH THE WINE: 6:30-9:30 p.m. Fri., Tampa Theatre, 711 Franklin St., Tampa. Wine tasting and Southern buffet to benefit theater. Tickets $45 and $75 at Tampa Theatre box office, (813) 274-8286, www.tampatheatre.org or through Ticketmaster.

DUNEDIN WINES THE BLUES: beginning at 5 p.m. Sat., Main Street from Louden Avenue to Broadway, downtown Dunedin. Sip from more than 50 wine vintages and beers, while sampling foods from local restaurants, plus arts, crafts and blues music; nominal charge for wines and food; proceeds benefit Dunedin For Youth scholarship; (727) 733-3197

"ALL THAT GLITTERS": 7-10 p.m. Sat., Florida Aquarium, 701 Channelside Drive, Tampa. Sample more than 150 wines, spirits like cognacs, vodkas and tequilas, unusual ales and beer samples from around the world, plus hors d'oeuvres and live music; silent auction, all to benefit MacDonald Training Center, aiding those with disabilities; $40 advance, $45 at door. Call (813) 870-1300, ext. 310 for tickets.

TASTE OF THE NFLPA: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat., Florida Aquarium, 701 Channelside Drive, Tampa. NFL Players Association sponsors tastes from more than 30 restaurants; $15 adults, $5 ages 10 and under; benefits American Stroke Association, Boys & Girls Clubs, among other organizations. Call (813) 879-8064.

"LIKE IT HOT" FESTIVAL:10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat., Honeywell Minnreg Hall, 6340 126th Ave. N, Largo. Sample and purchase hot and spicy foods, salsas, barbecue sauces, pepper plants and related items; $2 admission, children under 12 free. Call (727) 423-8433 or visit www.ilikeithotfestival.com.

GLOBE BRUNCH: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sun., Globe Coffee Lounge, 532 First Ave. N, St. Petersburg. "Last Sunday Brunch" resumes with a la carte items such as pumpkin chai waffles, butter pecan french toast and bacon-wrapped scallops; cost varies with menu items chosen. Call (727) 898-5282.

FLAVORS OF SPAIN: 7 p.m. Oct. 2, Columbia Restaurant, 2217 E Seventh Ave., Ybor City. Winemaker dinner features wines from Jean Leon winery paired with five-course Spanish meal: $75. Call (813) 248-4961 to reserve.

WHITE LINEN TEA: 2-4 p.m. Oct. 5, Ibis Bed and Breakfast, 856 Fifth St. S, Safety Harbor. Sip China white teas, oolongs, darjeelings and other loose teas while enjoying scones, muffins, pastries, creams, jams and sandwiches; $14.95. Limited seating, call (727) 723-9000 to RSVP.

Wine and beer tastings/classes

ABC TASTING: 5:30-7:30 p.m. today, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, 3535 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Wines from Italy, Portugal, California and Washington are among those tasted, along with beers and snacks and wine experts to answer questions; $7 includes coupon and souvenir glass. Call (727) 894-4875.

ARMANI'S TASTING: 5:30-6:30 p.m. today, Armani's (atop Hyatt Regency Westshore), 6200 Courtney Campbell Parkway, Tampa. Wines of Cakebread Cellars, Mariah, Joseph Phelps; $10. Stay for dinner and tasting fee is waived. To reserve, call (813) 207-6800.

HARVEST TASTING: 6 p.m. Thur., J.D. Ford Fine Wines, 1925 S Osprey Ave., Sarasota. The Tasting Room focuses on the 2002 wine harvest, with samples of wines from around the world; $15. Call (941) 362-9463.

AUSTRALIAN WONDERS: 6:30 p.m. Fri., Uncorked Fine Wines, 2706 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Wines of Australia; $10, souvenir tasting glass included; portion of proceeds benefits St. Petersburg Free Clinic; (727) 892-9463.

A TASTE FOR WINE: A Taste For Wine, 241 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Oregon pinot noirs with light snacks, 6-8 p.m. Sat., $18; or choose a bottle to share in the patron's choice sampling, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 5; cost varies. Call (727) 895-1623.

FRESH MARKET AND FLORIDA WINES: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sat., Florida Estates Winery, four miles west of I-75 on State Road 52 near Land O'Lakes. Sample the winery's nine locally produced varieties, plus food samples, fresh market, music and carriage rides on the winery's 3,600 acres at free event. Call (813) 996-2113.

PENFOLDS' REDS: 6:30 p.m. Mon., Bern's Fine Wine and Spirits, 2008 W Morrison Ave., Tampa. David Black leads class in tasting of six red varieties from Australia's Penfolds wines; $50. RSVP (required): (813) 250-9463.

CHILE AND AUSTRALIA: 5:30-8 p.m. Tue., Mystic Fish, 3253 Tampa Road, Palm Harbor. Complimentary wine tasting samples the wines of Chile and Australia; (727) 771-1800.

DELECTABLE WINES AND DIM SUM: 7-9 p.m. Oct. 8, SideBerns, 1002 S Howard Ave., Tampa. Beneserre sauvignon blanc, Costa del Sole Russian River Valley pinot noir and more pair with creative dim sum by Jeannie Pierola at Wine Brats event; $40. Limited seating, order tickets online by visiting: tampa.winebrats.org.

Cooking classes

SEASONAL SOUPS AND STEWS: 7 p.m. today, 10 a.m. Thur., Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Free vegetarian cooking class with Chef Debby DeGraaff: fall soups and stews. Call (813) 873-7428.

LIVING IT UP! CHEF: 6:30 p.m. Thur., Apron's Cooking School, Publix Supermarket Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa. George Hirsch, author of Living It Up! Recipes For a Healthy, Active Life shares practical daily menus and healthful recipes such as gingered salmon spring rolls and pumpkin creme brulee; $60. Call (813) 926-4465.

HEART SMART: 2-4:30 p.m. Thur., La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Heart smart recipes such as pan-seared tuna over orange pico de gallo, filet of beef with brandy sauce, chocolate brownies; $45. Call (727) 736-3070.

TERRIFIC TAILGATING: 6:30 p.m. Fri., Apron's Cooking School, Publix Supermarket Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa. Recipes and ideas for tailgate picnics, includes grilled "Dolphin" BLTs, "Red Skin" potato salad, smoked "Buffalo" chili; $35. Call (813) 926-4465.

FUSION COOKING: 7-9 p.m. Tue., La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Crunchy stuffed tofu puffs, braised duckling with mushrooms, steamed fish in banana leaves and cashew meringue cake are on fusion menu; $35. Call (727) 736-3070.

GUILIANO'S CLASSIC ITALIAN CUISINE: 6:30 p.m. Oct. 2, Casa Italia, 2080 Constitution Blvd., Sarasota. Guiliano Hazan, author of The Classic Pasta Cookbook, shares cooking tips as he prepares a full meal for sampling: $70, includes wine tasting, hors d'oeuvres break, printed recipes. Call (941) 924-1179 to reserve.

TUSCAN PICNIC: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Oct. 8, Margaret Ann's Catering, 5625 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Class makes Tuscan classics such as pressed antipasto sandwich, fresh plum tart and more; $35 (includes glass of Chianti). Call (727) 525-3983 to reserve.

Worth sending for

TASTES FROM TYLER: "Sophisticated Made Simple" features Food Network's Food 911 chef Tyler Florence's recipes for party dishes such as black pepper and Parmesan french fries, pecan crusted catfish with Cheddar grits, perfect lemon bars. To receive free color booklet, send name and address to J.M. Smucker Co., Attn.: Crisco's Sophisticated Made Simple Brochure Offer, Consumer Relations Dept., P.O. Box 280, Orrville, OH 44667.

- Send news of coming events at least two weeks in advance of the publication date to Food File, the St. Petersburg Times, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731.

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