Food File

By PEGGY ANDERS, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published October 16, 2002

Special events and food tastings

ANNIVERSARY WINE DINNER: 7 p.m. Sat., Cafe Largo, 12551 Indian Rocks Road, Largo. Chef Dominique celebrates Cafe Largo's 16 years with wine seminar and dinner; menu includes wild mushroom terrine, beef Wellington au foie gras, pistachio gateau, paired with wines from J.F. Wine Imports; $65, plus tax and gratuity. RSVP: (727) 596-6282.

"LITTLE LADY" TEA: 2-4 p.m. Sat., Ibis Bed and Breakfast, 856 Fifth St. S, Safety Harbor. Afternoon tea for kids with miniteapots of chocolate or cherry teas or juices, snacks, plus specialty teas, scones, muffins, pastries, creams and jams for accompanying adults; $19.95 for adult with child. Limited seating. RSVP: (727) 723-9000.

DINNER WITH A VAMPIRE: 6-9:30 p.m. Mon., Viva La Frida Cafe, 5901 N Florida Ave. (Seminole Heights), Tampa. Special Halloween-inspired menu pairs with Shadow of a Vampire in food and film combo; menu prices vary. Call (813) 231-9199.

INTERACTIVE MARKET TOUR: 5:30 p.m. Tues., Fresh Market, 25961 U.S. 19 N, corner of Enterprise Road and U.S. 19, Clearwater. Chef Gui of Provence takes participants on a free culinary tour of the market while sharing cooking secrets, techniques and tips in informal setting. Call (727) 515-4844.

TAMPA BAY VEGETARIANS: 7 p.m. Tues., Mirage Restaurant, 2284 Gulf to Bay Blvd., Clearwater. Join the Tampa Bay Vegetarians in a Middle Eastern feast of appetizers, salads, entrees, baklava, vegan dessert and more at their monthly dinner meeting; $14. Dr. Dan Curtis talks about "The Truth About Fat, Carbs and Weight Loss" after dinner. RSVP by Thur. to (727) 392-0268.

PROFUSION PERFECTION: 7 p.m. Oct. 23, Profusion, 2223 N West Shore Blvd. (on Bay Street at International Plaza), Tampa. Wine dinner pairs Kenwood wines from California with five-course menu that includes blue crab bisque, filet mignon with tarragon butter sauce, ginger key lime pie; $65, plus tax and gratuity. RSVP: (813) 353-8400.

MYSTIC DINNER: 6:30 p.m. Oct. 23, Mystic Fish, 3253 Tampa Road, Palm Harbor. Washington state's Hogue Winery varities such as pinot gris and syrah pair with Japanese spicy calamari, seared swordfish, pepper roasted angus strip loin on saffron napa cabbage, cherry cheesecake spring roll; $49.50. Call (727) 771-1800.

Wine and beer tastings/classes

OYSTERCATCHERS TASTING: 5:30-6:30 today, Oystercatchers Restaurant at Hyatt Westshore, 6200 Courtney Campbell Parkway, Tampa. Bonterra viognier from Mendocino, Sequoia Grove cabernet sauvignon from Napa, Rosemount shiraz from Australia among wines tasted; $10, tasting fee waived with each dinner entree purchased. Call: (813) 207-6815.

BASICS OF WINE PAIRING: 7-9 p.m. today, La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Learn the dynamics of basic food and wine pairing, and how wines enhance specific foods; $35. Call (727) 736-3070.

SPANISH REDS: 7 p.m. Thur., Columbia Restaurant, 2217 E Seventh Ave., Ybor City. Robust red wines from Spain pair with Columbia's tapas; $20. Call (813) 248-4961 to reserve.

UNDERSTANDING BORDEAUX: 6 p.m. Fri., Clubhouse at Aston Gardens at Tampa Bay, 12951 W Linebaugh Ave. (east of Racetrack Road), Tampa. Tasting with the Grapevine's "Wine Professor" takes the mystery out of Bordeaux; $10. Call (813) 818-9463.

CALIFORNIA WINE FEST: 6-9 p.m. Fri., Vintage Wine Cellars, 3629 Henderson Blvd., Tampa. Celebrate California's newest and best releases, with more than 30 wines from Napa, Sonoma, Santa Barbara, Monterey, including Kenwood, Hop Kiln, Merryvale; $15, with $5 coupon toward wine purchase; (813) 879-2931.

WINES OF THE WORLD: 7-9 p.m. Sat., Spirit of Life Unitarian Universalist Church, 1841 Burrell Road (between Gunn Highway and East Lake Boulevard), Odessa. Wine tasting presented by Ed's Fine Wines feature selections from around the world, hors d'oeuvres; $20 advance, $25 at door; proceeds benefit Children's Religious Education Fund. Call (727) 786-7420 for information.

99 BOTTLES OF BEER: 6-9 p.m. Sat., Grand Cru Wine Cellar, 11724 N Dale Mabry Highway (Main Street Shopping Center), Tampa. Fourth annual beer festival with more than 100 beers from around the world for sampling, more than 200 varieties available for purchase, plus artisanal cheeses; $10 advance, $12 at door. Call (813) 269-8463.

FUN WITH PINOTS: 1-4 p.m. Sat. and Oct. 26, Murielle Winery, 13131 56th Court, Suite 305, Clearwater. Tasting introduces new pinot noir made with California grapes and crisp pinot grigio made with Italian grapes, plus "barrel samples" of "wines in progress;" free. Reservations required, call (727) 561-0336 or go to www.muriellewinery.com.

Cooking classes

JOYCE LaFRAY: 11 a.m. Sat., Apron's Cooking School, Publix Supermarket Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway (corner of Ehrlich Road), Tampa. Author of Cuba Cocina, Guide to Florida's Best Restaurants, Joyce LaFray makes Florida-inspired foods such as pork tenderloin with mango ginger sauce, mile high key lime pie; $30. Call (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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