PROFUSION PERFECTION: 7 tonight, Profusion, 2223 N West Shore Blvd. (on Bay Street at International Plaza), Tampa. Menu includes blue crab bisque, filet mignon with tarragon butter sauce, ginger key lime pie, paired with California's Kenwood wines; $65, plus tax and gratuity. RSVP to (813) 353-8400.

MYSTIC DINNER: 6:30 tonight, Mystic Fish, 3253 Tampa Road, Palm Harbor. Japanese spicy calamari, seared swordfish on wilted spinach and pancetta, pepper roasted angus strip loin on saffron napa cabbage, cherry cheesecake spring roll pair with Washington state's Hogue Winery varieties; $49.50. Call (727) 771-1800.

AUSTRALIAN WINE DINNER: 7 p.m. Thur., SideBern's, 2208 W Morrison Ave., Tampa. Grosset, Bannockburn and Hill of Content among the Australian wines paired with chef Jeannie Pierola's menu; $85. Call (813) 258-2233.

TAMPA BAY CULINARY CLUB: 11:30 a.m. Sat., Pappas' Grillmarks Bistro and Bar, 607 Clearwater-Largo Road, Clearwater. Chef Eric Lackey demonstrates menu dishes at this month's meeting of the Tampa Bay Culinary Club; new members welcome. Cost: $10. RSVP required to Jeanne at (727) 789-2605.

EUROPEAN TASTES AT JIM'S: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sat., Nov. 2, 9, at Jim's MeatMarket, 11987 Indian Rocks Road, Largo. Jim's celebrates its grand opening with free food tastes: Italian foods and chicken sausages, Sat.; Greek olive oils and Italian foods, Nov. 2; and German and Italian foods, Nov. 9. (727) 595-2103.

MISE EN PLACE HALLOWEEN TREAT: 9 p.m. Sat., Mise En Place, 442 W Kennedy Blvd., Tampa. Annual Halloween festivities where adults can sip on Veuve Cliquot and other liquid spirits, along with appetizers. Costumes optional. $20 at door. Call (813) 254-5373.

MOTHER-IN-LAW TEA: Noon-4 p.m. Sun., Davis and Daughters Tea Cottage, 530 Alt. 19 N, Palm Harbor. Celebrate Mother-In-Law Day with afternoon tea, scrumptious scones and finger sandwiches, Devon cream and lemon curd, more than 40 loose-leaf teas; $14.95. Call (727) 785-7790.

DIA DEL LOS MUERTOS DINNER: 5-11 p.m. Oct. 31, Viva La Frida Cafe y Galeria, 5901 N Florida Ave., Tampa. Dinner to celebrate the Mexican Day of the Dead includes roasted poblano peppers stuffed with cornbread, grilled chicken breast topped with peanut sauce and candied bananas over vanilla ice cream, among other offerings: $26 for four-course meal, a la carte also available. Call (813) 231-9199.

DIA DEL LOS MUERTOS CELEBRATION: Noon-11 p.m. Nov. 2, Casa Tina, 369 Main St., Dunedin. Tamale making, altar displays, holiday menu of moles, tamales and more, traditional drinks and history lessons. Call (727) 734-9226 for more information and to make reservations.

GREEK FESTIVAL: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Nov. 1-2, noon-6 p.m. Nov. 3, St. John Greek Orthodox Church, Swann and Armenia avenues, Tampa. Authentic Greek foods, pastries and other delicacies, music, dancing; $1 donation, under 12 free; (813) 876-8830.

STONE CRAB, SEAFOOD AND WINE: Celebrate Florida's favorite native seafood treat, culinary creations from cutting edge chefs and fine wines at the Colony Stone Crab, Seafood and Wine Festival, Oct. 31-Nov. 3, Colony Beach and Tennis Resort, 1620 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key. Event prices vary; call (941) 383-6464.

Wine and beer tastings/classes

ITALIAN WINES: 5-7 tonight, Mattison's, 111 Second Ave. (Plaza Tower), St. Petersburg. Wines of southern Italy paired with dishes chef Paul gathered from the Amalfi coast; $12. Call (727) 895-2200 to reserve (required).

CABERNET TO CHIANTI: 5:30-6:30 p.m. today, Armani's (atop Hyatt RegencyWestshore), 6200 Courtney Campbell Parkway, Tampa. BV Rutherford cabernet sauvignon and Chianti classico Riserva from Melini among wines tasted. $10. Stay for dinner and tasting fee is waived.Call (813) 207-6800.

WEST COAST WINES: 6:30 p.m. Fri., Uncorked Fine Wines and Accessories, 2706 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Tasting of wines from America's West Coast; $10, souvenir tasting glass included; (727) 892-9463.

TOP-RATED REDS: Vintage Wine Cellars, 3629 Henderson Blvd., Tampa, offers tasting of highly rated red wines, including Tres Picos Vina Borja, Lessec Chateauneuf du Pape Galet Blonds, 7 p.m. apertif, 7:30 p.m. tasting Fri., $20; or try red wines of California and the Pacific Northwest, learn wine-buying strategies, 6:30-9 p.m. Oct. 30, $25. Call (813) 879-2931 to reserve.

FRESH MARKET AND FLORIDA WINES: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sat., Florida Estates Winery, four miles west of I-75 on S.R. 52 near Land O' Lakes. Sample the winery's nine varieties, plus food samples, fresh market. Call (813) 996-2113.

PINOTS: 1-4 p.m. Sat., Murielle Winery, 13131 56th Court, Suite 305, Clearwater. Tasting of newly released pinot noir made with Central Coast of California grapes, crisp pinot grigio made with Italian grapes, plus "barrel samples" of other wines in progress; free, but reservations required. Call (727) 561-0336 or go to www.muriellewinery.com.

THE NAPA MYSTIQUE: 6:30 p.m. Mon., Bern's Fine Wine and Spirits, 2008 W Morrison Ave., Tampa. Tasting of a selection of world-class wines produced in Napa Valley; $25. RSVP (required): (813) 250-9463.

WINE SHOW FLIGHT: 6-8 p.m. Tue., A Taste For Wine, 241 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Flight tasting of the latest releases from the holiday wine shows; $15. Call (727) 895-1623.

MYSTIC WINES: 5:30-8 p.m. Tue., Mystic Fish, 3253 Tampa Road, Palm Harbor. Complimentary wine tasting features wines from Karly, Nepenthe and Buckleys; (727) 771-1800.

Cooking classes

TAMPA'S MELTING POT: 6:30 tonight, Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI), 4801 E Fowler Ave., Tampa. Chef Paul "Pablo" McMorris shares secrets of Tampa's melting pot with Latin cuisine roots; $45, $40 members; food, wine and ale sampling follows, some hands-on participation. RSVP to (813) 987-6065.

AUTUMN ABUNDANCE: 7 tonight, 10 a.m. Thur., Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Vegetarian cooking class creates autumn-themed dishes; free. (813) 873-7428.

COMFORT FOODS:10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Sat., La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. European-inspired comfort foods including tomato bisque, pork loin with roasted apples and potato pancakes with sour cream made in hands-on class; $35. Call (727) 736-3070.

COOKIE BOUQUET: Honey Bee Shop, 11144 N 30th St., Tampa, offers two-part class on how to make a cookie bouquet, beginning 10 a.m.-noon Sat.; $15 for two-week series. Preregistration required, call (813) 971-7599.

PASTA A-PLENTY: 4 p.m. Sun., Apron's Cooking School, Publix Supermarket Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa. Homemade fettuccine with smoked salmon asparagus vodka sauce and gnocci pomodoro; $35. Call (813) 926-4465.

SEAFOOD WITH STYLE: 6:30-9 p.m. Tue., La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Salmon, spinach and goat cheese pillows, Parmesan fried oyster salad with wasabi buttermilk dressing, seared ahi tuna with raspberry beurre blanc star in hands-on seafood class; $45. Call (727) 736-3070.

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

SKILLET MEALS: 7 p.m. Oct. 30, 10 a.m. Oct. 31, Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Got a skillet? Make quick vegetarian meals in free class. (813) 873-7428.

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

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