Food file

Special events and food tastings

VINOY HOLIDAY DINING TOURS: Get a taste of the Vinoy hotel's history, then enjoy lunch or dinner at the Holiday History Tour Celebration through Dec. 30 (except Dec. 25); menus include sole meuniere, wild striped bass, steak Diane, chocolate macadamia torte; dinner tours 6:30 p.m. Sun.-Tues., $38, includes tour and four-course dinner; lunch tours 10:30 a.m. Wed.-Sat., $25 includes tour and three-course lunch; at Renaissance Vinoy Resort and Golf Club, 501 Fifth Ave. NE, St. Petersburg. Call the concierge at (727) 894-1000, ext. 501.

MADRIGAL DINNER: Get in the holiday spirit with the annual Madrigal Dinner, a Victorian yule feast with wassail, wine, carolers; Thur.-Sat., Marly Room, Museum of Fine Arts, 255 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg. Tickets: $65. Call (727) 864-8297.

TEDDY BEAR TEA: Ritz-Carlton Sarasota, 1111 Ritz-Carlton Drive, 11 a.m. Fri. and Sat., and Dec. 13, 14, 20, 21. Children's event includes gingerbread cookies, finger sandwiches, hot cocoa; festivities include strolling storyteller, visit from Santa; $39 adults, $32 per child, includes keepsake teddy bear, photo with Santa. RSVP (required): (941) 309-2008.

CHRISTMAS TEA: 2-4 p.m. Sat., Ibis Bed and Breakfast, 856 Fifth St. S, Safety Harbor. Tea and baked treats; $14.95, plus tax and tip. RSVP: (727) 723-9000.

RODNEY STRONG WINE DINNER: 7 p.m. Tues., Crazy Conch Cafe, 1110 Pinellas Bayway S, No. 206, Tierra Verde. California's Rodney Strong wines paired with multicourse menu of fresh ingredients; $60, plus tax and gratuity. RSVP: (727) 865-0633.

TAMPA BAY CULINARY CLUB: Noon Dec. 14, Bellarte at Radisson Hotel, 12600 Roosevelt Blvd., St. Petersburg. Chef Stafford Parker prepares food at monthly meeting of the Tampa Bay Culinary Club; new members welcome; $10. RSVP (required): Call Jeanne at (727) 789-2605.

Wine and beer tastings/classes

CONCEPT OF CHAMPAGNE, CABS: J.D. Ford Fine Wines, 1925 S Osprey Ave., Sarasota. The Tasting Room explores the world of champagnes, how they're made and the evolution of styles, 6 p.m. Thur., $25; or try a selection of California cabernet sauvignons, 6 p.m. Dec. 11, $25. Reserve for either tasting at (941) 362-9463.

CHAMPAGNE AND PORTS: 6 p.m. Sat., A Taste for Wine, 241 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Sample a bit of Christmas cheer at champagne and port tasting; $35. Accepting prepaid reservations only. Call (727) 895-1623.

Cooking classes

HOLIDAY BRUNCH: 7 tonight, 10 a.m. Thur., Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Make a healthy holiday brunch in free class; (813) 873-7428.

ASIAN FLAVORS: 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Sat., La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Light Asian-inspired menu includes mee grob (sweet and sour crispy noodles), banana and pineapple fritters; $35. (727) 736-3070.

CHEESE AND WINE: 6 p.m. Sun., Apron's Cooking School, Publix at Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa. Warren Katz shows how to set up a cheese course, pair it with wine and create cheese hors d'oeuvres such as stuffed mushroom caps with port salute, goat cheese with candied pecans and figs; $35. RSVP: (813) 926-4465.

COOKIE BOUQUETS AND CANDY: Honey Bee Shop, 11144 N 30th St., Tampa. Learn to make a cookie "bouquet," 7-9 p.m. Mon., $15; candy making class, 7-9 p.m. Tues., $15. Registration required: (813) 971-7599.

HEART SMART COOKERY: 6:30-9 p.m. Dec. 11, La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Prepare heart-friendly menu including seared tuna over mandarin orange pico de gallo, filet of beef with brandy sauce, chocolate brownies; $10, includes meal, recipes. (727) 736-3070.

FAST AND EASY HOLIDAY COOKIES: 7 p.m. Dec. 11, 10 a.m. Dec. 12, Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Chef Debby DeGraaff makes quick holiday cookies in free class; (813) 873-7428.

KID COOKIES TO GO: 6:30 p.m. Dec. 11, Apron's Cooking School, Publix at Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa. Kids class makes assortment of holiday cookies and bite-sized treats to take home; $25. RSVP: (813) 926-4465.

HOLIDAY TRIMMINGS: 6:30 p.m. Dec. 16, Mattison's, 111 Second Ave. (the Plaza Tower), St. Petersburg. Chef Paul Mattison shows how to add style to your table with tips for holiday trimmings; $40 includes recipes. Registration required: (727) 895-2200.

-- 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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