CHOCOLATE TEA: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. today, Davis and Daughters Tea Cottage, 530 Alt. 19 N, Palm Harbor. Chocolate-themed tea includes French caramel fudge brulee tea, chocolate cherry scones, molten chocolate lava cake; $14.95. Call (727) 785-7790 to RSVP.

STATE FAIR: Cooking demonstrations, exhibits of homemade wines, home brewing, blue-ribbon baked goods and more at Florida State Fair, beginning Thur. through Feb. 17, fairgrounds off U.S. 301, Tampa. Visit www.floridastatefair.com, or call toll-free 1-800-345-3247 for admission prices or more information.

ABILITIES WINE TASTING: 7-9 p.m. Thur., Raymond James Stadium, Dale Mabry, Tampa. Meet winemakers from over 75 of Napa Valley's best wineries, pouring tastes and answering questions, along with cuisine tastes from top area restaurants at Vintners Wine Tasting; $100, VIP tasting (6:30-9 p.m.), $150, proceeds benefit Abilities Foundation. Call (727) 538-7370, ext. 345.

A TRAVELER'S TABLE: 7 p.m. Thur., Inkwood Books, 216 S Armenia Ave., Tampa. John Izard shares tales and tidbits from food adventures in Wales, Peru and other destinations that contributed to his cookbook: A Traveler's Table: Recipes and Photographs That Followed Me Home; (813) 253-2638.

TAMPA BAY CULINARY CLUB: noon Sat. , Palm Restaurant, 205 WestShore Plaza, Tampa. Palm's chef prepares restaurant dish at meeting of the Tampa Bay Culinary Club, new members welcome; $10. Call Jeanne at (727) 789-2605 to RSVP (required).

AMERICAN ICON WINE DINNER: 7 p.m. Tue., Crazy Conch Cafe, 1110 Pinellas Bayway S, No. 206, Tierra Verde. Wine dinner features California's Fess Parker wines paired with menu that includes tamarind grilled shrimp, roast pork enchiladas, tenderloin of beef; $65, plus tax and gratuity. RSVP: (727) 865-0633.

PENFOLDS AT PROFUSION: 7 p.m. Feb. 12, Profusion, 2223 N West Shore Blvd. (Bay Street at International Plaza), Tampa. Dinner pairs wines from Australia's Penfold's Winery with five-course menu. $65, plus tax and gratuity. (813) 353-8400 to RSVP.

Wine and beer tastings/classes

OYSTERCATCHERS TASTING: 5:30-6:30 today, Oystercatchers Restaurant at Hyatt Westshore, 6200 Courtney Campbell Parkway, Tampa. Arrowood Grand Archer cabernet sauvignon, Byron pinot noir and Attems sauvignon blanc among wines tasted, $10, tasting fee waived with each dinner entree purchased. Call (813) 207-6815.

SWEATER WEATHER REDS: 7-9 p.m. Fri., Vintage Wine Cellars, 3629 Henderson Blvd., Tampa. Taste cool-weather red wines like Chateau d'Arche haut-medoc, Lolonis zinfandel and Markham cabernet sauvignon; $10; RSVP: (813) 879-2931.

WINES FOR LOVERS: 6:30 p.m. Fri., Uncorked Fine Wines and Accessories, 2706 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Taste wines suitable for romantic dinners, including rounded whites and full-bodied reds; $10, plus souvenir tasting glass; portion of proceeds benefit Pinellas County Special Olympics; (727) 892-9463.

GREAT WINE BUYS: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Fri., La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Discover great wine buys at sampling of more than 15 wines priced from $10-$30, plus snacks; $25. Call (727) 736-3070 to RSVP.

BREW BASH: beginning at 5 p.m. Fri.-Sat., Dunedin Brewery, 937 Douglas Ave., Dunedin. "Seven Year Itch" party celebrates brewery's seventh year with with food and drink specials; call (727) 736-0606.

CHOCOLATE WINE: 1-3 p.m. Sat.-Sun., Florida Orange Groves and Winery, 1500 Pasadena Ave. S, Pasadena. Try chocolate wine, plus citrus and fruit wines, along with complimentary hors d'oeuvres; free. Call (727) 347-4025, scheduled winery tours available.

MYSTIC WINES: 6:30 p.m. Tue., Mystic Fish, 3253 Tampa Road, Palm Harbor. Complimentary wine tasting includes Greg Norman cabernet merlot, Bogle merlot, Kim Crawford "Virgin" chardonnay. Call (727) 771-1800.

GOT WINE?: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Feb. 12-14, at Got Wine and Cigars, 1006 Broadway (Alt. 19), Dunedin. Sample a selection of both red and white wines from around the world each night, accompanied by hors d'oeuvres at free tasting. Call (727) 736-4077.

VALENTINE WINES: 5-8 p.m. Feb. 13, Pasadena Liquors & Fine Wines, 1100 Pasadena Ave. S, South Pasadena. Find a Valentine wine from among a variety of both international wines and those from California; $10, includes $5 wine purchase discount. Call (727) 347-9607.

Cooking classes

ROMANTIC BRUNCH: 7 p.m. today, 10 a.m. Thur., Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Make a simple, no-fuss romantic brunch at free vegetarian class; (813) 873-7428.

GUEST CHEFS: Apron's Cooking School, Publix Supermarket at Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa features guest chef Rick Rodgers, author of 23 cookbooks, with menu that includes chicken fondue bourguignonne, chocolate espresso fondue, 6:30 p.m. Fri., $60; or Joseph Glatt of Six Tables, dishes include veal chop with artichoke hearts and rosemary romano cheese sauce, 6:30 p.m. Mon., $40. Call (813) 926-4465 to RSVP.

FOOD OF LOVE: 6:30 p.m. Fri., Museum of Science and Industry, 4801 E Fowler Ave., Tampa. "Science of Cooking" cooking series features a "Food of Love" Valentine menu for adults; $40, $35 MOSI members. RSVP: (813) 987-6000.

"WHERE DO VEGETABLES COME FROM?": 10-11 a.m. Sat., Florida Botanical Gardens, 12175 125th St., Largo. Kids ages five and up can learn about the origins of their favorite veggies and how to plant and care for a vegetable garden; free. Call (727) 582-2671.

COOKING AT ARMANI'S: noon Sat., Armani's (at Hyatt Regency Westshore), 6200 Courtney Campbell Parkway, Tampa. Chef prepares favorites from the Armani menu: $60, inclusive. Call (813) 207-6800 to RSVP.

HEART HEALTHY RECIPES: 11 a.m. Sat., Nature's Food Patch, 1225 Cleveland St., Clearwater. Debby DeGraaff makes heart-healthy dishes like creamy Dijon broccoli soup, Chinese spice tempeh; free. Call (727) 443-6703.

SUSHI SESSIONS: The chefs at Profusion, 2223 N West Shore Blvd. (on Bay St. at International Plaza), Tampa, teach the art of sushimaking, 1-3 p.m. Sun., as hands-on class teaches basic techniques for use at home; $60, includes materials and take-home sushi kit. Call (813) 353-8400.

CHEF'S TOUR DE FRANCE: 7-9 p.m. Tue., La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Taste cuisine from five regions of France, learn to prepare potato galettes, plum and almond tart and more; $35; (727) 736-3070.

VALENTINE DESSERTS: 10 a.m.-noon Tue., Roy's, Tampa, 4342 W Boy Scout Blvd., Tampa. Pastry chef Beth Gauthier shows how to create desserts even Cupid would love: chocolate raspberry creme brulee, molten hot chocolate souffle, strawberry champagne granite; $35, includes dessert gift. RSVP required, call (813) 873-7697.

JUST DESSERTS: 7 p.m. Feb. 12, 10 a.m. Feb. 13, Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. All dessert class with Debby DeGraaff; free. Call (813) 873-7428.

Food talk

WHICH DIETS WORK: 7 p.m. Feb. 13, Nature's Food Patch, 1225 Cleveland St., Clearwater. Confused by the array of today's popular diets? Nutritional counselor Connie Black explains the science behind various plans, including Sugar Busters, Dr. Atkins and the Zone; free. Call (727) 443-6703.

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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