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

ITALIAN TRILOGY: 6 p.m. Tue., Cafe L'Europe, 431 St. Armands Circle, Sarasota. Taste Italian wine, cuisine and song as event celebrates Italian culture with casual wine tasting, hors d'oeuvres, antipasto, pasta and market-style meat stations, live music; $55. Call (941) 388-4415 to reserve.

INTERACTIVE MARKET TOUR: 5:30 p.m. Tue., Fresh Market, 25961 U.S. 19 N at Enterprise Road, Clearwater. Chef Gui of Provence leads participants on free culinary market tour, shares cooking secrets and tips; visit www.chefgui.com for more information.

CAFE PONTE WINE DINNER: 7 p.m. Feb. 19, Cafe Ponte, 13505 Icot Blvd., Clearwater. Three-course winemaker dinner; $65 inclusive. Call (727) 538-5768 to RSVP.

WASHINGTON VARIETALS DINNER: 6:30 p.m. Feb. 19, Fleming Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar, 4322 Boy Scout Blvd., Tampa. Dine on panko-crusted oysters, Gruyere cheese puffs, balsamic lamp chops, seared sea scallops in wasabi cream and more, paired with Washington state varietal wines, including Stimson Lane; $70 for four-course dinner, excluding gratuity and tax. Call (813) 874-9463.

LAKERIDGE WINEFEST: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Feb. 21-22, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Feb. 23, Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards, U.S. 27, 3 miles south of Florida Turnpike Exit 285, near Clermont. Guided tours of the winery, wine samplings accompanied by live music, wine specials, crafters and artists, food available; $2 donation. Call toll-free 1-800-768-9463 or (352) 394-8627.

BLUE RIBBON EXHIBITS: Cooking demos, homemade wine and beer, blue-ribbon baked goods are among exhibits at Florida State Fair, through Mon., fairgrounds off U.S. 301, Tampa. Visit www.floridastatefair.com, or call toll-free 1-800-345-3247.

Wine and beer tastings/classes

ARMANI'S TASTING: 5:30-6:30 p.m. today, Armani's (atop Hyatt Regency Westshore), 6200 Courtney Campbell Parkway, Tampa. Wines from Matanzas Creek, Bonterra, Chateauneuf du Pape and St. Francis; $10, stay for dinner and tasting fee is waived. Call (813) 207-6800.

GOT WINE? 5:30-7:30 p.m. today-Fri., at Got Wine and Cigars, 1006 Broadway (Alt. 19), Dunedin. Sample a different selection of 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. Thur., Pasadena Liquors & Fine Wines, 1100 Pasadena Ave. S, South Pasadena. Find a Valentine wine from among a variety of both international and California wines; $10, includes $5 wine purchase discount. Call (727) 347-9607.

TRUE LOVE TASTING: 7-9 p.m. Fri., Vintage Wine Cellars, 3629 Henderson Blvd., Tampa. Valentine tasting includes Roederer Estate brut, Francis Coppola syrah, Caymus Conundrum, $10; RSVP: (813) 879-2931.

FROM RUSSIAN RIVER WITH LOVE: 6:30 p.m. Fri., Uncorked Fine Wines and Accessories, 2706 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Varietals from Sonoma's Russian River Valley are tasted; $10, plus souvenir tasting glass; portion of proceeds benefits Pinellas County Special Olympics; (727) 892-9463.

STOGIE AND STOUTS, BREW TOUR: Annual "Stogie and Stouts" includes cigar, pasta or German dinner, pint of stout, live music, 7-11 p.m. Thur., $15 advance, $20 at door, reduced prices for non-smokers and non-drinkers, call (813) 205-0156 for tickets; or take a brewery tour and see workings of local craft brewery, taste beers on tap, starting at noon, tours (free) 4 p.m. Sat., call (727) 736-0606; both events at Dunedin Brewery, 937 Douglas Ave., Dunedin.

EVENING IN ITALY: 6 p.m. Sat., A Taste for Wine, 241 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Italian wine varieties showcased; $18. Call (727) 895-1623 to RSVP.

HESS TO HOGUE: 6:30 p.m. Tue., Mystic Fish, 3253 Tampa Road, Palm Harbor. Complimentary wine tasting includes Hess chardonnay, Hogue "Genesis" cabernet sauvignon, Dr. Loosen riesling; call (727) 771-1800.

HEAVENLY WINES: 7-9:30 p.m. Feb. 22, Church of the Holy Spirit, 601 Philippe Parkway, Safety Harbor. Ed's Fine Wines presents both red and white wines from around the world, hors d'oeuvres and live music at tasting; $10, $12 at door. Call (727) 796-4220.

TASTE OF ITALY: 3-6 p.m. Feb. 23, B-21 Fine Wine and Spirits, 43380 U.S. 19 N, Tarpon Springs. Taste 75 to 100 wines from Itlay's top producers, including Brolio, Silvio Grasso, Antinori and more; $20 advance, $25 at door if available. Call (727) 937-5049, ext. 210, or visit www.b-21.com and click on "Tastings" to RSVP.

Cooking classes

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

FRENCH PASTRY WORKSHOP: 9 a.m. Sat., or 1 p.m. Tue., Ladyfingers Fine Pastries and More, 3347 Tampa Road, Palm Harbor. Pastry chef Daniel Delort and chef Gui lead hands-on workshop for beginners and advanced that focuses on French pastry techniques; $25, take home own pastry. RSVP required, call (727) 789-8986.

TAPAS TO DIM SUM: Apron's Cooking School at Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa, features appetizer classes on tapas, with mussels with saffron and fennel, plus chorizo and shrimp, 6:30 p.m. Sat., $35; or make Cantonese dim sum, such as pot stickers, firecracker tuna rolls, steamed buns, 2 p.m. Sun., $35. Call (813) 926-4465 to RSVP.

LA MAISON: La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St. Class for kids ages 8-14 shows how to make crispy chicken club sandwiches, white chocolate mousse in tulip cups, more; 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Sat., $35; or adults can create an easy lunch menu, salmon with lemon pepper and arugula salad, garlic and parsley stuffed flank steak, sweet potato and cornmeal scones, 7-9 p.m. Feb. 19, $39.50. Call (727) 736-3070 to reserve either class.

ITALIAN REGIONAL COOKING: 2 p.m. Sun., Ferarris Ristorante, 4155 S Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. Gabriella Thurston of Genoa creates dessert and shares regional cooking tips, while Ferarris chef/owner Francesco prepares entree; $50. RSVP required, call (941) 929-7900.

VEGETARIAN JAPANESE: 6-8 p.m. Mon., Nature's Food Patch, 1225 Cleveland St., Clearwater. Make soba noodle salad with ponzu dressing, wakame seaweed and cabbage miso soup, sauteed tofu and vegetables; free. Call (727) 443-6703.

CAPA COOKING: 6:30-9 p.m. Mon., Capa Deli, 10839 Ulmerton Road, Largo. Bring an apron and a desire to have fun to hands-on cooking class; $25, includes full meal, recipes. Limited class size; call Rosemarie at (727) 518-6222 to reserve.

NEW ORLEANS CREOLE CUISINE: 6:30 p.m. Mon., Mattison's, 111 Second Ave. N, St. Petersburg. Chef Paul Mattison presents a spiced-up Mardi Gras menu of New Orleans cuisine; $40 includes recipes, dinner and wine. Registration required, call (727) 895-2200.

ALL ABOUT RIBS: 6:15-7:30 p.m. Tue., Outdoor Kitchen Store, 3925 W Kennedy Blvd., Tampa. John Pivar teaches how to prepare baby back, St. Louis and beef ribs in barbecue class; $30. Call (813) 875-3447.

COOKING FOR TEENS: 6:30 p.m. Tue., Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI), 4801 E Fowler Ave., Tampa. Make teen-friendly meals in "Science of Cooking" series; $40, $35 MOSI members, teens $30 and $25, kids $25 and $20. RSVP: (813) 987-6000.

QUICK AND EASY BREADS: 7 p.m. Feb. 19, 10 a.m. Feb. 20, Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Debby DeGraaff makes quick and easy bread recipes at free vegetarian class; (813) 873-7428.

Food talk

WHICH DIETS WORK: 7 p.m. Thur., 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, plus provides tips on fighting afternoon fatigue; free. Call (727) 443-6703.

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

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