Food file

Special events and food tastings

TASTES OF ITALY: 4:30-6:30 p.m. Sun., Alfano's Restaurant, 1702 Clearwater-Largo Road, Clearwater. Four-course menu leads participants on taste tour of Italy's regions, including Emilia-Romagna, Puglia, Sicily, Tuscany and Valle D'Aosta, with wines to match; $65 inclusive. Call (727) 712-2760 to RSVP.

VEGAN DINNER: 6 p.m. Sun., Viva La Frida Cafe, 5901 N Florida Ave., Tampa. "Have a Heart for Animals" dinner features Mexican vegan meal, cash bar, guest speaker, presented by Florida Voices For Animals; $18 advance, $23 at door. Call (813) 969-3755.

COMPLETELY CHOCOLATE: Three-day Chocolate Festival benefits United Cerebral Palsy: dinner with chocolate in every course, 6:30 p.m. March 7, $125, chocolate seminars at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. March 8, $25 per session, $60 for both sessions with lunch, and a Chocolate Sundae all-chocolate, all-dessert event, 1-4 p.m. March 9, $20 advance, $25 at door. Events at Michael's On East, 1212 East Ave. S, Sarasota. Call (941) 957-3599.

STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL: Entertainment, exhibits and lots of strawberries; beginning Thur. through March 9, Plant City (Exit 10 or 11 off I-4). Visit www.flstrawberryfestival.com for more information.

BELLA CUCINA TASTING: noon-2 p.m. March 8, Bella Cucina, 2663 Eastlake Road, Palm Harbor. New deli features tasting of meats and other treats, plus wines and beers from around the world; free. Call (727) 773-2880.

Wine and beer tastings/classes

ALL AMERICAN: 6:30 p.m. Fri., Uncorked Fine Wines and Accessories, 2706 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Wine tasting features all-American varieties; $10, plus souvenir glass; proceeds benefit Pinellas County Special Olympics; (727) 892-9463.

BEER AND BEADS: 5 p.m.-midnite Tue., Dunedin Brewery, 937 Douglas Ave., Dunedin. Celebrate Mardi Gras brewery-style in "Beer and Beads" event with live music, a selection of hand-crafted ales for sale; no cover charge; (727) 736-0606.

PROSECCO TO PINOT: 6:30 p.m. Tue., Mystic Fish, 3253 Tampa Road, Palm Harbor. Complimentary wine tasting includes Villa Sandi prosecco, Van Duzer pinot noir, Rancho Zabaco zinfandel; (727) 771-1800.

ART AND WINE: J.D. Ford and Ringling School of Art pair art and wine in Sarasotans Collect II, featuring wines with a Florida connection, 6-7:30 p.m. March 6, Selby Gallery, 2700 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota; $25. Call (941) 359-7652.

SPRING WINE TASTING: 6:30-9 p.m. March 8, Spirit of Life Unitarian Universalists at 1841 Burrell Road, Odessa. Springtime tasting with wines, hors d'oeuvres and silent auction of collectibles and objects d'art to benefit the Children's Religious Education Fund; $12. Call (727) 786-7420.

Cooking classes

HEART HEALTHY: 7 p.m. today, 10 a.m. Thur., Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Vegetarian heart-healthy dishes; free. Call (813) 873-7428.

GUILIANO'S CLASSIC ITALIAN: 6:30 p.m. today, Casa Italia, 2080 Constitution Blvd., Sarasota. Cookbook author Guiliano Hazan shares cooking tips and prepares four-course Italian meal for sampling: $70, includes wine tasting, hors d'oeuvres, recipes. Call (941) 924-1179 to RSVP.

FEEL GOOD COOKING: 6:30 p.m. Fri., Apron's Cooking School at Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa. Make homestyle comfort foods such as clam chowder in bread bowl, coq au vin, fruit cobbler; $35. Call (813) 926-4465 to RSVP.

FLORRIBEAN FLAVOR: 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Sat., La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Hands-on class makes Floribbean cuisine, sofrito and grilled corn risotto, fried plantains, mahi mahi with raisins, capers and pine nuts, caramelized pineapple upside down cake; $39.50. Call (727) 736-3070 to RSVP.

GRILLED PIZZAS: 6:15-7:30 p.m. Tue. March 4, Outdoor Kitchen Store, 3925 W Kennedy Blvd., Tampa. Learn how to bake pizzas and fresh breads on your outdoor grill; $30, includes recipes and food, guests may bring beverage. Call (813) 875-3447.

IRISH CUISINE: 7 p.m. March 5, 10 a.m. March 6, Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Debby DeGraaff makes vegetarian dishes reflecting the cuisine of Ireland in free class; (813) 873-7428.

SALUTE TO ITALY: 6:30 p.m. March 7, Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI), 4801 E Fowler Ave., Tampa. "Science of Cooking" series with chef Paul McMorris salutes Italian cuisine in class for adults; $40, $35 MOSI members. RSVP: (813) 987-6000.

Contests

BEST CHEF BATTLE: 7-9:30 p.m. Tue., La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Chefs John Koch of Jack's Bistro in Palm Harbor and Chris Fernandez of Red Mesa in St. Petersburg square off in culinary competition, each preparing a meal from surprise ingredients while spectators sample appetizers and vote for their favorite: $50 per person (includes meal), portion of proceeds benefits Ronald McDonald House. Call (727) 736-3070.

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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