Food file

Special events and food tastings

SPANISH WINE DINNER: 7 p.m. today, Columbia Restaurant at the Pier, 800 Second Ave. NE, St. Petersburg. Five-course menu includes onion tart, cream of wild mushroom soup, salmon in puff pastry with citrus sauce, fried custard with rum raisin sauce, paired with Berberana rioja, Marques de Grinon rioja, more; $75, inclusive. RSVP required, (727) 822-8000.

ABILITIES WINE AND FOOD FESTIVAL: VIP reception 6-7 p.m., 7 p.m. grand tasting Sat., Tropicana Field, First Ave. and 16th St. S, St. Petersburg. Tampa Bay's oldest and largest food and wine tasting features 300 California and international wines, samplings from 50 restaurants, chef dinners and fine wines auction; $125 VIP, $60 advance grand tasting, $70 at door, benefits the Abilities Foundation. Call (727) 538-7370, ext. 345., or buy tickets online at: www.event-pass.com.

SPRING TEA: 1-3 p.m. Sat., Ibis Bed and Breakfast, 856 Fifth St. S, Safety Harbor. Spring Bouquet Tea pairs teas with scones, muffins, savories and pastries; $18.50, inclusive; (727) 723-9000 to RSVP.

RED, WHITE AND BLUES: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat., 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun., Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards, U.S. 27, 3 miles south of Florida Turnpike Exit 285, near Clermont. Sample the winery's red and white wine varieties, take guided winery tours, enjoy live blues music, food available; $2 admission. Call toll-free 1-800-768-9463 or (352) 394-8627.

ITALIAN REGIONAL PAIRINGS: 6:30 p.m. reception, 7 p.m. dinner, March 19, Aldo's Italian, 3671 S West Shore Blvd., Tampa. Wine dinner pairs regional cuisine of Italy like spinach gnocci with shaved black truffle, root vegetable risotto, with rubello, barolo, other wines from Frederick Wildman; $50, plus tax and gratuity. Call (813) 831-0694 to reserve.

PROFUSION AND PHELPS: 7 p.m. March 19, Profusion, 2223 N West Shore Blvd. (Bay Street at International Plaza), Tampa. Wine dinner pairs wines from California's Joseph Phelps winery with five-course menu that includes green tea smoked salmon, filet mignon Wellington, strawberry champagne soup; $65, plus tax and gratuity. (813) 353-8400 to RSVP.

SIMPLY DESSERTS: 7-9 p.m. March 21, Florida Botanical Gardens, 12211 Walsingham Road, Largo. Stroll the Wedding Garden while enjoying desserts-only treats from Panera Bread, Pie Factory, Celebration Cakes and more, plus silent auction; $10, to benefit 4-H Foundation. Call (727) 582-2528.

TEA WITH BARBIE: 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. March 22, Lobby Lounge of Ritz-Carlton, 1111 Ritz-Carlton Drive, Sarasota. Take your favorite Barbie to tea to nibble on finger sandwiches and cookies, sip hot chocolate at monthly Tea with Barbie for kids and adults; $39 adults, $32 kids, includes goodie bag. Limited seating, call (941) 309-2008 to RSVP.

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. Taste wines from Dunnewood, Arrowood, Wente and more; $10. Call (813) 207-6800.

ABC WINES AND BEERS: 5:30-7:30 p.m. today, ABC Fine Wines and Spirits, 1603 N Missouri Ave., Largo. Wines from around the world, hors d'oeuvres and a dozen beers to sample; $7, includes $5 coupon for wine purchase, logo glass. Call (727) 581-4642.

SONOMA WINES: noon-6 p.m. Fri., Mazzaro's Italian Market, 2909 22nd Ave. N, St. Petersburg. Sample wines from California's Sonoma Valley at free wine tasting (727) 321-2400.

SHAMROCKS AND SHIRAZ: 7-9 p.m. Fri., Vintage Wine Cellars, 3629 Henderson Blvd., Tampa. An early St. Patrick's Day celebration with tasting of 10 varieties of shiraz, including Hardy's Notting Hill, Paret Rochecourbe, Edna Valley; $10, RSVP: (813) 879-2931.

WELL-KNOWN RHONES: 6:30 p.m. Fri., Uncorked Fine Wines and Accessories, 2706 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Taste Rhone wines from around the world; $10, plus souvenir glass; portion of proceeds benefits Cystic Fibrosis Foundation; (727) 892-9463.

BLACKSTONE TO BASA: 6:30 p.m. Tue., Mystic Fish, 3253 Tampa Road, Palm Harbor. Free wine tasting includes Blackstone merlot, Basa sauvignon blanc and Carmel Road chardonnay; (727) 771-1800.

QUE SHIRAZ, SHIRAZ: 5:30-6:30 March 19, Oystercatchers Restaurant at Hyatt Westshore, 6200 Courtney Campbell Parkway, Tampa. All-shiraz tasting includes those from Barossa Valley, Rosemount Estate and Rosemount "Hill of Gold" shiraz, $10; tasting fee waived with each dinner purchased. Call: (813) 207-6815.

GRAPEVINE WINE FESTIVAL: 6-9 p.m. March 22, Club at Aston Gardens at Tampa Bay, 12951 W Linebaugh Ave., Tampa. The Grapevine's sixth annual wine festival with nearly 100 wines to try, foods to sample, live entertainment; $25, proceeds benefit the Children's Home. Call (813) 818-9463.

Cooking classes

PURELY POTATOES: 7 p.m. today, 10 a.m. Thur., Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. All-potato menu at free vegetarian class; (813) 873-7428.

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

INSPIRED VEGETARIAN MENU: 6:30-9 p.m. Thur., La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Hands-on vegetarian class makes rustic tomato tart with caramelized sweet onions, basil and goat cheese, dark-chocolate mousse with Chambord macerated berries; $39.50. Call (727) 736-3070 to RSVP.

EUROPEAN TASTES: Apron's Cooking School, Publix Supermarket at Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa, has classes on "All Things Irish" 6:30 p.m. Fri., with shepherd's pie and soda bread, $35; or country French cuisine, 6:30 p.m. Tue., with coq au vin and coquille St. Jacques, $35. Call (813) 926-4465 to RSVP.

BASICS OF CHOCOLATE: 10 a.m.-noon Sat., Honey Bee Shop, 11144 N 30th St., Tampa. Learn the basic techniques of working with chocolate; $16.05. Registration required; call (813) 971-7599.

COOKING FOR KIDS: 11 a.m. Sat., Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI), 4801 E Fowler Ave., Tampa. Budding chefs ages 8 and up can learn simple recipes in this "Science of Cooking" series class; kids class fee: $25, $20 for Mosi members, RSVP: (813) 987-6000.

SIMPLY SEAFOOD: 6:15-7:30 p.m. Tue., Outdoor Kitchen Store, 3925 W Kennedy Blvd., Tampa. John Pivar, executive chef of the Renaissance Vinoy Resort in St. Petersburg, demonstrates how to grill seafood such as shrimp, salmon and grouper; $30, includes recipes and food. Call (813) 875-3447.

FAST AND FANCY MEALS: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tue., Margaret Ann's Catering, 5625 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Make beef burgundy and an Italian feast, each in under 30 minutes, plus two fast desserts for busy nights; $35. Call (727) 525-3983 to reserve.

TASTE OF THE TROPICS: 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. March 19, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, 811 S Palm Ave., Sarasota. Chef Paul Mattison creates luscious lunch with tropic theme; $45, includes admission to the gardens. Call (941) 366-5731, ext. 239, to register.

BREAD BAKING: 6:30-9 p.m. March 19, La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Class makes French baguettes, olive and oregano boule, cinnamon raisin bread and sour cream twists; $39.50. Call (727) 736-3070 to RSVP.

BETTER BROWN RICE: 7 p.m. March 19, 10 a.m. March 20, Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Debby DeGraaff cooks with brown rice in this free vegetarian class; (813) 873-7428.

Fun stuff

OLD HYDE PARK FARMER'S MARKET: 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Sat., at main fountain area, Old Hyde Park Village, Swann and Dakota avenues, Tampa. Fresh produce, baked goods and coffee, cooking demonstrations, plants, flowers at weekly fresh market; (813) 251-3500 or visit www.oldhydepaark.com.

-- 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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