Food file

Special events and food tastings

BUNNY TEA: 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Sat., Lobby Lounge of Ritz-Carlton, 1111 Ritz-Carlton Drive, Sarasota. Sip tea with the Easter Bunny and nibble on finger sandwiches and tea cookies; $39 adults, $32 kids. Limited seating, call (941) 309-2008 to RSVP.

BLUE HERON DINNER: 7:30 p.m. Mon, Blue Heron Restaurant, 3285 Tampa Road, Palm Harbor. Chef/owner Robert Stea pairs Italian menu of gnocchi Veneto style, pan-fried shellfish, Ligurian-style tuna, veal with prosciutto and sage and zabaglione with Italian wines; $55. Call (727) 789-5176 to RSVP.

TEMPTING TABLES: 6 p.m. reception, 7 p.m. dinner Mon., Six Tables Restaurant at the Peninsula Inn, 2937 Beach Blvd., Gulfport. Winemaker dinner to benefit Abilities Foundation features Turnbull wines paired with chef Tommy Sapp's creations that include bronzed salmon with red wine demi glace, smoked duck and okra gumbo, herb-crusted rack of lamb with rosemary jus; $100 plus tax and gratuity. Limited seating; call (727) 346-9806.

CHINESE VEGETARIAN DINNER: 6 p.m. social, 7 p.m. dinner, Tue., Zom Hee Chinese Restaurant, 9015 Park Blvd., Seminole. Tampa Bay Vegetarians' dinner meeting; menu includes vegetable lo mein, szechuan broccoli, rice pudding and more; talk by Dr. John Chiang on acupuncture; guests welcome; $9.50, inclusive. Call (727) 392-0268 to RSVP by Sat. SALT ROCK WINE DINNER: 7 p.m. Tue., Salt Rock Grill, 19325 Gulf Blvd., Indian Shores. Salt Rock chef Tom Pritchard's creations pair with winemaker Anthony Bell's vintages such as 2000 Bell Santa Cruz chardonnay, 1999 Bell cabernet sauvignon Baritelle Vineyard reserve; $95, plus tax and gratuity. Call (727) 593-7625.

NAPA WINE DINNER: 7 p.m. Tue., Crazy Conch Cafe, 1110 Pinellas Bayway S, No. 206, Tierra Verde. Napa Valley wine dinner features Markham sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, merlot and zinfandel; menu includes Voodoo lager shrimp with salsa verde, marinated beef tenderloin; $70, plus tax and gratuity. RSVP: (727) 865-0633.

ZEN TEA: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. April 23, Davis and Daughters Tea Cottage, 530 Alt. 19 N, Palm Harbor. Enjoy chai, jasmine, lapsang souchong teas in a zen-like setting, plus scones, tea sandwiches, desserts, soup, quiche and loose teas, chef provides recipes; $14.95. Call (727) 785-7790 to RSVP.

BERN'S WINE FEST: April 25-28, SideBern's, 2208 W Morrison Ave., Tampa. Sixth annual wine and food event includes seminars, luncheon, grand tasting, gala wine dinner, with winemakers and winery owners representing 150 wines from around the world, cuisine by executive chef Jeannie Pierola; event prices $65-$250. Call (813) 250-9463 or www.bernswinefest.com.

FLORIDA WINEFEST: April 24-27, Sarasota event venues include Ritz-Carlton, St. Armands Circle, Cafe L'Europe. "A Vintage Voyage" theme for festival that includes lunch tastings, winemaker dinners, seminars, gala dinner, "sip and shop"; event prices $35-$300. Call (941) 952-1109 for info only; purchase tickets at www.floridawinefest.com.

BACCHUS IN BLACK TIE: 6 p.m., April 30, Renaissance Vinoy Resort, 501 Fifth Ave. NE, St. Petersburg. Bacchus in Black Tie five-course gala dinner celebrates Italian regional cuisine and wines; $175 per person, proceeds benefit Ruth Eckerd Hall. Call (727) 712-2760.

Wine and beer tastings/classes

CHATEAU TASTINGS: 5:30-6:30 today, Oystercatchers Restaurant at Hyatt Westshore, 6200 Courtney Campbell Parkway, Tampa. Chateau Souverain cabernet, Chateau St. Jean cabernet among wines tasted, $10; tasting fee waived with each dinner purchased. Call (813) 207-6815.

DELICIOUSLY DECADENT: 5-7 p.m. today, Mattison's, An American Bistro, 111 Second Ave. NE (the Plaza Tower), St. Petersburg. Taste decadent wines paired with chocolate desserts by Mattison's pastry chef; $5. RSVP required; call (727) 895-2200.

SURPRISE TASTING: 6:30 p.m. Fri., Uncorked Fine Wines and Accessories, 2706 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. "Un" tasting at which wine theme is not revealed until tasting starts; $10, includes souvenir glass; portion of proceeds benefits PARC; (727) 892-9463.

EASTER HAPPY HOUR: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Fri., Got Wine and Cigars, 1006 Broadway (Alt. 19), Dunedin. Easter tasting of shiraz, merlot, cabernet sauvignon from Australia's Miranda Winery, plus wines from Germany and Portugal, and hors d'oeuvres; free. Call (727) 736-4077.

PIC PAC SAMPLING: 5-7:30 p.m. Fri., Pic Pac Fine Wine, 6609 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Pic Pac's weekly tasting features selection of wines from wine-producing regions around the world; $5. (727) 347-0743.

FUME BLANC TO PINOT NOIR: 5:30-8 p.m. Tues., Mystic Fish, 3253 Tampa Road, Palm Harbor. Complimentary wine tasting presents Murphy Goode fume blanc, Van Duzer pinot noir, Blackstone merlot among wines tasted; (727) 771-1800.

VIVA ITALIA: 6-8:30 p.m. April 25, Clubhouse at Aston Gardens at Tampa Bay, 12951 W Linebaugh Ave., Tampa. Grapevine's "Wine Professor Tour of Italy" features wines from the country's wine-growing regions, hors 'd'oeuvres; $10, proceeds benefit Friends of the Upper Tampa Bay Regional Library. Call (813) 818-9463 for tickets; RSVP by Mon. NAPA NOBILITY: 7 p.m. apertif, 7:30 p.m. tasting, April 25, Vintage Wine Cellars, 3629 Henderson Blvd., Tampa. Taste the royalty of American wine culture, Napa Valley wines with name recognition, including Mumm cuvee Napa brut prestige, Beringer 2000 Alluvium blanc, Robert Mondavi 1999 pinot noir; $20, RSVP: (813) 879-2931.

Cooking classes

INSPIRED BY EMERIL: 6:30-9 p.m. today, La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Make some of Emeril's best kicked-up recipes, including truffle potato chips, praline bread pudding; $39.50. Call (727) 736-3070 to RSVP.

BETTER BREAKASTS: 7 p.m. today, 10 a.m. Thur., Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Start the day out right with better breakfast ideas from Debby DeGraaff; free. (813) 873-7428.

IT'S ALL RICE: 6:30 p.m. today, Nature's Food Patch, 1225 Cleveland St., Clearwater. Class on rice makes rice Alfredo sauce with rice flour, rice pasta with veggies and a rice dream banana split dessert. Call (727) 443-6703.

BUNNY HUTCH: 7-9 p.m. Fri., Honey Bee Shop, 11144 N 30th St., Tampa. Kids of all ages can create their own edible "bunny hutch" from sugar cookies, just in time for Easter; $16.05 plus kit cost. Registration required, call (813) 971-7599.

SPRING SWEETS, TEEN PARTY FOODS: Apron's Cooking School, Publix Supermarket at Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa has classes on: Sweets for Spring, making baked holiday treats like chocolate almond torte with strawberry sauce, 6 p.m. Fri., $30; or teen class on making such party foods as chicken on a stick, BLT dip, fudge brownie sundae; 6:30 p.m. Tue., $25. Call (813) 926-4465 to RSVP.

ITALIAN LUNCH: 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Sat., La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Luncheon lesson in Italian cuisine includes spinach and red-onion salad with warm pancetta dressing, Tuscan stuffed chicken breast, jalapeno and cheese polenta; $39.50; RSVP at (727) 736-3070.

MEDITERRANEAN TASTES: 6:30 p.m. Mon., Mattison's, An American Bistro, 111 Second Ave. NE, St. Petersburg. Chef Paul Mattison celebrates spring with a Mediterranean and Tuscan-inspired menu; $40 includes recipes, dinner, dessert and wine. Pre-registration required, call (727) 895-2200.

STEAKS WITH STYLE: 6:15-7:30 p.m. Tue., Outdoor Kitchen Store, 3925 W Kennedy Blvd., Tampa. Chef John Pivar shows how to add flavor to filets, New York strip steaks, prime rib and other cuts; $30, includes recipes and food. Call (813) 875-3447.

GREAT GRAINS: 7 p.m. April 23, 10 a.m. April 24, Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Grains are the topic in free vegetarian class; (813) 873-7428.

COOKING FOR TEENS: 6:30 p.m. April 24, Museum of Science and Industry, 4801 E Fowler Ave., Tampa. Hands-on cooking class for teens with chef Paul McMorris; teens $30, $25 for members. RSVP: (813) 987-6000.

-- 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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