HIGH NOTE WINE AND DINE: 6:30 p.m. Mon., Cafe Ponte, 13505 Icot Blvd., Clearwater. Cooking demonstration and dinner prepared by chef Christopher Ponte, wine tasting and pairings with menu courses to benefit the High Note Society of the Clearwater Jazz Holiday; $100 a person. Call (727) 461-5200.
JOSEPH PHELPS WINE DINNER: 7 p.m. Tue., Crazy Conch Cafe, 1110 Pinellas Bayway S, No. 206, Tierra Verde. Wine dinner features wines from Joseph Phelps Vineyards of California paired with scallop sashimi, grilled Dorado with cilantro sabayon, short ribs with linguine, palomilla steak with Cuban fries, chocolate raspberry napoleon; $70, plus tax and gratuity. RSVP required: (727) 865-0633.
PONTE PAIRINGS: 7 p.m. reception, 7:30 p.m. dinner on June 17, Cafe Ponte, 13505 Icot Blvd., Clearwater. Begin with champagne and hors d'oeuvres, then taste Fetzer wines paired with three courses from chef Christopher Ponte; $75 inclusive. Call (727) 538-5768 to reserve.
PROFUSION AND MERRYVALE: 7 p.m. June 19, Profusion, 2223 N West Shore Blvd. (Bay Street at International Plaza), Tampa. Benefit wine dinner pairs wines from Napa Valley's Merryvale Vineyards - among them sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, merlot - with four-course menu that includes sushi, dim sum basket, herb crusted baby rack of lamb and more; $75, plus tax and gratuity, proceeds benefit the Abilities Foundation. Call (813) 353-8400 to RSVP.
Wine and beer tastings/classes
QUITE A CONUNDRUM: 5:30-6:30 today, Oystercatchers Restaurant at Hyatt Westshore, 6200 Courtney Campbell Parkway, Tampa. Caymus Conundrum 2001, Sokol Blosser Evolution No. 9, Heller Carmel Valley merlot, Rutherford Hill Napa Valley merlot among the California wines tasted, $10; tasting fee waived with purchased dinner. Call (813) 207-6815.
KENDALL JACKSON JEWELS: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Fri., Got Wine and Cigars, 1006 Broadway (Alt. 19), Dunedin. Kendall Jackson's family of wines featured, including varieties from Yangarra Park of Australia, Calina from Chile, Camelot and Robert Pepi from California, plus hors d'oeuvres; free tasting. Call (727) 736-4077.
CALIFORNIA DREAMIN': 6:30 p.m. Fri., Uncorked Fine Wines and Accessories, 2706 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Taste wines from California's celebrated growing regions; $10, includes souvenir glass; portion of proceeds benefits Sertoma; (727) 892-9463.
CALIFORNIA CABS: 6:30 p.m. Mon., Bern's Fine Wine and Spirits, 2008 W Morrison Ave. (at Howard Ave), Tampa. David Black leads Bern's wine class on the cabernet sauvignons of California; $30. RSVP required: (813) 250-9463.
BASIC BLANC: 5:30-8 p.m. Tue., Mystic Fish, 3253 Tampa Road, Palm Harbor. Complimentary wine tasting of Murphy-Goode fume blanc, refreshing Omaka Springs and Brancott reserve sauvignon blancs; (727) 771-1800.
Cooking classes
AROMATIC BASMATI: 7 p.m. today, 10 a.m. Thur., Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Learn how to make basmati rice in free vegetarian class; (813) 873-7428.
EASTERN CUISINE: 6:30 p.m. Thur., Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI), 4801 E Fowler Ave., Tampa. Chef Paul McMorris introduces adult "Science of Cooking" class in Oriental cuisine; $40, $35 MOSI members. RSVP: (813) 987-6000.
EASY SUMMER COOKING: La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin; class on summer meals reduces times spent in the kitchen, menu includes cornmeal crusted fish tacos, coconut shortcakes and roasted pineapple, 7-9 p.m. Thur., $39.50; gourmet summer dinner class for couples makes pecan chicken roulade with brie and raspberries in sage cream, chocolate bombe, 7-9:30 p.m. Fri., $45, or $85 for two; (727) 736-3070 to RSVP.
MY FAVORITE SAUCES: 7 p.m. June 11, 10 a.m. June 12, Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Jazz up dishes with an array of healthful sauces from Debby DeGraaff in free vegetarian class. Call (813) 873-7428.
NEW VEGETARIAN CUISINE: 6:30-9 p.m. June 12, La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Hands-on class proves vegetarian cuisine doesn't have to be boring; menu includes polenta pancakes with wild mushrooms, jicama, avocado and grapefruit salad, chili rellenos with cashew cream, coconut rice pudding and more, $39.50. Call (727) 736-3070 to RSVP.
-- 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.
