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Special events and food tastings
MARVELOUS MERRYVALE: 7 p.m. Thur., Profusion, 2223 N West Shore Blvd. (Bay Street at International Plaza), Tampa. Benefit wine dinner pairs wines from Napa Valley's Merryvale Vineyards with four-course Profusion menu that includes dim sum basket, herb-crusted baby rack of lamb and more; $75, plus tax and gratuity; proceeds benefit the Abilities Foundation. RSVP: (813) 353-8400.
SIMPLY SALSA: 2-4 p.m. Fri., Lodge at Mainlands, 9381 U.S. 19 N, Pinellas Park. Simply Salsa Fiesta, in conjunction with Mainlands anniversary celebration, presents tasting of foods that contain an array of salsas, from fruity and sweet to spicy hot, plus Latin music. Free admission. Call (727) 576-1234.
TAMPA BAY CULINARY CLUB: Noon Sat., Aunt Chilada's Cantina, 34718 U.S. 19 N, Palm Harbor. Chef Maria Pombo demonstrates a signature dish for sampling at meeting of the Tampa Bay Culinary Club; $10. RSVP required: (727) 789-2605.
PEPPER EXTRAVAGANZA: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sun., Beckett Lake Nursery, 2251 Montclair Road, Clearwater. Pick the perfect pepper for your kitchen garden, from hot to mild, sweet to spicy, from more than 40 varieties of plants for sale at Pepper Extravaganza; samples of hot and barbecue sauces, spice rubs, pepper jellies and salsa from vendors; bring homemade salsas and sauces to enter in amateur hot sauce and salsa-making contests; sample spicy tastes at cooking demos 11 a.m., 2 p.m. both days. Free. Call (727) 796-7950.
TEA WITH BARBIE: 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Sat., Lobby Lounge of Ritz-Carlton, 1111 Ritz-Carlton Drive, Sarasota. Take your favorite Barbie to tea for finger sandwiches and cookies; $39 adults, $32 kids, includes goodie bag. Limited seating; call (941) 309-2008 to attend.
LAKERIDGE HARVEST FEST: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Fri.-Sat., 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun., Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards, U.S. 27, 3 miles south of Florida Turnpike Exit 285, near Clermont. Complimentary winery tours, wine tastings, grape stamping; Blessing of the Harvest event daily at 1:30 p.m.; live music, arts and crafts, food available for purchase; $2 donation, benefits Hospice Foundation. Call toll-free 1-800-768-9463 or (352) 394-8627.
TAMPA BAY VEGETARIANS: 7 p.m. Tue., Viva La Frida Cafe, 5901 N Florida Ave., Tampa. Curried acorn squash soup, "blue house" salad, portobello with chipotle cream, artichoke and brie enchilada, cinnamon fritters and more are on the menu for guests and Tampa Bay Vegetarians at this month's meeting, followed by talk on Chinese herbal medicines by Gregory Jones; $9.50, includes tax and gratuity. Limited seating; call (727) 392-0268.
PIEDMONT PERFECTION: 6-7:30 p.m. June 25, Gioia Italian Deli, 100 First Ave. S (ground floor Bayview Towers), St. Petersburg. Taste tour of Italy's Piedmont region, with wines that include 2001 Icardi Cortese "L'Aurora," 1999 Peliserro Nebbiolo Langhe, paired with foods that capture the region's flavor; $15. Call (727) 892-9400.
Wine and beer tastings/classes
ITALIAN REDS AND WHITES: 5:30-6:30 p.m. today, Armani's (at Hyatt Regency Westshore), 6200 Courtney Campbell Parkway, Tampa. Taste Antinori Castello Della Sala chardonnay, Masi campofiorin, Antinori Villa red Chianti classico reserva and more; $10; stay for dinner and tasting fee is waived. Call (813) 207-6800.
SUMMERTIME TASTING: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Fri., Got Wine and Cigars, 1006 Broadway (Alt. 19), Dunedin. Taste meritage and syrah from Hahn Estate, Miranda wines from Australia, plus viogner, chardonnay, riesling and hors d'oeuvres at free summer-themed tasting. Call (727) 736-4077.
PORTUGAL WINES: 6:30 p.m. Fri., Uncorked Fine Wines and Accessories, 2706 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Try wines from Portugal at this weekly tasting; $10, includes souvenir glass; portion of proceeds benefits Sertoma; (727) 892-9463.
WORLDWIDE WINES: 5-7:30 p.m. Fri., Pic Pac Fine Wine, 6609 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Sample value-priced wines from around the world, along with cheeses at Pic Pac's weekly tasting; $5. (727) 347-0743.
DELVING INTO DALI: 7-9 p.m. Fri., third level at the Pier, 800 Second Ave. NE, St. Petersburg. Join the Tampa Wine Brats in tasting of wines and flavors from the Columbia Restaurant that are characteristics of areas in which Salvador Dali lived, including Spain, France and California; menu includes 1905 salad, shrimp al ajillo, empanadas de picadillo and more; $25 advance, $30 at door if available. RSVP at tampa.winebrats.org or call the Brats hotline at (813) 740-2728.
PASSPORT TO SUMMER TASTES: 7-9 p.m. Fri., Vintage Wine Cellars, 3629 Henderson Blvd., Tampa. Summer Passport Series tasting features the Mediterranean, with wines from Italy, Spain, Cote d'Azure and other ports of call; $10. RSVP: (813) 879-2931.
BORDEAUX AT BERN'S: 6:30 p.m. Mon., Bern's Fine Wine and Spirits, 2008 W Morrison Ave., Tampa. David Black leads Bern's wine class in exploration of the revered 2000 Bordeaux vintage wines, considered among the best; $75; RSVP required: (813) 250-9463.
CHARDONNAY AND CHABLIS: 5:30-8 p.m. Tue., Mystic Fish, 3253 Tampa Road, Palm Harbor. Complimentary wine tasting of Louie Martini and Sonoma Cutrer chardonnays, Verget chablis; (727) 771-1800.
NEW ZEALAND'S BEST: 6-8 p.m. June 25, J.D. Ford Fine Wines, 1925 S Osprey Ave., Sarasota. Sample the best new releases from New Zealand; $15. Call (941) 362-9463 to reserve.
VINTAGE WINE FESTIVAL: Vintage Wine Cellars, 3629 Henderson Blvd., celebrates its 10th anniversary with wine festival; events include Champagne Seminar, with wines from the house of Mumm and Perrier & Jouet, 7:30 p.m. June 25, $25; a food and wine pairing with tastes from SideBern's paired with Beringer Blass wines, 7-9 p.m. June 26, $25; and Grand Tasting with 40 wines from around the world, 6-9 p.m. June 27, $10. Limited seating. Reserve at (813) 879-2931.
TASTE OF PRIDE: 7 p.m. June 26, Central Thyme Gallery & Restaurant, 2101 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Wine tasting and hors d'oeuvres in conjunction with St. Pete Pride events; $25. Call (727) 823-2368..
Cooking classes
BARLEY BASICS: 7 p.m. today, 10 a.m. Thur., Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Barley doesn't have to be boring, as chef Debby DeGraaff teaches in free vegetarian class. (813) 873-7428.
HEART SMART COOKING: 6:30-9 p.m. Thur., La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Learn how to prepare heart-healthy menu that includes peppered and seared tuna over mandarin orange pico de gallo, filet of beef with brandy sauce and lemon-garlic roasted potatoes; $10, includes full meal, recipes. RSVP: (727) 736-3070.
PAIR LIKE A PRO: 6:30-9:30 p.m. Fri., La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Let the experts show you how to select wines that match the foods you eat, with six courses and 12 wines at wine-pairing dinner; $65 inclusive. RSVP: (727) 736-3070.
HELPFUL MENU PLANNING: 7 p.m. June 25, 10 a.m. June 26, Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Learn how menu planning can save time, money; create great vegetarian meals from Debby DeGraaff in free class. Call (813) 873-7428.
COOKING AT ARMANI'S: Noon June 28, Armani's (at Hyatt Regency Westshore), 6200 Courtney Campbell Parkway, Tampa. Armani's chef prepares favorites from the menu: $60 inclusive. RSVP: (813) 207-6800.
-- Send news of events at least two weeks in advance of the publication date to Food File, the Times, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731.