Tampa's Museum of Science and Industry expanded the field of restaurants along with fundraising opportunities on Thursday during its second annual Einstein Dine benefit, where patrons taste some of the bay area's finest cuisine.
This year's culinary participants numbered 14: Julian's at the Heritage and Marchand's at the Vinoy in St. Petersburg; St. Larry's in Palm Harbor; and Armani's, Caffe Paradiso, the Columbia Restaurant, Donatello's, Fleming's, Mise en Place, Profusion, Ristorante Francesco, Roy's, St. Bart's and the Tampa Club, all in Tampa.
Restaurants, vintners and other sponsors underwrite the cost of the food and wine, and the donations benefit MOSI's children's programs, said Dave Conley, vice president of exhibits, who was our host at Julian's.
Executive chef Bobby Pritchard came by to describe each course: The appetizer platter held a jumbo lump crab cake served with white wine butter sauce and Tidewater slaw; seared sea scallops served with a salad of black beans, corn and jicama; and a jumbo shrimp with cocktail sauce.
That first course and a rich lobster bisque enhanced with butter, cream and brandy were accompanied by two chardonnays from Ravenswood, a Sangiacoma and a vintner's blend.
Gary Weyer, the winery's representative, said they were chosen so we could distinguish the subtle differences between the two.
The entree was layers of beef filet accompanied with sauteed spinach, pancetta, crabmeat, mushrooms and lobster, served with a champagne, tomato and basil cream sauce; and a Ravenswood cabernet sauvignon.
I couldn't finish it and could only taste dessert, a hot Godiva chocolate cake with vanilla bean ice cream and paired with a glass of zinfandel. Thank goodness for the continued pourings of water, carbonated and still.
Along with Conley and Weyer, my convivial dinnermates were Lisa and David Mills, Greta and Britt Pogue, Linda Grassi, Jennifer Collins of Clearwater, radio producer Shannon Rose and his fiancee, Cindy French.
Wednesday marks the 30th year of the Beach Drive & Downtown Business Association's Sunrise Sale, offering bargains and discounts among numerous St. Petersburg businesses along the waterfront and in BayWalk.
The fun begins at 6:43 a.m., and shoppers who show up in their pajamas will receive additional goodies.
Longtime St. Petersburg financial executive Ben Fisher is the new executive director of the Academy Prep Foundation, succeeding Janet Herron.
In that role, he will oversee replicating Academy Prep Centers, raise money for the schools and supervise operations.
Fisher is an industry arbitrator for the National Association of Security Dealers and a member of St. Petersburg's Environmental Development Commission.
St. Petersburg's Academy Prep is entering its seventh year. The Tampa school is in a historic property in Ybor City, which is undergoing renovations and additions and should be ready for the fall term that begins in August.
Many thanks for your interest in On the Town, whose appearance has been inconsistent during the summer. That's chiefly because social and charitable events are on holiday, as are many of you.
I'll head to North Carolina at the end of next week, to celebrate my mother's 80th birthday.
Meanwhile, the quill is sharpened, the inkwell filled and the parchment unfurled for completing the annual Social Calendar, which will publish Sept. 7 and will list events through June 2004.
Please send to me, at one of the addresses below, details of your event, including sponsoring group, date, time, venue (including street address), ticket price and a contact phone number that may be printed. Deadline for submissions is July 31.
LOOK AHEAD
MURDER ON A BUDGET CRUISE: Benefit for Pinellas Association for Retarded Children features dinner, mystery program. Cruise attire. 7-9:30 p.m. Bilmar Beach Resort, 10650 Gulf Blvd., Treasure Island. $45. Reservations accepted through July 25. 345-9111, ext. 293.
- Mary Jane Park can be reached at 727 893-8267; fax (727) 893-8675; e-mail park@sptimes.com P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731.
