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Food File

Special events and food tastings

SEAFOOD AND SAUVIGNON BLANC: Dinner of six courses, pairing food and international wines, 7 p.m. tonight at St. Bart's Island House, 1502 S Howard Ave., Tampa. $60 per person. For information, reservations, call (813) 251-0367.

COTTONWOOD CANYON DINNER: 7 p.m. Thur., J.D. Ford Fine Wines, 1925 S Osprey Ave., Sarasota. Winemaker dinner with Norman Beko, winemaker/owner of Cottonwood Canyon wines in Santa Barbara, Calif., menu prepared by Fred's executive chef, Malin Parker; $75. Call (941) 362-9463 to reserve.

ALTERNATIVE WINE DINNER: 6:30 p.m. reception, dinner follows, Thur., O Bistro, 6661 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Prosecco, syrah, cabernet franc, pinot gris, sauvignon blanc and more are paired with peppercorn-cured salmon rolls with prosciutto, melon and mascarpone; barbecued pork tenderloin with Cheddar polenta napoleon and lemon-ginger pound cake with sugar-grilled figs in chef Tyson Grant's alternative wine dinner menu; $50, plus tax and gratuity. Call (727) 381-1212 to reserve.

ANNUAL AUGUST STOMP: 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. Winery tours, grape stamping, wine tastings, live music; food and beverages available for purchase; $2 admission, kids under 12 free with paid adult admission. Call toll-free 1-800-768-9463 or (352) 394-8627.

LUXURIOUS LOUISIANA FARE: 6:30 p.m. Tue., Six Tables at the Peninsula Inn & Spa, 2937 Beach Blvd., Gulfport. Chef Tommy Sapp's New Orleans apprenticeship at the Fairmont Hotel and tutelage under Emeril Lagasse are showcased in New Orleans wine dinner; menu includes creole boiled shrimp with avocado, hearts of palm, spring lettuces and remoulade dressing, bronzed gulf snapper, beef tournedos, banana bread pudding with Foster sauce; $45, plus tax and gratuity. Call (727) 346-9800 to RSVP.

BARTENDING BASICS: 6-7:30 p.m. Aug. 25, Ca d'Zan Bar, Ritz-Carlton, 1111 Ritz-Carlton Drive, Sarasota. Learn how to tend bar, make the hippest libations and entertain guests like a pro at Bartender School; $55 plus tax per class. Classes fill up quickly; RSVP at: (941) 309-2008, must be over 21.

Wine and beer tastings/classes

REFRESHING RIESLINGS: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Fri., Got Wine and Cigars, 1006 Broadway (Alt. 19), Dunedin. Summertime rieslings from Germany, including Dr. Loosen and Relax, or dry German wines spaetlese and auslese, plus hors d'oeuvres at free tasting. Call (727) 736-4077.

AFRICA AND AUSTRALIA: 7-9 p.m. Fri., Vintage Wine Cellars, 3629 Henderson Blvd., Tampa. Summer Passport tasting series features wines from Africa, New Zealand and Australia; $10. Call (813) 879-2931 to reserve.

PURELY PACIFIC NORTHWEST: 6:30 p.m. Fri., Uncorked Fine Wines and Accessories, 2706 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Tasting of wines from Oregon and Washington state; $10, portion of proceeds benefits Florida West Ballet scholarship program; (727) 892-9463.

THE BREWS OF SUMMER: 6 p.m. Sat., A Taste for Wine, 241 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Refreshing and lighter summer brews in beer tasting; try wheats, pilseners, pale ales and fruit-enhanced brews; $12. Call (727) 895-1623.

WORLDLY WINES: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sat., Mazzaro's Italian Market, 2909 22nd Ave. N, St. Petersburg. Wines from around the world, including Australia, Italy and California; free. Call (727) 321-2400.

SUMMER'S END OPEN HOUSE: 2-5 p.m. Sat., J.D. Ford Fine Wines, 1925 S Osprey Ave., Sarasota. Celebrate with a summer's end sampling of more than 50 wines from around the world, plus tasty treats to accompany at J.D. Ford's annual open house; free. Call (941) 362-9463.

SYRAH TO SHIRAZ: 5:30-8 p.m. Tue., Mystic Fish, 3253 Tampa Road, Palm Harbor. Complimentary wine tasting features Rock Rabbit and Bogle syrahs, plus Heritage Road shiraz; call (727) 771-1800.

MONDAVI'S SUMMER WINES: 6:30 p.m. Aug. 22, Apron's Cooking School, Publix Supermarket at Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway. Sample cool, crisp sauvignon blanc, riesling and chardonnays from Mondavi, paired with summer treats; $40. Call (813) 926-4465 to RSVP.

CHAMPAGNE SOIREE: 7-9 p.m. Aug. 22, Vintage Wine Cellars, 3629 Henderson Blvd., Tampa. Sparkling wine tasting features 10 wines, including Seaview brut, Veuve-Clicquot brut NV, Schramsberg 1997 blanc de noirs; $10. Call (813) 879-2931 to RSVP.

Cooking classes

COOKING AT THE ACADEMY: 6-9:30 p.m. today, Tampa Bay Cooking Academy, 700 Central Ave. first floor, St. Petersburg. Chef John Terczak's dinner class includes menu of grilled pear salad with candied walnuts, roast loin of pork, bread and butter pudding cake and more; $38.50 includes recipes, five-course meal. Call (727) 898-2665 or visit www.thetampabaycookingacademy.com

FABULOUS FRUIT: 7 p.m. today, and 10 a.m. Thur., Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Fresh summer fruit is the star of this week's free vegetarian class with chef Debby DeGraaff; (813) 873-7428.

COUPLES TAPAS PARTY, HEART SMART COOKERY: La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin, presents the flavors of Spain with a tapas party class for couples; menu includes prosciutto-wrapped shrimp filled with goat cheese, chicken and chorizo strudels, 6:30-9 p.m. Fri., $45 or $85 per couple (includes pitcher of sangria); or heart smart cookery class makes salmon with fresh mint salsa, mesclun salad with dried cherries, 6:30-9 p.m. Aug. 21, $10. Call (727) 736-3070 to RSVP.

WHAT'S COOKING AT APRON'S; Apron's Cooking School, Publix Supermarket at Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa, has classes on American Bistro Cooking, 6:30 p.m. Sat., $35; plus Ain't That a Peach class, 6:30 p.m. Aug. 21, $35, with halibut roasted in peach tea, peach melba on menu. Call (813) 926-4465 to RSVP.

ELEGANT EGGPLANT: 7 p.m. Aug. 20, 10 a.m. Aug. 21, Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Make elegant eggplant dishes in free vegetarian class; (813) 873-7428.

DORA CAKE: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Aug. 23, Honey Bee Shop, 11144 N 30th St., Tampa. Learn how to create a Dora the Explorer shaped and decorated cake using a kit in free demonstration. Call (813) 971-7599 to RSVP.

IRANIAN WEDDING DINNER: 7 p.m. Aug. 27, Drew Coffee Shop, 1907 Drew St., Clearwater. Chef Fred creates an Iranian wedding dinner suitable for a holiday or special occasion meal and complete with wedding cake in this month's cooking class; $25, includes full dinner. Call (727) 441-2572.

Contests

KIDS COOKOFF: 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Sat., La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Two junior chefs ages 11-14 prepare entree and two side dishes (each is allowed one assistant) for eight guests in one hour or less for cookware, cutlery prizes; $30 per child under 14 and $40 per adult. 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.