BARTENDING BASICS: 6-7:30 p.m. Mon., Ca' d'Zan Bar, Ritz-Carlton, 1111 Ritz-Carlton Drive, Sarasota. Learn how to tend bar, make hip libations and entertain guests like a pro at bartender school; $55 plus tax per class. RSVP at: (941) 309-2008, must be 21.
TAMPA BAY VEGETARIANS: 7 p.m. Tue., Greek Village, 11125 Park Blvd., St. Petersburg. Greek salad, vegetarian stuffed grape leaves, falafel, hummus, eggplant cutlets and more are on the menu at this month's meeting of the Tampa Bay Vegetarians and guests; talk by Deborah Ray on "A Cancer Prevention Diet" follows; $12 members, $14 nonmembers, includes tax and gratuity. RSVP at (727) 392-0268 by Thur.
Wine and beer tastings/classes
OUTLAW BLENDS: 7-9 p.m. Thur., Whiskey Joe's, 2500 N Rocky Point Drive, Tampa. Join the Tampa Bay winebrats in tasting out-of-the-ordinary Australian blends of varietals from disparate heritages, such as cabernet/shiraz and chardonnay/semillion; $20 advance, $25 at door. Limited seating; visit http://tampa.winebrats.org
WINES OF PIEDMONT: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Fri., Gioia Deli, 100 First Ave. S, St. Petersburg. Taste red and white wines from Italy's Piedmont region, including 1995 Oddero Barolo and Dante Rivetti Moscato D'Asti, and enjoy an accompanying Italian buffet; $15. RSVP required. Call (727) 892-9400.
CHAMPAGNE SOIREE: 7-9 p.m. Fri., Vintage Wine Cellars, 3629 Henderson Blvd., Tampa. Sparkling-wine tasting features 10 wines perfect for any ocassion, including Seaview brut, Veuve-Clicquot brut NV, Schramsberg 1997 blanc de noirs; $10. Call (813) 879-2931 to RSVP.
MONDAVI'S SUMMER WINES/BEERS AND BREWS: Apron's Cooking School, Publix Supermarket at Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa. Sample cool, crisp sauvignon blanc, riesling and chardonnays from Mondavi, paired with summer treats, 6:30 p.m. Fri., $40; or try specialty beers from England and Europe, including three from the world's top 10 breweries, along with menu of braised mussels in beer, skirt steak salad, cumin rubbed ribs, Jamaican jerk turkey breast, 6:30 p.m. Sat., $35. Call (813) 926-4465 to RSVP either event.
VIVA ESPANA: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Fri., Got Wine and Cigars, 1006 Broadway (Alt. U.S. 19), Dunedin. Try red, white and dry rose Rioja wines from Spain's Faustino Winery, wines from Spain's Penedes region and other Spanish varieties, plus hors d'oeuvres, at free tasting. Call (727) 736-4077.
MEMORABLE MEDITERRANEAN WINES: 6:30 p.m. Fri., Uncorked Fine Wines and Accessories, 2706 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Tasting of wines from southern Italy, Greece and other Mediterranean regions; $10, includes souvenir glass; portion of proceeds benefits Florida West Ballet scholarship program. Call (727) 892-9463.
THE ALMIGHTY ZIN: 5:30-8 p.m. Tue., Mystic Fish, 3253 Tampa Road, Palm Harbor. Complimentary wine tasting features zinfandels from Rodney Strong, Seghesio and Oakville Estate. Call (727) 771-1800.
WINES THAT WORK: 7-9 p.m. Aug. 29, Vintage Wine Cellars, 3629 Henderson Blvd., Tampa. Labor Day tasting of wines from around the world that perform well in any setting, from casual fare to dinner-party elegance; try Iron Horse 2001 Cuvee, Bernardus 1998, Carmel Valley cabernet sauvignon, Seghesio 2000 Cortina zinfandel; $10. Call (813) 879-2931 to reserve.
HONEY BEE BUZZ: Honey Bee Shop, 11144 N 30th St., Tampa, offers classes on how to create a shaped and decorated Dora the Explorer cake, using a kit, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Sat., free; or "South of the Borders" class shows how create different cake borders, 7-9 p.m. Aug. 27, $26.75 (participants receive 10 percent off cake supplies). Call (813) 971-7599 to RSVP.
ADVANCED FRENCH MENU: 6:30-9 p.m. Mon., La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Advanced skills class makes French cuisine menu: consomme with chicken timbales, delmonico steak bernaise, spinach veloute en croute, chateaubriand potatoes and maraschino savarin; $50. Call (727) 736-3070 to RSVP.
APRON'S CLASSES: Apron's Cooking School, Publix at Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa, offers these classes: Pizzas With Pizzazz, making grilled seafood pizza with saffron aioli, 4 p.m. Sun., $35; Stuffed, Wrapped and Rolled teen class makes snacks such as rolled doughnut holes and chili-stuffed potato skins, 6:30 p.m. Mon., $25. Call (813) 926-4465 to RSVP.
VEGETARIAN SHISH KEBABS: 7 p.m. Aug. 27 and 10 a.m. Aug. 28, Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Vegetarian shish kebabs in free class with chef Debby DeGraaff. Call (813) 873-7428.
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.
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