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Special events and food tastings
COTES DU RHONE TASTING DINNER: 7 p.m. today, Cafe de France, 15225 Gulf Blvd., Madeira Beach. Cotes du Rhone wines pair with escargot in garlic-butter sauce, scallops in smoked salmon, roast leg of duck with caramelized apples, upside-down creme brulee; $49.95, plus tax and gratuity.
EIGHTH AVE. GRILLE CHEF WALK: 7:30 p.m. today, Eighth Ave. Grille, 1811 15th Ave., Ybor City. Wines pair with Floribbean menu prepared by executive chef Mark Jasko; includes grouper with citrus marmalade, crab cake with mango salsa, jerk-spiced filet mignon, strawberry creme brulee at monthly Chef Walk dinner; $50. RSVP: (813) 242-6616.
VILLA GALLACE WINE DINNER: 6-9 p.m. Thur., Villa Gallace Italian Restaurant, 109 Gulf Blvd., Indian Rocks Beach. Five-course wine dinner includes shiitake mushroom ravioli with basil alfredo sauce, porcini mushroom risotto, choices of trout Francese, stuffed chicken breast oreganato style, veal cacciatore, plus eight wines from Italy and California; $49.95. Call (727) 596-0200 to RSVP.
STONESTREET, PROFUSION PAIRING: 7 p.m. Thur., Profusion, 2223 N West Shore Blvd., Tampa. Benefit wine dinner pairs wines from Stonestreet Winery with menu of grilled portobello and goat cheese, sushi, wok-tossed tenderloin medallions in ginger peppercorn sauce and more, to benefit the Abilities Foundation; $75, plus tax and gratuity. Limited seating. Call (813) 353-8400 to RSVP.
TASTE OF BLUES: 6-9 p.m. Fri., Old Hyde Park Village, at Swann and Dakota avenues, Tampa. Sip fine wines and specialty beers, sample treats from Hyde Park restaurants; in conjunction with blues music festival; concert free, nominal charge for tastes; proceeds benefit WEDU. Call (813) 251-3500, press 6.
1905 DAY: Noon-7 p.m. Sun., area Columbia Restaurants. Enjoy prices from the "good old days" of 1905 and traditional Spanish cuisine such as chicken and yellow rice, boliche (stuffed eye round of beef), flan and 1905 salad, as Columbia restaurants celebrate with annual event. Reservations not accepted.
IT'S ALL GREEK: 7 p.m. Tue., Pappas Riverside Restaurant, 10 W Dodecanese Blvd., Tarpon Springs. Six Greek wines pair with five courses prepared by chef George Papadopoulos; $49.95, plus tax and gratuity. Call (727) 937-5101.
Wine and beer tastings/classes
BRAVO BRONSON, WINE CLASS: Vintage Wine Cellars, 3629 Henderson Blvd., Tampa, presents Italian wine expert Bronson Mela, 7-9 p.m. Fri., $10; or "Location, Location, Location" wine class shows how vineyard locations affect taste, 6:30-9 p.m. Oct. 1, $25. Call (813) 879-2931 for reservations to either.
CALIFORNIA DREAMING: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Fri., Got Wine and Cigars, 1006 Broadway (Alt. U.S. 19), Dunedin. Take a tour of California wines, with samplings of pinot noir from Kendall Jackson, merlot, petit syrah and cabernet sauvignon from Bogle Winery, Thomas Fogerty Gewurztraminer. Call (727) 736-4077.
UNDISCOVERED TREASURES: 6:30 p.m. Fri., Uncorked Fine Wines and Accessories, 2706 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. "This Wine is From Where?!" tasting features wines from out-of-the-ordinary areas; $10, includes souvenir glass; portion of proceeds benefits Carrie Lyn Yoder Memorial Scholarship; (727) 892-9463.
GERMAN BEERS: 6 p.m. Sat., A Taste for Wine, 241 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. An array of German beers to taste; $12. Call (727) 895-1623.
WINE AND FRESH MARKET: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sat., Florida Estates Winery, 4 miles west of I-75 on SR 52 near Land O'Lakes. Sample the winery's offerings; the fresh market offers artisan breads, cheeses, produce, smoked seafood, barbecue, handmade crafts for sale; 813 996-2113 or visit www.floridaestateswines.com
UNDERSTANDING FLAVOR PROFILES: 6:30-8 p.m. Mon., Bern's Fine Wine and Spirits, 2008 W Morrison Ave., Tampa. Ken Collura and class explore profiles of wines by taste, visual and aromatic comparisons; try tempranillo; Spanish garnacha; sangiovese and nebbiolo from Italy; more. $30. RSVP required: (813) 250-9463.
WORLDLY WINES: 5:30-8 p.m. Tue., Mystic Fish, 3253 Tampa Road, Palm Harbor. Complimentary wine tasting features Italian prosecco from Villa Sandi, Mommessin, P.F. from France, Sonoma Cutrer from California's Russian River area. Call (727) 771-1800.
OCTOBERFEST: 7-9 p.m. Oct. 3, Vintage Wine Cellars, 3629 Henderson Blvd., Tampa. Celebrate Octoberfest with wines from Germany's Rhine and Mosel river areas, along with six robust beers, paired with accompaniments; $10. Call (813) 879-2931 to reserve.
Cooking classes
COOKING WITH CHEF FRED: 7 p.m. today, Drew Coffee Shop, 1907 Drew St., Clearwater. Chef Fred shows class how to make a baked salmon "packet" with shrimp, herbs and vegetables, shrimp corn chowder, raspberry-stuffed cream puff pastry with chocolate sauce and more in this month's cooking class; guests may bring wine or beverage; $24.99, includes dinner. Call (727) 441-2572.
APRON'S CLASSES: Apron's Cooking School, Publix Supermarket at Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa, offers classes: Tamales, Rellenos and Salsas, 6:30 p.m. Thur., $35; Teens at the Grill, 6:30 p.m. Mon., $25; Captivating Caribbean, 6:30 p.m. Oct. 4, $35. Call (813) 926-4465 to RSVP.
VEGETARIAN TACOS: 11 a.m. Sat., Nature's Food Patch, 1225 Cleveland St., Clearwater. Chef Theo Tillson makes vegetarian fiesta tacos with Spanish rice and guacamole in free demonstration. Call (727) 443-6703.
VIETNAMESE CUISINE: 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Sat., La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Hands-on class makes Vietnamese menu: pho (beef noodle soup), fresh chicken salad with mint, grapefruit and lemongrass, lettuce-wrapped spring rolls, $29.50. Call (727) 736-3070 to RSVP.
CHEFS AT APRON'S: Apron's Cooking School, Publix Supermarket at Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa, presents John Sarich, culinary director at Chateau Ste. Michelle winery; menu includes salmon with peach-papaya salad, duck breast with syrah, 6:30 p.m. Sat., $40; Jeffrey Starr chef at Trinity Oaks Wine, with focus on balancing wine flavors, 6:30 p.m. Oct. 3, $50. Call (813) 926-4465 to RSVP.
OUTDOOR SETTINGS: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tue., Margaret Ann's Catering, 5625 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Outdoor-entertaining class makes shrimp remoulade with avocado and hearts of palm, black pepper steaks with Jack Daniels sauce; tips on setting an outdoor table; $35. Call (727) 525-3983 to reserve.
JUST DESSERTS: 6:30-8 p.m. Oct. 1, La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Hands-on class makes good-for-you desserts: grilled peaches with raspberry sauce, orange custard, chocolate crepes with sauce, more. $25, plus tax. 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.