FALL FLAVORS: 7 p.m. Fri., Cafe Largo, 12551 Indian Rocks Road, Largo. Chef Dominique's autumn menu of roasted veal shank, duck galantine and navarin of grouper en coquille (choose one) pairs with wines from J.F. Wine Imports; $32.95, tax and gratuity extra; complimentary wine tasting and hors d'oeuvres precedes dinner. Call (727) 596-6282 to RSVP.
MERRYVALE DINNER: 6:30 reception, 7:30 dinner Oct. 8, CK's Restaurant, Tampa Airport Marriott Hotel (hotel entrance on left past airport's long-term and short-term parking), Tampa. Merryvale wines pair with executive chef Henry Nagel's fricassee of Blue Point oysters in chardonnay, roast lamb with peppercorn sauce, arugula, date, blood orange salad, cheese course, dessert and more; $70. Call (813) 878-6500 to RSVP.
VINTAGE VENTURE: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 11, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 12, Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards, U.S. 27, 3 miles south of Florida Turnpike Exit 285, near Clermont. Vintage wines, cars and music highlight the annual Vintage Venture, plus winery tours, wine tastings and food and beverages available for purchase; $2 admission to food and displays, wine tours and tastings free. Call 800 768-9463, or go on the Web to www.lakeridgewinery.com
HARBOR WINE FESTIVAL: 5-11 p.m. Oct. 11, on Main Street between Second and Eighth streets, Safety Harbor. Sample wines and homemade brie, try culinary treats from bay area restaurants, try your foot at grape stomping, and enjoy live jazz entertainment and arts and crafts, all to benefit local charities and civic organizations. Free admission, nominal charge for wine and food samples. Call (727) 724-1555.
BATTLE OF THE BAY: 6-9 p.m. Oct. 17, Coliseum, 535 Fourth Ave. N, St. Petersburg. Iron Chef-style competition features: six bay area chefs, including Chris Ponte, Eric Lackey, and Alexeier Delgado; two secret ingredients; 75 minutes; and one winner. Also food and wine tastings from O Bistro, Sushi Rock Grill and others, cooking demonstrations with Tampa Bay Cooking Academy chef John Terczak. Admission: $50, proceeds benefit St. Petersburg Museum of History. Call the museum at (727) 894-1052.
Wine and beer tastings/classes
WASHINGTON STATE WINES: 5:30-6:30 tonight, Oystercatchers Restaurant, Hyatt Regency Westshore, 6200 Courtney Campbell Parkway, Tampa. Taste Chateau Ste. Michelle Indian Wells chardonnay, merlot and Chateau Ste. Michelle Cold Creek cabernet sauvignon among wines from the state of Washington; $10. Call (813) 207-6815.
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION: 6:30-9 tonight, Vintage Wine Cellars, 3629 Henderson Blvd., Tampa. This wine class shows how vineyard locations affect wine flavors; $25. Call (813) 879-2931 to reserve.
MERRYVALE WINE TASTING: 5:30-6:30 Thur., CK's Restaurant, Tampa Airport Marriott Hotel hotel entrance on left past airport's long-term and short-term parking, Tampa. Merryvale's Starmont chardonnay and merlot, sauvignon blanc, cabernet sauvignon and Antigua are featured at this month's tasting, along with hors d'oeuvres; $10, includes dining discount certificate. Call (813) 878-6500 or go online to www.cksrestaurant.com OCTOBERFEST: 7-9 p.m. Fri., Vintage Wine Cellars, 3629 Henderson Blvd., Tampa. Celebrate Octoberfest with six wines from Germany's Rhine and Mosel river areas, along with six robust beers, paired with accompaniments; $10. Call (813) 879-2931 to reserve.
HARVEST IN ITALY: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Fri., Got Wine and Cigars, 1006 Broadway (Alt. 19), Dunedin. Italian wines featured include San Ripolo chianti, Chiarlo barbera d'asti, Antinori orvieto, Zonin pinot grigio, plus hors d'oeuvres; free. Call (727) 736-4077.
SECOND ANNIVERSARY SOIREE: 6:30 p.m. Fri., Uncorked Fine Wines and Accessories, 2706 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Celebrate Uncorked's second year with appetizers and wines from California and around the world; $10, includes souvenir glass; (727) 892-9463.
TRIP DOWN UNDER: 5:30-8 p.m. Tues., Mystic Fish, 3253 Tampa Road, Palm Harbor. Complimentary wine tasting features Australian varieties including Ghost Gum shiraz and cabernet sauvignon, Heritage Road shiraz. Call (727) 771-1800.
ARMANI'S TASTING: 5:30-6:30 p.m. Oct. 8, Armani's at Hyatt Regency Westshore, 6200 Courtney Campbell Parkway, Tampa. Taste sauvignon blanc, chardonnay and chianti classico wines from Antinori; $10. Call (813) 207-6800, RSVP required.
WINE ON THE WATER: 6-9 p.m. Oct. 8, slip No. 49 at Clearwater Beach Marina, 25 Causeway Blvd., Clearwater. Watch the sunset as you sample wines and culinary treats aboard a catamaran on a sunset tasting cruise; $40. Call 727 446-6778 to reserve (required), or go to www.kailanicat.com/wow.htm
SPARKLING BENEFIT: 6-9 p.m. Oct. 10, Pic Pac Fine Wine, 6609 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Bubbly benefit at Pic Pac's annual champagne tasting features sparkling wines from around the world, paired with hors d'oeuvres from O Bistro; $20, portion of proceeds benefits the Abilities Foundation. Call (727) 347-0743.
Cooking classes
LESSONS IN LEMONS:7-8 tonight, 10-11 a.m. Thur., Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Dishes with chef Debby DeGraaff in free vegetarian class; call (813) 873-7428 APRONS CLASSES: Aprons Cooking School, Publix Supermarket at Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway (corner of Ehrlich Road), Tampa, offers these classes: Basic Knife Skills, 6 p.m. Thur., $50; Fall Favorites, with butternut squash soup and chorizo cornbread, 6:30 p.m. Mon., $40; and chef John Pivar's creative Key West cuisine, with plantain-crusted pork tenderloin, jerk shrimp with papaya habanero marmalade, more, 6:30 p.m. Oct. 9, $40. Call (813) 926-4465 to RSVP to any of the classes.
SOY, GLUTEN FREE COOKING: Sugar Free Desserts, 2660 Bayshore Blvd. (northwest corner of Alt. 19 and Curlew Road), in Causeway Plaza, Dunedin. Vegetarian Night class makes Asian dishes with soy, for example: "ants on a tree" (a spicy szechuan dish), stuffed portobello mushrooms, vegan tofu cheesecake (sugar-free and gluten-free), 6:30-8:30 p.m. Fri., $45; or gluten-free cooking class focusing on pastas and desserts and cooking with gluten-free flours, make pineapple upside down cake (sugar free and gluten free), 6:30-8:30 p.m. Sat., $45. Call (727) 738-9525.
DRESSED-UP BEEF: 6:15-7:30 p.m. Tues., Outdoor Kitchen Store, 3925 W Kennedy Blvd., Tampa. John Pivar, executive chef of the Renaissance Vinoy Resort in St. Petersburg, leads beef-themed class in making filet, New York strip, rotisserie prime rib, red wine demiglace and bananas Foster; $30, includes recipes and food, guests may bring beverage. Call (813) 875-3447.
CUISINES OF THE WORLD: 6:45-9:15 p.m. beginning Tues., Azalea Adult Center, 1600 72nd St. N, St. Petersburg. Chef Diane VanEpps teaches adults how to refine their cooking techniques by learning elements of cuisines from around the world; $32 for St. Petersburg residents, $51.20 for nonresidents, plus $25 food supply fee from each student. Call (727) 893-7150 to reserve.
HEALTHY SNACKS: 6:30-8 p.m. Oct. 8, La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Hands-on class makes snacks and party foods designed to fit in with a heart-healthy lifestyle: chicken wontons, heart-friendly hummus, tomato olive tart, Maryland crab dip, more; $25, plus tax. Call (727) 736-3070 to RSVP.
CREPE COOKERY: 7-8 p.m. Oct. 8, 10-11 a.m. Oct. 9, Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Chef Debby DeGraaff shows how to create vegetarian crepe dishes in free class. Call (813) 873-7428 -- Send news of coming events at least two weeks in advance of the publication date to Food File, St. Petersburg Times, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731.
