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Food file

Special events and food tastings

RETRO BARBECUE: 6:30 p.m. today, SideBern's, 1002 S Howard Ave., Tampa. Chef Jeannie Pierola re-creates retro-style barbecue on the patio, paired with Sinskey wines; $85.01 per person, tax and gratuity extra. Limited seating, call (813) 258-2233 to reserve.

COTES DU RHONE DINNER: 7 p.m. Thur., Cafe de France, 15225 Gulf Blvd., Madeira Beach. Cotes du Rhone wines pair with escargot in garlic butter, scallops in phyllo, more; $45, plus tax and gratuity. Call (727) 392-8627.

CAFE LARGO CELEBRATION: 7 p.m. Thur., Cafe Largo, 12551 Indian Rocks Road, Largo. Cafe Largo's anniversary dinner includes scallops and shrimp en coquille, veal en croute with port sauce, Swiss chocolate souffle, each course paired with wines; $65, tax and gratuity extra. Call (727) 596-6282 to RSVP.

STONE CRAB, SEAFOOD AND WINE FESTIVAL: Thur.-Sun., Colony Beach & Tennis Resort, 1620 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key. Wines from around the world; chef demonstrations, food and wine tastings, gala dinner; event prices start at $60. Call 941 383-6464, ext. 2901 or visit www.colonybeachresort.com click on Special Events.

HALLOWEEN TEA: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Fri., Davis and Daughters Tea Cottage, 530 Alt. U.S. 19 N, Palm Harbor. "Voodoo" tea, pumpkin scones, quiche, more; $14.95. Call (727) 785-7790 to RSVP.

"YELLOWEEN": 9:30 p.m. Fri., Mise En Place, 442 W Kennedy Blvd., Tampa. Guests asked to wear "Veuve Yellow" (pumpkin orange) to annual Halloween party for adults, with Veuve Clicquot champagne toast, appetizers; $20. Call (813) 254-5373.

HAUNTINGLY HAUTE DINNER: 5:30 p.m. Fri. and Sat., Six Tables at the Peninsula Inn & Spa, 2937 Beach Blvd., Gulfport. Restaurant "transforms" into an abandoned haunted hotel for Halloween dinner, menu features seafood; $45. Call (727) 346-9800.

"DAY OF THE DEAD" DINING: 5-10 p.m. Sun., Casa Tina, 369 Main St., Dunedin. Celebrate Dia de los Muertos with special menu, including wild mushroom tamales, chicken mole and Mexican spiced coffee; $17.95, plus tax and gratuity. Call (727) 734-9226 to reserve.

NAPA VALLEY ZINFANDEL DINNER: 6:30 p.m. Nov. 5, Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, 4322 West Boy Scout Blvd., Tampa. Five Napa Valley zinfandel wines pair with courses that include grilled meat and fowl; $80, plus tax and gratuity. Call (813) 874-9463.

TEA & TIFFANY: 3-4:30 p.m. Nov. 5, Vinoy Grand Ballroom at Renaissance Vinoy Resort, 501 Fifth Ave. NE, St. Petersburg. Afternoon tea includes a viewing of Tiffany's winter collection and a lesson on how to buy and care for diamonds; $20. For reservations, call (727) 894-1000, ext. 501.

TASTE OF AMERICA: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Nov. 8, ParkSide Mall, U.S. 19 at Park Blvd., Pinellas Park. Family festival features tastes and desserts from local restaurants, beer and wine, local chef's competition, kids activities and entertainment. Free admission, charges for tastes and some activities. Proceeds benefit local charities. Call 727 539-6245, ext. 106 or visit www.tasteofamerica.org for more information.

Wine and beer tastings/classes

DEVIL'S CELLAR WINE: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Fri., Got Wine and Cigars, 1006 Broadway (Alt. U.S. 19), Dunedin. Celebrate Halloween with Conch Y Toro's Casillero del Diabolo (devil's cellar) merlot, cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay and more, plus hors d'oeuvres at free tasting. Call (727) 736-4077.

"GHOULISH" TASTING: 6:30 p.m. Fri., Uncorked Fine Wines and Accessories, 2706 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Taste wines with a common thread of Halloween folklore; $10. (727) 892-9463.

ALL SAINTS' DAY SAMPLING: 7-9 p.m. Fri., Vintage Wine Cellars, 3629 Henderson Blvd., Tampa. Sample 10 wines at Halloween tasting, including Saint Supery, Chateau St. Jean, Saint Julian, more; $10. Call (813) 879-2931 to reserve.

FALL WINE TASTING: 6:30-9 p.m. Sat., Spirit of Life Unitarian Universalist Church, 18412 Burrell Road, Odessa. Annual autumn tasting with wines from Ed's Fine Wines, hors d'oeuvres, silent auction; $15. Call (813) 792-1622.

FRANCE'S RHONE VALLEY:6:30-8 p.m. Mon., Bern's Fine Wine and Spirits, 2008 W Morrison Ave., Tampa. Ken Collura leads class in blind tasting of wines from northern and southern Rhone valley in France; $30. RSVP required: (813) 250-9463.

BLENDED VARIETALS: 5:30-8 p.m. Tues., Mystic Fish, 3253 Tampa Road, Palm Harbor. Blended wines from Napa Valley include Le Rime chardonnay/pinot grigio, Los Caminillos grenache/sangiovese, at complimentary wine tasting; Call (727) 771-1800.

CK'S TASTING: 6:30-7:30 p.m. Nov. 6, CK's Restaurant at Tampa Airport Marriott Hotel, Tampa. Blanc de blanc, chardonnay, pinot noir, blanc de noirs from Gloria Ferrer are featured, along with hors d'oeuvres at this month's wine tasting; $10. Call 813 878-6500 or visit www.cksrestaurant.com

HORS D'OEUVRES: 6-9:30 p.m. today, Tampa Bay Cooking Academy, 700 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Chef John Terczak shows how to prepare a hors d'oeuvres buffet; $38.50 includes recipes, five-course meal. Call 727 898-2665 or visit www.thetampabaycookingacademy.com

VEGETABLE SUSHI, SEA VEGETABLES: 7-8 p.m. today, 10-11 a.m. Thur., Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Learn to make vegetable sushi and use sea vegetables in Asian dishes with chef Debby DeGraaff; free. Call (813) 873-7428.

FINE ART OF FLAMBEING: Noon Thur., Bon Appetit Restaurant, 150 Marina Plaza, Dunedin. Crepes suzette demonstration tableside plus three-course lunch including chicken breast stuffed with smoked ham and asiago cheese or cornmeal crusted catfish in "The Fine Art of Flambeing" class; $12. Call (727) 733-2151.

ART AND SCIENCE OF BAKING: 9 a.m.-noon Sat., La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. First in five-part series on baking; this week's topic is Quick Breads; $50, $199 for series. Call (727) 736-3070 to reserve.

SUGAR FREE CLASSES: Sugar Free Desserts, 2660 Bayshore Blvd., Dunedin. Taste of Mexico, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Sat., menu includes amaranth beef enchilada, $45; Low-Carb Cooking, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Nov. 6, $45. Call (727) 738-9525.

KITCHEN CREATIONS: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Mon., Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, 811 S Palm Ave., Sarasota. Create vinegars, mixes, fresh herb wreath to give as gifts; $30, plus $10 materials fee. Call (941) 366-5731, ext. 239 to reserve.

THANKSGIVING DINNER SECRETS: 6 p.m. Mon., Cafe Ponte, 13505 ICOT Blvd., Clearwater. Learn the culinary secrets to make Thanksgiving a success from chef Chris Ponte. Recipes provided, hors d'oeuvres, and wine; $50. Call (727) 538-5768 to reserve.

HEALTHY HOLIDAY TREATS: 5:30-7 p.m. Mon., at Redwoods, 247 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Integrity Organic Take Out pairs with Redwoods in a class that makes healthy holiday treats; $10. Call 727 824-0881 or email Integrityoto@aol.com to reserve.

"GREAT RECIPES ON THE BALLOT": 6:30 p.m. Tues., Mattison's, 111 Second Ave. NE, St. Petersburg. Chef Paul Mattison's Election Day class includes recipes, dinner and wine; $40. Registration required, call (727) 895-2200.

HOLIDAY ENTERTAINING: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Nov. 4 and 5, Margaret Ann's Catering, 5625 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Holiday foods and entertaining ideas; $35. Call (727) 525-3983 to reserve.

RACHAEL RAY AT APRON'S: Apron's Cooking School, Publix Supermarket at Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa. Rachael Ray of Food Network's $40 a Day and 30-Minute Meals programs, with recipes and tips on making everyday meals special, noon Nov. 8; $70. Call (813) 926-4465.

-- 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.