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Food file

Events and tastings

FALL HARVEST WINE DINNER: 7 p.m. Thur., Eric's New World Bistro, 1026 Florida Ave., Palm Harbor. Domaine Drouhin wines from Oregon are paired with roasted corn and pumpkin soup, herb-crusted lamb rack and butternut squash cheesecake with apple confit; $49, plus tax and gratuity. Call (727) 787-7734.

BEAUJOLAIS NOUVEAU MENUS: Among restaurants presenting special menus to complement this year's beaujolais nouveau: Le Bouchon Bistro, 796 Indian Rocks Road, Belleair Bluffs, beginning at 5 p.m. Thur.-Sat., with four courses that include double pork loin with rosemary and sun-dried tomato coulis and caramelized apple crepe; $45.50 with wine, or $27.50 without wine, call (727) 585-9777 to RSVP; and Kelly's For Just About Anything, 319 Main St., Dunedin, beginning at 5 p.m. Thur.-Sat., menu includes green tea-smoked duck breast and wasabi tuna tartare, $39.99, call (727) 736-5284 to reserve.

VICTORIAN YULE FEAST: 6:15 p.m. hors d'oeuvres, 7 p.m. dinner Dec. 4, 5, 6 at the Marly Room, Museum of Fine Arts, 255 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg. Annual Madrigal Yule Feast dinner in a Victorian setting, with candlelight procession, music, cuisine by the Wine Cellar; $65, proceeds benefit the Eckerd College Choir and Eckerd Ringers. For tickets, call (727) 864-7712.

HOLIDAY TEA: 5 and 7 p.m. Dec. 4, Davis and Daughters Tea Cottage, 530 Alt. U.S. 19 N, Palm Harbor. Elegant grand tea with accompaniments; $14.95. Call (727) 785-7790 to RSVP.

GINGERBREAD HOUSES: Put your decorating skills to work in these Make Your Own and Decorate Your Own Gingerbread House events. The first will be from 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Dec. 4, Don CeSar Beach Resort & Spa, 3400 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach, benefits the Tampa Bay Chapter of the American Red Cross; tickets must be purchased in advance and are $75 or $100; call (727) 898-3111, must reserve by Mon. The second will be from 1-3 p.m. Dec. 7 at the St. Petersburg Women's Club, 40 Snell Isle Blvd. NE, St. Petersburg, where participants decorate a prepared house; $25 per house; must register by Mon.. Call (727) 526-3972.

WORLDWIDE WINES: 6:30-9 p.m. today, Mirror Lake Lyceum, 737 Third Ave. N, St. Petersburg. Tasting with more than 30 domestic and international varieties from the world's most famous growing regions, plus hors d'oeuvres and entertainment; $15 per person or $25 per couple; proceeds benefit Grace Lutheran School. Call (727) 432-1760 to RSVP.

HOLIDAY TASTING: 5-8 p.m. Thur., Pasadena Liquors and Fine Wines, 1100 Pasadena Ave. S, South Pasadena. Find the perfect wine for any holiday gathering, includes hors d'oeuvres by Emerson Catering; $10. Call (727) 347-9607.

A TASTE FOR WINE: A Taste for Wine, 241 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, tasting samples this season's beaujolais nouveau, 6-8 p.m. Thur., $10; or try special wine selections from Burgundy, 6-8 p.m. Tue., $15; annual Champagne & Port Extravaganza is 6 p.m. Dec. 6, $30, by RSVP only. Call (727) 895-1623.

THANKSGIVING TASTING: 7-9 p.m. Thur., Harr's Surf & Turf, 3235 Tampa Road, Palm Harbor. More than 100 wines from around the world to complement any Thanksgiving meal or party, plus treats like Turducken to accompany the wines; $15 at door, includes case purchase discount. Call (727) 785-8873.

WINES OF ALL KINDS: 6-8 p.m. Fri., Clubhouse at Aston Gardens at Tampa Bay, 12951 W Linebaugh Ave. (1/2 mile west of Grapevine store, east of Racetrack Road), Tampa. Grapevine presents holiday tasting with more than a dozen varieties, plus accompanying buffet; $15. Call (813) 818-9463 to RSVP.

UNCORKED WINES: Uncorked Fine Wines and Accessories, 2706 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg, offers tasting of beaujolais nouveau, plus wines to pair with a Thanksgiving feast, 6:30 p.m. Fri., $10; or try lighter varietals, 6:30 p.m. Nov. 28, $10. Proceeds benefit A Brighter Day charity. Call (727) 892-9463.

BEAUJOLAIS HARVEST, HOLIDAY TASTES: Vintage Wine Cellars, 3629 Henderson Blvd., Tampa, samples this year's beaujolais nouveau, 7-9 p.m. Fri., $10; or annual tasting with red, white and sparkling wines from Ferrari-Carano, Ravensvwood, Mumm, Omaka Springs and more, 7-9 p.m. Dec. 5, limited space, $10. Call (813) 879-2931 to reserve.

FRESH MARKET WINE TASTING: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sat., Florida Estates Winery, 4 miles west of Interstate 75 on State Road 52 near Land O'Lakes. Wine tastings; fresh market with produce, cheeses, smoked seafood, barbecue and food samples, handmade crafts; free admission; 813 996-2113 or www.floridaestateswines.com

B-21 GRAND TASTING: 3-6 p.m. Sun., B-21 Fine Wines and Spirits, 43380 U.S. 19 N, Tarpon Springs. Annual Grand Holiday tasting, with more than 100 wines from around the world and a special emphasis on champagnes and sparkling wines. Limited space, $15 before Fri., $20 Sat.-Sun., if available. Call 727 937-5049, ext. 210, or visit www.b-21.com and click on "Tastings."

AN EVENING IN NAPA: 6:30 p.m. Nov. 29, Apron's Cooking School, Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa. Experience Napa Valley's wines and cuisine with selections from Robert Mondavi Winery paired with oyster tempura, salt-roasted chicken, creme fraiche and pecan terrine; $40. Call (813) 926-4465 to RSVP.

SERAFINO'S SAMPLING: 6-8 p.m. Dec. 2, Serafino's Trattoria, 5625 Fourth St. N., St. Petersburg. Wines from Italy and California pair with an antipasto buffet, plus live music; $12. Call (727) 520-8700.

CLASSIC ITALIAN COOKING: 6:30 p.m. today and Dec. 3, Casa Italia, 2080 Constitution Blvd., Sarasota. Guiliano Hazan, author of The Classic Pasta Cookbook, shares cooking tips and prepares a four-course meal for sampling: $70 per class, includes wine tasting, hors d'oeuvres, recipes. Call (941) 924-1179 to RSVP.

GIRLFRIEND GIFT SWAP LUNCH: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. today, Margaret Ann's Catering, 5625 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Swap holiday gifts with your friends and get ideas for festive holiday lunches; menu includes salad with shrimp, avocado, dried cranberries and blue cheese toasts, decadent chocolate cupcakes; $25. Call (727) 525-3983.

SUGAR-FREE CLASSES: Sugar Free Desserts, 2660 Bayshore Blvd. (northwest corner of Alt. U.S. 19 and Curlew Road), Dunedin, presents a Healthy Eating class, with herb oven-fried chicken, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thur., $45; or Traditional Thai Cooking, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Dec. 3, with pan-fried fish cake and coconut key lime pie, $45. Foods prepared in both classes are sugar-free, gluten-free. Call (727) 738-9525 to RSVP.

LA MAISON CLASSES: La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin, offers classes on hands-on Vegetarian Thanksgiving, 6:30-9 p.m. Thur., $39.50; Art & Science of Baking No. 4, with focus on cakes, including lemon-chiffon cake, 9 a.m.-noon Sat., $50; or Holiday Desserts from Around the World, with Viennese Linzer torte, Swiss souffles, 6:30-9 p.m. Dec. 2, $29.50. Call (727) 736-3070 to RSVP.

EDIBLE FLOWERS: 10-11:30 a.m. Sat., Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, 811 S Palm Ave., Sarasota. Taste garnishes made from plants and blossoms; learn to create edible flourishes; $20. Call (941) 366-5731, ext. 239, to reserve.

APRON'S CLASSES: Apron's Cooking School, Publix Supermarket at Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa. Soups and Breads, with spicy Thai lobster lemongrass soup, 11 a.m. Sat., $40; Holiday Appetizers for Entertaining, napoleons with herb goat cheese and asparagus, 6:30 p.m. Sat., $40; Holiday Morning Brunch class, with sour cream banana-toffee crunch cake, 10 a.m. Nov. 29, $35. Call (813) 926-4465 to RSVP for any class.

HEALTHY HOLIDAY COOKING: 5:30-7 p.m. Dec. 1, Redwoods, 247 Central Ave., downtown St. Petersburg. Integrity Organic Take Out holds class at Redwoods on healthful holiday treats; $10, includes wine tasting, appetizers. Limited space. Call (727) 824-0881 to reserve.

HOLIDAY COOKIE TREATS: 7-8 p.m. Dec. 3, 10-11 a.m. Dec. 4, Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Chef Debby DeGraaff makes treats in free vegetarian class. Call (813) 873-7428.

HORS D'OEUVRES: 6-9:30 p.m. Dec. 3, Tampa Bay Cooking Academy, 700 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Chef John Terczak shows how to prepare an hors d'oeuvres and canape buffet; $38.50 includes recipes, five-course meal. Call 727 898-2665 or visit www.thetampabaycookingacademy.com

PAUL PRUDHOMME AT APRON'S: Apron's Cooking School, Publix Supermarket at Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa. Chef and cookbook author Paul Prudhomme teaches class on use of seasonings, 6:30 p.m. Dec. 5, $75. Call (813) 926-4465.

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