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Special events and food tastings
NEW YEAR'S EVE TEA: Davis and Daughters Tea Cottage, 530 Alt. U.S. 19 N, Palm Harbor, celebrates with an elegant New Year's Eve tea; menu includes spinach salad, fruited pork tenderloin, turkey cranberry tea sandwiches, scones and raspberry crepes, seatings at 5 and 7 p.m. Wed.; $18.95. Call (727) 785-7790 to RSVP.
BAYFRONT ON VINE: 7 p.m. Jan. 17, Bayfront Medical Plaza, 701 Sixth St. S, St. Petersburg. Tastings of domestic and imported wines from Bogle, Toad Hollow, Charles Krug and more, along with tempting creations from area chefs and restaurants, including O'Bistro, Mattison's, Roy's and Salt Rock Grill, plus a martini bar; $75, proceeds benefit Bayfront Health Foundation. Tickets sell out quickly. Call 727 893-6148 or visit www.bayfrontonvine.org
Wine and beer tastings/classes
FLAVOR COMPONENT TASTING: 6:30 p.m. Jan. 9, Apron's Cooking School, Publix Supermarket at Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa. Learn to discern the subtle flavors that form the character of a wine and focus on how components such as sugar, acids and tannins are balanced. All paired with a four-course tasting menu; $35. Call (813) 926-4465 to RSVP.
Cooking classes
APRON'S CLASSES: Apron's Cooking School, Publix Supermarket at Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa. Stock Market shows how to create sauces, broths and stocks, make brown veal stock, demi-glace, court bouillon, 6 p.m. Jan. 6, $40; Breadmaking creates banana brioche bread pudding, Gorgonzola biscuits, focaccia, 6 p.m. Jan. 7, $30; Low Carb Creativity shows how to add variety to a healthy low-carb lifestyle, with dishes like lime barbecue chicken, spicy tuna spread, frozen yogurt berry cup, 6:30 p.m. Jan. 8, $30. Call (813) 926-4465 to RSVP.
RETURN TO HEALTHY BASICS: 7-8 p.m. Jan. 7, 10-11 a.m. Jan. 8, Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Start the New Year out healthfully with tips from Debby DeGraaff on vegetarian basics; free. Call (813) 873-7428.
CULINARY BASICS: Apron's Cooking School, Publix Supermarket at Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa. Six-part series teaches both the "kitchen-impaired" and experienced cook techniques used by professionals, including knife skills, roasting, poaching, sauteing and more, using seasonal ingredients; students receive certificate upon class completion; $300 entire series. Series runs 6-10 p.m. Wednesdays beginning Jan. 14, or 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Mondays beginning Jan. 19. Call (813) 926-4465 to RSVP.
Contests
BEST CHEF COMPETITION: 7-9:30 p.m. Jan. 6, La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Two area chefs compete, each preparing a meal from surprise ingredients. Spectators sample their creations and vote for their favorite; $50 per person (includes meal). Portion of proceeds benefits the Homeless Emergency Project. Call (727) 736-3070.
- Send news of coming events at least two weeks before the publication date to Food File, the Times, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731.