FRENCH PAIRINGS: 6:30 p.m. Thur., Cafe de France, 15225 Gulf Blvd., Madeira Beach. Dinner pairs wines from Domaine de la Tante, Domaine des Glycines, Domaine d'Arthaud and others with seafood fricassee in lobster sauce, pork and brie in blackberry sauce, chocolate cake with vanilla sauce; $45, plus tax and gratuity. Call (727) 392-8627.
MORGAN AT MATTISON'S: 6:30 p.m. Thur., Mattison's, An American Bistro, 111 Second Ave. NE, St. Petersburg. Morgan Winery varieties Monterey pinot gris, sauvignon blanc, Monterey Cotes du Crow's and more pair with prawns with purple sticky rice, balsamic glazed quail on fennel potato pancakes, sea bass with warm chanterelle and spinach salad, chocolate flourless cake; $65, plus tax and gratuity. Call (727) 895-2200 to RSVP.
TAMPA BAY VEGETARIANS' FAVORITE: 7 p.m. Tue., Saffron's Caribbean Restaurant was chosen as Tampa Bay Vegetarians' favorite for 2003, and guests are invited to join members to celebrate with Caribbean dinner; menu includes curry vegetable pasta, pumpkin soup, johnnycakes; $12 members, additional $2 for nonmembers, includes tax and gratuity. To reserve, call (727) 392-0268 by Fri.
BAILEYANA BENEFIT DINNER: 6:30 p.m. reception, dinner follows, Jan. 28, Island Way Grill, 20 Island Way, Clearwater Beach. Foie gras with huckleberry/calvados reduction, lamb rib chops with wild rice and grilled beets, breast of veal in wild mushroom sauce, cranberry-orange chocolate sachertorte are on chef Tom Pritchard's menu, as well as Baileyana wines from Central California' Edna Valley by winemaker Christian Roguenaut; $85 plus tax and gratuity, proceeds benefit the Abilities Foundation. Call (727) 461-6617.
TASTES OF SPAIN AND CHILE: 7 p.m. Jan. 29, Columbia Restaurant, 2117 E Seventh Ave., Ybor City. Seven-course dinner gathers wines from Spanish and Chilean vintners and matches them with tapas that include serrano ham on garlic toast, plus peppercorn-crusted filet mignon, white-chocolate bread pudding with raspberry and chocolate sauce; $75, inclusive. Call (813) 248-4961 to RSVP.
TINY FRUIT-BIG FLAVOR: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Jan. 31, U.S. 301 (Seventh Street) and Meridian Avenue in downtown Dade City. Try kumquats, Florida's tiniest citrus fruit, in such dishes as kumquat and rum ice cream, kumquat salsa, kumquat poundcake and kumquat chips and as versatile flavoring for meats, salads and desserts at the annual Kumquat Festival; includes cooking contest, farmers market with fresh produce, herbs, citrus trees, honey, plus arts and crafts, wagon rides, bluegrass, folk music; free. Call (352) 567-3769.
EINSTEIN ON WINE: 6-9 p.m. Jan. 31, MOSI, 4801 E Fowler Ave., Tampa. Sample white, red and sparkling wines from around the world and more than 80 vintners and pair them with creations from area restaurants and chefs; plus music and silent auction in casual atmosphere; $60, $50 MOSI members, proceeds benefit MOSI education programs. Call (813) 987-6000.
GOT GAME?: Spoto's The Steak Joint, 4871 Park St. N, St. Petersburg, (727) 545-9481, or 1280 Main St., Dunedin, (727) 734-0008; offers monthlong game and wine pairing dinners through January, with grilled buffalo steak in red wine demiglace, elk and venison, all paired with robust wines to complement the flavor of the meats.
Wine and beer tastings/classes
SICILY'S FINEST: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Fri., Got Wine and Cigars, 662 Main St., Dunedin. Sicily's Finest Grapes tasting samples wines from Spadina Nero d'Avolo, Donna Fugata Sedara and others; free, live entertainment and hors d'oeuvres. Call (727) 736-4077.
WORLD CLASS CABS: 7 p.m. aperitif, 7:30 p.m. tasting, Fri., Vintage Wine Cellars, 3629 Henderson Blvd., Tampa. Taste silky, spicy and rich-flavored cabernets from California and around the world, including Raymond 2000 reserve, Rutz Cellars 1991, San Leopaldo 1998; $20. Limited seating; call (813) 879-2931 to reserve.
SAVORING SOUTH AMERICAN WINES: 6:30 p.m. Fri., Uncorked Fine Wines and Accessories, 2706 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Try new South American wines from Chile, Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil; $10 for tasting; proceeds benefit All-Star Baseball School Scholarship Program. Call (727) 892-9463.
A TASTE FOR WINE: A Taste for Wine, 241 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, features Patron's Choice tasting, where participants choose wines to sample, 7:30 p.m. Sat., price varies with wines chosen; or California cabernets tasting of 1999 and 2001 vintages of small-crop production wines; any time between 6-8 p.m. Tue., $15. Call (727) 895-1623.
WINES FOR WEDDINGS: Noon-4 p.m. Sun., Bon Appetit Restaurant, 150 Marina Plaza (across from the Dunedin Marina), Dunedin. Sample wines, sparkling wines and champagnes, plus canapes and desserts at bridal show; $5 at door. Call (727) 733-2151.
HIP HOPS: 7-9 p.m. Jan. 30, Vintage Wine Cellars, 3629 Henderson Blvd., Tampa. Trendy and tasty brews from Belgium, Britain and beyond, including Hen's Tooth English Ale, Val-Dieu Triple ale, Bad Elf Winter's Ale; $10. Call (813) 879-2931.
EIGHT DECADES OF BORDEAUX: 6:30 p.m. reception, 7 p.m. tasting March 15, West Palm Wines, 2009 N 22nd St., Ybor City. Plan ahead for "Eight Decades of Bordeaux" with master of wine Clive Coates and experience 1920 Margaux, 1934 Mouton, 1940 Haut Brion, 1953 Haut Brion, 1959 Cheval Blanc, 1964 Mouton, 1978 Petrus, 1982 Latour, 1988 Ausone, 1990 Lafite in Tampa Wine Institute tasting; $1,000 per person. Limited seating, call (813) 241-8587 to RSVP.
Cooking classes
ITALIAN CUISINE: 7-8 p.m. today, 10-11 a.m. Thur., Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Debby DeGraaff prepares vegetarian Italian cuisine; free. Call (813) 873-7428.
SPICE UP YOUR LIFE: 10-11:30 a.m. Sat., Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, 811 S Palm Ave., Sarasota. Punch up flavor of heart-healthy meals by learning to use fresh herbs and spices; $20. Call (941) 366-5731, ext. 239, to reserve.
TUSCAN WORKSHOP, MACROBIOTICS AT LA MAISON: La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin, presents daylong hands-on Tuscan workshop; menu includes rolled chicken with sweet pepper sauce, monkfish in wine sauce, apple nut tart, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun., $125, inclusive; Intro to Macrobiotics explains health benefits of macrobiotic eating; sesame-seared tofu, lemony daikon pickle, pear and almond clafouti, 6:30-9 p.m. Tue., $39.50. Call (727) 736-3070 to RSVP.
COLD WEATHER COMFORTS: 6:30 p.m. Tues., Mattison's, An American Bistro, 111 Second Ave. NE, St. Petersburg. Chef Paul Mattison's class presents comfort food menu for cold weather, including seafood gumbo, braised lamb shanks, warm berry cobbler; $40. Registration required; call (727) 895-2200.
LOWFAT DESSERTS: 7-8 p.m. Jan. 28, 10-11 a.m. Jan. 29, Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Debby DeGraaff shows there's no need to give up desserts and sweets in class that makes lowfat treats; free. Call (813) 873-7428.
WHAT'S COOKING AT APRON'S: Apron's Cooking School, Publix Supermarket at Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa. Beyond Spaghetti and Meatballs: class teaches kids how noodles are made with fresh pasta, Parmesan gnocchi, 6 p.m. Tue., $25; Ultimate Gourmet Nachos: adds a diverse ethnic twist to nachos: grilled skirt steak with chimichurri, Thai red curry chicken, blue corn with sesame tuna and wasabi, all piled on tortilla chips, 6:30 p.m. Jan. 29, $30; Taste of Cuba, with empanadas (meat-filled pastries), ropa vieja (beef in spicy tomato sauce), flan, 6:30 p.m. Jan. 30, 35. Call (813) 926-4465 to RSVP.
COOKING WITH CHEF FRED: 7 p.m. Jan. 28, Drew Coffee Shop, 1907 Drew St., Clearwater. Beef, mushroom and cheese appetizers, pork loin stuffed with herbs and sausage, raspberry-blackberry tarts are on the menu as Chef Fred shows class how to make an entire meal in this month's class; guests may bring wine or beverage; $24.99, includes dinner. Call (727) 441-2572 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.
