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Food File

Special events and food tastings

BAILEYANA BENEFIT DINNER: 6:30 p.m. reception, dinner follows, today, Island Way Grill, 20 Island Way, Clearwater Beach. Foie gras with huckleberry/Calvados reduction and lamb rib chops with wild rice and grilled beets are on chef Tom Pritchard's menu, paired with Baileyana wines from winemaker Christian Roguenaut in Central California's Edna Valley; $85 plus tax and gratuity; proceeds benefit Abilities Foundation. Call (727) 461-6617.

TASTES OF SPAIN AND CHILE: 7 p.m. Thur., Columbia Restaurant, 2117 E Seventh Ave., Ybor City. Seven-course dinner with Spanish and Chilean wines: $75, inclusive. Call (813) 248-4961 to RSVP.

LE BOUCHON WINE DINNER: 7 p.m. Thur., Le Bouchon Bistro, 796 Indian Rocks Road, Belleair Bluffs. Jean Francois presents wines from France including pinot blanc, cote du Rhone, chinon white, plus a California Bridge merlot, paired with five courses including tomato and fresh mozzarella salad, chicken breast with wild mushroom and red wine sauce, strawberry crepe; $39.95. Call (727) 585-9777.

TINY FRUIT - BIG FLAVOR: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat., U.S. 301 and Meridian Ave. 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 annual Kumquat Festival: includes cooking contest; farmer's market with fresh produce, herbs, citrus trees, honey; plus arts and crafts, wagon rides, bluegrass, folk music; free admission. Call (352) 567-3769.

EINSTEIN ON WINE: 6-9 p.m. Sat., MOSI, 4801 E Fowler Ave., Tampa. Sample white, red and sparkling wines around the world from more than 80 vintners, and pair them with creations from bay area restaurants and chefs; plus music and silent auction; $60, $50 MOSI members; proceeds benefit MOSI education programs. Call (813) 987-6000.

"EVENING EXTRAORDINAIRE": 6-9 p.m. Feb. 12, Safety Harbor Resort & Spa, 105 N Bayshore Drive, Safety Harbor. Start Valentine's Day festivities early with "An Affair to Remember" themed event that serves wines from around the world with foods from bay area restaurants; plus silent and live auctions. Tickets: $25, $30 at door if available. Call Palm Harbor Chamber of Commerce for tickets or more information: (727) 784-4287.

Wine and beer tastings/classes

GLOBAL WINE TASTING: 5-7 p.m. Thur. and Fri., American Spirits, 280 Third St. S, St. Petersburg. Wines from Chile, Argentina, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and the United States are featured with cheeses at tasting; $5. Call (727) 895-8700.

BEACHFRONT WINE BENEFIT: 6-8 p.m. Thur., 3613 Beach Drive, Tampa. Abilities benefit wine tasting presented by Fine Wine & Spirits Warehouse, with 60 wines from California and around the world, hors d'oeuvres and cheeses. Donation: $15 per person, or $25 per couple. Call (813) 837-8941 for reservations.

ITALY, CHILE AND CALIFORNIA: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Fri., Got Wine and Cigars, 662 Main St., Dunedin. Travel the world and taste a crisp Ecco Domani pinot grigio from Italy, a rich La Joya Carmenere from Chile or merlot and cabernets from California at free tasting; live entertainment and hors d'oeuvres. Call (727) 736-4077.

VIOGNIER VARIETIES, PINOT PICKS: 6:30 p.m. Fri., Uncorked Fine Wines and Accessories, 2706 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Tasting of grape varietals the include viognier, pinot noir and zinfandel; $10, includes souvenir glass; proceeds benefit All-Star Baseball School Scholarship Program. Call (727) 892-9463.

HIP HOPS: 7-9 p.m. Fri., 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.

FRESH MARKET WINE TASTING: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sat., Florida Estates Winery, four miles west of I-75 on State Road 52 near Land O'Lakes. Sample the wine; browse the fresh market's produce, breads, pickles, cheeses and food samples; handmade crafts for sale, live music; free admission. Call 813 996-2113 or visit www.floridaestateswines.com

WOMEN AND WINE: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Feb. 5, Vintage Wine Cellars, 3629 Henderson Blvd., Tampa. Women make up the majority of wine drinkers in the United States, but only a small percentage of wine buyers, so this "girl's night out" tasting focuses on food and wine pairings from a woman's perspective; $15. Call (813) 879-2931 to reserve.

CHOCOLATE WINE: 5-8 p.m. Feb. 7, Florida Orange Groves and Winery, 1500 Pasadena Ave. S, Pasadena. About 25 varieties of Florida citrus, fruit and even chocolate wines, plus sweets and treats and tours of the winery at Valentine-themed tasting. Free admission; adults only Call (727) 347-4025.

EIGHT DECADES OF BORDEAUX: 6:30 p.m. reception, 7 p.m. tasting, March 15, West Palm Wines, 2009 N 22nd St., Ybor City. "Eight Decades of Bordeaux" with master of wine Clive Coates, who presents 1920 Margaux, 1934 Mouton, 1940 Haut Brion, 1953 Haut Brion, 1959 Cheval Blanc, 1964 Mouton, 1978 Petrus, 1982 Latour, 1988 Ausone, 1990 Lafite in one-of-a-kind Tampa Wine Institute tasting; $1,000 per person. Limited seating; call (813) 241-8587 to RSVP.

LOWFAT DESSERTS: 7-8 p.m. today, 10-11 a.m. Thur., Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Debby DeGraaff shows there's no need to give up desserts and sweets in a class that makes low-fat treats; free. Call (813) 873-7428.

COOKING WITH CHEF FRED: 7 p.m. today, Drew Coffee Shop, 1907 Drew St., Clearwater. Appetizers, entree and dessert are on the menu as Chef Fred shows class how to make an entire meal in this month's cooking class; guests may bring wine or beverage; $24.99, includes dinner. Call (727) 441-2572 to RSVP.

SEAFOOD MASTERY, LOW-CARB COOKING AT LA MAISON: La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin, presents Mastering Seafood class; learn to grill, saute, poach, sear, broil and bake seafood en papillote, 6:30-9:30 Thur., $45; or Atkins diet fans can create low-carbohydrate dishes such as marinated shrimp skewers with basil drizzle, beef tenderloin with caramelized onions and cabernet sauce, roasted garlic mashed cauliflower, flourless chocolate cake, 6:30-9 p.m. Feb. 5, $39.50. Call (727) 736-3070 to RSVP.

ALL ABOUT CITRUS: 5:30-7 p.m. Mon., at Redwoods, 247 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Integrity Organic Take Out holds "All About Citrus" class at Redwoods; $10, includes wine tasting, appetizers. Limited space; call (727) 824-0881 to reserve (required).

CAKE DECORATING: Honey Bee Shop, 11144 N 30th St., Tampa. Basic Cake Decorating, 7-9 p.m. begins Mon., $25, plus supplies; Intermediate Cake Decorating begins 7-9 p.m. Tue., $25, plus supplies; and Gum Paste Rose Bouquet class begins 7-9 p.m. Feb. 5, $60, plus supplies. All classes are four-week series. Registration required; call (813) 971-7599 to RSVP.

HEARTY VEGETABLE STEWS: 7-8 p.m. Feb. 4, 10-11 a.m. Feb. 5, Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Learn to make warming and hearty cold-weather stews in free vegetarian class. Call (813) 873-7428.

CHALET SUZANNE CHEF: 6:30 p.m. Feb. 5, Apron's Cooking School, Publix Supermarket at Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa. Richard Zerr, executive chef at Chalet Suzanne, a Central Florida landmark, creates four-course menu; $40. Call (813) 926-4465 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.