ABILITIES WINE AND FOOD FESTIVAL: VIP reception, 6-7 p.m., Sat., grand tasting follows: 7-9:30 p.m. Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg. Food from favorite area restaurants, wine tastings with wines from Napa Valley, Sonoma County, Italy, France, Chile, Argentina, Australia, Spain, Germany, New Zealand, Canada and South Africa; silent auction, entertainment. Tickets: grand tasting: $75; VIP tickets, $175, includes entry to grand tasting; Call 727 538-7370, ext. 345, or go to www.abilitiesfoundation.com
HAWAIIAN FUSION WITH ROY YAMAGUCHI: 5:30-10 p.m. Mon., Roy's, 4342 W Boy Scout Boulevard, Tampa. Founding chef Roy Yamaguchi prepares five-course Hawaiian fusion menu and Landon Patterson of Sonoma's Chalk Hill provides wine pairings: $95 plus tax and gratuity. Limited seating, RSVP required, call (813) 873-7697.
TASTE OF CITRUS PARK: Noon-7 p.m. April 3, Sickles High School, 7950 Gunn Highway, Tampa. Family festival features tastes from restaurants, cooking demonstrations showcasing school's culinary arts program, cooking competitions; also carnival, live entertainment; $1 parking fee, charge for food, proceeds benefit Sickles High School. Call (813) 892-8744 for information or to enter Citrus Bake and Taste Off.
Wine and beer tastings/classes
WINE 101: 6:30-9 p.m. today, Vintage Wine Cellars, 3629 Henderson Blvd., Tampa. Spring wine classes kick off with the basics of wines and wine sampling; learn to navigate a wine list, read a wine label, for beginners and enthusiasts alike; $25. Limited seating; call (813) 879-2931 to reserve.
ARTISAN CHEESES AND WINES: 6 p.m. Thur., West Palm Wines, 2009 N 22nd St., Ybor City. Chef Gui of Provence presents tasting of a selection of artisan and small production cheeses from France, Spain, Italy and California. West Palm's Jim Sirna shows how to pair them with various wines; $25. RSVP required. Call (727) 736-1400.
REFRESHING RUSSIAN RIVER WINES: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Friday, Got Wine, 662 Main St., Dunedin. Sample De Loach wines from California's Russian River valley growing region, including chardonnay, gewurztraminer, merlot, pinot noir and more, paired with hors d'oeuvres; free tasting. (727) 736-4077.
UNCORKED FAVORITES: 6:30 p.m. Fri., Uncorked Fine Wines and Accessories, 2706 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Uncorked picks favorite wines to sample, including some from Portugal, Chile and South Africa. $10; proceeds benefit Suncoast Center for Community Mental Health. Call (727) 892-9463.
DREAM TEAM OF WINES: 7 p.m. apertif, 7:30 p.m. tasting, Fri., Vintage Wine Cellars, 3629 Henderson Blvd., Tampa. Taste highly-rated "dream team" wines, including a 1997 Perrier-Jouet Le Fleur Rose, Chateau Mouton-Rothschild 1996 Pauillac, Opus One 2000, more; $75 per person. Limited seating, call (813) 879-2931 to reserve.
RENAISSANCE WINES: 2:30 and 4:30 p.m. Sat.-Sun., at Bay Area Renaissance Festival at MOSI, Fowler Avenue and N 46th Street, Tampa. Wine Gala weekend at the Renaissance Festival features wine tasting, plus champagne, fruit and cheeses to accompany, and grape stomp. Tasting free, but festival admission required: $12.95 adults advance or $14.95 at gate; $11.95 seniors; $4.95 ages 5-12 advance, $6.95 at gate. Call 727 586-5423, toll-free 1-800-779-4910; or www.renaissancefest.com
FROM OAKY TO SMOKY: 6:30-9 p.m. March 31, Vintage Wine Cellars, 3629 Henderson Blvd., Tampa. Learn how to taste and describe a wine's flavor characteristics such as "flowery," "oaky" or "citrusy" in Vintage's wine class; $25. Limited seating, call (813) 879-2931 to reserve.
"TASTE OF HOPE": 6-9 p.m. April 1, TECO Atrium, 702 N Franklin St., downtown Tampa. Third annual benefit wine tasting for Everyday Blessings, child placement organization, features wines from around the world, plus hors d'oeuvres, live jazz, silent auction. Tickets: $45 advance, $50 at door. Call (813) 417-9445.
Cooking classes
COOKING WITH CHEF FRED: 7 p.m. today, Drew Coffee Shop, 1907 Drew St., Clearwater. Chef Fred shows class how to make chicken breast stuffed with sundried tomato, herbs, garlic and mozzarella in a creamy cheese sauce, rice pilaf, honey dill carrots and ice cream with pineapple honey rum sauce in this month's cooking class; guests may bring wine or beverage; $24.99, includes dinner. Call (727) 441-2572 to RSVP.
SHELLFISH, LOW CARB COOKING: La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Prepare shellfish dishes such as scallops with cilantro gremolata and ginger lime, beurre blanc, steamed mussels in white wine garlic sauce and New England clam chowder in hands-on class, 7-9 p.m. Thur., $29.50; Atkins and other low-carb diet fans learn to make marinated shrimp skewers with fresh mozzarella, beef tenderloin medallions with cabernet herb sauce, roasted garlic mashed cauliflower, flourless chocolate cake, 6:30-9 p.m. April 1, $39.50 or $75 per couple. Call (727) 736-3070 to RSVP.
APRON'S CLASSES: Apron's Cooking School, Publix Supermarket at Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa. Sushi 101, 6:30 p.m. Fri., $40; Bountiful Brunch class, with cheese blintz with fruit compote, salmon coulibiac, broccoli cheddar quiche, peach melba, 2 p.m. Sun., $30; Weeknight Gourmet features one-pot wonders such as pork medallions with sage cream and pancetta, wild mushroom soup, lemon "angel" pie, 6:30 p.m. Mon., $35; Call to RSVP (813) 926-4465.
BOUNTIFUL SQUASH AND SHORTCAKES: Sugar-Free Desserts, 2660 Bayshore Blvd., Dunedin offers: Low Carb class with acorn squash chicken ginger soup, grilled salmon in peanut sauce, sauteed portobello with fennel, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Sat., $40; Gluten-Free Baking class makes desserts like shortcakes and chocolate cake, 6:30-8:30 Tues., $45. RSVP: (727) 738-9525.
CAKE DECORATING: Honey Bee Shop, 11144 N 30th St., Tampa. Basic Cake Decorating, including shell borders and making a rose, four-week class begins 7-9 p.m. Mon., $25, plus tax and supplies; Beautiful Flowers, including color flows and making a basketweave pattern, begins 7-9 p.m. Tues., $25, plus tax and supplies; Pre-registration required, call (813) 971-7599 to RSVP.
STRAIGHT FROM THE FARM: 6-8 p.m. April 5, Sunken Gardens 1825 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Join Susan Huff from Headfirst Farms for an evening of organic treats and wine, participate in preparing a complete meal from appetizer to dessert using fresh, organic foods; $60, includes class materials. Register by March 31. Call (727) 521-3102.
JUNIOR COOKING COURSE: Tampa Bay Cooking Academy, 700 Central Ave., No. 102, St. Petersburg. Twelve-day, two-part course designed to introduce budding chefs ages 9 and up to a hands-on culinary experience. Topics include soups, breakfast and brunch, salads, outdoor cooking, Oriental, Mexican and tropical, desserts, vegetables, main dishes. Course presented in two parts, beginning June 12, two 21/2-hour sessions per day, 9-11:30 a.m. and 2-4:30 p.m. Tuition: $248 per course half, or six days, includes textbook. Call 727 898-2665 to register or visit www.thetampabaycookingacademy.com for more information.
Contests
BEST CHEF BATTLE: 7-9:30 p.m. Tues., La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Chefs Massimo Patano of Massimo's in Palm Harbor and John Eric Kern of St. Bart's Island House in Tampa meet for culinary competition, 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 Homeless Emergency Project. Call (727) 736-3070.
- 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.
