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Food file

Special events and food tastings

ART OF ROCK AND ROLL: 6:30-9:30 p.m. Thur., ballroom at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, 5223 Orient Road, Tampa. Monthly series features works from artists at Artists Unlimited Inc., plus hors d'oeuvres paired with selection of wines; $10. Call (813) 627-7625 or (813) 229-5958.

GLOBAL THEME: 6 p.m. Sun., Cock & Bull Pub, 975 Cattleman Road, Sarasota. Taste international cuisine paired with regional beers in multicourse dinner; $55. Call (941) 341-9785 to reserve.

TOUR OF TASTES: Mise en Place, 442 W Kennedy Blvd., Tampa. Four-course dinners paired with wines from chef Marty Blitz: South American (Tue.), European (Aug. 17), African (Aug. 24), Australian (Aug. 31), North American (Sept. 7). Dinners start at $29 (without wine). Call (813) 254-5373to RSVP.

SUSHI SHOWDOWN: 7-9 p.m. Thur., Florida Aquarium, 701 Channelside Drive, Tampa. Sushi chef competition and cuisine sampling, sake and Japanese beer tastings; Aquarium exhibits open during event; $60. Proceeds benefit Florida Aquarium's veterinary and education programs. Call (813) 273-4568.

WAZOO!: 8-10:30 p.m. Sat., Lowry Park Zoo, 1101 W Sligh Ave., Tampa. Annual zoo fundraiser features more than 150 beers from around the world, wines, local restaurant cuisine samplings and entertainment. Cost: $30 in advance, $35 day of event, $15 for designated driver tickets. Call (813) 935-8552, ext. 276.

SIMPLY CHAMPAGNE: 6:30-9 p.m. today, Vintage Wine Cellars, 3629 Henderson Blvd., Tampa. Explore the regions in which Champagne is made and learn how its varieties are created; $25. Call (813) 879-2931 to RSVP.

BEAUJOLAIS AND BEER: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Fri., Got Wine, 662 Main St., Dunedin. Tasting includes Louis Jadot beaujolais, Barramundi shiraz from Australia, Forest Fire white merlot from California and Hacker Pschorr beer from Germany, paired with hors d'oeuvres at free tasting. Call (727) 736-4077.

CLUB RED: 6-8:30 p.m. Fri., International Cellars Wine Boutique, 11655 Countryway Blvd., at Racetrack Road, Tampa. Try red wines with sophisticated flavors at free tasting. Call (813) 855-8099 for information.

"CONFESS YOUR ZINS': 12:45-7:45 p.m. Sat., meet for bus pickup in front of Sears, 250 WestShore Plaza, Tampa. Field trip to Sarasota's Epicurean Life with Tampa Bay Uncorked members to taste more than 30 zinfandels, including those from Rosenblum Cellars, with food pairings, barrel samples of unreleased wines; $50, limited space. Purchase tickets online at www.tampabayuncorked.org

FRENCH FAVORITES: 6:30 p.m. Mon., Brick Room at SideBern's, 1002 Howard Ave. S, Tampa. Summer wine class presents two French favorites: wines and cheeses, with tips on how to pair varieties of each; $50. RSVP required. Call (813) 250-9463.

PORT PERFECTION: 6:30-9 p.m. Aug. 11, Vintage Wine Cellars, 3629 Henderson Blvd., Tampa. Wine class explores the world of port, from tawny to vintage; $25. Call (813) 879-2931 to RSVP.

GREAT WINES FOR BEGINNERS: 6:30 p.m. Aug. 14, Apron's Cooking School, Publix at Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa. Class for beginners on wine varieties and value; $40. Call (813) 926-4465 to reserve.

PINOT NOIR CELEBRATION: 3-6 p.m. Aug. 15, B-21 Fine Wine & Spirits, 43380 U.S. 19 N, Tarpon Springs. Annual Pinot Noir tasting features red and white burgundy wines plus pinot noirs and chardonnays from around the world; $25, $30 after Aug. 13 if available. Call 727 937-5049, ext. 210, or visit www.b-21.com to reserve.

RAW FOODS MADE EASY: 7 p.m. today, Nature's Food Patch, 1225 Cleveland St., Clearwater. Chef Joseph Custer shows those on a raw foods diet how to make apple cobbler, almond milk ice cream; free demonstration. Call (727) 443-6703.

POOLSIDE ENTERTAINING: 9:30-11:30 a.m. Sun., Williams-Sonoma at Westfield Shoppingtown Citrus Park, 8066 Citrus Park Town Center, Tampa. Make poolside fare, including simple, classic canapes, crostini, crudites and dips, plus learn to mix drinks and garnish like a pro; $35. Call (813) 920-6939 to reserve.

SPANISH CUISINE FOR TWO: La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Hands-on Spanish cuisine class for couples, 6:30-9 p.m. Fri., $85 per couple or $45 each. To RSVP, call (727) 736-3070.

TEA SHOWER TREATS: 2 p.m. Sun., Apron's Cooking School, Publix at Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa. Make-ahead treats for afternoon teas; $30. Call (813) 926-4465 to reserve.

HORS D'OEUVRES TO DESSERTS: Tampa Bay Cooking Academy, 700 Central Ave., No. 102, St. Petersburg, presents hands-on recreational cooking classes: Hors d'oeuvres, Appetizers and First Courses IV, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. or 6-9:30 p.m. Mon.; Grilling and Frying 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. or 6-9:30 p.m. Tue.; Desserts, including Charlottes, meringues and macaroons, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. or 6-9:30 p.m. Aug. 11. Cost per class: $60, plus food costs. Call (727) 898-2665 to register.

CARIBBEAN CUISINE: 6:30-8 p.m. Mon., Saffron's Caribbean Cuisine Restaurant, 1700 Park St. N, St. Petersburg. Chef Edyth James leads cooking demonstration that includes dinner, cocktails and wine as she shows participants how to capture the flavors of the islands in monthly cooking class: $25, gratuity extra. Call (727) 343-5410.

BASIC CAKE DECORATING: Honey Bee Shop, 11144 N 30th St., Tampa. Basic Cake Decorating class that includes how to create shell borders and roses, four-week class begins 7-9 p.m. Mon.; or Beautiful Flowers and More, four-week class starts 7-9 p.m. Tue.. Each four-week course costs $25, plus supplies; advance registration required. Call (813) 971-7599 to RSVP.

COLLEGE AND KIDS' COOKING: Apron's Cooking School, Publix at Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa. College Cooking, with ironing board grilled ham, tomato, bacon and cheese sandwiches, Yankee pot roast, 6:30 p.m. Mon., $25; or Kids Cook Dinner class, with chicken enchiladas, churros, 4 p.m. Aug. 11, $35. Call (813) 926-4465 to reserve.

CATERING CLASS: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6-9 p.m. Beginning Aug. 17-Dec. 14 at Pinellas Technical Education Center, 901 34th St. S, St. Petersburg. Chef Paul Kennedy leads class for those interested in catering or becoming home personal chefs. Approximate class cost: $600. Call (727) 893-2500, ext. 1023, to register.

PAULA DEEN'S HOME COOKING: Noon Aug. 21 (10:30-11:30 a.m. book signing), Apron's Cooking School, Publix at Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa. Demonstration of Southern home cooking from Food Network's Paula Deen; $100. Call (813) 926-4465 to reserve.

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.