BAY STREET TASTES: 4-10 p.m. Fri., 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sat., noon-6 p.m. Sun., International Plaza and Bay Street, Tampa. Bay Street festival, three days of tasting food, wine and spirits from 12 International Plaza restaurants. Taste ticket prices start at $1. Sales benefit the Lynn Sowers Foundation and StandUp for Kids. Call (813) 342-3790.
DOCK OF THE BAY: 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Sat., Marina Park, Legion and South Bayshore drives, Safety Harbor. Dock of the Bay food and music festival features food tastes from local restaurants, live music, kids' area; $3 admission, kids younger than 12 free, plus charges for food tastes. Call (727) 726-2890.
TASTE OF PLANT CITY: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sat., McCall Park, Palmer and E Reynolds streets, Plant City. Annual tasting event in conjunction with arts and antiques fair features food from area restaurants; $10 advance, $12 day of event, kids up to age 10 $5 at gate. Proceeds benefit United Food Bank. Call (813) 754-3707 or (813) 764-0625.
BEST OF BANFI: 6:30 p.m. reception, 7 p.m. dinner, Oct. 13, Don CeSar Beach Resort & Spa, 3400 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach. Maritana Grille and chef Eric Neri present menu paired with wines from Castellano Banfi, including 2000 Chianti classico riserva, 2002 Fontanelle chardonnay, 2003 rosa Regale; $100 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Call (727) 360-1881, ext. 2601.
COLUMBIA WINE DINNER: 6:30 p.m. Oct. 13, Columbia Restaurant, 2117 E Seventh Ave., Ybor City. Spanish wine dinner features wines from Domino de Tares, ranked among the "Top 100 wines of the World 2003" by Wine Spectator magazine. $75. Call (813) 248-4961 to RSVP.
HUNGER BANQUET: 6:30 p.m. Oct. 14, Fox Hall at Eckerd College, 4200 54th Ave. S, St. Petersburg. Benefit "soup and bread supper" for the St. Petersburg Free Clinic's food bank, pantry and community programs. $10 adults, students free with donation of three personal-care items. Call (727) 821-1200, ext. 118.
BOSSES' DAY TEA: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 15, or seatings at 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Oct. 16, Davis and Daughters Tea Cottage, 530 Alt. U.S. 19 N, Palm Harbor. Treat your boss to five-course tea. $15.95. To RSVP, call (727) 785-7790.
TAMPA BAY CULINARY CLUB: 1 p.m. Oct. 16, Great Lakes Fish House, 776 N Missouri Ave., Largo. Demonstration and sampling of Great Lakes Fish House menu favorites; $10. RSVP required. Call (727) 789-2605 to attend.
Wine and beer tastings/classes
BLACK SHEEP: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Fri., Got Wine, 662 Main St., Dunedin. Black Sheep cabernet/shiraz and chardonnay from Australia or Beaucanon Trifecta cabernet from California's L de Lyeth Winery, pinot grigio from Ecco Domani, at free tasting. Call (727) 736-4077.
WINES FOR PET LOVERS: 1-5 p.m. Sat., Flanagan's Wine Market, 4141 S Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. Flanagan's presents free tasting of domestic and imported wines; guests may purchase bottle of wine to be auctioned to benefit Humane Society of Sarasota. Call (941) 929-9463 or (941) 955-4131, ext. 305.
FLORIDA WINES: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sat., Florida Estates Winery, 25241 State Road 52, 4 miles west of Interstate 75, near Land O'Lakes. Sample the winery's offerings and browse the fresh market. Free admission. Call 813 996-2113 or visit www.floridaestateswines.com
INTRO TO WINE: 5-7 p.m. Sat., Tampa Wine Institute, 2009 N 22nd St., Ybor City. Wine class series begins with novice class: Intro to Wine I explores the history of winemaking and tastes the great varietals; six to eight wines served, plus foods to accompany; $30. Call (813) 241-8587 to reserve.
AUSTRALIA AND RHONE TASTING: 3-6 p.m. Sun., B-21 Fine Wine & Spirits, 43380 U.S. 19 N, Tarpon Springs. Grand tasting focuses on wines of Australia, such as shiraz/syrah, plus France's Rhone wines, grenache, mouvedre and viognier and California Rhone-style wines; $20 in advance, $25 at door, if available. Call 727 937-5049 or visit www.b-21.com to reserve.
BOURBON MASTERY: noon-2 p.m. Oct. 13, B-21 Fine Wine & Spirits, 43380 U.S. 19 N, Tarpon Springs. Master distiller James C. Russell meets fans of Wild Turkey to sign bottles and celebrate his 50 years with the Wild Turkey Bourbon Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Ky. Call (727) 937-5049.
MEDITERRANEAN FLAVORS: 6:30 p.m. Oct. 15, Apron's Cooking School at Publix, Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa. Tasting pairs wines from Spain, Italy, Greece and Turkey with tapas that include deep-fried green olives stuffed with sausage and goat cheese, chicken in sherry-almond sauce; $40. Call (813) 926-4465 to reserve.
Cooking classes
AMAZING AVOCADOS: 7-8 p.m. today, 10-11 a.m. Thur., Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Free class with Debby DeGraaff shows how to use avocados to create vegetarian dishes. Call (813) 873-7428.
RAW FOODS: 7 p.m. Thur., Nature's Food Patch, 1225 Cleveland St., Clearwater. Raw foods chef Joseph Custer makes chocolate almond milk, holiday stuffed tomatoes, spicy minestrone; free. Call (727) 443-6703.
POMEGRANATE-GLAZED PEARS: 7-9 p.m. Tues. or Oct. 19, 26 at Cappuccinos Bakery Cafe, 733 Broadway, Dunedin. This month's dessert class makes baked pears with pomegranate glaze; $15, plus food costs. Call (727) 738-8009 to reserve; limited class size.
WILD RICE: 7-8 p.m. Oct. 13, 10-11 a.m. Oct. 14, Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Debby DeGraaff shows how to make vegetarian dishes with wild rice in free class. Call (813) 873-7428.
COOKING WITH WINE: 6-9 p.m. Oct. 14 or 21, Cappuccinos Bakery Cafe, 733 Broadway, Dunedin. Ladies-only class makes hot and cold dinner party appetizers that include cheese straws and choux pastries; $20, plus food costs; bring bottle of wine if desired. Call (727) 738-8009 to reserve.
KIDS COOK DINNER: 1 p.m. Oct. 14, Clearwater Main Library, 100 N Osceola Ave., Clearwater. Chef Bill Mitchell of Apron's Cooking School teaches "Kids Cook Dinner" program for ages 8-12 with Halloween-themed menu that includes "litterbox cake" and "spooky eyeball tacos." Free. Call (727) 562-4970, ext. 5284.
BREADS TO DESSERT: Apron's Cooking School at Publix, Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa. Bread Baking, 6 p.m. Oct. 14 and 10 a.m. Oct. 16, $35; Spice It Up makes noisettes of lamb with garlic sauce, grits and Cheddar souffle, 6:30 p.m. Oct. 16, $35; Dessert Techniques series includes these topics: cookies and pies, cakes and souffles and pastries, 6-10 p.m. Mondays beginning Oct. 18, and Oct. 25, Nov. 1, $150. Call (813) 926-4465 to reserve.
COOKING ACADEMY CLASSES: Tampa Bay Cooking Academy, 700 Central Ave., No. 102, St. Petersburg. Hands-on cooking classes: Vegetable Preparation II, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. or 6-9:30 p.m. Mon.; Dried Beans, Couscous, Polenta, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. or 6-9:30 p.m. Tue.; Specialty Meat Dishes such as filet of beef en croute, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. or 6-9:30 p.m. Oct. 13; Taste of Oriental Cooking, including moo shu pork, orange beef, Chinese dumplings, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. or 6-9:30 p.m. Oct. 14. Cost per class: $60, plus food costs. Call (727) 898-2665.
COBWEB CUPCAKES: 9:30-11:30 a.m. Oct. 17, Williams-Sonoma at Westfield Shoppingtown Citrus Park, 8066 Citrus Park Town Center, Tampa. Chefs Jurgen Gross and Jim Snyder make Halloween treats and beverages for kids; menu includes cocoa cobweb cupcakes, spice Bundt cakelets, cinnamon-buttermilk muffins, mulled cider; $35. Call (813) 920-6939.
VINOY CHEF'S HEALTHFUL SECRETS: 5:30 p.m. Oct. 18, Classroom D, first floor at St. Anthony's Hospital, 1200 Seventh Ave. N, St. Petersburg. Chef Nathan Rich of the Renaissance Vinoy Resort, along with registered dietitians, share helpful cooking tips to create heart-healthy, flavorful meals; this month's menu includes sea scallops with corn coulis. Cost: $15. Tickets must be purchased before Oct. 15. Call (727) 820-7910.
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Send news of coming events at least two weeks in advance of the publication date to Food File, St. Petersburg Times, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731.
