Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies

Food file

A look at some local food related events

Special events and food tastings

SUNCOAST WINE FESTIVAL: 1-4:30 p.m. Sat., Sarasota Polo Club, 8201 Polo Club Lane 31/2 miles east of I-75 off University Parkway at Lorraine Road, Sarasota. More than 300 domestic and international wines, plus tastes from restaurants that include Ruth's Chris Steak House, Zoria, Bamboo Bistro. $30 advance, $35 at door; benefits nonprofit community service agencies. (941) 812-1630 or www.suncoastwinefestival.com

RIBFEST: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Fri.-Sat., 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sun., Vinoy Park, Fifth Avenue NE and Bayshore Drive NE, St. Petersburg. $6 advance, $10 at gate; benefits All Children's Hospital and other children's charities. 727 528-3828 or www.ribfest.org

GREEK FESTIVAL: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Fri.-Sat., noon-6 p.m. Sun., St. John Greek Orthodox Church, 2418 Swann Ave. (at Armenia Avenue), Tampa. Greek foods and festivities, from pastries to folk dancing; $1 advance, $2 at door, kids free. (813) 876-8830.

LAKERIDGE HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Fri.-Sat., 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun., Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards, U.S. 27, 3 miles south of Florida Turnpike Exit 285, near Clermont. Food and wine, guided winery tours, arts and crafts vendors. Free admission. Toll-free 1-800-768-9463, 352 394-8627, or www.lakeridgewinery.com

BUBBLY BENEFIT DINNER: 6:30 p.m. Tue., Island Way Grill, 20 Island Way, Clearwater Beach. Chef Tom Pritchard pairs five courses with Reims, France, winemaker Luc Montaudon's varieties, including Montaudon champagne, pouilly fuisse and Chateauneuf du Pape, live auction of rare wines; $75, plus tax and gratuity, to benefit the Abilities Foundation. Limited seating: (727) 538-7370, ext. 319.

"MAKING IT EASY": 6:30 p.m. Nov. 17, Mise en Place, 442 W Kennedy Blvd., Tampa. Suki Hertz, recipe developer and food stylist for Food Network presents her cookbook The Food Network Kitchen's Making It Easy, with demonstrations of New American recipes; $44.95 per person for one book, $64.95 per couple with one book, additional guests $20 each (with no book), plus tax, gratuity included. (813) 254-5373 to reserve.

MORANDE WINE DINNER: 7-9 p.m. Nov. 17, Pacific Wave, 211 Second St. S, St. Petersburg. Pablo Morande presents Morande wines from Chile's Rapel Valley, awarded 2003 Winery of the Year by Wine & Spirits magazine, paired with Pacific fusion cuisine; $80, plus tax and gratuity. (727) 822-5235.

BEAUJOLAIS AT BOUCHON BISTRO: 7 p.m. Nov. 18, Le Bouchon Bistro, 796 Indian Rocks Road, Belleair Bluffs. Beaujolais Nouveau dinner pairs filet of seared salmon in puff pastry, roasted lamb leg with garlic and rosemary and caramelized apple and ginger crepe with this year's new release of fresh, fruity beaujolais nouveau wine; $45.50, plus tax and gratuity. (727) 585-9777 to RSVP.

RABBITS TO GOATS: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Fri., Got Wine, 662 Main St., Dunedin. Try wines with animal themes, from California's Rock Rabbit shiraz to Goats du Roam from South Africa, plus Italian pinot grigio, Russian River chardonnay at free tasting. (727) 736-4077.

SINGLE VINEYARD WINES: 6-7:30 p.m. Fri., Bern's Fine Wines & Spirits, 1002 Howard Ave. S., Tampa. Try single-vineyard wines from Chateau St. Michelle, Northstar merlot, and Col Solare meritage, all from Washington state; $15, RSVP required: (813) 250-9463.

PORTS AND MADEIRA: 6:30 p.m. Fri., Uncorked Fine Wines and Accessories, 2706 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Ports, madeiras and other dessert wines are focus of tasting; $10, includes souvenir wine glass. Benefits St. Petersburg Free Clinic. (727) 892-9463.

WASHINGTON WINES: 6-8:30 p.m. Fri., International Cellar Wine Boutique, 11655 Countryway Blvd. at Race Track Road, Tampa. Wines from Washington state, including Terra Blanca winery, Washington Hills winery, Three Rivers winery; free. (813) 855-8099.

INDIAN SHORES ANNIVERSARY: 2 p.m. Sun., Indian Shores Town Hall Auditorium, 19305 Gulf lvd., Indian Shores. Celebrate the town's 40th anniversary of its library with wine tasting party, hors d'oeuvres from Italian-American Connection; $10 advance only. (727) 595-4149.

HOLIDAY TASTING: 5-8 p.m. Nov. 18, Pasadena Liquors and Fine Wines, 1100 Pasadena Ave. S, South Pasadena. Start holiday celebrations early with wine and spirits tasting and hors d'oeuvres by Emerson Catering. $10. (727) 347-9607.

FOND OF FONDUE: 7-9 p.m. Nov. 18, the Melting Pot, 2221 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Tampa Bay Uncorked gathering focuses on wines with fondue, from cheese to chocolate; wines include prosecco, Chianti and Caymus Conundrum. $30 advance, $35 at door if available. Benefits St. Jude's Children's Hospital. www.tampabayuncorked.org

BEAUJOLAIS TASTING: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Nov. 19, Got Wine, 662 Main St., Dunedin. Try the new release of beaujolais nouveau wines from France, along with French cheeses and breads; free. (727) 736-4077.

OLD AND NEW WORLD WINES: 5-7 p.m. Nov. 20, Tampa Wine Institute, 2009 N 22nd St. (corner of 22nd Street and Palm Avenue), Ybor City. Old and New World Wines tasting class compares and contrasts varieties from differing world cultures; 6-8 wines served at each tasting, plus foods to accompany; $30. Seating limited; RSVP, (813) 241-8587.

SEASON OF THANKSGIVING: 11 a.m. Sat., Nature's Food Patch, 1225 Cleveland St., Clearwater. Season of Thanksgiving class makes carrot lentil loaf with mushroom leek gravy, sweet potato souffle and fast and easy cranberry sauce for healthful holiday alternatives; free. (727) 443-6703.

LET THEM EAT PIE: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun., and 6-10 p.m. Mon., Let Them Eat Cake, 3805 S Westshore Blvd., Tampa. First in a series of classes taught by chefs Michael Ostrander and Michael Baugh, on creating an array of special pies for the holidays, all from scratch. $150 for two-day class. (813) 546-1832 or (813) 837-6888.

GIRLFRIEND GIFT SWAP Margaret Ann's Catering, 5625 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg, presents Girlfriend Gift Swap party; includes dinner of butternut squash and apple soup, shrimp with avocado and dried cranberries, and Grand Marnier cupcake, 5:30-7 p.m. Tue.; $25. Limited seating: (727) 525-3983 to reserve.

SOUTH BEACH, FALL CLASSICS: La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin, presents South Beach and Atkins diet class with dishes for the holidays that include mock garlic mashed potatoes, steak Diane, apple-almond souffle, 6:30-8 p.m. Nov. 17, $25; or Couples Cook Fall Classics class makes leek and gruyere tart, rosemary merlot flank steak, spiced pumpkin cheesecake with gingersnap crust, 6:30-9:30 p.m. Nov. 19, $85 per couple or $45 per person. (727) 736-3070 to RSVP.

PERFECT THANKSGIVING: 1 p.m. Nov. 18, Clearwater Main Library, 100 N Osceola Ave, Clearwater. Chef Bill Mitchell of Apron's Cooking School shows how to prepare a juicy turkey and side dishes for a perfect Thanksgiving dinner. Free. (727) 562-4970, ext. 5284.

BEST CHEF: 7-9:30 p.m. Tue., La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Chefs Doug Bebell of Mystic Fish in Palm Harbor and Robert Nasson from 717 South Howard in Tampa meet for culinary competition, each preparing meal from surprise ingredients. Spectators sample their creations and vote for their favorite; $50 per person (includes meal); benefits Ruth Eckerd Hall Foundation. (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.