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Food file

A look at what's happening around the bay area.

By PEGGY ANDERS
Published March 30, 2005

Special events and food tastings

COHN WINERY DINNER: 6:30 p.m. Thur., Cafe Ponte, 13505 Icot Blvd., Clearwater. B.R. Cohn Winery dinner includes five courses from chef Christopher Ponte; $85 plus tax and gratuity. Call (727) 538-5768.

CAMPANIA CUISINE: Maggiano's Little Italy, 203 WestShore Plaza, Tampa. Executive chef James Boheim demonstrates regional Italian dishes from Campania, including salmon rotolo and lemon custard cake, plus wine sampling; recipes provided; 5-7 p.m. Thur.; free. Call (813) 288-9000.

ICE CREAM DREAMS: Cold Stone Dreamery donates 50 percent of all sales to Children's Dream Fund in grand opening celebration from 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Sat. at 6840 22nd Ave. N, St. Petersburg. Call (727) 345-4100.

TASTE OF CITRUS PARK: 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Sat., Sickles High School, 7950 Gunn Highway, Tampa. Tastings from Coquina Blue, Paul Lee's Chinese Kitchen, McDivots and more, cooking demonstrations by Maggiano's Little Italy, pie-eating contest, pet parade; free admission, nominal charge for food tastes; proceeds benefit school's technology and music programs. Call (813) 920-3007.

"PASTA E POLENTA': 4:30-6:30 p.m. Sun., Massimo's, 31876 U.S. 19 N, Palm Harbor. Chef Massimo Patano pairs two staples of Italian cuisine, pasta and polenta, with wines in demonstration to benefit Ruth Eckerd Hall; dishes include regional cuisine such as stuffed pasta and a polenta dessert; $50. Call (727) 712-2760.

TOUR OF KITCHENS: Tom Pritchard of Salt Rock Grill, Christopher Ponte of Cafe Ponte, Jason Orchard of Redwoods and three other local chefs show off their culinary talents, each in a local home kitchen, while guests enjoy samples in Tour of Kitchens, 3-7 p.m. Sun. at residences in Belleair Bluffs, Harbor Bluffs and Harbor Oaks. Cost: $60, benefits Watson Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Call (727) 544-4433 for tickets and self-guided tour maps.

GRANDE DAME 0F SPANISH WINE: 7 p.m. April 6, Columbia Restaurant, 2117 E Seventh Ave., Ybor City. Winemaker Maria Martinez-Sierra, considered by many the grande dame of Spanish wines, presents Bodegas Montecillo vineyard varieties, including 130th anniversary Montecillo wine, paired with five-course dinner; $50. Call (813) 248-4961.

COLUMBIA PAIRINGS: Wines from Montecillo region in Spain (like rioja), paired with Columbia's classic cuisine in multicourse dinner menu for two; $100, available nightly through April in celebration of the restaurant's 100th anniversary. Contact Columbia Restaurants in: Ybor City, (813) 248-4961; downtown St. Petersburg, (727) 822-8000; Clearwater, (727) 596-8400; and Sarasota, (941) 388-3987, for more information.

LOIRE VALLEY VARIETALS: 6:30 p.m. Fri., Uncorked Fine Wines and Accessories, 2706 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Loire Valley varietals from France, including chenin blanc, pinot noir, sauvignon blanc, cabernet franc are sampled; $10. Proceeds benefit Campbell Park Marine Science Center. Call (727) 892-9463.

NO FOOLIN': 6:30-8:30 p.m. Fri., Got Wine, 662 Main St., Dunedin. April Fool's Day tasting features wines from Italy, including Barone Albergotti Chianti and Terre Valse montepulciano, plus wines from Virginia, such as Barboursville chardonnay; free. Call (727) 736-4077.

MARTINIS, SOUTH AFRICAN SAFARI: Charlie's Wine Bar, 533 S Howard Ave., Tampa, presents martini, wine and beer tasting with four varieties of each, 7:30 p.m. Sat., $10 advance, $12 at door; or South African Safari, red and white wines paired with regional cuisine, 4 p.m. Sun., $12 advance, $15 at door. Call 813 250-1967 or visit www.charlieswine.com

"HEAVENLY WINES III': 7-9:30 p.m. Sat., at Church of the Holy Spirit, 601 Philippe Parkway, Safety Harbor. Try divine wines from around the world from Ed's Fine Wines in Clearwater, along with hors d'oeuvres, oldies music; $18, includes one free raffle ticket. To purchase tickets, call (727) 725-4726 or (727) 796-4220.

HISTORY OF WINES: 5-8 p.m. Sat., Florida Estates Winery, 25241 SR 52, 4 miles west of Interstate 75, near Land O'Lakes. Learn about wine in class that details brief history, grape varietals, cork evolution, tasting and rating wines, oak aging and more; $20 advance, $25 at door, includes wine tasting, snacks, dessert and logo wine glass. Call 813 996-2113 or visit www.floridaestateswines.com

WINE AND WORD: 6-8 p.m. April 6, Salvador Dali Museum, 1000 Third St. S, St. Petersburg. Celebrate fermented grapes and the written word at wine tasting that combines the flavors of Spanish sherry with poetry of Andalusia; $15, $7 Dali members. To RSVP, call (727) 823-3767, ext. 3024, by Mon.

BREADS OF THE WORLD: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun., Let Them Eat Cake, 3805 S West Shore Blvd., Tampa. Learn the secrets to making an array of breads from around the world; $125, includes lunch and supplies. RSVP required; call (813) 837-6888.

LA MAISON LESSONS: La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin, presents: Spring menu class, with salmon with tarragon and fennel seed butter, 6:30-9 p.m. Tue., $39.50; 30-Minute Meals, with quick chicken sautes and main meal soups, 6:30-9 p.m. April 6, $39.50; Low Carb Party Foods, with brie and mango skewers with bourbon drizzle, lemon grass beef, firecracker shrimp with ginger, lobster and boursin-stuffed tomatoes and more, 6:30-9 p.m. April 7, $45. Call (727) 736-3070 to RSVP.

SIP AND SPEAK ITALIAN: Enjoy Italian wine and cuisine while learning beginner's conversational Italian, Italian culture and customs from Chef Roberto. Five-session series meets: 6:30-7:30 p.m. Mondays, beginning Mon. at the Italian-American Connection, 7500 Ulmerton Road, in Rosetree Plaza, Largo. $170 per series; or 6-7 p.m. Tuesdays beginning Tue., at Castellano & Pizzo Italian Gourmet Foods, 4200 S Henderson Blvd., Tampa, $185; or 6-7 p.m. beginning April 6 at Bellini Restaurant, 487 Main St., Dunedin, $185; also 6-7 p.m. beginning April 7 at Bellagio Ristorante, 95 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, $185. Preregistration required for all classes; 727 866-6892 or www.learnitalian.us

CONVERSATIONAL CUISINE: Learn to speak beginner's conversational Spanish and enjoy Spanish cuisine in five-week course that immerses students in the language, foods, culture and customs of Spain, 6-7 p.m. Thursdays beginning April 7 at Castellano & Pizzo Italian Gourmet Foods, 4200 S Henderson Blvd., Tampa. Cost: $185 for five-week course, includes meals and all materials. Preregistration required; call 727 866-6892 or visit www.learnitalian.us

APRON'S GUEST CHEFS: Apron's Cooking School, Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa, presents Anne Willan, director of La Varenne at the Greenbrier and French cooking expert, 6:30 p.m. April 8, $60; celebrity chef Martin Yan, with practical Asian recipes combined with his signature wit and wisdom, 6:30 p.m. April 13, $45. Call (813) 926-4465.

PASSOVER AND PASTA: Apron's Cooking School at Publix Supermarket at Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa, presents: updated Passover dishes, including roasted onion and shallot soup, pineapple kugel, 6:30 p.m. April 5, $35; Pasta, Risotto and Gnocchi hands-on class makes saffron ravioli with mussels, lobster and tarragon risotto, 6:30 p.m. April 7, $40. Call (813) 926-4465.

HEALTHY SPRING CUISINE: 5:30 p.m. April 11, fourth floor at St. Anthony's Hospital, 1200 Seventh Ave. N, St. Petersburg. Chef Nathan Rich of the Renaissance Vinoy Resort and registered dietitians share heart-healthy spring cuisine menu. Cost: $15, tickets must be purchased by April 8; call (727) 820-7910.

- 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.

[Last modified March 29, 2005, 10:30:05]