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Letter to the editor

Food File

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

By PEGGY ANDERS
Published June 8, 2005

Special events and food tastings

ROY'S WINE DINNER: 6:30 p.m. reception, 7 p.m. dinner today, Roy's, 4342 W Boy Scout Blvd., Tampa. VJB Vineyards and Cellars of Sonoma Valley pair Mendocino County barbera, Alexander Valley syrah, reserve cabernet sauvignon and more with courses from chef Rand Packer; $75, plus tax and gratuity. Call (813) 873-7697.

FOOD AND FASHION: 6-7:45 p.m. hors d'oeuvres and wine tasting, 8 p.m. fashion show Thur., Whole Food Market, 1451 First St., Sarasota. "Whole Night of Food and Fashion" pairs light bites, wines and fashion show to benefit Mothers Helping Mothers; $20. Call (941) 955-8500.

TEDDY BEAR TEA: 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. adult seatings, 3:30 p.m. kids' seating Sat., Davis and Daughters Tea Cottage, 530 Alt. U.S. 19 N, Palm Harbor. Bring your favorite teddy bear to tea; $15.95 adults, 11.95 children; RSVP required, call (727) 785-7790.

PENFOLDS PAIRING DINNER: 6:30 p.m. Tues., at Massimo's Eclectic Fine Dining, 31876 U.S. 19 N, Palm Harbor. Chef Massimo Patano pairs his food with Australia's Penfolds wine including shiraz, port reserve, riesling; $100 inclusive, benefits Abilities Foundation. Call (727) 538-7370, ext. 349 to RSVP.

HARVEST FESTIVAL: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. June 17-18, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. June 19, Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards, U.S. 27, 3 miles south of Florida Turnpike Exit 285, near Clermont. Annual Harvest Festival with food and wine available for purchase, wine samplings, guided winery tours, arts and crafts, live music. Admission: $2 donation to Hospice Foundation. Call 800 768-9463, (352) 394-8627, or visit www.lakeridgewinery.com

TRINITY TASTING: 5-8 p.m. Fri., Trinity Spirits & Wine, Mitchell Ranch Plaza, 3208 Little Road, New Port Richey. Dynamite Vineyards wines from California's north coast; free. Call (727) 372-5655.

THREE THIEVES TASTING: 7-8:30 Fri., Got Wine, 662 Main St., Dunedin. Try Three Thieves zinfandel and syrah varieties from Australia, plus other wines from around the world, including Albet y Noya penedes from Spain, Cuvee de Palmier sauvignon blanc from France, Cartlidge & Brown pinot noir from California in free sampling. Call (727) 736-4077.

WASHINGTON STATE WINES: 6:30 p.m. Fri., Uncorked Fine Wines and Accessories, 2706 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Pacific Northwest wines from Washington State; $10. Proceeds benefit the St. Petersburg Free Clinic. Call (727) 892-9463.

SUSHI AND "SIDEWAYS": Charlie's Wine Bar, 533 S Howard Ave., Tampa. Sideways wine tour and sushi tasting, with movie trivia, pinot noir sampling and sushi, 7:30 p.m. Fri., $15 advance, $20 at door. Call 813 250-1967 or visit www.charlieswine.com

BIG WINES, SMALL PRICE: 6:30 p.m. Fri., Apron's Cooking School at Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa. Cost-conscious wine connoisseurs can sample value-priced vintages that cost less than $15, many rated 90-plus by Wine Spectator, paired with snacks; $35. Call (813) 926-4465 to RSVP.

FLORIDA ESTATES WINE FESTIVAL: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sat., Florida Estates Winery, 25241 SR 52, near Land O'Lakes. Sample the winery's offerings and browse fresh market. Free admission. Call 813 996-2113 or visit www.floridaestateswines.com

DAD'S LUAU WINE PARTY: 1-4 p.m. Sun., Florida Orange Groves Inc. and Winery, 1500 Pasadena Ave. S, South Pasadena. Father's Day Luau Party with tropical wine sampling, light hors d'oeuvres and winery tours; free admission, adults only. Call (727) 347-4025.

VIP TASTING FOR DAD: 6-8 p.m. June 15, Pic Pac Fine Wine, 6609 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Tasting of wines, both domestic and from around the world, paired with hors d'oeuvres from O Bistro; $25, portion of proceeds benefits Abilities Foundation. Call (727) 347-0743.

ABC TASTING: 5-7 p.m. June 16, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, 204 107th Ave., Treasure Island. Neighborhood tasting features more than a dozen wines, plus light hors d'oeuvres; $5, includes coupon for wine purchase. Call (727) 360-6153.

TASTE OF ITALY: 3-6 p.m. June 19, B-21 Fine Wine & Spirits, 43380 U.S. 19 N, Tarpon Springs. Taste tour of the wine regions of Italy, which produces and exports more wine than any other country; try wines from Tuscany, Sicily, Umbria, Piedmont and more; $20 before June 17, then $25, if available. Call 727 937-5049, ext. 210 or visit www.b-21.com to reserve.

VERSATILE CELERY: 7-8 p.m. today, 10-11 a.m. Thur., Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Celery's not just a diet snack, but can be used in an array of dishes. Learn how in this vegetarian class with chef Debby DeGraaff; free. Call (813) 873-7428.

SUMMER COOKING FOR KIDS: Chef Fred's Junior Cooking Classes present Summer Cooking School for ages 12 and older, 3-4:30 p.m. Thursdays beginning Thur. through July 28, at Drew Coffee Shop, 1907 Drew St., Clearwater. Prepayment of $25 per class required. Call (727) 441-2572 to RSVP.

SUMMER SNACKS FOR KIDS: 10-11 a.m. Sat., at Tropical Pavilion at Florida Botanical Gardens, 12175 125th St. N, Largo. Kids learn to make cool summer snacks; $2 materials fee. Call (727) 582-2673 to register.

COOKING FOR DAD, GOURMET SALADS: Nature's Food Patch, 1225 Cleveland St., Clearwater. Debby DeGraaff showcases Father's Day dishes, 11 a.m. Sat.; Main Dish Salads class with Kerrie and Robert Broe, 6:30 p.m. June 15; both classes free. Call (727) 443-6703.

CREATIVE COOKIES, PIPING: Let Them Eat Cake, 3805 S West Shore Blvd., Tampa. Gourmet Cookies class, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sun., $100; Figure Piping class shows how to adorn cakes with piping, 6-10 p.m. Tues., $60. Supplies included. Call (813) 837-6888.

SUMMER MENU, PARTY DISHES: La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. All-American Summertime Dishes, including steamed mussels, lobster and corn chowder, white peaches in sauterne, 6:30-9 p.m. Tues., $45; Warm Weather Party Foods makes shrimp in chili lemongrass sauce, maple chipotle-glazed salmon, apple-berry crumble, 6:30-9:30 p.m. June 16, $39.50. Call (727) 736-3070.

CONVERSATIONAL CUISINE: Beginner's conversational Italian, plus Italian culture and customs from Chef Roberto. Five-class course is 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays Tuesday-June 28, at Castellano & Pizzo Italian Gourmet Foods, 4200 S Henderson Blvd., Tampa; $185 per series, includes class materials and three-course dinner at each class. Registration required; 727 866-6892, or www.learnitalian.us

DINNER FOR DAD: 7-8 p.m. June 15, 10-11 a.m. June 16, Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Vegetarian Father's Day dinner with Chef Debby DeGraaff. Call (813) 873-7428.

ROY'S CUISINE, ASIAN FLAVORS: Apron's Cooking School at Publix Supermarket at Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa. Roy's chef Rand Packer demonstrating Hawaiian fusion cuisine, 6:30 p.m. June 16, $40; or Tastes of Southeast Asia; 6:30 p.m. June 18, $35. Call (813) 926-4465 to RSVP.

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.

[Last modified June 7, 2005, 08:39:04]