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Food file

A look at what's happening

By PEGGY ANDERS
Published July 20, 2005

Special events and food tastings

BASCOM'S BENEFIT DINNER: 6:30 p.m. today, Bascom's Chop House, 3665 Ulmerton Road, Clearwater. Winemaker dinner pairs courses from executive chef Scott Lazlo, including lamb tartare with southwest shrimp, prosciutto-rolled sea bass and mango risotto, roulade of duck breast with lobster potato hash, trio of creme brulee, with Italian wines including pinot grigio, barbera d'asti, super tuscana; $80 a person, inclusive; proceeds benefit the Abilities Foundation. Call (727) 538-7370, ext. 349, to reserve.

CALIFORNIA-FRENCH PAIRING: 7 p.m. Thur., Le Bouchon Bistro, 796 Indian Rocks Road, Belleair Bluffs. California wine dinner pairs Huntington merlot, sauvignon blanc, cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon and more with courses that include applewood-smoked bacon wrapped petite salmon filet with blue crab sauce, stuffed duck leg and rosemary grilled lamb with roasted garlic jus, chocolate filled pear with berry coulis; $43.50, plus tax and gratuity, includes wines. Call (727) 585-9777 to RSVP.

CUBAN COCINA CUISINE: 2-4 p.m. Sat., Haslam's Book Store, 2025 Central Ave., St. Peterburg. Joyce LaFray, author of Cuba Cocina: The Tantalizing World of Cuban Cooking and Big Guide to Florida Restaurants, signs copies of her books and provides samplings of recipes from both in free event. Call (727) 822-8616.

JAPANESE VEGETARIAN DINNER: 7 p.m. Tue., Edo Japanese Restaurant, 4500 66th St. N, St. Petersburg. Tampa Bay Vegetarians invite guests to Japanese teppanyaki-style dinner; menu includes vegetable sushi, ginger salad, sesame noodles, teppanyaki vegetables with dipping sauces; dinner speaker's topic is "Eat to Live"; $11, plus $2 for nonmembers, includes tax and tip. RSVP required by noon Sat.; call (727) 461-2636 or (813) 269-4665.

CAFE ALMA AND ALES: 7 p.m. July 27, Cafe Alma, 260 First Ave. S, St. Petersburg. Cafe Alma teams up with Ommegang Brewery for World Beer Dinner; menu includes lobster and cilantro salad with lime-ginger vinaigrette, twice-baked chevre souffle, sausage-stuffed shrimp wrapped in leeks with crimson lentil cakes, chocolate espresso mousse; $55, plus gratuity. Call (727) 502-5002.

SPANISH WINE PAIRING: 7 p.m. July 28, Columbia Restaurant, 2117 E Seventh Ave., Ybor City. Columbia's chefs create paired dishes to complement wines from Ricardo Guelbenzu of Bodegas Guelbenzu winery in Spain; $50 a person, plus tax and gratuity. Call (813) 248-4961.

SUMMER BEER DINNER: Menu available beginning at 5 p.m. July 29-30 at Kelly's For Just About Anything, 319 Main St., Dunedin. Quench your thirst with six summer ales and beers, including Blue Moon Belgian-Style White, Red Hook ESB Ale, Ommegang Rare Voss Ale, paired with four courses from Kelly's; menu includes Parmesan crumb lobster mac and cheese, spinach mushroom gnocchi, cajun rib eye, wild berry white-chocolate cheesecake; $35. Call (727) 736-5284.

ABC TASTING: 5:30-7:30 p.m. today, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, 2330 E Fletcher Ave., Tampa. Sample both domestic and imported wines from around the world; $7, includes coupon for wine purchase and logo glass. Call (813) 971-2122.

BENEFIT TASTING: 6-8 p.m. Thur., residence at 3613 S Beach Drive, Tampa. Presented by Fine Wine & Spirits Warehouse, this tasting of more than 60 domestic and imported wines includes Conundrum, Stag's Leap, David Bruce, paired with ham and cheeses; benefits Phoenix House of Florida, which provides substance abuse treatment and residential programs for adolescents and their families; $30 a person, or $50 a couple suggested donation. Call (813) 837-8941.

BLANCS AND FRANCS: 6:30 p.m. Fri., Uncorked Fine Wines and Accessories, 2706 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Try sauvignon blanc, cabernet franc and cabernet sauvignon at this week's tasting; $10, includes souvenir wine glass. Proceeds benefit A Brighter Day. Call (727) 892-9463.

JEST WINES, PORT & CIGARS: Got Wine, 662 Main St., Dunedin, presents two tastings: Jest wines including Jest red, white, and rose, along with Belvedere chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon and pinot noir, 7-8:30 p.m. Fri., free; or enjoy a smooth port and cigar at Port Wine and Cigar sampling, with Dunedin Brewery beer samples, live entertainment, 6:30-8:30 Sat., $10. Call (727) 736-4077.

BEAT THE HEAT WINES: 7-9 p.m. Fri., Vintage Wine Cellars, 3629 Henderson Blvd., Tampa. Taste cool wines to help beat the summer heat, including Mas de Giot 2003 grenache/syrah, Heaven's Gate Barossa Valley shiraz, Trefethen 2003 Napa dry riesling, Benziger 2003 fume blanc; $10. Call (813) 879-2931 to RSVP.

CAJUN FLAVORS: 7:30 p.m. Fri., Charlie's Wine Bar, 533 S Howard Ave., Tampa. Cajun Blast features bayou flavors of shrimp and crawfish etouffee, with Abita Purple Haze Raspberry Wheat beer, wines from Renwood, Black Sheep and Westside; $12 advance, $15 at door. Call 813 250-1967 or visit www.charlieswine.com

CHEESE AND BREW: A Taste for Wine, 241 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, presents Cool Summer Cheese tasting, with light and flavorful cheeses paired with wines, 6 p.m. Sat., $25; or American Beer Tasting showcases an array of domestic brewing styles, 6 p.m. July 30, $12. To RSVP either sampling, call (727) 895-1623.

SUMMERTIME RIESLING: 1-5 p.m. Sat., Maison de Noix et Chocolats, 358 Main St. (behind Cafe Alfresco along Pinellas Trail), Dunedin. Try new riesling suited to summer sipping, plus chocolate and jam sampling; free. Call (727) 735-0535.

WINE FOR NOVICES: 5-7 p.m. Sat., Tampa Wine Institute (at West Palm Wines), 2009 N 22nd St. (corner of 22nd Street and Palm Avenue), Ybor City. Novice series continues with Intro to Wine II class that focuses on wine-producing areas of the world; eight wines served, plus foods to accompany; $30. To RSVP, call (813) 241-8587.

NAPA CABERNETS: 6:30-8 p.m. Mon., Bern's Fine Wines & Spirits, in the Brick Room at SideBern's, 1002 S Howard Ave., Tampa. Napa Valley 2001 and 2002 vintages of classic cabernet sauvignons are contrasted in Bern's Summer Tasting class, led by David Black; $50. RSVP required; call (813) 250-9463.

WINE VARIETALS: 5:30-7:30 p.m. July 27, at Pelagia Trattoria at International Plaza (next to Neiman Marcus), West Shore and Boy Scout boulevards, Tampa. Wine, food and music in benefit tasting; topic is Overview of Wine Varietals, with emphasis on wines to serve with barbecue; $15 includes appetizers. Proceeds benefit the Florida Orchestra and VIVO (Vitally Interested Volunteers of the Florida Orchestra). Reservations required; call (813) 313-3235.

HEART-HEALTHY: Nature's Food Patch, 1225 Cleveland St., Clearwater, presents Blender Dinners with Kerry and Robert Broe; learn to use a blender for easy dishes such as creamy almond gazpacho, curried carrot soup, cucumber mint julep slushy and more; 6:30 p.m. today; or learn to make a raw grain and fruit breakfast and homemade hummus for lunch in Heart-Healthy class, 11 a.m. Sat.; both free. Call (727) 443-6703.

AMAZING ARAME: 7-8 p.m. today, 10-11 a.m. Thur., Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Vegetarian cooking class with chef Debby DeGraaff explores ways to prepare arame, a mild-flavored sea vegetable high in protein and nutrients; free. Call (813) 873-7428.

TARTS AND WEDDING CAKES: Pastry chefs Michael Ostrander, Michael Baugh and Mary Bowyer of Let Them Eat Cake, 3805 S West Shore Blvd., Tampa, present: European Tarts class, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat., $100; or Making Wedding Cakes class, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sun., $100. Classes include supplies; RSVP required; call (813) 837-6888.[

ITALIAN CUISINE, STONE FRUIT: Apron's Cooking School at Publix Supermarket at Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa, presents: Fresh Taste of Italy, with soppressata and basil-wrapped shrimp with garlic-mustard sauce, encrusted leg of lamb with orange mint risotto, zuccotto (Italian chilled cake), 6:30 p.m. Mon., $35; or Stone Fruits class makes bacon-wrapped scallops with peach coulis, rosemary rubbed turkey breast with cherry port sauce and more, 6:30 p.m. July 28, $35. Call (813) 926-4465 to RSVP.

SUMMER SWEET POTATOES: 7-8 p.m. July 27, 10-11 a.m. July 28, Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Chef Debby DeGraaff cooks up ways to use sweet potatoes in summer dishes in free vegetarian class. Call (813) 873-7428.

ITALIAN, CUBAN SPECIALTIES: La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin, presents: hands-on Italian Specialties class, making seared scallops with balsamic vinaigrette, shallot and pancetta-stuffed filet mignon, zabaglione with orange-muscat liqueur, 6:30-9 p.m. July 27, $45; or Cuban Specialties for Couples class makes garlic soup, Cuban-style London broil, caramel custard, 6:30-9 p.m. July 28, $49.50 or two for $95; call (727) 736-3070 to RSVP.

HEALTHY BACKYARD BASH: 5:30 p.m. Aug. 1, classroom D, first floor at St. Anthony's Hospital, 1200 Seventh Ave. N, St. Petersburg. Chef Nathan Rich of the Renaissance Vinoy Resort and registered dietitians share ways to create a heart-healthy backyard bash with summertime appeal. Cost: $15, tickets must be purchased by July 28, 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 July 19, 2005, 09:14:04]