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Food File

A look at what's happening

By PEGGY ANDERS
Published August 3, 2005

Special events and food tastings

WAZOO: 8-10:30 p.m. Sat., Lowry Park Zoo, 1101 W Sligh Ave., Tampa. Annual zoo-based adventure with wines, beers and cuisine samples from local restaurants; varying ticket prices include $30 individual includes food and beers, $10 Wine Garden ticket (in addition to $30 ticket), $15 Designated Driver ticket; proceeds benefit Lowry Park Zoo. (813) 935-8552, ext. 276, or visit www.lowryparkzoo.com

MONAVIE TASTING: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat., Abby's Health and Nutrition, 14374 N Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa. Try MonaVie, a health drink that features 19 fruits, including the exotic acai berry; free sampling. (813) 784-4410.

WINE AND PASTA IN THE VINEYARD: Henscratch Farms Vineyard & Winery, 980 Henscratch Road, off Highway 27, Lake Placid, presents the "Vino in the Vineyard" wine festival and bluegrass concert, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Sat., with 10 wine talks from viticulture experts, including talks on how to read a wine label, wine and food pairings, cooking with wine, home winemaking and more, plus logo wine glass, food and beverages available, $8, ages 21 and older; or "Pasta in the Vineyard," 6-9 p.m. Aug. 12, which invites guests to bring their own picnic setup for pasta, country Caesar salad and live jazz, $32.95 per person includes bottle of wine, advance purchase required. Call (863) 699-2060 for either event or visit www.henscratchfarms.com

SUSHI SHOWDOWN: 6:30-9 p.m. Aug. 11, Florida Aquarium, 701 Channelside Drive, Tampa. Sample creations from bay area sushi masters, vote for Tampa Bay's best sushi, and enjoy sake, Asian beer and wine; local Asian cuisine, martial arts and tae kwon do demonstrations; $55, $60 after Sun.; proceeds benefit aquarium veterinary and education programs. For ages 21 and older. 813 273-4568; www.flaquarium.org

WINES OF LA MANCHA: 7 p.m. Aug. 17, Columbia Restaurant, 2117 E Seventh Ave., Ybor City. Celebrate 400 years since publication of Don Quixote de la Mancha with a vintner dinner that features varieties from Legado Munoz Winery in the La Mancha region of Spain paired with the Columbia's cuisine; $50 per person, plus tax and gratuity. (813) 248-4961.

"MEN ARE FROM NAPA, WOMEN FROM SONOMA": 6:30 p.m. Fri., Apron's Cooking School at Publix Supermarket at Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa. Compare California's Napa and Sonoma appellations, microclimates, varietals and wines in "Are Men From Napa and Women From Sonoma?" Menu includes smoked salmon, onion and fennel tart, pancetta-wrapped pork tenderloin with blue cheese butter, chocolate bliss cheesecake; $40. RSVP to (813) 926-4465.

GREAT GRENACHE, SPLENDID SHIRAZ: 6:30 p.m. Fri, Uncorked Fine Wines and Accessories, 2706 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Taste an array of grenache, shiraz and mourvedre wines gathered from around the world; $10, includes souvenir wine glass. Proceeds benefit Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer "3-Day" run/walk. (727) 892-9463.

TAIGA TASTING: 6-8:30 p.m. Fri., Taiga, 10315 Causeway Blvd., corner of Causeway Boulevard and Falkenberg Road, Brandon. Taiga Restaurant's Fine Wine Shop debuts with sampling of more than a dozen wines from around the world; free sampling, $5 corkage fee per bottle in restaurant. Limited space for sampling: RSVP (813) 630-0003.

VIVA LA FRANCE; MAINLY MARTINIS: Charlie's Wine Bar, 533 S Howard Ave., Tampa. Viva La France tasting features French wines, including bordeaux, cotes du Rhone and burgundy, and cheeses, including etorki, doux de Montagne, St. Albray, 7:30 p.m. Fri., $12 advance, $15 at door. Wine and Martini tasting pairs martinis shaken or stirred and wines with hors d'oeuvres, 7 p.m. Sat., $12 advance, $15 at door. (813) 250-1967; www.charlieswine.com

CALIFORNIA AND SOUTH AFRICA: 7-8:30 p.m. Fri., Got Wine, 662 Main St., Dunedin. Try California wines from Frei Brothers, including chardonnay, pinot noir, merlot and cabernet sauvignon, and South Africa's Robertson Winery's late harvest white, cabernet sauvignon, pinotage and sweet dessert wine in free sampling. (727) 736-4077.

PAIRING PRO; VERTICAL TASTING: Tampa Wine Institute at West Palm Wines, 2009 N 22nd St. (corner of 22nd Street and Palm Avenue), Ybor City. Learn how to match wines with foods and get serving tips in a wine class that features eight wines and foods to accompany, 5-7 p.m. Sat., $30; or indulge in vertical tasting of Chateau de Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape, three decades of vintages ranging from 1972, 1978, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1990 and more, plus other Rhone wine treasures, paired with cuisine from Chef Gui Alinat, 5-5:30 p.m. champagne reception, 5:30-7 p.m., tasting, Aug. 20, $250, limited seating. To RSVP either tasting, call (813) 241-8587.

ALTERNATIVE AUSTRALIANS: 6:30-8 p.m. Mon., Bern's Fine Wines & Spirits, in the Brick Room at SideBern's, 1002 S Howard Ave., Tampa. Try red and white wines as well as popular chardonnay and shiraz from Australia in class led by sommelier Brad Dixon; $25. RSVP required. (813) 250-9463.

BORDEAUX BLENDS: Drop in 6-8 p.m. Tue., A Taste for Wine, 241 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Compare bordeaux blends and varietals from around the world; $15. (727) 895-1623.

VIP TASTING: 6-8 p.m. Aug. 10, Pic Pac Fine Wine, 6609 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Sample premium wines, domestic and from around the world, paired with hors d'oeuvres; $25, portion of proceeds benefits Abilities Foundation. (727) 347-0743.

WINERAVE 2005: 7-10 p.m. Aug. 12, Club Underground, 802-806 E Whiting St., Tampa. Tampa Bay Uncorked and Wine X magazine offer more than 30 wines from 10 wineries, including Alice White, St. Supery, Hook & Ladder, plus delectable treats from Mise en Place, entertainment, lead-free crystal souvenir glass and a Jelly Belly Wine Bar where guests can combine flavors characteristic of different wine varietals and styles; $35 advance purchase online, $45 at door if available; portion of proceeds benefit Metropolitan Ministries. www.tampabayuncorked.org

PEERLESS PINOTS: 3-6 p.m. Aug. 14, B-21 Fine Wine & Spirits, 43380 U.S. 19 N, Tarpon Springs. Pinot Noir Celebration features sultry pinot noirs from around the world, plus red and white Burgundies and chardonnays; $25 before Aug. 12, then $30 if available. 727 937-5049, ext. 210; www.b-21.com

TASTING TIPS: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Aug. 17, at Pelagia Trattoria at International Plaza (next to Neiman Marcus), West Shore and Boy Scout boulevards, Tampa. Learn how to get the most out of wine tasting with tips from the pros, plus appetizers from Pelagia Trattoria chefs, music; $15. Proceeds benefit the Florida Orchestra and Vitally Interested Volunteers of the Florida Orchestra. Reservations required; (813) 313-3235.

DINNER PARTY DISHES; MASTERING SAUCES: La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Hands-on Summer Dinner Party class features charred filet mignon tartare, grilled pork with roasted garlic and chipotle chimichurri, roasted corn risotto, white chocolate pots de creme, 6:30-9 tonight, $49.50, or $95 for two; Mastering the Art of Saucemaking class teaches sauce varieties to accompany seafood and shellfish, including veloute, basil, court bouillon, beurre rouge, meuniere, 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Sat., $60. RSVP to (727) 736-3070.

SUMMER SOUPS: 7-8 tonight, 10-11 a.m. Thur., Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Vegetarian cooking class with chef Debby DeGraaff focuses on refreshing summer soups; free. (813) 873-7428.

SCI-FI SESSION: 5:30 p.m. Thur., Clearwater Main Library, 100 N Osceola Ave., downtown Clearwater. Gastronomic treats pair sci-fi themed dishes such as Darth Vader Tater Puffs, Shortbread Mawgbones, Pizza the Hut Pizza Rolls and more; cult classic sci-fi film in class for teens and adults led by Chef Bil Mitchell of Apron's Cooking School; recipes available, samplings to first 50 guests. Free; (727) 562-4970, ext. 5284.

SHORT ORDER DISHES: 11 a.m. Sat., Nature's Food Patch, 1225 Cleveland St., Clearwater. Keep your cool in summertime heat with dishes that include quick coleslaw, summer barbecued beans, chocolate pudding; free. (727) 443-6703.

LET THEM EAT DECORATED CAKES: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sun., Let Them Eat Cake, 3805 S West Shore Blvd., Tampa. Pastry chefs Michael Ostrander, Michael Baugh and Mary Bowyer teach cake-decorating class. $100, includes supplies. RSVP required; (813) 837-6888.

APRON'S CLASSES: Apron's Cooking School at Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa, presents Weeknight Gourmet class that shows how to create meals in minutes; menu includes grilled shrimp with tropical fruit chutney, sweet corn chowder with smoked bacon, espresso chocolate mousse; 6:30 p.m. Mon., $35; Italian Veal Classics class makes veal pate, grilled veal chop with radicchio, white beans and rosemary, tiramisu, 6:30 p.m. Aug. 10, $35; Mezze Classics makes Middle Eastern and Mediterranean starters such as stuffed grape leaves, baba ganouj, hummus, fried feta and black olives with oregano; 6:30 p.m. Aug. 11, $35. RSVP to (813) 926-4465.

SNAPPY SALSAS: 7-8 p.m. Aug. 10, 10-11 a.m. Aug. 11, Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Free vegetarian class with chef Debby DeGraaff shows how to make salsas with a kick. (813) 873-7428.

ITALIAN CONVERSATIONAL CUISINE: 6-8 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays beginning Aug. 15, Castellano & Pizzo Italian Gourmet Foods, 4200 S Henderson Blvd., Tampa. Enjoy Italian cuisine while learning beginner's conversational Italian, plus Italian culture and customs from Chef Roberto. $225; five-class course includes all class materials, 5-CD lesson set and three-course dinner at each class. Registration required; 727 866-6892; www.learnitalian.us

- 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 August 2, 2005, 10:05:05]