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Food file

A look at what's happening around the area

By PEGGY ANDERS
Published September 7, 2005

Special events and food tastings

EINSTEIN DINE: 6:30 p.m. Thur., MOSI Museum of Science and Industry, 4801 E Fowler Ave., Tampa. Food from area restaurants paired with wine at annual Einstein Dine; $125, $240 per couple, proceeds benefit MOSI program scholarships for at-risk students. Call (813) 987-6062 or visit www.mosi.org

SALSA AND THE ARTS: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 17-18 at Centennial Park, Ninth Avenue at 19th Street, Tampa. Ybor City Fall Arts & Crafts Fiesta with salsa-eating contest, salsa sampling, salsa cookoff. Free admission to fiesta. Call 813 248-0721 for more information or rules on entering the salsa contest, or visit www.cc-events.org

"VINEYARD OF OZ': 5-6 p.m. Laurent-Perrier champagne seminar, 6-7 p.m. premium tasting, 7-9 p.m. grand tasting, Sept. 17, Tampa Theatre, 711 Franklin Street Mall, Tampa. Fourth annual Wizard of Oz-themed fundraiser, with tastes from area restaurants; $80 ticket includes premium and grand tasting, plus gift bag; $50 ticket includes grand tasting. Call 813 274-8981 or visit www.tampatheatre.org

GET TASTING, GET COOKIN': 6:30 tonight, Get Cookin' Now, Icot Center, 13505 Icot Blvd., Suite 203, Clearwater. Sample two red and two white wines, including Francis Coppola Rosso shiraz and Ca'Montini pinot grigio, then assemble a family style meal from the make-and-take kitchen; $25 per person. RSVP required. Call 727 538-2665 or visit www.GetCookinNow.com/special.php

THE BEST OF BRAZIL: 6:30 p.m. Fri., Uncorked Fine Wines and Accessories, 2706 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. $10, proceeds benefit Suncoast Center for Community Mental Health. Call (727) 892-9463.

WORLDLY WINES: 6-8:30 p.m. Fri., Taiga, 10315 Causeway Blvd., Causeway Boulevard and Falkenberg Road, Brandon. Free tasting of wines from around the world; $5 corkage fee per bottle for those dining in restaurant. Call to RSVP tasting, (813) 630-0003.

AUSSIE FAVORITES: 7:30 p.m. Fri., Charlie's Wine Bar, 533 S Howard Ave., Tampa. Regional Australian cuisine paired with shiraz, blends like cabernet-shiraz and sangiovese-shiraz, plus boutique white wines; $15 advance, $20 at door. Call 813 250-1967 or visit www.charlieswine.com

CHILLIN' WITH THE CLASSICS: 7-8:30 p.m. Fri., Got Wine, 662 Main St., Dunedin. Free tasting of classic varieties from Chile, Italy and Napa, including Lapostelle merlot, cabernet and chardonnay, Dynamite sauvignon blanc, Sterling cabernet sauvignon. Call (727) 736-4077.

"IN THE ZONE': 7-9 p.m. Fri., the Zone Art Lounge, 121 E Tarpon Ave., Tarpon Springs. Tasting for all the senses, with wines paired with hors d'oeuvres from Zante's, exhibit on display from local artist, live music in a historic 100-year-old restored building; $20. Call (727) 938-9494.

WINES OF FRANCE: 5-7 p.m. Sat., Tampa Wine Institute (at West Palm Wines), 2009 N 22nd St., Ybor. Wine from the famous wine-growing regions of France featured, including Bordeaux, Burgundy, Loire Valley, the Rhone and Champagne, plus foods to accompany; $30. To RSVP, call (813) 241-8587.

FLORIDA ESTATES WINE FESTIVAL: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sat., Florida Estates Winery, 25241 State Road 52, 4 miles west of Interstate 75, near Land O'Lakes. Wine tasting and fresh market. Free admission. Call (813) 996-2113.

Z-GRAPES: 7-8 p.m. "ZIP" Premium Tasting, 8-10 p.m. Grand Tasting, Sept. 16, Salvador Dali Museum, 1000 Third St. S, St. Petersburg. Premium wines, tantalizing hors d'oeuvres pair in Zodiac Group's annual Z-Grapes tasting, plus museum tours, live entertainment; $55 for ZIP and Grand Tasting, $35 for Grand Tasting only. For tickets, call 727 823-3767, ext. 3024, or visit www.salvadordalimuseum.org

"PINOT IN PARADISE': Celebrate pinot noir with three Sarasota events: Winemaker Dinner with guest vintners from Willamette Valley's Rex Hill Oregon and New Zealand, Fred's Restaurant, 1917 S Osprey Ave., 7 p.m. Sept. 15, $75, plus tax and gratuity; tasting at JD Ford Fine Wines, 1924 S Osprey Ave., 5-7 p.m. Sept. 16, free; and Pinot in Paradise at the Tasting Room with guest vintners (see above), more than 40 pinot noir wines and pinot-friendly cuisine, also at 1917 S Osprey Ave., 4-8 p.m. Sept. 17, $20 advance, $25 day of event. Call (941) 362-9463 to RSVP or visit www.epicureanlife.com

SCHOOL LUNCHES: 7-8 tonight, 10-11 a.m. Thur., Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Prepare a healthy school lunch at vegetarian cooking class led by chef Debby DeGraaff; free. Call (813) 873-7428.

CULINARY, CATERING SKILLS: 6-9 p.m. beginning today, Pinellas Technical Education Center, 901 34th St. S, St. Petersburg. Chef Paul Kennedy leads 48 hours of instruction in Session I on culinary skills, becoming a personal chef and catering operations; topics include table setting, knife work, menu development, food presentation, marketing, proper chef dress. Cost: $550. Call (727) 893-2500, ext. 1110.

VEGETARIAN GOURMET: Noon-1 p.m. Thur., Clearwater Main Library, 100 N Osceola Ave, downtown Clearwater. Chef Bil Mitchell of Apron's Cooking School demonstrates vegetarian and vegan dishes in free class. Recipes available, samplings to first 25 guests. Call (727) 562-4970, ext. 5284.

CELERY CREATIONS: 11 a.m. Sat., Nature's Food Patch, 1225 Cleveland St., Clearwater. Celery bisque, quinoa tofu loaf with celery are among recipes showcasing celery in a free demonstration. Call (727) 443-6703.

COOKING WITH KIDS: 7-8 p.m. Sept. 14, 10-11 a.m. Sept. 15, Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Debby DeGraaff shows how parents and their kids can enjoy making fun and healthy vegetarian dishes together; free. Call (813) 873-7428.

SOUTHERN FARE, GOURMET VEGETARIAN: La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. New Ways With Southern Favorites, 6:30-9 p.m. Sept. 14, $39.50; or Gourmet Vegetarian class, 6:30-9 p.m. Sept. 15, $39.50. Call (727) 736-3070 to RSVP.

TERRIFIC TEEN PIZZAS: 6 p.m. Sept. 16, Apron's Cooking School at Publix Supermarket at Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa. Learn how to make varied crusts, plus classic and new topping options; $25. Call 813 926-4465 or visit www.publix.com/aprons/schools to RSVP.

PIES AND CHOCOLATE: Let Them Eat Cake, 3805 S West Shore Blvd., Tampa. Pastry chefs' "Pies, Pies, Pies" class, learn to create scrumptious pies, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sun., $100; or All About Chocolate class, with tips on working with chocolate, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sept. 18, $100. Classes include supplies. RSVP required. Call (813) 837-6888 or (813) 546-1832.

COOKING AND PASTRIES: Chamberlain Adult & Community School, 9401 North Blvd., Tampa. Gourmet Cooking's first of a three-class session begins 5:30-8:30 p.m. Mon., then Sept. 19 and Sept. 26, with class deciding session topics, $60, plus supplies; Baking and Pastry's first of a three-class session begins 5:30-8:30 p.m. Tues., then Sept. 20 and Sept. 27, $60, plus supplies. Call (813) 631-4500.

CARIBBEAN CUISINE: 6:30-8 p.m. Mon., Saffron's, 1700 Park St. N, St. Petersburg. Chef Edyth James shares the secrets of Caribbean cuisine in monthly cooking class; $25, includes dinner, dessert and beverage, gratuity extra. Call (727) 343-5410.

CONVERSATIONAL CUISINE: Enjoy Italian cuisine while learning beginner's conversational Italian, plus Italian culture and customs. Five-week course begins 6-8 p.m. Mon. and runs through Oct. 10 at Jo-Jo's in Citta, 200 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, or 6-8 p.m. Tues. at Castellano & Pizzo Italian Gourmet Foods, 4200 S Henderson Blvd. S., Tampa, or 6-8 p.m. Sept. 14-Oct. 12 at Bellini Restaurant, 487 Main St., Dunedin. Cost: $225 per series, includes all class materials, five-CD lesson set and Italian dinner at each class. Five-week Spanish language, cuisine and culture class begins 6-7:30 p.m. Sept. 15 at Castellano & Pizzo Italian Gourmet Foods, 4200 S Henderson Blvd. S., Tampa; or 6-7:30 p.m. Sept. 21 at La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Cost: $210, includes class materials, Spanish cuisine dinner. Registration required. Call 727 866-6892 or visit www.LearnItalian.us

DADE CITY FARMER'S MARKET: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sat., along Meridian and Pasco avenues, downtown Dade City. Dade City Woman's Club Farmer's Market features fresh vegetables and produce, plants and other treasures. Call (352) 567-6743.

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 September 6, 2005, 10:16:45]