Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Calendar

Food File

A look at what's happening

By PEGGY ANDERS
Published October 19, 2005

Special events and food tastings

BUFFET WITH A BENEFIT: 5:30-9 p.m. Fri., Southern Comfort Bed & Breakfast, 2409 Ravine Drive W, Ruskin. Food and wine event; $20, to benefit Mary & Martha House shelter for abused women. Call (813) 645-0410 or (813) 645-7874.

STONE CRAB FEST: 6:30-9:30 p.m. Sat., Tarpon Springs Yacht Club, 350 N Spring Blvd., Tarpon Springs. Food, kids' activities, music; $75, kids younger than 12 free with adult. Proceeds benefit Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art. Call (727) 712-5222.

CHILI COOKOFF: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat., along the 2400 block of Central Avenue, St. Petersburg. Grand Central District's Chili Cookoff; $8 advance or $10 day of event, benefits Grand Central District and Hurricane Katrina victims. Call 727 327-3990 for tickets or visit www.grandcentraldistrict.org

ISLAND NIGHT: 5:30-8:30 p.m. Sun., Jackson's Bistro, 601 S Harbour Island Blvd., Tampa. Wines from Kenwood, J. Lohr and Piper Heidsieck, plus food, benefit Lifepath Hospice; $60 advance, $75 at door. Call 813 871-8433 or visit www.lifepath-hospice.org for tickets.

CHINESE VEGETARIAN CUISINE: 7 p.m. Tue., Zom Hee Restaurant, 9015 Park Blvd., Seminole. Vegan Chinese dishes at monthly meeting of Tampa Bay Vegetarians; $10, plus $2 for nonmembers, includes tax and tip. RSVP required by noon Sat. Call (727) 461-2636 or (813) 269-4665.

BERN'S WINE DINNER: 6:30 p.m. Tue., Bern's Fine Wines & Spirits, 1002 S Howard Ave., Tampa. Chef Jeannie Pierola pairs her cuisine in a six-course dinner with organic King Estates wines from Oregon; $99.91. Call (813) 250-9463 to reserve.

CAYMUS AND DON CESAR DINING: 6:30 p.m. Oct. 26, Maritana Grille at Don CeSar Beach Resort & Spa, 3400 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach. Caymus Vineyards wines paired with executive chef Eric Neri's cuisine; $100, plus tax and gratuity. Call (727) 360-1880, ext. 2601.

STONE CRAB, SEAFOOD AND WINE: Colony Beach & Tennis Resort, 1620 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key. Annual Stone Crab festival, with Tasting on the Beach 7 p.m. Oct. 28 ($150), chef demonstrations 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 28 and 29 ($60 each), seven-course Chef's Gala Dinner Oct. 29 ($195), all combining stone crab and seafood dishes with wines from visiting wineries. Call (941) 383-6464, ext. 2187, to reserve.

GREEK FESTIVAL: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Oct. 28-29, noon-6 p.m. Oct. 30, St. John Greek Orthodox Church, 2418 W Swann Ave., Tampa. Celebrate Greek heritage, cuisine and dance; $1 advance admission, $2 at door, kids younger than 12 free. Call (813) 876-8830.

PLANTER'S BALL: 5 p.m. Oct. 29, Sweetwater Organic Community Farm, 6942 W Comanche Ave., Tampa. Bring a covered dish to share, don a Halloween costume if desired. Food, wine and dancing at annual family potluck fundraiser; $10 for ages 13 and up, kids ages 7-12, $5, younger than 6, free. Call 813 887-4066 or visit www.sweetwater-organic.org

"STARRY NIGHTS": 5-8 p.m. Oct. 30, St. Bart's Island House Restaurant, 1502 S. Howard Ave., Tampa. Fine wines and hors d'oeures, silent auction at "Starry Nights" event to benefit Mental Health Care children's Services; $55. Buy tickets at: www.mhcinc.org or call 813 272-2244, ext. 246. Must RSVP by Oct. 26.

SPANISH SHERRIES: 7 p.m. Nov. 1, Columbia Restaurant, 2117 E Seventh Ave., Ybor City. Dinner pairs Columbia Restaurant's cuisine with sherries from Spain. Cost: $50 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Must reserve by Oct. 29. Call (813) 248-4961.

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

PERFECT PINOTS, VALLEY LEGENDS: Tastings, A Wine Experience, 149 First Ave. N, St. Petersburg.

Perfect Pinots tasting samples pinot grigio from Italy, pinot noir from California and pinot gris, 6-8 p.m. today, $10.

Wednesday Wine Adventure features MacMurray Ranch, Rancho Zabaco Winery, Louis M. Martini, others 6-8 p.m. Oct. 26, $10. Call (727) 894-2255.

"GRAPE ESCAPE": 6:30-9 p.m. Thur., Earthscapes Garden Room, 816 Alt. U.S. 19,Palm Harbor. Food, wine and silent acution to benefit YMCA scholarship program of Palm Harbor; $35 advance, $45 at door. Call (727) 787-9622.

PASADENA PAIRING: 5-8 p.m. Thur., Pasadena Liquors and Fine Wines, 1100 Pasadena Ave. S, South Pasadena. Wine and food event to benefit the American Heart Association; $15 per person. Call (727) 347-9607.

HAUNTED WINERY TASTING: 7-9 p.m. Fri.-Sat., Florida Orange Groves Inc. and Winery, 1500 Pasadena Ave. S, South Pasadena. Florida white sangria, with other fruits and tropical flavors, hors d'oeuvres and winery tours, adults only; $10, includes souvenir glass. To RSVP, call (727) 347-4025.

"BEER, BRATS AND BREWHAHA': beginning at 4 p.m. Fri.-Sat., Dunedin Brewery, 937 Douglas Ave., Dunedin. "OktoBEERfest" features German wines, ales, beers and food, plus music. Free admission, charge for food and drink. Call (727) 736-0606.

GRAND TASTING: 6-8 p.m. Fri., American Spirits, 280 Third St. S, St. Petersburg. Wine experts answer questions in Grand Tasting; free. Call (727) 895-8700.

SOUTHERN FRANCE: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Fri., Uncorked Fine Wines and Accessories, 2706 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Wines of southern France, with wine auction to benefit hurricane relief; $10. Call (727) 892-9463.

SOUTH AMERICAN PAIRINGS: 7:30 p.m. Fri., Charlie's Wine Bar, 533 S Howard Ave., Tampa. Wines from Argentina and Chile paired with Argentinian cuisine; $15 advance, $20 at door. Call 813 250-1967 or visit www.charlieswine.com

VINTAGE TASTINGS: Vintage Wine Cellars, 3629 Henderson Blvd., Tampa.

Rhone-styled wines, 7 p.m. aperitif, 7:30 p.m. tasting, Fri., $20.

All-American Wine Festival features Northern California wines, 6-9 p.m. Oct. 28, $15, includes $5 coupon toward wine purchase. Call (813) 879-2931 to RSVP.

SPANISH, FAVORITE WINES: Bern's Fine Wines & Spirits, 1002 S Howard Ave., Tampa.

Spain's value-priced reds, whites and sparkling cavas paired with cheeses; 6:30-8:30 p.m. Fri., $25.

Favorite wines of Bern's wine experts, 6:30-8 p.m. Mon., $25. Call (813) 250-9463 to reserve either event.

FALL WINE TASTING: 7-9 p.m. Sat., Spirit of Life Unitarian Universalists Church, 18412 Burrell Road, Odessa. Try wines for fall from the Wine Warehouse in annual tasting, paired with hors d'oeuvres, silent auction; $15, proceeds benefit Unitarian Universalists. Call (813) 792-1622.

TROPICAL WINE WAVE: 5-7:30 p.m. Sun., 475 N Bath Club Blvd., North Redington Beach. Island-themed wine tasting, silent auction, rescued dogs for adoption at Tropical Wine Wave, which benefits Pet Pal Rescue's shelter in St. Petersburg. Tickets: $20, RSVP required. Call Pet Pal Rescue at 727 328-7738 or visit www.petpalrescue.com

SUPER TUSCANS: 3 p.m. Tues., Mazzaro's Italian Market, 2909 22nd Ave. N., St. Petersburg. Meet winemaker from Castello Querceto and try super Tuscans and Italian chanti wines, free signed bottle of wine to first 50 guests at free tasting. Call (727) 321-2400.

WINES AND CIGARS: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Oct. 26, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, 14248 U.S. 19 N, Hudson. Tasting includes more than 70 wines from around the world, plus spirits and cordials, "cigar smoker," snacks and treats; $7. Call (727) 869-3003.

RED BURGUNDY: 5-7 p.m. Oct. 29, Tampa Wine Institute, 2009 N 22nd St., Ybor City. Connoisseur series class focuses on burgundy, foods to accompany; $45. To RSVP, call (813) 241-8587.

SPRING ROLLS, COMFORT FOOD: Nature's Food Patch, 1225 Cleveland St., Clearwater.

Kerrie and Robert Broe show how to make quinoa and rice noodle spring rolls with uncooked fillings and dipping sauces, 6:30 p.m. today.

"Heart Healthy Comfort Foods" demonstration, 11 a.m. Sat., both events free. Call (727) 443-6703.

HOLIDAY DESSERTS: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sun., Let Them Eat Cake, 3805 S West Shore Blvd., Tampa. Thanksgiving sweet treats and holiday desserts class, $100, includes supplies. RSVP required; call (813) 837-6888.

POLISH CUISINE, PUMPKINS: Apron's Cooking School at Publix Supermarket at Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa.

Taste of Poland class, with pierogis (filled noodle dumplings), 4 p.m. Sun., $35.

Pumpkins - Not Just For Carving class, 6:30 p.m. Monday, $35. Call 813 926-4465 or visit www.publix.com/aprons/schools to RSVP.

OUTSTANDING ORZO: 7-8 p.m. Oct. 26, 10-11 a.m. Oct. 27, Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Chef Debby DeGraaff focuses on orzo; free. Call (813) 873-7428.

BAKING WITH PUMPKIN: 9:30-11:30 a.m. Oct. 30, Williams-Sonoma at Westfield Shoppingtown of Citrus Park, 8066 Citrus Park Towne Center, Tampa. How to make pumpkin genoise roll, pumpkin soup, pumpkin creme brulee; $30. Call (813) 920-6939 to reserve.

CONVERSATIONAL CUISINE: Beginner's conversational Italian, five-week course starts: 6-8 p.m. today at Bellini Restaurant, 487 Main St., Dunedin; $225, includes class materials, 5-CD lesson set, Italian dinner at each class. Five-week Spanish language, cuisine and culture class begins 6-7:30 p.m. Oct. 26 at Tarpon Springs Yacht Club, 350 N Spring Blvd., Tarpon Springs. Cost: $210, includes class materials, Spanish cuisine dinner. Preregistration required for either series: 727 866-6892 or www.LearnItalian.us

VEGETARIAN, THANKSGIVING CLASSES: La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin.

Vegetarian hands-on class makes sweet onion and goat cheese tart, grilled vegetable lasagna, caramelized pear upside-down cake, 6:30-9 p.m. Oct. 27, $45.

Oyster Rockefeller soup, andouille stuffed turkey with cranberry brandy sauce, sweet potatoes with candied ginger in hands-on class, 6:30-9 p.m. Oct. 28, $49.50 or $95 for two. Call (727) 736-3070 to RSVP.

"GUAVA LOVE IT!" CONTEST: Guava Love It cooking contest kicks off Guavaween celebration; recipe judging at 4 p.m. Oct. 29, on Centro Ybor stage on Eighth Avenue between 15th and 17th streets, Ybor City. First prize for best original guava recipe is $500. Call 813 248-0721 or visit www.cc-events.org

- 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 October 18, 2005, 09:05:05]