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Food File

A look at what's happening

By PEGGY ANDERS
Published December 7, 2005

Special events

TOTAL EXPERIENCE: 6:30 p.m. Thur., Don Vincente De Ybor, 1915 Republica de Cuba, Ybor City. Wines from around the world for tasting, hors d'oeuvres, cakes and desserts, chocolate fountain, silent auction, sponsored by Total Wine & More; $75, proceeds benefit March of Dimes. Call (813) 287-2600, ext. 28.

CHESTNUT ROAST: 5-10 p.m. Sat., Whistle Stop Grill, 915 Main St., Safety Harbor. Enjoy "chestnuts roasting on an open fire" and celebrate the spirit of the season with annual Chestnut Roast, special holiday menu available, music; chestnuts free. Call (727) 726-1956.

POTLUCK PICNIC: Noon-4 p.m. Sun., at Shelter No. 7, Philippe Park, Bayshore Drive and Philippe Parkway. Buddhist Peace Fellowship invites guests to bring a vegetarian covered dish with ingredient list to feed six to eight people. Free. Call (727) 392-7698.

HOLIDAY BAKE SALE: 1-3 p.m. Mon., Summerville at Pinellas Park, 8980 49th St. N, St. Petersburg. Proceeds used to purchase gifts for Summerville assisted living residents and to benefit the Alzheimer's Association. Call (727) 546-4053.

VEGAN HOLIDAY: 6-8:30 p.m. Mon., Hudson Regional Library, 8012 Library Road, Hudson. Holiday vegan feast features vegan dietitian/nutritionist Bob LeRoy. Free. Call 813 365-0317 or visit www.pascovegetariansociety.com

HOLIDAY HISTORY TOUR: Starting at 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays, today through Dec. 30 (excluding Christmas Eve), Renaissance Vinoy Resort & Golf Club, 501 Fifth Ave. NE, St. Petersburg. Luncheon and tour are $25 inclusive. Call (727) 894-1000, ext. 2314.

RED BURGUNDY AT BERN'S: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thur., Bern's Fine Wines & Spirits, 1002 S Howard Ave., Tampa. French burgundy tasting, with premier and grand cru, paired with artisan cheeses; $40. Call (813) 250-9463 to reserve.

SPARKLING SAMPLING: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Fri., Uncorked Fine Wines and Accessories, 2706 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Sparkling wine tasting, with champagnes and sparklers from around the world; $10. Call (727) 892-9463.

AUSTRALIAN WINES: 7:30 p.m. Fri., Charlie's Wine Bar, 533 S Howard Ave., Tampa. Shrimp on the Barbie tasting pairs foods and shiraz, sangiovese-shiraz, boutique and blended wines from Australia; $15 advance, $20 at door. Call 813 250-1967 or visit www.charlieswine.com

HOLIDAY WINES: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Fri., Got Wine, 662 Main St., Dunedin. Wines for holiday entertaining include Toad Hollow sparkling Risque, Katrina merlot (vineyard proceeds benefit Hurricane Katrina victims), Rancho Zabaco Dancing Bull zinfandel; free. Call (727) 736-4077.

ITALIAN WINES, CALIFORNIA SPARKLERS: 5-8 p.m. Fri., Courtside Wine & Spirits, 150A Fountain Parkway N, Publix Carillon Shopping Center, St. Petersburg. Free tasting of Masi Campfioria and Antinori Orvieto (both from Italy), plus Piper Sonoma brut and blanc de noir sparkling wines. Call (727) 572-9414.

ALL THAT SPARKLES: 7-9 p.m. Fri., Vintage Wine Cellars, 3629 Henderson Blvd., Tampa. Sample red, white, sparkling and port wines, including Bollinger special cuvee brut, Allende rioja 2001; $10. Call (813) 879-2931 to RSVP.

TUSCAN TREASURES: 5-7 p.m. Sat., Tampa Wine Institute (at West Palm Wines), 2009 N 22nd St., Ybor City. Connoisseurs Wine series focuses on Tuscan wine; $45. To RSVP, call (813) 241-8587.

DOWNTOWN AFTER 6: 6-10 p.m. Dec. 15, Ashley Street Grille at Sheraton Riverwalk Hotel, 200 N Ashley Drive, Tampa. Tampa Bay Uncorked's happy hour event with discounted wines by the glass starting at $5, including Bonny Doon riesling, Goats Do Roam red, Sterling chardonnay, plus reduced-price hors d'oeuvres; free admission. Visit www.tampabayuncorked.org for more information.

HOLIDAY COOKIES: Noon-1 p.m. Thur., Clearwater Main Library, 100 N Osceola Ave, downtown Clearwater. Gingerbread People, Chocolate Snowballs and more in free class. Call (727) 562-4970, ext. 5284.

APPEALING APPETIZERS: Chef Debby DeGraaff makes vegetarian appetizers, 7-8 tonight and 10-11 a.m. Thur. at Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa; free. Call (813) 873-7428.

ELEGANTLY SIMPLE: 11 a.m. Sat., Nature's Food Patch, 1225 Cleveland St., Clearwater. Demonstration class focuses on holiday luncheon fare, including sundried tomato pate, pear and caramelized pecan salad with maple Dijon dressing; free. Call (727) 443-6703.

GINGERBREAD HOUSES, COOKIES: Pastry chefs at Let Them Eat Cake, 3805 S West Shore Blvd., Tampa, lead class on making and decorating gingerbread houses, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sun., $100; or make baked treats in Gourmet Cookies class, 5:30-9:30 p.m. Tues., $60. Classes include supplies. RSVP required. Call (813) 837-6888.

HOLIDAY LUNCHEON: 7-8 p.m. Dec. 14, 10-11 a.m. Dec. 15, Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Vegetarian class features luncheon dishes for the holidays; free. Call (813) 873-7428.

YULETIDE ENTERTAINING: 2-4 p.m. Dec. 17, Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Chef "K" MacInnes leads class on Winter Holiday Entertaining; $50. Call 813 567-1444 or register online at www.kowjuice.com

BRUNCH, FOOD GIFTS: La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin.

Hands-on Holiday Brunch Party class includes oatmeal currant scones, spinach and brie tart, pear cranberry crisp, noon-2:30 p.m. Sun., $29.50, or two for $55, includes champagne or mimosa.

Make great gifts from the kitchen, including jalapeno jelly, scone mix, honey caramel sauce, caramel white chocolate pretzels, 6:30-9:30 p.m. Dec. 15, $45, bring take-home containers.

Call (727) 736-3070 to RSVP.

NEW YEAR'S BUFFET: 6:30 p.m. Dec. 16, Apron's Cooking School at Publix Supermarket at Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa. New Year's Eve Buffet class: raspberry camembert spread, crab salad with apple, endives and pecans, roasted pork loin, creole jambalaya, honey-glazed roasted pears with creme fraiche; $35. RSVP to 813 926-4465 or www.publix.com/aprons/schools

- 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 December 6, 2005, 10:06:06]