Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Calendar

Food File

A look at what's happening

By PEGGY ANDERS
Published December 14, 2005

Special events and food tastings

GINGERBREAD BRUNCH CRUISE: Decorate a gingerbread house for the holidays and enjoy Sunday brunch aboard Yacht Starship's dining yacht; cruise boards noon Sun., cruises from 12:30-2:30 p.m.; prices start at $32.06 and $21.62 for ages 4-12. Call 813 223-7999 or visit www.yachtstarship.com to reserve.

FROM THE COOK'S SHELF: 7 p.m. today, Tarpon Springs Library, 138 E Lemon St., Tarpon Springs. Cookbook discussion group on the holidays; guests encouraged to bring favorite holiday dishes (with recipes) for sampling; free. Call (727) 943-4922.

MEXICAN CHRISTMAS EVE: 5-10 p.m. Fri. and Sat., Casa Tina Mexican & Vegetarian Cuisine, 369 Main St., Dunedin. Annual Mexican traditional Christmas Eve dinner includes lobster bisque, tequila flamed shrimp, wild mushroom tamales, chocolate pecan pie and more; $24.95 or $39.95 paired with wines, plus tax and gratuity. Call (727) 734-9226.

HOLIDAY PIES: Order apple crumb, pumpkin and sweet potato pies, $8-$12 each, to be picked up at various downtown St. Petersburg locations Sat. and Dec. 22-24. Call 727 821-2437 or order online at www.apedf.org/pies proceeds benefit African People's Education and Defense Fund.

HOLIDAY HISTORY TOUR: Three-course luncheon and tour of Renaissance Vinoy Resort & Golf Club, 501 Fifth Ave. NE, St. Petersburg, starting at 10:30 a.m. Wed.-Sat. through Dec. 30 (excluding Christmas Eve); $25 inclusive. Call (727) 894-1000, ext. 2314.

HOLIDAY VIP TASTING: 6-8:30 p.m. today, Pic Pac Fine Wine, 6609 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Wines from California and around the world, paired with hors d'oeuvres; $25, portion of proceeds benefits Abilities Foundation. Call (727) 347-0743.

DOWNTOWN AFTER 6: 6-10 p.m. Thur., 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.

GIFT GEMS: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Fri., Uncorked Fine Wines and Accessories, 2706 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Wine giving and keeping; $10. Call (727) 892-9463.

FOUR EMUS, BLUE FISH: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Fri., Got Wine, 662 Main St., Dunedin. Tasting includes Four Emu syrah from Australia, Monkey Bay chardonnay and sauvignon blanc from New Zealand, Blue Fish riesling and more in free sampling. Call (727) 736-4077.

GLOBAL TASTING: 6-8 p.m. Fri., American Spirits, 280 Third St. S, St. Petersburg. Pinot noir from Tasmania, Australian reds, Italian whites in free tasting. Call (727) 895-8700.

SPANISH SPARKLERS: 5-8 p.m. Fri., Courtside Wine & Spirits, 150A Fountain Parkway N (in Publix Carillon Shopping Center, adjacent to Courtside Grille), St. Petersburg. Courtside presents free tasting of Spanish cavas (sparkling wines) from Cordorniu, including Raventos brut, pinot noir brut cava, plus other Spanish table wines, Raimat chardonnay, Ribera de Duero. Call (727) 572-9414.

PIEDMONT, HOLIDAY BUBBLIES: Mazzaro's Italian Market, 2909 22nd Ave. N, St. Petersburg. "Wines of Piedmont" tasting 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Fri. and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sat., with premium varieties from Italy's famed wine-growing region; or "Holiday Extravaganza" 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sat. with champagnes and sparkling wines that include Perrier Jouet Grand brut, Iron Horse brut, Schramsberg rose; both tastings free. Call (727) 321-2400.

HEART-HEALTHY COOKING: 11 a.m. Sat., Nature's Food Patch, 1225 Cleveland St., Clearwater. Red, yellow and green stuffed peppers and healthful holiday fare; free. Call (727) 443-6703.

HOLIDAY LUNCHEON: 7-8 p.m. today, 10-11 a.m. Thur., Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Debby DeGraaff shows how to create simple but special luncheon dishes for the holidays in free vegetarian class. Call (813) 873-7428.

YULETIDE ENTERTAINING: 2-4 p.m. Sat., Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Traditional party fare taught by chef "K" MacInnes, $50. Call 813 567-1444 or register online at www.kowjuice.com

SIDE DISH SAVVY: La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Make holiday side dishes to take home, among them three-cheese potato gratin, mini crabcakes and Southern pecan pie, 6:30-9:30 p.m. Dec. 22, $49.50. Call (727) 736-3070 to RSVP.

NEW YEAR'S BUFFET, HOLIDAY APPETIZERS: 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, 6:30 p.m. Fri., $35.

Holiday Appetizers: grilled beef satay with roasted garlic tarragon butter, saucy clams and shrimp with wild mushrooms, bacon-wrapped chorizo dates, smoked salmon and celery root salad with cucumber-red pepper vinaigrette, 6:30 p.m. Sat., $40.

Call 813 926-4465 or visit www.publix.com/aprons/schools to RSVP.

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 December 13, 2005, 10:11:05]