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Food file

By PEGGY ANDERS
Published January 4, 2006

Special events and food tastings

TAMPA BAY CULINARY CLUB: 1 p.m. Jan. 14, Buca di Beppo, 11511 N Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa. Culinary demonstration and sampling of Southern Italian cuisine by Buca di Beppo chef; $10. RSVP required by Jan. 11. Call (727) 789-2605.

BAYFRONT ON VINE: 6-7 p.m. Jan. 21, Vintner Reception; 7-11 p.m. Jan. 21, Main Event, Bayfront Medical Plaza, 603 Seventh St. S, St. Petersburg. Tastes from Island Way Grill, O Bistro, Red Mesa, Marchand's and more; wines include Rodney Strong, Toad Hollow, Charles Krug at annual event; silent auction to benefit Bayfront Health Foundation; $100 for main event only, $150 for Vintner Reception and Main Event. Call 727 893-6148 or visit www.bayfrontonvine.org

Wine and beer tastings/classes

TOUR OF ITALY: 6-8 p.m. today, Tastings, A Wine Experience, 149 First Ave. N, St. Petersburg. Wednesday Wine Adventure offers samplings of prosecco, Rosso di Montepulciano, Nero d'Avola and super Tuscans; $10. Call (727) 894-2255.

ITALIAN VARIETALS: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Fri., Uncorked Fine Wines and Accessories, 2706 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Barbera, sangiovese and nebbiolo varieties from Italy are sampled; $10. Benefits All Star Baseball School Scholarship Fund. Call (727) 892-9463.

"SIDEWAYS" SAMPLING: 7:30 p.m. Fri., Charlie's Wine Bar, 533 S Howard Ave., Tampa. Pinot noirs, other wines from areas featured in the film Sideways, paired with sushi. Call 813 250-1967 or visit www.charlieswine.com

NEW WINES FOR NEW YEAR: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Fri., Got Wine, 662 Main St., Dunedin. Free tasting includes Tall Tree zinfandel, Monkey Business sauvignon blanc, Zunio cabernet, Chalice cabernet. Call (727) 736-4077.

GREAT WINES UNDER $15: 6:30 p.m. Sat., Apron's Cooking School at Publix Supermarket at Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa. Varieties for cost-conscious buyers, many rated 90-plus by Wine Spectator; $35. Call (813) 926-4465 to RSVP.

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. Winery and fresh market. Free admission. Call (813) 996-2113.

WINE, DINE AND LEARN: 7:30-9 p.m. Jan. 11, Charlie's Wine Bar, 533 S Howard Ave., Tampa. "Wine, Dine & Learn" combines three-course dinner with wines, talks and tips on making better wine choices, closeups of wine varietals: This month, Wines of France; $35. Call 813 250-1967 or visit www.charlieswine.com

Cooking classes

VEGETARIAN NEW YEAR: 7-8 p.m. today, 10-11 a.m. Thur., Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Vegetarian twists on Southern favorites in free demonstration led by Debby DeGraaff. Call (813) 873-7428.

SOUTHERN-STYLE NEW YEAR: 11 a.m. Sat., Nature's Food Patch, 1225 Cleveland St., Clearwater. Debby DeGraaff makes Southern favorites for the new year, including hoppin' John, flavorful greens, quick corn bread; free. Call (727) 443-6703.

COOK FOR THE WEEK, COOK WITH COFFEE: Apron's Cooking School at Publix Supermarket at Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa.

Hands-on Cooking for the Week, menu includes Korean barbecued ribs, 2 p.m. Sun., $70.

Cooking With Coffee, including chocolate espresso mousse, 6 p.m. Tue., $35.

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

CARIBBEAN CUISINE: 6:30-8 p.m. Mon., Saffron's Caribbean Cuisine Restaurant, 1700 Park St. N, St. Petersburg. Chef Edyth James shares the secrets of her award-winning Caribbean cuisine in monthly cooking class that captures the flavor of the islands; $25, includes dinner, dessert and beverage, gratuity extra. Call (727) 345-6400.

CONVERSATIONAL CUISINE: Learn beginner's conversational Italian or Spanish plus culture and customs from Chef Roberto while you eat. Five-week courses begin Mon. in Feather Sound St. Petersburg, with classes in Tampa, Clearwater and other area locations; prices, $175-$225, include materials, meal at each class. Registration required; (727) 866-6892 or www.LearnItalian.us

LEAN LENTILS: 7-8 p.m. Jan. 11, 10-11 a.m. Jan. 12, Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Debby DeGraaff shows how to prepare lentils in a variety of dishes; free. Call (813) 873-7428.

TAILGATE PARTY: noon-1 p.m. Jan. 12, Clearwater Main Library, 100 N Osceola Ave., Clearwater. Chef Bil Mitchell of Apron's Cooking School makes tailgate party fare, including chicken fingers with spicy honey barbecue sauce, baby back ribs, grilled potato and onion hobo packets in free class. Call (727) 562-4970, ext. 5284.

MOTHER SAUCES: 2-4 p.m. Jan. 14, Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Chef "K" MacInnes leads class on five basic "mother" sauces and how to pair them with foods, $50. Call 813 567-1444 or register at www.kowjuice.com

SEAFOOD SECRETS: 5:30 p.m. Jan. 16, auditorium, first floor of St. Anthony's Hospital, 1200 Seventh Ave. N, St. Petersburg. Chef Nathan Rich of the Renaissance Vinoy Resort and registered dietitians share secrets of creating tempting and health-conscious seafood dishes. Cost: $18, includes dinner, recipes, nutritional information; tickets must be purchased by Jan. 12. Call (727) 820-7910.

-- Send news of coming events at least two weeks in advance of the publication date to Food File, the St. Petersburg Times, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731.

[Last modified January 3, 2006, 15:11:05]