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Food

Food file

By PEGGY ANDERS
Published March 22, 2006

VINEYARD DINNER: 7 p.m. Thur., Le Bouchon Bistro, 796 Indian Rocks Road, Belleair Bluffs. Italian and French wines pair in vineyard dinner; $48.50. Call (727) 585-9777 to register.

BEST BOUTIQUE WINES: 6:30 p.m. Thur., Bern's Fine Wines & Spirits, 1002 S Howard Ave., Tampa. Global cuisine courses pair with Robert Parker Australian boutique wines; $99.91. Call (813) 250-9463 to register.

ON THE RUM TRAIL: Sample international cane spirits and rums at selected Ybor City bars and restaurants in Rum Trail, 6-9 p.m. Thur.-Sat., $30; or Rum Fest International Cane Spirits Tasting, with one-stop sampling of rums, cachaca, other cane spirits, 2-6 p.m. Sat., Lions Eye Institute Transplant & Research facility, 1410 N 21st St., Ybor City, $30. Call (727) 812-6005 or go to www.polishedpalate.com.

'BEST OF TAMPA BAY': 7 p.m. Sat., Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, 1010 N MacInnes Place, Tampa. Tempt taste buds with entree samplings, desserts, wines and more from area restaurants; live entertainment; $70, $80 day of event; benefits Performing Arts Center. Call (813) 229-7827 or Ticketmaster.

PEPIN SPRING WINE DINNER: 6:30 p.m. tapas, 7 p.m. dinner, Tue., Pepin Restaurant, 4125 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Spring menu pairs with Spanish wine varieties; $75, includes tax and gratuity. Call (727) 821-3773.

CHINESE VEGETARIAN: 7 p.m. Tue., Lee Garden Restaurant, 4447 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Tampa Bay Vegetarians invite guests to Chinese vegetarian dinner; $10, plus $2 for nonmembers. Register by noon Sat.: (727) 432-3327, (813) 269-4665 or www.tampabayvegetarians.org.

Wine and beer tastings/classes

CALIFORNIA REDS: Tastings, A Wine Experience, 149 First Ave. N, St. Petersburg. Varieties from Marietta Cellars, 6-8 p.m. today; $10. Call (727) 894-2255.

PURE PINOTS, RED WINES, AGING GRACEFULLY: Vintage Wine Cellars, 3629 Henderson Blvd., Tampa.

-- California pinot noir wines, 7-9 p.m. Fri.; $10.

-- Learn about tannins, wine varieties, storing and serving in red wine class, 6:30-9 p.m. March 29; $30.

-- "Modern Maturity" sampling of wines from 1987-2000 vintages that have aged gracefully; 7 p.m. March 31; $25. Call (813) 879-2931 to register.

AUSTRALIAN BOUNTY: 6:30- 8:30 p.m. Fri., Uncorked Fine Wines and Accessories, 2706 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Award-winning and budget-priced Australian wines; $10; benefits Campbell Park Marine Science Center PTA. Call (727) 892-9463 to register.

WINE COUNTRY, WINE, DINE AND LEARN: Charlie's Wine Bar, 533 S Howard Ave., Tampa.

-- Try boutique wines from California's Napa and Sonoma regions, paired with wine country cuisine, 7:30 p.m. Fri.; $15 advance, $20 at door.

-- "Wine, Dine & Learn" three-course dinner, wine, discussion of Italian wines, 7:30-9 p.m. Sat.; $35. Call (813) 250-1967 or visit www.charlieswine.com to register.

TREASURE ISLAND TASTING: 5-7 p.m. Thur., ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, 204 107th Ave., Treasure Island. More than a dozen varieties, plus liqueurs, beers, light snacks; $5. Call (727) 360-6153.

CABERNET 'CRUSH,' MADE IN AMERICA: Bern's Fine Wines & Spirits, 1002 S Howard Ave., Tampa.

-- "Crush Hour" tasting focuses on California cabernet sauvignons, eight to 10 wines, paired with cheeses, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Fri.; $25 plus tax.

-- Wine class focuses on history and success of American winemaking, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Mon.; $25. Call (813) 250-9463 to register.

PORTS IN A STORM: 9-11 p.m. Fri., Ybor City Museum Courtyard, 1818 E Ninth Ave., Ybor City. Tampa Bay Uncorked event; six ports, paired with chocolate desserts, cigar; $25 advance, $30 at door. Visit www. tampabayuncorked.org.

SIP AND SMOKE: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Sat., Got Wine, 662 Main St., Dunedin. Wine and cigar tasting and appetizers; $15. Call (727) 736-4077.

OLD AND NEW WORLD: 4-6 p.m. Sat., Tampa Wine Institute, 2009 N 22nd St., Ybor City. Compare and contrast eight varieties from the old and new worlds; $35. Call (813) 241-8587 to register.

STELLAR SYRAHS: 6-8 p.m. Tue., A Taste for Wine, 241 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Syrahs from Chile, Washington state, California; $16. Call (727) 895-1623.

ABC TASTING: 5:30-7:30 p.m. March 29, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, 1603 N Missouri Ave., Largo. Sample variety of wines, light hors d'oeuvres; $10. Call (727) 581-4642.

Cooking classes

INCREDIBLE EGGS: Rolling Pin at Famous Tate Appliances, 1015 E Brandon Blvd., Brandon. Egg dishes include eggs Benedict, French omelettes, 6-8:30 p.m. Fri.; $40. Call (813) 653-2418 to register.

SEAFOOD, BEEF: Outdoor Kitchen Store, 3925 W Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, presents:

-- Class on grilling trout, salmon, other seafood, 6:30-7:45 p.m. Thur.; $35.

-- Advanced grilling class includes beef classics like roasted prime rib, beef brochettes, 6:30-7:45 p.m. Tue.; $35. Call (813) 875-3447 to register.

CLASSIC CAKES: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sun., Let Them Eat Cake, 3805 S West Shore Blvd., Tampa. Classic cakes and icings class teaches traditional masterpieces and icings; $100. Call (813) 837-6888 to register.

LEARN, SPEAK, EAT ITALIAN: 6-8 p.m. Tuesdays beginning Tue., Castellano & Pizzo Italian Gourmet Foods, 4200 S Henderson Blvd. Beginner's conversational Italian in five-week course; $225 includes Italian dinner at each class. Registration required. Call (727) 866-6892 or visit www.LearnItalian.us to register.

PIONEER COOKING: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Sat., Heritage Village, 11909 125th St. N, Largo. Cook lunch over an open fire using traditional pioneer techniques; $30, includes lunch. Call (727) 582-2426 to register.

MACROBIOTIC COOKING: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Sat., Natural Health Hut Clinic and Herb Farm, 26403 Chianina Drive, Wesley Chapel. Basic macrobiotic cooking techniques; $27.50, includes lunch. Call (813) 991-5177 to register.

FUSION, ASIAN FARE: Williams-Sonoma at Westfield Citrus Park, 8066 Citrus Park Towne Center, Tampa.

-- Fusion cuisine class makes scallops with orange, ginger and fennel, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Sun.; $30.

-- Healthy Asian Fare class makes spring rolls with hoisin sauce, 6-8 p.m. Tue.; $30. Call (813) 920-6939.

HEALTHY SPRING MENU: 5:30 p.m. April 3, auditorium, St. Anthony's Hospital, 1200 Seventh Ave. N, St. Petersburg. Chef Nathan Rich of the Renaissance Vinoy Resort and registered dietitians prepare heart-healthy spring dinner. Cost: $18; must register by March 30. Call (727) 820-7910.

SPRING IN FLORIDA: 6:30-8:30 p.m. April 4, Margaret Ann's Catering, 5625 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Buffet party for tropical Florida springtime menu; $35. Call (727) 525-3983 to register.

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 March 22, 2006, 06:40:56]