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Food

Food File

A look at what's going on in the Tampa Bay area.

By PEGGY ANDERS
Published May 24, 2006

Special events and food tastings

SPANISH INFLUENCE: 6:30 p.m. Thur., The Pepper Mill Restaurant, 1575 S Fort Harrison Ave., Clearwater. Varieties from Spanish wine-growing regions pair with Spanish-influenced dishes in 5-course dinner; $49. Call (727) 449-2988 to register.

FRENCH FLAVORS: 7 p.m. Fri., Savant Fine Dining, 2551 Drew St., Clearwater. Chef David Miller presents six courses with French wines, plus a port and sherry; $110. Call (727) 421-9975 to register.

'TOUR OF ITALY' DINNER: 6:30 p.m. May 31, Bern's Fine Wine & Spirits, 1002 S Howard Ave., Tampa. Six courses of Jeannie Pierola's cuisine, paired with varieties from well-known Italian wine producers including Marchesi di Barolo, Feudi di San Gregorio; $99.91, inclusive. Call (813) 250-9463 to register.

PAPPA'S NEW CORNER: 6:30-8:30 p.m. May 31, Pappa's Corner, 28909 U.S. 19 N (in Serendipity Plaza), Clearwater. New Pappa's Corner features gourmet foods, wines and beers, grand opening VIP party includes tasting of Robert Mondavi wines, $15 donation, proceeds benefit the Abilities Foundation. Call (727) 538-7370, ext. 349, or Pappa's Corner at (727) 784-7100.

TASTE OF PINELLAS: 5-10 p.m. June 2, noon-10 p.m. June 3, noon-7 p.m. June 4, at Vinoy Park, on downtown St. Petersburg waterfront, adjacent to Renaissance Vinoy Resort. Restaurants including Courtside Grill, Wine Cellar, Cafe Luna and Red Mesa serve up tastes of popular menu items, chefs share recipes and cooking tips (noon-5 p.m. June 3, 1-5 p.m. June 4), live concerts each night, kids interactive games; free admission, charge for food tastes, benefits All Children's Hospital. Call (727) 767-2308 or visit www.allkids.org.

PEPPER EXTRAVAGANZA: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. June 3 and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. June 4, Beckett Lake Nursery, 2251 Montclair Road, Clearwater. Cooking demonstrations (noon June 3-4) with Island Way Grill chef Sean Squires, talks on healthy living through eating well, samplings of hot sauces, salsas, spices, rubs, pepper plants from tame to hot for the kitchen garden, amateur salsa and hot sauce contests; free admission. Call (727) 796-7950.

Wine and beer tastings/classes

ITALIAN, CHAMPAGNES: Tastings, A Wine Experience, 149 First Ave. N, St. Petersburg.

* Sample Italian brunellos, proseccos and super Tuscans from Castello Banfi, 6-8 p.m. today, $10.

* "Champagne Revolution" tasting presents family-owned, lesser-known sparkling wines and champagnes, 6-8 p.m. May 31, $10.

Call (727) 894-2255.

ABC TASTINGS: Tastings at area ABC Fine Wines & Spirits include:

* Over 70 wines, both domestic and imported, hors d'oeuvres, cigar and whiskey sampling, 5:30-7:30 p.m. today, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, 14729 N Dale Mabry, Tampa, $10, (813) 264-1881.

* Dozen wines paired with hors d'oeurves for beginning wine tasters, 5-7 p.m. Thur., ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, 6398 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. St., St. Petersburg, $5, (727) 527-1579.

* Wine Tasting and Cigar Smoker, with hors d'oeuvres, 5:30-7:30 p.m. May 31, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, 23399 U.S. Highway 19 N, Clearwater, $10, (727) 797-1210.

GRAND VINTAGES: 6-8 p.m. Thur., Tampa Wine Institute (at West Palm Wines), 2009 N 22nd St., Ybor City. Grand Tasting for serious Burgundy lover, with grand crus, older vintages and small production wines sampled: $100. Call (813) 241-8587 to register.

WINE, CIGARS AND JAZZ: 7 p.m. Thur., Good Luck Cafe, 1910 East Seventh Ave., Ybor City. "Wine, Cigar & Jazz Party" combines wine tasting with Arturo Fuente cigars, live jazz; $10. Call (813) 241-2233.

PASSION FOR PINOT: 5-7:30 p.m. Thur., Bella Vino Wine Market, 100 Indian Rocks Road (next to E & E Stakeout Grill), Belleair Bluffs. Try summer pinots including pinot gris, pinot grigio, plus pinot noirs and other wines, paired with light hors d'oeuvres and cheeses in free tasting. Call (727) 584-5552.

WINE, BUBBLY AND BEER: 7:30 p.m. Fri., Charlie's Wine Bar, 533 South Howard Ave., Tampa. Wines from Australia, France, Italy, Argentina, California, plus domestic and European beers, and sparkling wines; $15 advance, $20 at door. Call (813) 250-1967 or visit www.charlieswine.com.

ALL AMERICAN WINES: 5-8 p.m. Fri., and 1-4 p.m. Sat., A & L Fine Wines, 35249 US 19 N, in Palm Harbor Plaza, Palm Harbor. Taste pinot noir, cabernet sauvignon and chardonnay from California, Oregon and Washington in "All American" sampling; free. Call (727) 781-4760.

BEST OF BORDEAUX, BURGUNDY: 7 p.m. apertif, 7:30 p.m. tasting Fri., Vintage Wine Cellars, 3629 Henderson Blvd., Tampa. White wines from France's Burgundy region, reds from Bordeaux; $25. Limited seating, call (813) 879-2931 to register.

RHONES, EVERYDAY WINES: Pic Pac Fine Wine, 6609 Central Ave., St. Petersburg:

* Rhones on the Range tasting includes Rhone-style wines from around the world, 6-8 p.m. Fri., $5.

* No need for a special occasion for easy-sipping wines for everyday enjoyment, 6-8 p.m. June 2, $5.

Call (727) 347-0743.

COOKOUT COMBOS: 7-9 p.m. Fri., Uncorked Fine Wines and Accessories, 2706 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Planning a cookout? Find out what wines to pair with barbecue sauces from mild and sweet to spicy and hot; $5. Call (727) 892-9463.

TRAVELS THROUGH EUROPE: 7-9 p.m. Fri., Got Wine, 662 Main St., Dunedin. Take a taste tour of European wines including Cuve Alsace pinot blanc, Big Mamma's Italian red, Da Vinci chianti, plus live music; free. Call (727) 736-4077.

FLORIDA WINERY FESTIVAL: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sat., Florida Estates Winery, 25241 SR 52, four miles west of Interstate 75, near Land O' Lakes. Taste the winery's varieties while browsing fresh market with produce, sandwiches, sauces, salsas, plus crafts, live music. Free admission. Call (813) 996-2113.

Cooking classes

NATHALIE DUPREE: Apron's Cooking School at Publix Supermarket at Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa. The celebrity chef and cookbook author demonstrates Southern cuisine including shrimp and grits with greens, 6:30 p.m. Sat.; $50. Call (813) 926-4465 or visit www.publix.com/aprons/schools to register.

SPEAK, EAT ITALIAN: One-night session on Italian language and cuisine, 6-8 p.m. June 1, Bellini Restaurant, 487 Main St., Dunedin; $50 includes dinner; or four-week Italian culture, language and cuisine class, 6-8 p.m. Mondays June 5 through June 26 at Bellini Restaurant, 487 Main St., Dunedin; $195, includes dinner at each class, materials. Pre-registration required, call (727) 866-6892 or www.learnitalian.us.

ASIAN CUISINE: 5:30-7 p.m. June 5, 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 Asian-inspired menu. Cost: $18, includes dinner; must reserve by June 1. Call (727) 820-7910.

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 May 23, 2006, 11:38:37]