Food File

A look at what's happening around the area.

By PEGGY ANDERS
Published June 7, 2006

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Special events and food tastings

CAFE ALMA WINE DINNER: 6:30 p.m. reception, 7 p.m. dinner, today, Cafe Alma, 260 First Ave. S, St. Petersburg. Sparkling wine with gold flakes at welcome reception; at least two wines poured with each of five courses that include Hudson Valley duck breast or pan-roasted black grouper, saffron poached pear; $65, inclusive. Call 813 621-1911, ext. 17, to register.

SAVORY SAFARI: 6:30 p.m. Tue., Spoto's Steak Joint II, 1280 Main St., Dunedin. A a culinary expedition for exotic and wild game, including elk, bison, rabbit, infused with sauces, emulsions and chutneys, all paired with Rodney Strong Vineyards wines; $90. Call (727) 734-0008 to register.

PONTE PAIRINGS: 6:30 p.m. June 19, Cafe Ponte, 13505 Icot Blvd., Clearwater. Chefs Chris Ponte and Paul Mattison pair up with Abilities Foundation to present dinner of five Asian-inspired courses, paired with reserve wines, live auction; $175, benefits Abilities Foundation. Call (727) 538-7370, ext. 345, or register online at www.abilitiesfoundation.com.

'UNCORK THE CURE': 5-8 p.m. June 25, Jackson's Bistro, 601 S Harbour Island Blvd., Tampa. Krewe of Zingaro presents wine-tasting event; food tastes and auction benefit Children's Cancer Research Group of St. Joseph's Children's Hospital; $50 advance, $60 at door. Call (813) 872-0979.

Wine and beer tastings/classes

AUSTRALIAN WINE, DINE & LEARN: 7:30-9 p.m. June 24, Charlie's Wine Bar, 533 S Howard Ave., Tampa. "Wine, Dine & Learn" pairs four-course dinner with wines and cuisine from Australia and New Zealand, plus expert wine instruction; $35. To register, call (813) 250-1967 or visit www.charlieswine.com.

BORDEAUX, TOTALLY TORO, SUMMER WHITES: Tastings, A Wine Experience, 149 First Ave. N, St. Petersburg.

* "Tour Through Bordeaux" explores red and white wines from the famous French growing region, 6-8 p.m. today; $10.

* Spain's Toro wine-growing region is focus of wine sampling, 6-8 p.m. June 14; $10.

* Cool off with crisp, refreshing summertime white wines from around the world, 6-8 p.m. June 21; $10. Call (727) 894-2255.

SAVORING SUMMER: 6-8 p.m. today, Lincoln Heights Bistro, 603 Elm St., Safety Harbor. Light summer wines including pinot grigio, riesling, chardonnay, paired with light appetizers; $10. Call (727) 726-4210 for reservations.

ITALIAN WINE, DINE & LEARN: 7:30-9 p.m. today, Charlie's Wine Bar, 533 S Howard Ave., Tampa. "Wine, Dine & Learn" pairs four-course dinner with Italian wines and cuisine, plus wine education; $35. Call (813) 250-1967 or visit www.charlieswine.com to register.

WINE, WHISKEY AND CIGARS: 5:30-7:30 p.m. today, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, 3535 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Almost 70 wines from international and domestic producers, complemented by Pacific Rim hors d'oeuvres from Pacific Wave, plus cigar and whiskey sampling; $10. Call (727) 894-4875.

BEST OF BARGAIN WINES: 6:30 p.m. Fri., Apron's Cooking School at Publix Supermarket at Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa. Cost-conscious wine connoisseurs can find highly rated (90+ points) varieties priced under $15, paired with hors d'oeuvres; $30. Call (813) 926-4465 to register.

ITALIAN, CABERNETS, PINOTS: Pic Pac Fine Wine, 6609 Central Ave., St. Petersburg:

* Try Italian varieties in "Spaghetti Western" wine tasting, 6-8 p.m. Fri.; $5.

* Treat Dad to cabernets and cabernet blends from around the world in pre-Father's Day tasting, 6-8 p.m. June 16; $5.

* "Pinot Envy" tasting samples pinot wines from Burgundy, California and Oregon, 6-8 p.m. June 23; $5. Call (727) 347-0743.

BOUTIQUE BESTS, SOUTH AFRICAN SAMPLING: Charlie's Wine Bar, 533 S Howard Ave., Tampa.

* Sample "boutique" and limited vintage wines from Napa and Sonoma, paired with sushi, 7:30 p.m. Fri.; $15 advance, $20 at door.

* South African Safari wine tasting samples both red and white wines and features indigenous pinotage grape, paired with regional cuisine, 7:30 p.m. June 16; $15 advance, $20 at door. Call (813) 250-1967 or visit www.charlieswine.com.

SPARKLING SANGRIAS: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Fri., Uncorked Fine Wines and Accessories, 2706 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Sample sangrias made from sparkling white and red wines; $10, benefits All Children's Hospital Blood and Marrow Transplantation. Call (727) 892-9463.

TOAD HOLLOW TASTING: 5-8 p.m. Fri. and 1-4 p.m. Sat., A & L Fine Wines, Palm Harbor Plaza, 35249 U.S. 19 N, Palm Harbor. Try Toad Hollow varieties, California-based winery co-founded by Todd Williams, half-brother of Robin Williams; free. Call (727) 781-4760.

CALIFORNIA CLASSICS: 7-8:30 p.m. Fri., Got Wine, 662 Main St., Dunedin. Wines from Napa and Sonoma country include BR Cohn cabernet, Kirkland reserve merlot, Liberty School syrah, Pine Ridge chenin blanc/viognier; free. Live music. Call (727) 736-4077.

FLORIDA WINERY ESTATES 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. Taste winery's varieties; browse fresh market with produce, sandwiches, sauces, salsas, crafts, live music. Free admission. Call (813) 996-2113.

SPANISH, SOUTH AMERICAN SAMPLING: 3-6 p.m. Sun., B-21 Fine Wine & Spirits, 43380 U.S. 19 N, Tarpon Springs. Try the latest value-priced wines of Spain, Chile, Argentina and other South American countries; $25. Reserve by Fri. Visit b-21.com or call (727) 937-5049 and press 1 for tickets.

VIP WINE 'EXTRAVAGANZA': 6-8 p.m. June 14, Pic Pac Fine Wine, 6609 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Sample premium wines, domestic and imported, plus the newest releases, along with hors d'oeuvres; $25, benefits Abilities Foundation. Call (727) 538-7370, ext. 349.

FRENCH FLAIR: 5-7 p.m. June 15, Wine Warehouse of Carrollwood, 14341 N Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa. Tour France's heralded wine regions, with varieties imported from Kermit Lynch; free, but reservations are recommended. Call (813) 264-7273.

REIGNING WINES OF SPAIN: 7 p.m. June 16, Cafe Denali, 1327 E Seventh Ave., Ybor City. Wine experts lead guests on taste tour of Spanish wine regions; $15, includes hors d'oeuvres. Call (813) 287-9717 to register.

FOCUS ON FRANCE: 5-8 p.m. June 22, Wine Warehouse of St. Petersburg, 5571 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. France taste tour features varieties from Kermit Lynch; free. Call (727) 527-7000 to register.

DRINKING UP HISTORY: 2-4:30 p.m. June 17, Florida Estates Winery, 25241 State Road 52, 4 miles west of Interstate 75, near Land O'Lakes. Wine tasting class details brief history of wine, grape varietals, how to taste and rate wines, wine glass styles and uses, oak aging, cork evolution; $20 advance, $25 at door, includes wine tasting, snacks, dessert. Call (813) 996-2113 to register.

Cooking classes

PERFECT PICNIC FARE: 6-8 p.m. June 20, Williams-Sonoma at Westfield Citrus Park, 8066 Citrus Park Towne Center, Tampa. Learn the secrets to a perfect picnic with foods that are easy to make, transport and eat. Call (813) 920-6939.

'KIDS IN THE KITCHEN': Kids can help make dinner at Let's Eat make-a-meal (meal assembly shop) locations: 10 a.m.-2 p.m.Wednesdays through June and July, beginning today, at 3401-D W Bay to Bay Blvd., South Tampa, (813) 805-0555, and 11965 Sheldon Road, Citrus Park, Tampa, (813) 792-2035; or 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. today and Wednesdays through June and July at 4946 Fourth St. N, Suite 200, St. Petersburg, (727) 520-1470. Children must be accompanied by an adult and must be tall enough to reach the counter; $19 per entree prepared (feeds 4-6 people), two-entree limit.

TROPICAL TASTES: 6:30-8 p.m. Mon., Saffron's Caribbean Cuisine Restaurant, 1700 Park St. N, St. Petersburg. Caribbean cuisine cooking demonstration features Chef Edyth James' tropical treats. Kids and teens are welcome. The $35 fee includes dinner and a drink. To register, call (727) 345-6400 or e-mail edyth@saffronscuisine.com.

VEGETARIAN CUISINE: 5:30-6 p.m. demonstration, 6-8 p.m. buffet, June 14, Saffron's Caribbean Cuisine Restaurant, 1700 Park St. N, St. Petersburg. Free vegetarian cooking demonstration by chef Edyth James, followed by buffet of vegetarian specialties ($15). Call (727) 345-6400.

'CHARLOTTE'S WEB' MENU: noon-1 p.m. June 15, Clearwater Main Library, 100 N Osceola Ave. Chef Bill Mitchell of Apron's Cooking School demonstrates recipes for kids based on the children's book Charlotte's Web, including Uncle Farmer's Omelet and Pig Sty Chocolate Mud Pie; free. Call (727) 562-4970, ext. 5236.

'SPRINGTIME IN PARIS': 6:30 p.m. June 16, Apron's Cooking School at Publix Supermarket at Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa. Prepare a romantic dinner for two in "Springtime in Paris" demonstration. Menu includes scallops with roasted shallot beurre blanc, white chocolate souffle and raspberry sauce; $40 per person. Call (813) 926-4465 to register.

SUSHI FOR BEGINNERS: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. June 17, Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Learn the basics of sushi, from making sushi rice to choosing freshest ingredients, fashioning basic rolls (maki) and small pieces (nigiri) in hands-on class; $60, includes supplies. Call (813) 567-1444 or register online at www.kowjuice.com.

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.