By PEGGY ANDERS, Times Staff Writer
Published August 9, 2006
Special events
ANTIPASTO TO DESSERT: 6:30 p.m. Tues., Lincoln Heights Bistro, 603 Elm St., Safety Harbor. Traditional seven-course Italian dinner pairs sparkling wine, valpolicella, teroldego with trout in fennel cream, grilled radicchio, steak alla pizzaiola, hazelnut rum mousse; $55. Call 727 726-4210 for reservations.
HAHN WINEMAKER DINNER: 6:30 p.m. Tues., Cafe Ponte, 13505 Icot Blvd., Clearwater. New releases of Hahn Estates wines paired with a menu that includes lobster salad with fennel beurre blanc and lamb loin chops with polenta fries; $100, benefits Abilities Foundation. Call (727) 538-7370, ext. 349, or register online at www.abilitiesfoundation.com.
ZEN DINNER: 6:30 p.m. reception, 7 p.m. dinner, Tues., Zen Forrest, 4148 Rowan Road (just north of State Road 54), New Port Richey. Five courses include five-spice duck, shrimp and crab rolls, paired with international wines; $65. Call (727) 375-9424.
ISLAND HOPPING: 6:30 p.m. Tues., Roy's, 4342 Boy Scout Blvd., Tampa. Flavors from each of Hawaii's islands paired with unique wines in Island Hop dinner; $85. Call (813) 873-7697.
GRANDE CUISINE: 7 p.m. Aug. 18, Cafe Largo, 12551 Indian Rocks Road, Largo. French wines pair with chef Dominique's roast quail in truffle sauce in Grande Cuisine dinner; $69. Call (727) 596-6282.
CARNAVAL CELEBRATION: 6:30 p.m. Aug. 18, A La Carte Pavilion, 4050 Dana Shores Drive, Tampa. "Carnaval: A Celebration of Life" benefit combines cuisine tastes from around the world with a Brazilian focus, wines, martini bar, auction; $100 advance, $125 at door, benefits Heartbeat International, which provides pacemakers and medical care to those in need. RSVP by Friday at (813) 243-8769.
TAMPA BAY CULINARY CLUB: 3:30 p.m. Aug. 19, Chiang Mai Royal Thai Cuisine Restaurant, 415 Cleveland St, Clearwater. Tampa Bay Culinary Club members meet for demonstration and sampling; $10. Registration required by Wed. Call (727) 789-2605.
Wine and beer tastings/classes
TOP TASTES: 4-7 p.m. today, Vino 100, 5056 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Exclusive Offerings with variety of premium red and white wines from California and around the world; free. Call (727) 522-8466.
ROSES, oyster bay: Tastings, A Wine Experience, 149 First Ave. N, St. Petersburg:
* Stop and Smell the Roses summer sampling focuses on light rose wines, 6-8 p.m. today; $10.
* New Zealand's internationally recognized Oyster Bay wines from pinot noir to chardonnay are tasted, 6-8 p.m. Aug. 16; $10.
Call (727) 894-2255.
SUMMER WHITES, REFRESHING REDS: 7-8:30 p.m. Fri., Got Wine, 662 Main St., Dunedin. Wines for summer include Smoking Loon viognier, Dutour pouilly fuisse, plus red wines including Astesa pinot noir, at free tasting. Live music. Call (727) 736-4077.
NEW WORLD WINES: 5-8 p.m. Fri. and 1-4 p.m. Sat., A & L Fine Wines, Palm Harbor Plaza, 35249 U.S. 19 N. Red and white wines from South America, South Africa and California are featured: free. Call (727) 781-4760.
COOL CUBES: 1-4 p.m. Sat., Target at Boot Ranch Shopping Plaza, 900 East Lake Road, Palm Harbor. Cool off with Target's exclusive Wine Cubes of refreshing red and white sangria in convenient boxes in free sampling. Call (727) 786-6969.
CALIFORNIA WINE, DINE & LEARN: 7:30-9 p.m. Sat., Charlie's Wine Bar, 533 S Howard Ave., Tampa. "Wine, Dine & Learn" pairs four-course dinner with wine and cuisine from California's Napa and Sonoma growing regions; $35. To register, call (813) 250-1967 or visit www.charlieswine.com.
FLORIDA WINERY ESTATES FESTIVAL: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sat., Florida Estates Winery, 25241 State Road 52, 4 miles west of I-75, near Land O'Lakes. Taste winery's varieties; browse fresh market with produce, sandwiches, sauces, salsas, crafts, music. Free admission. Call (813) 996-2113.
PINOT NOIR celebration: 3-6 p.m. Sun., B-21 Fine Wine & Spirits, 43380 U.S. 19 N, Tarpon Springs. Sample red and white burgundy, plus pinot noirs from around the world; $25, reserve by Fri. Visit b-21.com (click on Wine Tastings) or call (727) 937-5049 and press 1.
AUSTRALIAN WONDERSS: 5:30- 7:30 p.m. Aug. 17, ABC Fine Wines & Spirits, 3535 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Australian shiraz, cabernets and pinot noirs, plus the newest sauvignon blancs from New Zealand among 70 wines for sampling, along with accompaniments; $10. Call (727) 894-4875.
GLOBAL SAMPLING: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Aug. 18, American Spirits, 280 Third St. S, St. Petersburg. Sampling of 15 to 20 wines from around the world, plus Australian, French varieties; free. Call (727) 895-8700.
CALIFORNIA CRUSH HOUR: 6:30- 8:30 p.m. Aug. 18, Bern's Fine Wines & Spirits, 1002 S Howard Ave., Tampa. Sonoma and Napa merlots and cabernets paired with artisan cheeses; $25. Call (813) 250-9463 to register.
WINERAVE: 8-11 p.m. Aug. 18, Czar, 1420 Seventh Ave., Ybor City. More than 30 wines for sampling, "jelly bean" wine pairing, Mediterranean menu from Byblos Cafe including shish kebab, baba ganoush, at Tampa Bay Uncorked event; $35 advance, $40 at door, benefits Meals On Wheels. For information, visit www. tampabayuncorked.org.
TROPICAL TASTES: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Aug. 19, Florida Orange Groves and Winery, 1500 Pasadena Ave. S, St. Petersburg. Mango champagne among tropical fruit wines, includes winery tour, hors d'oeuvres, glass; $10, adults only. Call (727) 347-4025.
RENOWNED RHONE VALLEY: 5-7 p.m. Aug. 19, Tampa Wine Institute (at West Palm Wines), 2009 N 22nd St., Ybor City. Wine class explores the wines created from syrah, grenache and viognier grapes grown in France's Rhone valley; 10-12 varieties sampled, plus accompaniments; $30. Call (813) 241-8587 to register.
Cooking classes
TITANIC TASTES: noon-1 p.m. Thur., Clearwater Main Library, 100 N Osceola Ave. Chef Bill Mitchell of Apron's Cooking School re-creates menu items from Titanic's last dinner; free. Call (727) 562-4970, ext. 5284.
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; $35, includes dinner. To register, call (727) 345-6400 or e-mail edyth@saffronscuisine.com
BELLA BRAVA CHEF: 6:30 p.m. Aug. 17, Apron's Cooking School at Publix Supermarket at Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa. Chef Mario Luigi Maggi creates Tuscan favorites with new twists; $40. Call (813) 926-4465 to register.
WEEKEND BRUNCH, ALFRESCO LUNCH: Williams-Sonoma at Westfield Citrus Park, 8066 Citrus Park Towne Center, Tampa:
* Transform fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables into easy brunch dishes, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Sun.; $30.
* Make a vegetarian alfresco lunch with Mediterranean flavors, 6-8 p.m. Tue.; $30. Call (813) 920-6939.
* Learn to use sweet potatoes in slaw and salads, 11 a.m. Sat.
* Make cool summer desserts and chilled soups, 6-8 p.m. Aug. 16.
Both events are free. Call (727) 443-6703.
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.
