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Food

Food File

A look at what's happening around the area.

By PEGGY ANDERS
Published November 15, 2006

SPECIAL EVENTS

Italian Wine Dinner: 7 p.m. tonight., Spoto's Steakjoint II, 1280 Main St., Dunedin. From antipasti to cannolis, dinner pairs Italian dishes with prosecco, chianti, pinot grigio, more; $75. Call (727) 734-0008.

Beaujolais Benefit Dinner: 6 p.m. Thur., O Bistro, 6661 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Beaujolais nouveau, other wines, pair with roasted garlic and saffron soup, lamb chops with salsify, peach napoleon; $100, proceeds benefit Celma Mastry Ovarian Cancer Foundation. Call (727) 381-1212.

Beaujolais at Bouchon: 7 p.m. Thur., Le Bouchon Bistro, 796 Indian Rocks Road, Belleair Bluffs. French wine dinner pairs duck a l'orange with beaujolais nouveau, other wines; $49. Call (727) 585-9777 to register.

Spanish Cuisine and Wines: 7 p.m. Thur., Columbia Restaurant, 2117 E Seventh Ave., Ybor City. Spanish winemaker dinner with varieties from Miguel Torres Family; $75, must reserve today. Call (813) 248-4961.

Fruits of Autumn: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Fri., Aunt Lee's Vegetable Patch, 6864 49th St. N, St. Petersburg. Grand opening celebration with samplings. Call (727) 522-2057.

Thin Mint Magic: 6:30 p.m. Fri., Westin Tampa Harbour Island, 725 S Harbour Island Blvd., Tampa. Chefs make desserts using Girl Scout cookies, plus entrees, benefits Girl Scout programs in Dessert First Dinner; $150. Call (813) 262-1688.

Tradewinds Dinner: 6:30 p.m. Sat., Tradewinds Island Grand, 5500 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach. Six Italian-themed courses from the resort's chefs pair with six wines; $65, includes Tradewinds cookbook. Call (727) 363-2258.

Hudson Seafest: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sat., 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sun., festival fairgrounds on State Road 52 at U.S. 19, Hudson. Florida seafood specialties, music, arts and crafts; free admission, charge for food and parking. Call (727) 919-3866 or visit www.hudsonseafest.com.

Plant City Pig Jam: 10 a.m-5 p.m. Sat., Randy Larson Softball Four-plex, 1810 E Park Road, Plant City. Sample barbecue from among more than 40 teams competing in BBQ Championship; free admission, charge for food, beer. Call (813) 754-3707.

Beaujolais Brunch: 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Sun., Cafe Largo, 12551 Indian Rocks Road. Cafe celebrates beaujolais nouveau arrival with courtyard brunch; $22.75. Call (727) 596-6282.

Tailgate Party: Noon-4 p.m. Sun., Tampa Jewish Community Center, 13009 Community Campus Drive. Watch the Bucs on the big screen, enjoy a "stadium lunch," activities, demonstrations for kids and adults; $3. Call (813) 264-9000 or visit www.jewishtampa.com.

Pies and Pastries: Holiday pies, pastries and treats are available at these events:

- Uhuru Holiday Pie Sale of fresh-baked pumpkin, apple crumb and sweet potato pies, $8-$12, available for pickup Sat., Tues. and Nov. 22 or Dec. 16, 22-24 at St. Petersburg locations. Call (727) 824-5685 or visit www.apedf.org/pies to order; benefits community programs of African People's Education & Defense Fund.

- Greek pastries, including baklava and Greek butter cookies, can be purchased by the tray (15-35 pieces), $11-16 per tray, by Dec. 1, pickup 5-7 p.m. Dec. 14 at St. Stefanos Greek Orthodox Church, 3600 76th St. N., St. Petersburg; proceeds benefit cancer research, Alzheimer's, other charities. Call (727) 866-7309.

Thai Vegetarian: 7 p.m. Nov. 29, Thai Thani, 25778 U.S. 19 N, Clearwater. Tampa Bay Vegetarian buffet dinner; $12.50, plus extra $2 for nonmembers. Reserve by noon Nov. 25. Visit www.tampabayvegetarians.org or call (727) 432-3327.

Gingerbread Fundraisers: 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Dec. 2, Fletcher Lounge, 401 Kennedy Blvd., University of Tampa, and 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 5, Don Cesar Beach Resort, 3400 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach. Create your own gingerbread house for prizes; supplies provided. Tickets for the Tampa event are $65 for adults, $50 for children under 15. To reserve, call (813) 348-4820, ext. 869. Tickets for the St. Pete Beach event are $75. Call (727) 898-3111. Proceeds benefit the Tampa Bay Chapter of the American Red Cross.

WINE TASTINGS/CLASSES

Thanksgiving Wines: 5-8 tonight, Vino 100, 5056 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Wines to pair with Thanksgiving meal; free. Call (727) 522-8466.

ABC Tasting: 5:30-7:30 tonight, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, 204 107th Ave., Treasure Island. Wine tasting, plus hors d'oeuvres; $5. Call (727) 360-6153.

Beaujolais Preview: 10 p.m.-midnight today, Publix Super Market, 200 37th Ave. N, St. Petersburg. Late-night tasting of new beaujolais releases, paired with foods; free. Call (727) 895-1670.

Premier Tastings: Pinot noir wines among those tasted in Premier Beverage samplings at: 5-8 p.m. Thur., Pasadena Liquors, 1100 Pasadena Ave., South Pasadena, $15, (727) 347-9607; 1-4 p.m. Thur. and Fri., B-21 Liquors, 43380 US Hwy. 19 N, Tarpon Springs, free, (727) 937-5049; 3-6 p.m. Thur., Harr's Surf & Turf, 3235 Tampa Road (SR 584), Palm Harbor, free, (727) 785-8873; 3-6 p.m. Fri., Wine Shop of Largo, 251 Clearwater-Largo Road, Largo, free, (727) 588-9463; 4-7 p.m. Fri., Grapevine Liquors, 12129 W Linebaugh, Tampa, free, (813) 818-9463.

Zinfandel: 6-8 p.m. Fri., Pic Pac Fine Wine, 6609 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Thanksgiving pairings; $10. Call (727) 347-0743.

Port and Pinot: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Fri., American Spirits, 280 Third St. S, St. Petersburg. Try 15 to 20 wines from around the world; free. Call (727) 895-8700.

Global Sampling, All About Napa: Charlie's Wine Bar, 533 S Howard Ave., Tampa:

- Wine and beers, 7:30 p.m. Fri.; $15 advance, $20 at door.

- Napa Wine, Dine & Learn pairs wine country cuisine with lesson, four-course dinner, 7:30-9 p.m. Sat.; $35, registration required.

Call (813) 250-1967 or visit www.charlieswine.com.

Holiday Wines: 5-8 p.m. Fri., 1-4 p.m. Sat., A&L Fine Wines, Palm Harbor Plaza, 35249 U.S. 19 N. Free . Call (727) 781-4760.

Grand Holiday Tasting: 3-6 p.m. Sun., B-21 Fine Wine & Spirits, 43380 U.S. 19 N, Tarpon Springs. Wines for holiday meals; $25, limited availability. Reserve by Fri. Call (727) 937-5049, then press 1.

Retro Nouveau, Sparkling Sampling: Vintage Wine Cellars, 3629 Henderson Blvd., Tampa.

- Retro Nouveau party pairs '70s and '80s music with beaujolais nouveau wines, 7-9 p.m. Fri., $10.

- Sample Laurent-Perrier brut, Charles Lafitte brut, Roederer Estate brut, plus other champagnes and sparklers, 7-9 p.m. Dec. 1, $10. Call (813) 879-2931.

Benefit Tasting: 6-8 p.m. Nov. 30, 3613 S Beach Drive, Tampa. Fine Wine & Spirits Warehouse offers more than 60 wines, including Opus, Verite, Dominus, plus accompaniments; $40 per person or $75 per couple suggested donation, benefits Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Call (813) 837-8941.

Wine, Food & Song: 6-9 p.m. Nov. 30, Cork & Olive, 13998 W Hillsborough Ave., Tampa. Vocal Operatic Intensive Creative Experience benefit pairs wines with gastronomic and musical accompaniments; $45 per person or $85 per couple. Call (727) 773-0370 or (847) 707-0177.

COOKING CLASSES

Table Manners: Dining etiquette workshops for kids and teens include lunch or dinner, materials; 5-8 tonight and 12:30-4:30 p.m. Sun., Saffron's Caribbean Cuisine Restaurant, 1700 Park St. N, St. Petersburg; $75 per workshop. Call (727) 410-3514.

Vegetarian Cuisine: 6-8 tonight; Nature's Food Patch, 1225 Cleveland St., Clearwater. Free demo. Call (727) 443-6703.

Conversational Cuisine: Four- week class on Italian language, cuisine and culture, 6-8 tonight, Bellini Restaurant, 487 Main St., Dunedin. Cost: $205, includes materials, dinner. Registration required. Call (727) 866-6892 or go to www.learnitalian.us.

Seafood Demonstration: 6 p.m. Thur., Reef Seafood Market, 17811 Gulf Blvd., Redington Shores. Demonstration plus wine tasting, live music; $35. Call (727) 391-2000 to register.

Holiday Baking: 9:30-11:30 a.m. Sun., Williams-Sonoma at Westfield Citrus Park, 8066 Citrus Park Towne Center, Tampa. Holiday treats; $30. Call (813) 920-6939.

Herbs in Cooking: 6:30 p.m. Tues., Clearwater Main Library, 100 N Osceola Ave. Florida Herb Society of Pinellas County meets with demonstration by chef Chris Deeds on using herbs in cooking. Call (727) 447-6305 or 727) 393-3943.

Holiday Leftovers: Noon Nov. 25, Apron's Cooking School at Publix Super Market at Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa. Instruction for tortellini turkey soup, sweet potato stuffed pork tenderloin; $35. Call (813) 926-4465.

Compiled by Peggy Anders of the Times. Send news of coming events at least two weeks in advance to Food File, St. Petersburg Times, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731.

[Last modified November 14, 2006, 10:20:33]