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Food File

A look at what's happening around the area.

By PEGGY ANDERS
Published January 24, 2007

SPECIAL EVENTS

Maison Leroy Dinner: 6:30 p.m. Thur., Massimo's, 31876 U.S. 19 N, Palm Harbor. B-21 Wine & Spirits' dinner with award-winning wines from Maison Leroy, including tasting of 1966 Maison Leroy Pommard Clos Micot; $150. Call (727) 937-5049 to reserve, or visit B-21.com.

Alfano's Dinner Benefit: 6:30 p.m. Thur., Alfano's Restaurant, 1702 Clearwater-Largo Road, Clearwater. Italian wines and cuisine combine to benefit Abilities Foundation at wine dinner; $80. Call (727) 538-7370, ext. 349.

Celebrating Kumquats: Kumquat Festival events include:

- Grower's Open House, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Fri., Kumquat Growers' Packing House, 31647 Gude Road, Dade City, with cooking demonstrations, samples of jellies, pies, chutneys, grove tours, talks by PBS's Victory Garden host, Roger Swain; free admission. Call (352) 588-0544.

- Street fair and festival that draws 35,000 people annually to Dade City, where two-thirds of U.S. kumquats are grown; kumquat products, farmer's market, entertainment, car, truck, quilt shows; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat. , Meridian and Third through Sixth streets, Dade City; free admission. Call (352) 567-3769.

Tampa Bay Culinary Club: 1 p.m. Feb. 3, Ponte's Tuscan Grill, 2544 N McMullen-Booth Road, Clearwater. Tampa Bay Culinary Club members meet for demonstration of signature dishes by chef Tim Thompson; $10. Registration required by Jan. 31, advance payment required for new attendees. Call (727) 789-2605.

Einstein on Wine: 6-9 p.m. Feb. 3, Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI), 4801 E Fowler Ave., Tampa. Annual wine tasting benefit with 80 vintners, culinary treats from over 20 restaurants, silent auction; $70, advance, $60, members, $80 at door if available. Call (813) 987-6000.

Wine, Art & Heart: 7 p.m. Feb. 2 winemaker dinner at Hospice of Florida Suncoast, 3050 First Ave. S, St. Petersburg, 7-10 p.m. Feb. 3 wine and food pairing at Salvador Dali Museum, 1000 Third St. S, St. Petersburg. Guests can attend dinner pairing four courses with Fritz Winery wines Feb. 2, or enjoy food and small vineyard wine pairings, desserts, museum tours at Dali museum Feb. 3; $120 dinner only, $60 Dali event only, $150 both events, benefits Hospice and King of Peace Church. Call Cile at (727) 560-4300 or go to wineartandheart.org.

Swanson Style: 6:30 p.m. Feb. 6, Maritana Grille, Don CeSar Beach Resort, 3400 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach. Swanson's meritage, semillion, chadonnay pair with chef Eric Neri's 5 courses that include squab, lobster tail salad, asiago gnocchi; $125. Call (727) 360-1881, ext. 2601.

Best Teen Chef Competition: High school seniors can compete to win culinary scholarships in Art Institute of Tampa's Best Teen Chef Competition, with local and national cookoffs. Apply by Feb. 9. Call (813) 393-5330.

WINE TASTINGS/CLASSES

Beers at the Bistro: 6-8 p.m. today, NoHo Bistro, 1714 N Armenia Ave., Tampa. Beer tasting with seasonal brews from Dunedin Brewery, others from Unique Beers, each course paired with two beers; menu includes picadillo-stuffed mushrooms, peach shortbread spoons; $25. Call (813) 514-0691 to register.

ABC Tasting: 5:30-7:30 p.m. today, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, 14729 N Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa. More than 70 international and domestic wines, plus hors d'oeuvres and cigar and whiskey sampling; $10. Call (813) 264-1881.

Wines, Bubbly and Beer: 7:30 p.m. Fri., Charlie's Wine Bar, 533 S Howard Ave., Tampa. Sample sparkling wines, plus red and whites from Australia, Argentina, France, Italy, California, plus domestic and European beers; $15 advance, $20 at door. Call (813) 250-1967 or go to www.charlieswine.com.

Uncork New York: 5-8 p.m. Fri., WineStyles, 100 Main St., Safety Harbor. Discover wines from upstate New York's Finger Lakes region; free. Call (727) 669-9463; reservations preferred.

Southern Hemisphere Sampling: 5-8 p.m. Fri., 1-4 p.m. Sat., A & L Fine Wines, Palm Harbor Plaza, 35249 U.S. 19 N, Palm Harbor. Try wines from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Chile and Argentina; free. Call (727) 781-4760.

Pinot Noir Crush Hour:: 6:30- 8:30 p.m. Fri., Bern's Fine Wines & Spirits, 1002 S Howard Ave., Tampa. Taste pinot noirs from Merry Edwards, Domaine Serene, Row Eleven in Crush Hour sampling; $25. Call (813) 250-9463 to register.

Harr's Valentine Tasting: 7-9 p.m. Feb. 1, Harr's Surf & Turf Market, 3235 Tampa Road, Shoppes at Cloverplace, Palm Harbor. Find the perfect wine for a special Valentine from among 50 varieties, paired with hors d'oeuvres; $15. Call (727) 785-8873.

A Dozen Discoveries: Find new favorites at ABC Fine Wine & Spirits tastings of more than a dozen wines, plus hors d'oeuvres:

- 5-7 p.m. Jan. 31, 204 107th Ave., Treasure Island; $5. Call (727) 360-6153.

- 5-7 p.m. Feb. 1, 6398 Dr. Martin Lutker King Jr. St. N, St. Petersburg; $5. Call (727) 527-1579.

Cooking classes

Fast Soups, Spiced Up: Williams-Sonoma at Westfield Citrus Park, 8066 Citrus Park Towne Center, Tampa, (813) 920-6939, presents:

- Quick and soothing soups, including Florentine white bean soup, Greek chicken-lemon soup, in Soups: Food Made Fast class, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Sun.; $35.

- Use spices to add flavor to dishes, including tandoori chicken, 6-8 p.m. Tue.; $35.

Breakfast Treats, Dim Sum: Rolling Pin, 2080 Badlands Drive, Brandon, presents:

- Breakfast Delights class, makes homemade hash browns, classic eggs benedict, 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Jan. 31; $40.

- Cantonese Dim Sum class, shows how to re-create the dim sum dining experience, 6:30-9 p.m. Feb. 2; $45.

Call (813) 653-2418, then press 3, to register.

Everything Italian: Create "la cucina Italiana" at home with four-week class on Italian language, cuisine and culture, 6:30-9:30 p.m. Tuesdays, begins Feb. 6, Rolling Pin Kitchen Emporium, 2080 Badlands Drive, Brandon; $185, includes dinner, materials. Preregistration required.Call (727) 866-6892 or go to www.Learnalanguage.us.

Food for Life: 11 a.m. Sat., Nature's Food Patch, 1225 Cleveland St., Clearwater. How low-fat and vegetarian foods may help reduce disease and promote a healthy lifestyle; free. Call (727) 443-6703.

SuperBowl Bash: 11 a.m. Feb. 3, Apron's Cooking School at Publix Supermarket at Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa. Teen class makes Super Bowl favorites, including Tex-Mex five-layer dip, party muffaletta, pizza rolls; $25. Call (813) 926-4465 or go to publix.com/aprons/schools.

Bistro Cuisine: 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Feb. 3, La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Hands-on class makes French bistro cuisine, including rack of lamb Persilade; $50. Call (727) 736-3070.

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 January 23, 2007, 11:38:03]