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Food File

A look at what's happening around the area.

By PEGGY ANDERS
Published March 21, 2007

SPECIAL EVENTS

German Wine Dinner: 6:30 p.m. reception, 7 p.m. dinner Thur., the Pepper Mill Restaurant, 1575 S Fort Harrison Ave., Clearwater. German-inspired courses including potato cake with spicy mint applesauce, pork sauerbraten, almond tuile with wild berries, paired with German red and white wines; $49. Call (727) 449-2988 to register or view menu at www. peppermillofclearwater.com.

Mise en Place Wine Dinner: 6:30 p.m. Thur., Mise en Place, 442 W Kennedy Blvd., Tampa. California winemaker August Briggs presents varieties to pair with five courses; $150. Call (813) 254-5373.

Vintage Wine Dinner: 7 p.m. Thur., NoHo Bistro, 1714 N Armenia Ave., Tampa. Sea scallops, hangar steak and apple tart pair with wine choices from experts at Vintage Wine Cellars; $75. Call (813) 879-2931 to register.

Tampa Bay Vegetarian Picnic: 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Sat., Lake Seminole Park, Pavilion No. 7, 10015 Park Blvd., Seminole. Tampa Bay Vegetarians invite guests to vegetarian family picnic. Bring vegetarian dish with ingredient list to feed eight people; members free, $2 for nonmembers; reserve by today. Call (727) 432-3327 or visit www.tampabayvegetarians.org.

Best of Tampa Bay: 7 p.m. Sat., Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, 1010 N MacInnes Place, Tampa. Entree samplings to desserts from Mimi's Cafe, 42nd Street Bistro, Ashley St. Grill, more than 40 other restaurants, pair with wines, beverages, live entertainment on grounds of Performing Arts Center; $75 advance, $85 day of event. Call (813) 229-7827.

Cane Spirits Festival: 7 p.m. VIP hour, 8-11 p.m. general admission Sat., Cuban Club, 2010 Avenida Republica de Cuba (14th Street and Palm Avenue), Ybor City. Cachacas from Brazil, rums and sugarcane-based spirits from around the world, food; $50 VIP, $25 general admission. Buy tickets at polishedpalate.com/events or call (813) 248-2954 for information only.

All Aboard for Crawfish: 6-9 p.m. Tues., aboard the SS American Victory, 705 Channelside Drive, Tampa. Historic vessel hosts Crawfish Boil with traditional Cajun treats including jambalaya, gumbo; $50 advance, $60 after Fri.. Call (813) 228-8766 or go to americanvictory.org.

Art, Wine & Food Fest: 6-7 p.m. VIP Champagne Hour, 7-9 p.m. general admission March 31, Raymond James Financial Center, 880 Carillon Parkway, St. Petersburg. Wines, culinary treats from local restaurants, plus wildlife art, chance to win original Peter Max portrait, to benefit Pinellas Animal Foundation and Creative Clay. Tickets: VIP: $50 or $80 for two; general admission: $25 or $40 for two. Call (727) 710-7387.

Festa Italiana: 11:30 a.m.- 6:30 p.m. April 1, Centennial Park (between 18 and 19th streets and Eighth Avenue), Ybor City. Celebrate all things Italian with foods, grape stomping, cooking demonstrations, Italian market, car show, live music; $5 kids under 12 free. Go to FestaItalianaTampa.com for more information.

WINE TASTINGS/CLASSES

French Taste Tour: 5:30-7:30 p.m. today, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, 14729 N Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa. Winemakers from Domaine David Duband, Daniel Dampt and others present Burgundy wines for sampling, plus accompaniments; $10. Call (813) 264-1881.

Spring Tastes, Vina Robles: Tastings, A Wine Experience, 149 First Ave. N, St. Petersburg, presents:

- Update wine cellar with new wines for spring, from refreshing whites to fruity reds, 6-8 p.m. today; $10.

- Sampling of varieties from California's new Paso Robles winery, Vina Robles, 6-8 p.m. March 28; $10.

Call (727) 894-2255.

Out of the Ordinary: 6-8 p.m. Fri., Pic Pac Fine Wine, 6609 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Try "other" than the usual white and red wines from around the world; $5. Call (727) 347-0743.

Tuscan Tastes: 1-5 p.m. Fri., 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sat., Mazzaro's Italian Market, 2909 22nd Ave. N, St. Petersburg. Tuscan wines from Banfi, from lush reds to crisp whites, plus cheeses; free. Call (727) 321-2400.

Purely Pinot: 7-9 p.m. Fri., Vintage Wine Cellars, 3629 Henderson Blvd., Tampa. Try 10 pinot noir wines from Shug, William Knuttel, Erath, others; $10. Call (813) 879-2931.

A & L Tastings: A & L Fine Wines, Palm Harbor Plaza, 35249 U.S. 19 N, Palm Harbor, presents:

- March Madness tasting of "top-seeded" wines from California, Australia, Italy, Washington state, 5-8 p.m. Fri., 1-4 p.m. Sat.; free.

- "High End" tasting of small production and boutique wines, including sauvignon blanc, meritage, shiraz, cabernet, plus appetizers, cheeses and pastries, 5-8 p.m. Sat.; $15.

Call (727) 781-4760.

'Mamma Mia' Sampling: 7:30 p.m Fri., Charlie's Wine Bar, 533 S Howard Ave., Tampa. Italian sampling of super Tuscans, barberas, chiantis, paired with regional cuisine; $15 advance, $20 at door. Call (813) 250-1967 or go to charlieswine.com.

WineStyle Samplings: Wine- Styles Belleair Bluffs, 2800 West Bay Drive, Belleair Bluffs, presents free tastings:

- Spring "blind" tasting, 5-8 p.m. today.

- Zinfandel wines from around the world, 5-8 p.m. Fri.

- Sampling of new arrivals, 5-8 p.m. Sat.

- Alsace winemaker Jean Luc Meyer pours his "old vines" varieties, 5-8 p.m. Tues.

Call (727) 518-9463.

French Wine & Dine: 7:30-9 p.m. Sat., Charlie's Wine Bar, 533 S Howard Ave., Tampa. French Wine, Dine & Learn pairs wine lesson, wines from Burgundy to Bordeaux with four-course dinner; $35, advance registration required. Call (813) 250-1967.

Wines for Entertaining: 5-7 p.m. Fri., VINO 100, 1038 Bloomingdale Ave., Valrico. Find perfect wine for next party in free sampling that includes Poppy Hill cabernet, Les Jamelles sauvignon blanc; free. Call (813) 654-8466.

Wines of Italy: 6-9 p.m. March 29, Italian Club of Tampa, 1731 E Seventh Ave., Ybor City. Sample more than 80 wines from wine-producing regions of Italy, along with antipasti and desserts; $40 before Fri., then $50, benefits Club's restoration fund. Call (813) 248-3316.

Wine & Gelato Tasting: 7-9:30 p.m. March 29, La Casa Dolce Cafe, 406 S Howard Ave., Tampa. Try six flavors of gelato paired with wines; $10. Call (813) 259-0002.

COOKING CLASSES

Perfect Pastry, French Seafood: Chef George leads three-hour interactive cooking lessons at Chez Vous Cooking Classes, Snell Arcade Building, 405 Central Ave., St. Petersburg:

- Discover secrets to light and flaky pie crust in Perfect Pastry class, take home a pie, 10 a.m. Sat.; $75.

- Learn how to prepare La Bourride French seafood dish, 10 a.m. March 31; $85.

Call (727) 466-8620 or go to georgecooks.com.

Vegetarian Easter, Food For Life: Nature's Food Patch, 1225 Cleveland St., Clearwater, offers demonstrations:

- Vegetarian Easter Dinner makes vegetable lasagna, 6:30-8:30 p.m. today; free.

- Food For Life makes deep-fried cheese balls with cream sauce, panir cheese, 11 a.m. Sat.; free.

Call (727) 443-6703.

Making Fresh Pasta: 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Thur., Rolling Pin, 2080 Badlands Drive, Brandon. Learn to make and shape basic pasta doughs, recipes include ravioli with sage butter; $40. Call (813) 653-2418, then press 3, to register.

Masterful Massimo Lesson: noon-3 p.m. Sat., Massimo's Eclectic Fine Dining, 31876 U.S. 19 N, Palm Harbor. Chef Massimo demonstrates preparation of lobster bisque, hazelnut-filled pork tenderloin, blueberry creme brulee; $75, includes wine tasting, food sampling. Call (727) 784-1881.

Easter Brunch, Dinner Party: Williams-Sonoma at Westfield Citrus Park, 8066 Citrus Park Towne Center, Tampa, presents:

- Celebrate with an easy Easter brunch, includes hash brown frittata, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Sun.; $35.

- Stress-free Dinner Party class menu includes mushroom-stuffed chicken, strawberry rhubarb galette, 6-8 p.m. Tues.; $35.

Call (813) 920-6939.

A Chef's Affair: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Mon., Cafe Largo, 12551 Indian Rocks Road, Largo. Chef Dominique's Chef's Affair food and wine pairing includes cooking demonstration, recipes, food sampling; $35. Call (727) 596-6282 to register.

Island, Italian Tastes: Apron's Cooking School at Publix Supermarket at Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa, presents:

- Taste of the Islands class menu includes conch fritters, Hawaiian bread pudding, 6:30 p.m. Tues.; $40.

- Italian Appetizers class makes mussels fra diavolo, bruschetta, 6:30 p.m. March 30; $35.

Call (813) 926-4465 or go to publix.com/aprons/schools.

Indian Cuisine, Appetizers for Kids: Rolling Pin, 2080 Badlands Drive, Brandon, presents:

- Indian cuisine class makes cucumber raita, flatbread, chicken Mughlai, 6:30 p.m. March 30; $45.

- Kids in the Kitchen class (ages 6-9) makes easy appetizers like potato chip-crusted chicken tenders, 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. March 31; $25.

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 March 20, 2007, 11:08:19]