Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Food File

By Peggy Anders
Published March 28, 2007

SPECIAL EVENTS

Art, Wine & Food Fest: 6-7 p.m. VIP Champagne Hour, 7-9 p.m. general admission Sat., 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. Sun., 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

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

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

- Find wines that complement Easter menu of ham or lamb, 6-8 p.m. April 4; $10.

Call (727) 894-2255.

ABC Sip and Snacks: ABC Fine Wine & Spirits presents two wine samplings of more than 70 wines, plus hors d'oeuvres, cigars and whiskey sampling:

- Grand opening from 5:30-7:30 p.m. today, 2855 66th St. N, St. Petersburg; $10. Call (727) 345-6149.

- 5:30-7:30 p.m. April 4, 3535 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg; $10. Call (727) 894-4875.

Brunch Pairings: These VINO 100 locations present free sampling of wines including cotes-du-Rhone, rose, gewurztraminer to pair with an Easter brunch menu:

- 5-8 p.m. Thur., 5056 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg; (727) 522-8466.

- 5-7 p.m. April 6, 1038 Bloomingdale Ave., Valrico; (813) 654-8466.

Wines of Italy: 6-9 p.m. Thur., 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; $50. Call (813) 248-3316.

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

Exploring Portugal: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Fri., Uncorked Fine Wines and Accessories, 2706 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Try wines from Portugal, from reds to whites and ports; $10, benefits Blossom Montessori School for the Deaf. Call (727) 892-9463.

'Down Under' Wines: 6-8 p.m. Fri., Pic Pac Fine Wine, 6609 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Australia and New Zealand varieties are focus of wine sampling; $5. Call (727) 347-0743.

Italian Wines With Cheese: 1-5 p.m. Fri., 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sat., Mazzaro's Italian Market, 2909 22nd Ave. N, St. Petersburg. Barberas, montepulciano, pinot grigio, other Italian wines, plus cheeses; free. Call (727) 321-2400.

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

World of Wines: 5-8 p.m. Fri., 1-4 p.m. Sat., A & L Fine Wines, Palm Harbor Plaza, 35249 U.S. 19 N. Explore wines gathered from around the world, including Argentina, South Africa, France, Italy; free. Call (727) 781-4760.

Top Line-Up: 7 p.m. aperitif, 7:30 p.m. tasting Fri., Vintage Wine Cellars, 3629 Henderson Blvd., Tampa. Choose from wines rated over 90 points, including Caymus 2004 Napa cabernet, Louis Roederer 2000 vintage brut rose; $25. Call (813) 879-2931.

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

COOKING CLASSES

'Viva La Vegetarian': 10 a.m. Sat., Chez Vous Cooking Classes, Snell Arcade Building, 405 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Chef George leads three-hour interactive cooking lesson on creative European vegetarian cuisine, including garlic-bechamel eggplant filling, vegetable curry pot pie; $85. Call (727) 466-8620 or go to georgecooks.com.

Conversational Cuisine: Four-week classes on Italian language, cuisine and culture: 6-8 p.m. Thursdays begins Thur., Castellano & Pizzo Italian Gourmet Foods, 4200 S Henderson Blvd., Tampa, $195; 6-8 p.m. Tuesdays begins Tue., Bellini Restaurant, 487 Main St., Dunedin, $205; or five-week Italian class, 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays begins April 4 at Bacco's Tuscan Cuisine, 23 N Lemon Ave., Sarasota, $255. Classes includes materials and dinner. Preregistration required. Call (888) 386-5764 or go to www.Learnalanguage.us.

Farmer's Market Fare: 6-8 p.m. Tues., Williams-Sonoma at Westfield Citrus Park, 8066 Citrus Park Towne Center, Tampa. Class uses spring produce to create mixed mushrooms with garlic butter, pistou of spring vegetables; $35. Call (813) 920-6939.

Rolling Pin Lessons: Rolling Pin, 2080 Badlands Drive, Brandon, presents:

- Wrap It in Bacon class makes breadsticks, pineapple shrimp, noon-2:30 p.m. April 1; $40.

- Use a stand mixer to make New York cheescake, other dishes, 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. April 5, $40.

- Elegant & Easy class makes classics including individual beef wellingtons, creme brulee, 5-7:30 p.m. April 7; $45.

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

Savant Soups: 3-6 p.m. April 7, Savant Fine Dining, 2551 Drew St., Clearwater. Chef David Miller's cuisine class focuses on soups and sauces, followed by eight-course dinner incorporating techniques and flavors; $100. Call (727) 421-9975 to register.

Brunch, South Beach: Apron's Cooking School at Publix Supermarket at Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa, presents:

- Bountiful Brunch class offers easy menu for relaxed weekend brunch, 10 a.m. April 1; $35.

- South Beach Recipes class demonstrates nori-wrapped salmon, snapper Vera Cruz, 6:30 p.m. April 7; $40.

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

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 28, 2007, 06:22:28]