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Food File

A look at what's happening around the area.

By PEGGY ANDERS
Published April 11, 2007

SPECIAL EVENTS

Titanic Dinner: 6:30 p.m. Fri., Savant Fine Dining, 2551 Drew St., Clearwater. Chef David Miller re-creates 10-course last dinner menu of the Titanic; $125. Call (727) 421-9975 to register.

Taste of the Tropics: 11:30 a.m.- 2:30 p.m. Mon., Great Room at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, 811 S Palm Ave., Sarasota. Celebration of tropical fruits with luncheon of tropical-inspired dishes, nectar tasting, tropical fruit recipe contest with judging by chef Paul Mattison, fruit carving and garnishing demonstration, live music; $65, benefits Selby Gardens. Call (941) 359-2305 to reserve by Mon.

Bordeaux Dinner Pairing: 6:30 p.m. Mon., Massimo's Eclectic Fine Dining, 31876 U.S. 19 N, Palm Harbor. Dine with Bordeaux importer Jeffrey Davies, $125. Call (727) 937-5049 to reserve by Sat.

Taste of South Tampa: noon-4 p.m. April 22, Hyde Park Village, Tampa. Taste of South Tampa with appetizers to desserts and beverages from local restaurants including Grillsmith, Cellini, 42nd Street Bistro, live music; $45 advance VIP admission (includes wine tasting), $50 day of event; $35 advance general admission, $40 day of event; $20 for kids ages 11-20, $25 day of event; 10 and under free; benefits Meals on Wheels, Humane Society, the Spring of Tampa Bay. Go to tasteofsouthtampa.com.

Beer & Bistro Benefit: 5:30- 8:30 p.m. April 24, Lincoln Heights Bistro, 603 Elm St., Safety Harbor. Beers from Dunedin Brewery, pinot grigio, petite syrah, other wines pair with menu that includes pumpkin ravioli, pork empanadas; $35, benefits Safety Harbor Museum. Call (727) 726-4210 to register.

Bern's Winefest: Tickets for select events at Bern's Winefest still available at bernswinefest.com include: Winefest Gala, 6:30 p.m. April 27 ($200); Saturday Soiree, 6-9 p.m. April 28 ($100); Grand Tasting, 12:30-4 p.m. April 29 ($95 in advance, $105 at door), held at Bern's Fine Wine & Spirits, 1002 S Howard Ave., Tampa.

Wine tastings/classes

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

- Sharpen wine sampling skills at "blind" taste test samplings, 5-8 p.m. today and April 18; $5.

- Old Vines sampling of organic wine from 30-year-old grapevines, 5-8 p.m. Thur.; free.

- Evening Down Under tasting of Australian favorites, 5-8 p.m. April 19; free.

Call (727) 518-9463.

YMCA Wine Tasting: 6-9 p.m. Thur., Tampa City Center Esplanade, Franklin Street Mall between Jackson and Whiting streets, Tampa. Annual wine tasting to benefit YMCA scholarships; $30. Call (813) 229-1305.

Eclectic Cheeses: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Fri., Uncorked Fine Wines and Accessories, 2706 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Sample Tibetan yak cheese, Argentine sheep cheese, Spanish Drunken goat cheese, paired with wines from around the world; $10, benefits Special Olympics of Pinellas County. Call (727) 892-9463.

Flavors of Spain: 7:30 p.m. Fri., Charlie's Wine Bar, 533 S Howard Ave., Tampa. Sample wines from Spain's Tempranillo, Mencia, Godello growing regions, plus tapas; $15 advance, $20 at door. Call (813) 250-1967 or go to charlieswine.com.

Delectable Diabolo: 6:30-8 p.m. Fri., Got Wine, 662 Main St., Dunedin. Chilean wines from Casillero del Diabolo include sauvignon blanc, carmenere, chardonnay and more, plus entertainment; free. Call (727) 736-4077.

Heart of Wine Country: 5-8 p.m. Fri., 1-4 p.m. Sat., A & L Fine Wines, Palm Harbor Plaza, 35249 U.S. 19 N. Try cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir, sauvignon blanc wines from Napa Valley, the heart of California's wine country; free. Call (727) 781-4760.

Italian Wine & Dine: 7:30-9 p.m. Sat., Charlie's Wine Bar, 533 S Howard Ave., Tampa. Wine lesson explores chianti, barbera, super Tuscan wines paired with four-course Italian dinner in Italian Wine, Dine & Learn; $35, advance registration required. Call (813) 250-1967.

Bordeaux & Blends: 3-6 p.m. Sun., B-21 Fine Wine & Spirits, 43380 U.S. 19 N, Tarpon Springs. Bordeaux & Blends Grand Tasting & Sale; $25 by Fri., $30 at door. Go to B-21.com (click on "Wine Tastings") or call (727) 937-5049 and press 1.

Cooking classes

Spring Menu: noon-1 p.m. Thur., Clearwater Main Library, 100 N Osceola Ave. Learn to make fresh spring menu of orzo primavera, hearts of palm salad, sage and white bean dip; free. Call (727) 562-4970, ext. 5284.

Using Yeast, Seaweed: Nature's Food Patch, 1225 Cleveland St., Clearwater, presents free demonstrations:

- Use nutritional yeast in dishes including jalapeno cheese dip, 11 a.m. Sat.

- Learn how adding seaweed to salads, soups, vegetable dishes and more adds powerful nutrients, 6 p.m. April 18.

Easy Vegan Cooking: 1:30-3:30 p.m. Sun., New Tampa residence. Learn how to prepare simple dishes including vegan picadillo, plus appetizer and dessert tasting menu with organic wine sampling; $5. For registration and location, call (813) 476-6436.

Souffles, Bistro Cuisine: Williams-Sonoma at Westfield Citrus Park, 8066 Citrus Park Towne Center, Tampa, presents:

- Souffles Made Easy class simplifies souffle baking with spinach and bacon souffle, vanilla bean and Grand Marnier souffles, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Sun.; $35.

- Dinner in Provence class menu features lavender custard, 6-8 p.m. Tues.; $35.

Call (813) 920-6939.

French Classics: 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 of escargot in croute, beef filet and puff pastry, food sampling, glass of wine; $35. Call (727) 596-6282 or go to cafelargorestaurant to register.

Weeknight Gourmet, Cooking With Wine: Apron's Cooking School at Publix Supermarket at Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa, presents:

- Weeknight Gourmet shows how to fit meal preparation into hectic week, 6:30 p.m. Tues.; $35.

- Learn how to add depth and flavor to dishes like mushroom salad, risotto or pan-seared salmon in Cooking With Wine class, 6 p.m. April 18; $40.

Wedding Cake Bliss: 3-6 p.m. April 21, Savant Fine Dining, 2551 Drew St., Clearwater. Techniques for creating an elegant wedding cake taught in Chef David Miller's class, followed by eight-course dinner; $100. Call (727) 421-9975 to register.

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 April 10, 2007, 12:06:55]