Food File

By Times Staff Writer
Published July 18, 2007

Special events

Midsummer Wine Dinner: 6:30 p.m. Thur., Massimo's, 31876 U.S. 19 N, Palm Harbor. Reception with assorted canapes and wine followed by five-course dinner and wine pairings; begin with tuna carpaccio and crabmeat flan and end with a peach hazelnut tart with mascarpone white chocolate mousse. $99 per person. Reserve by today. (727) 784-1881.

Tampa Bay Vegetarians July Dinner: 7 p.m. Tue., Zom Hee Chinese Restaurant, 9015 Park Blvd., Largo. Mostly vegan meal served family-style. Barbara Lee, Florida Licensed Nutritionist, is the after-dinner speaker. For reservations, go to www.tampabayvegetarians.org. $10, includes tax and tip. $12 for nonmembers. Reserve by noon Sat. at (727) 432-3327 or (813) 269-4665.

July Beer Dinner: Fri.-Sat. and July 27-28, Kelly's for Just About Anything, 319 Main St., Dunedin. Four-course dinner paired with distinctively styled beers. $35 per person. (727) 736-5284. www.kellyschicaboom.com.

Taste of the Tropics: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat.-Sun., Jene's Tropicals, 6831 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Tropical fruit tasting of more than 80 international fruits: mangoes, velvet apple, mamey, durian and more; fruit smoothies and food treats; tropical fruit plants for sale. Free. (727) 344-1668. tropicalfruit.com.

Cooking classes

Leisurely Lunch: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. today, Foodies, 1235 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Exotic shrimp salad, blueberry croissant puffs in lunch class. $25. (727) 209-1418. www.foodies.net

Conversational Cuisine: 6- 7:30 p.m. today, July 25 and Aug. 1, Castellano and Pizzo Italian Foods, 4200 S Henderson Blvd., Tampa. Five-week class on Spanish language, cuisine and culture. $220, includes materials and dinner at each class. (727) 866-6892.

Conversational Cuisine: 6-8 p.m. Thur. and July 26, Castellano and Pizzo Italian Foods, 4200 S Henderson Blvd., Tampa. Four-week classes on Italian language, cuisine and culture. $195, includes materials and dinner at each class. (727) 866-6892.

Lobster Lovers: 6:30 p.m. Thur., Apron's Cooking School at Publix Supermarket, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa. Lobster rolls with tarragon remoulade among seafood recipes using lobster. $55. (813) 926-4465. publix.com/aprons/schools

Muffin Mania: 6-8:30 p.m. Fri., Foodies, 1235 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Jump-start breakfast with bake-ahead muffins: blueberry, strawberry-filled, pineapple. $35. (727) 209-1418. www.foodies.net

Couples Cook Sicilian: 6:30-9 p.m. Fri., Rolling Pin Kitchen Emporium, 2080 Badlands Drive, Brandon. Class for couples creates Sicilian menu, from tapenade to gelato. $45. (813) 653-2418. rollingpinonline.com

Dandelion Salad: 11 a.m. Sat., Nature's Food Patch, 1225 Cleveland St., Clearwater. Try Sweet & Spicy Collard Dandelion Salad in Raw Living Foods class demonstration. Free. (727) 443-6703.

Mother/Daughter Class: 3-5 p.m. Sat., NoHo Bistro, 1714 N Armenia Ave., Tampa. Mother/daughter hands-on class menu includes curried chicken salad on brioche, currant scones, summer trifle. $35 per person. (813) 514-0691. thenohobistro.com

New Orleans Cuisine: 6-8:30 p.m. Mon., Foodies, 1235 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Creole bloody Marys, bananas Foster among Big Easy recipes. $45. (727) 209-1418. www.foodies.net

Vin Rouge Ribs: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Mon., Cafe Largo, 12551 Indian Rocks Road, Largo. Chef Dominique makes beef spare ribs au vin rouge, other classic French cuisine. $35. (727) 596-6282.

Conversational Cuisine: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tue. and July 31, Bellini Restaurant, 487 Main St., Dunedin. Four-week classes on Italian language, cuisine and culture. $205, includes materials, dinner at each class. (727) 866-6892.

Beef Basics: 6:30-9 p.m. Tue., Rolling Pin Kitchen Emporium, 2080 Badlands Drive, Brandon. Meat lover's class shows how to buy and cook cuts of beef and pork, make beef Wellington, skirt steak with shallots. $45. (813) 653-2418. rollingpinonline.com

Sweet Treats for Kids: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tue., Williams-Sonoma, International Plaza, 2223 N West Shore Blvd., Tampa. Class for kids makes sweet treats, including sundaes, s'mores bars, cookies. $40. (813) 353-0700.

Wine tastings, classes

Value Vintages: 5:30-7:30 p.m. today, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, 14729 N Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa. Wine buys from around the world under $20, plus hors d'oeuvres. $10. (813) 264-1881.

Italian Taste Tour: 6-7:30 p.m. today, VINO 100, 5056 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Beginner's Italian wine class explores Tuscany to Piedmont. $20, or $35 per couple. (727) 522-8466.

Chef's Choice: 6-8 p.m. today, Lincoln Heights Bistro, 603 Elm St., Safety Harbor. Chef prepares surprise appetizers, you choose wines to pair. $9-$15. (727) 726-4210 to register.

Wine Country Wines: 5-7 p.m. Thur., ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, 6398 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. N, St. Petersburg. Wine country wines, plus hors d'oeuvres. $5. (727) 527-1579.

Wine & Fondue: 6:30 p.m. Thur., Melting Pot Restaurant, 25822 U.S. 19 N, Clearwater. Sample wines, including Folie a Deux, Nobilo, dip into cheese and chocolate fondues in tasting to benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. $20. (727) 797-4426.

Celebrate Sauvignon Blanc: 4-7 p.m. Fri., VINO 100, 1038 Bloomingdale Ave., Valrico. Wine tasting and recipe pairing highlights five sauvignon blancs and one rose from several regions. Each accompanied with recipes and sample tastes. Free. (813) 654-8466.

Great Whites, Big Reds: 5-8 p.m. Fri.; 1-4 p.m. Sat., A & L Fine Wines, 35249 U.S. 19 N, Palm Harbor. White wines include Silver Nectar; reds, cotes du Rhone, zinfandel. Free. (727) 781-4760. AandLfinewines.com

Australia to New Zealand: 6-8 p.m. Fri., Pic Pac Fine Wines, 6609 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Sample red and white wines from Australia and New Zealand. $5. (727) 347-0743.

Australian Affinity: 7:30 p.m. Fri., Charlie's Wine Cellar, 533 S Howard Ave. No. 2, Tampa. Australian and New Zealand red and white wines. $15 advance, $20 at door. (813) 250-1967. charlieswine.com

Wine Festival and Market: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sat., Florida Estates Winery, 3101 37th Ave. N, St. Petersburg. Arts and crafts, live music and wine sampling. Free admission, $3.50 for educational tasting of Florida Estates wines. (727) 526-2113. www.floridaestateswines.com

Wine Class: 2-4 p.m. Sat., Florida Estates Winery, 25241 State Road 52, Land O' Lakes. Join Florida Estates Winery winemaker Ron Hunt for sampling of wines and discussion in detailed wine class. Topics include brief history of wines, grape varietals, wine glass styles and uses, cork history, oak aging, wine tasting and wine ratings. $20 prepaid in advance. $25 at the door. Includes wine tasting, snacks, dessert and wine glass. (813) 996-2113. www.floridaestates wines.com

Spanish Wine, Dine & Learn: 7:30-9 p.m. Sat., Charlie's Wine Cellar, 533 S Howard Ave., No. 2, Tampa. Explore wines and cuisine of Spain with four-course dinner at Wine, Dine & Learn; advance registration required. $35. (813) 250-1967. charlieswine.com

Florida Wines: 3-6 p.m. Sun., Whistle Stop Grill, 915 Main St., Safety Harbor. Try Keel & Curley wines from Plant City, plus music. Free with food purchase. (727) 776-2972. www.whistlestopgrill.com

[Last modified July 16, 2007, 16:05:14]