Food File

By Times Staff Writer
Published August 29, 2007

Special events

Six Tables Wine Dinner: 7 p.m. Fri., Six Tables of Tampa, 4267 Henderson Blvd., Tampa. Winemakers from South Africa's Robertson Winery pair varieties with chef Richard Bottini's courses. $90. 813 207-0527.

Chef Cookoff: 1-4 p.m. Sept. 9, Mattison's Riverside, 1200 First Ave. W, Twin Dolphin Marina, Bradenton. Six chefs compete to create winning dishes from surprise ingredients; food samplings, wine tasting; benefits Legal Aid of Manasota. $125. (941) 366-0038.

Cooking classes

Hors D'Oeuvres: 6:30 p.m. Thur., Let Them Eat Cake, 3805 S West Shore Blvd., Tampa. Be prepared for the next party with hot and cold hors d'oeuvres. $65, includes wine, food. (813) 480-5466.

Summer Salads: 11 a.m. Sat., Nature's Food Patch, 1225 Cleveland St., Clearwater. Debby DeGraaff shows how to beat the heat with sesame rice salad with grilled asparagus or roasted veggie salads. Free. (727) 443-6703.

Baking for Teens: 4 p.m. Tue., Apron's Cooking School at Publix Supermarket, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa. Teens learn to bake pear tart, Italian bread, devil's food cake; tour bakery. $30. (813) 926-4465.

Panini Perfection: 6-8 p.m. Tue., Williams-Sonoma at Westfield Citrus Park, 8066 Citrus Park Towne Center, Tampa. Panini, or Italian-style sandwiches; prosciutto, goat cheese and peach among varieties. $35. (813) 920-6939 to register.

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

Mainly Spain: 6:30-9 p.m. Tue., Foodies, 1235 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. From sangria to paella and flan, create a complete Spanish menu. $45. (727) 209-1418. www.foodies.net

Cake Decorating: 6:30-9 p.m. Sept. 5, Rolling Pin Kitchen Emporium, 2080 Badlands Drive, Brandon. Make flowers with fat-free Royal icing to take home in cake-decorating class. $35. (813) 653-2418. rollingpinonline.com

Taste of the Mediterranean: 6 p.m. Sept. 6, Let Them Eat Cake, 3805 S West Shore Blvd., Tampa. Take a taste tour of Mediterranean cuisine. $75, includes wine, food. (813) 480-5466.

Eggplant Made Easy: 11 a.m. Sept. 8, Nature's Food Patch, 1225 Cleveland St., Clearwater. Debby DeGraaff shows how to make healthful eggplant manicotti, other eggplant dishes. Free. (727) 443-6703.

Wine tastings, classes

New Wine Horizons: 5:30-7:30 p.m. today, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, 3535 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. More than 70 wines from around the world, food/wine pairing stations, hors d'oeuvres. $10. (727) 894-4875.

Gelato & Wine Pairings: 7-10 p.m. Thur., La Casa Dolce Italian Cafe, 406 S Howard Ave., Tampa. Italian wines with green apple sorbet, caramel gelato, other unique flavor pairings. $10. (813) 259-0002.

VIP Tasting: 6-8 p.m. Fri., Pic Pac Fine Wines, 6609 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. VIP tasting of red and white varieties from around the world; benefits Abilities Foundation. $10. (727) 347-0743.

Oregon Crush: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Fri., Bern's Fine Wine & Spirits, 1002 S Howard Ave., Tampa. Crush Hour tasting of Oregon's Willamette Valley wines, including Domaine Merriweather sparkling wine, paired with cheeses. $25. (813) 250-9463.

Wine, Bubbly & Beers: 7:30 p.m. Fri., Charlie's Wine Cellar, 533 S Howard Ave., No. 2, Tampa. Wines, sparkling wines and beers from around the world. $16 advance, $21 at door. (813) 250-1967. charlieswine.com

Explore Wine Country: 7:30-9:30 p.m. Sat., Charlie's Wine Cellar, 533 S Howard Ave., No. 2, Tampa. California's wine country is focus in Napa/Sonoma Wine, Dine & Learn wine lesson, with four- course dinner. $35; advance registration required. (813) 250-1967.

Silky Shiraz: noon-3 p.m. Sept. 8, B-21 Fine Wines & Spirits, 43380 U.S. 19 N, Tarpon Springs. Wayne Dutschke of Dutschke Wines in Australia's Barossa Valley pours his shiraz, shiraz blends and dessert wines; reservations required. $10. (727) 937-5049. b-21.com

Basics of Wine Tasting: 5-7 p.m. Sept. 8, Tampa Wine Institute, 2009 N 22nd St. , Tampa. Learn to taste wine with an open mind in class for both novice and experienced wine lovers. $30. (813) 241-8587.

Food File is compiled by Peggy Anders. 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: e-mail to anders@sptimes.com or fax (727) 892-2327.

[Last modified August 28, 2007, 10:58:13]