Food File

By Times Staff Writer
Published October 17, 2007

Special events

Calling All Chili Chefs: Today-Oct. 31, Grand Central District, St. Petersburg. Grand Central's Chili Cookoff, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 24 along 2300-2500 blocks of Central Ave. , St. Petersburg. Call or visit Web site for applications; entry deadline is Oct. 31. $25 application fee. 727 328-7086. www.grandcentraldistrict.org

For the Love of Coffee: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Fri.-Sat., 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Sun., Harborview Center, 300 Cleveland St., Clearwater. Watch baristas compete in coffee, cappucino and espresso-making competition in Southeast Barista Championship, with winners proceeding to U.S. and world contests; seminars on steaming milk, roasting, creating coffee "art." Free. (727) 442-2727.

Cedar Key Seafood Festival: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat.-Sun., along Second Street , Cedar Key. Seafood festival with parade (11 a.m. Sat.), arts and crafts, food vendors, live bluegrass and Florida folk music (noon-5 p.m. both days). Free, charge for food. (352) 543-5600.

Yasmina's Bistro Cuisine: 1 p.m. Sat., Yasmina's International Bistro, 28530 U.S. 19 N, Clearwater. Tampa Bay Culinary Club welcomes guests to chef's demonstration of menu items; register by today. $10. (727) 789-2605.

Planter's Ball: 5:30 p.m. Sat., Sweetwater Community Organic Farm, 6942 Comanche Ave., Tampa. Dine under the stars at potluck fundraiser, bring dish to share. Organic salad, bread, entertainment provided. $10, under age 12 $5, under 6 free. (813) 887-4066.

Italian Wine Dinner: 6:30 p.m. Tue., West Palm Wines/Beaune's Wine Bar, 2009 N 22nd St., Ybor City. "Meet the Winemaker" dinner with varieties from Oddero wines. $50. (813) 241-8587.

Tampa Bay Vegetarians: 7 p.m. Tue., Jerusalem Cafe and Grille, 30610 U.S. 19 N, Palm Harbor. Join Tampa Bay Vegetarians for Middle Eastern menu dinner. $12, plus $2 for nonmembers. (727) 432-3327 or (813) 269-4665.tampabayvegetarians.org

Harvest Dinner: 6:30-9 p.m. Tue., Lincoln Heights Bistro, 603 Elm St., Safety Harbor. Autumn menu paired with wines; registration required. $55. (727) 726-4210.

French Fall Menu: 7 p.m. Oct. 25, Cafe Largo, 12551 Indian Rocks Road, Largo. French cuisine uses seasonal ingredients, paired with wines. $69. (727) 596-6282.

John's Pass Seafood Festival: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Oct. 27, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 28, John's Pass Village and Boardwalk, 129th Avenue and Gulf Boulevard, Madeira Beach. Local seafood specialties, juried arts and crafts show, music, street dance, fishing expo, haunted house, kids' activities, trick-or-treating. Free. (727) 393-8230.

Stone Crab, Seafood & Wine Festival: Oct. 26-27, Colony Beach & Tennis Resort, 1620 Gulf of Mexico Drive , Longboat Key. Annual Stone Crab, Seafood & Wine Festival with chef's demonstrations, vintner pairings, Tasting On the Beach with live music Oct. 26, Chef's Gala seven-course dinner Oct. 27; $85-$245. (941) 383-6464, toll-free 1-800-426-5669.

Guavaween Cuisine: 4 p.m. Oct. 27, Mix 100.7 Stage, E Seventh Avenue and 18th Street, Ybor City. Enter your best original guava recipe for chance at $500 prize in "Guava Love It!" Cooking Contest. $10 application fee. (813) 242-4828.

Burger Taste Tour: 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Oct. 30, Lykes Gaslight Park, 410 Franklin St., Tampa. Stop in for one of 1,000 free burgers at Wendy's Great Taste Tour's Tampa stop. Free. (312) 228-6849.

Cooking classes

Soups That Satisfy: 5:30-7 p.m. today, Integrity Organics and Local Coffee+Tea , 330 First Ave. S, St. Petersburg. Make satisfying soups from organic ingredients; registration required. $25, or $35 per couple. (727) 551-0201.

Simply Stone Crab: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Sat., Ritz-Carlton, 1111 Ritz-Carlton Drive, Sarasota. Class showcases stone crab in recipes; registration required. $40. (941) 309-2008.

Barbecue School: 6-10 p.m. Mon., Grandpa Johnson's Barbecue, 1401 W Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Plant City. Become a certified barbecue judge at Kansas City Barbecue Society judging class; taste 12 servings of ribs, chicken, pork, brisket; limited class size. $75. (813) 754-3707.

Country Cassoulet: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Mon., Cafe Largo, 12551 Indian Rocks Road, Largo. Make French country cassoulet, sorbet. $35. (727) 596-6282.

Cool Weather Chowders: 6-8 p.m. Tue., Williams-Sonoma at Westfield Citrus Park, 8066 Citrus Park Towne Center, Tampa. Autumn chowders and stews. $35. (813) 920-6939.

Weeknight Cooking: 6:30 p.m. Tue., Foodies, 1235 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Six-class series through Dec. 6 shows how to prepare healthy three-course meal in one hour. $150 for series. (727) 209-1418.

Halloween Treats: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tue., Williams-Sonoma, International Plaza, 2223 N West Shore Blvd., Tampa. Kids cooking class. $40. (813) 353-0700.

Tastes of Russia: 6-10 p.m. Oct. 24, Let Them Eat Cake, 3805 S West Shore Blvd., Tampa. Russian cuisine. $75, includes meal. (813) 480-5466.

Nouveau Italy: 6:30-9 p.m. Oct. 25, Foodies, 1235 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Updated Italian cuisine menu. $35. (727) 209-1418.

Pumpkin Carving: noon Oct. 27, Apron's Cooking School at Publix Supermarket, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa. Adult and up to three kids can learn art of pumpkin carving, plus enjoy candied apples, other kids' desserts. $40 per family (up to 4 participants). (813) 926-4465.

Armani Menu Favorites: noon-3 p.m. Oct. 27, Armani's, 2900 Bayport Drive, Tampa. Hands-on cooking class, wine tasting, cookbook. $75. (813) 207-6800.

Wine tastings, classes

French Paradox: 5-8 p.m. today, VINO 100, 5056 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Tasting with talk on the "French Paradox" and how red wine aids in heart health. Free. (727) 522-8466.

ABC Sampling: 5:30-7:30 p.m. today, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, 1603 N Missouri Ave., Largo. More than 70 wines, hors d'oeuvres, whiskey and cigar sampling. $10. (727) 581-4642.

Continental Comparisons: 6-7:30 p.m. today, VINO 100, 1038 Bloomingdale Ave., Valrico. Compare varietals from one growing region to another; registration required. $20, or $35 per couple. (813) 654-8466.

Wunderbar Wines: 5-8 p.m. Thur., VINO 100, 5056 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. German wines and beers. Free. (727) 522-8466.

Italian-Australian Wines: 1-5 p.m. Fri., 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sat., Mazzaro's Italian Market, 2909 22nd Ave. N, St. Petersburg. Wines from Italy Fri., Australian, Italian, organic wines Sat. Free. (727) 321-2400. www.mazzarosmarket.com

Red, White & Desserts: 4-7 p.m. Fri., Ace Liquors, 800 Chestnut St., Clearwater. Red and white wines, dessert wines, hors d'oeuvres. Free. (727) 446-6754.

Robert Kacher Selections: 4-7 p.m. Fri., Publix Supermarket, 200 37th Ave. N, St. Petersburg. Burgundies, Rhone valley, other select French wines. Free. (727) 895-1670.

West Coast Wines: 5-8 p.m. Fri., Rolling Pin Kitchen Emporium, 2080 Badlands Drive, Brandon. West Coast wine paired with hors d'oeuvres. Free. (813) 653-2418. rollingpinonline.com

Aussie Affinity: 6-8 p.m. Fri., Pic Pac Fine Wines, 6609 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Try shiraz, other varieties from Australia. $5. (727) 347-0743.

Haunted Tasting: 6-8 p.m. Fri.-Sat., Florida Orange Groves Inc. and Winery, 1500 Pasadena Ave. S, St. Petersburg. "Booberry," "Blood Red Cranberry" wines, hors d'oeuvres, winery tour; adults only. $10; registration required. (727) 347-4025.

American Wine Fest: 6-9 p.m. Fri., Vintage Wine Cellars, 3629 Henderson Blvd., Tampa. American wines from Sonoma to Oregon, Washington and Mendocino. $15. (813) 879-2931.

Australian Pairing: 7:30 p.m. Fri., Charlie's Wine Cellar, 533 S Howard Ave., No. 2, Tampa. Australian and New Zealand wines. $16; advance registration required. (813) 250-1967.

Burgundy Winemaker: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tue., Bern's Fine Wine & Spirits, 1002 S Howard Ave., Tampa. Burgundy's Domaine Bertrand Ambroise, with red and white wines from 2005 vintage. $25. (813) 250-9463.

Continental Comparisons: 6-7:30 p.m. Oct. 24, VINO 100, 5056 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Compare varietals from one growing region to another; registration required. $20, or $35 per couple. (727) 522-8466.

Gelato Pairings: 7-10 p.m. Oct. 25, La Casa Dolce Cafe, 406 S Howard Ave., Tampa. Wines with gelato; $10. Call (813) 259-0002.

VIP Sampling: 6-8 p.m. Oct. 26, Pic Pac Fine Wines, 6609 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Premier wines, paired with hors d'oeuvres, benefits Abilities Foundation. $10. (727) 347-0743.

"Hallo-Wine" Tasting: 6:30-9 p.m. Oct. 26, Feather Sound Country Club, 2201 Feather Sound Drive, Clearwater. Wines from around the world, buffet dinner, silent auction, benefits Brookwood Florida home for abused young women. $75. (727) 822-4789, ext. 14.

Western Round-Up: 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Oct. 27, Tarpon Springs Castle Winery, 320 E Tarpon Ave., Tarpon Springs. Wine sampling, food, live music at Western-themed party. Free with wine purchase. (727) 943-7029.

[Last modified October 15, 2007, 16:56:46]