News

Food File

By Times Staff
Published November 7, 2007

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Special events

Taste of Mexico: 5-9 p.m. Thur., Casa Tina, 369 Main St., Dunedin. Explore Mexico in video, talk and sampling of regional foods. Free. 727 734-9226.

Ribfest: 11 a.m. Fri.-Sun., Vinoy Park, downtown St. Petersburg (Fifth Avenue NE and North Shore Drive), St. Petersburg. Ribs and barbecue, car show (Sat.), motorcycle show (Sun.), children's entertainment (Sat.-Sun.), music. $10 advance, $15 at gate, under 12 free with paid adult. (727) 342-5675.

Fisherman's Ball: 6:30-10:30 p.m. Fri., Tropicana Field, 16th Street at First Avenue S, St. Petersburg. Dress in tropical attire, enjoy wine and food, live and silent auction at fundraiser to benefit Pediatric Cancer Foundation. $150. (813) 269-0955.

"Stone Soup Project": 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat., Tarpon Springs Train Depot Museum, 160 E Tarpon Ave. Soup (from area restaurants) and bread dinner to benefit Shepherd Center to aid families in need. $5 per bowl of soup, carryout available, museum admission free. (727) 943-4624 or (727) 939-2277.

Dunedin Wines the Blues Festival: 5-11 p.m. Sat., downtown Dunedin, along Main Street. Food, wine and beer, arts and crafts. Free. (727) 733-3197.

Culinary Club: noon Sat., Marlin Darlin', 2819 West Bay Drive, Belleair Bluffs. Tampa Bay Culinary Club meets with demonstration of menu favorites. $10. (727) 789-2605.

Family Dinner Out: 5:30 p.m. Sat., Wine Exchange, 1611 W Swann Ave., Tampa. Families encouraged to bring nonperishable food for Metropolitan Ministries, then enjoy family dinner; registration required. $16 adults, $8 children. (813) 254-9463.

Chili Blast 2007: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sat., Coachman Park, 301 Drew St., Clearwater. International Chili Society's Florida Championship, judged competition includes red, chili verde and salsa categories. Chili available for sampling, music, children's activities. Free. (727) 781-6330.

Sweetwater Organic Community Farm: noon-4 p.m. Sun., Sweetwater Organic Community Farm, 6942 W Comanche Ave., Tampa. Organic fruits, vegetables, fair trade coffee, chocolate, arts, crafts, music, more. (813) 887-4066; sweetwater-organic.org.

Red Rapture: 6:30 p.m. Tue., Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and Winebar, 4322 W Boy Scout Blvd., Tampa. All-red wine and food dinner includes 90+ rated wines paired with lobster ravioli, petit filet mignon. $95. (813) 874-9463.

Parkshore Grill Wine Dinner: 6:30 p.m. Tue., Parkshore Grill, 300 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg. Indian-inspired menu pairs with Feudo Arancio, Castel Firmian wines; benefits Abilities Foundation. $100. (727) 538-7370, ext. 349.

Eric Solomon Wines: 6:30 p.m. Nov. 14, West Palm Wines/Beaune's Wine Bar, 2009 N 22nd St., Ybor City. Dinner pairs regional menu with highly rated wines from producer Eric Solomon's portfolio. $50, reservations required. (813) 241-8587.

Nouveau Beaujolais Pairing Dinner: Nov. 15-17, Kelly's for Just About Anything, 319 Main St., Dunedin. Celebrate release with four-course menu pairing. $45. (727) 736-5284.

Dessert First Dinner: 6:30 p.m. Nov. 16, Embassy Suites Tampa, Downtown Convention Center, 513 S Florida Ave. Sample desserts made from Girl Scout cookie favorites, cocktails, silent and live auction and dinner. $150. (813) 262-1688.

Cooking classes

How to Carve a Turkey: noon-1 p.m. Thur., Clearwater Main Library, 100 N Osceola Ave. Learn to carve a Thanksgiving turkey, make perfect gravy, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie. Free. (727) 562-4970, ext. 5284.

Katie Brown: 6:30 p.m. Thur., Apron's Cooking School at Publix Supermarket, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa. Celebrity chef and cookbook author shares easy desserts. $45. (813) 926-4465.

Light Bites: 6:30-9 p.m. Thur., Foodies, 1235 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Treats for dinner parties, appetizers or late-night snacks. $40. (727) 209-1418.

Family Cooking: 6:30-8 p.m. Fri., Jim and Heather Gills YMCA, 3200 First Ave. S, St. Petersburg. Parent and child healthy cooking series Fridays through Dec. 14. Free;registration required. (727) 582-2122.

Fabulous Fall Feast: 11 a.m. Sat., Nature's Food Patch, 1225 Cleveland St., Clearwater. Savory red lentil loaf, plus wild rice with apples and cranberries. Free. (727) 443-6703.

Holiday Class: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tue., Margaret Ann's Catering, 5625 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Create holiday brunch and dinner menus. $40. (727) 525-3983.

Vegetarian Thanksgiving: 6 p.m. Nov. 14, Nature's Food Patch, 1225 Cleveland St., Clearwater. Vegetarian Thanksgiving dishes demonstrated. Free. (727) 443-6703.

Conversational Italian: 6:30-8 p.m. Nov. 15, Castellano and Pizzo Italian Foods, 4200 S Henderson Blvd., Tampa. Four-week class on Italian language, culture, includes dinner at each class. $195. (727) 866-6892.

Wine tastings, classes

Ferrari-Carano, South African Wines: Tastings, a Wine Experience, 149 First Ave. N, St. Petersburg, presents:
-- Ferrari-Carano wines, grown using sustainable farming techniques, 6:30-8:30 p.m. today; $10.-- Wines from South Africa's Fleur du Cap winery, producing wines since 1968, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Nov. 14; $10.
Call (727) 894-2255.

ABC Tasting: 5:30-7:30 p.m. today, ABC Fine Wines & Spirits, 2855 66th St. N, St. Petersburg. More than 70 wines from around the world, paired with hors d'oeuvres, plus whiskies. $10. (727) 345-6149.

Italian, French Favorites: 1-5 p.m. Fri., 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sat., Mazzaro's Italian Market, 2909 22nd Ave. N, St. Petersburg. Italian, French and domestic wines. Free. (727) 321-2400.

Champagne, Sparkling Wine: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Fri., Uncorked Fine Wines & Accessories, 2706 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Champagne, Cava, Prosecco, others paired with cheeses and caviar. $10. (727) 892-9463.

Cabernet Sauvignon "Crush Hour": 6:30-8:30 p.m. Fri., Bern's Fine Wine & Spirits, 1002 S Howard Ave., Tampa. Compare Napa Valley cabernet sauvignons, plus cheeses. $25. (813) 250-9463.

Old vs. New World: 7:30 p.m. Fri., Charlie's Wine Cellar, 533 S Howard Ave., No. 2, Tampa. Compare old world French wines with new world California varieties, plus filet mignon, shrimp, cheesecake. $25. (813) 250-1967.

Thanksgiving Wines: Tips on Thanksgiving dinner wine pairings, 5-8 p.m. Nov. 15, VINO 100, 5056 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Free. (727) 522-8466.

Italian Wine & Dine: 7:30 p.m. Sat., Charlie's Wine Cellar, 533 S Howard Ave., No. 2, Tampa. Wine Dine & Learn combines lesson with Italian dinner. $35;registration required. (813) 250-1967.

Women & Wine #101: 6:30 p.m. Nov. 14, Mattison's Steakhouse , 525 Bay Isles Parkway, Longboat Key. Sommelier leads class on sparkling wines from Europe and California. $30;reservations required. (941) 387-2700.

Bistro Wine Pairings: 6-8 p.m. Nov. 15, Lincoln Heights Bistro, 603 Elm St., Safety Harbor. Spicy skewered shrimp, beef bruschetta, more paired with pinot gris, pinot noir, zinfandel. $12. (727) 726-4210 to register.

Benefit Wine Tasting: 6-8 p.m. Nov. 15, Benefit Wine Tasting, 3613 S Beach Drive, Tampa. More than 60 wines and champagne for sampling, including Dom Perignon, Justin, Opus, cuisine from CDB's Southside, benefits Muscular Dystrophy Association. $25, or $40 per couple. (813) 837-8941.

"Wine & Cheese in the Stacks": 7 p.m. Nov. 16, St. Pete Beach Public Library, 365 73rd Ave. Sampling of city's 50th anniversary coastal chardonnay and cabernet with the St. Petersburg Times' Chris Sherman. $5. (727) 552-1762.

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 calendar@tampabay.com or fax to (727) 892-2327.

[Last modified November 6, 2007, 10:16:19]

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