Food File

By Times Staff Writer
Published January 2, 2008

Special events

Tampa Bay Culinary Club: 1 p.m. Jan. 12, Le Bouchon Bistro, 796 Indian Rocks Road, Belleair Bluffs. Chef Christian Routier demonstrates classic French bistro cuisine menu items. $10; registration by Jan. 9 required. 727 789-2605.

Culinary Academy Awards Gala: 6:30 p.m. Jan. 12, Renaissance Vinoy, 501 Fifth Ave. NE, St. Petersburg. Culinary professionals from around the world honored including Robert Irvine of the Food Network. Benefits Abilities Foundation; $150. (727) 538-7370, ext. 349.

Merchants Wine Walk: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Jan. 18, Broadway Shops, 714-737 Broadway, Dunedin. Stroll shops offering wine tastings, treats and entertainment. Free. (727) 738-8009.

Bayfront on Vine: 7-10 p.m. Jan. 19, Bayfront Medical Plaza, 603 Seventh St. S, St. Petersburg. Bayfront Health Foundation benefit event. Gourmet food and wine tastings, martini bar. $150. (727) 893-6148.

Cooking classes

Low Fat, All Flavor: 6:30 p.m. Thur. or 6:30 p.m. Jan. 12, Apron's Cooking School at Publix Supermarket, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa. Reduce fat, keep flavor with recipes including vegetable curry, chicken and spinach tamales, citrus herbed salmon en papillote. $40. (813) 926-4465.

Very Vegetarian: 6:30-9 p.m. Thur., Rolling Pin Kitchen Emporium, 2080 Badlands Drive, Brandon. Couscous-stuffed tomatoes, citrus ricotta-stuffed figs among vegetarian recipes demonstrated. $45. (813) 653-2418; rollingpinonline.com.

Healthy Beginnings: 11 a.m. Sat., Nature's Food Patch, 1225 Cleveland St., Clearwater. New year, new recipes from Debby DeGraaff, including quinoa loaf, apple cream pie with wheat-free crust. Free. (727) 443-6703; www.naturesfoodpatch.com.

30-Minute Meals: 6:30-9 p.m. Tue., Rolling Pin Kitchen Emporium, 2080 Badlands Drive, Brandon. Hands-on class makes healthy, quick meals. $45. (813) 653-2418.

Family Cooking: 6:30-8 p.m. Jan. 11, Gills YMCA, 3200 First Ave. S, St. Petersburg. Parent-and-child (age 8 minimum) five-class cooking series makes quick, nutritious meals. Free, but advance registration is required. (727) 582-2122.

Spanish Cuisine & Culture: 6-7:30 p.m. Jan. 16, Castellano and Pizzo Italian Foods, 4200 S Henderson Blvd., Tampa. Five-week beginner's Spanish class through Feb. 13 includes dinner. $185. (727) 866-6892.

Conversational Cuisine: Four-week Italian language, cuisine and culture series with chef Roberto includes dinner:

- 6:30-8:30 p.m. Jan. 16-Feb. 6, Bacco's Tuscan Dining, 23 N Lemon Ave., Sarasota. $215, includes materials. Toll-free 1-888-386-5764; learnalanguage.us.

- 6:30-8 p.m. Jan. 17-Feb. 7, Castellano and Pizzo Italian Foods, 4200 S Henderson Blvd., Tampa. $195. (727) 866-6892; learnalanguage.us.

Warm Winter Soups: 11 a.m. Jan. 12, Nature's Food Patch, 1225 Cleveland St., Clearwater. Debby DeGraaff makes healthy vegetarian soups. Free. (727) 443-6703; www.naturesfoodpatch.com.

Wine tastings, classes

Best of the West: 7:30 p.m. Fri., Charlie's Wine Cellar, 533 S Howard Ave., No. 2, Tampa. California wines paired with filet mignon, chocolate lava cake. $35; advance registration required. (813) 250-1967; charlieswine.com.

Flamingo Mania: 11a.m.-7 p.m. Sat., Tarpon Springs Castle Winery, 320 E Tarpon Ave. Themed wine tasting, catered cuisine free with wine purchase, live entertainment. $5.50 and up per glass of wine. Call (727) 943-7029.

Stag's Leap Seminar: 7:30-9:30 p.m. Sat., Charlie's Wine Cellar, 533 S Howard Ave., No. 2, Tampa. Wine, Dine & Learn pairs Stag's Leap wines with four-course dinner. $35; advance registration required. (813) 250-1967.

Australian Wonders: 6-7:30 p.m. Jan. 9, VINO 100, 1038 Bloomingdale Ave., Valrico. Newest vintages from Australia's Stanley Lambert wines featured in VINO #101 class. $20, or $35 per couple, includes Pocket Guide to Australian Wines. (813) 654-8466.

DaVino Code: 7:30 p.m. Jan. 11, Charlie's Wine Cellar, 533 S Howard Ave., No. 2, Tampa. DaVino Code Italian wine from Leonarto DaVino, plus food pairing. $16 advance, $20 at door. (813) 250-1967.

Spanish Serenade: 7:30-9:30 p.m. Jan. 12, Charlie's Wine Cellar, 533 S Howard Ave., No. 2, Tampa. Wine, Dine & Learn pairs Spanish cuisine and wines. $35; advance registration required. (813) 250-1967.

Markets

St. Petersburg Saturday Morning Market: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays, St. Petersburg Saturday Morning Market, along Central Avenue, between First and Second streets, St. Petersburg. Organic produce, herbs, plants, flowers, baked goods and treats, other prepared foods, crafts. Free admission. (727) 455-4921; www.saturdaymorningmarket.com.

Largo Harvest Marketplace: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursdays, Ulmer Park, 301 West Bay Drive, Largo. Products include produce, herbs, flowers, baked treats, pies, cakes, pastries, salsas, dips, honey, olive oil. Free admission. (727) 587-6740, ext. 5017.

Pinellas County Market in the Park: 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays, Pinellas County Extension Service, 12520 Ulmerton Road, Largo. Produce, prepared foods, cooking demonstrations, plants, more. (727) 582-2100.

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

[Last modified December 31, 2007, 15:00:34]