Food File

By Times Staff Writer
Published January 30, 2008

Special events

Wine, Chocolate & Jazz: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sat., Tarpon Springs Castle Winery, 320 E Tarpon Ave. Courtyard jazz party with Old World style wines; "grand gala chocolate buffet" free with wine purchase. $5.50 and up per glass of wine. 727 943-7029. www.tscwinery.com.

Florida Beer Festival: 3-7 p.m. Sat., Downtown Bradenton, along Old Main Street between Fourthand Manatee avenues. Sample from more t han 100 domestic and imported beers;bratwurst, band, arcade games; benefits Brain & Spinal Cord Injury Program. $15 advance, $20 at door, Ticketmaster.

Einstein on Wine: 6-9 p.m. Sat., Museum of Science and Industry, 4801 E Fowler Ave., Tampa. Wine, Champagne and more, paired with culinary treats, silent auction; benefits MOSI education programs. $70 advance, $60 for members, $80 at door. (813) 987-6000. www.mosi.org.

Chili Cookoff: 6:30 p.m. Sat., St. Petersburg Woman's Club, 40 Snell Isle Blvd. NE. Chili with all the fixings, plus other foods, dessert; pie auction; benefits Hospice and Woman's Club restoration project. $20. (727) 551-0809.

Breakfast of Hope: 7:30-9 a.m. Feb. 7, Marriott Tampa Waterside Hotel and Marina, 700 S Florida Ave. Benefits Pediatric Cancer Foundation. $50. (813) 269-0955.

Nightlife, Napa-Style: 9-11 p.m. Feb. 7, Bay Street at International Plaza, 2223 N West Shore Blvd., Tampa. Wines from nearly 50 Napa Valley vintners, hors d'oeuvres and music at "Nightlife Napa Valley"; benefits Abilities Foundation. $35 advance, $45 at door. (727) 538-7370, ext. 349.

Wine, Art & Heart: 7 p.m. Feb. 8; 7-10 p.m. Feb. 9, Hospice of the Florida Suncoast, 3050 First Ave. S, St. Petersburg. Winemaker dinner Feb. 8; Feb. 9 Wine, Art & Heart event with sampling of small-vineyard wines, culinary treats, silent auction, diamond raffle, fine art exhibit; benefits Hospice. $120 dinner, $60 Feb. 9 main event, $150 combined ticket. (727) 323-5857.

Culinary Club: noon Feb. 9, Walt's Seasonal Cuisine, 1140 Main St., Dunedin. 34698. Tampa Bay Culinary Club meets for chef's demonstration of menu favorite. $10, register by Feb. 6. (727) 789-2605.

Cooking classes

The Other White Meat: 6:30-9 p.m. Thur., Foodies, 1235 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Roast pork with zinfandel sauce. $40. (727) 209-1418. www.foodies.net.

Heart Smart Desserts: 11 a.m. Sat., Nature's Food Patch, 1225 Cleveland St., Clearwater. Guiltless chocolate cake with espresso sauce. Free. (727) 443-6703.

Cooking For Valentines: noon-4 p.m. Sun. and Feb. 10, Let Them Eat Cake, 3805 S West Shore Blvd., Tampa. Sweet treats for Valentine's Day. $50. (813) 480-5466.

Bountiful Breakfasts: noon-2:30 p.m. Sun., Rolling Pin Kitchen Emporium, 2080 Badlands Drive, Brandon. Breakfast menu: Canadian bacon, cheese and egg sandwiches with hollandaise, peanut butter crunch French toast, strawberry omelets. $40. (813) 653-2418. rollingpinonline.com.

Valentine Treats: 6-8 p.m. Tue., Williams-Sonoma at Westfield Citrus Park, 8066 Citrus Park Town Center, Tampa. Decadent chocolate treats include chocolate crepes. $40, registration required. (813) 920-6939.

Ladies Poker Night: 6:30-9 p.m. Tue., Foodies, 1235 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Elegant menu items. $40. (727) 209-1418.

Chinese New Year: 6:30 p.m. Feb. 6, Apron's Cooking School at Publix Supermarket, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa. Menu includes pork and shrimp sui mai, spicy beef ribs, Cantonese duck. $40. (813) 926-4465.

Family Cooking Series: 6:30-8 p.m. Feb. 7, All Children's Hospital Education Center, 701 Fourth St. S, St. Petersburg. First in five-session series Thursdays through March 6 that shows families how to create healthful menus. Free, but registration required. (727) 582-2122.

Pears With Panache: 11 a.m. Feb. 9, Nature's Food Patch, 1225 Cleveland St., Clearwater. Pear ginger bisque, maple pear cobbler. Free. (727) 443-6703.

Company's Coming: 6:30-9 p.m. Feb. 9, Foodies, 1235 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Dinner menu for special guests. $45. (727) 209-1418. www.foodies.net.

Wine tastings, classes

Big Reds: 7-8:30 p.m. Thur., La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Pinot noirs and zinfandels from California, Oregon and France, plus appetizers. $15. (727) 736-3070. www.lamaisongourmet.com.

Wine & Gelato: 7-10 p.m. Thur., La Casa Dolce Cafe, 406 S Howard Ave., Tampa. Zaca Mesa wines paired with espresso, chocolate hazelnut gelatos. $10. (813) 259-0002. lacasadolcecafe.com.

Toffee and Wine: 5-8 p.m. Thur., VINO 100, 5056 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Toffee to Go, handmade toffee treats pair with wines. Free. (727) 522-8466.

Verget Vintages: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Fri., Bern's Fine Wine & Spirits, 1002 S Howard Ave., Tampa. Eight Verget wines from Jean-Marie Guffens, including highly rated 2004 Fourchaume Chablis. $25. (813) 250-9463.

Singles Soiree: 4-7 p.m. Fri., VINO 100, 1038 Bloomingdale Ave., Valrico. Saint Laurent wines from Washington state. Free. (813) 654-8466.

Super Sampling: 5-8 p.m. Fri.; 1-4 p.m. Sat., A&L Fine Wines, 35249 U.S. 19 N, Palm Harbor. Wines for Super Bowl parties. Free. (727) 781-4760. AandLfinewines.com.

VIP Sampling: 6-8 p.m. Fri., Pic Pac Fine Wines, 6609 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Wines from around the world, plus hors d'oeuvres, to benefit Abilities Foundation. $15. (727) 347-0743.

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

Groundhog Day Tasting: noon-3 p.m. Sat., Murielle Winery, 13131 56th Court, Suite 305, Clearwater. New release cabernet franc ice wine, Amish cheeses and chocolate. Free. (727) 561-0336. muriellewinery.com.

Southern Favorites: 6-9 p.m. Feb. 7, Lincoln Heights Bistro, 603 Elm St., Safety Harbor. Pinot noir, merlot and more pair with Southern-inspired menu. $12. Call (727) 726-4210 to register.

Surf & Turf Wines: 7-9 p.m. Feb. 7, Harr's Surf and Turf Market , 3235 Tampa Road, Palm Harbor. More than 50 wines, hors d'oeuvres. $15. (727) 787-6758. www.surfandturfmarket.com.

Strong Tower Tasting: 4-8 p.m. Feb. 8, Pristine Liquors, 14381 Spring Hill Drive, Spring Hill. Reds, white and blush wines from local and estate-grown Strong Tower Vineyards. Free. (352) 666-1088.

Sweet Sampling: 4-7 p.m. Feb. 8, VINO 100, 1038 Bloomingdale Ave., Valrico. Pair wines with specialty chocolates for Valentine gift-giving. Free. (813) 654-8466.

Cabernets & Blends: 6-8 p.m. Feb. 8, Pic Pac Fine Wines, 6609 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Cabernet and cabernet blends sampled. $5. (727) 347-0743.

France vs. California: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 8, Charlie's Wine Cellar, 533 S Howard Ave., No. 2, Tampa. Compare Old World and New with wines from France and California, plus filet mignon, cheesecake. $25, advance registration required. (813) 250-1967. charlieswine.com.

Vineyard Valentines: noon-6 p.m. Feb. 9, Strong Tower Vineyard & Winery, 17810 Forge Drive, Spring Hill. Red, white and blush estate-grown wines from dry to sweet in Valentine's Day tasting. Free. (352) 799-7612. strongtowervineyard.

Napa/Sonoma Dinner Class: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 9, Charlie's Wine Cellar, 533 S Howard Ave., No. 2, Tampa. Wine, Dine & Learn explores Wine Country cuisine. $35, advance registration required. (813) 250-1967.

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 (727) 892-2327.

[Last modified January 29, 2008, 11:50:16]