Food File

By PEGGY ANDERS

© St. Petersburg Times, published February 21, 2001

Special events and food tastings

ZAZARAC WINEMAKER'S DINNER: 6:30 p.m. today, Zazarac, 3702 McKay Ave., Tampa. Live jazz and Chalone wines are paired with oysters three ways, smoked duck crepe, Andouille crusted medallions of veal and a New Orleans King Cake at winemaker dinner. Cost: $85. Call (813) 350-0481 to reserve.

O'GRADNEY'S WINE DINNER: 6:30 p.m. today, O'Gradney's Bistro, 6661 Central Ave. St. Petersburg. Five-course menu of grouper Basque, Veal Karim, smoked salmon pasta and chocolate mousse as Richard and Judith Crichton present chardonnay, pinot noir and merlot of Crichton Hall: $50 per person, plus tax and gratuity. RSVP required, call (727) 381-1212.

VIRTUAL CHATEAU DINING: 6:30 p.m. today, the Garden Restaurant, 217 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Provence-style cuisine and wines while Mr. and Mrs. Alain Bonnichon share their experience restoring 800-year-old, 19,000-square-feet Chateau de Culan. Cost: $35 (includes tax and gratuity). Limited seating, call (727) 823-3008 to reserve.

DINING ON AIR: Like to have friends over to dine? WMNF-FM 88.5's annual fundraising event lets you provide the meal, as simple or elaborate as you like, invited friends and neighbors bring donations, and WMNF provides the dessert, coffee and music at three area locations on Sat.: Gulfport Casino, 5500 Shore Blvd. S, Gulfport; Phillippe Estate, 5500 Tamiami Trail, Sarasota; and Artists Unlimited, 223 N 12th St., Tampa. Both hosts and guests also are asked to bring canned goods and household toiletries to donate to a local food bank. For more information, call (813) 238-8001, ext. 43 or 29.

SIDEBERN'S WINEMAKER DINNER: 6:30 p.m. reception, 7 p.m. dinner, Tues., SideBern's Restaurant, 2208 West Morris Ave., Tampa. Napa Valley's Acacia Winery's selections of brut, Carneros chardonnay, Echelon syrah, pinot noir and Carmenet zin port are featured in four-course dinner creations of Jeannie Pierola. Acacia co-founder, Michael Richmond on hand to answer questions about the wines and winery. Cost: $65 (all-inclusive). To reserve, call: (813) 258-2233 PANCAKES APLENTY: Florida residents get a free short stack of pancakes from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., courtesy of IHOP restaurant on Tue., to celebrate National Pancake Day. Donations accepted to benefit the Children's Home Society of Florida.

TAMPA BAY VEGETARIANS: 7 p.m. Tue., Ajanta Indian Cuisine, 5005 34th St. N, St. Petersburg. This month, Indian cuisine is featured at the Tampa Bay Vegetarians' dinner meeting. Vegetarian buffet of Indian specialties include vegetables Pakora, naan, navaratan curry, dal, aloo gobi, papadam and more at this month's meeting of the Tampa Bay Vegetarians. New members welcome; to reserve, call (727) 392-0268 or (727) 443-4589.

Wine and beer tastings/classes

PAIRING FOOD AND WINE: 6-8 p.m. March 1, Wines by Morrell, 2009 N 22nd St., Ybor City. Learn to pair foods with wine at this novice series class. Cost: $30. RSVP Call (813) 241-8587 q.

GIOIA TRAVELS THE WORLD: 7-10 p.m. Mon., Gioia Deli, 860 49th St. N, St. Petersburg. Sample wines from around the world, including Penfolds, Robert Pepi, Valentin Bianchi, plus a hot and cold buffet: $15. Limited seating, call (727) 321-1242 to reserve.

UNIQUE ZINFANDELS: 6:30-8 p.m. Fri., Bern's Fine Wine and Spirits, 1002 S Howard Ave., Tampa. Sample a selection of California zinfandels including Deux Amis and Ravenswood. Cost: $15, includes coupon redeemable on purchase: (813) 250-9463 to reserve.

PIC PAC WINE TASTING: 5-7 p.m. Fri., Pic Pac Fine Wine and Spirits, 6609 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Free weekly tasting: (727) 347-0743.

"KILLER B's": 7 p.m. aperitif, 7:30 p.m. tasting, Fri., Vintage Wine Cellars, 3629 Henderson Blvd., Tampa. Wines of France's Bordeaux and Burgundy regions are featured, including cabernet/merlot hybrids, chardonnay and pinot noirs. Cost: $20. Limited seating; call (813) 879-2931 to reserve.

CABERNET vs. BORDEAUX: 6:30-8 p.m. Mon., Bern's Fine Wine and Spirits, 1002 S Howard Ave., Tampa. Same grape, different interpretations, in this battle of the reds, with California cabernets competing with red Bordeaux wines. Reservations required: (813) 250-9463.

RHONE'S BEST: 6:30 p.m. Tue., J.D. Ford Fine Wines, 1925 S Osprey Ave., Sarasota. Informal wine class looks at the 1998 southern Rhone vintage wines: Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas, Vacqueras and Cotes du Rhone: $30. To reserve, call (941) 362-9463.

ELYSE WINERY: 5-7 p.m. Fri., B-21 Wine and Spirits, 43380 U.S. Highway 19 N, Tarpon Springs. Old vine zinfandels and new varietals from Elyse Winery. Free. Call: (727) 937-5049, (888) B21-WINE, or online at http://www.B-21.com.

LONGUEDOC WINES: 6-8 p.m. Sat., A Taste for Wine, 241 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Sampling of French Longuedoc wines. Cost: $18, call (727) 895-1623.

SPRING WINES: 1:30-5:30 p.m. Sat., Fancy's Specialty Market, 1003 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Sample light-bodied wines perfect for spring sipping, paired with hors d'oeuvres: Free. (727) 894-5300.

PURPLE PELICAN WINE TASTING: 6-8 p.m. Sat., Purple Pelican Cafe, 14705 Gulf Blvd., Madeira Beach. Sample wines and appetizers, hear music from Loud Zoo and help injured birds in need. Cost: $10, portion benefits the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary. Call (727) 394-0944.

Cooking classes

BASIC BROWN RICE: 7-8 p.m. today, 10-11 a.m. Thur., Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Ways to use brown rice. Call (813) 873-7428.

ITALIAN CUISINE: 7-9:30 p.m. today, Capa Italian Deli, 10839 Ulmerton Road (west of Seminole Blvd.), Largo. Hands-on Italian cooking class, $20 includes complete meal and recipes, wine extra. Call: (727) 518-6222.

COOKING FOR A HEALTHY HEART: 6:30 p.m. today, Nature's Food Patch, 1225 Cleveland St., Clearwater. Free cooking class with menu of black-bean chili over millet, tomato radish salsa and warm ginger drink. (727) 443-6703.

APPETIZERS: 7-8 p.m. today and Thur., Fancy's Specialty Market, 1003 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Chef Emil's cooking class learns to make appetizers. Cost: $10. Limited space, call (727) 894-5300 to reserve.

COOKING JAPANESE: 6:30-9 p.m. Fri., Home Gourmet Kitchen Emporium, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Make suinomo (clear soup with fishcakes, shiitake mushrooms and scallions) chicken and beef teriyaki, salad with ginger dressing and sushi in this hands-on class: $45. Call (727) 736-6400.

TOFU CHEESECAKE: 11 a.m. Sat., Nature's Food Patch, 1225 Cleveland St., Clearwater. Baker Ed Veasey shows how to bake with natural and organic ingredients, creating a tofu cheesecake. Free. (727) 443-6703.

MARDI GRAS MENU: 6:30-9 p.m. Tues., Home Gourmet Kitchen Emporium, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Food and festivities include Mardi Gras favorites such as roasted quail stuffed with crawfish and cornbread in spiced peach sauce, seafood crepes Breaux Bridge, strawberry pie, costumes and music: $45. Call (727) 736-6400.

GLORIOUS GARLIC: 7-8 p.m. Feb. 28, 10-11 a.m. March 1, Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Vegetarian cooking class features the use of garlic in cooking. Free. Call (813) 873-7428.

Contests

MANGAGING DIABETES: Kraft Diabetic Choices Recipe contest seeks original recipes for main dish, dessert, snack, kid's favorite or beverage categories. Winner gets a gift basket of products valued at $500. All eligible entrants receive copy of Kraft Diabetic Cookbook. Send to Kraft Diabetic Choices Recipe Contest, c/o: Hunter Public Relations, 41 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10010. Deadline: March 16.

Send news of coming events at least two weeks in advance of the publication date to Food File, the Times, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731.

Information from Times wires was used in this report.

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