Food File

By PEGGY ANDERS

© St. Petersburg Times, published March 21, 2001

Special events and food tastings

WINE FESTIVAL: 6-9 p.m. Sat., under tent at the Grapevine, 12125 W Linebaugh Ave. at Westchase Square, Tampa. Fourth annual festival pairs premium wines from around the world with specialties from Wyndham Harbour Island Hotel's Luna di Mare. Proceeds benefit Children's Home. $20 in advance, $35 for two; $25 per person day of event. Call (813) 818-9463

PASTA-BILITIES: 6:30 p.m. Sat., Tramor Cafeteria (adjacent to St. Petersburg Times), 123 Fourth St. S, St. Petersburg. Spaghetti dinner served on ceramic plates made by local artists, who have donated their work to help benefit the St. Petersburg Free Clinic and other services for the hungry or homeless. Eaters take home plates. $40 in advance, $50 at door. Limited seating. Call (727) 821-1200, ext. 118.

FOOD NETWORK LIVE: noon-4 p.m. Sun., Tampa Convention Center, 333 S Franklin St., Tampa. Demonstrations from network personalities including Curtis Aikens, Alton Brown and Claudine Pepin. Samples from area restaurants. Wine and champagne seminar and tastings. $20 plus service charge. Call 1-800-949-2433 for tickets.

TASTE OF BACCHUS: 4-6 p.m. Sun., Alfano's Restaurant, 1702 Clearwater-Largo Road, Clearwater. The regions of Liguria, Puglia, Sardinia, Toscana, others in Italy are introduced in four-course wine and food pairing. $45. Limited seating. Call (727) 712-2760.

BEST OF TAMPA BAY: 7-11 p.m. March 31, Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, 1010 N MacInnes Place, Tampa. Benefit combines entertainment, with entree samplings, signature dessert creations, specialty coffees, wines, imported beers from more than 50 Tampa Bay restaurants, caterers and vendors. Proceeds benefit the center's education and outreach programs. $50; $60 day of event. Call (813) 229-7827 or Ticketmaster at (813) 287-8844.

SPRING BRUNCH: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sun., Globe Coffee Lounge, 532 First Ave. N, St. Petersburg. This month's "Last Sunday" brunch heralds spring with raspberry tiramisu, banana blueberry waffles, other brunch fare and desserts. Call (727) 898-5282.

Wine and beer tastings and classes

STOUTS WITH CLOUT: 6:30 p.m. Thur., J.D. Ford Fine Wines, 1925 S Osprey Ave., Sarasota. Sample stout beers, ales and lagers and learn to tell the difference. $15. To reserve, call (941) 362-9463.

QUE SYRAH, SHIRAZ: 7-9 p.m. Fri., Vintage Wine Cellars, 3629 Henderson Blvd., Tampa. Sample the "new breed" red wines with 10 varieties from France, California and Australia, including Greg Norman Estates 1998 shiraz and 1998 petite sirah from Foppiano in Sonoma. $10. Limited seating. Call (813) 879-2931 to reserve.

"WINE DOWN": 6-9 p.m. Fri., Grand Cru Wine Cellar, 11724 N Dale Mabry Highway, Main Street Shopping Center, Tampa. End-of-the-week "Wine Down" offers sampling of wines and beers accompanied by snacks. $12 (includes $5 coupon toward wine purchase). (813) 269-8463.

BLIND TASTING: 6-8 p.m. Sat., A Taste for Wine, 241 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Identify the mystery wines sampled and win a bottle. $16. Call (727) 895-1623.

LEARN AT BERN'S: 6:30-8 p.m. Mon., Bern's Fine Wine and Spirits, 1002 S Howard Ave., Tampa. Weekly wine class explores syrahs from around the world. $30. Reservations required: (813) 250-9463.

WINES OF FRANCE: 6-8 p.m. March 29, Wines by Morrell, 2009 N 22nd St., Ybor City. Wine class for novices compares varieties from the wine-producing regions of France. $30. To RSVP, call (813) 241-8587.

Cooking classes

ADZUKI BEANS: 7-8 p.m. today, 10-11 a.m. Thur., Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Colorful Adzuki beans star in vegetarian cooking class with chef Debby DeGraaff. Free. Call (813) 873-7428.

COOKING AT CAPA: 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.

COUPLE'S CLASS: 6:30-9 p.m. Fri., Home Gourmet Kitchen Emporium, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Make pork tenderloin with zinfandel sauce and fruit napoleons with chocolate in class for couples. $45 a person, includes glass of wine. Call (727) 736-6400 .

CHOCOLATE EASTER EGGS: 6:30-9 p.m. Tues., Home Gourmet Kitchen Emporium, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Learn to make a solid chocolate Easter egg with a creamy "yolk" center and royal icing blossoms. $45. Call (727) 736-6400.

Contests

CHILI COOKOFF: Your chili recipe could win a $1,000 in the first annual Looper Chili Cookoff March 31 at downtown St. Petersburg's Baywalk. Cooking and sampling 2-5 p.m.; judging and prizes follow. Proceeds benefit the Looper downtown trolley. Call (727) 895-9277 for more information.

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

Information from Times wires was used in this report.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright