Food file

By PEGGY ANDERS

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 4, 2000

Special events and food tastings

"BACCHUS IN BLACK TIE" V: 6 p.m. today, Renaissance Vinoy Resort, 501 Fifth Ave NE., St. Petersburg. Five-course east of Italian regional cuisine of Calabria, Piemonte and Umbria prepared by chefs from area restaurants, paired with Italian wines. Benefits PACT Institute for the Performing Arts at Ruth Eckerd Hall. $175. To reserve, call (727) 712-2760.

ABILITIES WINE TASTING AND AUCTION:7 p.m. Sat., Tropicana Field, First Ave S. and 16th St. S., St. Petersburg. 150 wines from around the world are featured at annual wine and food sampling event. Restaurant items from 30 Tampa Bay restaurants. Also, auction of memorabilia and vacation getaways, all to benefit Abilities of Florida. $50; $60 at door. Call (727) 538-7370, etx. 345 or visit the Web site at http://www.abilitiesofflorida.com.

SUPER PAELLA: noon Sun., Centennial Park, 18th St. and Ninth Ave., Ybor City. Sample Spain's national dish prepared by the chefs of the Columbia Restaurant at annual benefit. Paella big enough for 3,000 people. Also, arts and crafts and a special kids menu. Benefits American Red Cross. $8 in advance; $10 day of event. Call (813) 251-0921 for tickets and information.

RUSKIN TOMATO AND HERITAGE FESTIVAL: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat.-Sun., E.G. Simmons Park, 2401 19th Ave NW, off U.S. 41, Ruskin. All the Ruskin tomatoes you can eat, a farmer's market filled with fresh-picked local produce, entertainment, car and show bike displays among the festivities. Enter the Tomato Cookoff (information under Contests below). Admission: $2; kids 6 and under free. Call (813) 645-3808.

PATRICK'S WINE DINNER: 7 p.m. Wed., Patrick's Bayside Grill, 5007 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach. Dean Dekorth, winemaker from Morgan Winery, pairs wineswith each course in a menu that includes Salmon with Green Peppercorn Sauce. $45.95; tax and gratuity extra. Reservations required. Call (727) 363-4440.

VEGAN GALA: 5-7 p.m. May 13, Cafe at Nature's Food Patch, 1225 Cleveland St., Clearwater. All-you-can-eat vegan meal from soup and salad bar to dessert. Learn how to start a vegetarian diet and stock a vegetarian kitchen and quick and easy tofu recipes from guest speaker. Vegan dietitian available to answer nutrition questions. $6.44 by Mon. or $7.44 at the door. Call Florida Voices for Animals (813) 969-3755.

BON APPETIT WINE DINNER: 6:30 p.m. May 17, Bon Appetit Restaurant, 150 Marina Plaza, Dunedin. Wine maker Ken Terrio introduces Clos du Bois varieties, then wines are paired with a five-course dinner prepared by executive chef Stephen Farquhar. $65 including tax and gratuity. Reservations required. Call (727) 733-2151.

TASTE OF THE NATION TAMPA BAY: 6 p.m. reception, 7 p.m. dinner May 25, Tampa Marriott Waterside, 700 S Florida Ave., Tampa. Five-course dinner and wine pairing with guest chef Susan Goss of Zinfandel in Chicago. Proceeds benefit Divine Providence Food Bank and other local charities. $150. Call (813) 254-1190.

SEAFOOD ALASKA FESTIVAL: May 14-June 14, Fulton's Crab House, Downtown Disney/Pleasure Island, Walt Disney World Resort, Lake Buena Vista. Fourth annual celebration of seafood with interactive chef's demonstrations (every Wed. Thur. and Sat. 8 and 9 p.m.) on shucking oysters to filleting fish, ice carving demonstrations (8 p.m. every Tues. and Fri.) Benefits Second Harvest Food Bank Kid's Cafe. For tickets or information, call (407) 934-8424.

Wine and beer tastings

WORK WEEK WINE DOWN: 6-9 p.m. Fri., Grand Cru Wine Cellar, 11724 N Dale Mabry, Tampa. Sampling of wines and beers accompanied by snacks. $10 (includes $5 coupon toward wine purchase). Call (813) 269-8463 to reserve.

HEDGES WINES: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Fri., the Grapevine at Westchase, Westchase Square, 12125 W Linebaugh Ave (east of Racetrack Road), Tampa. Free tasting of Hedges Wines from Washington state. Call (813) 818-9463.

PEPE'S TASTINGS: 6-8 p.m. Wed., Pepe's Fine Dining and Tapas, 3665 Ulmerton Road, Clearwater. Weekly tasting of four wine selections and appetizers. Free. Call (727) 573-3363.

GERMAN WINES: 6-8 p.m. May 12, the Grapevine at Westchase, Westchase Square, 12125 W Linebaugh Ave (east of Racetrack Road), Tampa. This month's Wine Professor Tasting explores German wines suitable for spring and summer sipping. Course materials included along with cheeses to accompany wines. $10 (includes $5 discount on wine purchase). Call (813) 818-9463to reserve.

Cooking classes

COOKING FOR TWO: 6:30-9 p.m. Fri., Home Gourmet Kitchen Emporium, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Chef Paul Kapsalis teaches couples to make dishes such as mozzarella crostini. $40. Call (727) 736-6400.

NATURAL REMEDIES: 11 a.m. Sat., Nature's Food Patch Natural Market, Cafe, and Deli, 1225 Cleveland St., Clearwater. Chef Debby DeGraaff presents free cooking class on natural remedies. Call (727) 443-6703.

Cooking demonstrations

CINCO DE MAYO: 11 a.m.- 3p.m. Fri., Nature's Food Patch Natural Market, Cafe and Deli, 1225 Cleveland St., Clearwater. Taste the flavors of Mexico at free food sampling to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. Call (727) 443-6703.

Contests

GREAT TOMATO COOKOFF: 1:30 p.m. registration, Sat., E.G. Simmons Park, 2401 19th Ave NW off U.S. 41, Ruskin. Enter your favorite tomato recipe to be eligible to win $100 first prize, $50 second prize or $25 third prize. Fresh Ruskin tomatoes can be used in any dish you choose, and recipe must be clearly printed, have a title, list of ingredients and complete preparation instructions. Cooks should bring their entries fully prepared and ready for tasting. Call Sarah at (813) 641-9223 for more information.

PEOPLE'S CHOICE BEST CHEF OF TAMPA BAY CONTEST: Chefs from area restaurants compete to create winning menu from surprise ingredients. Cooking begins at 7 p.m. Tues., at the Home Gourmet Corp., 471 Main St., Dunedin. This week, Randy Hull of Blackstone's Tapas Cafe in Indian Rocks and the victor between Eric Webber and Robert Masson compete. Try appetizers then watch as they create a meal for 17 people in 45 minutes or less and vote on your favorite. $40 includes meal. A portion of profits Benefits All Children's Hospital. For information or reservations, call (727) 736-6400.

Food talk

FOOD REGULATIONS SHORT COURSE: 8 a.m.-4 p.m. May 18, Columbia Restaurant, 2117 East Seventh Ave., Tampa. "Food Regulations in the New Millenium" is a short course intended for those in the food processing, retail foods and food service industry. Topics include genetically modified foods. Continental breakfast, lunch and course materials included in the cost: $50; $60 after May 12. For extra charge ($25, or $15 with pre-registration), dinner follows at 7 p.m. with speaker Elaine Turner on neutraceuticals. Call Dr. Ronald Schmidt, (352) 392-1991 or e-mail rschmidt@gnv.ifas.ufl.edu.

Careers

SUNCOAST COOKS' APPRENTICESHIP GROUP: Open registration for Cooks Apprenticeship Group. All apprentices must work 40 hours a week at a related job under a journeyperson and attend evening classes at the Pinellas Technical Education Center, Clearwater over a two-year period. (Job referrals are not provided.) Information: Dale Schmalzbauer at (727) 538-7167, ext. 1065.

NATIONAL RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION: Non-profit organization designed to provide educational and training programs for the restaurant industry. Scholarships average $2,000, and categories from high school students to industry professionals. For scholarship applications, call (800) 765-2122, ext. 733.

CULINARY ARTS: A three-year chef's apprentice program, administered through the American Culinary Federation, at Hillsborough Community College, main campus, 4001 N Lois Ave., Tampa. Information: (813) 253-7316, ask for Dr. George Pastor or Chef Pat Margotta.

CULINARY ARTS: A year diploma program for professional training as chefs and bakers in culinary arts and food service, accredited by the American Culinary Federation, at Pinellas Technical Education Centers Clearwater campus. Information hotline: (727) 588-6009.

CULINARY ARTS: A 15-month program of training in commercial foods and culinary arts at D. G. Erwin Vocational Technical Center, 2010 E Hillsborough Ave., Tampa. Information: (813) 231-1815.

CULINARY ARTS: Professional training for chefs and food service career professionals at American Culinary Arts Program, a division of Aviation Career Academy, 3131 Flightline Drive, Lakeland. Information: (941) 648-2004 or (800) 532-3210.

-- Please 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.

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