Food File

By PEGGY ANDERS

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 18, 2000

Special events and food tastings

MOJO'S ISLAND PARTY: 5-7 p.m. today and Fri., Mojo's Fine Food and Spirit, corner Alt. 19 and Alderman Road, Palm Harbor. Grand opening celebration features samplings of restaurant's island cuisine and tropical drink specialties, plus live reggae, blues and jazz. Call (727) 773-1200.

ZELLWOOD SWEET CORN FESTIVAL: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat.-Sun., Ponkan Road off U.S. 441, Zellwood (northeast of Orlando). Annual festival with country music, arts and crafts, rides. All the Zellwood-raised sweet corn you can eat is included in the ticket price along with ham, potato salad, baked beans, roll and tea. $11 in advance, $14 at gate for adults; $4 advance, $5 at gate for kids; 4 and under admitted free. Call (407) 886-0014 or visit http://www.zellwoodsweetcornfest.org.

CELEBRITY CHEF 2000: noon-5 p.m. Sun., Tampa Convention Center, 333 S Franklin St., Tampa. TV Food Network chefs, including Claudine Pepin, Sara Moulton, Bill Boggs and Jacqui Malouf, demonstrate their culinary skills Food and wine sampling and seminars, cooking competition with Tampa Bay area chefs. Tickets: $20. Call (800) 949-2433 or (813) 274-8511.

SEAFOOD ALASKA FESTIVAL: through June 14, Fulton's Crab House, Downtown Disney/Pleasure Island, Walt Disney World Resort, Lake Buena Vista. Chef's Showcase Workshop (1-4 p.m. Sun.) with celebrity chefs from Florida's restaurants ($35), interactive chef's demonstrations (every Wed. Thur. and 8 and 9 p.m. Sat.), ice carving demonstrations (8 p.m. every Tues. and Fri.) Pro benefit Second Harvest Food Bank Kid's Cafe. For tickets or information, call (407) 934-8424.

CAFE L' EUROPE VINTNER DINNER: 7 p.m. Tues., Cafe l'Europe, 431 St. Armands Circle, Sarasota. Wines from southwestern France are showcased with five courses prepared by Chef Jeff Trefry. $55 plus tax and gratuity. Reservations required. Call (941) 388-4415.

THE ART OF THE CHEESE PLATE: 7-8:30 p.m. Wed., Grand Cru Wine Cellar, 11724 N Dale Mabry, Tampa. Cheese styles, textures, milk types and rind characteristics. Cheeses are paired with wines and beers, fruit and breads, and recipes are provided. $10. Reservations: (813) 269-8463.

TASTE OF THE NATION TAMPA BAY: reception 6 p.m., dinner 7 p.m. May 25, Tampa Marriott Waterside, 700 S Florida Ave., Tampa. Tom Chin of Marchand's Grill at the Renaissance Vinoy and Jeannie Pierola of SideBern's and Bern's Steak House are among featured chefs preparing five-course dinner with wine pairing for guests at Share Our Strength's Taste of the Nation benefit event. Silent and live auction of wine country getaway, restaurant and wine packages. Proceeds benefit the Divine Providence Food Bank and other local charities. $150. Call (813) 254-1190.

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 a selection of snacks. $10, includes $5 coupon toward wine purchase. Call (813) 269-8463 to reserve.

VINTAGE FUND RAISER: 7-9 p.m. today, Vintage Wine Cellars, 3629 Henderson Blvd., Tampa. Spring wine tasting with holistic medicine speakers. Proceeds benefit Women's Organization for Medical Emergency Needs' efforts to provide safe abortions. $15. Call (813) 989-9652 to reserve.

WAR OF THE WORLDS: aperitif 7 p.m., tasting 7:30 p.m. Fri., Vintage Wine Cellars, 3629 Henderson Blvd., Tampa. Limited seating wines-of-the-world features wines from Australia, France, Argentina, Italy. $20. Call (813) 879-2931 to reserve.

B21 SPRING TASTING: 1-5 p.m. Sun., B21 Wine Co., 43380 U.S. 19 N, 1 mile north of Tarpon Springs Road on west side of U.S. 19 at the Beckett Way Intersection, Tarpon Springs. Tasting kicks off spring wine sale with reds, whites and new wine finds. Free. Call (888) 221-9463.

BLACKSTONE'S TAPAS CAFE TASTING: 6-8 p.m. Wed., Blackstone's Tapas Cafe, 301 Gulf Blvd., Indian Rocks Beach. Sample from a variety wines and appetizers. Free. Call (727) 517-7778.

WILD WINES: 7-9 p.m. May 25, Vintage Wine Cellars, 3629 Henderson Blvd., Tampa. Tasting of 10 "animalistic" wines including those from Wild Horse, Rabbit Ridge, Impala, Frog's Leap. $10. Call (813) 879-2931 to reserve.

RED HOT REDS: 6 p.m. May 27, A Taste for Wine, 241 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Try unusual pairings of grape varietals to create unique red wines. Labels include Beckmen, Fife and Justin. Appetizers. $18. To reserve, call (727) 895-1623.

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

Cooking classes

BEAUTIFUL BEETS: 10-11 a.m. today, Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Chef Debby DeGraaff's free vegetarian class teaches how to use beets in recipes. Free. Call (813) 873-7428.

FREE COOKING CLASS: 6:30 p.m. Fri., Nature's Food Patch Natural Market, Cafe and Deli, 1225 Cleveland St., Clearwater. Healthy cooking tips at free class with Kerrie and Bobby Broe. Call (727) 443-6703.

NOUVEAU FLORIDIAN GRILL: 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Sat., Home Gourmet Kitchen Emporium, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Cooking class with fusion Florida menu. $35. Call (727) 736-6400.

MAGNIFICENT MISO: 7-8 p.m. Wed., 10-11 a.m. May 25, Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Vegetarian Chef Debby DeGraaff shows how to use the soy-based product miso in healthy soups and dishes. Free. Call (813) 873-7428.

SOUTHERN FRENCH COOKING: 11 a.m. Sat., Cafe l'Europe, 431 St. Armands Circle, Sarasota. Chef Jeff Trefry leads hands-on cooking class featuring the cuisine of Gascony, Languedoc, and other areas of southern France. $40, includes luncheon. Limited class size. Reservations: (941) 388-4415 or register online at http://www.neweuropeancuisine.com.

ASIAN APPETIZERS: 6:30-9 p.m. May 25, Home Gourmet Kitchen Emporium, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Learn how to make Asian-inspired appetizers. $45. Call (727) 736-6400.

Food bytes

DIABETIC RECIPES: Diabetics can find recipes from Chinese and chicken categories to breads and pies at http://www.soar.berkeley.edu/recipes/diabetic/index.html.

Worth sending for

FRENCH FRIED ONIONS: French's free booklet "Recipe News You Can Use" has 12 months's worth of easy recipes for family-style meals. Send name and address on a 3-by-5 index card to Recipe News You Can Use, P.O. Box 5853, Young America, MN 55558-6853.

Contests

CHEESE RECIPE CONTEST: Mr. Food's Good Mornings With Cheese recipe contest seeks original breakfast cheese recipes. Deadline June 15. Grand prize three-day/two-night trip for two to anywhere in the continental U.S. For complete rules, visit http://www.ilovecheese.com. or send self-addressed envelope to Mr. Food's Good Mornings with Cheese Recipe Contest, P.O. Box 812000, Chicago IL 60681.

PEOPLE'S CHOICE BEST CHEF OF TAMPA BAY: 7 p.m. Tues., Home Gourmet Corp., 471 Main St., Dunedin. This week, Troy Collins of 8th Ave. Grille in Ybor City and Tom Golden of Blue Gardenia in Safety Harbor compete to create a winning menu from surprise ingredients. First, try pre-prepared appetizers from both chefs, then watch as they create a full meal for 17 people in 45 minutes or less. Vote on your favorite. $40 includes meal. Portion of proceeds benefits All Children's Hospital. Call (727) 736-6400.

Table talk

Does your group or business have special food or wine events of interest to people who like to eat, shop or cook in the Tampa Bay area? 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.

Information from Times wires was used in this column.

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