Food File

By PEGGY ANDERS

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 23, 2001

Special events and food tastings

ROUND-TABLE DINNER: 6:30 p.m. today, the lobby at the Garden Restaurant, 217 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Join Jean Crete, former Gen. Manager of Chateau Lafite Rothschild, in a casual wine dinner as he shares his experiences and answers questions. Cost: $45, includes two glasses of Bordeaux, tax and gratuities. Call (727) 823-3008

TASTE OF PINELLAS: Get a "Taste of the Taste" 5-10 p.m. June 1, 15th annual food festival resumes June 2, noon-10 p.m., June 3, noon-7 p.m. at Vinoy Park, on the waterfront, adjacent to the Renaissance Vinoy Resort and Spa, 501 Fifth Ave. NE, downtown St. Petersburg. Get tastes from Asado Cafe, Red Mesa and 60 other bay area restaurants as they serve up samples of their best dishes, plus fireworks, waiter/waitress races, ice carving, music. Free admission, shuttle and parking, samples, $1-$4, purchased with food coupons, proceeds benefit All Children's Hospital. Call (727) 892-4193

RABBIT RIDGE WINE DINNER: 7 p.m. aperitifs and hors d'oeuvres, 7:30 p.m. seating, Tues., Cilantro Grille and Cantina, 3333 S West Shore Blvd., Tampa. This dinner for zinfandel lovers pairs five courses with different Rabbit Ridge zinfandels: $49.95, plus tax and gratuity. Call to RSVP: (813) 805-0250.

BEST OF ALASKAN SEAFOOD: Fifth annual Seafood Alaska Festival through June 15, Fulton's Crab House, Downtown Disney, features a Sidewalk Seafood Fest 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat.-Mon.; Interactive culinary demonstrations 8-10 p.m. every Wed., Thur. and Sat.; "Call of the Wild" Wine Dinner 7 p.m. (6:30 p.m. reception) June 12 with Kenwood Vineyards Chef Linda Kittler's creations paired with Jack London wines, $69.95 plus tax and tip. Hotline: (407) 934-8424. Proceeds benefit Food Bank Kid's Cafe.

Wine and beer tastings/classes

MERLOT MAYHEM: 7-9 p.m. Fri., Vintage Wine Cellars, 3629 Henderson Blvd., Tampa. Sample five merlots and five merlot blends, including 1997 Wynn's Casa Lapostole, 1998 Longridge cabernet/merlot and 1998 Dry Creek Vineyards. $10. Call (813) 879-2931 to reserve.

ALL GREEK AND FREE: 6:30-7:30 p.m. June 1, the Grapevine at Westchase, Westchase Square, 12125 W Linebaugh Ave., Tampa. Greek wines paired with Greek foods and accompaniments. Free. Call (813) 818-9463.

WINEFEST DISCOVERIES: 6 p.m. Sat., A Taste for Wine, 241 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Taste the top red and white wine finds from the Florida Winefest. $18. Call (727) 895-1623 to reserve.

PURPLE PELICAN TASTING: 6-8 p.m. Sat., Purple Pelican Cafe, 14705 Gulf Blvd., Madeira Beach. Monthly sampling of wines and appetizers, with a portion of the proceeds benefitting the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary. $10. Call (727) 394-0944.

Cooking classes

SOY SUPPERS: 7-8 p.m. today, 10-11 a.m. Thur., Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Chef Debby DeGraaff's weekly cooking class makes soy a main-dish meal. Free. Call (813) 873-7428.

TERRIFIC THAI: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Sat., Home Gourmet Kitchen Emporium, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Learn to make dishes such as stir-fried watercress with black bean sauce, roast curry duck, crispy noodles. $45. Call (727) 736-6400.

NOBLE LEMON: 7-8 p.m. May 30, 10-11 a.m. May 31, Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Use lemons to bring out flavors in vegetarian dishes. Free class. Call (813) 873-7428.

Cooking demonstrations

HOT DAYS, COOL MENU: 7-9 p.m. May 31, Home Gourmet Kitchen Emporium, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Lighter summer menu of scallop satays, smoked chicken salad with citrus yogurt dressing and greens, nectarine blueberry cobbler with brown sugar biscuit crust. $35. Call (727) 736-6400.

Worth sending for

SHELLFISH FOR NOT A LOT OF CLAMS: Summer Oyster Salad, Chesapeake Bay Shellfish Creole and Scallops in Cucumber Sauce are some of the economical recipes included in "Affordable Shellfish" free brochure along with shellfish buying and cooking tips from chefs. Send a stamped, self-addressed business-size envelope to Virginia Marine Products Board, 554 Denbigh Blvd., Suite B, Newport News VA 23608.

Contests

RICE REWARDS: "Rice to the Rescue" grand prize winner receives $5,000 for the best original unpublished rice recipe in appetizer, soup, salad, side dish, entree or dessert categories. Must be prepared in 30 minutes and use no more than six ingredients. Send recipes to "Rice to the Rescue" Recipe Contest, c/o USA Rice Federation, P.O. Box 740121, Houston, TX 77274, or online at www.ricecafe.com. Deadline: June 30. For a color brochure of previous winning rice recipes such as Spicy Thai Chicken Salad and Lime Rice Pudding Squares, send self-addressed, stamped business-sized envelope to "Winning Rice Recipes," c/o USA Rice Federation at the same address.

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.

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