Food File

By PEGGY ANDERS

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 25, 2000

Special events and food tastings

TASTE OF THE NATION TAMPA BAY: 6 p.m. reception, 7 p.m. dinner today, 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 donating culinary talents at Share Our Strength's Taste of the Nation benefit. Five-course dinner and wine pairing includes silent and live auction of wine country getaway, restaurant and wine packages. Benefits the Divine Providence Food Bank, other local charities. $150. Call (813) 254-1190.

TASTE OF PINELLAS: 5-10 p.m. June 2, noon-10 p.m. June 3, 1-7 p.m. June 4 at Vinoy Park, Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg. Annual food festival with 60 restaurants represented. Free admission; fee for "tastes." Music, kids' activities, fireworks Sat. night. Benefits All Children's Hospital: (727) 892-4193.

SEAFOOD ALASKA FESTIVAL: through June 14, Fulton's Crab House, Downtown Disney/Pleasure Island, Walt Disney World Resort, Lake Buena Vista. Celebration of seafood with interactive chef's demonstrations (every Wed. Thur. and Sat. 8 and 9 p.m.), a Northwest Excursion (6 p.m. Wed.) with Kenwood Vineyards chef pairing seafood and wines ($55), Pacific Northwest Wine Invitational (4-6 p.m. June 4) ($20). Proceeds benefit the Second Harvest Food Bank Kid's Cafe. For tickets or information, call (407) 934-8424.

EPICUREAN LIFE'S CULINARY CLASSIC: June 2-4, various Sarasota venues including Fred's restaurant, Morton's Market, the Tasting Room (1900 block of South Osprey Ave. in South Side Village). Wine seminars, demonstrations, wine and food tastings, luncheons and gala dinner and auction. Featured chef is San Francisco's Ron Siegel of Charles Nob Hill. Benefits K.I.D.S. by the Sea (support for children with cancer) and other children's charities. Event prices: $25-150. Call (941) 954-0609.

Wine and beer tastings

WILD WINES: 7-9 p.m. today, 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.

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

RED HOT REDS: 6 p.m. Sat., a Taste for Wine, 241 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Tasting of red wines created from pairings of grape varietals. $18. To reserve space, call (727) 895-1623.

SUMMER WINES: 3-6:30 p.m. Wed., Fancy's Specialty Market, 1003 Fourth St. N., St. Petersburg. Sample light, refreshing and fruity wines, perfect for summer, along with hors'd'oeuvres. Free. (727) 894-5300.

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

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

Cooking classes

MAGNIFICENT MISO: 10-11 a.m. today, Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Learn to use soy-based product miso in healthy soups and dishes in this free class led by vegetarian Chef Debby DeGraaff. Call (813) 873-7428.

NEW CITY DINER CHEF: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Sat., Home Gourmet Kitchen Emporium, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Enjoy creations of guest chef Bret Mailhot of the New City Diner in Tampa. $35. Call (727) 736-6400.

HEALTHY TRAVELER: 7-8 p.m. Wed., 10-11 a.m. June 1, Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Chef Debby DeGraaff's free vegetarian class teaches how to choose healthy meals on the road. Free. Call (813) 873-7428.

QUICK SUMMER DISHES: 7-9 p.m. Wed., Home Gourmet Kitchen Emporium, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Easy and quick warm-weather dishes at this class. $35. Call (727) 736-6400.

Cooking demonstrations

DEMONSTRATION CLASS: 7-9 p.m. Tues., Home Gourmet Kitchen Emporium, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Class menu ranges from smoked tomatoes to salads and ginger wasabi chicken, then on to desserts using new products. $10 (applied to purchases). Call (727) 736-6400.

Food bytes

A HILL OF BEANS: Indian Harvest of Bemidji, Minn., at http://www.indianharvest.com specializes in exotic rices, heirloom beans and grains. Site is a good resource for cooks looking for meat alternatives, multigrain blends, cooking tips.

Worth sending for

VEGETABLE PACKET RECIPES: "Making Vegetables Just Right" from Reynolds Kitchens offers recipes for quick-steamed vegetable side dishes. For free brochure,call (800) 745-4000.

THE FLORIDA TOMATO SANDWICH: For fresh sandwich ideas using ripe Florida tomatoes, send for "The Florida Tomato Sandwich" leaflet. Tips on storing tomatoes, information. Send self-addressed envelope to Florida Tomato Committee, P.O. Box. 140635, Dept. S, Orlando, FL 32814-0067.

NO-FAIL FAMILY SUPPERS: For "Perdue Plus 5" spring recipe booklet of family-style suppers, plus tips on buying and cooking chicken, call (800) 473-7383 or visit http://www.perdue.com.

Contests

PORTOBELLO SANDWICH CLASSIC: Come up with fantastic sandwich using portobello mushrooms as the main ingredient and be eligible for $1,500, $1,000 and $500 prizes in the Mushroom Council's "Create a Classic" contest. For complete rules, and great mushroom recipes and tips, visit http://www.mushroomcouncil.com.

MAKE DINNER DIFFERENT: Submit tip on how to make dinner different in 100 words or less in National Pork Producer's Council "Make Dinner Different" contest to vie for trip for two to San Francisco, New York other cities or a year's worth of groceries. Send tip, name, address, phone to Make Dinner Different Contest, NPPC, P.O. Box 10383, Des Moines, IA 50306. E-mail entry to: http://www.otherwhitemeat.com. Deadline June 30.

Food talk

HEART SMART SHOPPING TOUR: 10 a.m. June 6, Publix SuperMarket, Northeast Shopping Plaza, 200 37th Ave. N, St. Petersburg. Registered dietitians show how to decipher food labels and make heart-healthy diet choices. Money-saving coupons and healthy recipes included. $12. Reservations required. Call (727) 329-1615.

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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