Food File

By PEGGY ANDERS

© St. Petersburg Times, published June 1, 2000

Special events and food tastings

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

EPICUREAN LIFE'S CULINARY CLASSIC: Fri.-Sun., various Sarasota venues. Wine seminars, chef's culinary demonstrations, wine and gourmet food tastings, luncheons, gala dinner and auction. San Francisco's Ron Siegel of Charles Nob Hill is the featured chef. 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.

CHEESES OF THE WORLD: 7 p.m. Tues., Cafe l'Europe, 431 St. Armands Circle, Sarasota. Cheeses from around the world accompany tastings of wines. $15 plus tax and tip. Call (941) 388-4415.

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 a Pacific Northwest Wine Invitational 4-6 p.m. Sun. ($20), interactive chef's demonstrations every Wed. Thur. and Sat. 8 and 9 p.m., ice carving demonstrations 8 p.m. every Tues. and Fri. Proceeds benefit Second Harvest Food Bank Kid's Cafe. For tickets or more information, call (407) 934-8424.

NEW CITY BISTRO WINE DINNER: reception 7 p.m., dinner 7:30 p.m. June 14, New City Bistro, 3333 S Westshore, Tampa. Chef Michael Bishop pairs wines with New World cuisine dinner. Chateau Ste. Michelle's culinary director, Chef John Sarich, hosts: $50plus tax and tip. To reserve, call (813) 805-0250.

Wine and beer tastings

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

SUMMER WINES AND DESSERTS: 1:30-5:30 p.m. Sat., Fancy's Specialty Market, 1003 Fourth St. N., St. Petersburg. Sample light, fruity summer winespaired with desserts. Free. Call (727) 894-5300.

SUMMER WHITES AND ROSE WINES: 6-8 p.m. June 9, the Grapevine at Westchase, Westchase Square, 12125 W Linebaugh Ave. (east of Racetrack Road), Tampa.Wine Professor Tasting explores white and rose wines suitable for summer sipping. Course materials included along with cheeses to accompany wines. $10 (includes $5 discount on wine purchase). Call (813) 818-9463 to reserve.

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

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

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

HEALTHY TRAVELER: 10-11 a.m. today, Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Chef Debby DeGraaff's free vegetarian class teaches how to choose healthy meals while traveling. Free. Call (813) 873-7428.

FRENCH COOKING FOR COUPLES: 6:30-9 p.m. Fri., Home Gourmet Kitchen Emporium, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Couples can enjoy a glass of wine and learn to prepare country French favorites in this hands-on class. $40 per person. Call (727) 736-6400.

SKILLS COURSE: 6:30-9 p.m. beginning June 12, Home Gourmet Kitchen Emporium, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Nine-week course teaches basic culinary skills. Class prepares full meal with surprise ingredients as graduation exercise. $495, includes textbook. Call (727) 736-6400.

Cooking demonstrations

HEART-HEALTHY COOKING: 5:30 p.m. June 13, the Heart Institute of St. Petersburg, 603 Seventh St. S, Suite 480, St. Petersburg. Chef Jerry Boucher and registered dietitians offer recipes designed for healthy lifestyles. Tips on how to help lower cholesterol and fight heart disease while eating nutritiously. $15; $25 per couple (includes dinner). Reservations required. Call (727) 329-1615 to reserve.

Contests

"RICE TO THE RESCUE" CONTEST: USA Rice Federation is looking for the most creative and easiest-to-make original recipe. First prize is $5,000. For complete rules, visit http://www.ricecafe.com. Deadline is June 15.

Food talk

"EAT YOURSELF SLIM" LECTURE: 7-8:30 p.m. Tues., Montignac Nutrition and Learning Center, 800 East Bay Drive, Largo. Dr. Christine Laramee and chef Guiullaume Alinat provide information on how to make healthful changes in eating habits at this free talk and tasting of imported gourmet foods and chocolates. Limited seating. To reserve, call (727) 581-3434.

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

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 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 range 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: (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.

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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