Come and get it!

By CHRIS SHERMAN, Times Restaurant Critic

Nibble, crunch, gnaw and slurp your way through Taste of Pinellas, featuring a tempting spread from more than 50 bay area restaurants.

Last year's about 100,000 people snacked their way through the three-day food extravaganza at Vinoy Park in downtown St. Petersburg, and organizers expect at least that many this year.

Chefs and staff from more than 50 bay area restaurants will put their culinary skills to a good cause: All Children's Hospital. Since the event began 13 years ago, more than $1-million has been raised to benefit the hospital.

[Times photo: Fred Victorin]
HARVEY’S 4TH STREET GRILL: Seared yellowfin tuna, jalapeno poppers and broccoli bites.

Visitors purchase tickets for 50 cents each and exchange them for food items, which cost $1 to $4. Tickets can also be used to purchase souvenirs or for kids' games and activities, which include contests, face painting, puppetmaking and a large rock-climbing wall.

But the idea here is to give your taste buds a workout. Before you fill up on your favorites, venture into new taste territory: grouper portofino from Italian Pavilion; salmon fritters from Johnny Leverock's Seafood House; homemade meatballs from Dal'Italia; seared yellow fin tuna from Harvey's 4th Street Grill; chicken marsala from Carrabba's Italian Grill; Capri Pasta Salad from Anna's Ravioli & Pasta Co.; grilled Hawaiian catch from Redwoods or assorted sushi rolls from Haiku Sushi. And top it off with a cool cup of Italian Ice from St. Pete's Famous Italian Ice.

[Times photo: Fred Victorin]
REDWOODS/HAIKU SUSHI: Sushi, shrimp tempura, grilled swordfish (with Redwoods chef Fran Franckx).

A variety of musical groups, including Prymary Colorz, Badge, Stormbringer and Chuck Negron of Three Dog Night, will perform. There will also be ice-carving demonstrations, a fireworks display Saturday night and the annual waiter/waitress race Sunday afternoon, where servers compete for prizes by negotiating an obstacle course while carrying loaded trays.

Admission to the park and entertainment is free. The fundraiser is staged in conjunction with the All Children's Hospital Telethon, broadcast live on WFLA-Ch. 8.

Participating restaurants and food/drink vendors

Alessi Concessions, Anna's Ravioli & Pasta Co., Beachside Grille, Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream, Bob Evans Restaurant, Budweiser, Cafe Beignet, Carrabba's Italian Grill, Cary's Soft Pretzel Co., Cha Cha Coconuts, Coco-Cola, Cody's Original Roadhouse, Cookie Farm, Crabby Bill's Seafood, Dairy Inn, Dal'Italia Ristorante & Pizza, Dog & Ears, E&E Stakeout Grill, Firehouse Bar & Grille, First Watch, Florida Restaurant Association, Friendly Fisherman Seafood, the Garden Restaurant, Grand Finale, Guppy's on the Beach, Haiku Sushi, Harvey's 4th Street Grill, Hungry Howie's Pizza, Italian Pavilion Ristorante, Johnny Leverock's Seafood House, La Casa Del Pane, Le Cheesecake, Mario's Ristorante, Midtown Sundries, Nadia's Restaurant & Bar, Native Seafood, Ollie's Cork and Bottle, Pasta Bella, Polar Cup, the Pub, Red Lobster, Redwoods, St. Pete's Famous Italian Ice, Silas' Steakhouse, Smart and Final, Snapper's Sea Grill, Southern Wine & Spirits, the Sports Bar & Grill, Superior Coffee, the Wine Cellar Restaurant and Fine Catering, Zephyrhills Spring Water.

Tips for Taste-goers

Dress to handle the heat and the spills: Wear light clothing and a hat, and choose clothes the color of tomato sauce. Clothes with plenty of pockets for tickets, cash and extra napkins and forks are a good idea, too.
Leave the cameras, purses and other hand baggage at home. You'll need both hands to juggle plates, forks and glasses.
Pick a tree or other shady area as your meeting ground. Forage outward from there.
Alternate the hot and gooey stuff with salads, water and fruits.
Drink plenty of fluids, preferably water.
If you can muster the self control, bypass your favorites and use the Taste to try out places new to you.
And as always, share.

-- CHRIS SHERMAN, Times Food Critic

Music schedule

Friday

5-7 p.m. Hunks of Fun
7:30-8:30 p.m. Nu Soul
9-10 p.m. Prymary Colorz

Saturday

Noon-1 p.m. Rocky Ruckman Band
1:30-2:30 p.m. Josh Magwood and the Underestimated Band
3-4 p.m. Badge
4:30-5:30 p.m. E.T.C.
6-7:30 p.m. Impacs/Saints
8:30-10 p.m. Chuck Negron (formerly of Three Dog Night)

Sunday

1-1:45 p.m. Wellville
2:15-3 p.m. Big Brother
3:30-4:30 p.m. Stormbringer
5:30-7 p.m. Paul Rodgers of Bad Company

At a glance

"A Taste of the Taste" kicks off the Taste of Pinellas tonight at Vinoy Park in downtown St. Petersburg. The Florida Restaurant Association and selected participating restaurants will serve samples of their best items from 5 to 10 p.m. today; the full array of more than 50 restaurants will offer their samples noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 7 p.m. Sunday. Free admission; fee for tastes. Benefits All Children's Hospital. (727) 892-4193; http://www.tasteofpinellas.com.

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