Food file

By PEGGY ANDERS

© St. Petersburg Times,
published June 20, 2001

Special events and food tastings

HARVEST FESTIVAL: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Fri.-Sat., 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, Lakeridge Winery and Vineyards, 19239 U.S. 27 N (3 miles south of Florida Turnpike exit 285), near Clermont. Harvest time festivities at this Florida winery features wine tours and tastings, grape stomping, music, 70 arts and crafts vendors, food available. Donation: $2, benefits Hospice Foundation. Call (352) 394-8627.

THRILL OF THE GRILL: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Buffalo bratwurst, ostrich burgers and veggie kebabs are some of the dishes chef Clayton Bustard grills up as he demonstrates flavoring with sauces and seasonings at free "Thrill of the Grill Party;" grilling demonstrations at noon, 1, 2 and 3 p.m. also feature sizzling soy and tofu dishes, free-range chickens, other natural and organic products. Call (813) 873-7428.

GO VEGETARIAN AT LA VIGNA: 7 p.m. Tuesday, La Vigna Restaurant, 17807 Gulf Blvd., Redington Shores. Interested in learning more about vegetarian cuisine? New members are welcome to join the Tampa Bay Vegetarians at their monthly dinner meeting, featuring the southern Italian cuisine of La Vigna. Cost: about $18.50. To reserve, call (727) 392-0268 or (727) 443-4589.

ALL FIRED UP: 7-9 p.m. June 27, Cilantro Grille and Cantina, 3333 S West Shore Blvd., Tampa. Fire up your taste buds with pupu platter of chili pepper appetizers, sample locally produced salsas and hot sauces. Cool off with free beer sampling at Cilantro's chili, hot sauce and salsa tasting. Chef Mike also demonstrates how to turn poblanos into ancho and jalapenos into chipotle. Recipes available. Cost: $25. Call (813) 805-0250.

Wine and beer tastings/classes

WHITE WINE WITH MEAT: 6:30 p.m. today, J.D. Ford Fine Wines, 1925 S Osprey Ave., Sarasota. Learn how to pair beef, pork and duck with white wines from wine expert Graham Thomson and Chef Malin Parker at summer wine-tasting seminar. Cost: $35. To reserve, call (941) 362-9463.

BEACH BASH TASTING: 7-9 p.m. Friday, Frank T. Hurley Park, Gulf Way, Pass-a-Grille Beach. Bring your own bottle to share at this Wine Brats' "Beach Bash" tasting challenge of under-$15 summer wines and vote on which pairs best with beachside breezes, food and entertainment. Guests asked to bring one bottle per two people. Tickets: $10 advance, $15 at the door. Visit: http://tampa.winebrats.org for tickets, directions or more information.

SUMMER SOLSTICE SOCIAL: 6:30-9 p.m. Friday, Vintage Wine Cellars, 3629 Henderson Blvd., Tampa. Toast the longest day of summer with a tasting of 10 new wines, including 1997 Navarra Correas malbec, 1998 Farralon pinot noir, and 2000 Villa Maria riesling: $10. Call (813) 879-2931 to reserve.

NEIGHBORHOOD TASTING: 5-7 p.m. Friday, ABC Fine Wine and Spirits, 6115 U.S. 19 N, New Port Richey. Meet the neighbors over a collection of 12 wines and light hors d'oeuvres at ABC's "Neighborhood" wine tasting. Admission: $2, includes keepsake glass. Call (727) 842-7749.

PATRON'S PICKS: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, A Taste for Wine, 241 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Taste a variety of wines, each chosen by participants. Cost dependent upon the bottle of wine you choose. Call (727) 895-1623 to reserve.

MURIELLE WINES: 5-8 p.m. June 28, Murielle Winery, 13131 56th Court, Suite 305, Clearwater. White merlot and Ice Style dessert wine are two new varieties among the many available for sampling at free wine tasting of Murielle wines. Also taste sparkling wines, chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon and "barrel samples" of wines in progress. Call (727) 561-0336 or visit www.muriellewinery.com.

WINES OF SUMMER: 6-8 p.m. June 29, the Grapevine at Westchase, Westchase Square, 12125 W Linebaugh Ave. (east of Racetrack Road), Tampa. Guest speaker Guy LaRussa presents summer wines from around the world, with tastes from Germany, Spain and more: $10, includes $5 discount on wine purchase. Call (813) 818-9463 to reserve.

Cooking classes

HEALTHY TRAVELER: 7-8 p.m. today, 10-11 a.m. Thur., Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Chef Debby DeGraaff shows how vacationers can eat healthfully while on the road in vegetarian cooking class: free. Call (813) 873-7428.

HANDS ON LESSONS: Cook alongside Home Gourmet Kitchen's chefs at these two classes: Mexican cuisine 6:30-9 p.m. today and vegetarian specialties, 6:30-9 p.m. Thursday, both at Home Gourmet Kitchen Emporium, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Menus range from beef tenderloin with chocolate sauce to chili puffs with curried vegetables and coconut flan: $45 per class. Call (727) 736-6400.

Cooking demonstrations

MEDITERRANEAN MENU: 7-9 p.m. Friday, Home Gourmet Kitchen Emporium, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Calamari with lemon aioli, pork tenderloin with mustard and rosemary, and roasted fruits and couscous are on the menu in this demonstration class: $35. Call (727) 736-6400.

GUEST CHEF, BEST CHEF: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Home Gourmet Kitchen Emporium, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Tyson Grant of O Bistro, winner of this year's Best Chef of Tampa Bay cooking competition, is on hand to prepare a menu of his signature dishes: $35, includes recipes. Call (727) 736-6400.

WHAT'S COOKING: 11:30 a.m. June 27, Summerhouse Restaurant, 6101 Midnight Pass Road, Siesta Key. Participate in live filming of "What's Cooking" with Chef Paul Mattison. Includes lunch with the chef, wine and recipes. Limited class size, $40 inclusive. To register call (941) 349-1100 and ask for Sally Barkley.

Contests

ROMAN HOLIDAY: Colavita will reward one creative home cook with grand prize of a six-day tour for two in Italy, and a year's supply of olive oil and salad dressing mix for first-prize winners. To enter, submit an original, healthful recipe containing Colavita olive oil, balsamic vinegar and Good Seasons salad dressing mixes to: Colavita and Good Seasons Recipe Contest, P.O. Box 9143, Elizabeth, NJ 07202, or enter online at: http://www.colavita.com by July 15.

- Send news of coming events at least two weeks in advance of the publication date to Food File, St. Petersburg Times, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731.

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