Food File

By PEGGY ANDERS

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 13, 2000

Notes from the food world

Special events and food tastings

FLORIDA'S FINEST CHEFS SERIES: 6:30 p.m. today, Michael's on East, 1212 East Ave. S in Midtown Plaza, Sarasota. Florida's Finest Chefs dinner and wine-pairing series showcases guest chefs' talents. This month's dinner features the Mediterranean-style cuisine of chef Nick Morfogen of 32 East in Delray Beach. He has worked at Le Cirque in New York and Tra Vigne in Napa Valley. $90. Reservations: (941) 365-0543, ext. 247.

WHEN IN FRANCE: Celebrate Bastille Day Fri. in French style with a dose of joie de vivre and special dinners 5-10 p.m. at Cafe de France, 15225 Gulf Blvd., Madeira Beach, (727) 392-8627; Chateau France Restaurant, limited seating, serving 5-11 p.m., 136 Fourth Ave. NE, St. Petersburg (727) 894-7163; and Kelly's for Just About Anything, Fri. and Sat., 319 Main St., Dunedin, (727) 736-5284.

BERTONI WINE DINNER: 6:30 p.m. July 20, Bertoni Italian Restaurant, 16 Second St. N, St. Petersburg. Cool off with a refreshing pinot grigio at the reception, then enjoy a multicourse dinner featuring roasted monkfish and the Italian wines of Borgo Conventi, with varieties from the Collio region. Limited seating. $49 plus tax and gratuity. Call (727) 822-5503.

MIXING BUSINESS AND PLEASURE: 6-8:30 p.m. July 20, Florida Aquarium, 701 Channelside Drive, Tampa. Exhibitors showcase their organizations at the Ybor City Business Expo and Food Fair while you sample offerings from area restaurants and vendors. Doc Otis' Hard Lemonade, Ybor City Brewery, Columbia Restaurant, 8th Avenue Grill and Tapas Spanish Cafe are among vendors supplying tastings. Silent auction items include four-restaurant dine-around packages. Aquarium's exhibits open for viewing during Expo. $7 advance, $10 at door. Tickets available at Ybor City Chamber of Commerce, Tampa Bay Federal Credit Union branches, Huntington Bank-Ybor City: (813) 247-4951.

CULINARY CLUB GOES CREOLE: 4 p.m. July 22, Cafe Creole, 1330 E Ninth Ave., Ybor City, Tampa. For a taste of Creole, join the Tampa Bay Culinary Club members at this month's restaurant meeting, where chef will prepare authentic dish for sampling. $10. RSVP: Jamie at (813) 831-3342.

Wine and beer tastings

BASTILLE DAY TASTING: 7-9 p.m. Fri., Vintage Wine Cellars, 3629 Henderson Blvd., Tampa. Commemorate France's Independence Day with tasting of 15 wines from its major growing regions, plus French bread and cheese. Try labels such as 1998 Chateau de Valmer Vouvray, Henri Abele NV Champagne Brut and 1995 Chateau Vari Monbazillac. $10. Call (813) 879-2931 to reserve.

AUSTRALIAN WINES: 3:30-6:30 p.m. Fri., Fancy's Specialty Market, 1003 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Sample wines from Australia paired with hors d'oeuvres. Free. Call (727) 894-5300.

ROBUST ZINFANDELS: 1-3 p.m. Sat., Bern's Fine Wine and Spirits, 1002 S Howard Ave., Tampa. Sample a selection of six California zinfandel wines. Hosted by Charles Voirin. $15, includes coupon redeemable on purchase. Call (813) 250-9463 to reserve.

ITALIAN WINE SEMINAR: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Mon., Bern's Fine Wine and Spirits, 1002 S Howard Ave., Tampa. David Black leads discussion and tasting of wines from Italy at this week's seminar. $25. To reserve, call (813) 250-9463.

WINES FROM CHILE: 3:30-6:30 p.m. July 20, Fancy's Specialty Market, 1003 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Wines from Chile and hors d'oeuvres are featured at this tasting and wine lesson. Free. Call (727) 894-5300.

Cooking classes

SUSHI, SHELLFISH AND CRUSTACEANS: 6:30 p.m. today, Summerhouse Restaurant, 6101 Midnight Pass Road, Siesta Key. Summerhouse Cookery School's Cooking Fundamentals summer series features hands-on cooking with chef Paul Mattison. This month, "Sushi, Shellfish and Crustaceans." Limited class size. $95, includes wine. Call (941) 349-1100 or visit http://www.internationalcookery.com.

COOL AS A CUCUMBER: 10-11 a.m. today, Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Chef Debby DeGraaff shows class how to prepare summer dishes using cucumbers in free vegetarian class. Call (813) 873-7428.

PRETEEN, TEEN COOKING: 3-5 p.m. Wed., Margaret Ann's Catering, 5625 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Hands-on class for teens and preteens teaches how to make after-school snacks such as chocolate chip cookie pizzas and even a light pasta dinner for the family. Limited class size. $35. Call (727) 525-3983.

HEALTHY FOODS FOR HEALTHY WOMEN: 6:30 p.m. Wed., Nature's Food Patch Natural Market, Deli and Cafe, 1225 Cleveland St., Clearwater. Free cooking class hosted by Kerrie and Bobbie Broe has recipes for a healthy lifestyle, including raspberry leaf fizz, fenugreek farfel. Call (727) 443-6703.

INDOOR/OUTDOOR ENTREES: 6:30-8:30 p.m. July 25, Margaret Ann's Catering, 5625 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Did thunderstorms rain out your barbecue? Learn to cook pork, beef and chicken entrees inside and on the grill in this dual-recipe class. Limited class size. $35. Call (727) 525-3983.

SUMMER SOUPS: 7-8 p.m. Wed., 10-11 a.m. July 20, Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Chef Debby DeGraaff shows class how to make cool and refreshing summer soups. Free. Call (813) 873-7428.

SPANISH CUISINE: 11 a.m. July 22, Cafe l'Europe, 431 St. Armands Circle, Sarasota. The Galicia region of Spain will be explored in this month's hands-on cooking class with chef Jeff Trefry. Menu includes pan-seared tuna, piquillo stuffed calamari salad, honey glazed scallops. $40, includes luncheon. Limited class size. Reservations required. Call (941) 388-4415 or register at http://www.neweuropeancuisine.com.

Cooking demonstrations

FROM MARINADE TO GRILL: 3-5 Sat., Home Gourmet Kitchen Emporium, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Learn the art of marinating and grilling meats, seafood and poultry in class that demonstrates how to prepare beer can chicken, chipotle tenderloin steaks and cedar plank salmon with ginger sauce. Free, but reservations required: (727) 736-6400.

Worth sending for

SWEET VIDALIA RECIPES: The sweet, mild-flavored onion variety hailing from Georgia lends itself well to relishes, salads or wherever an onion flavor is desired without overpowering a dish. For a free recipe brochure from the Vidalia Onion Committee, send a stamped, self-addressed business-size envelope to Vidalia Onion Committee, P.O. Box, 1609-FF, Vidalia GA 30475.

Contests

CHEF CHALLENGE: 7 p.m. Tues., Home Gourmet Kitchen Emporium, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Cooking duel pits chef Robert Masson of Travis Bistro against this month's contender, Eric Kern of Carlino's at the Don in Ybor City. 45 minutes is alloted for each chef to prepare a complete meal for 18 people using ingredients selected by opposing chef. Audience votes on best, most original creation. $40, with 25 percent of proceeds donated to Abilities of Florida. Limited seating. Call (727) 736-6400.

Food talk

"EAT YOURSELF SLIM" SEMINAR AND TASTING: 7-8:30 p.m. today, Montignac Nutrition and Learning Center, 800 East Bay Drive, Royal Plaza Shopping Center, Largo. Dr. Christine Laramee and chef Guillaume 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. Reservations required: (727) 581-3434.

Table talk

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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