Food File

By PEGGY ANDERS

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 18, 2001

Special events and food tastings

PACIFIC RIM PAIRING: 7 p.m. reception and hors d'oeuvres, 7:30 p.m. dinner seating, today, Cilantro Grille and Cantina, 3333 S Westshore Blvd., Tampa. Thai, Tokyo Nouvelle and Maui-inspired courses, paired with wines from Oregon and Washington state that include Ponzi, Erath, Covey Run and more: $49.95 per person. Call: (813) 805-0250.

GAVEL AND GRAPES FESTIVAL: 6-10 p.m. Sat., along Tarpon Ave., downtown Tarpon Springs. Third annual street festival that combines wine tasting with antiques and art auctions; food from local restaurants available, live music. Free admission to festival; wine-tasting tickets are $10 in advance, $12.50 at event. Call: (727) 937-6109.

GUENOC WINE DINNER: 6:30 p.m. July 25, Island's End, 10101 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria Island, west of Bradenton. Matt Magoon, owner of Guenoc Wineries and a direct descendant of Lillie Langtry, whose ranch later became Guenoc Vineyard, leads wine dinner. Menu includes grilled chilled shrimp and lobster "martini," snapper anguilla with coconut couscous, all paired with Guenoc varieties. Cost: $75, plus tax and gratuity. Limited seating, must reserve by Thur. Call: (941) 779-2444

MANGO FESTIVAL: 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. July 28, Golden Gate Community Center, 4701 Golden Gate Parkway (Exit 16 off I-75), Naples. Taste a variety of mangoes and treats such as mango ice cream and dried mangos, enter the mango chutney contest; books, fruit and trees for sale: (941) 263-0424.

Wine and beer tastings/classes

TASTEFUL PAIRINGS AT PUBLIX: 5-8 p.m. Thur., Publix Supermarket, Northeast Shopping Center, 200 37th Ave. N, St. Petersburg. Sample up to 100 different wines, paired with cheeses, fruit and other snacks at this free tasting. Call: (727) 895-1670.

WINE REIGNS IN SPAIN: 6-9 p.m. Fri., Grand Cru Wine Cellar, 11724 N Dale Mabry Highway (Main Street Shopping Center), Tampa. Paella, flamenco and cheeses accompany the wines of Spain at this week's Work Week "Wine Down." Cost: $12 (includes $5 coupon toward wine purchase): (813) 269-8463.

MATCH GAME: 7 p.m. apertif, 7:30 p.m. tasting, Fri., Vintage Wine Cellars, 3629 Henderson Blvd., Tampa. Learn to expertly match wines and foods at this seated seminar, guests pair 11 wines with four kinds of food and learn how both are enhanced: $20. Limited seating, call (813) 879-2931 to reserve.

TASTE OF WINE AND BEERS: A Taste for Wine, 241 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Belgian beers such as Abbeys, Lambics, Dubbels and hybrids or choose a wine to sample with snacks in a "Patron's Choice" tasting, both 6-8 p.m. Sat.. Cost: $15 for beer tasting, wine cost varies with bottles chosen. Call: (727) 895-1623.

WINE COLLECTING 101: 6:30-8 p.m. Mon., Bern's Fine Wine and Spirits, 1002 S Howard Ave., Tampa. Ken Collura shows how to choose, store and maintain a wine collection. Cost: $25. Call for reservations (required): (813) 250-9463.

SHERRY AND TAPAS: 6:30 p.m. July 25, J.D. Ford Fine Wines, 1925 S Osprey Ave., Sarasota. Wine expert Graham Thomson selects sherries to go with tapas and other Spanish-style snacks created by chef Darwin Santa Maria at summer wine-tasting seminar. Cost: $35. To reserve, call: (941) 362-9463.

Cooking classes

PERFECT PICNIC: 7-8 p.m. today, 10-11 a.m. Thur., Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Make picnic fare with chef Debby DeGraaff as she leads vegetarian cooking class: free. Call: (813) 873-7428.

QUICK AND LOW-FAT: 7-9 p.m. Fri., La Maison Gourmet (formerly Home Gourmet Kitchen Emporium), 471 Main St., Dunedin. Low-fat summer desserts and a vegetarian entree: almond meringue tarts with drunken fruits, chocolate pie with chocolate crust, no-bake fresh cherry cheesecake, veggie cheese moussaka: $35. Call: (727) 736-3070.

TRENDY COOKING AT ROY'S: 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Tue., Roy's, 4342 West Boy Scout Blvd., Tampa. Rescheduled from July 17, this class teaches how to cook a three-course dinner in the style of executive chef Roy Yamaguchi: $40. Call: (813) 873-7697.

BEEF-LESS BURGERS: 7-8 p.m. July 25, 10-11 a.m. July 26, Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Make a better burger sans beef in this vegetarian cooking class: free. Call: (813) 873-7428.

WRAP IT UP: 6:30-8:30 p.m. July 25, Margaret Ann's Catering, 5625 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Learn to use phyllo and puff pastry dough, egg roll and wonton wrappers in hands-on class: $40. Limited class size, call: (727) 525-3983.

Cooking demonstrations

SUMMERHOUSE SESSIONS: Two demonstration classes with Chef Paul Mattison include a "Sonoma Summer" class focusing on the wines and fresh produce of California, 11:30 a.m. today, and a "Back to Basics" class that teaches basic techniques for sauces and broths, 11:30 a.m. July 25. Both at: Summerhouse Restaurant, 6101 Midnight Pass Road, Siesta Key. Each class, $40, includes lunch with the chef, wine and recipes. Call: (941) 349-1100 and ask for Sally Barkley.

Food talk

GOOD FOR YOUR HEART TOURS: Learn to make heart-savvy grocery choices in aisle-by-aisle tour of grocery stores led by registered dietitians. 10 a.m-noon Mon., Brooker Creek Publix, 36301 E. Lake Road, Palm Harbor; 1-3 p.m. Tues., Pasadena Publix, 6850 Gulfport Blvd., St. Petersburg. Coupons and healthful recipes included. $12 a tour. Reservations required. Call (727) 329-1615.

Worth sending for

PESTO POSSIBILITIES: Buitoni's free brochure including recipes such as crispy pesto potatoes, pesto bread and baked pesto chicken is available by visiting the Buitoni Web site at: www.buitoni.com.

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

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