Food File

By PEGGY ANDERS

© St. Petersburg Times,
published August 8, 2001

Special events and food tastings

INTERACTIVE DINING: 6:30 p.m. Thur., PattiGeorge's Restaurant, 4120 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key. Chef Tommy Klauber presents a menu from the Riviera at this interactive dinner; patrons take turns cooking tableside and enjoy wines paired with the three courses. $85, includes apron and memento. Call (941) 383-5111.

WAZOO: 8 p.m. Sat., Lowry Park Zoo, 1101 W Sligh Ave., Tampa. It's the sixth year for this fundraiser, with more than 100 beers from around the world to sample along with a selection of cuisine from area restaurants, live music: $25 advance, $30 day of event (space-available basis), $7 for designated drivers. Proceeds benefit Lowry Park Zoo. Call (813) 935-8552 or visit www.lowryparkzoo.com.

Wine and beer tastings, classes

FLORIBBEAN AND WINE: 6:30 p.m. today, J.D. Ford Fine Wines, 1925 S Osprey Ave., Sarasota. Chef Malin Parker creates Floribbean dishes, and wine expert Graham Thomson selects wine for each dish at this week's summer wine-tasting seminar. $35. To reserve, call (941) 362-9463.

GREAT WINE BUYS: 6:30-7:30 p.m. Thur., La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Affordable wines under $20 per bottle are featured, three white wines and five reds, along with finger foods. $10. Call (727) 736-3070.

"BLENDS" HAVE MORE FUN: 7-9 p.m. Fri., Vintage Wine Cellars, 3629 Henderson Blvd., Tampa. Sampling of new wine blends that take advantage of the best qualities of each grape variety used. Try Penfolds shiraz/Mourvedre Bin 2, Sokol-Blosser Evolution #9, Santa Ema cabernet/merlot, even a sparkling wine: $12. Limited seating. Call (813) 879-2931 to reserve.

AUSTRALIA'S GREAT REDS: 6:30-8 p.m. Mon., Bern's Fine Wine and Spirits, 1002 S Howard Ave., Tampa. David Black leads wine class that explores shiraz, grenache, cabernet sauvignon and other great red wines of Australia. $25. Call for reservations (required), (813) 250-9463.

WINES AT THE DALI: 5:30-8 p.m. Aug. 16, Salvador Dali Museum, 1000 Third St. S, St. Petersburg. Take in fine art and fine wines from Spain at the Zodiac Group's wine tasting, with hors d'oeuvres to accompany. $10, members $5. RSVP required. Call (727) 823-3767.

TASTES OF FRANCE: 3 p.m. Aug. 18, Wines by Morrell 2009 N 22nd St., Ybor City. Tampa Bay Culinary Club samples French wines, cheese and pates in a seated tasting. $10. Call Jeanne at (727) 789-2605 to RSVP.

PIC PAC WINE TASTING: 5-7 p.m. Fri., Pic Pac Fine Wine and Spirits, 6609 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Pic Pac's free wine tasting in new temperature-controlled wine room: (727) 347-0743.

Cooking classes

SOUPS OF SUMMER: 7-8 p.m. today, 10-11 a.m. Thur., Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Cool off with vegetarian soups in this free cooking class. Call (813) 873-7428.

COOKING WITH EDYTH: 6:30 p.m. Mon., Saffron's Restaurant, 1700 Park St., St. Petersburg. Edyth James shares her secret recipes in cooking class with an island flair: $25. Class meets second Monday of every month. Call (727) 343-5410 to reserve.

LOW CARBOHYDRATE GOURMET: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Mon., Margaret Ann's Catering, 5625 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Learn to make low-carbohydrate, Atkins-friendly dishes. Menu includes savory blue cheese cake frittata, huevos rancheros, an array of vegetable side dishes and Emeril's steak au poivre: $35. Limited class size. Call (727) 525-3983 to reserve.

GREAT GRILLING: 7-8 p.m. Aug. 15, 10-11 a.m. Aug. 16, Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Chef Debby DeGraaff shows how to grill vegetarian fare in free class. Call (813) 873-7428.

Cooking demonstrations

HEART SMART COOKING: 5:30 p.m. today, the Heart and Vascular Institute of Florida, 603 Seventh St. S, Suite 480, St. Petersburg. Chef Jerry Boucher and registered dietitians cook up low-fat dishes and show how to form healthy eating habits. Recipes provided, samples served. Cost: $15, reservations required, limited seating. Call (727) 329-1615 to reserve.

CALIFORNIA CUISINE: 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Sat., La Masion Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Taste of California with apple, macadamia nut, Applewood smoked bacon and truffle oil "pizza"; orange juice marinated pork tenderloin; black sesame seed jasmine rice; and chilled coconut galanga soup with fruit salsa: $35. Stay for kids' (ages 4-7) ice cream social 2-3:30 p.m., with tea sandwiches and hot fudge sundaes: $25. Call (727) 736-3070 for either event.

Worth sending for

MENU PLANNING FOR THE DIABETIC: To receive meal planning information and recipes with diabetic exchanges, important in helping to manage diabetes, write to Riviana Foods, P.O. Box 1323, Houston, TX 77251 and ask for "Quick and Easy Diabetic Recipes."

Food talk

HEART SMART SHOPPING TOUR: Shoppers learn to make heart-savvy grocery choices in aisle by aisle tour of grocery stores lead by registered dietitians. 10 a.m-noon Mon. , Publix Coral Landing, 33343 U.S. 19 N, Palm Harbor; 1-3 p.m. Aug. 15, Publix, Northeast Shopping Center, 200 37th Ave. N, St. Petersburg. Coupons and recipes included: $12 per tour, reservations required. Call (727) 329-1615.

- 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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