Food File

By PEGGY ANDERS

© St. Petersburg Times,
published August 22, 2001

Special events and food tastings

VEGETARIAN DINING: 7 p.m. Tue., Ajanta Indian Cuisine, 5005 34th St. N (inside Ramada Inn), St. Petersburg. The Tampa Bay Vegetarians welcome newcomers to their monthly dinner meetings. About $8.25 plus tax and tip. To reserve, call (727) 392-0268 or (727) 443-4589.

FEASTING FOR CHARITY: 5:30-9 p.m. Aug. 29, Tampa Convention Center, 333 S Franklin St., Tampa. 10th annual Gourmet Feastival and Silent Auction features culinary treats and beverages from more than 60 local vendors, jazz music. Proceeds benefit the Center for Women. Tickets: $40 advance, $50 day of event. Call (813) 251-8437, ext. 230.

Wine and beer tastings and classes

CRAZY FOR CABS: 7 p.m. aperitif, 7:30 p.m. tasting, Fri., Vintage Wine Cellars, 3629 Henderson Blvd., Tampa. 10 cabernet sauvignons from around the world are sampled at seated seminar, among them: 1997 Rabbit Ridge Grand Reserve, 1998 Ecole 41, 1998 Kenwood Jack London. $25. Limited seating. Call (813) 879-2931 to reserve.

PATRON'S CHOICE: 7:30 p.m. Sat., A Taste for Wine, 241 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Patrons choose wines from the shelves to purchase and taste, paired with light accompaniments. Cost varies with wines purchased. Call (727) 895-1623.

PURPLE PELICAN WINE TASTING: 6-8 p.m. Sat., Purple Pelican Cafe, 14705 Gulf Blvd., Madeira Beach. Monthly sampling of wines and appetizers, including a Fabbiano merlot from Italy, Alexander Valley Vineyards Gewurtztraminer from California and a Roodeberg Red from South Africa. Portion of proceeds benefits Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary. $10. Call (727) 394-0944.

PIC PAC WINE TASTING: 5-7 p.m. Fri., Pic Pac Fine Wine and Spirits, 6609 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Free wine tasting in temperature-controlled wine room features different wines each week. (727) 347-0743.

ART OF BLIND TASTING: 6:30-8 p.m. Mon., Bern's Fine Wine and Spirits, 1002 S Howard Ave., Tampa. David Black shows that you really can guess a wine without seeing its label as he leads class on the fine art of blind tasting. $25. Call for reservations (required): (813) 250-9463.

Cooking classes

TOFU TREATS: 7-8 p.m. Aug. 29, 10-11 a.m. Aug. 30, Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Learn to make even tofu tempting with these treats made by vegetarian chef Debby DeGraaf. Free. Call (813) 873-7428.

LATE SUMMER DESSERTS: 6:30-9 p.m. Thur., La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Hands-on class makes summertime desserts: white chocolate chunk cookie sandwiches with homemade espresso Kahlua ice cream, country French blueberry clafouti and strawberry cheesecake tart with walnut crust. $39.50 (also includes minestrone soup and French bread). Call (727) 736-3070.

WHAT'S COOKING AT CAPA: 7-9:30 p.m. Aug. 29, Capa Italian Deli, 10839 Ulmerton Road (west of Seminole Blvd.), Largo. Bring an apron to hands-on Italian cuisine cooking class. $20, includes complete meal and recipes; wine extra. Call (727) 518-6222.

Cooking demonstrations

OUT WITH THE OLD: 6:30 p.m. Fri., La Maison Gourmet (formerly Home Gourmet Kitchen Emporium), 471 Main St., Dunedin. La Maison is tearing out old kitchen cabinets to make way for a new kitchen, and, to celebrate, five chefs are on hand to create a party menu. $30. Call (727) 736-3070.

SUMMER SALSAS: 11:30 a.m. today, Summerhouse Restaurant, 6101 Midnight Pass Road, Siesta Key. Make crisp, cool salsas for hot summer nights at Summerhouse International Cookery School. $40 includes lunch with the chef, wine and recipes. To register, call (941) 349-1100 and ask for Sally Barkley.

APRONS COOKING SCHOOL: At Publix Supermarket Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway (corner of Erhlich Road), Tampa. Upcoming classes at this new venue include Rita Carlino, owner of Seabreeze and Carlino's on 7th, showcasing signature appetizers, entrees and desserts, 6:30 p.m. Fri. ($40); Jim Campbell roasting vegetables, 6:30 p.m. Mon. ($25). Call (813) 926-4465 to register.

Food talk

LUNCH AND LEARN: noon Aug. 29, Poinciana Room at Bayfront Medical Center, 701 Sixth St. S, St. Petersburg. Enjoy a healthful lunch and get the latest in nutritional information as registered dietitian Sarah Krieger gives a talk on "Healthy Dining Out" at this week's Lunch and Learn program. $5. To reserve, call (727) 893-6792.

- 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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