Food file

© St. Petersburg Times,
published October 10, 2001

Special events and food tastings

MORGAN WINE DINNER: 7 p.m. today, Cafe B.T., 3324 Gandy Blvd., Tampa. Lobster crepe, venison or roasted duck with cognac and fig sauce pair with Morgan Winery varietals like pinot noir reserve, syrah, sauvignon blanc. Cost: $100. Call: (813) 831-9254.

ART AND WINE FEAST: 7 p.m. Fri., Dunedin Fine Art Center, 1143 Michigan Blvd., Dunedin. Food from area restaurants paired with wines and accompanied by jazz: $100. Proceeds benefit the center's educational programs. Call: (727) 298-3322 for tickets.

CULINARY CLASSIC: Food and wine benefit Thur.-Sun. with interactive cooking classes, winemaker lunches, champagne and caviar tastings, vintner panel discussions and grand gala dinner at various venues along 1900 block of S Osprey Ave. in South Side Village, Sarasota. Guest chefs and wineries. Event prices range from $30-$150; proceeds benefit K.I.D.S. By The Sea charity. Call: (941) 954-0609, ext. 6815, for schedule and specific event pricing.

HUNGER BANQUET: 6:30-8 p.m. Thur., St. Jude's Cathedral, 5815 Fifth Ave. N, St. Petersburg. Bring your own bowl, spoon and non-perishable food item to this dinner of soup (from the Wine Cellar) and bread (donated by Bruno's Bakery); donated food items and proceeds benefit St. Petersburg Free Clinic's programs to help the homeless. Cost: $5. Call: (727) 821-1200.

ST. LARRY'S OCTOBER FEAST: 6:30 p.m. reception, 7 p.m. dinner, Oct. 18, Saint Larry's, 34980 U.S. 19 N, Palm Harbor. French wines with five courses that include shellfish strudel, beef tenderloin: $70 plus tax and gratuity. Call: (727) 786-0077 to reserve.

Wine and beer tastings/classes

A FLAIR FOR PAIRING: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Fri., Wines by Morrell, 2009 N 22nd St., Ybor City. Do's and don'ts to pairing wine with food: $25. To RSVP, Call: (813) 241-8587.

WORK WEEK "WINE DOWN": 6-9 p.m. Fri., Grand Cru Wine Cellar, 11724 N Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa. Tasting with snacks: $12, includes $5 coupon. Call: (813) 269-8463.

ALEXANDER VALLEY VINEYARDS: 1-3 p.m. Sat., Marketplace Express, 284 Beach Drive, St. Petersburg. Sample Sonoma's Alexander Valley Vineyards varieties, including a gewurztraminer, merlot and cabernet franc, plus holiday sauces and spreads at gourmet market's free wine tasting. Call: (727) 894-3330.

GRAPEFRUIT WINE: 1-4 p.m. Sun., Florida Orange Groves and Winery, 1500 Pasadena Ave., St. Petersburg. Pink grapefruit wine, designed to complement seafood; tasting, along with hors d'oeuvres. Call: (727) 347-4025.

PASTA-FRIENDLY WINES: 6:30 p.m. Mon., Bern's Fine Wine and Spirits, 1002 S Howard Ave., Tampa. Bern's fall tasting class samples Italian wines that pair well with pasta: barbera, dolcetto, aglianico and more: $25. Limited seating. Call (813) 250-9463 to reserve.

GREAT WINE BUYS: 6:30-8 p.m. Tue., La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Taste both red and white wine buys, priced from under $10 to $30, along with hors d'oeuvres: $10. Call: (727) 736-3070.

REDS, WHITES, AND BLUES: 7 p.m. Oct. 19, Sunken Gardens, 1825 Fourth St. N., St. Petersburg, (727) 551-3100 for directions. Wine Brats celebrate life, liberty and wine with event to benefit American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund; includes varieties from Glen Ellen, light hors d'oeuvres, Dali exhibit, live music: $12. Online advance ticketing only, to purchase, visit: http://tampa.winebrats.org.

Cooking classes

BETTER BREAKFASTS: 7-8 p.m. today, 10-11 a.m. Thur., Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Start your day with healthful vegetarian breakfasts in this free class. Call: (813) 873-7428.

CAPA'S ITALIAN CUISINE: Capa Italian Deli, 10839 Ulmerton Road, Largo, offers two Italian cuisine classes, 6:30-9:30 p.m. Sun., and 6:30-9:30 p.m. Oct. 21. Hands-on class. Cost: $25 per class, includes complete meal and recipes; wine extra. Call: (727) 518-6222.

INSPIRED ASIAN CUISINE: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tue., La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Make tropical spring rolls, a Thai salad, Thai grouper en papillote, Asian noodles with seared flank steak, curried fruit salad: $35. Call: (727) 736-3070.

EUROPEAN CUISINE: 6:45-9:30 p.m. beginning Tue., Azalea Adult Recreation Center, 1600 72nd St. N, St. Petersburg. Four-week hands-on series covers cuisines of France, the Mediterranean, Greek, Italian and more. Cost: $32 for St. Petersburg residents, $51.20 for non-residents, plus food fee of $5.25 per class. Recipes and meal provided, bring apron and take-home container. Call: (727) 893-7150 to register.

CREATIVE CABBAGE: 7-8 p.m. Oct. 17, 10-11 a.m. Oct. 18, Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Chef Debby DeGraaff shows how to get creative with cabbage in this free vegetarian cooking class. Call: (813) 873-7428.

HIP, HIP, SOUFFLE!: 11 a.m. Oct. 20, Cafe L'Europe, 431 St. Armands Circle, Sarasota. Master soufflemaking, with souffles of cheese, crab, Grand Marnier and chocolate, plus the sauces to go with them. Limited seating: $40 per person plus tax and gratuity (includes continental breakfast and lunch). Call: (941) 388-4415 or visit www.neweuropeancuisine.com.

Contests

BEST CHEF OF TAMPA BAY: 7-9 p.m. Tue., La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Two chefs from area restaurants square off to create winning dish. First, try pre-prepared appetizers from both chefs, then watch as they prepare meals in 45 minutes or less. Vote for your favorite: $50 per person (includes meal). Portion of proceeds benefits breast cancer foundation. Call (727) 736-3070.

GUAVA LOVE IT!: Perfect your best guava recipe for Guavaween's "Guava Love It" cooking contest 4 p.m. Oct. 27 on the Tropicalfest stage in Centro Ybor, 1600 E Eighth Ave., Ybor City, where prepared cuisine will be judged on creativity and taste. Best recipe is awarded $350, other prizes include spa certificates and gift baskets. For information, call: (813) 621-7121 or (813) 248-0721.

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

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