TASTE OF PARIS: serving 5:30-10 p.m. today, Mise en Place Bistro, 2616 S MacDill Ave., Tampa. Dinner and wine pairing: $35. Call (813) 839-3939, then press "0" to reserve.

NAPA VINTNERS/ABILITIES BENEFIT: 7 p.m. Thur., Raymond James Stadium, Tampa. More than 50 wineries represented plus tastings from restaurants including Salt Rock Grill, Mise En Place and SideBern's. Benefits Abilities of Florida. $100. Call (727) 538-7370, ext. 345 to reserve.

11TH STONE CRAB, SEAFOOD AND WINE FESTIVAL: Thur.-Sun., Colony Beach and Tennis Resort, 1620 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key. Todd Gray of Equinox in Washington, D.C., and Michael Kornick of mk in Chicago are among guest chefs, plus vintners from Champagne Salon, Jekel Vineyards, Clos Pegase winery and chefs' demonstrations (10 a.m. Fri. and Sat.), Tastings on the Beach seafood and wine feast (Thur. and Fri.), wine seminars, and six-course dinner (Sat.). Call (941) 383-6464 or (800) 282-1138 for event times, prices and reservations. Events sell out quickly.

EPCOT INTERNATIONAL FOOD AND WINE FESTIVAL: through Nov. 19, Epcot at Walt Disney World Resort. More than 100 wineries, foods from 30 nations represented; wine seminars, culinary demonstrations and 30 international beers poured along with beer brewing classes, all daily in the park. Winemaker dinners hosted by guest chefs and Disney chefs. Grand Tastings pair food creations from celebrity chefs and featured wineries (dinners and tastings: $75 and $60 plus EPCOT admission): (407) 939-3463.

FULTON'S STONE CRAB FESTIVAL: A month-long event beginning Nov. 1, Fulton's Crab House, Downtown Disney, Walt Disney World Resort, Lake Buena Vista. Chef's Showcase interactive workshops (1-4 p.m. Nov. 5, $35), Sidewalk Seafood Fest (11 a.m.-6 p.m. Nov. 11, 12), Wine Dinner featuring artisan and estates wines (6:30 p.m. Nov. 29; $49.95 plus tax and tip). Call Stone Crab Festival hot line: (407) 934-8424.

HALLOWEEN FOR GROWNUPS: 7 p.m. Tues., Cafe l'Europe, 431 St. Armands Circle, Sarasota. Culinary treats from chef Jeff Trefry paired with wines from Bonny Doon, others and dessert from pastry chef Heidi. $55 plus tax and gratuity. Reservations required. Call (941) 388-4415.

Wine and beer tastings

PORT TASTING: 5-7 p.m. Fri. (weekly), Central Cigars and Cigar Bar, 273 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Free tasting. (727) 898-2442.

RAVISHING REDS: 7-9 p.m. Fri., Vintage Wine Cellars, 3629 Henderson Blvd., Tampa. Vampire 1996 merlot, Firesteed 1998 pinot noir, Karly "Buc's Ten Point" zinfandel and a 1997 Rabbit Ridge shiraz port. $10. Call (813) 879-2931 to reserve.

AUSTRALIAN WINES: 6-9 p.m. Fri., Grand Cru Wine Cellar, 11724 N Dale Mabry Highway (Main Street Shopping Center), Tampa. Australian wines from Grant Burge, Rosemount, others paired with appetizers. $10, includes $5 coupon toward wine purchase. (813) 269-8463.

CHAMPAGNE TASTING: 6-8 p.m. Sat., A Taste for Wine, 241 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. $20. To reserve, call (727) 895-1623.

PURPLE PELICAN WINE TASTING: 6-8 p.m. Sat. (last Sat. of each month), Purple Pelican Cafe, 14705 Gulf Blvd., Madeira Beach. Tasting of red wines plus appetizers and music from the Johnny G. Lyon Band. $10; portion benefits the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary. Call (727) 394-0944 for more information.

SYRAHS OF THE WORLD: 6:30-8 p.m. Mon., SideBern's, 2208 W Morrison Ave., Tampa. Ken Collura, Bern's head sommelier, leads this week's fall wine class series on syrahs. $25. To reserve, call (813) 250-9463.

Cooking classes

PERFECT PILAF: 7-8 p.m. today, 10-11 a.m. Thur., Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Class by chef Debby DeGraaff. Free. Call (813) 873-7428.

HOLIDAY APPETIZERS AND ENTREES: 10 a.m.-noon Sat., 5414 Town and Country Blvd., Tampa. Healthcraft cooking class with chef Charles Knight shows how to make sweet and sour meatballs, turkey-stuffed roasted peppers, Granny Smith apples with warm tequila sauce. $49. One guest per paid participant included in cost along with recipes. Limited class size. Call (813) 885-5244, ext. 221.

PARENT/CHILD BAKING: 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Sat., Home Gourmet Kitchen Emporium, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Ham and cheddar scones, chocolate pocket tarts, blueberry maple muffins and coconut crisps are some of the treats prepaped in this hands-on class. $40 for one parent and one child, ages 8 to 14. Call (727) 736-6400.

LOBSTER: 6 p.m. Tues., Giancola's Market, 750 S Pinellas Ave., Tarpon Springs. Lobster in champagne cream sauce in this hands-on class. Call for cost and information: (727) 945-8338.

THREE BIRDS IN ONE: 6:30-9 p.m. Nov. 1, Home Gourmet Kitchen Emporium, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Guest chef Karen Thomas shows how to make deboned chicken stuffed inside a deboned duck stuffed inside a deboned turkey with three dressings, plus oyster and Brie stew, bananas foster, Cajun dishes: $45. Call: (727) 736-6400.

EUPHEMIA HAYE LESSON LUNCHEON: 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Nov. 2, Euphemia Haye Restaurant, 5540 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key. Chef Raymond Arpke prepares signature dish of stuffed roast duckling with orange and green peppercorn sauce, watercress and tomato salad with mustard vinaigrette and chocolate mousse at this weekly lunch lesson and wine pairing. $50. Limited seating; prepaid reservations required. Call Karen: (941) 383-3633.

Cooking demonstrations

HEART-HEALTHY COOKING: 5:30 p.m. today , the Heart and Vascular Institute of Florida, 603 Seventh St. S, Suite 480, St. Petersburg. Chef Jerry Boucher shares low-fat cooking techniques as he prepares a heart-healthy menu; registered dietitians teach how to make smarter food choices. $15, includes dinner. Reservations required. Call (727) 329-1615.

Contests

GUAVAWEEN COOKING CONTEST: 4 p.m. Sat., Telemundo Tropical Amor Stage, Ninth Avenue between 13th and 14th streets, Ybor City. There's still time to enter your guava creation in Guavaween's "Guava Love It!" cooking contest to win $250 or a second-place weekend getaway and dinner for two. Participants should prepare entry dishes at home. Cuisine judged on creativity and taste. For registration or more information, call (813) 248-0721.

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.

Back to Taste

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright

Special Links

Recipes

From the Times Taste section

I Spy Candy

dish

You Asked For It

Food File

Shelf knowledge

The sweet reward of 'noble rot'

We spy the candy. Can you?

From the features wire
Paparazzi boo Pamela Anderson at Cannes

Maestro Thomas meets `Godfather of Soul'

No theft charges for Lindsay Lohan

Rapper Ludacris to make `Simpsons' cameo

Manson's failed marriage `destroyed' him