Food File

By PEGGY ANDERS
© St. Petersburg Times,
published November 28, 2001

Special events and food tastings

SPECIALTIES OF THE HOUSE COOKBOOK SIGNING: Former Tampa mayor Sandy Freedman launches new cookbook, Specialties of the House, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Thur., third floor, Burdines, 298 WestShore Plaza, Tampa: toll-free 1-888-352-2665; and 2-4 p.m. Sun., at Inkwood Books, 216 S Armenia Ave., Tampa: (813) 253-2638.

DEATH BY CHOCOLATE: 7-9 p.m. Fri., Largo Cultural Center, 105 Central Park Drive, Largo. Annual all-chocolate benefit lets guests indulge in chocolate dessert creations and Champagne from area restaurants; proceeds benefit local youth programs. Tickets: $15 advance, $20 at door, $10 ages 10 and under. Call (727) 518-3131.

CULINARY CLUB: Chef Kim Miller of the Belleview Biltmore Resort and Spa, 25 Belleview Blvd., Clearwater, prepares a sample dish from the menu 2:30 p.m. Sat. at this month's meeting of the Tampa Bay Culinary Club. New members and those interested welcome to attend. Cost: $10. Call Jeanne at (727) 789-2605 to RSVP (required).

HOLIDAY HISTORY TOURS: 6:30 p.m. Sun.-Tue. through December (excluding Dec. 24-25 and 31), Renaissance Vinoy Resort, 501 Fifth Ave. NE, St. Petersburg. Stroll the resort's decorated promenade lobby and grounds in guided tour, followed by three-course holiday dinner (7:30 p.m.). Menu includes caramelized Vidalia onion soup, flounder Meuniere or braised lamb shanks, warm cranberry orange and white chocolate bread pudding or a banana custard rum sponge cake.Cost: $40 per person, inclusive. Lunch tours, $20 inclusive, also offered 10:30 a.m. Wed.-Sat. Call (727) 894-1000, ext. 501, to reserve.

MADRIGAL DINNER: 6:15 p.m. Dec. 6-8, Marly Room, Museum of Fine Arts, 255 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg. Victorian Yule Feast dinner with holiday music, bell ringers and Wine Cellar Restaurant dishes. Tickets: $44.50-$49.50. Call (727) 864-8297.

CREATE A GINGERBREAD HOUSE BENEFIT: American Red Cross' annual fundraiser provides candies, basic trimmings and gingerbread houses ready to decorate and take home; judging and prizes for best-embellished creation: 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Dec. 6, Don CeSar Resort and Spa, 3400 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach ($75); 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Dec. 8, Hyatt Regency, Two Tampa City Center, Tampa ($50, $45 for kids 12-17); and 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Dec. 15, Safety Harbor Resort and Spa, 105 N Bayshore Drive, Safety Harbor ($35, $25 for kids 12-17). Call toll-free 1-877-741-1444 for more information.

Wine and beer tastings and classes

HOLIDAY WINE TASTING: 6-8 p.m. Fri., Uncorked Fine Wines and Accessories, 2706 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Winemakers from France's Alsace, Languedoc and Rhone growing regions present 20 wines for sampling at holiday party tasting: $10, includes souvenir glass and discount toward purchase. Call (727) 892-9463.

WHISTLE STOP TASTING: 5-7 p.m. Fri., Whistle Stop Grill, 915 Main St., Safety Harbor. Wine tasting to show off wines newly added to menu; house wines and select varieties from California, Washington and Tuscany featured, plus sampling of menu items; stay on for live jazz 7-9:30 p.m.: $5. Call (727) 726-1956.

HOLIDAY HEAVYWEIGHTS: 7 p.m. aperitif, 7:30 tasting, Fri., Vintage Wine Cellars, 3629 Henderson Blvd., Tampa. Three white wines and seven red wines designed to be knockout pairings with holiday events and meals; Seghesio 1999 "Old Vines" zinfandel, David Bruce 1999 Russian River pinot noir, Cloudy Bay sauvignon blanc, more. Cost: $25, limited seating, call (813) 879-2931 to reserve.

99 BOTTLES OF BEER: 6-9 p.m. Sat., Grand Cru Wine Cellar, 11724 N Dale Mabry Highway (Main Street Shopping Center), Tampa. Beer festival with over 100 beers from a dozen countries to sample, 200 varieties available for purchase, plus artisan cheeses: $10 advance, $12 at door. Call: (813) 269-8463.

SPIRITS OF THE HOLIDAYS: 6-8:30 p.m. Sat., Syd Entel Galleries, 247 Main St., Safety Harbor. Opening holiday reception of "Spirits of the Holidays" exhibit of paintings of wine by Thomas Arvid, with sampling of a variety of wines; free. Call (727) 725-1808.

ABC TASTING: 5-7 p.m. Dec. 6, ABC Fine Wine and Spirits, 6398 Ninth St. N, St. Petersburg. Guests attending this neighborhood tasting of 12 wines and accompanying hors d'oeuvres receive a souvenir tasting glass: $2. Call (727) 527-1579.

PIC PAC CHAMPAGNE TASTING: 5-7:30 p.m. Dec. 7, Pic Pac Fine Wine and Spirits, 6609 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Third annual Champagne tasting; sip sparkling wines suitable for holiday dinners or gift-giving. Cost: $5, benefits Abilities Foundation. Call (727) 347-0743.

CHAMPAGNE AND PORT EXTRAVAGANZA: 6 p.m. Dec. 8, A Taste for Wine, 241 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Annual holiday tasting features five Champagnes and two ports, plus accompaniments and live jazz: $30. Call (727) 895-1623.

Cooking classes

GINGERBREAD COTTAGE: Make a gingerbread cottage for the holidays: 5:30-8:30 p.m. Fri., $12.50 plus supplies; or 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tue., $10 plus supplies; both at Michael's Crafts, 2010 34th St. N, St. Petersburg. Call (727) 323-4333.

HOLIDAY PERFECTION: 6:30 p.m. Fri. and Sat., Aprons Cooking School at Publix Supermarket Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa. Learn how to create an elegant holiday dinner by mastering timing and by selecting the right ingredients, with Phil McGauley of Korbel Wineries; $50. Call (813) 926-4465.

DIM SUM PARTY: 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Sat., La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Hands-on class makes dim sum (Chinese appetizers). Menu includes Shanghai scallion pancakes, seared tuna tostados, shrimp spring rolls, meatballs in peanut curry sauce: $35. Call (727) 736-3070.

OUTDOOR KITCHEN COOKING: 6:15-7 p.m. Tue., Outdoor Kitchen Store, 3925 W Kennedy Blvd., Tampa. Chef John Pivar prepares lemon habanero marinated shrimp with grilled tomatillo salsa, grilled salmon with mango barbecue sauce, spice rubbed tenderloin of beef with Thai ginger vegetables: $30. Call (813) 875-3447.

CHRISTMAS COOKIES: 7-8 p.m. Dec. 5, 10-11 a.m. Dec. 6, Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Bake a variety of Christmas cookies in this free class. Call (813) 873-7428.

ARMANI MENU CLASS: noon Dec. 8, Armani's (atop Hyatt Regency Westshore), 6200 Courtney Campbell Causeway, Tampa. Chef prepares favorites from the Armani menu in this cooking class: $60, includes tax and gratuity. Limited seating; to reserve, call (813) 207-6800.

Cooking demonstrations

ITALIAN CHRISTMAS EVE: 7-9 p.m. Dec. 5, La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Chef Dawn prepares traditional Italian meatless meal: grilled zucchini, buffalo mozzarella, basil and garlic napoleons; cioppino; espresso walnut cheesecake: $29.50. Call (727) 736-3070.

Contests

BEST OF THE WEST: Submit your best original Western or ranch style recipe or suggestion using Worcestershire sauce for a chance to win a barbecue grill or gift baskets in French's "Right from the Ranch" recipe contest. Mail entries by Dec. 15 to: "Right from the Ranch Recipe Contest," c/o French's Worcestershire Sauce, 546 Valley Road, Upper Montclair, NJ 07043.

- Does your group or business have special food or wine events of interest to people who like to eat, shop or cook in the Tampa Bay area? 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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