Food File

By PEGGY ANDERS, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published December 30, 2001

Special events and food tastings

NEW YEAR'S MENU: Among restaurants offering special seatings for New Year's Eve is Roy's, 4342 W Boy Scout Blvd., Tampa, with a five-course meal, live Hawaiian music and leis; 5:30 p.m. seating, $75 per person, 8:30 p.m. seating, $100 per person, plus tax and gratuity for both seatings. Call (813) 873-7697 to reserve.

Wine and beer tastings, classes

PIC PAC WINES TASTING: 5-7 p.m. Fri., Pic Pac Fine Wine and Spirits, 6609 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Free tasting: (727) 347-0743.

ALL ALES: noon-3 p.m. Sat., B-21 Liquors, 43380 U.S. 19 N, Tarpon Springs. Dunedin Brewery, one of Florida's smallest breweries, presents an array of handcrafted ales for sampling: free. Call (727) 736-0606 or (727) 937-5049.

MAZZARO'S TASTING: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sat., Mazzaro's Italian Market, 2909 22nd Ave. N, St. Petersburg. Sample selection of reasonably priced wines ($7-$20) from Italy, France, Spain and California at free tasting: (727) 321-2400.

TASTES FROM THE GRAPEVINE: 4-8 p.m. Fri. and 2-6 p.m. Sat., the Grapevine at Westchase, Westchase Square, 12125 W Linebaugh Ave., Tampa. The "Wine Professor" offers a selection of two to four wines from around the world to sample: free. Call (813) 818-9463.

Cooking classes

WINE CELLAR CLASS: 11 a.m. Jan. 7, Wine Cellar Restaurant, 17307 Gulf Blvd., North Redington Beach. Wine Cellar chef shows how to prepare lunch dishes in this cooking class presented by the Stuart Society of the Museum of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg. Cost: $40. Call (727) 823-6140 to reserve.

CULINARY SKILLS: La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin offers nine-week skills course designed for those who wish to refine skills, 3-5:30 p.m. beginning Sat.; cost is $595, includes textbook. Novice cooks can register for three-class Cooking Basics, 6:30-9 p.m. beginning Jan. 9; cost is $169.99 for three classes. Call (727) 736-3070 for class descriptions or to register.

ROY'S CUISINE CLASS: 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Jan. 15, Roy's, 4342 W Boy Scout Blvd., Tampa. Executive chef Rand G. Packer prepares dishes for sampling; class includes lunch and recipe booklet: $40, limited space. Call (813) 873-7697 to reserve.

Worth sending for

FLAVORS OF THE SILVER SCREEN: Colorful calendar from the American Institute for Cancer Research features whimsical illustrations of a different movie classic each month paired with a healthful recipe -- May features Audrey Hepburn and ideas for a more nutritious breakfast than at Tiffany's, August has West Side Story-themed Latin dishes; other movies with accompanying recipe pairings include The Wizard of Oz, Duck Soup. The calendars are $5 each and are available by calling toll-free 1-800-843-8114, ext. 50, or online at www.aicr.org.

STARRING ROLLS: Bridgford's 2002 recipe calendar contains coupons and ideas for using frozen bread and roll dough for making caramel apple focaccia, fire sticks with Monterey Jack cheese and chilies, cinna-twists and more. For a copy, send $3 (check or money order payable to Bridgford Foods) to Bridgford Calendars, c/o CMS, P.O. Box 692-B, Arrow Grand Circle, Covina, CA 91722.

Contests

CRUNCHY CREATIONS: Create an original main dish, side dish or garnish using French's french fried onions for the chance of winning $500 check to be used at your favorite kitchen supply store. Send recipes, along with name, address and phone, by Jan. 15 to Taste Toppers "Crunchy Creations" contest, 546 Valley Road, Upper Montclair, NJ 07043.

Table talk

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.

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