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Special events and food tastings
BENEFIT DINNER: 7 p.m. Thur., Profusion, International Plaza, 2223 N West Shore Blvd., Tampa. Features a four-course fixed price menu that includes Asian wok cooking, American grill cuisine, designer sushi and select Rutz Cellars wine. $75 per person. Proceeds benefit the Children's Heart Foundation. RSVP required: (813) 353-8400.
REDS, WHITES AND BLUES WINE AND BLUES FEST: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat. on the grass in West Park Village, in Westchase off Linebaugh Avenue, Tampa. Features tastings of wines from around the world, entertainment, food and craft vendors: $20 VIP (includes admission to VIP tent and five tastings), $10 (includes general entry and five tastings), $5 under 21 (entry only). Call (813) 920-3007.
SPEED DATING: 6:30-9 p.m. Fri., La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Meet people on five-minute minidates while enjoying food that includes bruschetta, beef tenderloin, arugula-stuffed mushrooms, farfalle with Alfredo sauce and chicken, Parmesan herb asparagus and creme brulee. For men and women ages 30-55. $35 (includes one beer or glass of wine). Also, MYSTERY DINNER THEATER: 7-10 p.m. Saturday. Features audience participation in the murder/mystery Celebrity Celebrations. Menu includes Asian barbecued pork or Moroccan spiced grouper. $45 each or $85 per couple. Also, 2004 BEST CHEF OF TAMPA BAY CONTEST, 7-9:30 p.m. Tuesday. Two chefs, Camille Caudle from La Maison Gourmet and Robert Masson from 717 S Howard, compete to prepare surprise ingredients. Audience eats and votes. $50. A portion of the proceeds benefits the Homeless Emergency Project. RSVP: (727) 736-3070.
LAKERIDGE WINEFEST: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Fri.-Sat., 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun., Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards, U.S. 27, 3 miles south of Florida Turnpike Exit 285, near Clermont. Free guided winery tours, wine tastings; food, beer and wines available for purchase; live music, art and craft vendors; $2. Call toll-free 1-800-768-9463 or 352 394-8627, or visit www.lakeridgewinery.com
WINEMAKER DINNER: 6:30 p.m. Tue., Columbia Restaurant, 2025 E Seventh Ave., Ybor City. Features an appearance by Juan Maria Torres, vice president of Torres Winery, and the unveiling of the Columbia's two new dining rooms. $150 per person or $1,000 for a table of six. RSVP required: (813) 248-4961, ext. 21.
Wine and beer tastings/classes
TASTING AND STREET FEST: 7:30 p.m. Sat., A Taste for Wine, 241 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Buy your choice of retail wine, share your wine and everyone else's and enjoy live acoustic music by Lara Cerri. RSVP required: (727) 895-1623.
TASTE AND LEARN TO PAIR: 6:30 p.m. Fri., Uncorked Fine Wines and Accessories, 2706 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Sample wines and learn to pair them with foods. This event features wines that go well with Mexican/Southwestern cuisine. $10 per person (includes an Uncorked Signature Stem). Proceeds benefit Special Olympics of Pinellas County. Call (727) 892-9463.
SMOOTH, CRISP AND SPARKLING: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Fri., Got Wine and Cigars, 662 Main St., Dunedin. Sample Bordeaux, Chateauneuf du Pape, Domaine de Espiere, Viogner, Flying Rabbit chardonnay and Frambois. Live entertainment and hors d'oeuvres. Free. (727) 736-4077.
VARIETY OF TASTES: 5 p.m. Thur., American Spirits, 280 Third St. S, St. Petersburg. Featuring Mirassou, Frei Brothers Russian River and Alexander Valley wines. Free. (727) 895-8700.
EXPLORING THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST: 6:30 p.m. Fri., Apron's Cooking School, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa. Taste wines from Oregon, Washington, Idaho and British Columbia paired with smoked salmon with pancetta watercress cream, grilled chicken melon salad with ginger sauce, apple souffle with caramel sauce; $40. Call (813) 926-4465 to RSVP.
Cooking classes
SUGAR-FREE CLASSES: Sugar Free Desserts, 2660 Bayshore Blvd. (northwest corner of Alt. U.S. 19 and Curlew Road), Dunedin. New Lifestyle cooking class with low-carb, gluten and sugar-free dishes, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thur., $40; Vegetarian gluten and sugar-free class makes short cakes and chocolate cake, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tue., $45; Gluten-Free/Sugar-Free, featuring squash raviolis and pumpkin pie, 6:30-8:30 p.m. March 3, $45. RSVP: (727) 738-9525.
GRILLING: 6:30-9:30 p.m. today, La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Learn to prepare grilled pizza with fire-roasted tomatoes, grilled pepper-crusted steaks with Worcestershire chive butter, grilled leeks with herb vinaigrette and pear and cranberry crisp. $39.50. Also, HEART SMART COOKERY, 6:30-9 p.m. Thur. Work with a chef, dietitian and doctor to learn to prepare heart-friendly menus, including crab pancakes, Southern black bean soup, jalapeno polenta and more. $10 (includes full meal). RSVP: (727) 736-3070.
COOKING WITH CHEF FRED: 7 p.m. today, Drew Coffee Shop, 1907 Drew St., Clearwater. Cream of mushroom soup, grouper artichoke, baked Alaska with blackberry-raspberry sauce are on the menu as Chef Fred shows how to make an entire meal in this month's cooking class; guests may bring wine or beverage; $24.99, includes dinner. Call (727) 441-2572 to RSVP.
WINTER WONDERS: 7-8 p.m. today, 10-11 a.m. Thur., Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Debby DeGraaff makes warming dishes in free vegetarian class. Call (813) 873-7428.
BEYOND SPAGHETTI AND MEATBALLS: 6 p.m. Thur., Apron's Cooking School, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa. Hands-on class for kids shows there's more to pasta than spaghetti, with focus on making, rolling and stuffing dough into pasta shapes and preparing sauces to go with them; $25. Call (813) 926-4465 to RSVP.
SARA MOULTON: Apron's Cooking School, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa. Food Network chef Sara Moulton (Sara's Secrets) with family-friendly menu, 6 p.m. Sat., $100; Call (813) 926-4465 to RSVP.
Contests
BAKERS, DON YOUR APRONS: Anyone 18 or older can take part in the Baking and Cake Decorating competitions, part of the Neighborhood Village Competition at the 2004 Strawberry Festival in Plant City, Exit 19 (State Road 566) off I-4. Entries judged today. For more information and competition rules, call (813) 224-8708 or (813) 634-8002.
- 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.