Food file

Special events and food tastings

TAMPA BAY CULINARY CLUB: Noon Sat., Bellarte at Radisson Hotel, 12600 Roosevelt Blvd., St. Petersburg. Chef Stafford Parker prepares menu dish for sampling at meeting of the Tampa Bay Culinary Club; new members welcome; $10. RSVP: (727) 789-2605.

CHRISTMAS COTTAGE TEA: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat., Davis and Daughters Tea Cottage, 530 Alt. 19 N, Palm Harbor. Gingerbread and cranberry-walnut scones, finger sandwiches, pumpkin bisque soup, sugar plum tea; $14.95. RSVP: (727) 785-7790.

TEDDY BEAR TEA: Ritz-Carlton Sarasota, 1111 Ritz-Carlton Drive, Sarasota. Kids attending Teddy Bear Tea 11 a.m. Fri. and Sat., and Dec. 20, 21 enjoy gingerbread cookies, finger sandwiches, hot cocoa; festivities include strolling storyteller, visit from Santa; $39 adults, $32 per child, includes keepsake teddy bear, photo with Santa. RSVP: (941) 309-2008.

CAFE PONTE WINE DINNER: 7 p.m. Tues., Cafe Ponte, 13505 Icot Blvd. (off Ulmerton Road), Clearwater. Hors d'oeuvres and champagne kick off four-course holiday wine dinner that features varieties from California's vineyards; $65. Reserve at (727) 538-5768.

PROFUSION AND PHELPS PAIRING: 7 p.m. Tues., Profusion, 2223 N West Shore Blvd. (Bay Street at International Plaza), Tampa. Wine dinner pairs Joseph Phelps wines from California with five-course menu; $65, plus tax and gratuity. RSVP: (813) 353-8400.

VINOY HOLIDAY DINING TOURS: Get a taste of Vinoy's history, then enjoy lunch or dinner at Holiday History Tour Celebration through December (except Dec. 25 and Dec. 31); menus include sole meuniere, wild striped bass, steak Diane, chocolate macadamia torte; dinner tours 6:30 p.m. Sun.-Tues., $38, includes tour, four-course dinner; lunch tours 10:30 a.m. Wed.-Sat., $25 for tour and three-course lunch, at Renaissance Vinoy Resort and Golf Club, 501 Fifth Ave. NE, St. Petersburg. Call concierge at (727) 894-1000, ext. 501.

Wine and beer tastings/classes

OYSTERCATCHERS TASTING: 5:30-6:30 tonight, Oystercatchers Restaurant at Hyatt Westshore, 6200 Courtney Campbell Parkway, Tampa. Kunde sauvignon blanc, Niebaum & Coppola Diamond Series merlot, Beringer cabernet among wines tasted; $10, tasting fee waived with each dinner entree purchased. Call (813) 207-6815.

CALIFORNIA CABS: J.D. Ford Fine Wines, 1925 S Osprey Ave., Sarasota. Sample a selection of California cabernet sauvignons, 6 tonight; $25. Reserve at (941) 362-9463.

WINES AROUND THE WORLD: 4-7 p.m. Thur. and Fri., Colonial Bardmoor Promenade Publix Supermarket, 10801 Starkey Road, Largo. Wine tasting and appetizers; free. Call (727) 397-4223.

BUBBLIES, UNCORKED: 6:30 p.m. Fri., Uncorked Fine Wines and Accessories, 2706 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Taste champagnes and other sparkling wines, plus get a souvenir tasting glass; $10. Bring an over-the-counter medicine or personal care product to donate to charity and receive $2 off tasting. Call (727) 892-9463.

CHAMPAGNE AND DESSERT EXTRAVAGANZA: 6 p.m. Dec. 20, Clubhouse at Aston Gardens at Tampa Bay, 12951 W Linebaugh Ave., Tampa. Indulge at champagne, sparkling wine and dessert extravaganza; $20. Call (813) 818-9463.

Cooking classes

WINE COUNTRY CUISINE: 6:30 p.m. Fri., Apron's Cooking School, Publix Supermarket at Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa. Cookbook author Joannne Weir, whose experience includes five years at Chez Panisse in Berkeley, Calif., makes wine country menu of gruyere and roasted leek souffle, salmon with spiced leeks and herb salad, caramelized coconut budino; $50. RSVP: (813) 926-4465.

QUICK HOLIDAY COOKIES: 7 tonight, 10 a.m. Thur., Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Learn to make easy holiday cookies in free class; (813) 873-7428.

ROSES AND GINGERBREAD: Honey Bee Shop, 11144 N 30th St., Tampa has two classes on creating roses from gumpaste, 7-9 p.m. Thur. and Dec. 19, $35; or children's gingerbread house class, 7-9 p.m. Sat., $15. Registration required: (813) 971-7599.

THE JOY OF GIVING: 1-3:30 p.m. Sat., La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Kids ages 8-14 make food gifts for holiday giving: sun-dried tomato and basil pesto, triple fudge cookies, candy cane cookies; $30. (727) 736-3070.

HOLIDAY TRIMMINGS: 6:30 p.m. Mon., Mattison's, 111 Second Ave. N (the Plaza Tower), St. Petersburg. Chef Paul Mattison show how to add style to your table with tips for holiday trimings; $40, includes recipes. Registration required: (727) 895-2200.

FESTIVE VEGETARIAN MEALS: 6:30 p.m. Tues., Apron's Cooking School, Publix at Shoppes of Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa. Menu includes stuffed endive, black-eyed pea hummus, sage stuffed portobellos, fresh fruit gazpacho, plantain spoonbread with ice cream; $35. RSVP: (813) 926-4465.

HOLIDAY BREAD BAKING: 6:30-9 p.m. Tues., La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Bake toasted pecan pumpkin bread, sweet potato and cornmeal scones, chocolate almond panettone, savory pound cake; $39.50. (727) 736-3070.

Fun stuff

CHESTNUT ROAST: 6-10 p.m. Sat., Whistle Stop Grill, 915 Main St., Safety Harbor. Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, mulled cider and special holiday menu greet guests at third annual Chestnut Roast; complimentary chestnuts for roasting. Call (727) 726-1956 or visit www.whistlestopgrill.com.

Contests

CULINARY EXCURSIONS: The grand prize winner of Williams-Sonoma's Culinary Excursions contest and three friends will travel to France's Perigord region to savor truffles, foie gras and wines, participate in hands-on cooking classes, taste wine and artisan foods while staying in 18th century country estate on nine-day trip; other prizes include trip for two to France. Enter sweepstakes at www.williams-sonoma.com/

culinaryexcursions, or print name, address and e-mail on 3 by 5 card and send to: Williams-Sonoma Culinary Excursions, 3250 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco, CA 94109 by Dec. 31.

-- 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.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

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