Daily Loaf

Sample a selection of Fontodi wines at Bern's Tuesday tasting

Tuesday, November 10: Bern’s Fine Wines and Spirits
Fontodi Wine Dinner. There’s no better way to start the week than with an elegant wine dinner, and this one truly delivers with its selection of six wines from the Fontodi estate specially paired with six modern Mediterranean cuisine courses by SideBern’s Chef extraordinaire, Chad Johnson. $125. 6:30-9:30 p.m., 1002 S. Howard Ave., Tampa (813-253-0358)

Tuesday, November 10: American Spirits
Spanish Wines. Ben Carson of Ole Imports, which brings more than 100 Spanish wines stateside, offers a tasting of vinos from the Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Rueda and Yecla regions. Free. 7-9 p.m., 280 Third St. S., St. Petersburg (727-895-8700)

Wednesday, November 11: Cork and Olive Carrollwood
Wine for Dummies. Learn the basic rules and etiquette of wine tasting and how to choose the right bottle for the occassion. $10. 6:30-8:30 p.m., 10019 N Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa (813-868-3733)

Thursday, November 12: Total Wine
Celebrate with Champagne and Sparkling. A trained sommelier helps you find the best bubbly for your budget and palate — it’s never too early to stock up for New Year’s. Taste eight zippy, fizzy sensations, including Crémant de Bourgogne, Cava and four stunning selections from Champagne. $25. 6:30-8:30 p.m., 4880 Park Street N., St. Petersburg (727-544-6018)

Thursday, November 12: Cork and Olive Carrollwood
PACE Benefit Wine Tasting. Live music, hand-selected hors d’oeuvres and a holiday raffle round out this wine tasting to benefit the PACE Center for Girls. $30 in advance, $35 at the door. 6:30-9:30 p.m., 10019 N Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa (813-868-3733)

Friday, November 13: Bern’s Fine Wines and Spirits
Cult Cabs Crush Hour. Movies, books and Christopher Walken all have cult followings — but so do a select (and tasty) number of wines. Tonight’s featured flavors (which garnered aficinado attention via high prices, limited production, famous winemakers and gushing reviews by wine critics) include Hartwell by winemaker Andy Erickson of Screaming Eagle, Robert Foley Vineyards, Sherwin Family Vineyards, Beau Vigne and more, accompanied by five hand-selected accompaniments from the Bern’s Cave du Fromage. $25. 6:30-8:30 p.m., 1002 S. Howard Ave., Tampa (813-253-0358)

Many more events after the break:

Friday, November 13: Mainsail Suites Hotel
ExTravelganza. Bid on your next vacation, memorabilia, sports packages and more, all while being wined and dined by several of Tampa’s culinary heroes in the Tours of Taste. Visit extravelganza.org for more info. $60. 7-10 p.m., 5108 Eisenhower Blvd., Tampa (727-642-3404)

Friday, November 13: Publix Apron’s Cooking School
Holiday Party. Today’s class offers a few traditional tastes tossed with several spins on the classics — along stories of holiday menu planning nightmares gone by and advice for avoiding future faux pas. The menu includes: a trio of tapas; corn and crab chowder; sausage- and cornbread-stuffed turkey breast roulade with orange- cranberry demi, caramelized potatoes and roasted garlic creamed spinach; pumpkin cheesecake; and, my personal favorite, eggnog. $40. 6:30 p.m., 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa (813-926-4465)

Friday, November 13: Vintage Wine Cellars
Talking Turkey Wine Tasting. Indulging in an overload of the items I like best — among them wine and turkey — makes Thanksgiving my favorite holiday (along with all that reconnecting with the family stuff, I guess). Tonight, discover holiday wines ideal for pairing with your Turkey Day dinner. $10. 7-9 p.m., 3629 Henderson Blvd., Tampa (813-879-2931)

Friday, November 13: World of Wines
Fabulous Friday the 13th. Tonight’s featured glasses of grapes are palate-pleasing American East Coast selections from the Pindar and Martha Clara vineyards of Long Island, accompanied by catered hors d’oeuvres. $10. 6-8 p.m., 3431 S. West Shore Blvd., Tampa (813-835-9463)

Saturday, November 14: NoHo Bistro
Harvest Dinner and Auction. In recognition of National Diabetes Awareness Day, the Bistro hosts a benefit brunch for the Tampa Bay Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, with an auction that offers a two-night stay at the Sheraton Sand Key Resort, a gift certificate to Mise en Place, gift certificates to The NoHo Bistro and more up for the bidding. $22. 11 a.m., 1714 N. Armenia Ave., Tampa (813-514-0691)

Saturday, November 14: Nature’s Food Patch
Vegetarian Thanksgiving Dinner. Chef Debby DeGraaff offers healthy, gluten-free alternatives to the traditional Turkey Day food fest, including tempeh millet loaf with seasonal herbs smothered with a forest mushroom gravy, a sweet potato ring with Brussels sprouts alá orange, and a quick cranberry ginger relish. Free. 11 a.m., 1225 Cleveland St., Clearwater (727-443-6703)

Saturday-Sunday, November 14-15: Snookers Grill
Beach Party Weekends. Once again, Floridians face an endless summer, so instead of blasting the AC to create faux-fall temps, the folks at Snookers embrace the weather with beach balls, hula hoops, and live Polynesian music by Charlie Ho, all while serving up fresh sushi and seafood selections. 606 N. Pinellas Ave., Tarpon Springs. (727-937-6665)

Monday, November 16: Publix Apron’s Cooking School
Seafood Techniques. This three-week class offers an array of cuisine inspired by the harvest of the sea, including: (Week 1: bisques, chowders, and gumbos) crab and lobster bisque; shrimp and andouille gumbo; New England clam chowder; classic bouillabaisse.  (Week 2: grilling, broiling, and steaming) jerk-grilled grouper with mango salsa; ancho-lime fish tacos; split grilled lobster tails with herb shallot butter; Thai-steamed mussels; broiled snapper Provencal.  (Week 3: sauteeing, pan-frying, and deep-frying) seared scallop and arugula salad with warm pancetta vinaigrette; sofrito crab cakes with cumin aioli; coconut fried shrimp with apricot dipping sauce; sesame-encrusted tuna with Asian noodles. $150 for three classes. 10 a.m., 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa (813-926-4465)

Thursday, November 19: Toasted Pheasant
Beaujolais Nouveau Wine Dinner. In one of the best all-inclusive meal deals I’ve ever seen (not to mention a fabulous pre-weekend night of indulgence), the Pheasant offers a wine-accompanied three-course meal of your choice of one appetizer (choose from French onion soup with a swiss cheese crouton;  lobster bisque; salad with French vinaigrette; or mussels steamed in chardonnay and garlic), one entree (choose from coq au vin, [chicken with red wine and mushrooms]; roasted beef with béarnaise sauce; escargot tossed with garlic butter over linguini; grouper and shrimp provençale; or fried frog legs in a crispy beer batter), and dessert (French chocolate grandmarnier mousse and chantilly cream with strawberry  confit). $19.95. 14445 N. Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa (813-265-6700)

Thursday, November 19: Carrollwood Cultural Center
Teach and Taste Wine. Wine guide Charles Visalli leads this series of workshops on wine etiquette, how to sample wine when dining out, wine varietals, the art of pairing food with wine and more. This week’s focus is “elements of terroir on wines.” E-mail timeforwine@tampabay.rr.com to reserve a spot. $25, $20 for CCC members. 6-7:30 p.m., 4537 Lowell Road, Tampa (813-269-1310)

Saturday-Sunday, November 21-22: Snookers Grill
Beach Party Weekends. Once again, Floridians face an endless summer, so instead of blasting the AC to create faux-fall temps, the folks at Snookers embrace the weather with beach balls, hula hoops, and live Polynesian music by Charlie Ho, all while serving up fresh sushi and seafood selections. 606 N. Pinellas Ave., Tarpon Springs. (727-937-6665)

Sunday, November 22: Gateway Organic Farm
Gateway Organic Farm Dinner. Some of the Bay Area’s most well-known chefs — Tyson Grant of Parkshore Grill in St. Pete, Matt Tracy from the St. Petersburg Yacht Club, and Chris Knowles from Sea Sea Riders, to name a few — create a six-course charity dinner with food taken straight from the Clearwater farm and from other local producers. The chefs prepare and serve fresh organic vegetables, along with local and organic meat, fish, and wines in the Gateway Organic Farm garden. The chefs request that all attendees “Please bring your favorite dinner plate to add to the conversation as you dine with local farmers, artisan, and chefs.” A pre-dinner reception includes hors d’oeuvres, wine and a farm tour. Proceeds from the event benefit Edu-kitchen, which teaches families the benefits of community sustainable agriculture. Vegetarian dishes available — please ask. $150 per person or $250 per couple. 4 p.m., 6000 150th Ave. N., Clearwater, (727-244-0724)

Monday, November 23: Publix Apron’s Cooking School
Seafood Techniques. This three-week class offers an array of cuisine inspired by the harvest of the sea, including: (Week 1: bisques, chowders, and gumbos) crab and lobster bisque; shrimp and andouille gumbo; New England clam chowder; classic bouillabaisse.  (Week 2: grilling, broiling, and steaming) jerk-grilled grouper with mango salsa; ancho-lime fish tacos; split grilled lobster tails with herb shallot butter; Thai-steamed mussels; broiled snapper Provencal.  (Week 3: sauteeing, pan-frying, and deep-frying) seared scallop and arugula salad with warm pancetta vinaigrette; sofrito crab cakes with cumin aioli; coconut fried shrimp with apricot dipping sauce; sesame-encrusted tuna with Asian noodles. $150 for three classes. 10 a.m., 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa (813-926-4465)

Saturday-Sunday, November 28-29: Snookers Grill
Beach Party Weekends. Once again, Floridians face an endless summer, so instead of blasting the AC to create faux-fall temps, the folks at Snookers embrace the weather with beach balls, hula hoops, and live Polynesian music by Charlie Ho, all while serving up fresh sushi and seafood selections. 606 N. Pinellas Ave., Tarpon Springs. (727-937-6665)

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