Daily Loaf

CL received a brilliant and absurd gift basket today from St. Pete’s Wild Shrimp Company (including 4 cans of Colt .45, a cigarette-smoking monkey figure, Trojan Magnums and more – see after the break for a list of the goodies), but with the swag came some terrible news: Wild Shrimp Company is closing up this Saturday. Just after making CL’s list of Tampa Bay’s Top 50 Restaurants.

According to manager and minor partner James Walton, the decision was made just two days ago. Wild Shrimp is largely owned by a local, family-owned equipment company, “and if things were going well over there we’d have no trouble,” according to Walton.

“Its really bad, after Easter sales dropped in half for us and every other business I’ve talked to,” he told me. The restaurant’s losses are not excessive, and Wild Shrimp would have been able to survive the downturn if the original business plan was followed, but hasn’t had the $100k operating capital it was supposed to.

Walton spun a classic restaurant failure tale: Read the rest of this entry »

Last week’s post on Bay area half-priced food and wine deals was so popular, we thought we’d do it again.

AND, June 18th marks the first day of Creative Loafing Restaurant Week: $25 for 3-course prix fixe menus at restaurants all over town until June 28. See the full list of participants and their menus.

Read the rest of this entry »

CL’s Food and Wine podcast. Brian and Taylor invite CL’s own PoHo in to talk about Tampa Bay’s Top 50 Restaurants, Taylor’s (hopefully) new job and rosé wines.

Listen up!

Spoke with Chris Ponte this morning about his new Tampa “fast casual” venture (see original post here), Peel. A joint venture with Melting Pot, Ponte has been working with Arlene Johnston from Melting Pot for the past one and a half years to perfect the concept. Everything will be “made from scratch” and he defines the menu items as ”fresh, artisan cuisine.” Among the 30 or so dishes will be favorites from Cafe Ponte’s current offerings like the turkey club and potato truffle pizza but also new items like barbecue beef calzone, eggplant calzone (baked in a wood burning oven) and spicy shrimp pasta. Read the rest of this entry »

Chris Ponte, chef-owner of Cafe Ponte in Clearwater, is opening a Tampa outpost called Peel at an unconfirmed location near Dale Mabry and Linebaugh. He describes it as “a fast casual restaurant.”  Read the rest of this entry »

Obviously, a top 10 list is — by definition — a big generalization. But it is fair to say that the following is pretty accurate in the restaurant industry. And of course, the assumptions in the following list vary with the kind, location and standards of the restaurants, as well as the level of professionalism of the chef.

• There is no such a thing as ‘fresh fish’.

Let’s define “fresh fish”. I remember the days when I worked on a Mediterranean island in the south of France. I’d walk down to the harbor in the morning to meet with fishermen just back from the sea. They’d show me the catch, I would buy whatever I liked and I’d walk back to the restaurant. And I’d served the fish. That’s fresh fish.
I’ll take an educated guess and say that 80% of the restaurants in your town buy previously frozen fish. “Frozen”, not “fresh”. While we’re at it, Read the rest of this entry »

Yet again, you’ve spoken. And yet again, some restaurants are more popular than others. Or are better at getting out the vote.

We asked you to vote for the best restaurant in each of our five regional categories, to winnow CL’s list of Tampa Bay’s Top 50 Restaurants down to a mere five, the best of the best regional favorites. This coming Wednesday we’re going to ask for your help once again, as we give you the chance to pick among our Top 5 to determine which place you believe should be Tampa Bay’s Top Restaurant.

But, for 48 hours, everyone can relax and allow these five eateries to bask in their victory -

Results after the break: Read the rest of this entry »

I’ll go ahead and say it — Mr. Dunderbak’s pretty much owns the draught beer game in the Tampa Bay area. It takes me forever to choose a beer from among the 50 options. Rare brews, classic brews, hometown brews, casks, a Guinness surger. Every style is represented, and the finest examples of those styles at that. So, a very enthusiastic cheers to owner JB Ellis for being dedicated to good beer and consistently tapping the best kegs available in the local market.

But it’s impossible to enjoy a tasty brew among the kitschy décor without giving in to the intoxicating aromas of German food. So here’s a short guide to pairing this playground of beer with some of the choicest menu items. Since the taps rotate frequently, the beers used for pairing will come from the extensive bottle menu. Read the rest of this entry »

We Americans love sandwiches. Forget the melting pot or the mixing bowl, nothing more epitomizes America’s indulgent appetite and desire for mobility than the sandwich. They are more than the sum of their parts. They are instantly recognizable and are infinitely variable.

Our most famous sandwiches have international roots. Hamburgers and hot dogs are from Germany. Italian-Americans perfected subs and Jews gave us corned beef on rye. Here in Tampa, we have the Cuban sandwich, and St. Pete Beach arguably gave tourists the non-ethnic grouper sandwich (if you can find grouper at all).

Our friends from Vietnam have a unique contribution for America’s vaunted sandwich canon: the banh mi.  For all the suffering the French caused in Indochina, the Vietnamese recognized the value of baguettes, pate, and mayonnaise.

Starting with a split baguette, a banh mi Read the rest of this entry »

Brian raves about Saigon Deli and the Top 50 Restaurants for the upcoming Food Issue. Taylor talks about her application for the Murphy Goode wine blogger position, chef changes at local restaurants and they review Zipang Sparkling Sake.

Listen up!

Saigon Deli
4 stars
3962 W. Waters Ave., Tampa, 813-932-0300

I have a friend who is, to say the least, an adventurous eater. He’s my go-to guy for pickled meat and brown Scandinavian cheese tastings. But when it comes to actually sitting down for an extended meal from some of the more mundane ethnic cuisines, he balks. Especially when it comes to Southeast Asia. Why? He misses the bread.

Thankfully, there is one Pacific Rim culinary hotspot that can treat him right. One remnant of years of French colonial influence in Vietnam is a tradition of bread-making that is completely out of character to the bean- and rice-flour culinary cultures that surround the country (and, to be certain, dominate inside Vietnam, as well.) Baguettes are still a rare side in most spots — besides the occasional hunk of crusty bread with soup or stew — but there is one bready, largely-Western treat that the Vietnamese enjoy with relish: banh mi.

Banh mi are the same kinds of street food sandwiches that you see on every street corner in Paris, just a simple combination of meat and accompaniments that’s perfect for a light meal on the go. In France, these portable snacks are astounding thanks to great bread and good cheese. In Vietnam, the accompaniments are what elevate the banh mi to world-class standard.

And Saigon Deli is a mecca for some of the best banh mi in the Bay area. Read the rest of this entry »

Starting July 1, Sous Chef Ferrell Alvarez, Marty Blitz’s right-hand-man for many years at Mise en Place, is moving to the Executive Chef slot at Cafe Dufrain. Also making the switch in October is Ty Rodriguez, General Manager at Mise.

Ferrell and Andy Bonnemort, owners of Cafe Dufrain, couldn’t be happier, although they came to learn of Chef Ferrell’s interest in a round-about way. Ferrell Bonnemort called Chef Ferrell (yes, same name, different genders, different pronounciations) for a reference on another candidate and when she described the position, he said, “Hey, I might be interested in that.” At first, Ferrell turned him down, since she wasn’t interested in “stealing” away a chef from a fellow indie restaurant owner. But Chef Ferrell doggedly pursued the position, also asking if Ty Rodriguez could be considered for the General Manager opening (Cafe Dufrain was also looking to replace their current GM, who is leaving in October to go to nursing school). A package deal made in restaurant heaven.

After Andy and Ferrell both met Ty and Ferrell, they knew they’d found the right team. Bonnemort said, “All the right elements just fell into place. We combed through over 400 applicants and Alvarez and Rodriguez are clearly who we need to take us to the next level.”  

Surprisingly, there are no hard feelings coming from Mise en Place co-proprietor Maryann Ferenc, who said, “It’s a positive thing… I’m ridiculously happy for them. All things happen as they’re supposed to…”

We put it to you, the readers, to help us fill out our list of Tampa Bay’s Top 50 Restaurants, and you spoke. Repeatedly.

Through the six days of voting, many people left heartfelt recommendations in support of their favorite spots, with restaurants ranging from Sarasota to Tarpon Springs. Some were neighborhood haunts, while the big names like Bern’s or Pelagia Trattoria received a few nods from the faithful. But in the end, only five restaurants could ascend to the list.

In first place — thanks to an obvious, perfectly legal, incredibly effective ballot-stuffing campaign — is Paci’s Pizza of Tampa. There were some negative comments about the profusion of Paci’s votes, but there’s no denying the volume.

Second is new (and old) cuban sandwich shop The Floridian, which recently expanded to Tampa from Treasure Island. Bin 27 in South Tampa mounted a final push to easily take the third spot, but the final two spots were much tighter. In a tie, with runner-up Green Springs Bistro a mere single vote behind, was Backfin Blue in Gulfport and Bamboozle Cafe in downtown Tampa.

The full list of Tampa Bay’s Top 50 Restaurants will appear this Wednesday at our Top 50 landing page, a full week before it hits the newstands. Why so early? We want your help, again.

We’ve split the Top 50 into five categories, and need your votes to determine the best in each. Check back this Wednesday to support your favorite restaurants and propel them to victory. Voting will end Monday, June 15, at 3 p.m.

You eat, so you make the call.

Things might be looking up, at least for the food industry – the National Restaurant Association reported a fourth consecutive month gain in restaurant activity. Restaurants are begging for us to go out to eat. I’ve done my part (many thanks to the CL’s glorious half-priced Eats and Bites gift certificates) Perhaps the discount ads, tweets and email campaigns are working. Is anyone paying full price? Check out this array of deals available at Bay area restaurants. If you know of others, give me a shout out.

PINELLAS:

- The Table in St. Pete: Offering free bottles of certain wines, Monday – Thursday before 7 p.m. with purchase of two entrées.

- Café Ponte in Clearwater offers half-off selected bottles of wine with the purchase of two entrées on Mondays. Read the rest of this entry »

I’ve been working on CL Sarasota’s Food Issue — Summer of Pig — and one of the pieces is a rundown of local roadside barbecue stands. The Bay area is a much bigger nut to crack when it comes to tracking down these impromptu purveyors of pork, so I need your help.

Drop me a comment below to let me know which neighborhood smoke stands you frequent, and give me a hint about where to find them and what they do best. If we can assemble a rough map of Tampa Bay’s barbecue network, we’ll all benefit.

Where else can you get this for $6?

May I present the new Fleming’s “5 for 6 till 7″ menu. Essentially, you can almost eat for free. Almost. Every night from 5-7 pm, Fleming’s now offers a menu that includes five cocktails (like the Basil Lemon Drop you see above), five full-sized appetizers and five glasses of house wine by the glass. All for only six dollars each. I still just can’t get over it.

Last night I was presented with tantalizing dish after tantalizing dish, Read the rest of this entry »

When friends or relatives visit town, everyone has that mental list of go-to restaurants we always recommend, the kinds of places that are either iconic Bay area spots or just so damn good we know they won’t disappoint. For this year’s Food Issue, Creative Loafing is doing that list one better.

On June 17, we’ll print the definitive list of Tampa Bay’s Top 50 Restaurants. High-end to low-down, crab cakes to pancakes, we’re going to give you a rundown of the absolute must-visit food destinations our fine metropolitan area has to offer. Think you know the local restaurant scene? We need your help.

Below, in the comments section, we want you to recommend restaurants to go on that list. We’ll reserve five spots on the Top 50 for the restaurants that get the most recommendations (no matter what I think of your choices). There’s no limit to the number of times — or restaurants — you can recommend, so go to town. We’ll shut down this post on Monday, June 8, at 3 p.m.

Then, starting on June 10, we’ll reveal the entire list on CL’s Food Site, a week before it hits the stands, so you can vote for the best of the best in five different categories. Log on, vote in the poll, and make sure your favorite spot makes it to the top of the rankings.

Finally, on June 17, you’ll have the opportunity to pick the Bay area’s most outstanding restaurant from among the five category winners.

Who do you think neeeds to be on the list? Will your favorite spot make the list? Use your power to make it happen. Comment now!

Diner 437 is the new venture by Greg Pugh of Ringside Cafe, with Domenica Macchia in front of the stove. Look for it to open tomorrow, June 2, in the former location of Grillside Central, which was recently dropped as part of the Craig “Chappy” Chapman restaurant fiefdom.

Diner 437 will be serving three squares a day — breakfast, lunch and dinner — with a shortened brunch selection on Sunday, and closed on Monday. The food looks to be upscale, reconstructed diner-style dishes, utilizing Macchia’s aborted gastropub menu from Shackleton’s Folly as a template. Sure, you get eggs all day, but you’ll also find duck-fat fries, flatiron pork steaks, and a bevy of fine-dining touches on sandwiches and salads. I’m jazzed — considering how much I’ve loved Macchia’s food in the past — and the price point seems right.

As Maccchia says, it’s inexpensive, but “you cant say cheap, that’s for the girls on the corner.” Everything is under $20, much of it under $10. Beverages match that, with no wine above $18.

Check out Macchia’s rough-draft menu below, although she’s still working out the kinks: Read the rest of this entry »

When MJ’s Martini and Tapas opened last year, I didn’t expect much. It was billed more as a jazz club than a restaurant, and the location — tucked behind a defunct Bennigan’s on St. Pete’s North 4th — was terrible. One visit changed my mind about the place, thanks entirely to chef Domenica Macchia.

Then, soon after the place opened, Macchia was fired by the owners of MJ’s. After a few months of looking, and some concern over her mortgage, she hooked up with Dan Soronen with plans to create a gastropub menu at his soon-to-open Shackleton’s Folly in south St. Pete. “Soon” became months, and finally Macchia left to find another new opportunity. Fortuitously, Greg Pugh — owner of Ringside Cafe — was interested in opening a new place. Fast.

Tomorrow, Diner 437 (check out the full menu) opens in the former space of Grillside Central, with Macchia in the kitchen, back doing what she does best. She is one of my favorite chefs — or even people — to just gab with, thanks to her unedited, machine-gun delivery. So I decided to give her a call and ask her about the past few months.

I talked to her this morning, much too early in the morning for most chefs to be awake.

Why up so early?
I’ve never done lunch or breakfast, so I’m trying to get used to this. The concept [at Diner 437] for me is why not get great eggs all day long?

What went wrong at Shackleton’s Folly?
I started in February. We planned on two weeks afterward I’d get on the payroll, construction was going well, and planned on opening on St. Patty’s day. I’ll tell you everything, I was heartbroken. After four and a half months [Soronen] had no money to pay. I believed in the place, and believed in him, but I realized in the beginning of April I had to move on. I couldn’t lose my house over his dream. He’s kind of mad at me, I wish him the best, but love is not enough. You have to pay your bills.

How did you hook up with Greg Pugh (owner of Ringside Café and now Diner 437)?
I don’t think of myself as spiritual, I think it just sounds good when you’re meeting people, but it all seemed to work out for the best. I left Shackleton on Thursday, in worse shape now than ever before, then Friday I got a call from Greg. He said, “Can I come get you?” I didn’t know him, thought maybe I should bring my knife. But hey, in desperation I’ll get in anyone’s car these days.He showed me a space and I thought, “Wow, right back on Central, kind of where I started down at Redwood.” After a five-minute walkthrough, I said, “I think a diner would work there.”

He asked me to work up a menu and I said, “it just so happens I have one right here.”

What is Diner 437 going to be like?
Well, there’s the counter so I have to learn not to drop f-bombs. My inside voice is, uh, really …
I took the menu from Shackleton’s and made it fit. Read the rest of this entry »

RAWbar, a new, chi-chi sushi bar and Japanese fusion in downtown Tampa’s Skypoint opened over the weekend. According to Kate Swanson, who handled promotions for the opening, the menu is “not like a typical sushi restaurant. Our food is considered traditional fine dining. We have put a modern twist on it making it more fun and chic. Our rolls range from $7 to $19. Our hot entree range from $12 to $21.”

Opening RAWbar hasn’t been without its snags — they were originally slated to open before Superbowl. But Chef Nao Higuchi — brought north from Miami Beach where he worked at Domo (RIP) and more extensively at Nobu outposts around the country– experienced difficulty finding trained sushi talent in Tampa Bay. Apparently, he’s worked it out; the sushi I tasted at the media opening a couple of weeks ago (a ceviche-like white fish) was exquisite.

The “grand opening” occurs June 12th.

RawBar Sushi
Open for dinner only, Tuesday – Saturday
Skypoint Building, 777 North Ashley St.
Downtown Tampa

A Taste of Pinellas technically started yesterday (sorry), but you still have the rest of the weekend to enjoy the music and activities. They even have a Kids Zone so it’s a family-friendly event. Best of all, most of the fun is absolutely free. Read the rest of this entry »

Taylor raves over her experience at a blind — seriously, with blindfolds — wine dinner, biodynamic wine from Bonny Doon, and Brian loves the fresh pasta at Ravioli Company. And more!

Listen up!

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Just in case you missed anything, here’s a week of CL’s food blogging in easy, clickable blurbs:

Upcoming Bay area beer events
“Be Remarkable”- video of Greg Koch’s inspirational speech from 2009 Craft Brewer’s Convention
Grazing: Lunching at Cafe Hey
Nosh Pit Episode 15: Wat Tampa, Memorial Day wine, Edmeades winemaker Van Williamson
Organic farming can be more productive than conventional
Win beer fame from Schmaltz Brewing for your Bar/Bat Mitzvah pics
PF Chang’s giving away free lettuce wraps
Brews and bites : the beer and snack pairing marathon
Tampa Bay food, wine and beer events
The raw and living food diet: What is it?
Big error in the book Artisan Bread in Five Minutes A Day
Diet dilemmas: staying on track while you travel
$100 Case of Wine: Best wine deals at Mazzaro’s Italian Market in St. Petersburg
Classic Chili Recipe
Can hemp help create a green economy?
Bottle Shock movie released on DVD
Instead of beef and potato, try this lamb burger and eggplant fries

Today I ate lunch at Cafe Hey, a small hole-in-the-wall cafe downtown. My first thought was I can’t believe I’d never heard of this place before! Vegetarian and vegan options, free trade coffee and tea, house-made baked goods — it had my name all over it. Plus, the price is right. Most sandwiches range around $6.99, and for only a $1.50 more you can have yourself a steaming hot cup of authentic cuban coffee. Hell yeah.

Of course I had researched Cafe Hey’s menu online the day before, when I found out that was where my friend and I would be headed. I love the names of the sandwiches — Turkey in the Grass, the Ric Ross and Summer Lovin’ are a few that jumped out at me. In the end, however, I went with a cup of the soup of the day and half of the hummus vegetable sandwich wrap. Read the rest of this entry »

Brian was on vacation last week, and returns with tips for eating cheap with kids at Disney World. Plus, we talk Wat Mongkolratanaram and Memorial Day wines, and invite Van “The Vanimal” Williamson — winemaker at Edmeades Winery — into the studio to taste some Zin and talk about hunting boar in the vineyards.

Listen up!

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For a limited time, PF Chang’s will email you a coupon for a free order of their uber-popular, meat-filled iceberg Lettuce Wraps appetizer (with a purchase of an entree). The promotion celebrates the golfing skills of PGA tour pro Briny Baird, who “teed off… from 375 feet in the air atop the Omni Hotel and landed a golf ball inside a bulls-eye 230 yards below in the outfield of PETCO Park, home of the San Diego Padres.” I imagine PF Chang’s never thought they’d have to pay up for the bet.  

Link for the coupon after the break.

Read the rest of this entry »

Thursday, May 14: ABC Fine Wines and Spirits St. Pete
Sample dozens of wines, enjoy gourmet hors d’oeuvres to complement the wines, and chat with our wine experts. $5 includes souvernir wine glass. 5:30-7:30 p.m., 6398 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St., St. Pete (727-527-1579).

Friday, May 15: American Spirits
Taste 15-20 wines from around the world. Free. 7-9 p.m., 280 3rd Street S., St. Pete (727-895-8700).

Friday, May 15: Bern’s Fine Wines and Spirits
Wines of Italy Crush Hour. Sample wines from Alto Adige, Piedmont, Umbria, Sicily and Tuscany (including two highly rated 2004 Brunello di Montalcinos) paired with five Italian cheeses from the Bern’s Cave du Fromage. $25. 6:30-8:30 p.m. 1002 S. Howard Ave., Tampa (813-250-9463).

Friday, May 15: Carrollwood Cork and Olive
Spend the evening tasting wine while browsing art. The local artist, Trish, will be on hand to showcase her work. Free. 6-9 p.m., 10019 N Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa (813-868-3733).

Friday, May 15: Uncorked Fine Wines and Accessories
Enjoy an indoor picnic and wine tasting with proceeds to benefit the National MS Society. $10. 6:30-8:30 p.m., 2706 4th St. N., St. Petersburg (727-892-9463).

Friday, May 15: Vintage Wine Cellars
Italian Intrigue Tasting. Delve into 10 new bellisimo bottlings that have just arrived, featuring unusual grapes like Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, Corvina, and Arneis. Paired with cheeses. $10. 3629 Henderson Blvd, Tampa (813-879-2931).

Read the rest of this entry »

A new deli and restaurant in Clearwater, Soup A Hero, celebrates its grand opening with free menu samples today from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. The menu features an array of gourmet foods, soups and salads prepared by owner and head cook Nino Accetta.

Soup A Hero Deli and Restaurant
2245 Nursery Rd
Clearwater, FL 33764
(727) 538-2245

POWERFUL POURS: But has chef BT Nguyen upped the food to match?

The fact that Restaurant BT has one of the most innovative and provocative cocktail lists in town may actually be hurting the place. Walk in and order the Cucumber Aloe, or the Dirty Dirty, and you’ll need something to nosh on. Not just because of the hefty alcoholic toll they’ll take on your senses, but because you need something to temper the powerful flavors. Ever use “pungent” to describe a martini?

I wouldn’t have it any other way, actually, if my only other choice is an array of the same raspberry and coffee ‘tinis at the other 99 percent of Bay area restaurants. (Simmer down Ocean Prime, I’m not talking about you.) But with intensity and daring comes a need for equally intense and powerful food. That, however, is not Restaurant BT’s strong point. Read the rest of this entry »

Looks like the area on north 4th in St. Petersburg is getting lively, thanks to two Bay area restaurants looking to expand.

Signs have gone up advertising a new location for Pipo’s (9939 4th St. N., St. Petersburg, 727-576-PIPO), the Tampa-based Cuban mini-chain. Ramon Hernandez (who splits ownership of the Pipo’s locations with his brother), predicts that the spot will be open around the end of the month, depending on the inevitable problems. And that’s not all. Read the rest of this entry »

Taylor went to China and all she brought back was this lousy podcast! We dissect her culinary travels, and discuss Brian’s review of Ocean Prime.

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Thursday, May 7: ABC Fine Wine & Spirits
This weekly tasting features wines and cigars. $10 (includes glass and $5 coupon). 6943 W Hillsborough Ave, Tampa (813-884-3792)

Thursday, May 7: Carrollwood Cultural Center
Wine guide Charles Visalli will cover the ins and outs of wine in this six week series of classes. This week — Elements of Wine Tasting. $25. 6-7:30 p.m., 4537 Lowell Road, Tampa, 813-664-1430

Thursday, May 7: Vino 100 St. Petersburg
This weekly tasting features wines picked for mom. Free. 5-8 p.m., 5056 4th St. N., St. Petersburg (727-522-8466)

Friday, May 8: Uncorked
This weekly tasting will focus on female winemakers in honor of Mother’s Day. $10. 6:30-8:30 p.m., 2706 4th St N, St. Petersburg (727-892-9463)

Many more after the break: Read the rest of this entry »

In a thinly veiled effort to capture more of the health-conscious crowd (and a bit late in the game), KFC introduced an alternative to their iconic fried poultry – Kentucky Grilled Chicken. And they want you to try it… for free. Read the rest of this entry »

Ocean Prime
3 and 3/4 Stars
2205 N. West Shore Blvd., Tampa, 813-490-5288

Several months ago, when I first heard that Ocean Prime was opening, I wondered if Tampa could handle another high-end steakhouse — a chain, in fact — during tough economic times. Hell, considering the massive representation steakhouses have in the Bay area, I’d ask the same question in good times. Considering the crowd on a Tuesday night in April, I guess I have my answer.

The place isn’t packed, but you wouldn’t know it from the loaded parking lot. The dining room is full, happy people are lounging around the exterior bar area and the restaurant feels like it’s hopping. As the night goes on, the long patio dining area overlooking a surprisingly pastoral retention pond on the border of the International Plaza parking lot starts to fill up. Maybe Tampa isn’t ready for more of the usual luxe steakhouse clones, but it certainly seems to have accepted Ocean Prime.

The tasty and capable food is part of that, but I doubt it’s the main draw. Read the rest of this entry »

Wednesday, April 29: Avenue Cellars Wine Bar
Avenue’s Red Wine 101 class features an overview of the dark side of the wine world, with a tasting of about ten examples. Reservations necessary. $25. 9662 Linebaugh Ave., Tampa (813-920-9991)

Wednesday, April 29: ABC Fine Wines & Spirits (New Port Richey)
This weekly tasting features wines and cigars. $10 (includes glass and $5 coupon). 6115 US Hwy. 19, New Port Richey (727-842-7749)

Friday, May 1: Vintage Wine Cellars
This week’s tasting features wines rated 90 points and higher by leading authorities. $25. 3629 Henderson Blvd., Tampa (813-879-2931)

More after the break: Read the rest of this entry »