Daily Loaf

Go alternative at the ThanksVegan Feast

Wednesday, November 25: Vino 100
Thanksgiving Tasting. If you’re anything like me, you’ve put off holiday preparations until the last minute. There’s still cleaning to be done and meals to plan, but at least you’ll know which wine will grace your holiday table after attending this tasting that pairs perfect seasonal wines with a selection of Thanksgiving favorites, so you can choose your ideal combo. Free. 5-8 p.m., 5056 Fourth St. N., St. Petersburg (727-522-8466)

Wednesday, November 25: Bern’s Fine Wines and Spirits
Happy Holidays. Bern’s is offering a bite of holiday cheer: buy any wine or spirit and take your same-day receipt to the Sidebern’s bar for a complimentary Chef’s Choice bite from the lounge menu. 1002 S. Howard Ave., Tampa (813-250-9463)

Thursday, November 26: Unitarian Universalist Church of Tampa
ThanksVegan Feast. Thanksgiving should be an opportunity for all sorts of folks to get together and stuff themselves without recrimination, unless you’re spending the holiday with your family. Why discriminate against people who shun the bird for more esoteric culinary fetishes? Join vegans, vegetarians, raw foodists and the veg-curious at the fourth annual ThanksVegan Feast. It’s a potluck, so you’ll need to bring a covered dish that’s free of animal products (even bacon), a massive appetite and a willingness to buck traditional foods while maintaining the true spirit of the season: gluttony, in all its cruelty-free glory. $5 (with a dish), $15 (without a dish). 1:30-5:30 p.m., 11400 Morris Bridge Road, Tampa, vegtampathanksgiving.com. —Brian Ries

Thursday, November 26: The NoHo Bistro
Thanksgiving: To Cook, or Not To Cook? Instead of worrying about undercooking the turkey, runny mashed potatoes, or burning the pumpkin pie, take time to relax with the family (or attempt to avoid them), watch the Macy’s Parade, and scream/cheer at the football games while NoHo Bistro does the work for you. Just follow their cooking instructions and within minutes, you’ll be digging into their scrumptious seasonal meal that includes: whole roasted turkey with herbed butter chestnut-cranberry Stuffing; maple-cured bacon sweet potato souffle with marshmallow crust; honey-glazed butternut squash; creamed peas with baby onions; and pumpkin praline tart. This ain’t no Swanson’s Turkey Dinner! $26.95 per person. 1714 N. Armenia Ave., Tampa (813-514-0691)

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

Try tasty Coq au Vin at the Toasted Pheasant's Thursday wine dinner

Wednesday, November 18: Cork and Olive Carrollwood
Winey Women Wednesday. This is the only time it’s good to be a “winey” woman. Bring a friend, leave with a buzz and a bottle! Free. 6:30-8:30 p.m., 10019 N. Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa (813-868-3733)

Thursday, November 19: Total Wine
South African Roadshow. Discover sweet new surprises with South African wines like Brampton Cabernet Sauvignon, Brampton Chardonnay Un-Oaked, Hands Cabernet, Hands Chardonnay, Indaba Chenin Blanc, Indaba Sauvignon Blanc, Mulderbosch Cabernet Rose, Mulderbosch Faithful Hound Red, and Mulderbosch Sauvignon Blanc. Free. 1-6 p.m., 1720 N Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa (813-350-9601)

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)

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

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: Read the rest of this entry »

(Want to follow all of CL’s Food, Drink and Restaurant news? Bookmark the food section of the blog, add the CL Food RSS feed to your reader of choice, follow @BrianRies on Twitter, or check out the Food Section page multiple times daily.)

Wednesday, October 21: The NoHo Bistro
A Palette for Your Palate. The bistro’s ingenious culinary team pairs five tapas tastings with a new wine each week. Tonight’s Pinot Grigio palette promises to be lip-smackingly lovely. $15. 5-8 p.m., 1714 N. Armenia Ave., Tampa (813-514-0691)

Wednesday, October 21: Rigatoni Tuscan Oven
Wild Tuscan Wednesdays. Indulge in decadent seafood at dirt-cheap prices on high-end items like all-you-can-eat Alaskan snow crab and oysters, along with beer and pasta specials. $7-$22. 5-10 p.m., 3437 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa (813-879-7000)

Thursday, October 22: Michael’s 717 South
Wine and Music Series. Winemakers Dan Whitaker and Ben Benvenuti host tonight’s installment in the samping series, and offer Mairena’s wines of Argentina –like Malbec, Bonarda and Sauvignon Blanc — paired with assorted cheese. Half Circle and Friends provide live tunes. $10. 7-9 p.m., 717 South Howard Ave., Tampa (813-250-1661)

Thursday, October 22: 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 “the art of blind tasting.” 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)

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

Tuesday, September 29: Datz Deli
From Tree to Bottle: The Flavors of Olive Oil. It’s not just for frying — olive oil has a flavor all its own, and this course covers the essentials. What elements should be present for dipping? baking? sauteing? Chefs on the Loose guide the class through an oil tasting, followed by a menu of dishes inspired by the golden stuff, like a tomato ciabatta stack with arugula, mozarella and spicy olive oil; goat cheese laced with floral olive oil; red snapper tepanade with potatoes mashed with olive oil and lavender; flank steak marinated with olive oil, balsamic syrup and garlic aioli; and olive oil cake with strawberry, olive oil gelato. $55. 6:30 p.m., 2616 S. MacDill Ave., Tampa (813-831-7000)

Tuesday, September 29: blu figs
Beer Gourmand Dinner. Tis the season to drink hearty (it’s Oktoberfest, after all), and this tasting allows you to do just that. Executive Chef Alex Knezevic shares the secrets behind tonight’s pairings, which begins with brie on baguette with peppered honey and citrus caviar paired with Amadeus Biere Blanc; followed by grilled triple tail sea bass with salsa verde and mustard gnocchi paired with Drop Top Amber Ale; seared tenderloin filet with carrots, roi trompette champignons arugula pistou, and blue cheese bubbles paired with Fire Rock Pale Ale; and chocolate souffle and raspberry sorbet paired with Black Wattle Seed Ale. $60. 7 p.m., 15463 N. Dale Mabry Hwy., Northdale (813-963-3447)

Tuesday, September 29: The NoHo Bistro
Tapas and Tastings. This benefit for the St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital includes a deliciously decadent array of cuisine, accompanied by a variety of wine and beer selections. $25. 6-9 p.m., 1714 N. Armenia Ave., Tampa (813-514-0691)

Wednesday, September 30: A Taste for Wine
Fall Festival Tasting. Start the new season off right — there’s no reason not to get a little toasty, even if it’s still pretty toasty outside. Tonight’s selections include: a German Riesling; an Oregon Pinot Noir from Henry Estate; a French Chardonnay; Heidsieck Monopole Rose Champagne; and 2004 Arrowood Cabernet. $15. 6:30 p.m., 241 Central Ave., St. Petersburg (727-895-1623)

Wednesday, September 30: Bern’s Fine Wines and Spirits
Potluck Wednesday. Beat the mid-week dinner blahs by stopping in for SideBern’s gourmet take-away — and enjoy a complimentary mini-wine tasting while you wait. This week’s one-stop wonder is spaghetti carbonara with pancetta, zucchini and soft egg. $19.95. 5-8 p.m., 1002 S. Howard Ave., Tampa (813-250-9463) Read the rest of this entry »

Nearly every week, Datz Deli — an increasingly-popular post-work spot for a glass of vino or brew and a foodie-approved sandwich — offers an intriguing cooking or wine class. This week’s topic is DatzEDU: Va Va Vinegar, and attendees learn how to make this humble condiment the star of summer cooking with a few simple (and simply delicious) vinaigrettes. 6 p.m. Weds., July 29, Datz Deli, 2616 S. MacDill Ave., Tampa, free; reservations suggested, 813-831-7000, datzdeli.com.

Barber of Seville

See The Barber of Seville broadcast live from The Metropolitan Opera in New York City. Gioachino Rossini’sclassic opera tells the tale of Count Almaviva, who wants to be loved for his virtue, not his money; the beautiful, clever Rosina, his beloved; and the scheming Dr. Bartolo, who intends to woo Rosina for himself. Visit fathomevents.com for tickets and info. 7 p.m. Weds., July 29, Citrus Park Stadium 20, 7999 Citrus Park Town Center Mall, Tampa.

Carson Daly has been pretty hands-on when it comes to getting good, up-and-coming musical acts on his show. Last Call with Carson Daly is currently cycling through a series of reruns from the past year, but the ones that are re-aired offer a glimpse of 2009’s highlights, those performers you should have checked out if you missed them. Tonight’s episode features Swedish indie pop singer Lykke Li, who released her full-length debut in 2008 and reached No. 24 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 Best Songs of 2008 with that album’s single “I’m Good, I’m Gone.” She performs the song along with “Little Bit” and sits down to have a chat with Daly on the Wednesday night show. I suggest you tune in. Wed., July 29, 1:30 a.m., NBC. — Leilani Polk