Daily Loaf

Tuesday, February 9: Roy’s
Australian Wine Dinner and Bottle Signing. Winemaker John L’archet hosts tonight’s dinner to share some of his secrets, sign bottles and recommend wines for your sophisticated palate. Chef Kiel provides a fabulous five-course meal, perfectly paired with delectable selections from down under. $75. 6:30-9 p.m., 4342 W. Boy Scout Blvd., Tampa (813-873-7697)

Tuesday, February 9: Uncorked Fine Wine and Spirits
Uncorked Wine Academy. Hit the books (and the bottle!) with a certified sommelier at this wine-centric course that covers pairing food and wine; tasting techniques; grape varietals; how wine makes it from the vineyard to the glass;  and how to distinguish the flavors that make your tastebuds tingle. Reservations required. $50. 7-9 p.m., 2706 Fourth Street N., St. Petersburg (727-892-9463)

Thursday, February 11: Mazzaro’s Italian Market
Night Tasting with Vincenzo Protti and Giampaolo Tabarrini. The market’s locally-revered meats and cheeses are perfectly paired with more than 50 selections of vino from Italy, including the highly-rated Fontodi’s Flacianello 2006, all hosted by the vintners of the Bosco del Merlo and Vescine Wineries. $30. 7-9 p.m., 2209 22nd Ave N., St. Petersburg (727-321-2400)

Thursday, February 11 – Sunday, February 14: Cafe Dufrain
Valentine’s Day Chef Menu. If you’re going for decadence, you can’t beat this weekend-long Chef-selected menu that includes: a selection of fluke sashini with white miso, asian pear, ginger pickled cucumbers and a jasmine rice croquette; seasonal oysters with a cocktail mignonette and tabasco granite; organic mixed greens with heirloom tomato, red onion, roast garlic crouton and a mustard celery vinaigrette; warm confit of organic mushrooms with roasted black garlic cloves, chevre and a grilled baguette; or Kurboto pork cheeks with fried green tomato, smoked bacon and a sweet onion marmalade. The main course offers a gingered yellowfin tuna with wok-fried bok choy, steamed oxtail dumplings and a shiitake consomme; organic smart chicken, harissa spiced, with preserved lemon israeli couscous, chickpea cake and pachadi; Korean barbecue buffalo short ribs with lemongrass scented jasmine rice, kimchee trio and bibb lettuce; roast Berkshire pork with yucca gratin, crisp sweet plantain and a grapefruit avocado relish; and a duo of fennel pollen-dusted maine lobster, american kobe flat iron with chantrelle cream and anson mills creamy polenta; for dessert, choose from carrot cake with mascarpone icing and pecan butter cream cheese ice cream; a chocolate five-spice sorbet with chocolate salted cashew cake and cocoa foam; and baked Fuji apples with walnut praline tart, warm caramel, cinnamon ice cream and streusel crumbs. $50 per person. 707 Harbour Post Drive, Harbour Island, Tampa (813-275-9701)

Friday, February 12: World of Wines South Tampa
Get Some Wine for your Valentine. It’s trite but true: nothing sets the mood for a romantic evening like a good bottle of wine. Today’s hors d’oeuvres-paired pours include: Mustang Sally Shiraz; Pristine Chardonnay; Nordic Frost Riesling; Three’s Company GSM; Black Sheep SMM; Thousand Words Chardonnay; Thoroughbred Cabernet; and Choc-o-Bloc Tawny. $10. 6-8 p.m., 3431 S. West Shore Blvd., Tampa (813-835-9463)

Many, many more food, wine and Valentine’s event after the break: Read the rest of this entry »

Get in the holiday spirit with eggnog at tonight's cigar smoker at Snooker's

Tuesday, December 15: Snookers
Cigar and Wine Extravaganza. Unless my eyes are deceiving me, it appears that on a humdrum Tuesday night when the only thing going on in my life is reruns of Friends, the fabulous folks at Snookers are trying to help me get over my workweek doldrums with premium cigars accompanied by white or red wine, cheese and nuts, and eggnog with Southern Comfort. $15. 6-8 p.m., 606 N. Pinellas Ave., Tarpon Springs (727-937-6665)

Wednesday, December 16: Whole Foods
Cheese Class. Erik Woody leads this tasting of his Top Ten cheeses. Contact sherell.white@wholefoods.com to register. Free. 6:30-7:30 p.m., 1548 N. Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa (813-874-9724)

Wednesday, December 16: Bern’s Fine Wines and Spirits
Potluck Wednesday. Beat the mid-week dinner blahs by stopping by for gourmet take-away — and enjoy a complimentary mini-wine tasting while you wait. This week’s one pot wonder is smoked meatloaf with potato puree, caramelized onion and a barbecue glaze $19.95. 5-8 p.m., 1002 S. Howard Ave., Tampa (813-250-9463)

Wednesday, December 16: 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, December 17: Vino 100
Ladies Night Out. The perfect pick-me up to get through that last workday before a weekend of freedom. Vino 100 provides the pours, massage chairs help you unwind, and Let’s Eat serves tasty hors d’oeuvres. This evening of luxury will have ladies rallying to change “TGIF” to “TGIT.” Free. 5-8 p.m., 5056 4th St. N., St. Petersburg (727-522-8466)

Friday, December 18: Cork and Olive Carrollwood
Friday Night Tasting. You know that saying (especially popular around this time of year), “It’s better to give than receive”? That’s all well and good, in our opinion, but it’s pretty nice to receive, too — and tonight you can do just that while you give the gift of wine, enjoy a free wine tasting while the Cork and Olive folks create a gift basket for the lucky recipient (even if that lucky duck is you). Free. 6-8 p.m., 10019 N. Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa (813-868-3733)

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

Try the Cigar City dinner tonight at NoHo Bistro

Tuesday, December 8: NoHo Bistro
Cigar City Beer Dinner. It’s time to break out the big, hearty, spicy suds to compliment sturdier winter meals (even if winter really just means temps in the mid-60s). Tonight’s pairing does just that, with a menu that includes: wild mushroom spanikopita with ricotta, thyme and smoked tomato sauce paired with Maduro Brown Ale; spinach and roasted pear salad with gorgonzola and port vinaigrette paired with  Jai Alai India Pale Ale; honey roasted chicken with pumpkin polenta, sautéed urban oasis greens and walnut pesto paired with Calabaza Marron Pumpkin Spice Brown Ale; a dual dessert of toasted pound cake with seasonal fruit compote paired with Sugar Plum Fairy Brown Ale;  and  momemade Florida citrus fruitcake paired with Warmer Winter, Winter Warmer Old Ale. The evening’s beginning brew is Vanilla Maduro Brown Ale, and a parting gift includes Joey’s favorite chocolate Mayan cookie and Bourbon Barrel Aged Hunahpu’s Imperial Stout. $45 .6:30 p.m., 1714 N. Armenia Ave., Tampa (813-514-0691)

Wednesday, December 9: Publix Apron’s Cooking School
Fondue for You. You can’t do wrong with glorious, gloppy, ooey, gooey, melty cheese — but fondue is no one-trick pony. Today’s class offers a few simple and easy methods in making sweet and savory fondue for a a full menu with only a few hot pots. $35. 6 p.m., 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa (813-926-4465)

Wednesday, December 9: Bern’s Fine Wines and Spirits
Potluck Wednesday. Beat the mid-week dinner blahs by stopping by for gourmet take-away — and enjoy a complimentary mini-wine tasting while you wait. This week’s one pot wonder is Tuscan shrimp and grits, with soft polenta, rosemary and pancetta. $19.95. 5-8 p.m., 1002 S. Howard Ave., Tampa (813-250-9463)

Thursday, December 10: New World Brewery
Annual Holiday Ale Tasting. Sample a selection of more than 50 seasonal ales. $15. 7:30-10:30 p.m., 1313 Eighth Ave., Tampa (813-248-4969)

Friday, December 11: Uncorked Fine Wine and Spirits
From Apertif to Digestif. If the words you just read look more like gobbledy-gook than English (well, we guess they actually aren’t English), then this is the wine class for you. Learn the basics of the art of wine from start (a sparkling wine) to finish (a lovely dessert wine) along with several delightful in-betweens. If you’re really into multi-tasking, the Uncorked folks urge you to “bring your gifts and we’ll make a gift wrapping party of the night. No joke!” $10. 6:30-8:30 p.m., 2706 Fourth Street N., St. Petersburg (727-892-9463)

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

Try oysters three ways at Roy's on Friday

Tuesday, December 1: Whole Foods
The College Cafe. Bulls Radio DJ Mike Ranon is on hand to rock while you learn to roll sushi. Today’s Sushi 101 class is all about California dreamin’: create the perfect California roll. Register in store lobby or by contacting Sherell White at sherell.white@wholefoods.com. Free. 6:30-8 p.m., 1548 North Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa (813-874-9435)

Wednesday, December 2: Cork and Olive Carrollwood
Wine and Sign. At most family outings, someone’s bound to be bored, whether it’s parents or kids. Not so at tonight’s wine and sign, where parents partake in two for one house wines while kids are entertained by author Brenda Darnley Martin, who reads her new book, The Treasure Hunt Fish and Miss Bernadette’s Wish, followed by a cookie-decorating sesh with the Nana of Nana’s Cookie Jar. Free. 5:30-8 p.m., 10019 N. Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa (813-868-3733)

Wednesday, December 2: Bern’s Fine Wines and Spirits
Potluck Wednesday. Beat the mid-week dinner blahs by stopping by for gourmet take-away — and enjoy a complimentary mini-wine tasting while you wait. This week’s one pot wonder is lasagna arrabbiata with pork ragout, ricotta cheese and red chile. $19.95. 5-8 p.m., 1002 S. Howard Ave., Tampa (813-250-9463)

Thursday, December 3: Whole Foods
Top Ten Wines. This class and tasting offers the best value and taste so you can choose the perfect seasonal wine for your holiday table (or, if you’re lucky enough not to be cooking this year’s Big Meal, the ideal gift for your generous host). Register in store lobby or by contacting Sherell White at sherell.white@wholefoods.com. Free. 6:30-7:30 p.m., 1548 North Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa (813-874-9435)

Friday, December 4: Roy’s
Explore the Wines of Winemall. Cinq French wines are expertly paired with Chef Kiel Lombardo five-course meal, which includes: raw, poached and crispy oysters with lemongrass sorbet, beurre blanc and foie gras paired with Palais Rohan; a cassoulet of bay scallops, rock shrimp, opakapaka with rice beans and vanilla shellfish foam paired with Chardonnay, Domaine Luc; lamb and pork sausage with crispy lentils and black garlic red wine reduction paired with Chateau la Baume; a sous vide New York strip with a kinome peppercorn bordelaise sauce paired with Mission du Marquis, Saint Estephe; and warm apricot tart with lavender mousse with apricot Bavarian Mille Feuilles and burnt lemon pot de crème paired with Reserve de Graman, Graves Superieur. $75. 6:30-10:30 p.m., 4342 West Boyscout Blvd., Tampa (813-873-7697)

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 »

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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 »