Wednesday, December 30: Publix Apron’s Cooking School
The Shoestring Gourmet. Learn creative cooking methods for making gourmet worthy, family-pleasing dinners that won’t drain the piggy bank of its last penny. The menu includes: grilled bruschetta with rosemary, white bean purée and heirloom tomatoes; chicken roasted with 40 cloves of garlic; pecan crusted skirt steak; baby yukon potato salad with shallots, chives, bacon and lemon vinaigrette; and bittersweet chocolate tart with salted caramelized pistachios. $35, 6:30 p.m., 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa (813-926-4465)
Wednesday, December 30: Vino 100
Visit Argentina and Chile Wine Tasting. Now that it’s so much harder to get a passport, consider that trip to South America a vacation that’ll be a long time coming. Good thing you can get some of Argentina and Chile’s bets imported wines at tonight’s tasting, led by expert sommelier Jennifer Bingham from Global Wines, who explores three popular grapes of the region: Malbec, Torrontes and Carmenere. Free. 5-8 p.m., 5056 Fourth Street N., St. Petersburg (727-522-8466)
Thursday, Dec. 31: RAW Bar
“Awesome” Black and White New Year’s Party. They’re handing out free sushi from 9 to 11 p.m. (I can’t say that it sounds the best decision before plying people with insane amounts of alcohol, but whatever), free Jell-O shots, $4 “Awesome Bombs” (they really want you to know how awesome it is), a balloon drop, champagne toast, red carpet snapshots, and a hot-young-hip crowd dressed in all black and white. $15-$30. 9 p.m.-3 a.m., 777 N. Ashley Dr., Tampa (813-422-5220)
Thursday, December 31: The Vine
New Year’s Celebration. Resolutions are a great way to start the New Year; you’ll likely need a whole new list after an evening of champagne and parties that will cap off 2009. Tonight, The Vine offers a four-course early seating and a five-course late seating, both accompanied by fizzy splits. $60 early dinner; $80 late dinner. 6 p.m. early dinner, 8:30 p.m. late dinner, 17667 Dale Mabry N., Lutz (813-964-8463)
Many more events after the break:
This article appears in Dec 16-22, 2009.