Wednesday, April 4: Lykes Gaslight Square Park Food Truck Fiesta
Head to the park on your lunch break, and satisfy your food truck craving at Mayor’s Food Truck Fiesta. Mayor Bob Buckhorn will participate in this fiesta. Favorite food trucks like Wicked Wiches and Taco Bus, as well as newbies like Cuppin Cake, will be parked. Free; 11 a.m.-2 p.m., 410 Franklin St., Tampa, tampagov.net.
Wednesday, April 4: Palm Harbor House of Beer
Head to Stone Brewing Company Night and have a few brews. Choose your favorite glass (there will be four to choose from) and take it home as a souvenir. Enjoy samples of Stone Smoked Porter, and taps such as Stone Ruination IPA and Arrogant Bastard Ale. 7 p.m., 34970 U.S. 19 N, Palm Harbor, 727-784-2337, palmharborhob.com.
Wednesday, April 4 – Tuesday, April 10: Mitchell’s Fish Market
If you love lobster, and crustaceans in general, head to Mitchell’s for the Annual Crustacean Celebration. (Lobster being in season is the reason for the celebration.) Choose from lobster and shrimp-stuffed cod ($19.95), lobster and shrimp cakes ($24.95) or lobster tail with lobster and shrimp cake ($29.95) entrees. 204 Westshore Plaza, Tampa, 813-289-3663, mitchellsfishmarket.com.
Friday, April 6: Total Wine and More
Start your Easter weekend off right, with some bourbon. Instead of the usual wine tastings, Total Wine is holding an Angels Envy Bourbon Tasting. Angel’s Envy is a new, small-batch artisan bourbon, and is perfect for angels like you. Free; 4-7 p.m., 1720 N. Dale Mabry, Tampa, 813-350-9601, totalwine.com.
Saturday, April 7: Cheese Please
If you are hoping for a cheesy Easter, the Easter Cheese tasting event will be plenty cheesy. Eight of the Easter Bunny’s favorite cheeses will be paired with complementary wines, condiments and chocolates. Pre-paid reservation required via website or phone. $25; 7-9 p.m., 4213 S. Manhattan Ave., Tampa, 813-805-BRIE or 813-766-0060, cheesepleasetampa.com.
Saturday, April 7: Foodies
If the thought of homemade pasta and sauces makes your stomach rumble, this Fresh Pasta 101 class is for you. Chef Dawn will prepare linguine and spaghetti from scratch, and will pair them with sauces such as lemon and fennel, alfredo, chorizo and of course, tomato. Registration is required via website or phone. $45; 6:30 p.m., 3642 Bayshore Blvd. NE, St. Petersburg, 727-209-1418, foodies.net.
Saturday, April 7: Safford House
Head to the house for week two of this cooking class series. Go Greek and prepare briam (not Brian) roasted vegetables. Christian guys and gals with a sweet tooth will especially enjoy the ravani or samoli Lenten Cake. Sponsored by City of Tarpon Springs. Register via phone or website. $20; 12 — 2 p.m., 23 Parkin Court, Tarpon Springs, 727-942-5605, tarponarts.org/folklife.
Sunday, April 8: 400 Beach Seafood
Get stuffed silly at the Easter Buffet. Enjoy many selections, including breakfast items, omelet and carving stations, seafood, ham and lamb. If you’re sweet on desserts, you’ll be in heaven in the Dessert Room. $27.95 for adults; $12.95 for children; 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., 400 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg, 727-896-2400, 400beachseafood.com.
Sunday, April 8: Bon Appétit Restaurant and Marina Cafe
Enjoy a four-course dinner from a choice of six entrees, or the Easter buffet, perhaps after a day at Honeymoon Island. Bon Appétit is the perfect destination for those seeking a sophisticated holiday refuge with a waterfront view. $45 for four-course dinner; $40 for buffet; 150 Marina Plaza, Dunedin, 727-733-2151, bonappetitrestaurant.com.
Sunday, April 8: Columbia Restaurant
Choose from Roast Leg of Lamb “Dali” or baked Virginia ham. The dinner menu is available if you’re not in a hammy (or lamby?) mood. $19.95; 2117 E. 7th Ave., Tampa, 813- 248-4961; 800 2nd Ave. NE, St. Petersburg, 727-822-8000; 1241 Gulf Blvd., Clearwater, 727-596-8400, columbiarestaurant.com.
Sunday, April 8: First Watch
Select some of First Watch’s new menu items, which will be available for Easter brunch. Items include Crepegg, skillet hashes and omelets. For those of you glued to your laptop even on holidays, take advantage of the WiFi. 1648 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Tampa, 813-929-3947; 2726 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa, 813-975-1718; 520 N. Tampa St., Tampa, 813-307-9006; 13186 N. Dale Mabry, Tampa, 813-961-4947, firstwatch.com.
Sunday, April 8: Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar
Fleming’s is a fine choice for “Grade A, top choice meat,” and seafood on a special occasion, such as Easter. Enjoy the Easter brunch, which includes selections such as Filet Mignon Benedict. The three-course brunch will be available for adults. Children twelve and under may select the children’s brunch. Patrons not in a brunchy mood may enjoy the regular menu options. $34.95 for adult brunch; $16.95 for children’s brunch; 11:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., 4322 W. Boy Scout Blvd., Tampa, 813-874-9463, flemingssteakhouse.com.
Sunday, April 8: Fresh Harvest at Seminole Hard Rock
If you can’t stay away from the slot machines on holidays, take advantage of Fresh Harvest’s Easter brunch menu. Enjoy sushi and dim sum selections, grilled items, made-to-order omelets and pastas, American and Italian items, salads and sweets a la mode. The menu will be available for twelve hours, so in between bites, you can gamble the day and night away. $27; 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., 5223 N. Orient Road, Tampa, 813-627-7625, seminolehardrocktampa.com.
Sunday, April 8: Hangar Restaurant
If you’re fascinated with airplanes or are a wannabe pilot, fly on over to Hangar for the three-course Easter special. Selections include Maple-Dijon ham and herb-roasted leg of lamb, and Easter Bunny Surprise for dessert. $24.95 for adults; $12.95 for children; 1-8 p.m., 1ST St. SE, St. Petersburg, 727-823-7767, thehangarstpete.com.
Sunday, April 8: Innisbrook Golf Resort
If you want to squeeze in a game of golf on Easter, fuel up first at Innisbrook’s Easter brunch. Enjoy crepe, carving and salad stations and many more selections. Walk over to the complimentary carnival after brunch. Reservations required. $36.95 for adults; $16.95 for children twelve and under; 11 a.m. or 2 p.m., 36750 U.S. 19 N, Palm Harbor, 727-942-2000, innisbrookgolfresort.com.
Sunday, April 8: Ocean Prime
Enjoy the Easter brunch, with selections such as King Crab Benedict and blueberry French toast. Or stay home with your peeps and venture out to Ocean Prime for dinner, for Black Truffle Macaroni and Cheese, Chilean sea bass in Champagne Truffle Sauce and more. Reservations can be made via website. 11 a.m., 2205 N. Westshore Blvd., Tampa, 813-490-5288, oceanprimetampa.com.
Sunday, April 8: Parkshore Grill
Enjoy the four-course Easter Feature, with features such as rosemary-grilled niman ranch lamb sirloin and sea scallops. Make like the Easter Bunny and eat your carrots…in the form of a five-spiced carrot cake. $50; 300 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersbury, 727-896-WINE, 727-896-DINE, parkshoregrill.com.
Sunday, April 8: Pelagia Trattoria
Who says you can’t enjoy seafood or meat at 9 a.m., or made-to-order omelets at 2:30 p.m.? The spread also includes carving and pasta stations and many other types of foods and desserts. Reservations can be made via phone or website. $40 for adults; $16 for children twelve and under; 9 a.m. – 9 p.m., 4200 Jim Walter Boulevard, Tampa, 813-313-3235, pelagiatrattoria.com.
Sunday, April 8: Pub Waterfront Restaurant
If your Easter egg hunt makes you hungry, visit the Pub for the Easter breakfast buffet. Easter lunch and dinner specials will be available as well, with choices of ham, pecan-crusted tilapia and sirloin marsala. Breakfast buffet is $11.95; Lunch and dinner specials are $16.95 for adults, $11.95 for children; 8 a.m., 20025 Gulf Blvd., Indian Shores, 727-595-3172, thepubwaterfrontrestaurant.com.
Sunday, April 8: Rusty Pelican
There is nothing rusty or shabby about the menu or the view at this seafood and steak destination. Enjoy the Easter buffet, complete with seafood, lamb beef and ham selections, as well as made-to-order omelets, pasta, salads, fruits. Wash it all down with bottomless mimosas. $46 for adults; $21 for children; 2425 N. Rocky Point Dr., Tampa, 813-281-1943, tampa.therustypelican.com.
Sunday, April 8: Shor – Clearwater
This is a SHOR bet for an excellent view of the gulf during Easter brunch. The spread includes seafood, prime rib, breakfast items, including made-to-order omelets, crudités, cheeses, salads and desserts. Three-hour complimentary parking is available. $45 for adults; $21 for children twelve and under; 301 S. Gulfview Blvd., Clearwater, 727-373-4780, shorgrill.com.
Sunday, April 8: Spoto’s Grill 131
Enjoy the Easter dinner with selections of leg of lamb and ham. Just because it’s dinner, doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t wash it down with mimosas. Reservations are recommended. Spoto’s owner, Bob Spoto, previously owned the Steak Joint restaurants in St. Petersburg and Dunedin, and Smokey’s Texas Barbeque in Pinellas Park. 12-7 p.m., 13079 Park Blvd. N, Seminole, 727-393-1703, grill131.com.
Sunday, April 8: World of Beer (Westchase)
If you enjoy beer and Easter egg hunts, put all of your eggs in one basket and head to WOB’s All-Day Easter Egg-Stravaganza. The “eggs” will be certain beer bottles. If you order one of the “eggs” masquerading as a bottle, you will win a prize. Free drafts, gift cards and beer baskets will be available as well. 9524 W. Linebaugh Ave., Tampa, 813-852-BEER, westchase.wobusa.com.
Monday, April 9: Publix Apron’s Cooking School
Cure your Tex-Mex craving without leaving Tampa, at this South of the Border hands-on class. Prepare items such as buffalo tamale pie and chicken tomatillo soup, followed by pumpkin empanadas with cinnamon chipotle whipped cream for a sweet, spicy ending. $40; 6 p.m., 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa, 813-926-4465, publix.com/aprons.
Tuesday, April 10: International Cellar
If you enjoy sipping on wine, chomping on cheese and gazing at art, check out this Wine, Cheese and Art event. Pretend you are in Seattle while sipping the Washington State wines. Admire the art of Charlie Kemmerer, and perhaps purchase one of his photographs. Free; 5 p.m., 3689 Tampa Road #304, Oldsmar, 813-855-8099, internationalcellar.com.
Tuesday, April 10: Wimuama
If you sometimes pair your white wine with a nice fillet of grouper, head to this White Wine and Seafood event. Wimauma executive chef and sommelier, Gary Moran, knows his seafood and his wines. This three-course dinner will include (white) seafood specifically paired with select white wines. Jodi Fritch (AKA Tampa Wine Woman) will be the other wine expert of the evening. $55 all-inclusive; 6:30 – 9:30 p.m., 4205 S. MacDill Ave., Tampa, 813-7931687, wimaumawine.eventbrite.com.
This article appears in Mar 29 – Apr 4, 2012.