FOOD
California Dreamin' Guest chef Michael Webb from California demonstrates how they do it in the surfin' state, with dishes like stone-ground pizza crust with gala apple, goat cheese, toasted macadamia nuts and applewood smoked bacon drizzled with truffle oil, and much, much more. $35. 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 11. La Maison Gourmet, formerly Home Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. 727-736-6400.
Ice Cream Social Studies Kids ages 4 to 7 will enjoy this Ice Cream Social class, as chef Dawn teaches them to prepare chicken salad tea sandwiches in assorted shapes and sizes, and ice cream sundaes with hot fudge or strawberry sauce. $25. 2-3:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 11. La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. 727-736-6400.
Jamaican Me Hungry Edyth James, owner of popular Saffron's Caribbean Cuisine, hosts her very own cooking class in the restaurant's kitchen. All the food and fun the law allows! $25. 6:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 13.1700 Park St. N., St. Pete. Reservations requested. 727-343-5410.
Great Grilling Pull out the barbecue and make great meatless meals. Vegetarian chef Debby DeGraaff shoes how in this free class held 7-8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 15, and again 10-11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 16. Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 MacDill Ave., Tampa. 813-873-7428.
Couples Hot Latin Night Couples will learn to cook the hot Latin cuisine of Chef Douglas Rodiriquez, from smoked white cheese salsa with plantain chips, cumin and pumpkin seed dusted grouper and beef roils with chipotle ketchup to milk and liqueur-soaked cake with fresh peaches. $45.6:30-9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 17. La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. 727-736-6400.
WINE
Identifying Grape Varietals This blind tasting of grapes teaches how to identify distinct characteristics. $20. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 17. Wines By Morrell Tampa, 2009 N. 22nd St., Tampa. 813-241-8587.
Taste Tour Down Under Take a taste tour of the wines of Australian, home of incredible shiraz, grenache and cabernet sauvignons 6:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 13. $25. Held in SideBern's newly renovated space at 2208 W. Morrison Ave., Tampa. Reservations requested. 813-250-9463.
California vs. France Blind taste six wines and compare the virtues and characteristics of Rhone varietals grown in France and California at this fun and instructive tasting. $25. 6:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 20, at SideBern's, 2208 W. Morrison Ave., Tampa. Reservations requested. 813-250-9463.
The Grape Escape Taste wine with Jack Kocak, the Grapevine's Wine Professor, every Friday from 4-7:30 p.m. and on Saturday afternoons. Tastings are free, and always very informative and fun. The Grapevine at Westchase, 12125 West Linebaugh Ave. Tampa. 813-818-9463.
Get Down At Grand Cru Grand Cru Wine Cellar winds up every workweek with a beer and wine tasting accompanied by snacks and tastings of incredible artisan cheeses. $12, includes a $5 coupon toward purchase. Every Friday 6-9 p.m. at Grand Cru Wine Cellar, 11724 N. Dale Mabry, inside the Main Street Shopping Center, Tampa. 813-269-8463.
This article appears in Aug 9-15, 2001.