Tuesday, April 27: Publix Apron’s Cooking School
Neanderthal Basics. Designed to teach the man of the house a few tricks for pulling dinner together, tonight’s class is also ideal for the lady in your life who can barely boil water. The menu includes: French onion soup; nuts and bolts stew; cauliflower with cheese sauce; twice-baked potatoes; and bread and butter pudding with cinnamon ice cream. $35. 6 p.m., 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa (813-926-4465)
Tuesday, April 27: Somme Wine and Martini Bar
10-10 Tuesdays. I know it’s not even the middle of the week yet, but instead of watching Jeopardy or another rerun of Keeping Up with the Kardashians, get outta the house tonight for one of the best bar deals I’ve seen, well, maybe ever: get $10 bottles of bubbly or wine every Tuesday at Somme. You’ll select from a special 10-bottle wine list culled from their impressive line-up, and you can enjoy the finally-warm Florida weather on the newly-opened patio, too. 5:30-11 p.m., 13030 N. Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa (813-990-0797)
Wednesday, April 28: Toasted Pheasant Bistro
Parisian Wine Dinner with Francois Lancellotti. If you're a fan of French vin, French accents (who isn't?), and French food (I don't mean fries, toast, or dressing), this paired dinner is your ticket to Francophile heaven. The menu includes: Appetizer choices of French onion soup, fried frog legs with garlic butter, prosciuto-wrapped asparagus with balsamic oil and fresh mozzarella, and porcupine shrimp in Thai chili sauce; Entree options include chicken parmesan, lamb shank with rosemary sauce, roasted beef tenderloin au jus, or seafood bouillabase; dessert is bread pudding with hot raisin and rum sauce. $35.99. 6:30-8:30 p.m., 14445 N. Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa (813-265-6700)
Wednesday, April 28: The NoHo Bistro
Wine Wednesdays. The wine and tapas change weekly, so come back regularly and bring your BFFs, blind dates, co-workers, boy/girlfriends or, hell, someone else’s boyfriend. $15 for two glasses of wine paired with two tapas. 1714 N. Armenia Ave., Tampa (813-514-0691)
Thursday, April 29: Dining Out for Life
You don't have to walk, run, volunteer or research — you can help find a cure for AIDS just by enjoying a night on the town. Visit diningoutforlife.com/tampabay for a list of local restaurants that are donating 25 percent of your bill total to charity tonight. It might be the only time you'll be happy to there's a wait to be seated: the more people that eat a delicious dinner — at eateries like Backfin Blue, Parkshore Grill, The Queen's Head, 400 Beach, La Fogata, Cafe Alma and many more — the more money is raised for a cure.
Friday, April 30: Somme Wine and Martini Bar
Faraon Fridays. End each week with $4 glasses of most of Mendoza, Argentina’s oldest (and lip-smackingest) wine, Bodega Faraon. 5:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m., 13030 N. Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa (813-990-0797)
Saturday, May 1: The Dubliner Irish Pub
HopFest. The Dubliner hosts HopFest, a heady homage to dark brews. Hoppy, hand-crafted pours include Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA, Terrapin Rye Pale Ale, Heavy Seas Loose Cannon American Hop3 Ale, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Bell’s Two Hearted Ale, and Cigar City Jai Alai IPA. Brewery reps are on hand to talk shop (or in this case, suds); Swamp Logic busts out New Orleans-style blues; and freshly-caught local fish are fried up by the dozens. Proceeds from the afternoon of ale benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. $15. Noon-3 p.m., 2307 W. Azeele St., Tampa (813-258-2257)
Saturday, May 1: Sweetwater Organic Community Farm
Pesto Festo. Let loose and enjoy a night under the stars, not to mention farm-fresh, organic food, beer and wine, at Sweetwater Organic Community Farm's 18th annual Pesto Festo. The farm fundraiser celebrates the end of the growing season and its devoted patrons. Dig into a dinner of organically-grown pesto pasta, followed by a live auction and raffle prizes, and dance the night away to the sounds of the Urban Gypsies. $15 in advance/$20 door/free for children 12 and younger (tickets can be purchased at the Farm or Rollin' Oats). 6 p.m. Sat., May 1, 6942 W. Comanche Ave., Tampa, sweetwater-organic.org. —Katie Machol
Saturday, May 1: Florida Aquarium
Sea Grapes. If you're in the mood to get dressed to the nines and be wined and dined by 20 premier Bay area restaurants, then the ninth annual Sea Grapes Fine Wine and Food Festival at the Florida Aquarium is the soirée for you. This undersea-themed gala features more than 100 wines, a tantalizing array of gourmet delights, live jazz, and aquatic entertainment (courtesy of the aquarium's resident comedic scuba divers). Proceeds from the silent auction benefit youth education programs, sea turtle rehabilitation, seahorse conservation and coral farm propagation at the aquarium. $85/$150 VIP. 8-11 p.m., 701 Channelside Drive, Tampa, flaquarium.org. —Katie Machol
Sunday, May 2: Hub's Raw Bar and Tavern
International Scurvy Awareness Day. It takes the (fruit)cake for the most fun fest dedicated to an all-but-defunct disease. The satire-happy (but scurvy-free) folks at limestrong.com — who founded the event last year — say that "we probably have a better shot at making out with Jessica Alba than actually bringing a global end to scurvy, a disease that might just be the stupidest and most easily cured disease in human history, but that doesn't mean we're not going to give it a shot." So, if you need an excuse to visit the Bloody Mary bar, drink citrus grog, or chug lime-studded brews, look no further than Hub's Raw Bar and Tavern, where a steadfast crew is serving up Vitamin C-rich beverages, along with live music and a silent auction to benefit John Levique Pirate Days. Or, if you're like me and want to raise awareness among friends, stock up on lime-flavored Jell-O and vodka, and take a shot in support of scurvy sufferers everywhere. Noon-9 p.m., 150 John's Pass Boardwalk, Madeira Beach (727-391-6025 ext. 303)
May 14-15: Don Cesar Resort
2010 Tampa Bay Food & Wine Festival. This is the third year for the big two-day festival at the Don Cesar on St. Pete Beach. It’s structured like most of these parties, with a giant tasting featuring the produce of dozens of wineries from around the world and food from many local restaurants, followed by wine dinners and seminars starring the fest’s “celebrity” guests. I use the air-quotes mainly because the fame of the presenters is in direct ration with how inside the wine and food world you are. Probably the most recognizable name on the list is JAG (Joshua Adam Garcia), the troublesome dude kicked off of the Next Food Network Star a few years back. The event will benefit Heartbeat International, a charity that provides heart health services to the needy. Visit unleashyourpalate.com for complete schedule of events. –Brian Ries
May – June: Willow Herbal Delights Garden
Going Organic with Willow. Upcoming classes with herbalist Willow LaMonte include: "Growing Your Own Organic Garden" A hands-on guide to starting an annual veggie garden and creating perennial, edible Permaculture gardens. Learn to prepare and enrich living soil, safe composting techniques, mulch, conserving water, companion planting, and inviting beneficial insects and birds to take care of garden pests. (10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat., May 1, $50-$75); "Gathering Wisdom From a Flower: Herbs for Women’s Health" An eight-week class that covers herbal care for adolescent girls; pregnancy preparation, nursing, and weaning; peri- and menopausal women; Plants to ease stress, strengthen immune systems, encourage breast health, support nutritional needs, and benefit skin; Using fresh and dried herbs for teas, tinctures, vinegars, and bath soaks. (May 11 and 25, June 8 and 22, July 6 and 20, and August 3, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m., $100-$150); "Wild Edibles Walk" Meet wild edibles high in nutrition that many of us have growing in our own yards, plus medicinals, wildlife habitat plants, and providers of garden and basket-making supplies. (10 a.m.-noon Fri., June 4 and 10-11:30 a.m. or 1:30-3 p.m. Sat., June 20, $10-$15). Preregistration required for all classes. 2211 Ray Rd., Valrico (813-643-7285)
Tampa Bay Fresh Markets It’s always the perfect season to get fresh, organic local produce at these markets across the Bay:
Corey Sunday Market. The now-annual market returns with more fresh produce, plants and flowers, crafts, foods and live music (9 a.m.-2 p.m., Sundays, Corey Avenue, St. Pete Beach, coreyave.com)
Gulfport Tuesday Fresh Market. This year-round market offers fresh produce and seafood, artwork and live entertainment. (9 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Tuesday on Beach Blvd., in Gulfport’s Florida Waterfront district)
Safety Harbor Farmer’s Market. Florida weather is perfect for getting out of the house and finding fresh, organic produce, plants, flowers, baked and gourmet goodies, along with hand-crafted art and jewelry. Visit cityofsafetyharbor.com for more info. (Thursdays, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Continues through May 27, John Wilson Park, 401 Main St., Safety Harbor)
Pinellas County Market. Farm-fresh produce, natural remedies and home-care products and gardening guides make this weekly market a must-see. (Continues every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through April 17. Visit pinellascounty.org/heritage for more info. Heritage Village, 11909 125th St. N., Pinewood Cultural Park, Largo)
Harvest Marketplace. Outdoor shopping for specialty foods, green creations by local crafters, live music and, of course, fresh eats and fall flavors. (Runs 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursdays through April 23. Ulmer Park, 301 W. Bay Dr., Largo, largo.com)
Sweetwater Market. The organic farm offers straight-from-the-garden produce, fair trade coffee, chocolate and tea, organic clothes and eco-friendly products, all to the tune of live music and often accompanied by yoga or movement classes. (Runs noon to 4 p.m. most Sundays through May 30. Visit sweetwater-organic.org for more info)
Seminole Heights Sunday Morning Market. The newly-inaugurated fresh fest offers an array of seasonal, locally-farmed produce, jams, salsas, fresh-baked desserts, international cuisine, live music, cooking demonstrations, handmade soaps, jewelry and eco-friendly clothing and more. (9 a.m.-1 p.m. second Sunday of each month, Feb.-May, seminoleheightsmarket.com)
This article appears in Apr 21-27, 2010.