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:
This article appears in Nov 25 – Dec 1, 2009.