Monday, December 21-Wednesday, December 23: Publix Apron’s Cooking School
Dorm Room Dining. Ever wonder what you could create with a toaster oven, a microwave, and an electric skillet? (Assuming they’re allowed in your living quarters; try not to burn the whole building down in the process of creating a shoestring gourmet feast for your friends). Try this three-day course with a menu that includes: (Day 1: Breakfast) sausage gravy and biscuits; the Denver frittata; breakfast taquitos; stuffed French toast; an Jason’s ultimate breakfast. (Day 2: Dinner) chicken stirfry; pepper steak and rice; spaghetti and meatballs; wet burritos; and pizza (say hello to a dorm-living staple); and (Day 3: Late Night Munchies) skillet chili pasta; ultimate nachos; tuna cheesy mac; grilled fluffernutter; and Italian popcorn. $100. 10 a.m., 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa (813-926-4465)
Tuesday, December 22: Publix Apron’s Cooking School
Holiday Cookies. the final countdown to Christmas is on, and you still have half of your family members to find gifts for? Never fear, the cookie is here! In today's class, prepare an assortment of cookies to take home (five dozen — that's enough to make quite a few people happy, including Santa) in varieties like: hidden mint cookies; butterscotch potato chip cookies; rum balls; raspberry thumbprint cookies; white chocolate and cranberry blondies. $35. 6 p.m., 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa (813-926-4465)
Wednesday, December 23: Vino 100
Holiday Wine Tasting. Find the perfect seasonal wine for yourself or your gracious holiday host, paired with palate-pleasing hors d’oeuvres. Free. 5-8 p.m. 5056 4th St. N., St. Petersburg (727-522-8466)
Thursday, December 24: Le Bouchon Bistro
Christmas Eve Dinner. If you've ever seen Better Off Dead, you know that French cooking can be not only a little fancy, but also a little intimidating: French bread, French fries, French onion soup, French toast, just to name a few. All joking aside, Franco-cuisine is as tasty as it is difficult to pronounce. Tonight's menu includes: Chevre chaud aux figues, petite salade, et vinaigrette de tomate (a warm goat cheese and fig Salad with tomato vinaigrette); tortilla d'epinard et St. Jacques roties aux epics (spinach tortilla and roast spice scallops); soupe de fruits de mer (seafood soup) supreme de poulet farcis aux ecrevisses (stuffed chicken breast in crawfish sauce); faux filet grilld contiture d'oignons au vin rouge (grilled New York strip with a red wine onion jam); carre dagneau roti au thym, jus de portobello Persille (roast rack of lamb with sautéed portobello; and Buche de Noel (a Christmas log). Prices vary. 5-10 p.m., 796 N. Indian Rocks Road, Belleair Bluffs (727-585-9777)
Many more events after the break:
This article appears in Dec 16-22, 2009.