Tuesday, March 2: Mazzaro's Italian Market
Lidia Bastianich. The Italian dynamo does it all: cookbook author (Lidia’s Family Table, Lidia’s Italian American Kitchen and Lidia’s Italian Table), TV show host (Lidia's Italy), restauranteur (Felidia, Del Posto, Becco) and Beard Award-winning chef, Bastianich stops by Mazzaro's (where else?) for a meet and greet with adoring foodie fans. Free. 2-4 p.m., 2902 22nd Ave. N., St. Petersburg (727-321-2400)
Wednesday, March 3: Dubliner Irish Pub
Bushmills Whiskey Dinner. Forget green beer, a true Irishman drinks whiskey. Practice for St. Paddy's at tonight's five-course, whiskey-paired dinner, hosted by Whiskey Master Marcy Rudershausen, with a menu that includes: a plaughmans platter paired with Blackbush Old Fashioned; Beef Wellington paired with Bushmills 16 year single malt; cedar plank salmon and spinach salad paired with Bushmills 21 year single malt; rack of lamb paired with Bushmill 1608 Anniversary; and Irish biscuits paired with Bushmills Irish Coffee. $65. 7 p.m., 12836 Henderson Rd., Tampa (813-300-2076)
Wednesday, March 3: 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)
Friday, March 5: St. Petersburg Nights
Soviet Bloc Wine Tasting. A dozen wines are on pour tonight, complemented by a performance by Boris & Sax. Free. 6:30 p.m., 6800 Sunset Way, St. Pete Beach (727-363-3832)
Many more events after the break:
This article appears in Feb 24 – Mar 2, 2010.