Tuesday, February 9: Roy’s

Australian Wine Dinner and Bottle Signing. Winemaker John L’archet hosts tonight’s dinner to share some of his secrets, sign bottles and recommend wines for your sophisticated palate. Chef Kiel provides a fabulous five-course meal, perfectly paired with delectable selections from down under. $75. 6:30-9 p.m., 4342 W. Boy Scout Blvd., Tampa (813-873-7697)

Tuesday, February 9: Uncorked Fine Wine and Spirits

Uncorked Wine Academy. Hit the books (and the bottle!) with a certified sommelier at this wine-centric course that covers pairing food and wine; tasting techniques; grape varietals; how wine makes it from the vineyard to the glass;  and how to distinguish the flavors that make your tastebuds tingle. Reservations required. $50. 7-9 p.m., 2706 Fourth Street N., St. Petersburg (727-892-9463)

Thursday, February 11: Mazzaro’s Italian Market

Night Tasting with Vincenzo Protti and Giampaolo Tabarrini. The market’s locally-revered meats and cheeses are perfectly paired with more than 50 selections of vino from Italy, including the highly-rated Fontodi’s Flacianello 2006, all hosted by the vintners of the Bosco del Merlo and Vescine Wineries. $30. 7-9 p.m., 2209 22nd Ave N., St. Petersburg (727-321-2400)

Thursday, February 11 – Sunday, February 14: Cafe Dufrain

Valentine’s Day Chef Menu. If you’re going for decadence, you can’t beat this weekend-long Chef-selected menu that includes: a selection of fluke sashini with white miso, asian pear, ginger pickled cucumbers and a jasmine rice croquette; seasonal oysters with a cocktail mignonette and tabasco granite; organic mixed greens with heirloom tomato, red onion, roast garlic crouton and a mustard celery vinaigrette; warm confit of organic mushrooms with roasted black garlic cloves, chevre and a grilled baguette; or Kurboto pork cheeks with fried green tomato, smoked bacon and a sweet onion marmalade. The main course offers a gingered yellowfin tuna with wok-fried bok choy, steamed oxtail dumplings and a shiitake consomme; organic smart chicken, harissa spiced, with preserved lemon israeli couscous, chickpea cake and pachadi; Korean barbecue buffalo short ribs with lemongrass scented jasmine rice, kimchee trio and bibb lettuce; roast Berkshire pork with yucca gratin, crisp sweet plantain and a grapefruit avocado relish; and a duo of fennel pollen-dusted maine lobster, american kobe flat iron with chantrelle cream and anson mills creamy polenta; for dessert, choose from carrot cake with mascarpone icing and pecan butter cream cheese ice cream; a chocolate five-spice sorbet with chocolate salted cashew cake and cocoa foam; and baked Fuji apples with walnut praline tart, warm caramel, cinnamon ice cream and streusel crumbs. $50 per person. 707 Harbour Post Drive, Harbour Island, Tampa (813-275-9701)

Friday, February 12: World of Wines South Tampa

Get Some Wine for your Valentine. It’s trite but true: nothing sets the mood for a romantic evening like a good bottle of wine. Today’s hors d’oeuvres-paired pours include: Mustang Sally Shiraz; Pristine Chardonnay; Nordic Frost Riesling; Three’s Company GSM; Black Sheep SMM; Thousand Words Chardonnay; Thoroughbred Cabernet; and Choc-o-Bloc Tawny. $10. 6-8 p.m., 3431 S. West Shore Blvd., Tampa (813-835-9463)

Many, many more food, wine and Valentine’s event after the break:

This article appears in Feb 3-9, 2010.