We're so ready for the weekend. Here's a rundown on five food and drink events to help you kick back until Monday.
Between 6 and 9 p.m. Friday, taste a curated selection of Italian & French Reds with Winesmith, including a Minervois (syrah/carignan), Bourgogne pinot noir, old vine, French cabernet sauvignon, and Tuscan sangiovese blend. Brooklyn South meat and cheese boards are on hand for pairings, and guests purchase tickets at the door. $15. 1620 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 727-826-0791.
Crooked Thumb Brewery's two-day Girl Scout Cookie-Inspired Beer Release — now in its third year — is back. On Saturday, attendees can stop by as early as 10 a.m. to score bottles of the chocolate mint imperial stout or s'mores imperial stout, which cost $16 each; limits are determined the day of. Once the clock strikes noon, the imperial stouts are tapped alongside another duo: a chocolate coconut doppelbock and a chocolate peanut butter porter. Expect booths from the Girl Scouts themselves, too. (The timeline for Sunday's festivities are the same, minus the bottle sales.) Free, money for beer. 555 10th Ave. S., Safety Harbor, 727-724-5953.
On Saturday, the latest Meetup for the Tampa Bay Ale Trail, a taproom hop of sorts that CL covered over the summer, takes place at Tampa Bay Brewing Company Westchase's new pop-up beer trailer (located behind the brewery near the festival field). Local beer buffs are encouraged to attend and connect with passport holders — whether they're Ale Trail hikers or not — over their shared love of brewed goodness from 4 to 7 p.m. Newbies who purchase a passport for $15 earn a free pint, too. Free, money for beer. 13937 Monroe's Business Park, Tampa, 813-247-1422.
A brunch get-together put on by two former Rooster & the Till sous chefs, Benjamin Pomales and Antonio Santiago, is at it again, featuring a refreshed menu behind the bar of Urban Bungalow's Bungalow Coffee. Reservations aren't required for Sunday's Return of the Brunch, and all guests have to do is step right up to the order counter. Dishes include the savory and the sweet, plus sides, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free, money for food. 6500 N. Florida Ave., Tampa, 813-712-9894.
Vegabond Chef Brad Myers demonstrates how to prepare a Vegan Japanese meal of summer rolls, tempeh pot-stickers and dipping sauces. Participants must sign up for the cooking class, hosted at 4 p.m. Sunday, by visiting or calling Nature Food Patch's Customer Care counter. Free. 1225 Cleveland St., Clearwater, 727-443-6703.
This article appears in Feb 22 – Mar 1, 2018.
