Wednesday, October 19: Bianchi's Enoteca
It's "Pasta Wednesday" at Bianchi's and that means they're serving up yet another pasta special. This week, get a dish of Spaghetti Bolognese and a glass of wine for $19.95. The catch: only 10 orders will be made and it's first come, first serve. 6-8 p.m. 3215 S MacDill Ave. Suite G, Tampa, 813-837-2233, bianchisenoteca.com
Wednesday, October 19: Whole Foods Market
Chef Stephanie Mifsud will teach guests make delicious sweet and savory crepes and how to bring the refined flavors of France into your kitchen. This class will be held in the store café. Please register by the exit lobby or by emailing Maria.Gumina@wholefoods.com. Free; 6:30-7:30 p.m. 1548 North Dale Mabry Hwy, Tampa. 813-874-9435, wholefoodsmarket.com
Thursday, October 20: St. Petersburg Museum of Fine Arts
Italian food virtuosa Toni Lydecker (MFA director Kent Lydecker's wife) will be signing copies of her new book, Piatto Unico: When One Course Makes a Real Italian Meal, at the St. Pete MFA. She will be donating all proceeds from this event to the museum. Call for more information. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. 255 Beach Drive NE, St. Pete, 727-896-2667, fine-arts.org
Thursday-Sunday, October 20-23: Cooters Restaurant & Bar
Cooters' Annual Crab Fest is a four-day celebration of Stone crab season, featuring specials on crab in all forms and fashion — Florida Stone Crab Claws, as well as King, Snow and Dungeness crab. Starts at 5 p.m. Thursday and runs until close on Sunday. 423 Poinsettia Ave., Clearwater Beach, 727-462-2668, cooters.com
Thursday, October 20: The Ale and the Witch
To kick off their Thursday Night Brewery Series, The Ale and the Witch will be featuring Southern Tier brews, including the Pale Ale, Un*Earthly Imperial IPA, Inequity Black IPA and Pumpking. Grab a "flight" tasting of all four paired with a cheese plate. They'll also be raffling off T-shirts, glasses and two Tampa Bay Lightning tickets for Saturday (10/22) game vs. the Buffalo Sabres. Live music by Christie Lenee at 9 p.m. Free event; 6-9 p.m. 111 2nd Ave NE, St. Pete, 727-821-ALE3, thealeandthewitch.com
Thursday, October 20: Byblos Cafe
Tampa Bay Uncorked is hosting another fun-filled happy hour at South Tampa's Byblos Cafe. Enjoy a variety of discounted wines by the glass, complimentary Mediterranean-inspired appetizers and Byblos' newly renovated patio. Proceeds to benefit the Southernmost AIDS Ride 2011 (SMART Ride 2011). RSVP at tampabayuncorked.com. $10 (at the door only); 6-9 p.m. 2832 S. MacDill Ave., Tampa, 813-805-7977.
Thursday, October 20: A Taste for Wine
Tampa Bay Uncorked is hosting another tasting on the other side of the bridge this evening at Downtown St. Pete's A Taste for Wine. Enjoy a variety of discounted wines by the glass, and complimentary appetizers. Proceeds to benefit the Southernmost AIDS Ride 2011 (SMART Ride 2011). RSVP at tampabayuncorked.com. $10 (at the door only); 6-8 p.m. 242 Central Ave., St. Pete, 727-895-1623.
Thursday, October 20: Palm Harbor Library
Join Chef Warren Caterson wrote the award-winning cookbook, Table for Two — The Cookbook for Couples, as he shares dozens of kitchen tips, cooking hints and humorous anecdotes about the joys and challenges of cooking for two. His presentation will end with a cooking demonstration that you can replicate at home. Space is limited; register online (www.palmharborlibrary.org), in person at the Adult Services Desk, or by phone at 727-784-3332, Ext. 3006. Free; 6:30-7:30 p.m. 2330 Nebraska Avenue, Palm Harbor.
Thursday, October 20: Total Wine & More – St. Pete
This beer will be a classic 'Old World' vs. 'New World' style comparison and taste of brewing history. Savor classically-brewed beers from countries such as Germany, Belgium, and England alongside North American beers brewed with inspiration from these old world brewing styles. Includes beer selections, tasting sheets, take home educational materials, and discounts on the beer presented in class. RSVP required. $15; 6:30-8:30 p.m. 4880 Park Street N., St. Pete, 727-544-6018, totalwine.com
Thursday, October 20: Whole Foods Market
Parmesan, mozzarella, blue cheese, Gouda, brie, goat, cheddar — who doesn’t love cheese? Learn the basics of cheese with WFM cheese expert Erik Woody and sample a few wines paired with the cheeses to bring out their flavor and richness. This class will be held in the store café. Please register by the exit lobby or by emailing Maria.Gumina@wholefoods.com. Free; 6:30-7:30 p.m. 1548 North Dale Mabry Hwy, Tampa. 813-874-9435, wholefoodsmarket.com
Thursday, October 20: Mazzaro's Italian Market
Indulge all of your senses at Mazzaro's 'A Night of Wine & Fire', benefiting The Abilities Foundation. Stroll through the entire store savoring tasty Casa Vinicola Zonin wines, breathtaking artwork from Duncan McClellan Glass and world-renown glass artist Massimilano Schiavon, glass-blowing demonstrations from Zen Glass, live Italian music, silent auction, and the best cuisine this side of Italy. Proceeds support job placement services for returning disabled veterans. Purchase tickets here. For more information call 727-538-7370 x234. $60 per person, $100 per couple; 7 p.m. 2909 22nd Ave. N., St. Pete, mazzarosmarket.com
Friday-Sunday, October 21-23: Frenchy's Restaurants
They're baaaack! Crawling their way to make a yearly appearance on Clearwater Beach, Stone Crabs will be infesting all four Frenchy's locations for the 27th Annual Stone Crab Weekend. Though highly dangerous and, well, crabby when provoked, the stone crab's sweet and tender meat is a highly prized delicacy in these parts. Frenchy’s Original Café (41 Baymont St.), Frenchy’s Saltwater Café (419 Poinsettia Ave.), Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill (7 Rockaway St.) and Frenchy’s South Beach Café (351 S. Gulfview Blvd.) will be serving up Stone Crab specials all weekend, and the crabs will also be available for sale to-go at wholesale prices. Live music and diversions for all ages at the aforementioned venues all weekend. Free event; Clearwater Beach, frenchysonline.com
Friday, October 21: The Fresh Market – St. Pete
Check out this free, step-by-step presentation at The Fresh Market stores in October. Guests are invited to drop in any time during the event and learn how to prepare Garlic Sage Pork with Butternut Squash Sauce, Fall Fennel Salad with Blood Orange Vinaigrette and Pure Dark Hot Drinking Chocolate. Free; 4-7 p.m. 2900 4th St. N., St. Pete, 727-822-4913, thefreshmarket.com
Friday and Saturday, October 21-22: Taste Cafe Safety Harbor
Enjoy the cooler weather, beer and wine tastings and live music at Taste Cafe's "beer garden" every Friday and Saturday evening throughout the fall season. Call for more information. 5-7 p.m. 500 Main St., Safety Harbor, 727-723-1116, tastesafetyharbor.com
Friday and Saturday, October 21-22: Florida Orange Groves Winery
It's Florida Orange Grove's 9th Annual Haunted Winery this weekend! Guests can tour the transformed winery (if they dare) and taste an array of their fruit wines and hors d'oeuvres. Admission includes a souvenir glass and all food and drink. 21 and up (not for the kiddies). Limited "plots" available; call to RSVP. $10; 6-8:30 p.m. 1500 Pasadena Ave. S., St. Pete, 727-347-4025, floridawine.com
Friday, October 21: Polk Museum of Art
Red, White & the Blues captures a night of music, art, food and wine. Polk Museum of Art's 10th annual wine tasting and blues concert features veteran bluesman Joe Louis Walker, Tampa Bay blues artist Selwyn Birchwood, great food, wine and craft beers. Walker has played with musicians as diverse as B.B. King, Thelonius Monk and Jimi Hendrix, has released 22 albums in only 26 years. Birchwood is an up-and-comer who recently performed alongside Buddy Guy and John Lee Hooker. Purchase tickets here. $30, $65 VIP; 6:30 p.m. 800 E. Palmetto St., Lakeland, 863-688-7743 x240, polkmuseumofart.org
Friday, October 21: Roy's
Indulge in this five-course Bosco del Merlo & Vescine Tuscan wine pairing dinner at Roy's and get the chance to meet winemaker Vincenzo Protti. Seating limited; RSVP required. $85; 6:30-9 p.m. 4342 W. Boy Scout Blvd., Tampa, 813-873-7697, roysrestaurant.com
Friday, October 21: Cheese Please
Taste seven to eight new cheeses each week at Cheese Please's Friday night tastings. This week they'll be pairing cheeses with German beers in celebration of Oktoberfest. RSVP required. $20; 7 p.m. 4213 S Manhattan Ave., Tampa, 813-766-0060, cheesepleasetampa.com
Friday, October 21: St. Petersburg Museum of Fine Arts
Get a taste of some seriously amazing craft beers and gourmet bites with them, plus a membership to the MFA, at this 'Art on Tap' event. Tickets include beer samplings from American brewers (Southern Tier, Victory, Cold Storage and more), food pairings from the Renaissance Vinoy, a souvenir cup and t-shirt, free range to peruse the gallery, and admission to the after party at Marchand’s Bar & Grill at the Vinoy Resort, complete with dessert bar (10 p.m.- midnight). 21 and up. Purchase tickets at the MFA or World of Beer St. Pete (5226 4th Street N.), or online here. $45; 7-10 p.m. 255 Beach Drive NE, St. Pete, 727-896-2667, fine-arts.org
Friday, October 21: Vintage Wine Cellars
Taste 13 new reds and whites, plus get a case deal tonight only. Purchase a full mixed case of wines for $99 and a free bottle will be thrown in as well. $10; 7-9 p.m. 3629 Henderson Blvd., Tampa, 813-879-2931, vintagewinecellars.net
Friday, October 21: Willard's Tap House
Show those macro breweries you're over their mass produced swill and support craft breweries at the 'Occupy Willard's' event. Wear your craft beer gear and bring protest signs. Prizes will be awarded for the best signs. Tapping a firkin of Avery duganA for the cause! Free event; 8 p.m. 12500 Starkey Rd., Largo, 727-581-8600, willardstaphouse.com
Saturday, October 22: Christ Fellowship of Tampa Church, Seminole Heights
The Tampa Food Truck Rally is back for round 2, bringing even more food trucks and trailers, more space, and much cooler weather this go-round. Some tips to make the experience more enjoyable: Bring a chair or two, bring friends and get them to stand in different lines to share a variety of items, wear sunscreen and carpool if you can. Free event; 11 a.m.-3 p.m. 300 E. Sligh Ave., Tampa, tastingtampa.com
Saturday, October 22: Safford House
Watch Nick Koulianos demonstrate how to prepare octopus two ways — grilled and pickled — at this Tarpon Springs Cultural Treasures cooking class. Registration required. $20; 12-2 p.m. 23 Parkin Court, Tarpon Springs, 727-942-5605, tarponarts.org
Saturday, October 22: The Fresh Market – Carrollwood
Check out this free, step-by-step presentation at The Fresh Market stores in October. Guests are invited to drop in any time during the event and learn how to prepare Garlic Sage Pork with Butternut Squash Sauce, Fall Fennel Salad with Blood Orange Vinaigrette and Pure Dark Hot Drinking Chocolate. Free; 3-6 p.m. 13147 N. Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa, 813-964-8001, thefreshmarket.com
Saturday, October 22: Station Square Park, Clearwater
Clearwater's Second Annual Book and Wine Festival will feature a large selection of quality used books for sale, gourmet food, wine, and event merchandise. The festival will include entertainment in Station Square Park, readings and author-led discussions. Specials guests will be Tim Dorsey, popular Florida author and former Tampa Tribune reporter, and community development expert Peter Kageyama, author of For the Love of Cities. Find out more information here. Free; 4-9 p.m. 628 Cleveland St., Clearwater.
Saturday, October 22: Sweetwater Organic Community Farm
Celebrate another growing season at Sweetwater's 9th Annual Planters Ball, complete with great food, organic beer and wine, live local music provided by Rob Irie, and a raffle drawing. Bring your family, a covered dish to share, and enjoy a salad made with the farm's first farm-fresh veggies of the season, plus bread and dessert provided by Whole Foods Market. $10 for adults, $5 for kids; 6-10 p.m. 6942 W. Comanche Avenue, Tampa, 727-505-4587, sweetwater-organic.org
Saturday, October 22: Tarpon Springs Yacht Club
It'll be a laid-back evening of food, fun and music at the Tarpon Springs Yacht Club's Stone Crab Fest this Saturday. Proceeds from this event will support the educational mission of the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art. Live music by De Lei'ed Parrots. $65 at the door; 6:30 p.m. 350 N. Spring Blvd., Tarpon Springs, 727-712-5227.
Saturday, October 22: Tampa Bay History Center
The Tampa Bay History Center and Cigar City Brewing are teaming up to host HISTeria — an adults only Halloween bash. Ticket price includes food from some of Tampa best restaurants, free valet parking, complimentary drinks (CCB beers!) and admission to the traveling exhibit Out of This World: Extraordinary Costumes from Film and Television. $50 in advance, $60 at the door, $40 for members before 10/22; 8-11 p.m. 801 Old Water Street, Tampa, histeriaevent.org
Sunday, October 23: Seminole Heights, Tampa
Experience the tastes and sounds of Tampa's charming Seminole Heights district during the Second Annual Taste of the Heights event. Each of the ten stops on this "crawl" will offer something completely different and will feature shady bistro seating where attendees can get a taste of the various eateries that Seminole Heights has to offer, including: Ella's Americana Folk Art Cafe, Front Porch Grill, The Independent, Reservations Gourmet-To-Go, Cappy's Pizza, The Refinery and many more. In addition to the food and drink, live, local bands will be performing at every stop. Ticket prices include all food and drink tastings – buy them early online! A portion of proceeds benefits HeavenCent Hospitality House, a home for organ transplant patients and their families. $20; 12:30-4:30 p.m. Starts at the Welcome Tent on the Northeast corner of Nebraska Ave. and E Chelsea St., Tampa, taste-of-the-heights.com
Monday, October 24: Whole Foods Market
Shop at Whole Foods Market today and 5% of the day’s net sales will be donated to Sweetwater Organic Community Farm: a nonprofit community-supported urban organic farm and environmental education center in Tampa. Meet volunteers from Sweetwater and learn about organic farming. Stock up on your groceries and support a grassroots local cause! 9 a.m.-9 p.m. 1548 North Dale Mabry Hwy, Tampa. 813-874-9435, wholefoodsmarket.com
Monday, October 24: Mo’ Ziki
Dine in for lunch or dinner at the fast-casual Mo’ Ziki Greek restaurant in Largo today to benefit the 'LIVESTRONG at the YMCA of Suncoast's program for cancer survivors. Open seating; no reservations required. 11 a.m.-9 p.m. 10801 Starkey Road, Largo.
Monday, October 24: The Roosevelt 2.0
Celebrate the First Annual National Food Day! Tampa Urban Food Forum will be hosting an event aimed to support the local food system here in Tampa. The event will include local urban farmers and gardeners, small farmers, CSAs, food co-ops and local vendors advocating for a safe and local food economy. There will also be a screening the documentary, Urban Roots, which shows the transformation of the Detroit landscape from abandoned buildings into beautiful urban farms. Workshops by local community gardens and other grow-your-own food initiatives, to work-days on farms, individuals and small businesses will provide expert advise on techniques and equipment to start a garden at your own home. Purchase tickets here. $10 in advance, $6 for students and seniors, $12 at the door; 6 p.m. (screening at 7 :30 p.m.) 1812 N. 15th St., Ybor, creativityincommerce.com, facebook.com/pages/Tampa-Urban-Food-Forum
Monday, October 24: The Studio@620
Join the Slow Food Tampa Bay group at The Studio@620 as they host a screening of the food documentary FRESH — focusing on sustainable agriculture, and depicts farmers, activists and entrepreneurs who are changing America's food system. Bonus: The first 100 attendees will receive a Chipotle Mexican Grill t-shirt and free burrito card for their next visit, and for just $5, get a Chipotle dinner to eat then and there before the film (proceeds will benefit the St. Petersburg Saturday Morning Market to help fund a Solar Vermi-Converter compost machine). $5; 7 p.m. 620 1st Ave. S., St. Pete, 727-895-6620, studio620.org, slowfoodtampabay.org
Tuesday, October 25: Publix Aprons Cooking School – Tampa
Brooklyn Brewery's own brewmaster and the foremost authority in the United States on the subject of traditional beer, Garrett Oliver, will be conducting a cooking demo at the Publix Aprons Tampa Classroom on October 25th. Garrett authored a book on pairing beer with food called "The Brewmaster's Table: Discovering the Pleasures of Real Beer With Real Food." The menu will include: Apple and Goat Cheese Omelette with Brooklyn Sorachi Ace, Linguine Carbonara with Brooklyn Local 2, Curried Crab Cake with Brooklyn East India Pale Ale, Lamb Scottadito with Brooklyn Brown Ale, and Black Chocolate Stout and Vanilla Ice Cream Float. Limited seating; purchase tickets online here ASAP. $45; 6:30 p.m. 7835 Gunn Hwy., Tampa, 813-926-4465, publix.com/aprons/schools/Tampa
This article appears in Oct 13-19, 2011.