In between Taste of Pride, rounding out St. Paddy's Day revelry, Sawgrass Tiki Bar & Tea House's block party and anniversary bash, and marveling at the world's largest Cuban sandwich (or the big sandwich showdown's entries), add these five food and drink events to your weekend roster.
Tampa's Urban Conga design firm has provided Commune + Co. with a venue for its latest pop-up coffee bar. Until April 2, Commune + Co. will feature tastes like espresso and its pressure-brewed, nitro-tapped cold brew, plus a pour-over bar, apple fritters and more. The pop-up bar's hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Free, money for food and drinks. 2744 N. Florida Ave., Tampa.
Help out the Muscular Dystrophy Association at the Chili Blaze, served up as part of an annual cooking competition. This event with all-you-can-eat chili samples is hosted by the Pinellas Park Firefighters, and it runs from 6 to 11 p.m. Friday at England Brothers Bandshell Park. $10. 5010 81st Ave. N., Pinellas Park, 727-541-0845.
Between noon and 10 p.m. Saturday, kick back with a pint of suds during Spring Beer Fling in downtown St. Pete. At The Coliseum, beer gardens will feature beloved local craft breweries, and guests can also snack on beer-infused bites. The day's live performances are set to include Rusted Root, The Broadcast and Luxury Mane. Tickets are available online. $17-$125. 535 Fourth Ave. N., St. Petersburg, 727-892-5202.
Taste special recipes from local survivors and their families at the Florida Holocaust Museum's 2nd Annual Passover Cook-off. Hosted at 2 p.m. Sunday, the downtown St. Pete event will also have June Hersh, author of Recipes Remembered: A Celebration of Survival, speak. To contribute a dish to the cook-off, call Erin Blankenship at 727-820-0100 (ext. 271). Free. 55 Fifth St. S., St. Petersburg.
There's something to "carrot" a lot about during a raw foods cooking class, taught by Vagabond Chef Brad Myers, at 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Students will learn to make raw carrot cake that's spicy and sweet at Clearwater's Nature's Food Patch. Free. 1225 Cleveland St., Clearwater, 727-443-6703.
This article appears in Mar 17-23, 2016.