If you haven't been able to throw down a few hundred bucks to stay a night at the Don CeSar Beach Resort, the Tampa Bay Wine & Food Festival gives you the chance to experience the lavish hotel for a reduced price while enjoying a variety of culinary delights. Of course, the main event — an Iron Chef-style Titanium Chef Challenge with Robert Irvine of Food Network's Dinner: Impossible — costs just as much as an average night at the hotel ($250). For the more frugal attendees, there are plenty of opportunities to swill and gorge with the rest of the high-rollers at a more nominal cost: a "King of Scotts" comedy-infused scotch whiskey tasting; "Pasta 101-501," a seminar on how to make hand-rolled pasta by the founders of Outback Steakhouse and Carrabba's Italian Grill; and a "Party of the Senses," which features eats by nine Bay area fine dining restaurants along with buckets of ale. All proceeds from the 38 events benefit the Abilities Foundation, a Clearwater-based nonprofit providing services to meet the employment, health, housing and independent living needs of people with disabilities. Thurs.-Sat., May 17-19, times vary, 3400 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach, prices start at $36.05, 866-630-5615, tampabaywineandfoodfestival.com.
This article appears in May 16-22, 2007.
