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Tuesday, October 27: Snookers Grill

Champagne and Sushi. It seems like the words I’m reading are too good to be true, but unless my eyes are deceiving me, it appears that Snookers is offering unlimited — yes, like, all you could ever imbibe — champagne and chef-selected sushi. Those just happen to be two of my favorite delicacies, and though I admit to never having tried them together, it sounds like a damn fine idea. $15. 7-9 p.m., 606 N. Pinellas Ave., Tarpon Springs. (727-937-6665)

Wednesday, October 28: Splash! An Ocean Grill

Kennedy White House Wine Dinner. It’s no run-of-the-mill wine pairing, that’s for sure. Sommelier and foodie Perry Thomas dares you to test your tastebuds against the personal favorites of the Kennedy family, with a menu that includes: Clams Jaqueline, Little Neck clams stuffed with  pernod spinach and watercress, topped with asiago bread crumbs and oven roasted, paired with Chateau La Freynelle, Bordeaux Blanc, 2007; Homard en Bellevue, rock lobster medallions stuffed with a shrimp mousse and asparagus, served in a chilled lobster consommé with caviar-stuffed new potatoes, paired with Jadot, Pouilly Fuisse, 2007; Spring Lamb a la Broche aux Primeurs, lambsickles pan seared and glazed with a rosemary and garlic mint aspic, served with pan roasted thumbelina carrots and truffled fingerling pommes frites, paired with Chateau Bellevue Peycharneau, Bordeaux Superior, 2005; Salade Mimosa, fresh baby spring greens tossed in a light champagne-horseradish vinaigrette, garnished with sliced avocado, lump crab and chopped egg yolk, paired with Piper-Heidsieck 1785 Champagne; and Strawberries Romanoff, Plant City strawberries macerated in Grand Marnier topped with crème anglaise and chantilly cream, paired with Chateau Laribotte, Sauternes, 2003. Reservations required. $90. 7 p.m., 3973 Van Dyke Road, Tampa (813-269-8611)

Many more events after the break:

Wednesday, October 28: The NoHo Bistro

A Palette for Your Palate. The bistro’s ingenious culinary team pairs five tapas tastings with a new wine each week. Tonight’s Cabernet palette promises to provide a soul-warming welcome for cooler weather. $15. 5-8 p.m., 1714 N. Armenia Ave., Tampa (813-514-0691)

Wednesday, October 28: Cork and Olive Carrollwood

How To Be a Wine Snob When It Matters. Let's face it: no one wants to be the person at a dinner party asking where the ice bucket for the red wine is -- unless, perhaps, it's a Malbec or Rioja. See? Learning the little rules of wine etiquette can go a long way. Tonight, the mysteries of wine culture are revealed -- like what to do with the cork when a waiter puts it on the table, how to hold your glass of grapes, what to look for in a wine and more. An, of course, you get to try four wines, too. $10. 6:30-8:30 p.m., 10019 N Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa (813-868-3733)

Wednesday, October 28: Rigatoni Tuscan Oven

Wild Tuscan Wednesdays. Indulge in decadent seafood at dirt-cheap prices on high-end items like all-you-can-eat Alaskan snow crab and oysters, along with beer and pasta specials. $7-$22. 5-10 p.m., 3437 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa (813-879-7000)

Thursday, October 29: The NoHo Bistro

Spooky Halloween Wine Dinner. Everyone’s in the spirit of the season, and this dinner — hosted by wine afficionado Taylor Eason — offers plenty of treats (and maybe a few tricks!) for your palate with an array of fall flavors. The menu includes: grilled roasted red pepper polenta with mascarpone and arugula pesto; spiced pumpkin soup served in mini pumpkins with pumpernickel bat croutons (creepy croutons, oh my!); grilled quail quarter and poached quail egg with sautéed beet greens and rainbow chard, bourbon vanilla-infused onions and macerated grapes; crawfish-stuffed veal noisette with nantua sauce, squid ink risotto and a pancetta demiglace; and for dessert, a mini trick-or-treat plate with small bite-sized versions of the treats in your sack! $45. 6:30-8:30 p.m., 1714 N. Armenia Ave., Tampa (813-514-0691)

Thursday, October 29: St. Petersburg Woman's Club

Foodie Fun Fix. Red Mesa Chef Chris Fernandez and Z Grille Chef (and James Beard Foundation award finalist) Zach Gross are your personal chefs and cooking instructors for the evening, demonstrating a four-course meal from soup to dessert, each accompanied by a perfectly paired wine. $50. 6:30-8:30 p.m., 40 Snell Isle Blvd. NE, St. Petersburg (727-239-8320)

Thursday, October 29: L'Eden Restaurant

Tasting Food and Wine from France and Italy. Two of the world's most famously appetizing cuisines come together for a night of palate-pleasing bliss. Dinner is accompanied by eight, count 'em, eight wines, including Piper-Heidsieck NV Brut, Chateau La Freynelle Sauvignon Blanc, Domaine de Nizas Carignon and Chateau Laroque St. Emillon Grand Cru from France; and Laguna Catulliana White Friuli, Grappello Discobolo Rosso, Vasori Merlot Shiraz and Brumner Merlot from Italy. $30. 6-8 p.m., 500 N. Tampa St., Tampa (813-221-4795)

Thursday, October 29: Rigatoni Tuscan Oven

Halloween Party. No plain-clothed folks allowed: Anyone who wants in on this night of live music, costume contests and tasty hors d’oeuvres should dress to impress in a spook-tacular costume. Proceeds benefit the Hillsborough Achievement and Resource Centers. $20. 5:30 p.m., 3437 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa (813-879-7000)

Friday, October 30: Publix Apron’s Cooking School

Couples Cooking: Flavors of Spain. Dinner can turn into a nightly nightmare faster than you can say "Peel the poatoes." Learn to work with your significant other and a few new tasty recipes in this cooking course that doubles as couples therary. The menu includes: Valencia empanadas filled with tuna, tomatoes, and capers; crab and avocado salad with a roasted garlic saffron vinaigrette; paella a la Valencia with chicken and chorizo; and bizcochos borrachos -- sponge cake drizzled with brandy, lemon and cinnamon -- all paired with savory Spanish wines. $80 per couple. 6 p.m., 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa (813-926-4465)

Friday, October 30: Mazzaro’s Italian Market

Weekly Wine Tasting. Try Tuscan Reds, Sangiovese and a unique chardonnay-grechetto blend. Free. 1-5 p.m., 2209 22nd Ave. N., St. Petersburg (727-312-2400)

Friday, October 30: Ruth's Chris Steak House

Terlato Wine Dinner. Tonight's four-course meal includes: A jumbo lump crabcake with sizzling lemon butter paired with Chimney Rock Winery Elevage Blanc; a harvest salad paired with Cuvaison Chardonnay; a New York strip with au poivre sauce paired with Markham Petite Sirah; and chocolate sin cake paired with Tiramisu Liqueur. $69.95. 6:30-9 p.m., 1700 N. West Shore Blvd., Tampa (813-282-1118)

Friday, October 30: Bern's Fine Wines and Spirits

Catena Seminar Crush Hour. Alfredo Bartholomaus visits from the Nicolas Catena vineyard to share three selections from the Classic Series, three from the Alta Series, and two limited edition wines: the 2006 Catena Zapata Adrianna Vineyards Malbec and the 2006 Nicolas Catena Zapata Cabernet Sauvignon. $25. 6:30 p.m., 1002 S. Howard Ave, Tampa (813-250-9463)

Saturday, October 31: Cork and Olive Carrollwood

HalloWine. Adults deserve some trick-or-treat fun, too, and this event is the perfect fix: sample a selection of wine and beer, get in on the costume contest and dive into devilishly delicious hors d'oeuvres. Free. 7-9 p.m., 10019 N Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa (813-868-3733)

Saturday, October 31: Uncorked Fine Wine and Spirits

Scary Wines. They're just saying that to put you in the Halloween mood; the only spooky thing about these wines is that they're scarily good. $10. 6:30-8:30 p.m., 2706 Fourth St. N., St. Petersburg (727-892-9463)

Saturday, October 31: Mazzaro’s Italian Market

Saturday Sampler. Today's spirited (get it?) theme is Trick-or-Treat. The brown-bag tasting includes an array of wines from around the world -- test your palate and discover which wines are a treat for your palate. Free. 11 a.m.-2 p.m., 2209 22nd Ave. N., St. Petersburg (727-312-2400)

Monday, November 2: Bern's Fine Wines and Spirits

French Wine Class. Many of the most beloved and recognizable flavor profiles in the world of wine hail from France; tonight, explore the Bordeaux region with a tasting lesson on Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon. $40. 6:30-8:30 p.m., 1002 S. Howard Ave, Tampa (813-250-9463)

Wednesday, November 4: Snookers Grill

Champagne and Sushi. It seems like the words I’m reading are too good to be true, but unless my senses are deceiving me, it appears that Snookers is offering unlimited — yes, like, all you could ever imbibe — champagne and chef-selected sushi. Those just happen to be two of my favorite delicacies, and though I admit to never having tried them together, it sounds like a damn fine idea. $15. 7-9 p.m., 606 N. Pinellas Ave., Tarpon Springs. (727-937-6665)

Thursday, November 5: Carrollwood Cultural Center

Teach and Taste Wine. Wine guide Charles Visalli leads this series of workshops on wine etiquette, how to sample wine when dining out, wine varietals, the art of pairing food with wine and more. This week’s focus is “food, cheese and dessert wine pairings.” E-mail timeforwine@tampabay.rr.com to reserve a spot. $25, $20 for CCC members. 6-7:30 p.m., 4537 Lowell Road, Tampa (813-269-1310)

Friday, November 6: Mazzaro’s Italian Market

Weekly Wine Tasting. Guzzle the grapes of France and Argentina, with a spotlight on the Dona Paula and La Vieille Ferme wineries. Free. 1-5 p.m., 2209 22nd Ave. N., St. Petersburg (727-312-2400)

Saturday, November 7: Nature’s Food Patch

Autumn Harvest. Chef Debby Degraaff shows the class how to create succulent seasonal favorites like vegetable pot pie with a biscuit topping and cranberry orange parfait. Free. 11 a.m., 1225 Cleveland St., Clearwater (727-443-6703)

Saturday, November 7: Mazzaro’s Italian Market

Saturday Sampler. Try warming Montepulcianos and Syrahs, and a California vino from winemaker Brian Page. Free. 11 a.m.-2 p.m., 2209 22nd Ave. N., St. Petersburg (727-312-2400)

Thursday, November 19: Carrollwood Cultural Center

Teach and Taste Wine. Wine guide Charles Visalli leads this series of workshops on wine etiquette, how to sample wine when dining out, wine varietals, the art of pairing food with wine and more. This week’s focus is “elements of terroir on wines.” E-mail timeforwine@tampabay.rr.com to reserve a spot. $25, $20 for CCC members. 6-7:30 p.m., 4537 Lowell Road, Tampa (813-269-1310)

Sunday, November 22: Gateway Organic Farm

Gateway Organic Farm Dinner. Some of the Bay Area’s most well-known chefs — Tyson Grant of Parkshore Grill in St. Pete, Matt Tracy from the St. Petersburg Yacht Club, and Chris Knowles from Sea Sea Riders, to name a few — create a six-course charity dinner with food taken straight from the Clearwater farm and from other local producers. The chefs prepare and serve fresh organic vegetables, along with local and organic meat, fish, and wines in the Gateway Organic Farm garden. The chefs request that all attendees “Please bring your favorite dinner plate to add to the conversation as you dine with local farmers, artisan, and chefs.” A pre-dinner reception includes hors d’oeuvres, wine and a farm tour. Proceeds from the event benefit Edu-kitchen, which teaches families the benefits of community sustainable agriculture. Vegetarian dishes available — please ask. $150 per person or $250 per couple. 4 p.m., 6000 150th Ave. N., Clearwater, (727-244-0724)