Third Coast Cuisine

St. Petersburg, FL (May 14, 2010) The Abilities Foundation, along with six Tampa Bay area restaurants, announce ‘The Italian Lifestyle Wine Dinners’ series May 31 through June 1.  The series will showcase local chefs matching versatile, value-priced Italian wines with nontraditional Italian cuisine. Each restaurant will feature a 6:30 pm, four-course wine dinner for $39.99, all inclusive with the following lineup: Paddy Burkes Irish Pub - May 31; Middle Grounds Grill - June 1; Savannah's Cafe - June 2; MADFISH - June 3; Roy's - June 4; and The VENUE - June 5.

Ten dollars from each reservation will benefit job placement services for Disabled Veterans returning from Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom who have suffered combat-related injuries.

This unprecedented dinner series will showcase local chefs matching versatile, value-priced Zonin Italian wines with nontraditional Italian cuisine at different restaurants each night for six consecutive nights and will have an educational ‘food and wine enthusiast’ theme throughout. Restaurants will feature a four or five-course wine dinner, Zonin representatives and Italian guest speakers, a live auction of chef dinners, wine, and Rays memorabilia, and dinner wines for sale at discount prices.

For more information, including a full listing of food and wine pairings, reservations and venue listings, please visit: www.abilitiesfoundation.com.

The Abilities Foundation is a nonprofit organization that has helped thousands of Floridians with disabilities obtain mainstream jobs and affordable housing. Zonin USA is Italy’s largest wine producer. Their wines are distributed Republic National Distributing Company, the second largest distributor of premium wine and spirits in the U.S.

Dinners are held each night May 31 - June 5, 2010 Time - 6:30 pm; cost for each dinner - $39.99 all-inclusive. To make reservations, call the number listed for the restaurant. For information call Frank De Lucia at 727-538-7370x345