SPECIAL EVENTS
July Fourth: Mattison’s Riverside, Mattison’s Riverside, 1200 First Ave. W., will celebrate Independence Day with its annual VIP Fireworks Party. The first seating is from 5 to 7 p.m.; cost is $39.95. The second seating is from 7:30 p.m. to closing; cost is $59.95 (not including tax and gratuity). Prix fixe includes stations featuring appetizers, salads, entree, sides and dessert. Live music by The Arch will be offered from 6 to 10 p.m., and valet parking will be available. Attendance is limited, and reservations are required; call 748-8087.
Fourth of July Party and Fireworks: Riverhouse Reef and Grill, 995 Riverside Drive, Palmetto, will host a family friendly Fourth of July party beginning 7 p.m. July 4 featuring an “All American” buffet, drink specials, dancing, live music and fireworks. Tickets: $45 adults, $20 children ages 6-13, children ages 5 and younger are admitted free. Reservations: 729-0616.
Rum tasting: The Anna Maria Island Privateers will hold a Pirate rum tasting, 7-10 p.m. July 14 at Gulf Drive Cafe Tiki Hut, 900 Gulf Drive N., Bradenton Beach. The event features up to 16 rums to taste, live music, appetizers, pirates, wenches, a treasure chest drawing, live auction and more. The event, which is open to people ages 21 and older, is a fund raiser for the Anna Maria Island Privateers Scholarship Fund. Cost: $15. For more information, go www.amiprivateers.org or (941) 780-1668.
CLASSES
Guys Grill ’n’ Chill Cooking Demo: Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee will hold a cooking demonstration at 5:30 p.m. June 30 at Renaissance on 9th, 1816 Ninth St. W., Bradenton. This will be an evening just for the guys on cooking meals at the grill from start to finish. Menu includes ribs with peach chipotle sauce, barbecued chicken wings, herbed veggie kabobs, peaches and cream dessert and more. Tickets are $25 and include the step-by-step demo, grilling guide, and hearty food samples. RSVP: 749-0100.
ON THE MENU
Prix fixe: Harry’s Continental Kitchens, 525 St. Jude’s Drive, Longboat Key, debuts a globally inspired three-course prix fixe menu with paired wines for $25 a person or $39 a person with premium wine pairings. The menu features arcobaleno salad with roast beets, orange, chevre cheese and baby spinach; Insalata el Mexico de frida of apples, toasted almonds and grapes on a bed of mixed greens; and ahi tuna tartare for the first course. The second course features grilled skirt steak chimichurri with fried yucca, sesame seed-crusted Atlantic salmon and chicken Saltimbocca. The meal ends with a dessert created by Harry’s own in-house pastry chef. Serving hours are 5-9 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday and reservations are recommended. Call 383-0777 or visit www.harryskitchen.com.
WINE EVENTS
Wine tasting: WineStyles Lakewood Ranch, 8225 Nature’s Way, is hosting a free tasting led by Pat Murphy of Republic National, 6-8 p.m. July 1. For more information, call 306-5804 or visit www.winestyles.net/lakewoodranch.
Culinary Calendar: Email information to jmorreale@bradenton.com.
