Winemaker Bruno Lafon And Tastemaker Fabrizio Schenardi Team Up For Benefit

ESTATE WINES FROM FRANCE'S DOMAINE MAGELLAN TO BE PAIRED WITH PELAGIA TRATTORIA'S ACCLAIMED CUISINE AT APRIL 26 FUNDRAISER TO BENEFIT ABILITIES FOUNDATION

Wine Proprietor Bruno Lafon and Executive Chef Fabrizio Schenardi
Create An Evening of Extraordinary Food and Fine Wine

Tampa, FL - Tickets are now on sale for a wine pairing, special dinner menu and fundraising auction that will be held Wednesday, April 26, at Tampa's critically acclaimed PELAGIA Trattoria.

A limited number of seats are available for this exclusive evening of French wines, and fine cuisine created by two noted talents, vintner Bruno Lafon and Executive Chef Fabrizio Schenardi.

The evening begins with champagne reception at 6:30 p.m., followed by a four-course dinner with wine pairings served at 7:30 p.m. and includes live music and a live auction of fine wines, luxury hotel accommodations and private dinner parties prepared exclusively for the winning bidders by Fabrizio Schenardi, executive chef of PELAGIA.

Special guests include Lafon, owner of Domaine Magellan winery in France that has produced highly rated wines from the Languedoc area. Lafon, a former Burgundy winemaker, is considered one of Languedoc's most inventive vintners. Wine Spectator has ranked his wines in the high 80s to 90s range. Domaine Magellan provides PELAGIA with its own private label specially blended red and white wines.

The all-inclusive price for the food, wines, entertainment and valet parking is $80 per person. Dinner and auction proceeds benefit the Abilities Foundation. Purchase tickets online at www.abilitiesfoundation.com or call Sandy Liberatore at 727-538-7370, ext. 349. The Abilities Foundation has helped thousands of Floridians with disabilities obtain mainstream employment and affordable, accessible housing.

Featured wines and foods for the evening include the following:

Reception
Warm seafood sausage with tomato aioli
Shaved Manchego cheese on olive bread chips
Polenta crostini with mushrooms

Domaine Magellan Vieilles Vignes Roussanne 2003

Dinner

Pan seared tuna and cauliflower salad served with citrus syrup and crushed olives
Salad of grilled white and green asparagus, baby arugola, prosciutto lardons and truffle dressing

Domaine Magellan Alta 2003 & Pelagia Vin Blanc

Roasted lamb loin, Nicoise spring roll and roasted garlic-merlot sauce

Domaine Magellan Vieilles Vignes Syrah Grenache 2003 & Pelagia Vin Rouge

Dessert

Vanilla crjpes, chocolate mousse, mango gelato and lemon grass consume'

Domaine Magellan Muscat Doux Petits Grains 2003

Domaine Magellan Winery is located in the South of France, within the region of Languedoc, Roussillon, in the small village of Magalas. It was purchased by Lafon and his sister-in-law Sylvie Legros in 1999 and has been recognized for its critically acclaimed wines. Lafon is from a famous and highly regarded Burgundian family who has been in the wine production business for centuries. The family name, Lafon, is synonymous with top-of-the-line, expensive wines.

Since opening two years ago, PELAGIA and Schenardi have accumulated many honors and accolades.

7 Zagat Survey 2005 and 2006: America's Top Restaurants

7 Best Local Dining Trends of 2005: PELAGIA Trattoria, "Best Place to Put the Fab Back Into Mediterranean, Starting with Fried Olives" St. Petersburg Times 2006

7 Cover story of January/February 2006 Restaurant Forum Magazine, "New Style Mediterranean"

7 PELAGIA Blue, signature drink of PELAGIA Trattoria, named 2006 Grand Prize Winnter by Hpnotiq & Hotel F & B Executive

7 2006 3.5 Star Rating by the Practical Gourmet

7 "Best New Restaurant in Hillsborough County," St. Petersburg Times 2005

7 2005 Best of the Bay awards, PELAGIA Trattoria named "Best New Rest