Amy Warren, LMHC / WQ Mag Columnist's Blog – May 2009 Archive (11)

Savoring Sarasota’s Restaurant Week Before Sunrise

I woke up at 4 a.m. laden with thoughts of all the tasks still to be tackled before I complete my move to a new home tomorrow. Instead of futilely wrestling to go back to sleep, I decide that the only smart thing to do is to get up and start packing. Yet, over a cup of middle-of-the night coffee, I remember the thing that’s really been weighing on my mind all week; I haven’t had time to read the menus for Savor SarasotaRestaurant Week! It’s time I got my priorities straight! I couldn’t bear for… Continue

Added by Amy Warren, LMHC / WQ Mag Columnist on May 30, 2009 at 7:00am — No Comments

Relationship Tip of the Week: Should Shouldn't Exist

This week’s relationship tip is to eliminate the word “should” from your vocabulary. Anytime you use the word “should,” it is trespassing on another person’s territory. When you tell a person what they “should” do, you immediately put yourself in the one up position where you are looking down on the other person.

If I tell a person what they should do, it becomes the “world according to Amy.” I am then in a position to look down on them, and I end up making the other person feel… Continue

Added by Amy Warren, LMHC / WQ Mag Columnist on May 21, 2009 at 9:02pm — 2 Comments

A GRAND FINALE

The culmination of the Forks and Corks Festival with a Grand Tasting made for a grand finale. The majestic setting of the Ringling Museum courtyard created a beautiful backdrop for this very special tasting event. While the weather did not cooperate with Friday night’s Cirque Culinaire, the sun shone brightly on what may be the best Sunday afternoon of the year. In spite of the heat, 785 food and wine lovers fervently sampled delicacies from the… Continue

Added by Amy Warren, LMHC / WQ Mag Columnist on May 21, 2009 at 7:30am — 1 Comment

A PERFECT BLEND at THE BIJOU CAFE

The Bijou Café was the perfect home for the Forks and Corks Festival Wine Dinner hosted by Allen Meadows. Jean-Pierre Knaggs, owner of the Bijou Café, referred to Meadows as “the world’s most renowned writer of all things Burgundy.” Meadows is the pioneer of burghound.com, an online wine journal initially devoted solely to the wines of Burgundy. The journal is read in 54 countries and was the first of its kind to focus on only one wine. Burghound is now also inclusive of Pinot Noir and… Continue

Added by Amy Warren, LMHC / WQ Mag Columnist on May 18, 2009 at 9:00pm — No Comments

FORKS AND CORKS UNIVERSITY: CLASSES YOU SHOULDN'T SKIP

As soon as I arrived, I knew I made a mistake by skipping the Forks and Corks University’s first classes. Everyone I spoke with exclaimed enthusiasm for both Anthony Bell’s Blending Class and Allen Meadows Burghound Insights.

Fortunately, I didn’t miss out on the tasting luncheon. The ever-smiling Sun House Restaurant chef, Darrell Mizell served a lightly blackened South American Red Snapper with a roasted vegetable rice pilaf laced with his very own homemade chorizo, topped with a… Continue

Added by Amy Warren, LMHC / WQ Mag Columnist on May 17, 2009 at 7:00am — No Comments

A Tasty "Taste of Argentina"

If last night’s winemaker dinner at the Polo Grill is any indication of the weekend to come at the Forks and Corks Food and Wine Festival, then this is going to be a delightful and delicious week-end. I hit the jackpot with this dinner with not one, but three winemakers pouring their wines straight from Argentina and Italy. Chef David Vogell’s four course Taste of Argentina dinner paired perfectly with the wines of Familia Zuccardi. Familia… Continue

Added by Amy Warren, LMHC / WQ Mag Columnist on May 15, 2009 at 2:30pm — No Comments

Relationship Tip of the Week: Lead with "I"

You may have heard this one before, but it bears repeating. When you have something to say, speak from the "I." Instead of leading sentences with "You..." begin with "I...." Your partner (or anyone you communicate with) is much more likely to be able to hear your message. People tend to get defensive as soon as they hear "You..." Consider this example. If you were the listener, would you be more likely to respond positively to "You never listen to me. You always interrupt me" or "I don't feel… Continue

Added by Amy Warren, LMHC / WQ Mag Columnist on May 13, 2009 at 10:00pm — 1 Comment

Forks and Corks Winemaker Dinner Update

Two great restaurants have teamed for Thursday, May 14th's winemaker dinner as part of the opening night of the Forks and Corks Food and Wine Festival. The Polo Grill and Galileo Restaurant will join forces to bring together exquisite food paired with exceptional wine by winemakers, Familia Zuccardi/Santa Julia and Castello Boroli. When else will you have the opportunity to meet the winemakers, drink their wine and dine on the cuisine of two of Sarasota's finest restaurants all in one setting?… Continue

Added by Amy Warren, LMHC / WQ Mag Columnist on May 13, 2009 at 9:30pm — No Comments

Attention: Food and Wine Lovers

Don't miss 4 days of revelry at this week's Forks and Corks Food and Wine Festival. Delight in epicurean taste sensations from local independent restaurant and sample wines from visiting wineries with wines represented from around the world. The party begins on Thursday, May 14 with winemaker dinners at various restaurants, continues on Friday with a delicious and fun-filled evening at the Cirque Culinaire event at the Ca d'Zan, extends into Saturday with a luncheon and an opportunity to learn… Continue

Added by Amy Warren, LMHC / WQ Mag Columnist on May 11, 2009 at 10:38pm — No Comments

Relationship Tip of the Week: Make a Sandwich

Remember last week, I told you to focus on the positives in your relationship and that I’d give you a way to address the negatives. Well, here it is...make a sandwich.

You’re probably saying “Yeah right, putting on calories is really going to help me deal with my imperfect husband.” But I don’t mean it literally. What I mean is to “sandwich” any negative you need to address between two positives.

Here’s an example of what a… Continue

Added by Amy Warren, LMHC / WQ Mag Columnist on May 6, 2009 at 6:30pm — No Comments

An Abundance of Smiles at Lobster and Laughter

There were smiles all around at the Lobster and Laughter event to benefit Easter Seals.

This New England style event which is in its second year was chaired by one of Sarasota’s cutest couples, Valarie Wadsworth and Lee De Lieto. Gourmet cooks like Valarie can always be counted on to plan a mouth-watering menu. It was picnic at its best under a tent In Gillespie Park as guests dined on clam chowder, caesar salad, corn bread, whole… Continue

Added by Amy Warren, LMHC / WQ Mag Columnist on May 4, 2009 at 11:30am — No Comments