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…
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Added by Amy Warren, LMHC / WQ Mag Columnist on May 18, 2009 at 9:00pm —
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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…
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Added by Amy Warren, LMHC / WQ Mag Columnist on May 17, 2009 at 7:00am —
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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…
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Added by Amy Warren, LMHC / WQ Mag Columnist on May 15, 2009 at 2:30pm —
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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…
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Added by Amy Warren, LMHC / WQ Mag Columnist on May 13, 2009 at 10:00pm —
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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?…
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Added by Amy Warren, LMHC / WQ Mag Columnist on May 13, 2009 at 9:30pm —
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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…
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Added by Amy Warren, LMHC / WQ Mag Columnist on May 11, 2009 at 10:38pm —
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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…
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Added by Amy Warren, LMHC / WQ Mag Columnist on May 6, 2009 at 6:30pm —
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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…
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Added by Amy Warren, LMHC / WQ Mag Columnist on May 4, 2009 at 11:30am —
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If you’re like me, you refuse to allow your love of food to be reflected in your weight. Yet there are times when every foodie can’t resist the urge to eat a little too much; the temptations are just too enticing. So over the years, I’ve employed multiple strategies to make sure no one ever looks at me and thinks “Boy, she must love food.” My strategies for ensuring I’m able to continue enjoying the foods I love include sharing courses with dining companions (that way I get to have more taste…
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Added by Amy Warren, LMHC / WQ Mag Columnist on April 28, 2009 at 10:12pm —
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This week, I’m going to begin a series of relationship tips by asking you to do something harder than you think --- to focus on the positive. For one week, each time you open your mouth to say something negative to your partner, close it. There may be lots of negatives in your relationship, and I absolutely want you to address them. But first of all, I invite you to become more aware of the positives in your relationship. Try to find the good things in it and comment on them. You may still…
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Added by Amy Warren, LMHC / WQ Mag Columnist on April 27, 2009 at 2:30pm —
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If I was a bit disappointed in the food at the Florida Winefest's Showcase Wine and Food Tasting, I couldn't have been more delighted with the delicacies at the Winefest's Gala Dinner and Dance. The night began bayside at the Ritz Carlton with hors d'oeuvres including lamb chops and mini tempura fish sandwiches. That was only the beginning of a night that would gratify any foodie.
Once inside the ballroom, I was delighted to spy a beautiful lobster waiting for me at the table atop a…
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Added by Amy Warren, LMHC / WQ Mag Columnist on April 26, 2009 at 8:30am —
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The Florida Winefest Food and Wine Tasting is one of my favorite events of the year, and the profits are donated to worthy children's charities. I always count on the luncheon to serve excellent wines and offer a multitude of delicious bites to eat. The wines predictably included some of the cream of the crop, with some of my personal favorites being Flowers, Chalk Hill and Saddleback. However, the food this year definitely seemed to reflect the state of the economy. Instead of the usual…
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Added by Amy Warren, LMHC / WQ Mag Columnist on April 26, 2009 at 8:30am —
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On my first visit to Big Sugar after Pedro Flores, the former chef from The Table, took over as chef, my meal which included pasta with a brown butter sauce was one of the worst meals I've ever attempted to eat in a restaurant. The "sauce" was more like a curdled brown butter soup which was greasy enough to make me be glad I was near the hospital in case I needed a cardiologist. I couldn't believe anyone would let such a flawed and unattractive dish be delivered to a table. I'd eaten multiple…
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Added by Amy Warren, LMHC / WQ Mag Columnist on April 21, 2009 at 5:22pm —
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Most people associate being “intimate” with sex, but true intimacy consists of much more than sex. Intimacy has also been referred to as “into-me see” meaning that in order to be intimate with another person, you must allow them to see who you truly are. Therefore, a prerequisite for intimacy is knowing oneself. Developing a sense of self includes knowing what you like and don’t like, having interests and goals in life that are not determined by someone else, and knowing what you feel. So…
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Added by Amy Warren, LMHC / WQ Mag Columnist on April 19, 2009 at 7:30pm —
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If you're looking for Mr. Right, then don't waste time with Mr. Wrong. If you are a woman who wants to get married or wants a committed relationship, then don't continue to date a man who clearly doesn't have the qualities you want in a life partner. If you have a relationship goal, then stay goal-focused. You wouldn't keep working at a job that wasn't in line with your career goals. Therefore, why would you continue to date a man who clearly isn't husband material?
Too many women…
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Added by Amy Warren, LMHC / WQ Mag Columnist on April 17, 2009 at 2:30pm —
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The shift of the Sarasota Film Festival's Tribute Event from a pricey black-tie gala to an event that was accessible to just about anyone was a commendable metamorphosis. The Sarasota Opera House was the perfect backdrop for the annual awards ceremony. Stanley Tucci told the audience that the festival "is quickly becoming one of our favorita festivals." Presenters included Richard Schiff of West Wing and Steve Buscemi. And the winners are...
Audience Awards:
Best Short Film: Second…
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Added by Amy Warren, LMHC / WQ Mag Columnist on April 5, 2009 at 9:49am —
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The 1982 version of the film "Lookin' To Get Out" which was released was not the version Jon Voight and Hal Ashby intended. At Friday night's World Premiere of the Director's Cut, Voight indicated that there were tensions with others which prevented Ashby from originally following the film to culmination. Voight was notified by Ashby's biographer Nick Dawson of his discovery of a director's cut of the film which was bequeathed to UCLA. Voight was elated to learn that the movie he had always…
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Added by Amy Warren, LMHC / WQ Mag Columnist on April 4, 2009 at 10:09am —
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Although the sun didn't shine its usual light on the Luncheon Under the Banyans, the rain stopped just in the nick of time and spirits refusedd to be dampened. The rainforest-like setting of Selby Gardens remains the perfect backdrop for this favorite luncheon of the year which honored Bill Paxton with the 2009 Regal Cinemas Career Achievement Award.
The Children's Rainforest Project at Selby was introduced by committee chair, Susan McLeod with a short film. When the vision becomes a…
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Added by Amy Warren, LMHC / WQ Mag Columnist on April 4, 2009 at 10:00am —
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The audience at the Historic Asolo Theater was in stitches during the improv performance of TJ and Dave. The characters of men at a divorce support group were only developed after they walked on stage. From Chicago, TJ and Dave have been performing together for 7 years. The characters they play will never be utilized again, making for a truly spontaneous and creative experience each time you see them. Following the performance, TJ and Dave answered questions from the audience, which included a…
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Added by Amy Warren, LMHC / WQ Mag Columnist on April 1, 2009 at 2:56pm —
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The Sarasota Film Festival opened with a bang! Time and again, I heard people exclaim that the film, “The Messenger” was one of the best, if not the best, Opening Night films to date. The film took a courageous look at a difficult subject-- the task of delivering the message that no one wants to hear, the message that a loved one has been “killed,” “is dead” because of their service in the war. As director Oren Moverman said, the film shines a light on “the backstage of war” that affects us…
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Added by Amy Warren, LMHC / WQ Mag Columnist on March 29, 2009 at 8:08am —
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