It was bad enough that my new stove broke—but to be forced to stay home all day for a service call?   By Judi Gallagher   I do not mean to complain, but 2006 did not end on the happiest of notes. If you read January’s “Dish” in SARASOTA (p. 232) then you know all [...]

    Dropping in at Bellagio was like visiting a great old friend.   By Judi Gallagher   There’s nothing like visiting old friends during the holidays. They’ll crack open a special bottle of wine and toast to your presence and the good fortune of shared tastes and memories. This weekend, feeling a little sorry [...]

    Yes, you can stay healthy during the holiday pig-out. By Judi Gallagher   Amusing as I find their annual requests, several magazines and newspapers call me each year in search of healthy eating tips around the holidays. Hello—I have bumper stickers that read “Pro Butter” and “Choose Life with Cream,” so the subject [...]

      When good restaurants go bad.   By Judi Gallagher   With the risk of sounding a bit bah, humbug, I just want to tell you about a disappointing dining experience my husband and I recently suffered through. As a writer, I do not give any restaurant bad press—I figure everyone has a [...]