Vol. 8, Issue 8, August 2020
®
Your community. Your magazine. ™
The Premier “Shop Local” Community Magazine Directly Mailed To 15,000 Homes In Carrollwood, Lake Magdalene & Avila
Michael’s Grill - Newly Renovated Local Favorite, Trusted For 20 Years! By: Carla Dubis Tedeschi Named by a trusted local doctor as one of “the safest restaurants to eat in town,” this award-winning Carrollwood gem offers magnificent dishes, served in a Florida-casual atmosphere, prepared safely by real chefs, with the utmost care and consideration during these unprecedented times. “Michael’s Grill did a great job configuring the dining area to conform to the social distancing guidelines.
And the remodel work looks great!” says 5-star reviewer and food guide Kim W. “There were three tables occupied inside and one table outside upon our arrival. After about 20 minutes, we were the only table filled inside. We did call ahead for a reservation. I dropped off a small cake and a few decorations that day, and they did a beautiful job making our table unique for our anniversary. We
See “Michael’s Grill” on page 20
Celebrating 20 years married and 20 years of Michael’s Grill
Tampa Dental Wellness of Westchase and Carrollwood Delivers So Much More Than Smiles By: Deborah Bostock-Kelley
Most teenagers don’t know their future career path. Dr. Amy Creech-Gionis knew she wanted to follow in her dentist’s footsteps at age 14. While her mother had extensive dental work, he allowed her to sit a watch the procedure from a nearby chair. “At one particular visit for a cleaning,
INSIDE THIS ISSUE From the Editor................................................5 Tech Talk with Bob.............................................6-7 Summer Fun During Covid................................8-9 Stay Social While Social Distancing.............16-17
my dental hygienist, Sandy, asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I told her ‘I think I want to do what you do.’ She smiled and said, ‘Amy, do what HE does!’” The seed was planted. A rare Florida native, she attended Stetson University, studying Biology and See “Dental Wellness” on page 12
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Keep The Faith The coronavirus pandemic continues to challenge us in ways we could never have predicted, from unprecedented amounts of family time to homeschooling to working remotely, or not working at all. Staying positive and optimistic during times of crisis can be challenging, but it’s critical to your mental well-being and immune system. Remember this will not be this way forever. It is a difficult time, but it is just that, a time. It may be tough right now, but this too shall pass. Think about all the physical, logistical, financial, mental, and emotional struggles you may have encountered throughout your life, and the good ways you approached and handled all those challenges. Go You! Practice gratefulness. Some circumstances right now may be hard to change or may contribute to your feelings of helplessness. But there are other things in your life that are good and inspire gratitude. Making a list of the good things that you appreciate, whether big or small, can help shift your focus in a more positive direction. Communicate. Feeling Isolated? There’s no need to cut all communication while trying to social distance. Thanks to all the communication technology most of us in the industrialized world have access to, doing video calls, and jumping into group chats, and even attending virtual parties and concerts, are valuable options for which we should be grateful. Check-in with your friends and reconnect with those you may not have heard from for a while. Keep in mind that your friends and family are likely suffering from the same types of anxiety and stress that you are experiencing right now, so make a mental effort to contribute positively to the conversation. Incorporate humor and laughter into your day. This is one of the most important steps you should take in improving your positivity and benefiting from a more optimistic disposition. Numerous studies have confirmed short-term and long-term benefits of laughter on the human body and mind. Everything from stimulating
your organs to lowering your stress levels, improving your blood circulation, strengthening your immune system, and even relieving physical pain – laughter is the best medicine. Walk away from distressful conversations and situations. In today’s highly stressful pandemic environment, it is easy to get pulled into negative interactions and exchanges that can leave us feeling distressed, frightened, insecure, and pessimistic. Recognizing these encounters early on and removing ourselves from these situations and interactions can help us manage our stress and contribute to our positivity. This also includes obsessing over constant news coverage, and updates about the spread of the virus. Staying informed and aware of what is happening locally and globally is important, and we should all make sure we are as educated and prepared as possible. But creating a healthy balance between news consumption and our daily routines is also crucial in helping us maintain a sense of normalcy and control over our mental health. Have faith. I’m not talking about religious faith, although if you are a religious person and can draw from your belief systems, you most definitely should! I’m talking about having faith in humanity; in science; in technology; in our health care heroes; in collaboration; in the good in people; in our resilience; in our perseverance; in our ability to overcome even the most outrageous of obstacles to grow and evolve; in our future; in our constant and mutual commitment to improving ourselves and our communities; in our kindness; in our empathy; in our desire to provide a good life for ourselves and our loved ones; in never giving up until we find the right, permanent solution to bring this virus to heel. In life after Corona and everything we will have learned after all of this is done. Always believe in yourself and your endless capacity to love. Stay safe, until next time.
Carla Dubis Tedeschi
Tech Talk with Bob: I Think I’ve Been Scammed! Cybercriminals are using successful techniques in their quest to separate you from your money. I have been receiving an onslaught of calls lately from folks saying, “I think I’ve been scammed! What do I do now?” My friend Kathryn fell victim to a scammer just last week. She was minding her own business surfing the web when a message popped-up on her screen. This “official looking” pop-up message instructed her to call a specific phone number because she had “a malware infection that needed immediate attention.” If that wasn’t bad enough, she also found herself locked out of her computer. It was frozen. No mouse. No keyboard. She felt her only option was to call the phone number on the screen. Which she did. By the time those scammers finished with her they had not only taken control of her
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computer, but also convinced her that they could restore it to working order once she paid them $499.00. Which she did. These scammers called it a service charge. I call it extortion. Now mind you, Kathryn is a bright, intelligent woman who would typically never get taken for a ride by such crooks. But these cybercriminals are extremely good at what they do. They constantly hone their skills conning trusting people who think they’re in trouble. Why do they do it? Scamming people in this fashion has proven to be extremely profitable. Few get caught. Most are offshore. Your best defense is internet safety awareness and developing safer online habits. So, what do you do if you get a popup on your screen that tells you to call a phone number or click on a link? Take a picture of your screen with your
cell phone. Be sure any phone number or website address is readable. Do not click on any links. Do not call any phone numbers. Have your system examined for malware by a technology professional. Do not conduct any transactions involving private or sensitive information until you know your system is squeaky clean. What do you do if you receive a phone call from a stranger telling you that you
have a malware infection or something else is wrong with your computer? Immediately hang up. Do not engage them in conversation. If they call back, hang up again or don’t even answer. What do you do if you have already downloaded their software to give them control of your computer? Immediately turn your computer off. If you leave it on, they can monitor your activity, steal your data, and even ransom it. Leave your computer off until a professional looks over your system. What do you do if you have given them your credit card number? Immediately call your card issuer and have your card and the transaction cancelled. Don’t wait to get your credit card statement. Call your bank and deal with this as soon as it happens. Some banks may require you to file a police
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report. This story does have a happy ending. I was able to purge the malware from Kathryn’s computer and give it a clean bill of health. She called her bank. They flagged the transaction for their fraud division; cancelled Kathryn’s credit card; and had a new card in the mail to her the very next day. If Kathryn had done nothing, she would have been scammed out of nearly 500-bucks. But even worse, those crooks would still have control of her computer. They could spy on her or ransom her computer whenever they felt like it. Kathryn changed from being a passive victim to a vigilant internet user by recognizing and taking immediate control of her situation. These crooks can be intimidating. They’re relentless. They prey on a person’s fear of, and inexperience with, technology. Every time I speak with a victim of this scam, they always say the same thing. “I can’t believe I fell for it.”
Sometimes their embarrassment of being scammed prohibits them from reaching out for help. Kathryn felt less violated when SHE took control of the situation. Be safer not sorrier. You do not have to be a casualty of these high-tech outlaws. If you are not sure your system is safe, please have it looked over by a Professionally Certified Computer Technician. If you need a certified professional, call us now at 727534-4000. We’ve been helping folks restore their peace of mind, and sanity, with their technology for decades. Have a tech question? Email it to TechTalk-TBNL@ BobTheComputerGuy.NET. Questions will be selected by the popularity of a topic and answered in this column. If you have a more urgent need or have a unique situation you may schedule an appointment with one of my Professionally Certified Technicians by calling 727-534-4000. Until Next Time… Be Safer Out There!
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AUGUST 2020 7
25 Family Fun Activities For The Summer During Covid-19 By Carla M. Dubis Tedeschi Picture the perfect Tampa Bay summer and you might envision barbecues with friends, beach bungalows, pool parties, and sightseeing vacations. There’s always plenty to look forward to in Florida during the summer. But with the coronavirus pandemic changing the landscape of available—and acceptable— activities, summer 2020 may look a bit different than usual. Despite the disappointment of canceled summer camps, concerts, cruises, and camps, with a little creativity, it is still possible to have a fun summer as a family in our beautiful Sunshine State. I’ve done a lot of research online and rounded up a list of safe and fun alternatives to enjoy as a family during these trying times. Here are 25 great options for you and your family to enjoy this summer: 1. Visit the beach - From Honeymoon Island to Ft. DeSoto, Florida beaches are still the number one destination for a fun summer day with the family. Go to visitflorida.com for a county-by-county list of currently open beaches. The Florida Keys reopened to visitors on June 1st. 2. Visit your local public pool or neighborhood YMCA. The majority are open with certain guidelines and regulations, but they are always a fun way to keep the family entertained for a whole day of swimming and fun
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under the sun. Some fantastic public pools in Tampa that are great for kids include; Bobby Hicks Pool, Danny Del Rio Pool, Loretta Ingraham Center, and the Sulphur Springs Pool amongst others. 3. Use a lawn sprinkler. Provided you have some yard space, go old-school with your family, and haul out a lawn sprinkler for kids to run around in. You might even get the urge and run through it yourself. 4. Get a kiddie pool. It may not be the height of luxury, but in a pinch, an inexpensive kiddie pool is better than nothing! Cool off in one of these refillable plastic shells. 5. Have a squirt gun or water balloon fight. Sometimes you don’t feel like taking the whole plunge into a pool, anyway. Spritz each other with squirt guns instead or enjoy an epic water balloon fight. 6. Visit a Florida State Park, lake or first-magnitude Spring. Some of my favorites include; Alexander Springs, Blue Grotto, Blue Spring State Park, Bob’s River Place, Buccaneer Bay at Weeki Wachee Springs, Crystal River/ Homosassa Spring, De Leon Springs State Park, Devil’s Den Prehistoric Spring, Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, etc. 7. Camp in the backyard. Roast marshmallows, tell spooky stories, and spend the night under the stars—right in your own backyard.
8. Take a culinary “vacation.” Can’t travel the world? Bring the flavors of far-flung cuisines to your home kitchen. Once a week, try a new recipe from a place you’d like to visit someday, like a fresh poke bowl from Hawaii, succulent chicken tikka from India, or a traditional arepa from Venezuela (my home country.). 9. Enjoy the great outdoors. After months of quarantine, we could all probably use more fresh air. Have a picnic, take a hike, or go for a scenic drive. Bay news 9 offers incredible resources on their site baynews9. com under the “Florida on a Tankful” section. Explore all the magnificent places you and your family can enjoy on a tank full. 10. Make it a staycation. Your very own hometown (or one close by) can be a surprising source of interest and fun. Make a list of the popular attractions in your
area you’ve never visited—or the ones you’ve visited and loved. See how many of them you can hit this summer. If budget allows, book a stay at a local hotel or local Airbnb where you can leave daily stressors behind and simply relax. I recently used the Airbnb app to book a stay at a Tiny Home located on a goat farm in Deland, Florida, and it was a blast! Download the app, set your budget, and research all the incredible local places you visit right here in Florida. 11. Create a “Home Chore Chart.” Summertime is a great opportunity for children to learn hard work and responsibility while parents are away at work. By setting up a chore chart and an allowance system, parents can teach their children the value of money and hard work. Also, chores and allowance system can give a self-confidence boost to your children. Best of all, this can all be done safely within the home.
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12. Take advantage of virtual tours. Famous sites and world-class museums all over the world have jumped on the virtual bandwagon during Covid-19. Destinations like the battlefields at Gettysburg, the Louvre, and the Smithsonian now have tours available online. Take an educational “trip” as a family to any of these bucket-list attractions. 13. Have a daily workout. Summer camp or no, kids need physical activity! Schedule a time each day for exercise, whether a bike ride, a walk, a dance party, or a kid-friendly Youtube workout video. 14. Game Nights: Build mini empires. Legos, K’nex, and plain old wooden blocks can all serve as a fun foundation for hours of play. Bring on the board games. Large-group games may be out of the question at the moment, but board games are still on the table (figuratively and literally). This classic family pastime has a hidden benefit: Board games can be good for kids’ linguistic, cognitive, and social development. 15. Watch astronauts read children’s books from space at https:// storytimefromspace.com/ 16. Watch live video feeds of giraffes, baboons, koalas, hippos, polar bears, owls, and so many more animals from the San Diego Zoo right in the comfort of your Florida home. Visit: https://kids.sandiegozoo. org/index.php/videos 17. Get kitchen-savvy. If
there’s one skill your child will always use, it’s cooking. Chef it Up 2 Go Tampa Bay brings the cooking fun to you. They are currently offering “fall virtual cooking classes” for kids! They also run after school enrichment programs, field trips, fundraisers, and more. Ages 3 and up. For more information contact them at tampabay@chefitupkids. com or visit https:// www.facebook.com/ chefitup2gotampabay/ 18. Try a science experiment - Everyday household items like baking soda, vinegar, and food coloring are fair game for science experiments for kids of any age. Visit mosi. org for fun project ideas, or join the staff for “Virtual Most” a daily Facebook live featuring STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) activities and a chance to ask questions! Summer camps through MOSI may be available, please check their website for up to date information. 19. Teach Your Kids Life Skills - Some of the best lessons in life are learned outside of the classroom. Why not use this time to teach the kids how to change a tire or do a load of laundry? You could also teach your own etiquette class, demonstrating the proper manners to use on everything from receiving an event invitation to dining at a restaurant. 20. Dive into arts and crafts. You don’t have to be a creative master to help your kids enjoy arts and crafts. Search projects appropriate to your child’s age on Youtube or
Pinterest. 21. Plan a scavenger hunt. Who doesn’t enjoy a scavenger hunt? Create your own list of items for kids to find around the house, then set them loose to search for a pink sock, a measuring spoon, a jingle bell, or other simple objects. 22. Play dress-up. An outfit of Mom’s high heels, Dad’s ties, and a silly hat? Why not? Playing dress-up is an age-old, cost-free go-to for little ones. 23. Crack open a good book. To motivate kids to read, find out if your local library is offering a distanced summer reading program for kids. Or, if audiobooks are your child’s preference, tune in to Librivox, which features thousands of classics
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in the public domain for free. Audible, too, is offering many kids’ titles for free as long as schools are closed. 24. Make it a family affair. Had to cancel your annual summer luau or Fourth of July bash? Have a themed “party” with immediate family instead. Scrounge up some costumes and pair a themed menu to the occasion. 25. Have a parade. A birthday boy or girl deserves to feel special! When a party isn’t possible, enlist friends and family to drive by in a celebratory parade. Lots of helium balloons are optional but encouraged. For more family fun ideas and local resources please visit: fun4tampakids.com
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“Dental Wellness”
- continued from page 1 Chemistry, and then went on to University of Florida College of Dentistry to complete her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree. “My intention at the beginning of dental school was to become an Orthodontist, however once I got to the clinical portion of dental school, I realized that there are so many cool aspects to dentistry I did not want to limit myself to just one thing for the rest of my career. I loved it all!” She graduated from UFCD in 1995 as a General Dentist and moved to Tampa to join her fiancée and opened her first practice in a high rise in Downtown Tampa. Though she loved her patient base of business professionals and others who worked in the heart of the city, in 2001 she moved her practice to where she had planted roots with her husband and growing family – Westchase. “I built my first “scratch” practice in Westchase in 2001 of Sheldon Road and have practiced in that community ever since! I love being close to home and serving my friends and neighbors. I don’t think I have ever had a trip to Publix without seeing a familiar face from the office,” said Dr. Creech. Since 2012, Dr. Creech continued to expand Tampa Dental Wellness from her flagship location in Westchase to a second location in central Carrollwood. “Both practices are very focused on the patient receiving the very best
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dentistry has to offer in terms of technology, variety of services available under one roof, customer service, technology and current treatment. We enjoy patients of all ages, even very little ones as young as a few years old. Parents of very young children or of children on their first visit generally have a parent accompany them into treatment rooms, but our goal is always to establish a trusting relationship with the child, and gradually most children are comfortable coming to see us for treatment without their parents in the room. With Covid-19 protocols, we aim to minimize any additional people in the office unless they are directly receiving care. We take safety of our patients and team very seriously!” Dr. Creech has invested in technologies, protocols and equipment to provide an extremely clean, safe environment where everyone can relax and know that they are being cared for with the utmost safety. As a “paperless” office, all records are digital. Payments and completion of routine forms can be completed in a touchless manner. Upon arrival at the office, patients remain in their car until they have completed a quick Covid Screening Text, a masked team member then comes to the car and records their temperature, and then the patient is escorted directly to their treatment room to minimize contact with others or the need to touch general surfaces. “Along with our normally stringent sterilization and disinfections protocols, we are utilizing additional
Hypochlorous Acid foggers to clean the office and treatment rooms between patients safely and very completely. All team members wear masks and/or faceshields at all times inside the building. Hand sanitizer is used frequently by all nonclinical staff, and appropriate physical distancing is carefully practiced. In the clinical areas, all team members wear PPE that includes full water resistant surgical gowns, headcovers, surgical masks and faceshields. Safety is first priority!” A typical first visit to Tampa Dental Wellness of Westchase and Carrollwood includes a medical and dental history “get to know you” dialogue, diagnostic digital xrays, a complete examination by the dentist and the dental hygienist using The Florida Probe, which measures around each tooth and can aid detection of what may have been “silent” gum disease issues, an oral cancer screening, and pictures of the inside of the mouth and the teeth displayed on a large screen TV to the patient. Depending on the needs of the patient, the dental hygienist will complete her treatment. Finally, one of their friendly
and knowledgeable front office team members will spend time with the patient to discuss any treatment needs that the doctor has diagnosed, and answering all questions. Dr. Creech does not believe in the term dental coward. “We take it very seriously that dental anxiety is a very real and valid thing, and because of this, many years ago I attended what was at that time Medical College of Georgia Dental School to receive my training and certificate in IV and oral conscious sedation. Whether it be as simple as warm blankets and lip balm, to creating a unique sedation protocol that fits the needs of the fearful patient, we go to every length possible to make our patients comfortable during their visits with us. My greatest joy is seeing patients that were initially almost too afraid to enter the building, or sit in the chair come back year after year with a smile now, and no longer needing to be sedated for treatment. That is a great testament to my amazing team!” Services at Tampa Dental Wellness of Westchase and Carrollwood cover the gamut from Sedation Dentistry,
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placement and installation of dental implants, porcelain veneers, full mouth reconstruction, dental crowns, smile makeovers, dental bonding, teeth whitening, scaling and root planing, and tooth extraction. “I am blessed with an amazing group of professionals that work with me at both offices. The dental hygienists are absolute experts in educating their patients about their health, and they take very personal interest in each and every one and truly care that each person has the information, tools and encouragement to improve and then maintain their oral condition,” she said. “My two associate doctors, Dr. Connie Leal and Dr. Nicole Madahvieh are very knowledgeable, friendly and gentle. Between
the 3 doctors, we provide scheduling flexibility and are able to make sure that we can see any patient that has a need very quickly.” Dr. Creech eagerly admits to being a continuing education junkie, having received advanced training in Implantology. “I now spend a considerable part of my practice placing dental implants to restore my patients’ smiles and dental health. I can anchor a loose denture for my seniors so that they can eat, talk and smile comfortably again, replace a single lost tooth without having to damage neighboring teeth for a bridge, or even replace a full mouth of missing teeth with implants. I love surgery, and I have to say this is one of the parts of my practice
that brings me the greatest satisfaction.” Dr. Creech loves giving back to the patients and communities that welcomed her. From Patient Appreciation basket giveaways, complimentary teeth polishing to brides and grooms-to-be before their big day, Dr. Amy’s Annual Halloween Candy Buy-back and other things to supporting the local elementary, middle and high schools with sponsorships, sponsor youth sports teams and more every year, they love their communities. When asked what makes a good dentist, Dr. Creech responded, “I truly believe dentists are some of the most caring, empathetic members of the healthcare community. We tend to be detail oriented, sensitive and creative. I would say that actively listening to each person, taking time to hear what a person expects and desires is just as important as looking for what a person needs, treatment wise. Establishing a relationship is paramount, because a doctor patient relationship is best when it involves mutual trust.” Accepting new patients and inviting entire families, Tampa Dental
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Wellness of Westchase and Carrollwood is located at 11321 Countryway Blvd. (Westchase) and 11123 N Dale Mabry Hwy. (Carrollwood). They take most insurance PPO plans, and offers a Savings Plan for patients who do not have dental insurance so that they can receive two annual preventive visits with the dental hygienist, xrays and exams as well as significant savings on all other treatment. For more information, visit her website at tampadentalwellness. net or call 813.855.2273 (Westchase) and 813.265.2273 (Carrollwood) to schedule an appointment.
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AUGUST 2020 15
Stay Social While Social Distancing Ten Tips from a Social Marketing Butterfly By Kelly Stuart Williams, MA
For those of us who have been working in social media for awhile, we have become accustomed to spending a lot of time “being social” on our computers and electronic devices. However, Stay at Home orders and a global pandemic have created some new platforms for all of us who want to stay social, healthy, and productive. Over the past few weeks, we have spoken with a number of business owners who have said they have gone “old school,” since social distancing began. Jeffrey Neil Fox, Fox Marketplace; Deborah Glover-Pearcey, Estate Law 2
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Go; and Mick Constantinou, SandStone Insurance Partners; shared that their businesses are not only surviving but thriving. They are picking up their phones and making phone calls to their customers. People greatly appreciate hearing, “Just calling to see how you’re doing, and I wanted you to know that I’m thinking of you.” Staying connected doesn’t have to be online. Along with the good news comes some of the bad. Many people who are staying at home are feeling lonely, isolated and becoming sad. So, the following is a list of ten (10) simple things you can do to stay happy; stay successful; and stay social
while social distancing: • Stay Connected: Pick up the phone; Facetime; tag and engage your friends on social media. • Virtually Co-Locate: Apps like Microsoft Teams keep you connected with your office mates all day, so you don’t have to wait for a trip to the breakroom to chat. • Host a Virtual Happy Hour: Invite your favorite sommelier to Zoom with your friends, and learn more about your wine palate. Known for my Cuban Sangria and Miami Hurricanes, I have sipped and shared drink recipes with my friends on Zoom! • Stay Fit: Endorphins from exercise are a great way to get in shape and
stay happy. You can find everything from Yoga to kickboxing to Zumba on Zoom! • Check on your Neighbors: Chances are your neighborhood is on Nextdoor.com. Through the online list serve, I have met many of my neighbors who chat about everything from local restaurants to pet sitters in my home community. • Support a Charity: We just completed a campaign for the Suncoast Chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society online. It felt great to know that we were coming together to help those in need. We incorporated Facebook, e-mail, and Zoom meetings.
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• Stay Spiritually Connected: Some of my friends want to start a weekly devotional group on Zoom; I’ve attended a great breathing class on Zoom; and I’ve been going to church online! • Lunch N Learn: The Carrollwood Area Business Association hosts a free, weekly Lunch N Learn on Tuesdays at noon, when I’ve learned how to stay fit during the pandemic; invest wisely; prepare for hurricane season; and consider education options for children during the coming school year. Go to usecaba.com to register, and join us! • Grow Your Business: The Carrollwood Area Business Association hosts free, weekly networkings on Zoom, where we introduce ourselves to each other
and welcome guests every Wednesday, at 5:30pm. I’ve met some great referral partners this year on Zoom! • Health Coaching: After gaining the Covid 15 around my waist, I found a great online health coach who helped me lose the weight and the waist by teaching me healthy diet guidelines. Our local small businesses, restaurants, and charities need our support like never before. Don’t forget that there are lots of options for ordering TakeOut and Delivery. Please tip well, and share your culinary experience as a Google Review or post on a restaurant’s Facebook. Helping each other is probably one of the best ways to stay connected, so stay social while social distancing and #ShopLocal.
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AUGUST 2020 19
“Michael’s Grill”
- continued from page 1 felt very comfortable dining inside, and the food did not disappoint. The hot bread with the flavored garlic butter just melted in your mouth, and the fried zucchini sticks were better than I remembered. We had the filet feature that had a delicious sauce, and the duck. Both dishes were prepared and cooked to perfection. The service was exceptional, and Joe always makes a great cocktail. Thanks to everyone for making our dining experience a great one! Chef Michael grew up in Miami, where his love for seafood became a passion. He also enjoyed diving for lobsters at Biscayne Bay and learned how to cook them in creative new ways properly. The dream of opening and running his restaurant became true twenty years ago, in the year 2000. “After being a part of this community for so long, I feel like I can’t go anywhere without running into a friend that I’ve made at our restaurant,” says Chef Michael. “I love sharing my love for good food with the community. My wife Andrea and I feel like that shines through in the guest’s experience, we attempt to provide each one of our customers.” After being closed for almost two months, Chef Michael, wife Andrea, and the fantastic team at Michael’s Grill designed and implemented a very successful action plan to keep the business going, shortly becoming one of the best curbside pickups around. “We streamline it to be just very easy for every one of our customers to order and enjoy a good meal, always prepared with safety, care, and love. The customer can simply call in the order, do a verbal signature, and when they arrive, we will bring it to their car. Nightly specials are advertised daily on Facebook. We’re also offering a delivery service in the Carrollwood area. And any order over $50.00 gets FREE delivery within the area.” Michael’s Grill was recently renovated to serve you and your loved ones better. “This global pandemic made us
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Michael’s Grill recently added new granite countertops throughout, fresh paint, new ceiling tiles, and Microban handles on all the doors take a closer look at our restaurant, and we decided to make some wonderful improvements to provide a much safer environment for our customers,” says Andrea. “Our goal these days is not only to offer you and your family a great meal, but we also work hard to make safety our number one priority.” What are some of these changes at Michael’s Grill that you can look forward to checking out? Many! We recently added new granite countertops throughout, fresh paint, new ceiling tiles, and Microban handles on all the doors that prevent bacteria from growing,” says Andrea. “As well as hand-free faucets, automatic soap, and paper towel dispensers. And our newly updated menus are now disposable. We can throw them out for you, or you can simply take it home with you for a future take-out or delivery order.” The inside dining room looks as beautiful as ever with those new touches. The recently renovated patio now offers huge mist-fans that drop the temperature 10-15 degrees, making it the perfect place for a fantastic meal, and a fresh cocktail during a hot summer day. And don’t worry about
Recently renovated patio with plenty of outdoor seating your less than an ideal outfit, stop by with tank tops, shorts and flip-flops (It’s alright, we’re Florida!) Andrea and Chef Michael are not strict about formal wear. “Florida casual is always acceptable at Michael’s Grill,” adds Andrea in between laughs. The food at Michael’s is consistently spectacular! The value they bring to their patrons is second to none when it comes to the taste, personalized attention, quality of the food, and small touches such as the scent of freshcut flowers and flickering candles that decorate each table. The food, drink, and dessert menus at Michael’s Grill are updated at times to reflect fresh and seasonal ingredients. But some staple and popular dishes are a permanent part of their offerings. New starters to share worth mentioning include; the “Michael’s house Salad,” made with fresh arugula lettuce, shaved radish, cranberries, fresh marinated hearts of palm and a feta with mustard vinaigrette, the “Crispy Battered Gulf Shrimp,” with key lime dill remoulade, the “Crispy Calamari” made with sweet chili sauce, key lime remoulade and Napa slaw, and the “Crab Stuffed Mushrooms” with gingerlime butter. New lunch creations include the
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Steak Au Poivre “Southern Stride Burger,” made with a juice 1lb patty, homemade pimento cheese, smoked bacon, red onion, and a bourbon beer mustard, the “Yankee” made with house roast beef on a warm hoagie, sautéed mushrooms and onions, Michael’s famous red sauce topped with melted provolone, and the “Gulf Shrimp Pesto Pasta” made with linguini in a white wine pesto cream sauce, and shaved parmesan. There are other dinner menu additions like the “Island Pork Chop” entree, made with island rum sauce, served aside a homemade corn salsa, and the tender “petite filet mignon,” grilled to your liking with a peach bacon jam, french bordelaise, garlic mashed potatoes and seasonal veggies that are to die for. Popular favorites include the Wasabi Crusted with soy-ginger sauce over basil spinach rice and seasonal vegetables and their award-winning she-crab bisque soup. While Chef Michael prepares all the main entrees, Andrea is in charge of baking and tending the bar. Customers rave about her sticky toffee bread pudding and sangria, so make sure to try those on your next visit. Andrea is also in charge of the beer, wine, and champagne list selection at Michael’s. She makes sure to taste everything before it becomes an official part of the menu; that way, she ensures quality and taste. Michael’s offers one of the most extensive wine pours in Tampa Bay. With a generous 8 oz pour, you get your money’s worth, so don’t be afraid to add that wine glass to compliment your meal.
Refreshing New House Salad To this day, Chef Michael will still pause for a second to watch guests try his food from the kitchen. He enjoys watching people’s first impressions when the food arrives. He particularly finds joy when the customers express out loud how good something tastes or how impeccable the presentation is. “If I have a second, I love observing people try our food for the first time. It’s very gratifying to know I can make people happy with what I prepare. I often scroll through our reviews online because the positive feedback is what makes me enjoy coming to work every day,” says Michael. “The years have just flown by for us. It doesn’t feel like work when you’re passionate about what you do, and Andrea and I love it!” Andrea and Chef Michael would like to thank the community for their incredible support throughout all these years. “Thank you from the bottom of our hearts; it’s been a pleasure serving you and getting to know you and your loved ones. It will be 20 years this December, and we wouldn’t be here without your amazing support and loyalty,” says Andrea. Monday through Thursday, enjoy Happy Hour(s) at Michael’s Grill! From 4:00 pm two 6:00 pm and enjoy a big discount on house cocktails, wine, specialty drinks, and my favorite part; BOGO Moscow Mules!
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New Happy hour Monday-Thursday 4-6 BoGo mules, $6 Sangria, great discounts and our new Bar Bites menu. Catering Available! Let professional chefs do the work for you! Impress your guests by having award-winning meals deliver to your next local event. Please call Andrea to discuss catering and delivery options, and to learn more on how Michael’s Grill team can make your Christmas or special Holiday event a spectacular an unforgettable one, to end this year with a bang! December 22nd, 2020, will be Michael’s Grill 20th Anniversary, and I want to be one of the first ones to say Congratulations on this incredible achievement. Make sure to follow them on social media for yummy food and other events updates! Michael’s Grill is located in the Main Street Shopping Center at 11720 N Dale Mabry Hwy in Tampa. They are open Mon. – Thurs. 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.; Fri. 9 a.m. - 10 p.m.; Sat. 9 a.m. - 10 p.m. Currently Closed on Sundays. For additional information, please call (813) 964-8334 or visit www. MichaelsGrill.com
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For Advertising Info 813-928-6124 I info@nnlflorida.com or visit tbnewsandlifestyles.com
For Advertising Info 813-928-6124 I info@nnlflorida.com or visit tbnewsandlifestyles.com
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