Dinnerworks. For dinnerworks proprietor Susan Kates, food is a fun way to approach matters of the heart. What could be more engaging, figures this food maven, than going out to a funky restaurant on Queen St. West and trying out new dishes while enjoying the company of like-minded singles?
"Our focus is on life enhancement and personal growth," says the ebullient Kates. "We organize four events a week — mostly dinners, but also occasional wine tastings, cooking classes and special trips."
Kates runs dinnerworks in Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver. She credits her Hungarian father — who had a store on Spadina, selling fabric and ladies' wear — with her entrepreneurial spirit and love of food.
"I was always cooking next to my Dad, he was a marvellous cook — old-style Hungarian soups, beet borscht, bean soup."
A graduate of the University of Waterloo in urban planning, Kates spent 10 years organizing special events for various shopping centre companies. She taught cooking, ran a small catering business and got involved with dinnerworks in 2001. When the owner wanted to sell, Kates bought the business in 2003. It's a great way, she says, to do "practice dating" without "getting stuck" with a stranger you're not interested in.
She cautions her clients: "Don't think that one dinner will be the answer to your dreams. You can arrive with such high expectations that you're unable to live in the moment. Leave your baggage at the door. It's the people who are open and optimistic who attract attention. Those who are jaded and depressed set up a self-fulfilling prophecy. Ultimately, it's all about how you feel about yourself."
Our very own Tod, from the Relationship challenge, will conduct a wine tasting at a dinnerworks cooking class on March 23. Be forewarned, all the women's spaces are taken; there's only room for men.
To read the full article click here http://www.heartscanada.com/article_choices.htm