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publisher’s note
Shoot for the moon and if you miss you will still be among the stars
SUMMER 2013 • Volume 17 • Issue 2 FALL 2012www.dolce.ca • Volume 16 • Issue 3 PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF www.dolce.ca Michelle Zerillo-Sosa • michelle@dolce.ca MANAGING EDITOR
— Les Brown
Madeline Stephenson • madeline@dolce.ca DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Angela Palmieri-Zerillo ART DEPARTMENT
FIND YOUR SHINING STAR …
CO-FOUNDER/CREATIVE DIRECTOR
OR BETTER YET
Fernando Zerillo • fernando@dolce.ca INTERACTIVE ART DIRECTOR
BECOME ONE!
I
was always one to encourage the talent and dreams of those around me. After all, what good is a star if you try to hide her light? So when our managing editor Madeline Stephenson came to me with tear-filled eyes and revealed that she had been offered a position in broadcasting, but was torn by her love for her role with Dolce, I did what any good friend would do. I told her she should go. It had always been a fear that one day this star would be discovered. She was the best managing editor any publisher could ever hope for and we thank her for her outstanding contribution to our publication over the years. However, the time has come for this star to go on and shine for others as she has illuminated our journey thus far. Kirstine Stewart (story on page 18) said it best: “When you’ve seen a path and you are excited about it … it’s time to do that.” There is always a path ahead for us to take. Our cover woman Julie Benz holds the belief that in life, much like in acting, one always attracts the parts one is meant to play. Throughout her over 20-year career, she’s remained a confident woman and mastered the power to be strong in the workplace and still maintain a level of femininity. See story on page 46. Sometimes that path leads us to a brief window of opportunity that we can either swing open or close shut. India Hicks, a distant British heiress to the throne, chose to open that window when she met Italian designer Emilio Pucci. See story on page 26. If we can learn anything from the illustrious subjects we profile in each issue of Dolce, it is that perseverance, hard work and taking chances ultimately pay off. Former heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis (page 56) tells us how all of the aforementioned life lessons are what has made him a legend: the seamless combination of pride and determination. Much of his success was fuelled by the naysayers — their belief that he would not make it as a pugilist served to inspire him to achieve his goals and prove them wrong. My wish to you this summer is that you always follow your path, and swing that window of opportunity wide open. And when you look up to the sky one summer night, find the brightest star you can and bask in all its glory. For stars are meant to illustrate our journey. If we do not allow them to shine, we are only hiding our own path to self-growth. We hope you enjoy our summer issue of Dolce. Until next time, keep shining like a rock star!
Nan Chen WEB PROJECT MANAGER
Steve Bruno GRAPHIC DESIGNERS
´ Luay Saig Marianna Osko, EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT COPY EDITOR
Simona Panetta FASHION & HOME DECOR EDITOR
Michelle Zerillo-Sosa BEAUTY & TRAVEL EDITOR
Angela Palmieri-Zerillo PROOFREADERS
The Editing Company, Toronto; Simona Panetta SENIOR WRITERS
Michael Hill, Simona Panetta, Madeline Stephenson CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Michael Smith, Amanda Storey, Eva Voinigescu INTERN
Daniele Franceschi CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
D-Nice, Mitch Fain, Colin Faulkner, Hans Fonk, Brittan Goetz, Rainer Hosch, Aaron Mason, MBDS, Jesse Milns, Matthew Semark, The Three Chimneys, Mike Toy Photography, Patricia Recourt
VIDEO DEPARTMENT VIDEOGRAPHER & EDITOR
William Lem REPORTER
Madeline Stephenson PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
Sal Pasqua PUBLISHER
ADVERTISING DIRECTOR OF NEW BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Susan Bhatia • susan@dolce.ca DIRECTOR OF MARKETING
Angela Palmieri-Zerillo • angela@dolce.ca ACCOUNT MANAGER
Mario Balaceanu ADVERTISING INQUIRIES
T: (905) 264-6789 Toll-Free: (1-888) 68-DOLCE info@dolce.ca • www.dolce.ca OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR
Dina Mastrantoni Michelle Zerillo-Sosa Publisher/Editor-In-Chief
@dolcetweets 6
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FRONT COVER
Julie Benz Photo: Christoph Strube / Makeup and Hair: Paul Venoit Stylist: Marcus Tripp / Clothing: Victoria Beckham blazer and Céline dress pants, available at Holt Renfrew Catering provided by Pusateri’s Fine Foods
editor’s note
‘‘
I want to be remembered for what I’ve left behind — Lennox Lewis
If
’’
PHOTO BY JESSE MILNS
here’s anything I’ve learned from the successful people we’ve profiled over the last few years, it’s that rewards don’t come without a bit of risk. As Dolce celebrates its 17th anniversary — a feat for any magazine — it’s a bittersweet time for me to say goodbye. This may be my last issue as managing editor, but I will forever be a loyal follower of a publication that continues to evolve in fascinating ways. As I look towards a brand new career challenge, I hope you find what you’re looking for in this issue. From Kirstine Stewart’s broadcast legacy and Julie Benz’s Defiant TV role, to Barton Myers’architectural paragon and India Hicks’s unmapped life, I hope these passion-packed pieces give you a thirst for what awaits. Perhaps the key to la dolce vita is to never stop searching for it. Here’s to all the stories behind us, around us and ahead of us. Sincerely
SUMMER 2013 • Volume 17 • Issue 2 www.dolce.ca DOLCE VITA MAGAZINE • SUMMER 2013 VOLUME 17 • ISSUE 2
Dolce Vita Magazine is published quarterly by Dolce Publishing Inc. 111 Zenway Blvd., Suite 30 Vaughan, Ont., L4H 3H9 T: (905) 264-6789 • Toll-Free: (1-888) 68-DOLCE F: (905) 264-3787 • info@dolce.ca www.dolce.ca Publication Mail Agreement No. 40026675
RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO:
Dolce Publishing Inc. 111 Zenway Blvd., Suite 30 Vaughan, Ont., L4H 3H9 All rights reserved. Any reproduction is strictly prohibited without written consent from the publisher.
DISTRIBUTION & CIRCULATION
Dolce Vita Magazine reaches over 900,000 affluent readers annually through household distribution and newsstand sales across Canada and selected Barnes & Noble stores in the United States. Inquiries about where Dolce Vita Magazine is available for sale should be directed to Disticor Magazine Distribution Services: (905) 619-6565
Madeline d li SStephenson h Managing Editor
The yearly subscription fee is $16.80. Send cheque or money order to Dolce Publishing Inc. 111 Zenway Blvd., Suite 30, Vaughan, Ont. Canada L4H 3H9 ISSN 1206-17780 NEXT ISSUE: FALL 2013
The opinions expressed in Dolce Vita Magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher or advertisers. Dolce Publishing Inc. does not assume liability for content. The material in this magazine is intended for information purposes only and is no way intended to supersede professional advice. We are proud to be a Canadian company that has successfully published magazines for the past 17 years without any government funding or financial assistance of programs to cover editorial costs. It has all been possible thanks to the wonderful support of our readers and advertisers.
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L U X U RY CO N D O M I N I U M R E S I D E N C E S IN HISTORIC KLEINBURG VILLAGE A uniq ue en c lave o f i n t i m ate con do m in iu m s in t h e h is to r ic v il l a ge o f K l e in b u rg , d i re c t ly ac ross f ro m t he wo rld fam o u s M cM ich a e l G a l l e r y. E a ch o f t h e 34 re s ide n ce s overl ooks a lus h rav i n e f i lled wi t h so n gbi rds , m at u re t re e s a n d a m ea n de r in g H u m b e r R ive r. M e t i c u lo u s c raf t s man s hi p , s u pe r io r l ife s t y l e a m e n it ie s a n d t h e ch a r m o f h is tori c Klei n bu rg V i llage ad d to t h e dis t in ct ive a ppea l o f Ave r to n Co m m o n .
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guest editor MICHAEL SMITH GUEST FOOD EDITOR The Three Chimneys is a small restaurant that resides on the coast of the Isle of Skye, a remote region of Scotland. So why is it nearly impossible to get a reservation? In “Without Reservation” (pg. 62), chef Michael Smith explains why he chose to head the kitchen of this out-there eatery and how his team manages to attract customers from across the globe.
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18 36 46
30 Departments ON THE COVER
46 Knock on Wood: Julie Benz has it all: a sci-fi series, wedlock recipes and a confidence she can’t seem to shake
SUCCESS STORY
PHILANTHROPY
AUTOMOTIVE
36 The Simple Life: English designer Martin Brudnizki heads to Bay Street
TRAVEL
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FOOD & WINE
51 The Tastemaker: Bite into the gourmet burger craze with Pusateri’s Fine Foods 62 Without Reservation: Guest food editor Michael Smith takes us off the grid 64 The Wanderlust Palate: Global gastronomes take note
ART & DESIGN
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45 Q & A with Paul Venoit: The celebrity hair and makeup artist shares summer beauty tips
18 Executive Decisions: Head of Twitter Canada Kirstine Stewart’s legacy and departure from the CBC 26 Life of I: Daughter of design India Hicks moves forward with signature island style 56 Outside the Box with former heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis
56 51
BEAUTY
24 Stranded in Paradise: Seclusion awaits you in Petit St. Vincent 39 Glow of the Gold Coast: All that glitters at the Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale
REAL ESTATE
30 The Wolf House: Exploring the history and heart of a Toronto landmark
FASHION
40 Moxie Mania: From Italy to Spain, clear your closet for the hottest maxi gowns
SUMMER 2013
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www.dolcemag.com
52 LaFerrari: The Prancing Pony’s latest — and fastest — special limited series road car
LUXURY
54 His Essentials: Freshly squeezed picks to enjoy all summer long 66 Objects of Desire: Slow and steady wins the vase
IN EVERY ISSUE 6 8 14 34
Publisher’s Note Editor’s Note Dolce Was There Readers’ Survey: WIN a trip to St. Croix!
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Dolce was there
ON TARGET 4
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2 2
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4 1. President of Target Canada Tony Fisher at a Canadian Club of Toronto event 2. A table of guests listen in on the discussion 3. Attendees and Canadian Club of Toronto members fill the seats at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel 4. Dolce Magazine’s spring 2013 issue was distributed among attendees 5. For more than a century, the Canadian Club of Toronto has featured guests that include prime ministers, CEOs, entrepreneurs and industry leaders.
T
ony Fisher, president of Target Canada, discussed the nationwide expansion of the American retailing company at an event hosted by the Canadian Club of Toronto on March 26, 2013. Addressing a full house at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel, Fisher outlined the need for speed in the strategic rollout of 124 Target stores across 10 provinces by the end of 2013. Among the first Target store openings in Ontario, Toronto’s Shoppers World Danforth held a red carpet event attended by celebrities Blake Lively and Sarah Jessica Parker. Founded in 1897, the independent, not-for-profit Canadian Club of Toronto has enlightened its diverse group of international members on topical issues in the areas of business, politics, social innovation and the economy. www.canadianclub.org
PHOTOS BY JESSE MILNS
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VAN CLEEF & ARPELS BOUTIQUE OPENS AT BIRKS ON BLOOR 3
4
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3 1. Clients browse a stunning collection of exclusive Van Cleef & Arpels pieces 2. The new boutique at Birks’s Bloor Street location is as luxe as the Paris-based brand 3. Striving for excellence, Van Cleef & Arpels is best known and loved for its crafted treasures 4. From bangles to timepieces, guests were inspired by the iconic designs of the French jewelry house. 7
14
On
April 11, 2013, Birks’s Bloor Street location unveiled its new boutique dedicated to the creations of Paris-based jeweller Van Cleef & Arpels, exclusively available at Birks in Canada. Among the treasures on display was the Maison’s Alhambra Collection, the iconic line of charming accessories inspired by Jacques Arpels’s love of luck. “Birks is privileged to enjoy a long-standing relationship with the iconic French jeweller,” said Jean-Christophe Bédos, president and CEO of Birks & Mayors Inc. “We are thrilled to be offeringourcustomerssuchadistinguished,high-quality jewelry and timepiece brand. Today’s opening marks the arrival of … all things beautiful at Birks on Bloor.” The new Van Cleef & Arpels boutique is officially open for Toronto’s gem admirers to discover. www.birks.com, www.vancleefarpels.com 2
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PHOTOS BY BIRKS
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Dolce was there
LOUIS VUITTON’S “AN EXCEPTIONAL JOURNEY” WITH ONEXONE 4
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1. Louis Vuitton hosts a fitting presentation on the Art of Packing 2. Joon Ma, vice-president and country manager for Louis Vuitton, Canada and Bermuda; and Joey Adler, ONEXONE founder and CEO of Diesel Canada 3. Charles Dime, vice-president of Toronto Research Chemicals Inc., and wife Persia Dime 4. Edward Rogers, deputy chairman of Rogers Communications, and ONEXONE board member Suzanne Rogers 5. Joey Adler, ONEXONE founder and CEO of Diesel Canada; Joon Ma, vice-president and country manager for Louis Vuitton, Canada and Bermuda; Sylvia Mantella, ONEXONE board member; and Rosemary Barbara 6. Mayor of Aurora Geoff Dawe and wife Wendy Muller 7. George and Mary Stratis 8. The Room stylist Jenna Bitove and ONEXONE board member Suzanne Rogers. 2
May 7, in honour of the non-profit children’s organization ONEXONE, Louis Vuitton held “An Exceptional Journey” at the new Bloor Street Maison. The theme of the event was travel, celebrating Louis Vuitton’s legendary travel pieces and hosting “Art of Packing” demonstrations with the company’s travel experts. A silent auction took place, with prizes including a lavish journey to San Francisco for the America’s Cup races. All the proceeds went to ONEXONE and its focus on providing safe and healthy living for children across the globe. www.onexone.org, www.louisvuitton.com
50TH EDITION OF THE ERMENEGILDO ZEGNA WOOL TROPHY 3
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1. This year marks the 50 edition of the Ermenegildo Zegna Wool Trophy 2. The Wool Trophy celebrates the tradition of quality amongst Australia’s woolgrowers 3. Ermenegildo Zegna is known to craft some of the most luxurious fabrics 4. Aldo and Angelo Zegna, sons of Ermenegildo Zegna, inspect a piece of fine wool.
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ver 200 woolgrowers, fashion lovers and journalists flocked from 31 countries to celebrate the 50th edition of the Ermenegildo Zegna Wool Trophy. This tradition, which celebrates the Australian woolgrowers’ commitment to quality, was held in the historic Royal Hall of Industries in Sydney’s Moore Park district. The two-day event held from April 21 to 23 began with a guided tour of some of the finest wool farms in Australia and ended with a flourish at the Royal Hall, where a gala and fashion show treated attendees to an experience that played on all five of their senses. The Australian wool industry has, for years, been entwined with Italy’s renowned fashion house, Ermenegildo Zegna. Film stars Chris Hemsworth, Leon Lai and Megan Gale were among some of the star-studded guests. www.zegna.com
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EXECUTIVE
DECISIONS FROM THE NETWORK TO WORKING THE NET, KIRSTINE STEWART LEAVES THE CBC TO FOLLOW AN EVOLVING DREAM WRITTEN BY MADELINE STEPHENSON PHOTOGRAPHY BY JESSE MILNS
It’s
only been an hour since she announced her resignation as CBC’s executive vicepresident, but Kirstine Stewart is already trending on Twitter. From Richard Florida to Shinan Govani and Andrew Coyne, virtual congratulations from Canada’s business and media fixtures are pervading the T-sphere with a celebratory rhythm. As one of the most famous faces in the pubcaster’s uppermanagement past, Stewart’s percipient watershed adieu is a bolt from the blue. In her seven-year run, Stewart has been hailed for rebranding the CBC. It seems she’s now rebranding herself. Over the weekend, Stewart left the country’s largest cultural institution to lead Twitter’s Canadian expansion as its first national hire. With the almighty CBC acronym suddenly snipped from the end of her Twitter handle, @KirstineStewart’s move, quite literally, symbolizes the end of an era. As a public corporation that subsists with the support of federal government funding, Stewart wasn’t just the network’s boss — in some ways she was Canada’s. This might explain why the day’s headlines don’t seem to care about Twitter opening up shop in Toronto, they 18
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Kirstine Stewart, former vice-president of English Services at the CBC and new managing director of Twitter Canada
care that Stewart has been given the key. As the youngest and first female to own one of the biggest media jobs in the biz, breaking the glass ceiling wasn’t just a realized cliché, it was a redefining coup that killed an antiquated picture of broadcasting. I sat down with Stewart at her downtown Toronto condo a month before her departure, and even in the wake of transcribed words and hindsight there isn’t a glimmer of an impending goodbye. Not a raised hand, a cautious answer or an apocalyptic sense of pessimism. Just a transparent woman with dreams the size of Front Street for a corporation she appeared to have a maternal devotion to — and the leopard-print heels to conquer them. If Stewart didn’t see it coming, how could we? Her floor-to-ceiling windows capture the arms of outstretched oak trees embedded in Fort York’s history, while the sun casts its spell on a candyapple-glazed sanctum of contemporary artwork and media memorabilia. On one wall, a large Lichtenstein-inspired comic book painting given to her as a wedding gift hangs high; in the corner, an authentic stage-set movie lamp with incandescent bulbs steals the show. “Kevin O’Leary got us that,” she says, pointing up to a framed portrait of Muskoka Lake blanketed in fog. Her sophisticated deep-V suit, smooth flaxen hair, cerulean stare and fair, dewy skin stirs up the image of a mid-forties powerhouse with her finger on the pulse of tomorrow. After a grand tour that leaves no room unturned, Stewart pulls two bar stools from her kitchen island, pours a glass of ice water and unclenches her new BlackBerry Z10 from a dangerous grip. She used to be able to type with her eyes closed but the new touchscreen requires some practise. “I’ve had to apologize to people for being curt,” she says, laughing at some of the misconstrued emails she has accidentally sent to colleagues. When Stewart broke into the broadcast business in the late ’80s, words were only exchanged verbally. After receiving a degree in English literature at the University of Toronto, the Oakville-raised 19-year-old paused her early dreams
of becoming a music composer to pursue a seemingly banal position at a local TV program distributor called Paragon Entertainment. She continued carving new positions for herself, from receptionist to sales executive, until she was finally named president of the company. “It was obvious she had the ability to move onwards and upwards,” says her then-boss Isme Bennie. It was the Woodstock stage of Stewart’s enterprising enigma — a pivotal event that changed the course of history. But her heyday was still ahead. “I don’t go with a sense of plan because I just think there’s so many options,” she says. One of those options
I THOUGHT, ‘I’M ALONG FOR THAT RIDE IF YOU’RE READY TO SHAKE THINGS UP’ — Kirstine Stewart led to a U.S. stretch as the senior vicepresident of programming at Hallmark Entertainment, where she managed 17 international broadcast channels under a $300-million budget and a staff of 750. In 2003 she returned to Toronto to help Alliance Atlantis develop and manage programming for popular lifestyle channels such as HGTV and National Geographic. She had a gift for spotting the star power in household names like Debbie Travis and Mike Holmes, and for curating characterdriven content that appealed to the masses. “People are attached to stories and they’re attached to personalities and those personalities have to be authentic,” she says, emphasizing that last word to underscore the difference between factual and flagrant reality. The pre-emptive concern that these celebrities would be swept up by other major networks, enticed with bigger paycheques and wider audiences, never www.dolcemag.com
concerned her. “To me, having been in the States and having had the exposure, then you just move on or you make it so that they don’t want to leave,” she says. The trick was to create an environment so supportive that even the best of the best would be addicted to the brand. “There’s a little more opportunity in that attitude where you’re not afraid to build someone up because they might leave you. You build them up and you build an environment that they’re not going to want to leave.” That insight, coupled with an impressive track record, catapulted her to a very significant place in the city’s small-screen circles, and the CBC was quick to notice. In early 2006 they called Stewart to see if she was interested in applying to become general manager of television. “It was a big, high-up job to start with, but it was more, ‘how do you ever have an effect on what goes on there?’” After much consideration and some wise words from a friend who told her, “It’s the biggest sandbox you’ll ever play in,” she went for the interview and began building castles. “People, I think, were underestimating the power of opportunities in Canadian television,” she says. “I thought, ‘I’m along for that ride if you’re ready to shake things up.’” Canadian content became her calling card and ratings giants such as Dragons’ Den, Little Mosque on the Prairie and Murdoch Mysteries gave Stewart the quiet confidence to continue her crusade. In January 2011 she succeeded her controversial boss, Richard Stursberg, and officially became the executive VP of English Services. When she accepted the new role, headlines such as The Globe and Mail’s “Will Kirstine Stewart Save the CBC?” began permeating the news. “No pressure there, eh?” she jokes. “Someone said to me, ‘It’s like living in a fishbowl, right?’” She was suddenly the biggest name in Canadian media, a recognized face within the city’s social circuit and the new wife of Little Mosque star Zaib Shaikh. Stewart was everywhere. Just five days before she inked the deal with Twitter, CBC’s venerable newsman Peter Mansbridge recalled DOLCE VITA MAGAZINE
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SHE’S VERY DETERMINED, VERY FOCUSED, KNOWS WHAT SHE WANTS AND IS WILLING TO FIGHT FOR IT — Peter Mansbridge their defining introduction. “It’s interesting actually because it was that initial conversation that kind of established our relationship and my admiration for her as a straight shooter,” he says over the phone. Before she joined in 2006 he had heard that Stewart was planning to push The National to an 11 p.m. time-slot and thought, “What the hell’s going on? Who is this new person? And why are they trying to plunge the knife into my back before we’ve even met?” he says with his rich, baritone laugh. In a hurry to clear up the confusion, he arranged a meeting with Stewart at a small King Street restaurant. It was a misunderstanding, taken out of a context in a world of broken telephone. “What I appreciated is that she was very upfront with me about what her thinking had been … She’s very determined, very focused, knows what she wants and is willing to fight for it.” Stewart has never been afraid to go with her gut. Her instincts paid off when she pushed to give Gerry Dee, star and producer of CBC’s Mr. D, a rare shot at redemption after his pilot flopped. She picked up the phone, dialed Dee’s number and said, “We think there’s something there. We like you and we want to give you a second chance.” She was right. “It wasn’t the pilot it should have been but we changed some things around and made it work. That is a rarity and if you ask around that’s something that a lot of networks will not do. They won’t waste their time on something a second time,” says Dee. 20
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An authentic stage-set movie lamp overlooks Stewart as she sits in her downtown Toronto condo
Over one million viewers watched Mr. D’s first episode, and the show has since developed a cult following. “She’s taken my brand and made it into something an American TV show would do.” The screams down the hallway when Little Mosque on the Prairie debuted to over two million viewers still echo in her ears. “Nobody ever thought CBC could ever get over two million viewers. It gives me goosebumps,” she says, rubbing her arms. But Stewart was just facing the reality of what she could accomplish with her hands tied by a shoestring federal budget. After being slammed with a 10 per cent cut in April 2011, the CBC’s setbacks meant she would have to be economically innovative when it came to maintaining effective marketing strategies. In light www.dolcemag.com
of less advertising dollars, she began using her own voice as the instrument for drumming up the network’s shows. She was the most vocal brand ambassador the CBC ever had. She wore the gem logo at events, slipped it into every conversation, made “culture” and “Can-con” buzzwords, tweeted about her talent pool every two minutes and bled the perfect shade of apple red. She was proud of her place of work, and it poured out of every sentence, every sentiment. She was thrilled about winning the bid to broadcast the 2014 and 2016 Olympic Games, was looking forward to flying to New York to talk Hockey Night in Canada with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, and was proud to announce that Dragons’ Den had officially begun filming its eighth season.
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Stewart made the CBC a topic of conversation, and she was no less a part of it. “Every cheer, every tweet she makes about a Canadian hockey team, there’s a double reason for that. One, she’s a sports fan. Two, it means programming in the future. It literally means programming for us,” Mansbridge says. “She sends messages to her followers on Twitter, she mentioned us in articles, I think she’s doing that to create a star system which we never really had,” Dee states. The $115-million funding slash over a three-year horizon meant much more than smooth marketing moves — it would also affect hundreds of jobs and tug the reins on her Canadian-content reign. As the boss, she would have to face her employees and tell them the truth: that their jobs were in jeopardy; that their workloads would be generous.
The National, I haven’t been here very long, I’m probably one of those people you’re talking about in terms of who’s going to have to exit the building, but I’ve never heard anybody speak to me so honestly about what is going to happen and why it’s going to happen, so thank you,’” she recalls. “That was such a generous moment that he gave me there. I’ll always remember that.” Seeing the bright spots in the darkest spaces was always the highlight for Stewart. But these elevated exchanges rarely reached the top of the news cycle. “It’s very difficult in that sort of environment to do your absolute best. Whatever you do, if they succeed it’s despite you, if they fail it’s because of you, and there’s just been so much criticism of programming and constant fighting it’s just very, very difficult to make a break, to change things,” says
WHATEVER YOU DO, IF THEY SUCCEED IT’S DESPITE YOU, IF THEY FAIL IT’S BECAUSE OF YOU, AND THERE’S JUST BEEN SO MUCH CRITICISM OF PROGRAMMING AND CONSTANT FIGHTING IT’S JUST VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TO MAKE A BREAK, TO CHANGE THINGS — Isme Bennie “It’s not a fun job to tell employees, producers and directors that they can’t bring you back because we don’t have the funding anymore. That is a horrible situation to be in. That’s the bad side of that job I guess,” says Dee, days before Stewart stepped down. “I think how she got through these years was pretty amazing.” Stewart’s eyes become glassy for the first time when she thinks about a young man she met in the elevator after making that poignant announcement. “This guy turned to me and he said, ‘I want to shake your hand,’ and I said, ‘Why’s that?’ And he said, ‘I work on 22
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Bennie, who’s become a lifelong friend of Stewart’s. Though her misses could never escape the public’s microscope, Stewart found a way to make her mark in a way that mattered. “I thought really, what she did in a way, is sort of point fingers at that white, middleclass, male broadcast community and say, ‘You know I can do it, there are women who can do it,’” Bennie adds. When I ask her, on that sun-stricken afternoon, where she thinks she’ll be 10 years from now, the woman who has never been known for making plans finally looks perplexed. “This is seven years for me,” Stewart says. “I www.dolcemag.com
was seven years at my very first job, and I’d never been longer than seven years at any position, because that’s just the media business, so we’ll just have to see.” In retrospect, her words are prophetic. “In the end we only live so long and you get paid what you get paid but you better get fulfilment out of what you do in a day. We’re so lucky if you can have a job that gives you that, so why not get it?” As if the corporate world’s canonized Who Moved My Cheese were spread across his desk, CBC’s English Services president Hubert T. LaCroix gave a cautious goodbye: “It is a fact of life in a competitive, creative business that when you have great people, others will try to entice them away with big opportunities,” he writes in his release. In a paradoxical twist, those are the same fears Stewart used to fight when building her arsenal of superstars. And yet here we are, a month later, on the phone discussing her new position as managing director of Twitter Canada. “I let them know as soon as I had gotten the offer,” she says. “I’m not somebody who would oscillate on something like that because in the end, I think when you’ve kind of seen a path and you’re excited about it and you want to go there, then it’s time to do that.” It was a sentimental decision, she admits, but “it’s the next step, you know? It’s a big, wide world out there, but it’s sometimes hard to go. I kind of feel like I’ve signed the yearbooks and now it’s time to move on.” Twitter is still tight-lipped about their Canadian dreams, but we can only assume that you don’t hire Kirstine Stewart unless you intend to shake things up. “We’re not talking about the same kind of content, but if you look at what my career has always been, whether it’s in distribution or as a broadcaster, it’s again that gut. I have a gut, luckily, for being able to pick content or things that connect to people,” she says. Whether it’s told in 22 minutes or 140 characters, there are stories all around us. As for Stewart’s? “I think this kind of occasion is a perfect indication why it doesn’t make sense to have a five-year plan. Nobody knows what’s going to happen.”
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Stranded in
PARADISE Dolce Mag heads south to the enchanting beauty of a private island hideaway PHOTO BY MIKE TOY PHOTOGRAPHY
WRITTEN BY SIMONA PANETTA
I’m
the only person in the world right now. A cosmic sky, an endless ocean and that enigmatic place where they meld beyond the horizon, a wondrous, sun-swept vista unfolds before me. The solitariness is striking. It’s a place where silk ivory sand slips through your toes, your breathing attuned to the rhythmic sighs and wanes of a lulling sea. I devour the moment. I admire the grandeur of it all. I contemplate the watercolour secrets of nature’s beauty. If you really need to get away, no one will find you here. Our expedition begins after touching down in Barbados, a tropical hub of colour and tourists and the main gateway to our intended destination. A charter twin-engine plane big enough to seat six people soars above a glistening, endless stretch of ocean for 50 minutes 24
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to neighbouring Union Island, one of the limited connections to this island in the sea. A quick shuttle bus ride ends at a nearby dock, where a ferry, awash in golden light, gently bobs in the marina. The first signs of twilight begin to form across a muted sky as we skip past Palm Island and the twinkling lights of Petit St. Martinique. It’s an exhilarating feeling, that 25-minute boat ride, as though we’re running to the ends of the Earth to find paradise. We arrive between daylight and darkness. A dot of an island in the vast Caribbean Basin, along a chain of isles that compose the country of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Petit St. Vincent rests upon 115 acres and is bound by the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea. With no formal check-in required, a powder blue Mini Moke zips us www.dolcemag.com
through manicured pathways towards our oceanfront accommodation. Visibly missing — and thankfully so — are towering hotels and casinos commonly found in resort destinations. Lining a two-mile stretch of beach are 22 — six two-bedroom and 16 one-bedroom — rustic cottages, which face the warm, windy Atlantic side of the island. With an open-concept living area, Balineseinspired furnishings, a hammock, day bed and spacious teak deck set mere steps from the water’s edge, our first glimpse inside induces wide-eyed wonderment. The scent of frangipani flowers fills the night air, a sweet and sultry concoction. Supper of Caribbean callaloo soup, steamed mussels in a saffron cream sauce, banana sorbet and white-glove service greets us at the main pavilion restaurant, which infuses its alternating
PHOTO BY MIKE TOY PHOTOGRAPHY
With only 22 cottages available on the island, airy, open-concept living areas create a private oceanfront experience
All escape exits lead to Petit St. Vincent: a small piece of paradise in the Grenadine archipelago
PHOTO BY MATTHEW SEMARK
menu with fresh, local ingredients. Bottles of Château Lafite Rothschild, Courvoisier and Veuve Clicquot abound in the restaurant’s on-site cellar. While it often attracts honeymooners and high-profile businesspeople mostly from Canada, the U.S. and England, the island (which can be rented out entirely for almost $30,000 a night), has welcomed the likes of Denzel Washington, the band U2 and Carlos Slim, the richest man in the world. Since 1972, Allen and Bonnie Reid Martin have made the trek to the island for a two-week stay. I chance upon the Orford, New Hampshire couple before they head for lunch at the beachside restaurant. “I had a very, very, very, very stressful, 24-7 job,” says Allen, a retired lawyer. “Coming to PSV was a wonderful way to get away from it. I come back refreshed, renewed, ready to get back to work.” Bonnie, who snorkels in the waters facing her cottage and hikes up Marni Hill, the island’s highest point, echoes her husband’s sentiments. “For us, it’s the seclusion. We didn’t come to gamble, to shop, we came for the exclusivity of it,” she says. “What we like most is the number of employees. They remember all of our idiosyncrasies.” After purchasing the island in November 2010, Philip Stephenson and Robin Paterson of Freedom Resorts Ltd. established a plan to enhance and update the island. The 2011 renovation project heightened service, expanded amenities, and refurbished accommodations that now include air-conditioning and custommade furniture. Additions include a new executive chef and restaurant, and a team of Balinese therapists rolling out relaxation at the spa complex embedded in the hills of the forest. Upholding its intended lack of connectivity, the project didn’t include the installation of phones or TV or Internet — or locks on your cottage door. “We try to encourage our guests to really switch-off and spend time with each other. We’re so locked into emails and computers these days,” says general manager Matthew Semark. “What PSV tries to offer is an escape from that. There are no distractions in the cottages, so guests have the opportunity to spend proper time with
each other.” The island maintains its traditional flag communication system, which consists of two flags (yellow for service, red for privacy) located in front of your cottage. Simply mark what you want on forms provided, slip them in a hollow bamboo tube attached to a driftwood pole and raise the yellow flag. Efficient staff will deliver your every whim. For the adventurous types or the romantics at heart, two key attractions maximize the appeal of Petit St. Vincent. A day trip to Tobago Cays Marine Park to walk with iguanas and swim with turtles is a popular activity. An absolute must is a five-minute boat ride to Mopion Island, a sublime sandbar surrounded by coral. Save for www.dolcemag.com
a thatched umbrella, the deserted strip of sand seems to float on a waterbed of turquoise seas. For days when you can’t help but stay on the island, your private butler will drive you to a private palapa on the West End Beach, where streaks of pink and orange paint the sky at sunset. Of rolling hills and postcard beaches, an unplugged private island anchored in the Grenadines marks an understated presence on the travel destination radar. No phones. No televisions. And forget about WiFi. But it’s precisely this essence of simplicity and seclusion that makes Petit St. Vincent — and the journey to reach it — that much more worth it. www.petitstvincent.com DOLCE VITA MAGAZINE
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LIFE OF I
WITH BOLD, SYMMETRICAL SURROUNDINGS AND PUCCI CATSUITS BEHIND HER, INDIA HICKS EMERGES WITH A TAMED PERSPECTIVE PHOTO BY
WRITTEN BY SIMONA PANETTA
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PHOTO BY BRITTAN GOETZ
In
Toronto’s tony shopping district, Teatro Verde comes into view as I weave through pedestrians collecting on Yorkville Avenue. The Georgian facade of the housing emporium is soon behind me as I step through its entrance, where India Hicks stands against a backdrop of floral novelties. We politely exchange introductions before a customer interjects, her licorice hair and inquisitive eyes sizing up Hicks with an inquiry. “Are you famous?” The unexpected question hangs awkwardly in the air as Hicks quickly weighs her options. Opting for a playful, resounding “no” in a catching British lilt, her luminary look does nothing but betray her. Recognition soon registers across the woman’s face. An interior designer, hotelier, twotime author (Island Life and Island Beauty), jeweller and the creative director of a fragrance and skin care line with Crabtree & Evelyn, Hicks has curated a brand distinguished by her equatorial lifestyle and royal ancestry. Given her display of bravura, it comes as no surprise when you consider her familial ties. Her father, the late David Nightingale Hicks, is the celebrated English decorator; her mother, Lady Pamela Mountbatten, a first cousin to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh; her brother, Ashley, an architect; her sister, Edwina, a fashion designer; and her godfather, Prince Charles, heir apparent to the British throne. She was named after her grandfather — the 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, the last viceroy of India. And while she served as an attendant in a royal wedding in 1981, Hicks would rather stir up history then go down in the books as a bridesmaid to Princess Diana. Wearing a sheer white blouse and leopard-print pencil skirt, her locks of sunflower blond framing viridescent eyes, Hicks walks assuredly towards a couch, making Kate Moss seem a stumblebum. The former model sprawls out against a busy bohemian pattern, her jade green pedicure peeping through tan leather sandals, her sun-kissed skin indicative of her tropical address. A long way from home, Hicks is in town to give a talk
at the Design Exchange on Bay Street, where she’ll divulge nostalgic stories of a childhood rooted in symmetry and proportion, composition and esthetic. The subject of her discussion is the man who subconsciously influenced her career — and that of countless others — her father, geometric genius David Hicks. In the ’60s and ’70s, he made perpetual waves in the industry with his florid use of colour and monomania for the monograms that permeated every Hicks household. “We grew up with those kinds of things — we had them on umbrellas, we had them on slippers, we had them on playing cards.” While her own muted palette and quiet embellishments are in direct contrast to his, she’s acutely aware that describing her father is a requisite before she can begin to describe herself. Parents are, after all, the bones
EVERYTHING I DO IS UNDERSTATED. EVERYTHING MY FATHER DID WAS OVERSTATED on which children sharpen their teeth. Hand cupped under her chin, index finger on her temple, Hicks becomes visibly emotional as she taps into a vat of stored memories. Growing up under the imposing eye of one of the most original decorators of the 20th century — a man whose clients ranged from Vidal Sassoon and Helena Rubinstein to King Fahd of Saudi Arabia — undoubtedly had its oscillations. Tiptoeing around the details of his beguiling charm and tempestuous nature, Hicks admits to grappling with a strained fatherdaughter relationship. It’s hard to ignore the ceramic collection of pastel doves fastened to the wall behind her, a searing emblem of a tolerant daughter. “He cared about every facet of things. And he was very well-read on it; it wasn’t a surface thing, it ran very deep www.dolcemag.com
with him, and I think it’s very difficult for people who are perfectionists to live comfortably in the world.” Despite their differences, Hicks celebrates his legacy, and rather than live up to his success she casts her own silhouettes and shapes across the industry. “My father was much more bold; he was very confident. He wanted to make a statement with everything — and he should, because he had a voice, he had something to say. It came very naturally to him and it suited his character. In fact I do the reverse, especially in the way I design. Everything I do is understated. Everything my father did was overstated.” Born in England, Hicks began exploring her independence at an early age. She attended boarding school, backpacked around the world and graduated from Boston’s New England School of Photography. Working for the likes of Ralph Lauren, she lived in Paris and New York while pursuing a modelling career. Now a businesswoman, Hicks was first discovered in London by a magazine editor who was lunching with her famous father. Windows of opportunity soon swung open for the statuesque Hicks, including an encounter with a Florentine fashion designer made legendary for his exuberant prints. “I was going to Italy and my parents knew Emilio Pucci — he was a friend of theirs — and they said, ‘why don’t you go have lunch with him?’ When I arrived at his house, he immediately said, ‘try on my catsuits.’” Yet throughout the titillating adventures of jetting across the world to meet fabulous people and slip into even more fabulous wardrobes, Hicks knew deep down that her destiny simply lay elsewhere. “I never imagined it was going to last. I never really did the model circuit of going to the hip, cool restaurants and wearing the latest designs and taking fashion very seriously. I really enjoyed the people I met. I would have never met them otherwise. I love the travelling side of it; I love the independence that it gave me very quickly. But I wonder if my daughter said to me, ‘I want to be a model.’ I think I might hesitate.” It wasn’t until a serendipitous move to the Bahamas that Hicks began to DOLCE VITA MAGAZINE
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1
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3 1. The understated designs of India Hicks capture the essence of a tropical lifestyle, culminating in an array of attire and accessories that go hand-in-hand with sun and sand 2. The Love Letters jewelry collection — inspired by her father, celebrated decorator David Hicks — cleverly incorporates the letters of the alphabet with silver or gold for a simple yet personal pendant 3. This mother-of-pearl silver wire cuff was inspired by the magic of tropical night skies 4. An island address permeates through the life and organic designs of the blue-blooded designer 5. In her Spider Lily line with Crabtree & Evelyn, Hicks crafts luxurious cosmetic blends that enrich the body and enliven the soul 6. The Hicks on Hicks line puts a contemporary spin on her father’s iconic hexagon pattern
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embrace her calling. Surrounded for years by the geometric, symmetric gardens and grand rooms of her father, the starry skies and warm turquoise seas of Harbour Island soon sparked a seismic shift in Hicks. Amidst swaying palms, pink sand beaches and warm trade winds, she set out to blaze a predestined path with her own interpretation of design. But rather then begin with a perfunctory office or business card, she set her career in motion with an arbitrary move. Settling into island life in her private plantation home, Hibiscus Hill, Hicks approached some friends who owned a dilapidated
her family — five kids, three dogs, two cats, a parrot and a tortoise — paint a broader stroke of a woman who lives life with arms open. It was only three years ago when she adopted Wesley, a local Bahamian teenager she had known since he was a toddler. His mother — a local waitress she had befriended — had died of breast cancer. Her biological children — Felix, 16; Amory, 13; Conrad, 10; and Domino, 5 — welcomed him without hesitation. “Nobody for a moment questioned whether it was the right or wrong thing to do. We just knew we wanted Wesley,” says Hicks, who cycles in memory of his
PHOTOS BY BRITTAN GOETZ
BY LIVING IN THE BAHAMAS I REALLY DEVELOPED MY OWN LIFE. I WASN’T UNDER THE SHADOW OF MY FATHER. I FOUND THAT I HAD THE CONFIDENCE TO SAY, ‘I CAN DO THIS’
hotel and offered to revamp it for them for fun. “And so I decorated that hotel, and it started from there,” says Hicks, who moved to the northeast coast of Eleuthera Island 17 years ago to be with her partner, interior-designer-turnedhotelier David Flint Wood. “By living in the Bahamas I really developed my own life. I wasn’t under the shadow of my father. I found that I had the confidence to say, ‘I can do this.’” Green designers may have viewed the road ahead as daunting, but Hicks bore down with conviction and confidence that led to a multitude of design mediums. From furnishing spaces to accessorizing to creating an Island Living beauty line, her preference of expression is as neutral as her palette. “It’s like children — there’s never a favourite. One month you may find yourself spending more time with one than the other. But no, I find it all very satisfying.” While her products and spaces portray a penchant of less is more,
mother and to raise cancer awareness in the Bahamas. A long way down the line of succession to the British throne (“I don’t know and I don’t care because there would have to be such a gigantic nuclear bomb before I got anywhere near a throne”), the heiress has recently added a décor and bedding collection to her burgeoning repertoire. Transfixed by her findings at the bottom of the sea, a plethora of reversible quilts, shams, decorative pillows and antique framed prints are pressed with seashell and coral motifs and imprints left in the sand. “She offers a lifestyle and feeling that no one else is,” says Canadian designer and Teatro Verde co-owner Shawn Gibson. “She’s refined in the sense that she is more minimalist in her colours; she’s more organic than geometric.” Describing their long-standing rapport as a Punch and Judy friendship, Gibson fi rst met Hicks years ago through a Crabtree & Evelyn event. www.dolcemag.com
Since then, they’ve collaborated on multiple extravagant affairs, including a table-off on CityLine. “She has great style, great taste and that spans across her interiors and fashion, to her beauty products and everything. It’s a lifestyle. It’s a complete lifestyle.” But finding balance as a businesswoman and mother in the middle of a quixotic nowhere raises another side of paradise. “The upside to living here is that I have a three-mile sand beach at the end of my garden and I get to look up to a clear night sky. And I am able to raise five children with a lot of freedom for them,” says the prolific Pinterester. “The downside is to have a career where I’m constantly travelling. I’m on an airplane weekly. It does take its toll, and island life — to make it work — is difficult. I say that but a lot of people work very hard. My life is a really wonderful life. I’m very, very lucky, and I know I am.” Even with her father gone, his presence illuminates — it’s inescapable, really. She gently tugs at a gold chain hanging from her swan-like neck, a necklace from Love Letters, her alphabetical fine jewelry collection. Fastened is a pendant in the shape of an N and dotted with diamonds. She quickly explains its significance. “I have five children,” she sighs. “I’m not going to wear all their initials — so I just put ‘N’ — for none of you!” The inspiration for Love Letters dawned on Hicks as she rummaged through her father’s archives and discovered his writing paper. Twenty-six multiplemonogrammed letters — his geometric alphabet — popped out from the page. Her next step was literally and figuratively spelled out for her. “I had a tricky relationship with my father. He was a very great designer and like a lot of very, very creative people, he was a …” she searches, “he had, he and I didn’t always see eye to eye. And yet, I very much appreciate him; I wouldn’t be who I am today if he hadn’t been my father. And so in a way, the collection was my love letter back to him. In a way it’s me saying I do appreciate that even though at the time it might have been difficult, I think I’ve done a lot of this because of him.” www.indiahicks.com DOLCE VITA MAGAZINE
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WOLFHOUSE
REVISITING ONE OF TORONTO’S MOST PROGRESSIVE AND ARCHITECTURALLY CELEBRATED HOMES WRITTEN BY MICHAEL HILL
An open-concept atrium with skylight and large windows brightens the dining area and increases intimacy with nature
PHOTOS BY COLIN FAULKNER
THE
It
peeks out from the lush greenery that hugs it like a blanket. A beacon of avant-garde architecture in a neighbourhood known for its affluent yet reserved homes. It’s the product of an alliance between a venerable architect and two progressive marketing experts; designed of steel and glass, it has been showered with accolades. A home ahead of its time, it still feels modern 40 years after its construction. It is the Wolf House. And with this Toronto landmark back on the market, there’s no better time to rediscover its past. The year was 1970. Lawrence (Larry) and Mary Wolf had recently moved their consultancy firm from upstate New York to Toronto. The couple was living in their 50 Prince Arthur apartment with a second son on the way. It was clear they needed more room. “We got the idea of moving into an expansive, open space where the outdoor and the indoor merged into one,” explains Larry. But
in a city of conservative style, the task proved trickier than expected. The Wolfs specialized in new product development, helping to market and launch new consumer goods. The very nature of their business meant eyes must stay fixed on the horizon. They wanted a home that aligned with their sensibilities, one that pushed boundaries and stepped boldly away from the brick-and-mortar manors of the city’s old money. For nearly two years they combed everything that surfaced in Forest Hill and Rosedale. But nothing encapsulated their vision — it all seemed so dated, too confining. Until one phone call changed everything. The Wolfs were close friends with budding furniture designer Klaus Nienkamper (who would later construct the furniture for former Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau’s office) and his wife Beatrix. They were young couples enamoured by cutting-edge ideas, and Nienkamper understood their vision. “Klaus called up one day and said, ‘I
WE GOT THE IDEA OF MOVING INTO AN EXPANSIVE, OPEN SPACE WHERE THE OUTDOOR AND THE INDOOR MERGED INTO ONE — Larry Wolf just saw a house that you have to see,’” says Mary. It was the home of architect Barton Myers: 19 Berryman Street. At the time, Myers was a principal at Diamond and Myers, the architectural firm he established with Jack Diamond in 1968. His Myers’ Residence — or “The Berryman,” as he calls it — was built on modernism’s tendency to incorporate steel and glass in design, much like Charles and Ray Eames’
PHOTO BY HANS FONK
Dit, vulput at numsandre te faccumsan ut vulputpat. Im dipsumsan utat. Iduismodit wis
The family room was renovated by Heather Faulding in 2008 and features a built-in zebrawood wet-bar, wood-burning fireplace, access to a basement office, zen garden and pool, and independent heating and cooling system www.dolcemag.com
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PHOTO BY HANS FONK
Larry and Mary Wolf
Pacific Palisades home, the Eames House, and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe’s Farnsworth House outside of Chicago. The Berryman’s floor-toceiling windows and exposed steel were extreme contemporary departures from the city’s traditional residences. It was so modern, so progressive, so Wolf. 32
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“What Larry said to me is, ‘What you’re doing now is what will be the house of the future,’” Myers, now a celebrated architect from the Frank Gehry and Eberhard Zeidler era, explains from his Los Angeles office. “He really saw it as a futurist house and it represented the kind of image they were about.” “We hit it off,” Larry says of meeting Myers. “His ideas of architecture, about space, lifestyle really meshed with our ideas, and the next thing you knew we were building a house together.” The Wolfs procured a plot of land backing onto a ravine on Roxborough Drive in Toronto’s esteemed Rosedale neighbourhood — a seemingly impossible feat, as Myers notes — and, in the winter of ’71, they commissioned Myers. The effort, they all agree, was very collaborative. Myers, who designed the AGO’s Stage III expansion in ’93, extended the Berryman concept, incorporating infrastructure into the esthetic while facilitating the Wolfs’s desire for elegance and a seamless connection between nature and home. www.dolcemag.com
The design evolved throughout the building process. Myers shaped and reshaped the concept through several iterations, adding a handful of radical features unconventional for the times. The atrium over the dining room, Mary explains, was one of those additions. It would not only provide more natural light but also add breadth to both the dining room and second floor. “It was a whole new thought to me,” she says. “Barton was constantly rethinking everything through.” The Wolf House was finally finished in 1974, and even in a city where the sight of glass and steel condos racing towards the heavens is all too familiar, it still feels impeccably modern. The home’s gangplank-esque entrance conveys the sense of boarding a ship — a touch from Myers’ days as a navy fighter pilot. Its steel skeleton of exposed joists, studs, decking and ventilation ducts exudes a modern, industrial vibe much in tune with contemporary loftstyle spaces. Thanks to the flood of natural light from the floor-to-ceiling windows, this three-bedroom/three-
PHOTO BY MICHAEL B. LLOYD
The backyard features a pool, landscaping designed by Walter Kehm and a phenomenal view of the Wolf House’s three-storey glass façade
# 1, 2, 4, 5,6 BY COLIN FAULKNER, #3 BY MITCH FAIN, #7 BY AARON MASON PHOTOS
bathroom never feels cold, though. Wood floors and pear wood cabinets add further warmth, while several updates from acclaimed designers Yabu Pushelberg (1995) and New York architect Heather Faulding (2008) have kept its milieu on-trend. Walls are minimal, creating that expansiveness the Wolfs desired. An intimacy with the surrounding nature flows through the glass-dominant façade. The transparency may be off-putting for the more discreet, but the lush surrounding greenery, most of which was designed by LANDinc.’s principal Walter Kehm, creates privacy — a sanctuary that’s one with nature. The balance between nature and home is further enhanced by the courtyard’s zen garden. Since its completion, the Wolf House has earned several notable awards, including Architectural Record’s House of the Year in 1977 and the Prix du XXe siècle from the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada in 2007. Myers notes, however, that the home didn’t quite have the impact he thought it would on Canadian designers. But George Baird, former dean of the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design at U of T, explains that the Wolf House, a “cult object” within the profession, has made an impression on today’s budding architects. “We finally have a tradition of mostly younger architects designing houses that are not necessarily steel houses, but they’re ambitiously modern houses,” he says. “And I don’t think there’s any doubt that Barton is one of the influences on them.” Today, the Wolfs rarely find themselves in the Great White North. Their children live in the U.S., and Mary and Larry spend most of their days abroad or at their Florida condo. Even though it never created the waves Myers hoped it would, the Wolf House is a piece of history that could not have happened without the courage of two open-minded product developers. “There’s an old saying,” says Myers, “‘Great architecture takes two: a great architect and a great client.’ Larry and Mary never hesitated about doing that house, and in many ways, it’s still as avant-garde as when it was done.” www.thewolfhouse.ca, www.thompsonteam.ca
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1. Numerous windows can open to increase circulation and further connect with surrounding nature 2. The master bedroom’s ensuite includes this Jacuzzi tub 3. The Wolf House’s living/dining room 4. Three storeys of glass walls allow for plenty of natural light and provide spectacular views 5. The gangplank-esque entrance conveys the sense of boarding a ship 6. The second bedroom includes solar shades and built-in pear wood cabinetry, closet and desk 7. The family room includes a projection system with roll-down screen and surround-sound
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THE
SIMPLE LIFE WRITTEN BY MADELINE STEPHENSON
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F
rom the timber-panelled dining room and silverleaf screens at Mayfair London’s historic Scott’s restaurant, to the ink-black Venetian plaster panels and polarizing white marble floors at Manhattan’s esteemed Le Caprice, a Polish-born, London-bound restaurant renovator is showing the world that the right design can awaken what should have never fallen asleep. His paradigm is far from perfect, but that’s just the point. And it’s precisely why Martin Brudnizki has become one of our generation’s most sought after social interior mainstays in New York, London — and now Toronto. With his honeycombed hair, alabaster complexion, watercolour blazers and staple sneakers, it’s fair to say Brudnizki’s unmistakable style is as emblematic as his atmospheric architecture. “I think architects and some designers forget that the space actually has to be created for someone to use. I think hard about how I want people to feel in a place,” Brudnizki says from his New York satellite office. “We don’t have to try too hard,” adds the founder of Martin Brudnizki Design Studio (MBDS). His distaste for overly engineered interiors that receive far too much praise in this more-is-more day and age has made him a drop of oil in a glass of ephemeral water. Oddly, in an effort to avoid the avant-garde with his perennial, simplistic approach, he has become just that — a defector of the new status quo. “Think about atmosphere, think about materiality. Keep it simple. It’s so easy to overdo things.” This modest mentality in a world prolific with pièces de résistance is the breath of fresh air Brudnizki brings to a post-recession, carbon-dioxide climate. After receiving formal training at The American University and working for some of the U.K.’s leading architects and designers, Brudnizki affirmed his own aspirations in 2006 by opening MBDS in London. It was a risky move to make in such a cutthroat design capital, but the fearless bar-trender has never been ruled by repercussions. “When you’re scared or worried, you’re sort of in a dark cloud. You’re not going to see the opportunities.” Today MBDS is one of the most desirable studios in the industry with a widening geographic scope and a portfolio rich with renowned restaurants, bars and private clubs, from chef Jamie Oliver’s expansive culinary collection to club king Nick Jones’s Miami Soho House, and other food-for-thought
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY MBDS
HE DEFIES THE FLEETING, APPRECIATES THE UNPRETENTIOUS AND TOUTS TORONTO’S DESIGN SCENE. WHAT ENGLAND’S PROLIFIC PUB PLANNER, MARTIN BRUDNIZKI, IS DOING ON BAY STREET
Commissioned by businessman Nick Jones, Martin Brudnizki transformed Soho Beach House Miami’s 80,000-square-foot space into a congenial hotel-club with Cuban and Latin American elements
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spots like The Ivy Dubai and Cecconi’s West Hollywood. “It’s an emotional process for me. I feel it, I design it.” On the road at least 50 per cent of every month, Brudnizki’s best sleeps are spent under the terracotta roof of a family-run, Roman-inspired villa in Sardinia, Italy, where imperfection pervades and a quaint garden ambles down to the sea. “Everything is wrong about it,” he says of Hotel Cala Caterina, “but that’s the charm of it. It just is what it is. You have a bathroom you can hardly get into and then there’s some sort of weird massive walk-in wardrobe. It’s peculiar.” His personal preference speaks volumes about a designer whose main priority isn’t to induce a jaw-dropping reaction, but to create an atmosphere, a feeling, a mood, that’s so pleasant it’s addictive. Whether it’s drinks at a bar, food in a restaurant or a good night’s sleep in a hotel, Brudnizki believes people today have come to expect more. “They expect a journey and you give that to them.” His most recent sojourn has taken him to Toronto to extend the Drake Hotel brand to a brand new Bay Street location that sets the bar high. “Toronto is like a playground, every architect has done something here,” he says. Drake One Fifty, a stand-alone restaurant slated to open this summer in the financial district, “is a first for Toronto,” he adds. From rare black-and-brown Spanish cork ceilings to a pronounced performance space and custom video art, “it’s going to be difficult for anyone to do something that will top this.” At the end of the day, the sweet life is an effortless one. “I’ve come to the point in my life where I really don’t like too much fun. I like it simple. It’s the simple pleasures.” www.mbds.com
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY MBDS
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1. When Lime Wood Hotel in New Forest National Park decided to create a new restaurant, they called upon Martin Brudnizki. Hartnett Holder & Co’s unpretentious, English design is inspired by the original building’s Regency architecture and local cuisine 2. Martin Brudnizki’s concept for Soho Beach House Miami makes a private members club feel like home with bright palettes, salvaged timber and vintage furniture 3. Every corner of Lime Wood Hotel’s Hartnett Holder & Co restaurant is comfortably utilized. Warm patterns and fabrics yield an inviting atmosphere 4. Martin Brudnizki began working with chef Jamie Oliver in 2007 and hasn’t stopped since. Jamie’s Italian restaurant on Threadneedle Street in London is just one of many locations MBDS has designed.
| FLORIDA
GLOW OF THE
GOLD COAST Stay, soak and recharge at the Ritz Carlton
WRITTEN BY AMANDA STOREY
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here’s a slice of Florida that shimmers with iceblue water dotted with million-dollar yachts and white sand that’s icing-sugar soft. The place is called the Gold Coast, though smitten tourists have coined it as the “Venice of America” for the views and adventures. What better place for the Ritz-Carlton to call home. The first and only AAA Five Diamond-rated hotel in the city, the Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale complements the Gold Coast’s natural luxury with pure white and glass design. Crafted by Miami’s acclaimed architectural firm Arquitectonica, the hotel’s curvilinear structure makes waves with its resemblance to a luxury liner. And the similarities don’t stop at the exterior — lavish amenities are to be found inside those sparkling walls. From its fresh, trendy Club Lounge to its restorative spa and exclusive wine tastings, the Ritz offers a dreamy place for the elite to rest their heads, sink their toes and recharge their spirits. The VIP experience begins on the eighth floor, where the Club Lounge gazes down on the Intracoastal Waterway
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1. With its luxurious mix of waving lines and glimmering glass, the Ritz-Carlon’s design is reminiscent of a luxury liner 2. Happy Hour is a joy at the hotel’s luxe Via Luna Bar 3. Fort Lauderdale’s only AAA Five-Diamond-rated hotel rests on the sparkling shores of the famous Intracoastal Waterway
sprinkled with sailboats. The view only gets better in the Lounge on the other side of the window, where guests are met with a chic, nautical décor scheme inspired by the hotel’s marine surroundings. Espresso and turquoise, hardwood and stone — as if these scrumptious details aren’t enough to treat the soul, guests are waited on by the Club Lounge staff, who offer an adventurous selection of food and drink from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. And the cherry on top? The Lounge makes for an intimate place to experience one of Florida’s most priceless luxuries: watching the sun rise and set. Believe it or not, there is something sweeter than Florida oranges: the exquisite spa at the Ritz-Carlton. Each experience is inspired by the Earth’s elements, resulting in a lush list of signature services: the Ocean Sea Salt Glow, for example, is a rich blend of massage, scrub and steam for a deep, whole-body detox; the Sapphire Sea Treatment, the ultimate holistic experience, includes a luxurious pearl and kelp body mud to infuse the body with rich vitamins. For those travelling with little ones, the Spa even offers the kidfriendly Glitter Me Beautiful menu, a www.dolcemag.com
collection of light services designed for young spa-goers aged five to 17. Heading down to the Wine Vault, guests are given the chance to take an around-the-world trip without setting foot outside the hotel. The Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale’s sommelier guides the exploration through the 5,000-bottle reservoir while guests sip and savour some of the world’s finest wines. But it gets classier. To keep the ladies warm in the Vault, faux fur stoles are available. To personalize the experience, wine connoisseurs can embark on one of two journeys: the Flight of Six Wines, an intimate discovery of six cuvées selected according to personal taste; or the Five Course, Wine-Paired Culinary Journey, where exquisite dining meets unparalleled wines. And if the cool romance of the Vault doesn’t stir one’s taste, take your journey to the plush lounge setting of the Wine Room instead, or in the Via Luna restaurant with its stunning oceanfront view. Mirroring the blissful extravagance of the Atlantic in both architecture and luxurious amenities, the Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale puts the gleam in the Gold Coast. www.ritzcarlton.com DOLCE VITA MAGAZINE
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Moxie
MANIA It’s the city known as the Golden Triangle of Art, and Madrid’s Fashion Week lived up to that shimmering title. While summer-hot silhouettes, patterns and colours splashed down the runways as though on a canvas, the rest of the world looked on with stars in their eyes. Rome followed suit as AltaRomAltaModa launched a culture-infused, art-inspired series of new trends. Clear some closet space for these artistic new pieces fresh from Europe’s most coveted fashion shows WRITTEN BY AMANDA STOREY
Summer is the season of rule-breaking, and this feisty frock ignites a head-turning fearlessness as hot as the weather
Ï All that glitters is gold — and citrine, sapphire and diamond. This 1960s treasure will kick a hint of retro into any jewelry box. www.simonteakle.com
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Sweeping fabrics and a breezy summer hue blend together to create a gown as refreshing as sweet lemonade www.hannibal-laguna.com
Á Juicy gems sparkle against 18-karat gold to create a bangle worthy of both formal events and everyday wear. www.jsfearnley.com
Å As fun as a crabapple cocktail, this cushion-cut peridot and diamond d ring bringss a surge of energy to your ur fingertips. www.betteridge.com betteridge.com
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Á Don a pairr of sparkling, honey-hued ney-hued gems for a look ok that th t radiates sunlight. www.craigevansmall.com
Á Rich with romance, this Hannibal Laguna gown will hold the spotlight all night. www.hannibal-laguna.com
Á This Roberto Torretta gown sets fire to summer style with a delicious silhouette dipped in vibrant orange. www.robertotorretta.com
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Rich with colour and overflowing with interest, these gowns live up to the season’s hottest trends. www.robertotorretta.com www.kinafernandez.es
Å White gold, topaz, aquamarine, amethyst yst and diamond mingle le to create deliciously sly coloured eye candy. dy. www.ottavianostore.com ore.com
Å Sorbet orbet pastels are in for the season, and this light, princess-pink princess pi piece plays prettily with the trend. www.rosenbergdiamonds.com
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Å Lovely as a hand-picked bouquet, this gown’s antique feel and regal silhouette transport the wearer to a royal garden.
Ï Staying true to 2013’s frilly trend, this gown showers femininity with its floral accents and eye-catching cutouts.
www.tonyward.com
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Á Keep things hi gs fresh with sky-blue hues and twinkling gems. These aquamarine diamond ear clips bring a cool breeze to summer ensembles. www.jsfearnley.com
Ï The season’s trends call for drama — and the water-like movement of this flowing gown is sure to cause a splash in a crowd. www.tonyward.com
Á Liven up with a touch of horseplay. This colourful rful Sorab & Roshi Opal al Horse Pin amps up the interest factor. www.sorabandroshi.com
Á Knots of Victorian detail and a rich blend of silver, gold and amethy amethyst make this his pin an unforgettable unf conversation ersation piece.
Å An angelic hue, a creamy texture and a touch of shimmer — this radiant gown is the stuff dreams are made of.
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QA &
WITH PAUL VENOIT
Q: What brands do you recommend that will last all day, even in hot and humid weather? A: When looking for makeup that will go the distance, it’s not really about a particular “brand” as much as it’s more about the application and choosing makeup that is long-wearing. Use primers, waterproof mascara, gel eyeliners and lip stains to keep makeup in place and you looking fresh. Q: What are some of the dominant lipstick shades and eyeshadow hues for this season, and how can one incorporate these trending colours into her makeup regime? A: When it comes to summer beauty looks, bare, beautiful skin is at the forefront. Brilliant shades of blue and green are on the eyes and slicked, vivid crimson hues on the lips. Neutral lips are still ruling, along with glowing skin. Exaggerated lashes and brows are balanced by softly smudged-in eyeliner. Be playful and opt for a green or blue liner. Q: How can one achieve a fresh and clean, boardroom-ready complexion? A: Looking fresh begins with flawlesslooking skin. Showcase your best features using monochromatic tones (use brown, blue or a grey liner to rim your eye as opposed to black, which may be harsh). Avoid bright colours and heavy application. Q: What are the top expensive beauty products every woman should splurge on? A: Serums, moisturizers, sunscreens and foundations are a few products I believe are worth investing in. Save on mascara and lip gloss.
Q: Why is it important to buy quality makeup? A: Buying quality beauty products is important because they often have better formulations and tend to deliver longer-lasting results. Q: What are some tips with which one can glam up her look? A: Using highlighters on the cheekbone and in the inner corner of the eye. Lining the inner rim of the eye with a darker pencil and applying a new coat of mascara. Fresh slash of lip gloss … and off you go! Q: Any suggestions for natural makeup on the beach? A: Wear sunblock. If need be, nothing heavier than a little concealer or tinted moisturizer. Q: Can you share some of your favourite staple products in your makeup kit? A: Hydrating serum, highlighting wheel, bronzers and a wide selection of lip colours and my special powder brush that I use to create a flawless finish. Q: Most memorable moment while applying a celebrity’s makeup? A: My client running behind schedule and having to prep her while flying on a private jet with a royal on-board as she was heading directly from the plane to her red carpet event. Nuts! www.dolcemag.com
Q: What are the three must-have products every woman should have in her makeup bag? A: A good bronzer, highlighter and lipstick. Q: What is the most important beauty advice that you can give to a woman? A: Be confident. Nothing is more attractive than a confident woman.
PHOTO BY RAINER HOSCH
INTERVIEW BY SIMONA PANETTA
PHOTO BY PATRICIA RECOURT
FROM THE BOARDROOM TO THE BEACH, THIS CELEBRITY STYLIST SHARES HIS SUMMER BEAUTY TIPS AND TRENDS
Paul Venoit Celebrity Hair and Makeup Artist Paul Venoit’s knack for the dramatic and dedication to bringing out an individual’s best have garnered him international attention amongst the fashion and celebrity circuit. From Kate Moss and Claudia Schiffer to Tricia Helfer and The Rolling Stones, his highly exuberant and personable nature shines through with every masterful stroke. A Canadian-born artist, Venoit has appeared on several shows, including Rachael Ray and Canada’s Next Top Model, and as a red carpet fashion commentator for the TV Guide Channel at industry-leading film and music awards. Venoit currently resides in Toronto and divides his time working in Los Angeles and New York. www.venoit.com
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Actress Julie Benz leans against the zebrawood walls of the Hazelton Hotel’s Bellair Suite
Knock WOOD on
JULIE BENZ DISCUSSES HER NEW TELEVISION SHOW DEFIANCE, HER “TERRIBLE” VOICE AND “MARRY ME” CHICKEN WINGS WRITTEN BY MICHAEL HILL PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRISTOPH STRUBE
CLOTHING SELECTED BY STYLIST MARCUS TRIPP. WHITE PEPLUM PENCIL DRESS BY ALEXANDER MCQUEEN (AVAILABLE AT HOLT RENFREW), SHOES BY MANOLO BLAHNIK (AVAILABLE AT BROWNS SHOES). MAKEUP BY PAUL VENOIT. CATERING PROVIDED BY PUSATERI’S FINE FOODS.
It’s
Monday afternoon in Toronto and Julie Benz is in town as part of the promotional tour for her latest television series Defiance. The most pressing issue right now, however, is what to do with her hands. “Feel free to tell me where to put them,” she says to the photographer as the camera clicks away. “I don’t always know.” Only moments before she stepped through the door of the Bellair Suite at the Hazelton Hotel to an all-consenting “wow.” Her dirty blond waves cascade over her shoulders, washing down to a curve-hugging number from Alexander McQueen. It’s a strong yet feminine look, professional with a dab of sexy, made all the more brilliant against the suite’s baritone zebrawood. The room is instantly won. ut as the shoot rolls on, Benz ropes us in further. “I feel like a dork,” she exclaims as she tries different poses and expressions, laughing as she goes. Others insist that she looks stunning. But she bats away compliments with a playful “Anyone can look gorgeous with a glam squad.” Perhaps. But few pull it off with such charm. It’s certainly not hard to see why audiences fell for her as Rita, the girlfriend-turned-wife of the murdererof-murderers on Showcase’s bloodysuccessful series Dexter. A smile forms effortlessly across her demure lips, her piercing grey eyes inducing selfconsciousness in others. And yet she’s personable and modest, confident enough to bear glints of vulnerability through light self-deprecation. She’s
clearly comfortable in her peaches-andcream skin, but she balances it with humility and by downplaying her beauty. There’s genuine warmth to it, like a good friend saying, “It’s all thanks to you.” She keeps the mood light and easy, maintaining a calm before the storm. Tomorrow her schedule is jam-packed with dawn-to-dusk on-air interviews and sit-downs with local media. She’ll be heading to New York for more of the same the following day, too. Oh, the downside of fame. “It’s the icing on the cake of a show launch,” she corrects.
Defiance is a transmedia gamble of galactic proportions. NBCUniversal — which owns Syfy, the channel running the series — has invested a whopping $100 million into the Defiance experiment, launching the show, a post-apocalyptic Western, alongside a massive multiplayer online video game. The idea is that the two mediums will shape each other — plot will alter the game world and players’ decisions will impact the show’s direction. The hope is that the dialogue between the two, and the audiences’ role in affecting both products, will pull
“IT WAS SO EASY TO BE SEDUCED BY JULIE’S INHERENT SWEETNESS”
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he shoot’s wrapped up and Benz looks right at home snuggled on the suite’s couch in a plush ivory bathrobe and a pair of skin-toned heels. “I love travelling,” she adds. “As an actor, we get to live out of hotels the majority of our lives — it’s kind of fun.” We’re fortunate enough to snag early access with the television/film actress before the publicity tempest, and she’s clearly already in Pro Mode, quick to keep things upbeat. And with so much riding on the line, she has to. www.dolcemag.com
fans from one medium to the other, buttressing the overall Defiance brand. It’s an ambitious move into uncharted territory, one that entails precision and finesse. The video game industry has ballooned into a near $80-billion goliath, and a successful product could become a sizable cash cow. But gamers are a fickle bunch; sci-fi fans even more so. Any missteps — a buggy online experience, mundane gameplay, a show too safe or careless — could see audiences jump ship faster than DOLCE VITA MAGAZINE
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FILMOGRAPHY 2013 Defiance 2010 Desperate Housewives 2009 The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day 2008 Rambo 2006-2010 Dexter 2000-2004 Angel 1999 Jawbreaker 1996-2000 Buffy the Vampire Slayer
the Millennium Falcon can make the Kessel Run. Benz is aware of the gravity. “There’s a lot of money and time that’s been invested in Defiance. A lot more than other shows,” she acknowledges. The massive show launch is the largest she’s ever been part of. Several weeks prior she was cranking up the hype machine in Paris, and her face, alongside other cast members, has popped up on buses and billboards in major cities, even making its way to Times Square. “It’s so embarrassing,” she says of the conspicuousness of it all. But it’s that same face that could be a key piece to the show’s success. With a career spanning over 20 years, Benz has made waves on several wildcard projects. From a sultry and eccentric FBI agent in The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day to a seductive lesbian stripper on Desperate Housewives to her breakout role as Darla, a bloodsucker with a vendetta, on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Benz has walked in several pairs of atypical shoes. Even her role as Rita, the wife of a serial killer on Dexter, provided an interesting dynamic for the dark protagonist. “It’s a weird attraction that happens between an actor and the roles that come into their life,” she explains. “I believe you get the part you were meant to play. Even on your worst day, when you feel awful and can’t act, you’re still brilliant in it — that’s the part you get.” er immediate affinity with Defiance’s script grew from its strong, complex women. There are no “mother-wife victim roles,” she explains. Each character is “dynamic and complicated,” many with hidden agendas and heart-less sleeves. Her own character, Amanda Rosewater, is the new mayor of Defiance, the town for which the show is named. She wears a brave face and rises to meet demanding situations, but is introduced as inexperienced and untested with a sense that she’s in over her head. Benz describes her acting style as “organic,” and like with past roles, wrestled with how to make this character blossom. “For me the challenge with Amanda was trying to find her strength, but still allow her to be a woman, to have vulnerability without taking away her
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power,” Benz explains. It’s a tightrope many women walk. “Any woman can relate to that: ‘How can I be strong in the workforce but still maintain a level of femininity?’” hile Defiance, which was shot in Scarborough, has been in development for five years, the show’s creators encouraged creativity from their stars, providing room for actors to add their own spin to their characters. Benz’s twist was scotch. “I kept trying to figure out what Amanda does at night. She goes home by herself, and in her deepest, darkest hours, what are her fears?” she says with a flash of intensity. “I imagined her at night having a glass of scotch, sitting on her bed and just bursting into tears because of the pressure.” She laughs, adding, “I don’t drink scotch at all.” It’s hard not to laugh along, too.
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“but actors have no ownership over a character — it’s our job to bring the story that the writers choose to tell to life.” For Hall, Benz had played such a pivotal role in the series’, and Dexter’s, development. To see her go was also heartbreaking. “She’s still such a part of the fundamental DNA of what the show is and what Dexter’s experience of his own humanity is,” he says, adding Benz handled the departure with a level of grace and professionalism that a lesser actor may not have managed. nterestingly enough, this skill and professionalism may never have made it to the screen. When she was 16, Benz was instructed by an acting coach to quit. The reason? She had a “terrible” voice. “I still do, I guess,” she laughs. Of course it’s just absurd — that soft, slightly raspy voice is the thing of fanboy fantasies. But as
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“I WOULD RATHER
WORK AS AN ACTOR THAT DAY THAN SIT ON MY COUCH AND TELL PEOPLE I’M AN ACTOR” — Julie Benz
Michael C. Hall agrees there’s a certain allure to Benz that’s tough to ignore. “It was so easy to be seduced by Julie’s inherent sweetness,” says the star of Dexter. He’s on break during a day of shooting for the series’ eighth and final season, and even though this year marks the end of Dexter, Hall still recalls Benz’s impact on the show. “We found this sort of rhythm and a chemistry and a dynamic between those two characters that was really sad to say goodbye to,” he says. “Doing scenes with Julie felt like coming home, in a way.” enz’s character Rita, of course, was (spoiler alert!) killed off at the conclusion of season four — a difficult pill to swallow. “It was extremely hard to leave Dexter and it was very unexpected,” Benz says,
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she reminisces about the dismissal, a fire builds in her eyes and a rare edge sneaks into the undertone. “What right does anyone have to tell a teenager that they should not pursue their dreams,” she says firmly. “Teachers are supposed to nurture and encourage growth. They’re not supposed to crush dreams.” But, she remains composed, waving it off with a smile. “I still have the little review. It’s just in my garage in a box of memorabilia. It’s one of those things that I laugh at.” The momentary fervour passes as quickly as it swelled, but its presence suggests a controlled fierceness not to be trifled with. There’s a lioness she could summon if needed, no question. This trait, she explains, developed from her upbringing on the rink. She began figure skating at three, and as any www.dolcemag.com
former athlete knows, “When you’re that young and in such a competitive sport you’re raised to be competitive.” An injury cut her career short, but she carried that spirit into acting. She explains how she would walk into auditions and feel with all assurance that the part was hers. “Nothing could shake my confidence,” she says. It’s taken her years to reel in that ego, to cool the fire enough to keep it south of arrogance. “I have to slow down sometimes,” she adds, sarcastically reminding herself, “‘You don’t have to be the best in spin class. You’re not going to the Spin Olympics.’” ut it’s this drive that also fuels her progress today. She takes almost every job offer, no matter the size of the cheque. “I would rather work as an actor that day than sit on my couch and tell people I’m an actor,” she says. She’s seen the ups and downs of Hollywood life, feels blessed to be part of the “one per cent” that makes a living as an actor, and is more than happy to keep working. As long as she can “keep the train moving forward” things are going to go right. Jamie Murray, Benz’s friend and a supporting actress on Defiance, notes not only is Benz a “consummate professional,” a loyal friend and a caregiver, but she’s also a phenomenal cook. “She’s always cooking for me,” laughs Murray. “I love that about her.” The pair became friends after their nemesis roles on Dexter and they have remained close ever since; Murray was even a bridesmaid at Benz’s wedding last May. “For a period of time, she actually tried to teach me to cook. But what very quickly ended up happening was I would come over and watch her cook and then we’d eat. It just ended up being quicker and easier,” Murray laughs. or Benz, the kitchen is easily her favourite room in the house. She loves experimenting with food and explains that she makes a mean chicken posole, salmon with honey and mustard and chicken tikka masala. But it’s her chicken wings that are the real winners. They were the catalyst that locked up her second husband, marketing executive Rich Orosco. “He calls them ‘Marry Me’ chicken wings,”
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she says. But Benz is hush-hush on her version of the mythical Engagement Chicken formula — she won’t share the recipe with anyone unless they’re serious about taking the plunge. The couple’s shared love of gastronomy led them through a citywide exploration of Toronto’s dining scene last year while Benz was in Toronto filming Defiance. “We made it our mission to eat our way through the city,” she says, noting her particular taste for Ossington Avenue dining, particularly at Pizza Libretto, Boehmer and Union. esides the kitchen, her husband and her dogs, Bamboo and Sugar, Benz notes fashion as a big part of her life. Shoes especially (as if the bathrobe and high heels weren’t any indication). Christian Louboutin, Brian Atwood and Giuseppe Zanotti are just a handful of her favourite designers. But Benz isn’t the type to fuss over labels. She exemplifies by pointing to the $60 Nine West pumps she’s currently rocking. “They’re
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perfect, and I’m not ashamed,” she says. hen it comes to la dolce vita, Benz, who turns 41 in May, feels she’s living it. She drifts back to last year to the moment when that feeling actualized. The weeks of filming for Defiance’s pilot fell around her wedding and Benz and Murray flew home to Los Angeles for the big day. The Monday after, their plane back to Toronto ran into rough turbulence. “I remember thinking to myself, ‘It’s OK. It makes sense that it would go down in this moment because everything in my life is right where I want it to be,’” she says. But she remembered Murray was her travel companion. “I thought, ‘Wait a second. It can’t go down yet. She’s not ready!’” She laughs one more time before noting that’s what the sweet life is: “When you realize that what you have is enough. It’s perfect.” Now there’s only one last thing to do with her hands: knock on wood. “I don’t want to jinx it.” @JulieBenz
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THE
TASTEMAKER Pusateri’s corporate chef Tony Cammalleri whets our palate with three sizzling renditions of the season’s hottest culinary crowd-pleaser. Find out why Toronto foodies are feeding into the gourmet burger frenzy
PHOTO BY JESSE MILNS
PRODUCED BY PUSATERI’S FINE FOODS
The Spicy Jalapeno Turkey Burger showcases the health benefits of turkey meat while crispy jalapenos and smoky sauce compose a balanced burger
SPICY JALAPENO TURKEY BURGER
Q+A RECIPES DESIGNED BY PUSATERI’S CORPORATE CHEF TONY CAMMALLERI AND HEAD CHEF ALAN YUEN
THE GRILL WITH TONY CAMMALLERI
Q Gourmet restaurants across Toronto, Montreal and New York have been serving up unconventional versions of the classic burger topped with unique ingredients such as truffle aioli and foie gras. What set this movement in motion? A The new generation of chefs is not only technically skilled but also understands the importance of having fun in the kitchen. The burger allows both creative combinations of sauces and toppings and the ability to use high-end items such as Kobe beef or ahi tuna in new and exciting ways. The popularity of street food, along with the fact that burgers are a chef’s favourite after-service snack, could be the driving force for this burger movement. www.pusateris.com
TURKEY BURGER PATTY
500 grams ¼ 1 clove 1 ¼ cup 1 tsp 2 tbsp 1 tsp 1 tsp
ground turkey, dark meat onion, finely chopped, sautéed then cooled garlic, minced egg bread crumbs oregano BBQ sauce Dijon mustard cajun poultry seasoning black pepper and salt, to taste
Directions: 1 Mix all ingredients using a KitchenAid mixer with paddle attachment or by hand in a stainless steel bowl. 2 Form into 4-oz balls and place between parchment paper; flatten each ball to about 1/4 inch (use the bottom of a pot or frying pan). 3 Turn on grill to high heat and season with oil. 4 Grill on high to desired doneness; thinner patties cook faster and lose less moisture. Alternatively, you can use a griddle plate for maximum flavour.
TOPPINGS:
FRIED JALAPENOS: 3 jalapenos, sliced thinly 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 2 eggs with touch of water, whisked 2 cups panko bread crumbs CHIPOTLE MAYO: 1 cup mayonnaise 2 tbsp chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, chopped fine
Directions: 1 Slice jalapenos, flour lightly then dip in egg wash and panko. 2 Fry in non-stick pan till golden. 3 Drain on paper towel and season with salt and pepper.
Directions: Mix together the mayo and chipotle peppers.
Note: This can be made ahead of time and can last in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
Other Toppings: Green leaf lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, pickles Chef Cammalleri also designed a Swiss Bacon Mushroom Melt and Classic version for Dolce readers to enjoy. For recipes, visit www.dolcemag.com. www.dolcemag.com
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The LaFerrari is the latest iteration in Ferrari’s special limited series; only 499 are being built
FERRARI
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FERRARI’S LATEST OFFERING IN ITS “SPECIAL LIMITED SERIES” HAS ARRIVED … AND IS ALREADY GONE WRITTEN BY MICHAEL HILL
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ENGINE
GENERAL SPECS
2014 LaFerrari
6.3-L V-12; 120 kW Electric Engine; 963-hp (total) and 663 lb-ft of Torque (total)
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TRANSMISSION
7-speed Dual-Clutch ACCELLERATION 0–100 KM/H
Less than 3 Seconds
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hey call it LaFerrari, a 963-horsepower stallion that is, according to Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo, “the maximum expression” of what defines the Italian sports car brand: “excellence.” It incorporates the peak of Ferrari ingenuity and F1 knowledge, blending hybrid technology with the brand’s philosophy of speed, performance and style. It’s a modern masterpiece on four wheels. And you can’t have it. Ferrari unveiled the LaFerrari this past March at the 2013 International Geneva Motor Show. The company teased auto enthusiasts for months with shadow-drenched shots of the www.dolcemag.com
car’s silhouette. The anticipation was high — what could Ferrari have in store? It’s been over 10 years since the Italian icon released the last iteration of its special limited series, the Enzo, named, obviously, for Ferrari’s founder, Enzo Ferrari. It was, and in many ways still is, that ultimate dream vehicle, which incorporated F1 design and tech in a street-legal supercar. What’s been created with LaFerrari is arguably even more paradigm shifting. Its name says it all: LaFerrari, literally “The Ferrari” — the definitive Ferrari of this place and time, and the future of the brand. It’s also the first production model Ferrari has designed
Its future-present styling is meant to maximize aerodynamics, but it still retains a striking esthetic
completely in-house, not at Pininfarina. And, it’s a hybrid. This isn’t your run-of-the-mill Earth Saver, however. The LaFerrari’s crux is a road version of the Scuderia’s F1 KERS system known as HY-KERS. Its genius is that the 120 kW electric engine supplements the 800 ponies pumping from the 6.3-Litre V-12, an enhanced version of the one found in the F12berlinetta, adding the equivalent of 163 additional horsepower and delivering high levels of torque in low revs. Engineers could then focus on optimizing the V-12’s performance at higher RPMs, thus providing maximum power no matter where you find yourself on the tachometer. The result is a bullet that will blast from dead to 100 km/h in less than three seconds, will hit 200 km/h in under seven, and will peak at over 350 km/h, according to Ferrari. The LaFerrari also emits 50 per cent less emissions than the Enzo, and runs five seconds quicker around the Fiorano Circuit. This is the fastest road car the company has ever produced, no question. Of course, it will do all this with the grace and style with which only a Ferrari can. The LaFerrari’s body is shaped for maximum aerodynamics, but still gushes with élan. Its future-present form flows with never-ending curves,
strategically placed inlets and elegant lines that brush along its figure. It’s leaner and lower than its predecessor with a distinct, downward slopping nose and a backend that is the lovechild of art and science. It’s all meant to improve performance, but the package is pure technological beauty. Seats are part of the chassis to further lower weight and its centre of gravity. The paddle shifters are bigger and more ergonomic. Four kinds of carbon fibre are used throughout its body. The batteries also don’t need plugging in; they charge during braking and whenever the V-12 produces more torque than required, like during cornering. But, like all of Ferrari’s special limited series, the LaFerrari is, well,
THIS IS THE FASTEST ROAD CAR THE COMPANY HAS EVER PRODUCED, NO QUESTION limited. Ferrari’s screening process for this class is notoriously rigorous; a wallet’s depth is not enough to guarantee ownership. Only 499 are being crafted and Ferrari reportedly received 700 requests to buy it before it was even unveiled. This rare beast, it seems, is already gone. Only the privileged own a Ferrari, and only the elite of that circle will get their hands on this car. www.laferrari.com
Inside, seats are part of the chassis to lower weight, paddle shifters are bigger and more ergonomic and the pedals and steering wheel adjust to your preference
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H
IS
ESSENTIALS
Å SUIT UP Created by the coveted Italian fashion house, Pal Zileri’s Collezione Privata holds a scent as dapper as an exquisitely crafted suit. www.palzileri.com
UNLOCK THE EFFORTLESS HARMONY OF CRISP, CLEAN STYLE PRODUCED BY MICHELLE ZERILLO-SOSA WRITTEN BY AMANDA STOREY
Á RIPE STRIPES They're classics with a vibrant twist — slip on an accessory from Bally's Trainspotting collection for a cool burst of colour and comfort. www.saks.com
Á EARTHLY PLEASURES Pair an elaborate accessory with a neutral ensemble: earth tones are brought to life with a hint of vibrancy. www.palzileri.com Ï FRESHLY SQUEEZED Lemon yellow shows its masculine side in this smart, weatherproof jacket by LAB Pal Zileri. www.palzileri.com 54
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Ï STYLE SYNERGY Toying with texture while holding a steady monochromatic theme, Roberto Verino’s designs are like a breath of fresh air. www.robertoverino.es
Á RACE AGAINST TIME Add a touch of intrigue to your style with the powerful Hublot MP-05 LaFerrari Watch, the companion timepiece to the enthralling luxury vehicle. www.hublot.com
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On July 20, 2013 Team up with entertainers, athletes and several adventurous celebrities for a remarkable fundraising event! Join our Event Chair Bobby Genovese Chairman of the Board, BG Capital Group; and several philanthropic participants for an unforgettable event; as we unite to FIGHT children’s cancer! HOW? 1. Register a Team online and fundraise 2. Become a Sponsor 3. Make a Donation
TAKE PART TODAY! For more information or to register a team visit www.boatrallyforkids.com or email info@rallyforkids.com
Bobby Genovese Chair
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OUTSIDE
THE BOX INTERVIEW BY MADELINE STEPHENSON
Q: Philanthropy has always been close to your heart. Whether it’s advocating autism awareness, speaking out about domestic abuse or mentoring youth, your convictions have always been quite varied. How do you select the causes you support? A: It basically just comes down to giving back. Let me give you an example. I’ve always wanted to bring boxing to Jamaica and I came here thinking that I wanted to open up a boxing aspect, but when I got here I realized that there was a soccer federation that wanted me to put up $10,000. I looked at that and I thought, “Wow, if that’s what the youth want to do then let the youth do it.” Ten thousand dollars takes a hundred kids off the 56
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circuit in the sense that it gives them something to occupy themselves with. It gives them something to work for; they get trophies and it occupies them for the whole summer. Although it wasn’t boxing, if that’s what they love, I’ll support it. Through my foundation, the League of Champions, we help kids become good citizens, help them with their goals, give them ways of achieving them.
sports athlete. I’m of the age of realizing that sports is not really the first thing that should be on your mind because if you get injured, what’s going to happen to you? So I try to say, “OK, say you can’t be a soccer player because you broke your leg. Then what are you going to be?” Then they have more thoughts about their future. So even just by activating the thought, that’s a positive thing for me.
Q: Many young Jamaicans view you as a mentor. What conversations have you had with them that stand out in your mind? A: When I talk to kids I ask, “What do you want to be?” and most of them usually say they want to be a football player or some
Q: As a father of four, what do you teach your own children about life based on the lessons you’ve learned? A: It’s an ongoing affair. My son, he’s eight years old and he loves to have fun but the latest thing that I’ve taught him
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PHOTO BY D-NICE
THE FORMER WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION FILLS US IN ON LIFE OUTSIDE THE RING. FROM HIS FAMOUS MIKE TYSON TRIUMPH TO THE TRIALS OF FATHERHOOD, THE IRREPRESSIBLE PUGILIST PULLS NO PUNCHES. HOW A SEAMLESS COMBINATION OF PERSEVERANCE AND PRIDE MADE A LEGEND OUT OF LENNOX LEWIS
is there’s a time to be serious and there’s a time to play, you have to know the difference. We are the teachers, the first teachers for our kids and what we teach them is very important. They’re going to take it in for a lifetime. So our job is never done when it comes to teaching and allowing our kids to learn or putting them in situations where they learn. As you can see, I like the fatherhood aspect of life. It’s an ongoing realization that these kids are more important than me, so I have to make sure that I’m bringing them up in a world that they can survive in.
A: It helped me be who I am today in the sense that life skills are very important. After high school, your education never stops. It’s always there for you to grasp and you should never stop learning. You can never say you know everything. The funny thing is, my mother and Michael Lee-Chin’s mother come from the same part of Jamaica, Port Antonio. And my mother actually knows his. So when he and I are together we have the same type of vibe, to a certain degree, because we’re from the same kind of upbringing — very strong mothers.
Q: I think readers would be interested to know if one of the world’s greatest boxing legends was ever a victim of bullying. A: Well, let me tell you a story now. When I was going to school, on the way home there were three brothers that didn’t like me. They had no reason not to like me. They didn’t like me because of my colour. One time I was coming home from school and one of them saw me and challenged me to a fight, slapped me, but one thing I could do was run fast so they couldn’t catch me. Every day I kept seeing these guys and one day, because I was taking boxing, I said, you know what, I’m going to fight one. So we put our hands up to fight and I gave him two punches. There was blood in his nose. After that they respected me. It was either “leave me alone or I’ll fight you,” so they left me alone. It taught me a lesson, gave me courage. I realized that boxing helped me in my life and standing up to people is important. Because if you show weakness, people can take advantage of you.
Q: What was it like to come to Canada at the age of 12 and start a new life here? A: I remember going to my first public school and I was the only black kid there. At recess they had this thing where they took toboggans down the hill, so that was really fun for me. When I left, the whole school came out to say bye to me. I didn’t want to ever leave that school because it was fun and I was actually learning.
Q: You’ve recently received the University of the West Indies’ prestigious Luminary Award. What does this honour mean to you? A: It’s a great achievement, a great honour. I accept all these kinds of things in kind of the same way, I’m very grateful, honoured. It just helps me realize that I’m doing a good job, to keep up the work and give myself a pat on the back. Q: Past award recipients, author Malcolm Gladwell and businessman Michael Lee-Chin, both credited their unique circumstances for a great deal of their success. Do you see an alignment there as well?
Q: Take us back to June 8, 2002. One of the biggest fights in boxing history: Lennox Lewis vs. Mike Tyson. Before you defeat Tyson in the eighth round the camera catches an unforgettable level of focus and intensity in your eyes. What was going through your mind at that moment? A: Survival. See, my whole focus was winning. It’s not really about trying to damage; it’s just winning at all costs. Doing what I need to do to make sure that I’m the victor. Q: Your then coach, the late, great Emanuel Steward, played a pivotal role in your boxing career. How did he inspire you to be the best? A: Emanuel always had confidence in me. He said the Mike Tyson fight would be my easiest fight, and in some ways he was actually correct. You could say that he taught me a lot, and it always comes out whether I’m training or watching a fight, he’s always going to be in my heart in that sense, and in my head. Q: Even at your prime, you were constantly questioned and challenged as to whether you were capable of being the best. How did the naysayers impact your ultimate feats? A: They helped me. They helped me achieve them. You tell me I’m no good, I’m going to say, “What? What do you www.dolcemag.com
mean I’m no good? I am good and I’m going to prove it.” Q: You married Violet Chang in 2005. How did you pop the question? A: It was at a resort in Montego Bay on a full moon. There are these stars that only align every 400 years and it was the 400th year, so I figured, why not do it on this special day? Q: Is there a secret to a strong, healthy marriage? A: Communication, understanding and patience. Q: If you can give a piece of advice to anyone who wants to succeed in any field, whether it’s in boxing or business, what would it be? A: Keep persevering. Things don’t come just like that. You have to work at them. An interesting example, with my boxing, is that I went to the gym every day, every day, but yet I didn’t see my improvement. My improvement came as I fought and was winning each fight and saying, “OK, I’m getting better.” Other people had seen potential in me, but I didn’t see the potential in me. I’m kind of glad that was the case. Q: What does the sweet life mean to you, la dolce vita? A: Happiness with my kids and my family and being able to give back. Learning how to balance. Q: What can the world expect next from Lennox Lewis? A: To still be a part of boxing. At one time you’ve seen me commentating, now I’m thinking about helping young boxers coming up. My passions are just to make sure that the lives of my kids are fun. Making sure that they’re growing in a way that they have everything available to them to help them follow their dreams. Q: It sounds like fun is one of your primary goals in life? A: Yes, of course, a worthwhile life. I don’t want to be remembered for how much money I’ve made, I want to be remembered for what I’ve left behind. Q: What do you think that legacy is? A: Legacy hasn’t stopped yet. DOLCE VITA MAGAZINE
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A DV E R TO R I A L
Shaun Jalili stands amongst his dealership’s collection of rare and luxurious vehicles. As president of Platinum Cars, he holds an innate understanding of top-notch service and luxury automotives
MAN of STEEL AT PLATINUM CARS, SHAUN JALILI DEMONSTRATES WHY HEROIC SERVICE IS KEY TO SUCCESS
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY JESSE MILNS
S
haun Jalili leans against a black Lamborghini Gallardo in the lobby of his North York dealership, Platinum Cars. He’s surrounded by glasswalled offices furnished with custom black desks and white walls decorated with renowned racetracks, including Italy’s Misano World Circuit and Germany’s famed Nürburgring. Behind a glass partition one can see an array of BMWs, Porches, Maseratis, the odd Aston Martin and even a Rolls Royce Phantom. It’s clear Jalili understands luxury automotives and the lifestyle they represent. But while product is always crucial, there’s one aspect of his business that trumps the steel and rubber: service. “Service is No. 1,” says Jalili, president of Platinum Automotive Group. “We go above and beyond what everybody else does.” Since the age of 18, Jalili has had an affinity for fine cars. During his career as owner of a chain of pizza restaurants, he amassed a sizable collection of luxury vehicles. Ferraris,
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1 1. Jalili sits in his “Lamborghini” chair, a custom steel pod hanging from the roof of his office 2. This Maserati GranTurismo exudes Italian style and speed 3. Porsche’s black stallion is a prestigious moniker on this brown leather steering wheel 4. Platinum Cars houses numerous performance cars, including soft- and hard-top Porsches
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Lamborghinis, Porches — Jalili gripped the wheel of all calibre of cars. But his dealings with various dealerships and leasing companies left him unsatisfied with the purchasing process. “Everyone was just trying to move material. It was never about building relationships with the client,” he says. The experience, he felt, should be more in tune with the essence of the luxury lifestyle, meaning forming relationships as opposed to just selling cars. He built Platinum Cars with that attitude as a pillar. The results have been nothing short of outstanding. Jalili has already established a sizable clientele that includes restaurateurs, athletes, nightclub owners, businessmen and celebrity chefs, with referrals making up 80 per cent of his business. With its own in-house financing division as its backbone, Platinum Cars has
quickly built a reputation based on unparalleled service and trust. “I don’t want to just sell a customer one car,” he says. “I want to gain their loyalty for life. And I’ll go the extra mile to make that happen.” Whether it’s car detailing, a simple oil change or finding a rare vehicle from international markets, Jalili does whatever it takes to fulfil his customers’ needs. Even in the late hours of the night, Platinum Cars is just a phone call away. “Maybe you’re having car troubles. You can call my guys at 10 o’clock at night, they’ll answer their phones and take care of you,” he explains. “Just because a customer bought a car and left here doesn’t mean that we’re not going to take care of them.” He’s also concerned that customers find the car they really need, and not www.dolcemag.com
just one they want. Many may crave that sleek, sexy sports car, but Jalili knows desires and needs don’t always align. “I get to know my customers well and really understand their personality,” he explains. “My salespeople and I know who they are and we make sure the car they’re buying isn’t one they’ll regret down the road.” It’s unconventional, but numerous buyers have later thanked him for steering them in the right direction. These efforts have drawn comparisons with superheroes from clients — a notion exemplified by the Superman logo on Jalili’s office door. He chuckles and explains the “S” is meant for “Shaun,” and that the symbol signifies his company’s dedication to customers. “It lets them know that we’ll always be there for them. Like Superman would,” he adds, noting Platinum Cars is also a sponsor at this year’s SickKids Foundation Rally for Kids with Cancer. While this man of steel has climbed significant heights, his greatest satisfaction of all is seeing Platinum Cars licence plate covers on the roads. “It puts a smile on my face to see my cars out there and that people are proud to display my name on their cars.” www.platinumcars.ca DOLCE VITA MAGAZINE
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A DV E R TO R I A L
ITALIAN
Style
OFFERING EXCLUSIVE FASHION LABELS AND AN IN-HOUSE MASTER TAILOR, THAT’S ITALY RAISES THE BAR FOR BOUTIQUE ITALIAN SHOPPING IN CANADA
It’s
Founder and creative director Lino Grasso of That’s Italy delivers an unforgettable shopping environment
Shoppers can browse through mini-boutiques for must-haves from List, La Martina and more That’s Italy’s Made in Italy design was crafted by Italian architectural firm Brugnotto Shop Interiors
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no secret that fashion, food and culture reach their peaks in the historic streets of Italy — especially if you appreciate the good life. For those that lust after that iconic Italian style, look no further than the latest fashion instalment to hit north of Toronto. Mirroring the luxe boutiques that line the streets of Milan, That’s Italy’s 14,000 square feet of space deliver a distinct shopping experience close to home. Adding to the European feel is the separation between each pod-like clothing section, prompting the feeling that you’re in one private mini-boutique at a time. And, of course, each section is stocked with some of Italy’s most coveted designs for both men and women — 80 per cent of which have travelled straight from Rome. It is this all-Italian shopping experience that founder and creative director Lino Grasso had in mind when he first conjured up the concept for the store less than a year ago. With years of experience as an Italian fashion www.dolcemag.com
producer, Grasso was determined to invigorate Toronto’s fashion scene with a taste of fearless style. And he didn’t stop short of the best. Carrying the finest of garments you’d be hardpressed to find elsewhere in Canada, he commissioned Brugnotto Shop Interiors, an architectural firm based in Treviso, Italy, to custom-design the spacious layout. From quality chairs and tables to white leather couches, all-Italianmade furnishings come together to create a luxurious yet casual shopping environment. Reminiscent of hot air balloons, oversized chandeliers are draped in cream-coloured fabric, evoking a magical quality in the space. During the initial planning stages, Grasso envisioned a haven in which shoppers could browse clothing racks in the simple yet heightened atmospheres of the boutiques of his native country. He made these ideas a reality by turning to what his culture knows best: the multi-sensory experience. First there are the sights. From casual to formal, a bevy of style seems to burst from the racks in a lively range
PHOTO BY JESSE MILNS
intimidation or pressure. Professional personal shoppers keep their distance as lingering shoppers freely caress luxurious silks, suede and leather. While Grasso stands at the helm of his experiential boutique, he insists that the heart and soul of That’s Italy is Maestro Sarto Italo Buttafoco. “When he saw the concept of That’s Italy, he fell in love and wanted to be part of it,” explains Grasso. Buttafoco has applied his masterful tailoring skills in Toronto for decades, having graduated from La Moda Maschile in Rome in 1959. He continues to carry his diploma in his pocket. “I’m very proud he came on-board with us,” says Grasso with a smile. “Apart from his talent, his first name is so fitting. He belongs here.” The in-house service, a rare yet integral key to creating a custom-tailored suit, sets That’s Italy apart from the rest. “It’s about wearing the clothes instead of the clothes wearing you,” explains Grasso. To complement Buttafoco’s immeasurable skill, That’s Italy boasts a grand selection of suits that range from $1,300 to $22,000. The store carries a collection of 10 exclusive fabrics from Ermenegildo Zegna, enabling gentlemen to walk out of the store with looks worthy of the runway. With hopes of soon expanding his concept in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal, Grasso is setting fire to a new understanding of fashion in Canada. But for him, it’s about giving clients the right pieces that immediately boost their confidence. “I think it would be nice if you could feel that every day.” www.thatsitaly.ca 3590 Rutherford Road, Unit 12, Vaughan, Ont. (905) 238-3047 www.dolcemag.com
With a master tailor in-house, That’s Italy is a gentlemen’s paradise
PHOTO BY JESSE MILNS
of colours, patterns and textures that will leave any patron smiling. Colourblock dresses from Laura Biagiotti are the perfect companion to a midafternoon cocktail, while Miss Money Money silk floral jumpsuits and leather jackets speak to the young at heart. For those consumed by wanderlust, bold accessories, Ermanno Scervino handbags and Naga Panchami silk scarves are a must-have for any adventure. Leading the frock pack is a dynamic selection from List, a Roman brand that teems with subdued elegance and electric shocks of blue. Feminine satin dresses drenched in blush and salmon hues catch the eye, as Pollini heels and Stellante loafers grip the soul. For the confident businessman or individual searching to complement a special occasion, a vast assortment of men’s clothing hits the sartorial spot. Have your pick of Fugàto ties; readyto-wear suits from Thomas Mason and Sartorio Napoli by Kiton; and luxury dress shirts from Tessitura Monti and Testa. Casual items from Jeckerson jeans and La Martina, the original sport polo brand, complete a stylish, laid-back look. Up next is sound and smell. Completing Grasso’s original vision of a relaxing retail experience is the coffee and snack bar, where one can retreat for a cappuccino, healthful salad or scrumptious panini. As happy hour begins, the music picks up as guests nosh on finger foods and sip on refreshing aperitifs and Prosecco. As for touch, Grasso challenges the popular yet detached method of online shopping by ensuring that his guests experience a serene atmosphere without
The luxurious garments found at That’s Italy are shipped straight from Rome
A variety of suits provides event-goers and grooms-to-be with an unbeatable selection
PHOTO BY JESSE MILNS
The espresso and snack bar provides a zap of energy to the shopping experience
This experiential boutique has its fingers on the pulse of fashion The individual pod-like sections give shoppers a luxe, Milan vibe
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The Three Chimneys restaurant in Colbost, Dunvegan, Isle of Skye, Scotland, has become a staple stop for international foodies
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ITHOUT RESERVATION HOW SCOTTISH CHEF MICHAEL SMITH MELTS THE PALATES OF INTERNATIONAL EPICURES WITH HIS ONE-IN-A-MILLION MENU — AND WHY HE CHOOSES TO LIVE OFF THE BEATEN PATH WRITTEN BY MICHAEL SMITH
The Three Chimneys’ head chef Michael Smith
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The scenery on the Isle of Skye feeds a visual appetite
Colbost Skink, Marag and Talisker Crumb, Croft Hen’s Yolk: A dish inspired by the traditional Highland soup, Cullen Skink, made with smoked haddock and potatoes
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ight years ago, I moved my young family to the edge of Europe, on the northwestern tip of the Isle of Skye, and took to the stoves at a unique and tiny restaurant called The Three Chimneys. As with every new job, I told my family, and myself, that there was a 50/50 chance of it working out. Today, many meals later, I’m still reminded of what has to have been one of the biggest literal and figurative moves for any chef, anywhere. Although The Three Chimneys is not the remotest of UK restaurants, it is, I believe, one of the hardest to get to. The nearest airport, which happens to be in my hometown of Inverness, is three
hours away; Edinburgh and Glasgow can only be reached directly by car, which is a five-and-a-half hour journey (a beautiful journey in itself); and even once the weary traveller reaches the bridge, which joins mainland to Isle, there is still another hour drive along the narrowest of single tracks before a menu can be perused, a freshly baked treat can be tasted or an aperitif can be sipped. Sheep congregate and stagnate en masse directly in the middle of the road, bamboozling and unnerving travellers, reminding them that sat navs, mobile phones and the Internet are all but redundant here. We are situated in the wilderness, on a peninsula surrounded by deep, clean waters. The restaurant is in the middle of one of the richest natural larders to be accessed anywhere in the world. Our lobsters, langoustines, oysters and crabs are all harvested from Loch Dunvegan, which is almost lapping at the restaurant’s front door. Recently, some of my chefs invested in wetsuits and began free diving for scallops on their breaks. They fish on our days off, making beach fires to cook the catch right then and there. The lamb and beef matures slowly on the island’s lush fauna that also grows unhurriedly, making it more flavoursome and succulent, and the venison comes directly from the mountaintops. Typically, the new members of staff who flourish here are young (20s), single (long-distance relationships are www.dolcemag.com
IT’S ONE OF NEW YORK TIMES FOOD CRITIC FRANK BRUNI’S FIVE PERSONAL FAVOURITES. MANY GUESTS FLY IN BY HELICOPTER. FAMOUS DINERS INCLUDE STELLA MCCARTNEY AND MICHELLE PFEIFFER. FOR HEAD CHEF MICHAEL SMITH, THE THREE CHIMNEYS IS HOME
not the best), love working in a very busy and creative environment and, just as importantly, living in a unique, harsh, breathtakingly beautiful part of the world. Some may say the pride I find as a chef here sounds cliché or stereotypical. And I would agree. If, that is, there were another five or six — or even three — similar establishments along the west coast of Scotland. But there aren’t. Though this faraway life may seem lonely to some, I am accompanied by the greatest guests who travel from North America and around the world to dine with me. This restaurant is so much more than the sum of its parts. It has a sense of place. It has provenance. It has a soul. It could not exist anywhere else. All of these things and more inspire me, in my cooking, in my work, in my life. I have been fortunate to be part of it all, doing what I love, working in a busy, happy restaurant. Which just happens to be here. Michael Smith Guest Food Editor In addition to being named one of New York Times food critic Frank Bruni’s personal top five restaurants in the world, The Three Chimneys’ accolades include being among the ranks of Restaurant Magazine’s “The World’s 50 Best Restaurants” and a 12-year succession of three AA Rosettes. Head chef Michael Smith’s early experience at some of London’s top restaurants, such as Terence Conran’s Le Pont de la Tour and Le Gavroche, combined with his lust for fresh, local Scottish ingredients, have paved the way to an international success story rooted in the Isle of Skye. In March 2013, Smith became the first Scottish chef in seven years to win BBC2’s professional competitive cooking program Great British Menu with his main course goat dish. www.threechimneys.co.uk
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WANDERLUST PALATE THE MENU IS IN YOUR HANDS AT THESE CULINARY LANDMARKS
PHOTO PROVIDED BY MBDS
WRITTEN BY EVA VOINIGESCU
PHOTO PROVIDED BY MBDS
Head chef Luke Holder and Angela Hartnett have a passion for raw, local foods, so guests of the Lime Wood Hotel’s Kitchen Table in Hampshire, England can indulge in exquisitely home-made, home-grown dishes
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hen we travel, we like to take in all the sights, sounds and tastes of the culture we’re visiting, in an attempt to really live like the locals do. In this sense, where you dine can make the difference between a good vacation and a great vacation. From hearty British fare at London’s The Rib Room and the Hampshire countryside’s Lime Wood, to the German-inspired Easy Tiger Bakery and Beer Garden in Austin, Texas, to Jaleo’s Spanish tapas in Washington, D.C., to Canadian cuisine at Toronto’s very own Lucien, the following selection of dining destinations is sure to make the difference on your next trip. And if nothing else, these restaurants prove that one thing is undeniable on today’s culinary map, no matter where you are based: the best food is fresh, local and organic, and prepared at the hands of chefs who really take pride in their craft. 64
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HARTNETT HOLDER & CO RESTAURANT Michelin-starred chef Angela Hartnett and head chef Luke Holder are behind the mouth-watering local, organic and foraged farm-to-table food on the menu at Lime Wood’s Hartnett Holder & Co. The atmosphere at the Hampshire-based boutique country house hotel’s restaurant is just as intimate as its New Forest National Park location. A rustic wood table seats 10 for communal lunches and dinners or privately booked events. www.limewoodhotel.co.uk
EASY TIGER Gastropub meets bakery in this German-themed downtown Austin eatery and beer garden. Homemade bread, pastries, sausages and corned beef are paired with a carefully curated selection of cheeses, wines, craft beers and spirits, including 37 varieties of reserve whiskies. Cocktails of note include the classic B&E whiskey sour, made with St. George B&E bourbon, and the Courtney Love, featuring Tito’s Handmade vodka, Sutton Cellars dry vermouth, olive juice, lemon and blue cheese olives. While there’s a takeout option for baked goods, lunch and afternoon drinks draw dine-in crowds. A selection of Easy Boards will pair together fresh bread or a pretzel with cured meats, and the homemade beer cheese is a must try. Tiger is also a popular evening spot, with outdoor Ping-Pong tables that create a laid-back atmosphere. It’s no wonder that Easy Tiger’s motto is “Stay awhile.” www.easytigeraustin.com
LUCIEN In the past, Lucien has been dubbed both Toronto’s best new restaurant and one of the top 10 new restaurants in Canada, thanks to its modern approach to classic dishes. Chef Étienne Lemieux has a proclivity for experimenting with unique flavour combinations and fresh, local produce awakens the palate with seasonally changing menus. For a main, try the Lake Erie whitefish stuffed with smoked pork and follow it with the buckwheat roulade, a dessert of walnut praline, sweet potato ice cream, maple syrup and whipped bacon. Lucien’s intimate atmosphere, created by dimmed lights and dark wooden tables, is also a draw for customers. Open for lunch and dinner, Lucien also has a bar menu and cocktail list that make a late-night visit just as appealing. www.lucienrestaurant.com
JALEO This Washington, D.C., institution has three locations in the area and a fourth in Las Vegas. Chef José Andrés oversees the popular Spanish fare with his skilful take on traditional tapas dishes, paellas and sangrias, bringing the taste of Spain to the U.S. capital. For the full experience, the chef’s tasting menu allows diners to try a hand-picked selection of Jaleo tapas favourites, paired specially with Spanish wines and cocktails. Intensely flavoured cow’s milk cheese paired with honey, rosemary and pine nut shortbread will make your mouth water, as will the legendary jamón ibérico (cured ham). Meanwhile, the downtown D.C. location’s casual atmosphere and inspiring 2012 décor remodel has made it a finalist for the James Beard Best Restaurant Design award this year. www.jaleo.com
THE RIB ROOM Known for serving the best of British cuisine, this Knightsbridge bar and restaurant features elegant dishes and a complementary atmosphere, with several private dining rooms and art by expressionist painter Feliks Topolski. Head chef Ian Rudge plates some of the most authentic British cuisine with a twist in his seasonal menu. Try a starter of Sussex Mansion cheese dumplings or Orkney scallops, and follow it up with Loomswood duck breast or caper-crusted rack of lamb (as featured on BBC’s MasterChef series) for your main. Standing out among the neighbourhood’s many fine-dining establishments, The Rib Room is, of course, a meat-lover’s dream and, if you try nothing else, don’t miss the classic menu’s roast rib of Casterbridge Aberdeen Angus beef with Yorkshire pudding, a hearty British dish that will satisfy your hunger and your tastebuds. www.theribroom.co.uk
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WRITTEN BY AMANDA STOREY PRODUCED BY MICHELLE ZERILLO-SOSA
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9 1. HOT SPOT Tap into California’s hidden gem: Esalen’s legendary cliffside hot springs are celebrated for their tranquil beauty and restorative elements. www.esalen.org 2. SLOW AND STEADY This tortoise paperweight will bring balance and interest to any lacklustre desktop. www.vivre.com 3. GLAMOUR BIRD Whether it’s holding jewelry or hanging on the wall, this Blue Fan Peacock bowl will add a decadent touch of colour to your home. www.vivre.com 4. ON THE TABLE With an intriguing contrast between modern and naturalistic, the Obssedia table will add a touch of the unexpected to your décor scheme. www.bykoket.com 5. GOLDEN GLOBES Shake things up with these bejewelled Gold Sphere salt and pepper shakers — their brass 14-karat gold plating and Swarovski crystals will make your tabletop sparkle. www.vivre.com 66
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6. IN THE ART SEAT Ban boring from your space with this graphic chair that will attract the eyes and blow the minds of your house guests. www.bykoket.com 7. TUSK, TUSK Bewitch your ensemble — and your admirers — with these daring gold-plated and sterling silver elephant earrings. www.vivre.com 8. RACING LUXURY It’s the irresistible blend of sportiness and luxury that will make auto lovers thirst for Maserati’s latest, the four-seater GranTurismo MC Stradale. www.maserati.com 9. FLOWER POWER Stray from the traditional flower vase; bring out the brilliance in your bouquets by pairing them with the Salvaged Hot Pop vessel. www.vivre.com 10. MIX AND MATCH Want your home to make waves? Look to CB2 for inspiration: its summer line connects simple with complex and dares antique to kiss modern. www.cb2.com
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