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| INSIDE |
NOVEMBER 2019
CONTENTS 16 GRAND FACES
36
18
Cakes and pies: LadyCakes Bakery owner Bess Charles talks about her success and new children’s book. Meanwhile, it’s pie that’s made Dolly Scott of Dolly’s Produce Patch & Eatery famous.
24 DINING
Harvest & Wisdom at Shangri-La Springs delivers exquisite healthy offerings for vegetarians, vegans and meat lovers alike.
29 COVER STORY
Some of the most successful restaurant kitchens are run by a team of two, a dynamic duo that pack a punch with their combined talents, vision and respect for tradition. Meet the culinary duos behind Origami, Hamilton Harbor, Trattoria Mia and Black Forest Cafe.
36 OPEN FOR BUSINESS
The Forever Fiore Secret Garden Tea House brings a classic concept into the era of selfies and Instagram.
24
58 OPEN DOOR
Andy and Alicia Hopping walk us through their Mediterra home, which sits on a cul-de-sac surrounded by nature.
64 MAKE IT A DOUBLE Say aloha to happy hour at Roy’s Restaurant, where Hawaiian fusion influences the flavor at the bar.
14
ALSO INSIDE
58
64
12 Editor’s Letter 14 The Colors Pages 20 Model Behavior 38 Style 40 Wine & Spirits
42 Pets 50 Getaway 54 Ride 68 Grand Times 74 Next Month
GRANDEUR | NOVEMBER 2019 | 7
| STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS |
CELEBRATING THE GOOD LIFE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA
ON THE COVER LadyCakes Bakery owner Bess Charles talks about her rising success and new children’s book on page 16.
VOLUME 18, NUMBER 2 | PART OF THE USA TODAY NETWORK Editor | General Manager Art Director Associate Editor Production Director Contributing writers
Kathryn Robinson Kinsey, kkinsey@gannett.com Lindi Daywalt-Feazel, ldaywalt@gannett.com Pamela Hayford, phayford@gannett.com Dennis Wright, drwright@gannett.com Gina Birch, Jennifer Thomas, Anne Reed, Lance Shearer, Andrea Stetson, Annabelle Tometich Contributing photographers Jon Austria, Amanda Inscore, Ricardo Rolon, Brian Tietz, Chris Tilley, Andrew West, Wangyuxuan Xu VP Regional Sales William R. Barker President Sales, The News-Press Nancy M. Solliday President Sales, Naples Daily News Shawna Devlin Advertising Account Executives Gloria Estrada-Page, gestrada@gannett.com Nicole Holey, nholey@gannett.com Director Circulation Distribution Jim Keeble Circulation Support and Logistics Manager Cheryl Cushman, ccushman@gannett.com Distribution Manager Brian Franz, branz@gannett.com
PHOTO BY RICARDO ROLON
Grandeur is published 8 times a year by The NewsPress, a Gannett company. Complimentary copies are home delivered to News-Press subscribers in select neighborhoods throughout Lee and Collier counties. Copies are also inserted into Sunday editions of The News-Press in Collier county – in newsstands only. Subscriptions to the magazine are $24.95, and single copies are available at The News-Press offices and at various locations throughout Lee and Collier counties. To read the free e-edition visit grandeurmagazine.com. To advertise: 239-335-0457 To subscribe: 239-335-0211 To reach the editor: editor@grandeurmagazine.com
Building a Lasting Legacy Since we first opened our doors, we’ve reinvested in our communities—one project at a time. From financial guidance and support to energetic volunteers and committed leaders, we’re committed to improving the quality of life in the communities we serve. Busey Wealth Management proudly welcomes the Investors’ Security Trust team to our suite of financial services.
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8 | NOVEMBER 2019 | grandeurmagazine.com
| ONLINE |
You can explore the Grand life anywhere you go with our mobile-friendly website. From galas and fine dining to the amazing homes of Southwest Florida.
N
O
E
N
LI
LY
N
O
SWEET TREATS Artanis Belgian Chocolatier in Estero offers sweet taste of home for owners
rederick Gevers and Elke Bynens have brought a taste of Belgium to Southwest Florida. The husband-wife team, Frederick is 31 and Elke is 30, opened Artanis Belgian Chocolatier at Coconut Point in Estero in early September. The shop offers Belgian chocolates flown in from Brussels, homemade waffles, Illy coffee and those delicious Belgium cookies served on airplanes (sold in the States as Biscoff but known in Belgium as speculoos). — STORY BY ARTIS HENDERSON
Visit grandeurmagazine.com/food-drink/artanisbelgian-chocolatier to read the full story.
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10 | NOVEMBER 2019 | grandeurmagazine.com
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| EDITOR'S LETTER |
y relationship with food is straightforward: I kind of like to eat, but I’m not interested in cooking. Period. But funny enough I recently realized I may be addicted to watching cooking shows. Not the type that teach you the best way to prepare a gourmet meal — that’s what restaurants are for — but the baking competition shows featuring amateurs fighting for top-baker bragging rights, and sometimes prize money. I’m fascinated with how they can turn flour, and other ingredients, into edible masterpieces that you’d rather display than devour. I mean who knew the magic you could create just by using the right chocolate? Bars, blocks, chips, wafers or powder, and who would have guessed there’s actual edible gold leaf or other products you’re safe to consume that add those finishing touches? I’m sure all the culinary experts we feature in this month’s issue, know this all too well, but this amateur had no clue. You never know this newfound obsession might even come in handy this Thanksgiving, but somehow, I doubt it. November is the time of year when we get together with family and friends for our annual feast. Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, vegetable casseroles galore are just some of the traditional dishes we put aside our diets to enjoy. It’s also a time for thanks, and this year I have even more to be thankful for with the birth of my second granddaughter, Naomi, or as I lovingly call her “Mimi.” This bundle of joy is the perfect addition to our crazy, loving and large family. In addition to family and friends, I am also thankful for our talented magazine staff: Lindi Daywalt-Feazel, whose creative art direction makes the words and photos come alive on the page and online; thankful for Dennis Wright, who expertly marries the content to the robust advertising we offer; thankful for Pamela Hayford, who along with her main role as Southwest Florida Parent & Child editor, supports Grandeur by editing and writing copy; thankful for Nicole Holey and Gloria Estrada-Page for supporting our magazines with strong advertising solutions and others in the advertising department who support us each month, and I’m thankful for The News-Press management who gives me the freedom to try new things and the support to do our best each month. However, you plan to spend the holiday, in the kitchen creating masterpieces or waiting at the table for others to deliver them, take time to be thankful for the true meaning of this holiday, giving thanks.
Kathryn poses, in Mangroves Bar at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa, in a Etro floral silk wrap dress provided by Saks Fifth Avenue, Waterside Shops, Naples. MAKEUP BY: Ina Zeineddine PHOTO BY: Brian Tietz
Naomi “Mimi” Rose Kinsey
KATHRYN ROBINSON KINSEY EDITOR & GENERAL MANAGER
12 | NOVEMBER 2019 | grandeurmagazine.com
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| THE COLOR PAGES |
Add a touch of toffee
• Like a creamy caramel mocha, the Aby crocembossed leather shoulder bag from Chloe goes over smoothly in Autumnal Brown. $2,450 at Nordstrom, nordstrom.com.
Laced in latte
• Slip this champagne and white diamond bracelet around your wrist and luxuriate in the weight of its combined 50.67 carats set in 18-karat white gold. $42,995 at Provident Jewelers; locations in Naples and south Fort Myers.
THE
ALLURE OF
COFFEE Nothing quite passes over the
tongue like a rich cup of coffee, so much so that the color and its various shades evoke the same feeling in other realms of our lives. A pleasing uplift. A soft comfort. So pour yourself a nice cup of joe and indulge in the comforts of coffee. — PAMELA HAYFORD
Mango grain • Simple, sleek lines and beautiful mango
wood grain please the eye with the Anton solid wood dining table, made from trees that no longer produce fruit. Table available in 72 inches and 86 inches, $999 and $1,199 at West Elm, westelm.com. Matching bench is $399 at 58 inches or $798 at 72 inches for a set of two.
14 | NOVEMBER 2019 | grandeurmagazine.com
Louis does it again • Louis
Vuitton takes brown up a few notches with the Tambour Horizon Monogram Brown 42 My LV Tambour watch. Features an interchangeable strap that comes in a wide variety of colors and materials. $3,060 at Louis Vuitton, us.louisvuitton.com.
| THE COLOR PAGES |
Quick coffee run
• Its tagline is “The Maserati of SUVs.” And it is. Literally. The Levante, made by Maserati, offers up to 590 horsepower that propel its crew from 0 to 60 in 3.7 seconds. Maserati Q4 intelligent all-wheel drive keeps it under control. Five-way active air suspension delivers off road, while luxuries inside and out deliver on road. Starting from $76,980, maseratiusa.com.
Brew the perfect cup
Do the hippy shake
• The Scarlett sueded kimono evokes a 1970s flair with modern sensibilities. Pair with blue jeans and a widebrimmed hat for the perfect look. Faux leather, machine washable. $160 at Anthropologie, anthropologie.com.
Tap into tan • Whether
• It’s not just about stunning good looks when it comes to this coffee maker. The Technivorm KB-AO is designed to make the perfect cup of coffee, brewed to official Gold Cup standards in just minutes, from the copper heating element for precise temperature to the cone-shaped brewing basket for optimum coffee-water contact time. $349.95 at Williams Sonoma, williams-sonoma.com.
riding horses on the beach or picnicking on the boat, the equestrian-styled Wyatt wine tote by Ralph Lauren is perfect for carrying your favorite bottle. $395 at Nordstrom, nordstrom.com.
Kick up your heels • The neutral
hue of Cult Gaia’s Cam Boot goes with anything while the signature heel design and smooth leather elevates even the everyday. $518 at Cult Gaia, cultgaia.com.
GRANDEUR | NOVEMBER 2019 | 15
| FACES |
STORY BY ANNE REED PHOTOS BY RICARDO ROLON
SOARING
TO THE
NEXT
LEVEL LadyCakes Bakery owner Bess Charles talks about her rising success and new children’s book.
f Bess Charles had to choose one dessert for the rest of her life, it would be cake. “I’ve been following the keto diet,” Bess says, “but cake is still my weakness.” The owner of LadyCakes Bakery in Cape Coral has baked and decorated thousands of cakes, and if she could create just one cupcake for herself to enjoy, it would be a classic white cake with vanilla bean buttercream, topped with a fondant elephant, complete with tiny wrinkles, sitting atop a bed of flowers. “Elephants are a thing for me,” she explains. “My grandmother collected them, I have tattoos of elephants, and my house is full of elephants.” Elephants are also a symbol of good luck and good fortune, two things that have followed Bess through her early beginnings in baking to her current life as an award-winning cake artist, business owner and soon-to-be published author.
16 | NOVEMBER 2019 | grandeurmagazine.com
| FACES |
THE BAKE-GINNING Baking was a big part of Bess’ childhood. “All of my fondest memories are of my mother and I baking and cooking,” she says. “Messes were encouraged, errors were celebrated, and we just loved making cookies and cakes together at home.” The formality of cake baking and decorating didn’t come until later in her life. Bess met her husband, Jeff, in upstate New York at a little Italian restaurant where she was working as a waitress and he was working as “the pizza guy,” she explains. “I slipped him my number half a dozen times, all of which he threw in the garbage. He made it clear he was not interested. I told one of the other waitresses I was going to marry him someday.” Then one night, he called her, and, after dating for two months, the couple married and moved to Florida. That was 15 years and two kids ago. And it was the arrival of the kids that started Bess on her professional baking path. “It started with Tyler,” she recalls. “We didn’t have extra money to order a cake at Walmart. I would bake his cakes and decorate them, and I was really bad at it. But I loved it. It was so much fun for me.” Bess showed up to every family meal, party and get-together with a cake — even holidays where cake isn’t traditionally served, like Thanksgiving. “Everyone enjoyed all of my errors,” she says. “I learned and got better, and my passion grew.” But it wasn’t all sunshine and buttercream rosettes. One cake in particular that she baked for her son Tyler’s third birthday stands out in her memory. Bess was attempting to make and decorate
a three-tiered cake — something that looks easy on television and is infinitely more difficult in your own kitchen. Her husband came home and found her crying over the cake as she threw it in the garbage. She stayed up all night, baking and decorating a new version of the cake. “When I look back now, that cake was a hot mess,” she says. “But it was great then. It didn’t fall over; it was pretty straight. I was celebrating at that moment.” As Bess’ skills improved, her client list grew. She was baking and decorating cakes for Tyler and Katelyne (her children), family, friends and friends of friends. Before long, her kitchen was full of baking supplies and equipment and her baking passion took over her house. “Jeff came home one night after work and it was midnight,” she recalls. “The kids were running around in diapers because I hadn’t given them baths or put them to bed, and I’m covered in powdered sugar and flour and he looked at me and said, ‘What’s for dinner?’ and I said, ‘I can’t do this anymore.’” It was a tipping point for their family, and Bess knew that it was time to separate work from home. “I had 10 or 12 orders a week,” she says. “Compared to what we do now, that’s nothing, but then, it was a lot for me. Jeff looked at me and said, ‘OK, let’s do it.’” The couple found a retail space and invested all their savings into opening LadyCakes Bakery in Cape Coral five years ago.
BAKING IT FORWARD Since opening, LadyCakes has expanded three times, adding on a consultation area and extra kitchen space. And it’s not just the square footage and production that have increased. As her clientele grew, so did recognition and awards, including The Knot Best of Weddings 2019, Best of Cape Coral 2019, Couples’ Choice on Wedding Wire 2019, Top SWFL 40 under 40, Distinguished Entrepreneur Nominee 2017, a feature in Cake Masters Magazine and more. “It’s so much bigger than we thought,” Bess says. “Not only are we bigger today than we thought we would be, but I have so much more yet to accomplish that I didn’t even realize I wanted in the beginning.” One of the things Bess is ready to check off her accomplishment list is published author. “In this stage of the business and in my own personal career, I feel that I put so much sweat and tears into making sure the bakery is producing and can stand on its own two feet,” she says. “I have such an awesome team in place that it allows me to step away a bit and work different avenues of my passion.”
In November, the first book in a children’s series Bess wrote will be published and for sale at the bakery. The short stories focus on a young girl named Rosie who is nicknamed LadyCakes. “The stories teach kids a lesson about themselves and showcase the bakery and the joy it has brought me over the years,” Bess says. The first book, “Kindness is Sweet,” follows Rosie as she learns more about kindness and thinking of others. The books are part of her commitment to inspire the next generation of strong, independent women. “There were times growing up that I wasn’t empowered, and I didn’t feel strong or motivated,” Bess recalls. “There are so many girls and women out there who feel the same way. My hope is that I can motivate and inspire just one girl to work on her passion and not follow the path that someone else wants.” Bess has also stepped up her community involvement, working with organizations like the Make-AWish Foundation and PACE Center for Girls. “I’m starting to do speaking engagements, sharing my story, sharing my path,” she explains. “There is a lot about me as a kid and as a young adult that a lot of people don’t know. I think it helps a real-life kid to see someone like me who might have been in their shoes, too.” That’s in addition to designing, baking and decorating cakes. “I’m here every day, but I also want to branch out and start inspiring others,” Bess says. Inspiring others includes inspiring her own children, who inspired Bess to bake and decorate those first cakes in her home kitchen. “I’ve included my children in this journey from the beginning. They are pretty invested in it. You know, it’s different when it’s your mom, but I know that, outside of talking to me about it, they are excited (about the book).” Looking back on the path that led her to her current role as mom, wife, baker, cake artist, author, inspirational speaker and owner of LadyCakes, there is nothing Bess would do differently. “It’s not my style,” she explains. “All the mistakes I made were lessons I learned. I tell my employees when we make a mistake, we celebrate it, because we learned something. As girls growing up, we are so afraid of making mistakes, and it’s one of the things that women in general struggle with. We are so afraid, and as soon as we stop being afraid and start being who we want to be, that is when we soar to the next level.”
LadyCakes is at 2924 Del Prado Blvd. S., Unit 7 & 8, Cape Coral. For more information on Bess Charles’ children’s book series or the cakes and cupcakes available at the bakery, visit iloveladycakes.com or call 239-549-2253.
GRANDEUR | NOVEMBER 2019 | 17
| FACES |
THE
PIE LADY Dolly Scott keeps Southwest Florida satiated with perfectly plump pies and down-home hospitality. STORY BY ANDREA STETSON PHOTOS BY AMANDA INSCORE
he lemon meringue pie is piled so high, its golden peaks tower over the table. Apple pies are so stuffed with fruit that the top crust forms a high dome. Across the entire long, white table cloth-covered dining room table, sits pie after pie. Customers come in to admire the pies, take photos of them and then order some to take home. That’s the way it is every day at Dolly’s Produce Patch & Eatery. In season the line can be seen out the door and snaking along the sidewalk. “Last Thanksgiving we made 800 pies,” says owner Dolly Scott. “During Thanksgiving this whole room is transformed into pies.” Dolly’s is famous for its apple pies, banana cream pies and strawberry rhubarb pies. The coconut cream and lemon meringue pies have more than six inches of fluffy merengue on top. They also make mincemeat pies, which Dolly says nobody else in town does. All the pies are handmade from scratch. Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, the staff at Dolly’s bakes more than 1,300 pies, but even when it’s not a holiday, the aroma of freshly baked pies emanates from Dolly’s. 18 | NOVEMBER 2019 | grandeurmagazine.com
| FACES |
“Every year we do a few more. Every year we get the system down a little bit better. We make thousands of pies. For this little place, that is a lot.” “At Thanksgiving it’s pumpkin, pecan and apple that are the most popular and also a mincemeat,” Dolly says. “During the year it’s apple or coconut cream or banana cream, and apple is always a sure bet.” Dolly has no formal training in pie baking or cooking. She grew up in Minnesota as one of 13 children. With 10 brothers, Dolly says she spent a lot of time helping her mother cook. She and her husband moved down here in 1954. “My husband was just discharged from Korea,” she says. “When he came back, it was 27 below and he said, ‘never again.’ His parents were here, and we loaded up and came down here.” Dolly’s in-laws owned the building that now houses her restaurant. Back then it was a motel with little cottages. When her in-laws retired, Dolly bought the building and set out to create a produce stand with her son Randy. When zoning wouldn’t allow her to sell her fruits and vegetables outside, she set up sales in the building. Customers started asking for a sandwich or soup, so she added some simple food to the menu. That grew to a full menu of meals. But Dolly had another goal. “All I ever wanted was a pie shop,” she says. Her pie creations come from cookbooks, intuition and just by trying new things. A little yellow booklet she created, called “The Sweet Story Dessert Book,” lists 34 pies available for order, but Dolly says there are many more that aren’t listed. Dolly loves baking. Now at age 84, she doesn’t make the pies anymore. She has two full-time and one backup baker. Instead Dolly has a better job. She tastes the pies. She also greets customers, checks on the food and even takes out the trash. “I am everywhere,” she says. The customers know that. On the day I visited with her, Dolly sat at a table near the entrance, and one customer after another came to greet her, give her a hug and compliment her on her pies and other food. Mike Quinn, born and raised in Bonita, has been
coming to Dolly’s for 15 years. “Her pies are amazing,” Mike says. “I like the butterscotch one. That is probably my favorite, and the apple and the carrot cake I like a lot. The pies are amazing. That is what made Dolly famous.” Steve Levitan has been coming to Dolly’s for 25 years. “My favorite is the chocolate cake,” he says. “No one makes chocolate cake like Dolly.” It’s not just the pies, but the homey atmosphere. The pies are laid out on a dining room table complete with a little vase of red roses. The rooms each look like a cozy living room with little pictures and oldfashioned signs on the wall. A blue sign reads: “We must have pie. Stress cannot exist in the presence of a pie.” There’s a clock embedded in a sculpture of a bright red mixer with a cupcake pendulum moving below. There are photos of horses and little cabinets along the wall. Seven days a week, Dolly moves like a graceful dancer from dining areas to the kitchen, checking on the food, the customers and the employees. Her graceful movement might come from her dance background. At age 70 she began ballroom dancing. “I had never had a lesson in my life until I was 70, then I took up dancing,” she says. “I have won three world championships and one national in my
— RANDY
category. Dancing saved my life.” Dolly trains at the Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Naples. “When my husband passed away, I was working all the time and I had this little Norwegian friend, and she said, ‘You are going to a dance party with me.’ And I went there that night, and it was so fantastic. The music, the instructors were so fantastic. I signed up for a few lessons and I never stopped.” She has the same passion for her pies. Dolly loves telling stories of special customers who warmed her heart. She relayed the story of a woman who wanted a mincemeat pie for her very ill husband, so he could taste the type of pie he grew up with in Europe. She told a story of a family who were heading to a Thanksgiving gathering and came in for one pie and left with about six pies and a box of cupcakes. “We have so many people who appreciate our work,” she says. Since all her pies are freshly baked each day, Dolly gives extra pies to hospice or to local police officers. “One year we were closed on Thanksgiving, but I had come up and saw policemen driving by and I had coconut cream pies left over and gave it to them,” she says. Dolly works with her children Randy and Cheryl Alander. She also has five grandchildren. “Every year we do a few more,” Randy says about the pie making. “Every year we get the system down a little bit better. We make thousands of pies. For this little place, that is a lot.” Dolly says there is a secret to her success. “They are made with love,” she whispers. Dolly says she never plans to stop working. “I am all over the place,” she says. “I am cruising to make sure everything is the way it is supposed to taste. If you are the owner, you do whatever needs to be done. It is like this is my house. I used to joke to my son that he should put in a murphy bed. I love my work. I love my family. I love my employees, and I have some great customers.” GRANDEUR | NOVEMBER 2019 | 19
| MODEL BEHAVIOR |
The family room in the Captiva model by The Lutgert Companies in Estero has dark wood beams in the ceiling, just one of many elements of wood throughout the home. Behind the couch is a huge table made from a tree branch painted in silver. Daniel Kilgore, senior designer, with Soco Interiors, used a lot of natural elements including wood in his design.
20 | NOVEMBER 2019 | grandeurmagazine.com
| MODEL BEHAVIOR |
Taking
UP A
LUXURY NOTCH The Captiva model by The Lutgert Companies in Estuary at Grey Oaks in Naples finds new ways to imbue upscale amenities.
hiplap is a big trend in new upscale homes, but the Captiva takes it to a new level. Drop zones are another trend that gets upgraded in this luxury model. Like most upscale homes, the master closets here are huge, yet the Captiva even puts a new twist on that. The new Captiva model by The Lutgert Companies in Estuary at Grey Oaks in Naples has taken many upscale trends to new heights. Shiplap walls in a guest suite have two shades of color. Instead of the traditional white, three sections of shiplap are a light gray that matches the curtains, bedding and rug. Drop zones are typically small interior spaces just inside the garage door entry where you can “drop” your bags, shoes and other items. The architect for the Captiva made it light and airy by adding three huge windows overlooking a garden and a place to sit.
“It really turned into more of a family foyer,” says John Cooney, architect and partner with Stofft Cooney Architects. “A lot of clients have said they rarely go in through the front entry door; they come in through the garage door. It really became a nice little space. This is another welcoming space in the home that they are going to use every day.” “The mud room previously was like a closet,” says Mike Hoyt, senior vice president of development for Lutgert, “and now this is really a feature of the home and is no longer a secondary thought; it is a primary.” The master closet is not only as big as a bedroom, it not only has built-in cabinets and drawers around the entire room, it also has a window and window bench. “These master closets have gotten so large some of them are larger than bedrooms,” John says. “Anytime you have a room that large, it begs for some natural light.” “It is the size of a Brooklyn apartment,” jokes Dan Guenther, broker associate with Premier Sotheby’s International Realty.
STORY BY ANDREA STETSON | PHOTOS BY WANGYUXUAN XU
GRANDEUR | NOVEMBER 2019 | 21
| MODEL BEHAVIOR |
The garage not only has flooring and built-in shelves and drawers, it is also air conditioned. The master bathroom not only has a huge walk-in shower, it also has an outdoor shower in a private setting surrounded by gardened walls. Lutgert took upscale item after item and added new twists and new upgrades to each one in the Captiva model. The home is entered through a 12-foot-high glass door surrounded by two glass windows giving visitors a view of the entry before they even set foot in the home. The two-story foyer has two levels of windows overlooking the pool and backyard. There is a sitting area that has a chair, two ottomans and a small table. A staircase with modern steel cable rails leads to the second floor. “There is a big wow factor at the entry way with the big twostory entry full of glass,” Dan says. Off to the left, the open floor plan leads to an expansive space that encompasses the family room, kitchen and dining areas. A six-panel, 10-foot-tall sliding glass door leads from the family room to the lanai. The white couch, gray chairs and two white ottomans face the outdoors or a flat screen television that’s nestled in a wall with brown paneling and a white wallboard design. The brown colors in the wall match the large wood ceiling beams. Two big islands separate the kitchen from this family room. “The double island is great for entertaining, so you are not being right on top of food prep,” Dan says. The island has two subzero drawers and a dishwasher. But one dishwasher and one refrigerator are not enough for this upscale home. The butler’s pantry has another full-size refrigerator and dishwasher. The kitchen leads to the formal dining room, which is set in a room with 12-foot-high windows. While the dining room is formal, it’s open to the kitchen with a glass-walled wine room in between. There’s also a menu desk beside the kitchen for writing notes, doing homework or sorting bills. Double doors on the other side of the house lead to the master suite. A king-size bed in white, gray and silver has views of the outdoors through double-glass French doors. There is also a sitting area with chairs and an ottoman. The ceiling is dropped down to hide the curtain rods. This feature makes it look like the curtains are cascading out of the ceiling. “It is called a curtain pocket,” John explains. “It is all hidden hardware. It is a seamless installation. We just hide it behind the ceiling. It really is a tribute to more contemporary design. A curtain rod is really a traditional detail. The pockets are more slicklooking.” The bathroom has both an indoor and an outdoor shower. “Whenever we have done an outdoor shower off the master it has become a focal point,” John says. “When we do a spec home, we try to throw in those extra amenities.” There are two huge walk-in closets. One has a washer and dryer. It is one of three washer/dryer laundry areas in the home. Barn doors leading to the master bathroom are on the inside of the room. John says that gives the hall wall a cleaner look. “Barn doors eat up wall space for art,” John explains. “By doing it on the inside it allows space for art.” Barn doors also lead to the den. 22 | NOVEMBER 2019 | grandeurmagazine.com
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: The dining room table is made from a section of a tree and even has a little natural notch at the end. • The new Captiva custom estate model by The Lutgert Companies in Estuary at Grey Oaks is almost 6,700 square feet and is located on the seventh hole of the Estuary golf course. It is designed by Stoff Cooney Architects with custom interior details by Soco Interiors. • The model has a huge outdoor area with a sitting, dining and outdoor kitchen under roof and the pool and spa just beyond. • A wine room separates the kitchen from dining room. This one was created to make the bottles look like they are floating in the racks. • The interior designer selected a variety of chandeliers, from one that looks like an orb to another that gives the appearance of tree branches. • The 21 foot by 15 foot master bedroom has a sleek feature with the drop down ceiling by the sitting area. This ceiling hides the top of the curtain rods so it looks like the white curtains are just cascading down from the ceiling. The architect calls this a curtain pocket.
“This is set up to be a high-end business center,” Dan explains. The room has a huge conference table in the middle and built-in cabinets to the side. A wet bar and sitting area are by a wall of sliding glass doors. The downstairs also has a VIP suite with a king-size bed, sitting area, morning bar with a wine chill refrigerator, sink and cabinets, a wall of windows facing the garden and a glass door that leads to the lanai. It also has a walk-in closet and large bathroom. A peaked shiplapped ceiling over the stairs and in the loft can be seen from both levels of the home. Upstairs are two more bedrooms and a living room loft with a couch, ottoman and table. There are two glass doors that lead to a front porch. The large bedroom has a gray couch at the foot of the bed, and sliding doors lead to a back terrace. “You have a really good-size balcony for one of those guest bedrooms,” Mike says. Another suite has glass doors leading to a smaller terrace. Both suites have walk-in closets. Mike says his favorite part of the house is the outdoor living area. There is a sitting and dining area and an outdoor kitchen under roof. The pool, with its wide sun shelf and huge spa, are just beyond. “My favorite thing in the home is the interaction of the indoor and outdoor living,” Mike says. “When you are living in Southwest Florida, outdoor living is so important. A lot of people get into this idea of what a home costs per square foot that does not take into consideration all the outdoor living areas. The time of year that folks are down here, they will be outside as much as indoors.” The house, with its four bedrooms, four full and two half bathrooms and four-car garage, spans 6,804 square feet under air and a total of 9,961 square feet.
Daniel Kilgore, senior designer with Soco Interiors, created a nature-based palette in the Captiva model. He began with some elements encompassing trees and tree branches into his designs. In the family room, the most eye-catching element is a huge table behind the couch that is a giant tree branch. “It is from a company in North Carolina,” Daniel explains. “They cast real roots and trees and do a silver cast version of it.” A 200-plus-pound piece of hollowed out petrified wood is a focal point in the den. In one of the guest rooms, a cast iron chandelier is made to look like tree limbs. The dining room table looks like a huge piece of a tree complete with a little notch at the end. “I was going for a refined rustic,” Daniel explains. “I used reclaimed wood, natural stone and mixed all those together.” In the entry to the master suite, Daniel created two corners of the wall with little porcelain bowls that look almost like shells washed up on the beach. “I try to take traditional coastal elements and modernize it a little bit,” Daniel says. The designer also used some modern twists on traditional elements. A half bathroom has a 36-inch-long faucet that cascades down from the wall. There is a silver sculpture of a hawk in a guest room. The silver matches the tree table. “There are a lot of metallic elements,” he says. “I was going for that coastal contemporary look. I tried to keep all the upholstery clean, but then mix in that eclectic look. My goal was to mix in some really unique pieces with the more modern pieces.” The fully furnished Captiva is on the market for $6.995 million. “The Captiva model is a very fun tropical design,” John says. “It is in a great community. I am very proud of the home. I know it will be very successful.” GRANDEUR | NOVEMBER 2019 | 23
| DINING |
HEALTHY NEVER TASTED SO GOOD STORY BY GINA BIRCH
Harvest & Wisdom at Shangri-La Springs specializes in fresh organic and local cuisine.
Crispy skin seabass is served on bok choy and carrots in a savory sauce
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| DINING |
The housemade lamb sausage is a savory entree or could be shared as an appetizer.
A vegetarian version of beef tartar features colorful beets instead.
hangri-La Springs has a long history regarding wellness and retreats, dating back to the ’20s, and it’s reinventing itself once again with renovated hotel rooms and its new farm-totable restaurant, Harvest & Wisdom. With a tagline reading “Eat wisely, live long,” the restaurant in downtown Bonita Springs specializes in fresh organic and local cuisine. At the helm is a chef duo who, combined, have decades of experience: Chef de Cuisine David Robbins and Executive Chef and Food and Beverage Director Allen Fisher. Allen is Michelin starred and appeared on the television competition show “Chopped.” “I grew up on a farm in North Carolina, cooking at my mother’s hip,” he recalls. “We grew food and ate meals made from fresh ingredients for dinner and canned what was left for the winter.” Today he gets to walk out of his kitchen door once again for fresh produce. This time from Shangri-La’s beautiful 5-acre organic garden, home to a variety of seasonal produce and fruit trees. Those who work here call it “magical.”
GRANDEUR | NOVEMBER 2019 | 25
| DINING |
With so much fresh produce at his fingertips, Allen’s from-scratch kitchen makes vegetarian, vegan and glutenfree dishes come alive in a way unlike many other restaurants. It’s a dream for plant-based diners. The carrot and beet tartar is a headturner and a plate-scraper; you won’t want to leave any behind. The beet mixture is placed in a round mold in the center of the plate looking exactly like a traditional tartar; a dollop of bright mango stands in for the egg yolk on top. Ancient grain crackers are made in house using quinoa and rice flower, and sunflower seeds. Serving as a side for the tartar and several other dishes, they are addicting. Salads at Harvest & Wisdom are adorned with live sprouts, and zingy vinaigrettes made from items such as kombucha and moringa. One of my favorites features squash and zucchini, cut into delicate ribbons, folded between herbed ricotta, fresh mint and basil, with a buttermilk vinaigrette and white balsamic drizzle. Mango trees on Shangri-La’s grounds are prolific; their bounty pushes Allen’s creativity. He purees the fruit, spreads it on a sheet tray and dehy26 | NOVEMBER 2019 | grandeurmagazine.com
drates it creating what he calls “mango leather.” Strips of the fruit leather are added to his decadent grilled cheese sandwich, adding a welcomed touch of sweetness to the salty fromage. The menu at Harvest & Wisdom may appear to cater more to the vegan and vegetarian crowd; however, meat lovers will be glad to know there are just as many carefully sourced selections for you. Fish is local and/or sustainable, and seabass is a signature. With a crispy sear, the fish comes in fumet broth, with lime and red pepper oil, surrounded by vegetables for a savory, perfectly portioned entrée. The rest of the meats come mostly from nearby Circle C Farms, known for grass-fed pasture-raised animals. Chicken is served with black-eye peas and brown rice, and the flavorful lamb sausage is accompanied by lentiled pigeon peas and pickled fennel. Made in a traditional French style, the duck rillette is rich and fatty (in a good way) topped with bright pickled vegetables. It’s a well-suited dish for sharing. Whatever you do, don’t say “no” to the Key lime pie for dessert. It’s raw, vegan, dairy free and amazingly deli-
cious. Cashews and coconut serve as the base for the crust, which is then filled with a whipped mixture that includes avocado and fresh Key lime juice, creating a creamy texture that you would swear incorporated dairy.
The restaurant, even with its fresh coat of paint and new flooring, still has that historic feel. Windows line the dining room offering a view of the grounds and the sprawling, awardwinning Mysore fig tree. Dining is also
| DINING |
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Delicate, picturesque and delicious, the Harvest & Wisdom squash salad. • Heirloom tomatoes and housemade burrata highlight this popular seasonal salad. • The bone-in ribeye from Circle C Farms is a carnivore’s delight. • The historic Shangri-La Springs has been undergoing renovations that include the opening of Harvest & Wisdom, a farm-to-table restaurant. • Harvest & Wisdom Executive Chef Allen Fisher is Michelin starred and has appeared on the TV show “Chopped.”
available on the deck. Initially open only for lunch and happy hour, limited dinner service launches at the end of November, Thursday through Saturday. Check the website for changes in hours, offer-
ings and special events going into the holidays and the New Year. Harvest & Wisdom is a beacon for diners who want healthful without sacrificing flavor, presentation and an enjoyable experience. GRANDEUR | NOVEMBER 2019 | 27
| COVER STORY |
THE
dynamic
DUOS of Southwest Florida’s culinary scene
restaurant kitchen tends to get hot, in all definitions of the word. Creative types are often eccentric and unpredictable, adrenaline runs high at the peak of service and so can stress. No matter how talented a chef is, they’re just one (although a big one) of the puzzle pieces necessary to make restaurant magic happen. Some of the most successful local kitchens are run by dynamic duos with a combination of talent, vision and respect for tradition. Whether family, friends or couples, these partners in culinary crime not only make it look easy but also make it taste exceptional with their family recipes and trendy inspirations. STORY BY GINA BIRCH | PHOTOS BY CHRIS TILLEY
GRANDEUR | NOVEMBER 2019 | 29
| COVER STORY |
ORIGAMI: Culinary couple meld cultures
Origami just celebrated 35 years in Fort Myers, serving a combination of Japanese and Korean cuisine. Chef/owner Rosa Kim and husband, Chef Atsunori Ichimura — Ichi for short — say while many restaurants offer any number of Asian cuisine combos, Korean-Japanese makes the most sense; Korea was under Japanese rule for decades and their culinary culture is co-mingled. Growing up in South Korea, Rosa was one of seven children. “Since I was young I was always behind my mom, asking why you do this and this. Like the way she cut green onion. Sometimes she would chop and sometimes slice,” she says. Her family recipes are kept alive in Origami’s Korean side of the menu. Ichi was born in Tokyo and his uncle owned a traditional Japanese restaurant. He went to culinary school in Japan but originally came to America to study engineering at the University of Miami. “Japanese food is simple and clean, not as much spice as Korean,” Ichi says. Patrons most often come to Origami to experience his expertly prepared sushi. Sushi is complicated. “You can’t just roll things up. You have to study,” says Rosa, who has trained some of the top sushi chefs in Southwest Florida. Rice, too, is a serious matter, its temperature, how it’s packed and the vinegar, which is made in house at Origami. Then there is the fish. “You need to learn about fish, where it comes from, its personality, how to keep it fresh, the angle of the cut,” says Rosa, who leans in with a sly whisper, “He (Ichi) is very particular, he is Japanese.” One of Ichi’s signature dishes is Cajun tuna sashimi, thinly sliced tuna tossed in Cajun seasonings topped with slivers of toasted garlic. 30 | NOVEMBER 2019 | grandeurmagazine.com
Ichi and Rosa have been a couple for 15 years and recently married. “Working together is good,” Rosa says. “I don’t bother his section.” Ichi chimes in, “I always bother her section.” When Origami opened, there weren’t a lot of Asian restaurants in Fort Myers. Now even big chains add Asian inspired dishes. “Food is like fashion, it comes and goes,” Ichi says. “We go out all the time and see what is out there. We have to keep up with the trends.” While Rosa tends to be the face of the restau-
rant, that warm smile greeting guests, she still spends time in the kitchen, feeding her staff traditional Korean dishes, sometimes with a modern twist; many become house specials. Clear soup and miso are made daily, sometimes twice, and the wonton and egg drop soups are made to order, “the old-fashioned way,” Rosa says. About her successful restaurant run, cooking aside, Rosa most enjoys the relationships she has formed, the generations of families that religiously come in for fresh sushi, authentic Korean food and to see her. “I’m so grateful every day.”
| COVER STORY |
HAMILTON HARBOR: Breathing new life into the club scene
Turning the local country club scene on its head are chefs Carlos Torres and Sean Dwyer at the Hamilton Harbor Yacht Club in Naples. Joining forces in the kitchen a little more than two years ago, Carlos runs the savory side while Sean takes care of the pastries, which by all accounts are works of art.
“Sean is one of the most talented pastry chefs I’ve ever seen,” Carlos says. “What he brings to the table forces the hot and savory side to rise to the occasion and put up something that matches.” Besides a traditional “slice of the week” dessert, Sean also produces what he calls a “contemporary style of dessert,” something whimsical that doesn’t appear as if it should be eaten, like a compass. Covered in a sugar dome, the round, chocolate and almond-based dessert is wrapped in copper color chocolate, with a filling that includes caramel and praline; it oozes when you cut into it. “It’s very cool,” he says. “Dessert is part of the dining experience. There are not many places like this.” From Northern California, Sean loved pastries as a child. As an adult he loves both the technical aspects of baking and the creativity. He also likes that his kitchen partner gets it, a savory chef who understands and appreciates the sweet side of life. “Carlos is so talented and such a well-rounded chef, I can communicate with him on a higher lever about techniques and approaches to pastry; that’s rare to find,” Sean says. Carlos’ grandfather was a pastry chef, so he understands the intricacies that come along with desserts; humidity, temperature, tiny things can ruin an entire dessert, forcing the chef to literally start from scratch. “From the hot side, I can just go and adjust things. I can eyeball rather than measure things to the gram,” Carlos says. His father operated a produce distribution company in Key West. He has a vast knowledge of the food business and worked in almost every restaurant position before landing in the kitchen. “I was always interested in food in general and how it brought people together,” Carlos says. He inherited Hamilton Harbor’s Calamari Salad, a signature dish at the waterfront club, but has a passion for Florida seafood, which he features regularly. A 15-year relationship with a reliable fish purveyor has helped the chef raise the bar when it comes to quality. “You can’t fake a piece of fresh fish. There is no substitute for the flavor and texture,” he says. The two chefs work closely together when creating menus, challenging each other to create different dishes and preparation, and in general to be better. The result, says Carlos: “We have broken the mold of the traditional country club fare, and that is a huge draw.”
GRANDEUR | NOVEMBER 2019 | 31
| COVER STORY |
Claudia and Lore
TRATTORIA MIA: Italian/Venezuelan sisters Loredana (Lore) Bolla and Claudia Bolla opened Trattoria Mia in south Fort Myers four years ago, standing their ground with family recipes, not adjusting them to fit the American palate. That includes red sauce, an Italian staple that almost always sparks a salt-vs.-sugar debate. “Sauce is supposed to be salty not sweet,” Lore says. She makes hers from scratch every morning and patrons rave about her Bolognese. The sisters’ roots are northern Italian, and while their cuisine reflects that, they are quick to add their own twists with inspiration from other areas of Italy. The Bollas’ grandparents immigrated to Venezuela after World War II, opening the first Italian restaurant in the city of Maracaibo. A young boy at the time, their father went on to become a doctor and their mother was an architect before taking over the family restaurant where the girls learned. 32 | NOVEMBER 2019 | grandeurmagazine.com
A sister act
“I started cooking at 9 or 10 years old,” Lore says. “It’s all instinct and what I learned from my grandma and my mom.” While Lore never cooked in the restaurant, she took over the kitchen at home, cooking for the family on weekends and almost every special celebration. Her family encouraged her to open a restaurant; however, she knew cooking at home was not the same as cooking for the public, not to mention the finesse of running a commercial kitchen. Claudia went to the University of Miami to pursue a master’s degree in hospitality and tourism, making her adept at the front of the house. “I had no desire to cook. I’m really bad,” she says with a laugh. “However, I do like to bake. The chocolate cake and cheesecake are my recipes.” She also makes a popular tiramisu, if not daily, then every other day.
“And by the way,” Lore says, “I hate baking. I hate it because of the measurements.” She giggles when describing the frustrated exhales and sighs that often come from Claudia when she is baking. “Nobody talks to her when we hear those sounds,” Lore says. “But the more she is stressed, the more delicious the desserts.” “I just love sweets and desserts,” Claudia says with a shrug. “I’m a foodie but prefer to eat less and save room for dessert.” Their parents are proud of what their daughters have created and how they are keeping the family recipes alive. You will often find them at Trattoria Mia, dining at the bar, every now and then lending a hand when things get busy. However, the sisters have a system, Claudia says, “Besides the desserts, I take the front, she takes the back, but we talk about everything and are a good balance for each other.”
| COVER STORY |
BLACK FOREST CAFE: Siblings keep their traditions alive
The brother and sister team of Monika and Klaus Bokelmann have been in the restaurant business in Naples since the ’90s, their parents even longer. After a brief break from cooking and working together, the two decided to take one more restaurant plunge, opening the cozy Black Forest Cafe five years ago. The siblings went to the same culinary school in Germany, but the dishes found here come largely from traditional family recipes and the food is 100% German — no deviation into the cuisine of neighboring eastern European countries. Growing up in the restaurant business, Klaus always enjoyed the culinary side but adds, “I really loved the social part, and I like people. There is never a boring day.” Most days you’ll find him in the front of the house, but he still spends time on the line. Signature German dishes include sauerbraten. “It’s a traditional dish that is close to my heart,” Klaus says. The beef sits in a sweet and sour marinade for three days and cooked until it’s so tender it falls off the bone. Monika makes all the dressings and sauces and particularly likes making stew, such as wild boar. On the opposite end of the spectrum, she also crafts a handful of desserts, such as their famous strudel. Some guests come just for that. When not feeding the palates of diners, Monika works with palettes of paint. “I’ve painted my whole life, but it’s one of those things that 30 years ago in school was not considered a career,” she says. She finds similarities in painting with oils to cooking and making sauces. The subtle mixing of colors and flavors, how adding these things in layers helps the finished product evolve into something that brings joy whether it’s hanging on the wall or lingering on the tongue. “It makes you feel good, making others feel good,” she says. About working with his sister, Klaus says, “You know how siblings are. We have ups and downs, but we respect each other’s work. We’ve been doing this for 40 years, so we know how to run a tight ship, with good food and service.” Giving life to tradition is a mission of Monika’s at Black Forest Cafe. “Traditional food is going away. We want to keep it alive, honoring the recipes and people of the past,” she says. “I’ve worked with five-star chefs and frankly get more pleasure out of this. People say it takes them back to various times in their lives, it’s comfort food and it’s a pleasure to make.” GRANDEUR | NOVEMBER 2019 | 33
Isola Bella homebuyers will enjoy a golf membership valued at $97,500 that affords year-round access to Talis Park’s Greg Norman and Pete Dye-designed golf course and the community’s state-of-the-art practice facility.
“New-Fashioned” Living at Talis Park Within the luxury, master-planned community of Talis Park, homebuyers seeking a “new-fashioned” approach to Naples living will discover a curated selection of distinctive homes – some including limited-time opportunities for a golf membership, summer kitchen or furnishings package – along with an attractive array of amenities that perfectly complement a modern-minded lifestyle. Isola Bella, Talis Park’s Beautiful Island In Italy, Isola Bella means “beautiful island.” In Talis Park, it translates into a limited opportunity to select from 17 exceptional water and golf course view homesites in its newest, and final, neighborhood of single-family homes developed and built by Seagate Development Group, one of Southwest Florida’s leading full-service residential development and construction companies. The 4.5-acre enclave offers homesites to accommodate custom estate residences from 3,500 to more than 6,000 square feet. Since every Isola Bella homesite is unique, homebuyers may choose from a selection of five stunning floor plans or custom design one that suits their personal needs and style. For a limited time, Isola Bella homesites will include a golf membership valued at $97,500, with year-round access to enjoy Talis Park’s Greg Norman and Pete Dye-designed championship golf course.
Single-Family Style in Watercourse Homebuyers can select from two move-in-ready homes in one of the community’s most picturesque waterfront neighborhoods and take advantage of special final opportunity pricing in Watercourse, built by Artisan Associates, Inc, the exclusive builder for Distinctive Communities. An intimate neighborhood of 29 lakefront single-family residences – and Talis Park’s only single-family neighborhood with exterior maintenance provided – Watercourse offers expansive, open floor plans with an abundance of natural light and a seamless transition from luxury interiors to tranquil outdoor living spaces with pools, spas and water views. A pair of Berolina floor plan homes, both offering 2,979-square-feet of living space, capture the spirit of Watercourse style by showcasing views of the outdoor living area, pool and Lake Il Corso. A Fresh Take in Corisca and Viansa
Talis Park also offers an expanded collection of newly constructed resort-style Coach Homes, Terrace Homes and Penthouse Homes that
34 | NOVEMBER 2019 | grandeurmagazine.com
blend the ease of open, spacious home designs coupled with breezy outdoor living spaces. In Corisca, FrontDoor Communities offers a fresh take on Coach Home living with thoughtfully-designed fairway, water, and garden view residences of 2,550 or 3,400 square feet that feel like a singlefamily home. Corsica’s secluded arrival courtyards welcome homebuyers to their choice of three-bedroom, three-and-a-half bath open concept floor plans designed specifically to maximize natural light in both the main living area and owner’s suite. An enclosed screened lanai spans the entire 53-foot width Reinventing The Club Lifestyle Talis Park has reinvented the club lifestyle with a relaxed, everyday elegance at the Vyne House, which offers formal and casual indoor and alfresco clubhouse dining, fitness studios, the Espirit spa with a full menu of pampering services, and a fully-stocked wine room. The community’s resort-style pool features a bar and deck overlooking the 18th green of the Greg Norman/Pete Dye designed golf course, while Casa Cortese, Talis Park’s sports pub located on the driving range, offers dining, billiards, shuffleboard, darts, a Trackman golf simulator and televisions in a relaxed, casual atmosphere. A three-acre Sports Complex offers tennis and bocce ball courts and a lap pool. And when the beach beckons, residents hop on The Beach Runner, Talis Park’s exclusive complimentary Mercedes-Benz Sprinter beach shuttle Experience Talis Park’s Gold Pass Talis Park extends an invitation to be a special guest with a two-day Gold Pass – an exclusive opportunity to experience the benefits of a Sports Membership and the community’s world-class amenities. Gold Pass guests receive a $100 Talis Park gift card to use as they wish toward dining, spa services or golf. You are also invited to play a round of golf at the memberguest rate, as a Gold Pass guest. To arrange a Gold Pass appointment, contact Talis Park’s new home sales associates at 239-449-5900. A full offering of move-in ready and to-be-built opportunities awaits future Talis Park residents. Homes start from the high $600,000s to $10 million. The Talis Park Garden House Information and Sales Center is at 16980 Livingston Rd.; models are open daily. Visit www.talispark.com for additional information.
Corsica
COACH HOMES Luxury Residences Designed for Living
featuring summer kitchens – spacious oasis with built-in natural gas grills
FEELS LIKE SINGLE-FAMILY LIVING Garden House Information & Sales Center • 16980 Livingston Road 239-449-5900 • TalisPark.com A KITSON & PARTNERS COMMUNITY Broker participation welcomed. Prices, plans and specifications subject to change without notice. Oral Representation Cannot Be Relied Upon As Correctly Stating The Representations Of The Developer. For Correct Representations Reference Should Be Made To The Documents Required By Section 718.503, Florida Statutes, To Be Furnished By A Developer To A Buyer Or Lessee. Not An Offering Where Prohibited By State Law. Photography In This Ad May Be Stock Photography Used To Depict The Lifestyle To Be Achieved Rather Any That May Exist.
| OPEN FOR BUSINESS |
STORY BY ANNABELLE TOMETICH PHOTOS BY ANDREW WEST
FOREVER
FIORE
SECRET GARDEN TEA HOUSE The new tea house in Fort Myers brings a classic concept into the era of selfies elly Gequelin has been listening to buildings since she was a little girl in Curitiba, Brazil. Walking through her city of more than 1 million residents, she’d hear the skyscrapers calling out to her, the Gothic cathedrals, and the circular, wireframed opera house, too. They would boast of their beauty, confide their flaws. She obsessed over them. She pursued a degree in architecture because of them. When Kelly told her friend and fellow Brazilian Luara Maximo that the rundown center unit at Royal Palm Square in Fort Myers spoke to her, Luara didn’t blink. “She came back really spooked one day, she was so convinced that she needed to transform this place,” says Luara, owner of the Forever Fiore flower shop on the east side of the square. “I said OK, give me a second, let me call the owner and see what we can do.” Eight months later, the Forever Fiore Secret Garden Tea House is here. And it is stunning. Kelly and Luara debuted their new tea house and brunch-lunch cafe September 1 in the old Austrian-German Restaurant space in the heart of Royal Palm Square. The unit’s metamorphosis is almost surreal: from a dingy counter walled in by faded, grimy glass to an airy, sun-drenched, fairy-tale setting trimmed in black columns, black-and-white tiles and whimsical chandeliers laden with faux peonies, buttercups and hydrangea. It is, according to Kelly, everything the space asked of her. 36 | NOVEMBER 2019 | grandeurmagazine.com
“I walked through the plaza one day and it just said: I want to be a greenhouse, something that has life in it. I want to be a garden for people to relax and enjoy,” Kelly says as she sits in one of Forever Fiore’s booths tufted with emerald velvet. “I could see it all in my head. I knew we couldn’t just create a greenhouse, so I said: What goes with that?” Tea, of course. Kelly says tea culture is prevalent in south-
Kelly Gequelin, left, and Luara Maximo opened Forever Fiore Secret Garden Tea House in August.
| OPEN FOR BUSINESS |
ern Brazil. When she wasn’t listening to buildings, she and her mom frequented tea rooms, sipping the many varieties that thrive in Brazil’s tropical climes. Forever Fiore’s menu includes a range of black, green, white and herbal teas, all served loose-leaf, from around the world. Customers can enjoy endless pale-pink pots of tea with tiers of macarons, petit fours and finger sandwiches. Or they can team the teas with an a la carte menu of crostini, charcuterie, small bites or chocolates. For brunch, Forever Fiore offers bottomless bellini and Prosecco-based cocktails that can be paired with quiche, sandwiches, eggs baked in tomato sauce, and goat-cheese stuffed dates topped with prosciutto and balsamic glaze. The kitchen creates daily salad and soup specials, as well. “We do our Lost in Chocolate board, which comes covered in chunks of Belgian chocolates with fresh berries and fruit, and people go crazy for that. They love it,” Luara says.
Luara never set out to be in the restaurant business. She grew up in Sao Paulo and moved to Fort Myers in 2004. She went to high school and college here, and decided to stay here to build her business — in flowers. Walking through Italy with her mom in 2016, she saw couples strolling the streets with hatboxes of preserved flower arrangements in their arms. She researched the concept and learned few shops offered them in Florida. She launched online in April 2018. A month later she hand-delivered more than 60 hatbox arrangements throughout Fort Myers and Naples for Mother’s Day. She says the hatbox concept remains novel for the area. Her customers wanted to see what they were getting, so she set up a retail shop in Royal Palm Square in September 2018. That’s how she met Kelly. “I loved her shop. I loved her flowers. I loved her eye for design,” Kelly says. “I started by just hanging out there, helping out when Lu needed it. Eventu-
ally she brought me in as her first, and still her only, employee.” When designing the tea house, the friends contributed in their own ways. The stark lines and architectural details are Kelly’s. The lush flower arrangements, chic pendant lamps and transparent chairs are Luara touches. It’s a mix of sleek and soft that has made the spot popular for photo shoots, be they professional or just for Instagram. The tea house hosted a “Roaring 20s” party last month, drawing in dozens of attendees. “Everyone who came couldn’t get over this plaza,” Luara says. “They couldn’t believe it was here, hidden right in the middle of Fort Myers.” You mean, the plaza spoke to them? Luara laughs. “Maybe it did a little!” she says, agreeing that she and Kelly have given the space a distinct voice. “Hopefully it speaks to lots of people.” — From The News-Press and news-press.com
FOREVER FIORE SECRET GARDEN TEA HOUSE Where: Royal Palm Square, 1400 Colonial Blvd. No. 49, Fort Myers • Hours: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday to Friday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, closed Monday • Call: 877-254-7474 • More: foreverfioreteahouse.com or @foreverfioreteahouse on Instagram
GRANDEUR | NOVEMBER 2019 | 37
| STYLE |
SANDY
STILWELL
YOUNGQUIST A prominent philanthropist and owner of Stilwell Enterprises and Restaurant Group, Sandy can often be seen at cocktail parties and other fundraisers. We
3
asked the Fort Myers native to share her thoughts on fashion and cocktail attire. WHO SHE IS:
“I’m an entrepreneur, community activist and loyal friend. I work hard and play hard; I throw myself into whatever I’m doing at the time. And I love to entertain.”
WHAT ARE HER FASHION INSPIRATIONS:
“I’m visually inspired. I tend to gravitate toward classic pieces and, if I see something, I know if it will work for me or not. I love being around music and it always inspires me to be more creative.” HER FASHION TIP:
“Cocktail attire ranges so very much. Something that is not complicated is the best for me. I have some basic dresses that are my go-to ones; then I add great accessories, like shoes and bags. If you find a few pieces you really love, it’s worth the investment.” — INTERVIEWED BY ANNE REED
38 | NOVEMBER 2019 | grandeurmagazine.com
TURK & TURK TT GARDEN OF THE NILE LIMITED EDITION SCARF
| STYLE |
5
Sandy’s
FASHION ESSENTIALS
“Lately I’ve been gravitating towards crossbody evening purses, but it takes so much away from the lines of the dress. I have several Judith Leiber clutches that I really love.” 1
2
JUDITH LEIBER, SEAMLESS HERIZ $3,995
AND A COCKTAIL TO MATCH
“My cocktail is a classic — a Grey Goose martini, just shaken with vermouth and add an olive.”
“Scarves are great for a punch of color. I have several that I love including a classic Louis Vuitton one that I can just use over my shoulders.”
The Italian stretch jersey “feels like scuba diving fabric,” Sandy notes. She gravitates toward solid colors, like black, white or gold. CHIARA BONI, LA PETIT ROBE FLORIEN RUCHED COCKTAIL DRESS $695
“I like a slip-on shoe because I’m always in a hurry.”
3
4
JIMMY CHOO, SILVER GALACTICA GLITTER FABRIC PUMPS, $1,050
5
LOUIS VUITTON, MONOGRAM SHAWL, $590 GRANDEUR | NOVEMBER 2019 | 39
| WINE & SPIRITS |
STORY BY GINA BIRCH
Wines that go with the wide variety of flavors you might find at Thanksgiving dinner.
hanksgiving kicks off an end of the year sprint of celebrating, eating and drinking. The sometimesextreme range of flavors at a typical Thanksgiving table often presents a wine quandary. Dry rose always works for me and as I write this, I’m sipping M de Minuty Limited Edition Rose ($23.) A pale salmon color, made in that classic Provencal style, this “Worldwide Tour” bottle features the work of artist Ruby Taylor on the label. Depicting the St. Tropez seaside lifestyle, it’s festive and befitting a holiday celebration in Southwest Florida. I’m thankful for many things this holiday season, including having access to such an abundance of wine from around the globe. People in many areas of the world rarely have the opportunity to taste anything outside of their region. Sommelier Liset Zelaya oversees the worldly wine collection at Sea Salt in Naples. She joins me with a few of her faves going into the holidays. Cheers!
Gina Birch Gina Birch is the wine columnist for The News-Press in Fort Myers. Follow her social media here: Twitter: @ ginabirch Facebook: GinaBirch
Liset Zelaya
Guest columnist and sommelier at Sea Salt in Naples 40 | NOVEMBER 2019 | grandeurmagazine.com
GINA’S WINE PICKS
FOR A FEAST
LISET’S WINE PICKS
PAIRINGS
Calera Mount Harlan Viognier ($35) • I’ve met winemakers from all over the world, but the great ones are all obsessed with DIRT, what we lovingly call “terroir” in the world of wine. This wine is a direct result of the obsessive nature of Josh Jensen and his search for limestone that took him to the Gabilan Mountains in California. The aromas and flavors leap out of the glass, fresh apricots and white peach, acacia with a touch of Meyer lemon and a clean, persistent finish. The Mount Harlan Viognier is in its own category, it retains freshness and has incredible structure that satisfies all preferences and pairs easily with holiday turkey and ham.
Virgen 2018, Domaine Bousquet ($13) • Natural wines are gaining in popularity but are not always easy to find and typically not in the budget category, so this one immediately caught my attention. Argentinean producer Domaine Bousquet is known for its organic farming, but this is its first no-sulfite, natural wine. A blend of malbec, cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc, you might expect it to be big, but instead it drinks as young and ripe as the label might suggest. It’s very berry (cranberry, strawberry), like a fruit cobbler, with some spice on the finish. To me, it’s Thanksgiving in a glass.
Ruinart Rosé ($80) • My
holidays aren’t complete without Champagne, preferably rosé. There’s something about opening a bottle of Champagne that instantly converts a simple get-together into a celebration. Lately, I’m in love with Ruinart. Besides being the first Champagne house, they were also the first to make rosé Champagne. That’s almost 300 years of history in making these wines; no wonder they’re so good. This wine has it all: beauty, body and finesse. Full bodied yet refreshing, it offers fresh picked raspberries, strawberries and a hint of roses followed by a clean pink grapefruit finish; simply sublime.
Breaking Bread Grenache ($24) • With a name like this, how could I not include this wine in a Thanksgiving column? Breaking Bread is a new project by the winemaker of Kokomo Winery, Erik Miller. She wanted to make wines in a new style, lighter in alcohol, crunchy in acidity and bright in appearance. Miller does very little to manipulate the wine, dry farmed in Mendocino County, including no sulphur during fermentation. The result is a refreshing red, light and fruity, and best when chilled. It’s a perfect selection to bridge the gap between red and white wine drinkers.
Linne Calodo Sticks & Stones ($92) • When I’m in the mood for a sip of sexy wine, I choose this — more body than pinot noir but not as assertive as a tongue-grabbing cabernet. Sticks & Stones is a grenache-based blend named after the childhood mantra that protects us from mean words. Appropriately so, after winemaker Matt Trevisan personally tried selling his first vintage to restaurants, they informed him the wines were killer but there was never going to be a market for grenache. Today the wines have a cult following, and frequently sell out. It’s luscious, rich, ripe and oozing with ripe raspberries, black cherries, warm cinnamon and cocoa. A plush velvet pillow that I can’t get enough of.
Sidebar Old Vine Zinfandel • I have a friend who only serves zinfandel at Thanksgiving, swearing that the fruit and acid in one that is well-made pairs well with just about everything at her table. I tend to agree. I have a soft spot for Russian River Valley zins such as Limerick Lane so was looking forward to trying Sidebar, a passion project of winemaker David Ramey. Only 723 cases were produced of this field blend consisting of 78% zinfandel, the rest a menagerie of 14 varietals. The finished product is aromatic and fun to experience as it opens in the glass. On the palate it’s luscious with ripe dark fruit, including some blue. Open this one ahead as it fairs well with a little air. (Wine prices may vary.)
| WINE & SPIRITS |
COCKTAIL PICK Gin bars are popping up all over big cities, and while we haven’t exactly jumped on the bandwagon locally, many Southwest Florida watering holes are at least upping the ante with their selections and gin-based creations. Botanicals make a refreshing aperitif, especially when looking at a Thanksgiving table loaded with heavy foods. New to Florida are Whitley Neill gins, by Johnny Neill, an eighth-generation distiller. These are traditional, dry English gins in a range of selections that celebrate ingredients and flavors from around the world, such as the blood orange, inspired by Neill’s honeymoon in the Sicilian countryside. Inspiration for the rhubarb and ginger flavor is from his great grandfather’s garden, specifically the rhubarb patch; this was a favorite at a recent tasting. The lineup also includes quince, which has flavors of stone fruits and citrus. The Original Gin features botanicals, including juniper berries and coriander seed, angelica and orris roots, sweet orange and lemon peels, cassia bark, baobab powder and Cape gooseberry. The result is a gin that smells exotic but is delightfully soft and smooth on the palate with hints of cocoa, citrus and spice. Whitley Neill uses it for the Espresso Martini, a flavor combination good anytime of the year, especially the holidays. Try this one next time you entertain.
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R T C O N C E
• 2 ounces Whitley Neill Original Gin • ½ ounce vanilla syrup • ½ ounce Coffee & Dark Chocolate Liqueur • 1 ounce freshly brewed espresso • 3 coffee beans and mint sprig for garnish
METHOD: Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker and shake with ice until cold. Then double strain the cocktail into the prechilled martini glass. Garnish and serve immediately.
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| PETS |
42 | NOVEMBER 2019 | grandeurmagazine.com
| PETS |
1 FAN STORY BY ANDREA STETSON PHOTOS BY JON AUSTRIA
NO.
Mimi eats nothing but her owners’ treats from Top Dog Kitchen — and she acts half her age.
nk Mimi and her owners, Fra
and Kathleen Menchero
imi sits patiently on the floor, her bushy black tail with its white tip looking like a paintbrush as it swishes back and forth in anticipation. “Touchdown,” says Frank Menchero signaling to the canine to leap up with her two front paws and do a double high five with her owner. Mimi is not really excited about a touchdown, but about what comes after the high fives. It’s a chicken crunch strip — her very favorite treat. Mimi’s owners Frank and Kathleen Menchero, of Naples, own Top Dog Kitchen, which makes homemade all-natural dog treats. “Top Dog Kitchen started 13 years ago out of our teeny tiny kitchen in Aventura, Florida,” Kathleen says. Kathleen had been working as a director of production for a skin care company when she decided to start her new business. The idea came from a previous dog of hers. “We were living in Atlanta and one of our dogs got severely bitten by a copperhead,” she explains. “This was way back when holistic things were not popular. We had a vet that helped holistically. Sadly the infection was so bad from that snake that he died anyway. But I started learning about it. Back in 2005 there was a couple in New Jersey that started Three Dog Bakery and they inspired me because finally someone was doing something. I thought if they can do it, I can do it. I absolutely wanted to provide super pure, minimum ingredient treats.” Mimi’s favorite, chicken crunch strips, is their No. 2 bestseller. No. 1 is chicken breast jerky. “All of the baked treats are still done in our kitchen here,” Kathleen says as she points to the kitchen in her Naples home. The dehydration items are done at a USDA-inspected and approved facility. Their items are sold online and in 37 local shops and vet clinics. For two years the couple had a shop in Naples near Davis Boulevard, where they produced their treats. Mimi would come to the shop with them each day. “When she went to work, she was the door greeter,” Kathleen says. “Everybody loved having her there. She was just a happy camper to be in the shop and meeting other dogs. It was social hour.”
GRANDEUR | NOVEMBER 2019 | 43
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| PETS |
Now at age 11, Mimi is more like a retiree. She might occasionally wander into the kitchen when the treats are being made, but she is happiest sitting on a cushioned black and white chair by the sliding glass doors. The border collie/Australian shepherd mix came from a shelter near San Francisco. Kathleen and Frank had been living there when they adopted the then-8-month-old puppy. “She was a wild child,” Kathleen says as she describes the puppy days. Now Mimi is much more mellow. She likes to lay in the sun on the lanai, letting her black coat get nice and hot. Her orange and white spotted legs, whitish and pale orange neck and white tipped tail give her a unique look. Yet even at age 11, there are glimpses of playfulness. The dog has a basket full of toys including her two favorites: Sunshine Cubby, which is a little lion, and Funky Monkey. “As soon as my eyes open, she jumps on the bed and gets Sunshine Cubby, and she licks me and plays with her toys on the bed,” Kathleen says as she described her dog’s morning routine. After breakfast, Frank walks the dog. “Then she likes to sit on the lanai in the sun,” Frank says. “In the nice weather she likes to sleep on the couch on the lanai.” There is also a lot of playtime for the canine. “We will go to the gym every day, and when we come back, she will greet us by barking and then bringing us toys,” Frank describes. “She will lay on her back and throw her toy in the air. She exhibits that she is a very happy dog.” In the evening Mimi enjoys running on the golf course that is just beyond the lanai. “She is like a 4-year-old,” Kathleen says. “She goes for a nice dog run at night on the golf course. She loves it.” Mimi, who weighs 40 pounds, never eats like a typical dog. “She eats no kibble,” Kathleen says. “I cook everything. I roast chicken breasts for her. I make frozen cut green beans that I heat up for her.” She also gets a sprinkle of deer antler dust in her meal. Kathleen says it’s full of calcium, magnesium and other good natural vitamins. “It is shavings from a deer’s antlers in powder form,” Kathleen says. “She gets a sprinkle on her food once a day. I believe it has been excellent maintenance for her.” Mimi is slowly getting used to being an only pet. Her companion Matisse died recently at age 12. “They were like boyfriend and girlfriend,” Kathleen says. “They would kiss, hold paws, just sleep together. They were two bookends. It was adorable.” Now Mimi cuddles with her Funky Monkey toy. On a recent afternoon, she grabbed the toy from a basket and leaped up on the bed for a cuddle and a nap. That didn’t last long. When Frank started saying “touchdown,” the dog was ready to play. “He’s (Frank) a Dolphins guy, and I am a Green Bay Packers fan,” Kathleen says. “Mimi likes the Packers.” Frank isn’t so sure about that. “As long as she gets a treat out of the deal, she’s happy,” Frank says. “She is just a fan of the treats.”
WELLNESS DIRECTORY
GRANDEUR | NOVEMBER 20189 | 45
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357 46 | NOVEMBER 2019 | grandeurmagazine.com
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FORT MYERS • NAPLES • SOUTH NAPLES • CAPE CORAL • PUNTA GORDA • LEHIGH ACRES 48 | NOVEMBER 2019 | grandeurmagazine.com
| GETAWAY |
Rhine River, Germany
50 | NOVEMBER 2019 | grandeurmagazine.com
| GETAWAY |
STORY BY JENNIFER THOMAS
RIVER CRUISING An intimate way to tour Europe’s most beautiful destinations
Trechtingshausen Rheinstein Castle, Germany
reaming of European castles, storybook settings, historical sites and diving into culture and authentic local cuisine? River cruising offers a way to travel Europe in the most scenic of locations in an intimate setting with a different destination daily. This is not your typical cruise with 3,000 of your “best friends,” but rather a concierge approach to maximizing your journey. Several lines offer the river cruises, including Viking Cruises, Tauck, and Avalon Waterways, each distinctive in their own offerings. Sail along the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers or even Portugal’s Douro River. Travelers might think of summer months to cruise through Europe; however, river cruises go year-round. “There is no bad time for a river cruise,” says Pam Hoffee, managing director of Avalon Waterways. “The most popular months for river cruising are June, July and August. Personally, I like to sail through Europe in May or October; I love the weather and taking advantage of fewer crowds in some of Europe’s more popular cities. Cruising in the winter months (November and December) provides our guests access to Europe’s incredible Christmas markets, while cruising early in the spring gives them unparalleled access to witness tulips in bloom in the Netherlands.” Fort Myers resident Tina Dwyer has sailed on a European river cruise with her family. “Our tour was Tauck’s Castles on the Rhine. My mom wanted to expose and enjoy her grandkids in a foreign country, so she chose the river cruise, because she didn’t want this vacation to be all about waterslides, Vegas-style shows and other large-cruise amenities. She really desired family time,” Tina recalls. “My mom always travels with Tauck, and they offer a family cruise, which is nearly all-inclusive. We chose the Rhine River Castle cruise, because we wanted to spend extra time in Amsterdam and Switzerland, and these were the two end destinations.”
GRANDEUR | NOVEMBER 2019 | 51
| GETAWAY |
Danube Wachau, Austria
Tina says one of the other benefits of a river cruise compared to ocean cruises they have sailed with is that Tauck is all-inclusive, including the excursions. “Depending on the city, we had one to three shore excursion options included. In Amsterdam, we all did the Van Gogh Museum and a boat tour through the canals,” she describes. “In Köln (Cologne), we had the option of climbing the Cathedral, doing a walking tour or enjoying the city on your own. From there they took us all to a castle and enjoyed medieval times.” Even during slated free time, the cruise staff gave great recommendations. “For instance, in Basil the locals float down the Rhine River and hang out on the banks after work. My husband, John, and I took about 20 kids and did this using the ship’s life preservers,” she says. “This was a really fun time while at port.” A few favorite stops during Tina’s cruise included Amsterdam and Switzerland. “However, I truly enjoyed every stop as each has 52 | NOVEMBER 2019 | grandeurmagazine.com
something different to offer,” she adds. “The kids loved touring the castles, but I loved seeing the really old architecture in the cities that had not been bombed.” On river cruises, the ship is not the attraction so much as the destinations. “Whether travelers want to enjoy a guided walking tour of one of Europe’s great cities, join a cooking class or paddle a canoe, our Avalon Choice selections of Classic, Discovery and Active excursions offer travelers a wide range of possibilities,” Pam details. “While river cruising attracts ocean cruisers, the travel styles are quite unique. On a river cruise, travelers pack and unpack once and wake up in new ports on their itinerary. While the ship — and its amenities — are important on a river cruise, the destinations take center stage.” For first-time river cruisers, Avalon’s most popular itineraries are on the world’s most popular rivers: The Romantic Rhine, where travelers visit Germany, Holland, France and Switzerland, and the Legendary Danube, which sails to Prague, Germany, Austria and
Hungary. “Coming in at a close No. 3 is the Seine River — specifically, Paris to Normandy’s landing beaches,” Pam says. The river cruise ships are not only luxurious, but small and intimate and have been designed for passengers to have phenomenal views. Avalon Waterways ships range in size from 120 to 200. Its cruises are also family-friendly. catering to multi-generational travelers and cruisers, starting at the age of 8. “Our Suite Ships feature one-of-a-kind Panorama Suites — on two full decks — with the widest opening windows in river cruising. And each suite comes complete with the industry’s only open-air balcony and beds facing the incredible views, for which river cruising is famous,” Pam describes. Tina and her family are no strangers to cruising. “We’ve done both a Disney and Celebrity cruise, and now all we are interested in doing is small ship cruising,” she says. “It is much more intimate, and you are able to stop at smaller ports that aren’t just a tourist
| GETAWAY |
trap. In addition, you really get to know your crew and other passengers.” The ship’s size and going through the locks was one of Tina’s favorite aspects of river cruising. “It was slower paced and completely stress free,” she adds. Designed for discerning travelers with interests in history, art, music and cuisine, Viking offers guests “the thinking person’s cruise,” says Viking Chairman Torstein Hagen. Guest lectures and port talks enhance onshore experiences. “River cruising remains one of the fastest growing segments of the travel industry. And it is no surprise that experienced travelers love river cruising. There is simply no better method of travel in the heart of Europe — sailing from iconic cities past castle-dotted landscapes into storybook villages, all in the comfort of a modern, Scandinavian-designed longship,” Torstein says. With just 190 guests, the Viking longships are engineered to get guests closer to the destination, often
docking in the heart of iconic cities and small villages. Plus, there are no sea days. Every day can be spent off the ship. As part of the Viking’s Cultural Curriculum, every Viking cruise fare includes an outside stateroom, complimentary shore excursion in each port of call, all onboard meals, all port charges and government taxes, beer and wine with lunch and dinner service, free WiFi, and cultural performances. Viking’s Local Life excursions focus on everyday activities and include experiences such as Viking chefhosted trips to local farm markets or tea at home with residents. The Working World excursions feature “making of ” experiences that highlight the factories and farms of the destinations’ most famous exports. With Privileged Access excursions, guests experience Viking-guests-only outings, such as a private tour of Göttweig Abbey, where Viking guests dine with the Abbey’s monks at Stift Göttweig and receive a special traveler’s blessing.
Viking river cruises are also geared toward an older audience of 50-plus. Travelers must be a minimum of 18 years old to sail. “We have always tried to do things differently. That means above all else we focus on the destination, rather than gimmicks. It also means that we do not cater to everyone — we offer adults opportunities for learning and exploration around the world, with no children, no casinos, no umbrella drinks and no nickeland-diming,” Torstein explains. Two of the most popular Viking European sailings are the Rhine Getaway with stops from Basel and Cologne to Amsterdam, and its Romantic Danube sailing where guests visit Budapest, Germany and Austria. All three cruise lines agree that they offer something the big ocean-bound cruises don’t. “A European river cruise provides travelers an up-close-and-personal, immersive and authentic vacation in cities and villages alike,” Pam says. “They get travelers off the beaten path to explore the world their way.” GRANDEUR | NOVEMBER 2019 | 53
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STORY AND PHOTOS BY LANCE SHEARER
A
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Revs Institute ‘traces the trajectory of
modernity’ through the automobile
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hink of a visit to the Revs Institute as a pilgrimage. For anyone with a serious interest in cars and how they have shaped the world, a trip to this incomparable collection of vintage, collectible and notable motorcars must be on your bucket list — and a to-do to be done sooner rather than later. Tucked away on a side street in a Naples commercial area, the Revs museum houses over 120 iconic, significant and stunning automobiles from the first century of motor vehicles. Room after room in the museum’s three floors is filled with cars that are works of art, or performed amazing feats, and have been so lovingly preserved and well-maintained that, when the time comes for these automotive time machines to be taken out for exercise on the street or the track, the lucky staff drivers who have that task can literally turn the key — or the crank — and motor off. Cars in the collection range from 1800s, when the term “automobile” had not yet been coined and the strange new vehicles were referred to as “locomotives — represented by the 1896 Panhard & Levassor Wagonette — to 1995, as exemplified by the McLaren F1, proclaimed by Revs as the “ultimate street car of the twentieth century.” In all, a century of automotive history rests under one roof. Revs maintains a high degree of exclusivity to give visitors an uncrowded, leisurely look at their treasures and to avoid interfering with their serious mission of research and preservation. You don’t just show up — guests are limited to six hours three days a week, and reservations are required.
“Making it exclusive keeps the experience more intimate. Our docents tell stories that bring the cars to life; almost every tour ends in a round of applause. And limited access allows to keep our cars unprotected, with no barriers around them.” — SCOTT GEORGE
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All the great names of automotive history are represented here: Rolls-Royce, Bugatti, Packard, Ford, Alfa Romeo, Pierce-Arrow, Duesenberg, Maserati, Cadillac, HispanoSuiza, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Ferrari — along with some, such as Delahaye, Scarab, DelaunayBelleville and Trabant, that may not have instant name recognition but still played important roles in the development of the automobile, and therefore the development of the culture and the world we live in. And that’s why the cars are here. Far from being a random grouping of pretty vehicles, the collection at Revs represents a serious effort to assemble the most influential, important cars in history, “using the automobile to trace the trajectory of modernity.” “The automobile is, quite simply, the most significant technologic object of the 20th century,” says Miles C. Collier, president of the Revs Institute for Automotive Research, grandson of Collier County’s namesake, and the man whose passion for car collecting led to the institute’s creation. “We are a society based on mobility, and the automobile is transformative. Our mission is to create awareness of the automobile’s role, past, present and future, in shaping the modern world.” To that end, he and his staff at the institute have not only put together a group of vehicles considered to be among the top car collections in the 56 | NOVEMBER 2019 | grandeurmagazine.com
world, they have partnered with Stanford University, built an automotive library of 24,000 books, 240,000 magazine and journal issues, and collected over a million images and film clips, all of which is available to researchers, students and enthusiasts. The building housing the collection, with the air pressurized and triple-filtered to better protect the cars inside, shows clearly that no expense was spared in establishing and operating a worldclass facility. Along with the cars, displays such as vintage racing goggles and “mascots,” or hood ornaments, posters, vintage photos and biographical panels help tell the story. But the cars themselves are the stars of this show. One after another stands in gleaming perfection, evoking worlds now gone forever, that nevertheless led to the world we now inhabit. A great
many of the cars, such as the Mercedes-Benz 1929 Sport Model SSK or the 1930 Duesenberg Phaeton LeBaron, probably look as good or better than they did as new models on the showroom floor. Revs also displays a 1962 Jaguar E Type, the car Enzo Ferrari called “the most beautiful I’ve ever seen.” But others represent the “barn look,” left entirely original and displayed with ragged leather seats and scuffed or nonexistent paint jobs. Some of the cars, such as the flawless art decoinspired 1937 Delahaye Roadster, are simply breathtaking in how they capture their era. The Delahaye, a one-off model with sweeping lines and a tiny yet retractable windshield, oozes the flavor of the Jazz Age, as though Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald have just alighted for a country weekend along the Loire. Two additional names from automotive history,
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REVS INSTITUTE • 2500 S. Horseshoe Drive, Naples • Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. • Tickets must be purchased in advance and can be reserved online and via phone. Walk-up visitors cannot be accommodated. • More details: 239-687-7387 or revsinstitute.org
Porsche and Cunningham, have large roles in the museum. The Porsches, racing and street cars, form the largest group from one manufacturer, including the 1965 Porsche 356C 1600SC coupe that Miles Collier was given new as a high school graduation present. On a recent tour, docent Gary Dworkin said that Collier occasionally takes his old coupe out for a ride, and he has seen it come back, dusty but presumably happy to get out. The myriad vehicles from the historic Briggs Cunningham collection of racecars formed the nucleus of Miles Collier’s holdings when he began acquiring cars in a serious manner. For many years since the closing of the original Collier Automotive Museum in 1994, these cars were not accessible for viewing. The collection reopened in 2014 and is truly a breathtaking “hidden gem” of the Naples scene. Not only is this world-class gathering of automotive splendor open to the public, visitors are permitted to snap photos to their shutter finger’s content, as long as they don’t use flash. The cars are well-lit, making the obtrusive flash unnecessary. With the number of visitors limited, the museum is hushed and peaceful; it is easy to find yourself alone in a room filled with fabulous vintage cars. Pro tip: Sign up for the docent-led tours and pay the additional $8 — you will get a much richer experience, and learn fascinating background and personal information, with the small group tours (10 visitors maximum) not just geared to gearheads. Then wander around and choose your own favorite. The Delahaye gets a lot of votes; many visitors say they would be happy to drive it home, although as far as buying it, Dworkin said it truly counts as “priceless — how could you put a dollar value on it?”
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| OPEN DOOR |
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MUSICAL STORY BY LANCE SHEARER
NUMBERS Andy and Alicia Hopping add up the delights of their Mediterra home.
A trio of openings, including one with a geometric pattern fashioned of steel, articulates the space between great room and kitchen. AT RIGHT: The Hoppings’ floorpan is airy and open, while still providing private areas for owners and guests.
ndy Hopping had two passions as he completed his education and prepared to begin his professional life — well, three, if you count his longstanding love affair with Alicia, his wife of 37 years. Hopping was and has remained deeply committed to his music, playing his way through school until he eventually emerged with an MBA from UCLA, establishing his own record label, writing hundreds of songs and producing seven studio albums of his music. He still has a band, Old 41, with other Mediterra residents he met on the golf course, and they play parties and club events. But, from an ROI (return on investment) point of view, Andy realized that the numbers game was going to be more lucrative than his musical endeavors.
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So he forged a career in the financial world, working for several Fortune 500 companies before retiring as executive vice president and CFO at Jackson National Life. They retired to Mediterra in North Naples, living in a very nice house — but then Alicia found the dream home they didn’t know they’d been looking for. “London Bay Homes was building this as a model. Alicia found the home and said, ‘Omigod, this is going to be crazy good,’ and we loved everything about it,” Andy says. “To begin with, we’re situated back on this private culde-sac, with preserve land and a lake around us, so we’ll never have someone take our views away. This house just has an energy — it has momentum.” He extolls the oversized rectilinear pool, “big enough to swim laps in,” that serves as the centerpiece for a spacious lanai area, with shallow sun shelf and separate spa, a water feature and a gas firepit providing an exotic backdrop for evening entertaining. “It’s the most spectacular backyard they ever built,” Andy says of London Bay Homes. The home abounds with distinctive touches, from the massive — and hurricane-proof, Andy says — slab of a front door to the way it combines an open floorplan with private spaces for homeowners plus a variety of guests.
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PHOTO BY LANCE SHEARER
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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Andy and Alicia Hopping in their Mediterra home. • The Hoppings’ residence sits on a private cul-desac in Mediterra with preserve areas and a lake providing privacy. • The open floating staircase, with multiple landings and white oak treads and railings, is a focal point of the house. • In the kitchen, white oak and pewter-finished Shakerstyle cabinets feature brushed nickel hardware. • The master bath tub offers a panoramic view of never-to-be-built-upon preserve area through floor-to-ceiling fixed glass.
But the piece de resistance has to be the stairway. With two-story fixed glass lighting the space and providing a view as you ascend, the staircase is a case study in sleek and minimalistic modern-industrial aesthetic, a multiple-landing floating affair with European white oak treads and railings, a steel powdercoated bronze-finish newel, and a stainless-steel cable baluster system. At the top, you are in a separate world, with third and fourth bedrooms and baths, plus a bonus room,
loft and wet bar, which Alicia says are perfect for visits from their son and daughter, giving them plenty of space and privacy while still close at hand. The downstairs guest suite with its own morning kitchen, like the master suite on the ground floor, is where her mother stays. Andy took a walk-in closet on the second floor for his music room, with guitars and electronic recording equipment — although he does have a separate offsite studio — and he says the elevator that otherwise doesn’t
get a lot of use is ideal for taking musical gear up and down. He also has a baby grand piano at the bottom of the staircase. The in-house LBH architecture team provided architecture design, with interior design by Romanza Interior Design, an LBH subsidiary. Senior design director Michael Scott took the lead on the home’s interior. “Like many nearby homes, this one has a Mediterranean flair on the outside, but for the interior, we took a more modern approach,” Michael says. GRANDEUR | NOVEMBER 2019 | 61
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“It’s bright, but very warm. I tried to approach this with a different look from the white on white on white that everyone wants.” The brick used on several interior walls is a warm white — “the color is called ‘chalk,’ and European white oak flooring unifies the study and master bedroom wing.” One of Alicia’s favorite things in the house, she says, is the room that isn’t there. “There’s no formal dining room. We’ve found we never use them, anyway.” Instead, a trio of openings, including one with a geometric pattern fashioned of steel, articulates the space between great room and kitchen. Adjoining the generous kitchen island is a table for eight, in what the floorplan calls the “cafe,” which then opens seamlessly out onto the 48-foot by 20-foot, outdoor recreation area, large enough to swallow up an enormous bar with dual televisions — for Michigan State games, Andy says — and an oversized linear glass rock fireplace. The lady of the house also enjoys the kitchen setup, which allows the cook to be part of the action when entertaining but keeps utility areas tucked away. White oak and pewter-finished Shaker-style cabinets feature brush nickel hardware. A backsplash of smoky rectangular tile complements taupe beveled-edge Pompeii Quartz countertops, while on the opposing wall, cabinetry conceals the refrigerator, houses dual ovens and provides
ample storage space. Behind a series of openings at the rear of the kitchen, the laundry room, kitchen office, pantry and wine room are unobtrusive yet easy to access. The island provides additional room for meal prep and casual seating with backless stools, while a prominent hood with chrome accents sits atop the range. The flooring is crosscut silver travertine, left slightly rough on the covered entry and outdoor living area, and polished to a high sheen on the inside. The Hoppings have gone through designing the architecture and interior of a home from scratch, including one on Michigan’s Walloon Lake that was featured in Traditional Home magazine, but this time, they let loose and went with the flow. In just one example of how interior designer and homeowners achieved a mind meld, leading to what all involved called a harmonious and hassle-free design process, another of the Hoppings’ passions is collecting art glass. Some of the larger pieces stand on their own, but the built-in shelves in the great room have integral up-lights, providing an exotic and colorful accent when the artworks are displayed there. “I just trusted Michael,” Alicia says. “It was a leap of faith, but we couldn’t be happier.” “If I built another house,” Andy says, “I’d copy this.”
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: An open “café” with a table for eight, open to the kitchen, takes the place of a formal dining room. • The upstairs bonus room offers separate lounging areas for guests and views over the nature preserve. • The expansive pool area is worthy of a resort hotel. • In the powder room, the décor takes on a darker hue.
GRANDEUR | NOVEMBER 2019 | 63
| MAKE IT A DOUBLE |
ALOHA, HAPPY HOUR Roy’s Restaurant in Bonita Springs brings its popular Hawaiian fusion flavor to the bar. 64 | NOVEMBER 2019 | grandeurmagazine.com
A wedge of pineapple drenched in vodka and rum garnishes the popular Hawaiian Martini.
| MAKE IT A DOUBLE |
Aloha Hour in Roy’s newly expanded bar features special pricing on some of the most famous tropical cocktails.
STORY BY GINA BIRCH | PHOTOS BY JON AUSTRIA
hen Roy’s Restaurant opened in Bonita Springs, it was the Hawaiian fusion restaurant’s first location east of the Mississippi. Celebrating the 20th anniversary this year, Roy’s received a facelift that included an impressive bar expansion, open and welcoming with lots of natural light. “The energy is younger, with a more casual vibe,” Managing Partner Tina Norris says. “People are now more inclined to have dinner at the bar, which is a great option without reservations.” The modern, clean space now has 13 bar tables and 13 additional seats around the U-shaped bar. Aloha Hour starts at 2:59 p.m., Roy’s popular version of happy hour, with round two, late night, from 9 p.m. to close. Special pricing is found on both food and drinks that include colorful, flavorful Pacific Rim-inspired creations. A highlight of the $8 Aloha Hour classic cocktail offerings is the Hawaiian Martini. Chunks of fresh pineapples are soaked in SKYY Vodka, SKYY Vanilla and Malibu coconut rum for up to two weeks and then used as a garnish. Warning, they pack a punch. The same mix of vodka and rum serves as the base of this cocktail and it goes down easy.
GRANDEUR | NOVEMBER 2019 | 65
| MAKE IT A DOUBLE |
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: The mai tai is the quintessential Hawaiian cocktail and at Roy’s it’s mixed to order. • The Ebi Roll with shrimp tempura and mango is a signature appetizer with special pricing during Aloha Hour. • Roy’s twist on an Old-Fashioned features Angel’s Envy bourbon and a fresh stalk of sugar cane. • Roy’s Beverage Manager Jay Novell mixes a picture perfect P.O.G. Punch.
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| MAKE IT A DOUBLE |
Speaking of pineapple, Roy’s serves Pau Maui Vodka, a unique spirit distilled with spring water and Maui Gold pineapples. On its own it is full bodied, and although it could be the power of suggestion, you might just taste a touch of pineapple on the finish. It’s used in Roy’s Drunken Mule. The mai tai is a Hawaiian classic, and the bartenders at Roy’s use a signature, made-from-scratch recipe of juices. Served in a hurricane glass with a floater of Cruzan Black Strap Rum, it screams aloha on its own or with any spicy appetizer. The presentation of Roy’s Tiki P.O.G. Punch has bar guests pulling out their cameras. In a clear tiki glass with faces on both sides, passion fruit orange guava juice is mixed with The Botanist gin. There is a good balance of sweet fruit and acidity. The juice is sometimes added to sparkling wine at Roy’s for a twist on a mimosa. Perhaps one of the most fitting and artful-looking cocktails for fall is the Island Sugar Cane Old Fashioned. A mix of bitters, simple syrup and Angel’s Envy bourbon is finished with a Luxardo cherry, a twist of orange and stick of sugar cane. Warm and comforting it’s one you could sip all night. Quite proud of the bar program, Roy’s features its first cocktail pairing dinner in November with new Executive Chef Alex Ivanisevic. His Aloha Hour appetizers start at $6, $10 for the popular Ebi Roll. Wrapped in soy paper rather than nori, the cooked sushi roll features shrimp tempura, avocado, mango, cream cheese and toasted coconut. It’s topped with eel sauce and habanero aioli offering just enough heat to balance the sweet. Besides specials on wines by the glass and well drinks, Kona Big Wave and Kona Longboard Hawaiian beers are just $4. The new bar offers outstanding service and a comfortable space for holiday cheer, whether it’s Aloha Hour or not.
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| GRAND TIMES |
SHINE FOR HOPE KIDS CARE More than 250 Southwest Floridians with a passion for supporting children and families attended Shine, raising $440,000 to benefit Hope Kids Care Oct. 11 at the historic Edison & Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers. Shine featured an elegant evening with cocktails, dinner, music, entertainment, and a “FundA-Need” Live Auction to support the essential services of Hope Kids Care.
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1. Rachel Busch and Rachel Pierce 2. Jenna Persons and Lizbeth Benacquisto 3. Holly Boldrin and Teri Hansen 4. Erlene Sanders and Amy Dell Aquila 5. Gail Markham and Doug Meurer 6. Mark Shannon and Alicia Miller 7. James Coalwell and Lucien Pears 8. Jean Harvey, Betty Rubenstein and Muni Reynoldson-Lay
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ITALIAN OPEN GOLF TOURNAMENT Lexington Country Club members raised more than $44,000 at the eighth annual Italian Open golf tournament for Hope Hospice – and pushed the total donations over the history of the event to nearly $200,000. 1. Al Steward and Ed Catalano 2. Dianne and Phil Bommartio 3. John Sackie, Samira Beckwith and Gerry Curcuru
| GRAND TIMES |
BECOMING COSMOPOLITAN
Community Cooperative held the annual Becoming Cosmopolitan fundraiser on October 3 at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall in Fort Myers. The event proceeds support Community Cooperative’s women and children’s programs that work to end hunger and homelessness in Southwest Florida.
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1. Marie Grameier and Jill Palmer 2. Lindsay Albrecht, Talia Gates and Rebecca Migliore 3. Stefanie Edwards and Jenna Persons 4. Christy Lampitt, Jada Flemming, Chantil Shamus and Jackie King 5. Laura Hamel Jones, Katie Kiesel, Jenny Engvalson, Deirdre Sullivan, Karen Ryan and Margarita Bastar 6. Rick Gallo and Tracey Galloway 7. Jennifer Miller and Dawn Eisenhauser 8. Nancy Spencer, Michelle Mahaney and Allie Perez 9. Ben and Sara Levene 10. Natalie Van Horn and Angela Nelon 11. Kevin Ruane, Chris Spiro and Sheriff Carmine Marceno GRANDEUR | NOVEMBER 2019 | 69
| GRAND TIMES |
EARN TO LEARN BREAKFAST
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Earn to Learn FL held its first networking breakfast on October 17. Earn to Learn FL is a matched-savings program that offers personalized financial capability training and success coaching to students across Florida. The ultimate goal is for students to graduate with minimal or no debt through Earn to Learn FL’s expanding network of corporate supporters.
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1. Dulce Morales, Wayne Smith and Sarai Sanchez 2. Stacy Burgan and Litzy Lerna 3. David Bartley, Sarah Aguilera and Mariela Vega 4. John Slavik and Jennifer Novakovich 5. Kevin Rodriguez and Julia De Llanos 6. Brenda Tate, Mei-Mei Chan Kirk, Alise Bartley and Roma Testa
HEIGHTS CENTER BREAKS GROUND 2
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The Heights Foundation/Heights Center broke ground on the $11.8 million Heights Early Learning and Education Center on September 18. The 36,000-square-foot, three-story building located on Hagie Drive in Harlem Heights is the latest addition to The Heights Foundation/Heights Center campus and will serve as the new home for GLAD Kids Early Learning Center, serving children birth to 5 years, and the Harlem Heights Community Charter School, an elementary school with grades K-5. 1. Luis Insignares and Greg Blurton 2. Ryan Propp, Kathryn Kelly, Dave Dale, Erika Rubio, Abel Natali, Kevin Shimp, Jeannette Baldwin, Jan-Erick Hustrulid 3. Ana Roman, Ida Rodriguez, Blanca Acosta, Natasha Acosta and Emily Roman 4. Tom Lytton, Kathryn Kelly and Kevin Shimp
| GRAND TIMES |
ROOTING FOR PINE MANOR
PHOTOS SPECIAL TO GRANDEUR
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The Pine Manor Improvement Association raised $45,000 during its inaugural signature fundraiser, “Rooting for Pine Manor,” a farm-to-table tasting party held September 12 at The Ranch in Fort Myers. Proceeds go to the community’s culinary program, community garden and food forest as well as after-school and outreach programs for residents.
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1. Cole Peacock, Gina Birch and Holly Boldrin 2. Starr Curry and Natalie Ruckard 3. Rachel and Matt Toomey 4. Lois Croft and Courtney Fraser 5. Shelly Cervone and Bonnie Salata 6. John Preston, Laura Reed and Melissa Cofta 7. Meg Middaugh and Rachel Peacock
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GRANDEUR | NOVEMBER 2019 | 71
| GRAND TIMES |
ADVERTISING
ArtFest Fort Myers 2020 SUNSET Let Art Elevate Your Everyday! SOIREE FOR VALERIE’S HOUSE
Chris McCarthy
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and artists with our community in a way that is not to be missed – this is an art experience that delights every sense. For more information on many of the artists and festival exhibits go to ArtFestFortMyers.com. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram-#artfestfm.
Fast Facts
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• WHAT: ArtFest Fort Myers Southwest Florida’s premier art festival. • WHEN: Friday, January 31, 2020, opening night, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday, February 1, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, February 2, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. • WHERE: Downtown Fort Myers River District on Edwards Drive. • COST: FREE Admission. • PARKING: Look for bright Event Parking signs and flags. Trolleys available from remote lots.
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1. Angela Melvin and Jan Martin 2. Chris Spiro and Randy Krise 3. Jacqueline Wier and Therese Everly 4. Trista Meister, Takisha Faber and Krista Fogelsong 5. Marc Collins and Diana Willis 6. Mark Loren and Victoria Loyola
PHOTOS SPECIAL TO GRANDEUR
Spend a few hours, all day or a weekend being surrounded by imagination, inspiration and incredible talent at ArtFest Fort Myers – Southwest Florida’s premier art festival featuring over 200 nationally-known artists, high school art competition, street chalk art competition, children’s art activities, fine food and entertainment. The artists, who are selected from the John Mroczek 900 artists who apply, are the best-of-thebest traveling from 43 states and many foreign countries to share their artwork with you. Amazing ceramics, gorgeous jewelry, remarkable glass, unique paintings and more await you at ArtFest Fort Myers. The VIP Club provides reserved weekend parking, Friday Night Opening VIP Club Tent with delicious food and drinks, plus unlimited access to the VIP Tent with breakfast treats, a delightful lunch & beverages all weekend long. VIP Club is $125 per person and supports the year-round art education outreach programs of ArtFest Fort Myers. This familyfriendly festival connects art
A sold-out crowd of 300 people raised $223,000 for Valerie’s House during the Sunset Soiree at Miromar Lakes Beach and Golf Club on October 17. A surprise $25,000 gift from Northern Trust helped elevate the total raised during an evening filled with children’s testimonials about how Valerie’s House has impacted the way they have healed after the death of a parent or sibling. The annual Sunset Soiree event makes it possible for Valerie’s House to offer grief support free to all families.
| GRAND TIMES |
PHOTOS SPECIAL TO GRANDEUR
PUMPTOBERFEST
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Bell Tower’s second annual Pumptober-Fest on October 5 brought beer aficionados, families and friends together for an afternoon that included unlimited beer samplings, fresh food, carnival-style games and live entertainment. Pumptober-Fest featured ales, lagers, pilsners, stouts and hard ciders from 27 craft breweries, including six from Southwest Florida, along with special pumpkin-flavored beer served from a nostalgically decorated “Pumpkinade Stand.”
1. Frank and Amanda Mazzetta 2. Angela Chenaille and Monika Morgenweck 3. Craig Kirouac and Tiffany Coffman 4. Polly Smith and Ryan Thuener 5. Justine Jones and Spencer Skinner 6. Troy and Bryce Raske 7. Nicki McTeague and Chrissie Byrd
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PHOTOS BY PRISCILLA MCGUIRE PHOTOGRAPHY | SPECIAL TO GRANDEUR
DOCS AND DUFFERS The Foundation of CCMS recently hosted its sixth annual “Docs and Duffers” charity golf tournament and raffle at Bonita Bay Club Naples. This signature fundraising event took place September 28 and raised nearly $26,000 in net proceeds with participation from 110 golfers, 23 sponsors, 50 prize donors and 20 volunteers.
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1. Dr. Steve Harrington, Dr. Phillip Amatulle and Jeff Woody 2. Tyler Stamerro, Ron Stamerro, Reg Buxton and Richard Williamson 3. Dr. Friedman, Alan Slavich, Will Slepcevich and Brian Filson 4. Tate Haire, Stuart Polit, Dr. Robert Eiler and Dr. Glenn Groat 5. Dr. William Ross, Dr. Monica Woodward and Chris Vernon GRANDEUR | NOVEMBER 2019 | 73
| NEXT MONTH |
THE HOLIDAY ISSUE Unwrap our exclusive holiday gift guide and discover unique items to celebrate the loved ones in your life in next month’s Grandeur Magazine. We’ll have something for everyone on your holiday shopping list!
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Not all children will be home for the holidays... Last Thanksgiving, Sarai was diagnosed with stage 4 sarcoma. She received treatment five days a week, which meant she missed holiday parties and the rest of kindergarten. The team at Golisano Children’s Hospital not only focused on getting her well, but made her visits fun and educational. “She is stronger than I am, “ says mom Adela. “ I don’t know what we’d do without Golisano. All the doctors and nurses know Sarai and love her like family. They’ve done everything and more to help us.”
Help local children, like Sarai, this holiday season. Every gift, no matter the amount, directly impacts a Southwest Florida family.
Everything we do is dedicated to saving children’s lives…Everything you give makes it possible
LeeHealthFoundation.org/Golisano • 239-215-1703
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