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CONTENTS NOVEMBER 2018
16 GRAND FACES
Cape Coral baker James Shannon unites unusual flavors at Breaking Bread Bakery. Jean Baer and Betsy Ventura feed an economy and a community with their popular farmers markets. The Veranda in downtown Fort Myers ushers in 40 years with Paul Peden at the helm.
31 COVER STORY
20
Meet eight master chefs who are kicking it up a notch in Southwest Florida. Their talent, personalities and impecable taste provide transformative fine dining experiences throughout the Naples-Fort Myers area.
40 GRAND PETS
57
Charlie is a girl going places. In fact, everywhere her person goes, Charlie is sure to follow. Stylist Sarah LaMont and her canine companion are inseperable.
57 GRAND RIDE
Mini collectors Mary and Bill Newman make a big impression with their cars and knowledge of the auto’s intriguing history.
71 MAKE IT A DOUBLE
71
14
Thistle Lodge serves coastal chic cocktails by the sea at Casa Ybel Resort.
IN THIS ISSUE 12 Editor’s Letter
48 Shopping
65 Open Door
14 The Colors Page
50 Getaway
74 Behind the Benefit
22 Model Behavior 27 Dining
60 Fashion 62 Grand Case
76 Style 78 Grand Times
40 GRANDEUR | NOVEMBER 2018 | 7
Holiday S avings
for Everyone on Your List
CELEBRATING THE GOOD LIFE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Part of the USA TODAY Network | Volume 17, Number 2
Publisher
William R. Barker
Editor | General Manager Kathryn Robinson Kinsey kkinsey@grandeurmagazine.com Art Director Lindi Daywalt-Feazel ldaywalt@grandeurmagazine.com Associate Editor Pamela Hayford phayford@grandeurmagazine.com
C O M P A N Y
S T O R E
Contributing writers
Gina Birch, Stephanie Borden, Cathy Chestnut, Sara Coggin, Tricia O’Connor, Jennifer Thomas, Andrea Stetson
Contributing photographers Srijita Chattopadhyay, Amanda Inscore, Andrea Melendez, Kinfay Moroti, Nicole Raucheisen, Brian Tietz, Andrew West Vice President Advertising Sales, The News–Press
Nancy M. Solliday
Vice President Advertising Sales, Naples Daily News
Shawna Devlin
Dennis Wright drwright@grandeurmagazine.com
Production Director
Advertising Account Executive Nicole Holey nholey@grandeurmagazine.com Director Circulation Distribution Jim Keeble jkeeble@gannett.com GIFT CARDS MAKE THE PERFECT
Holiday Gift
MIROMAR OU T L E T S
OVER
Cheryl Cushman ccushman@gannett.com
Distribution Manager Brian Franz bfranz@gannett.com
ON THE COVER ®
140 TOP DESIGNER AND BRAND NAME OUTLET STORES AND AN ARRAY OF RESTAURANTS
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8 | NOVEMBER 2018 | grandeurmagazine.com
Circulation Support and Logistics Manager
Emma Calcara, chef and owner of Palladio in Naples, poses in a Poliform kitchen at Richlin International inside the Miromar Design Center, Estero. Read more about Emma and other local top chefs on page 31. Photo by Brian Tietz Grandeur is published 8 times a year. Complimentary copies are home delivered to The News-Press and Naples Daily News subscribers in select neighborhoods throughout Lee and Collier counties. Subscriptions to the magazine are $24.95, and single copies are available at The News-Press and Naples Daily News 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
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grand | EXTRAS
You can now explore the Grand life anywhere you go with our new mobile-friendly website. It’s the same URL — grandeurmagazine.com — but a whole new experience with free access to all we have to offer. From galas and fine dining to the amazing homes of Southwest Florida.
Trusted Experience & Proven Results Whatever your dream, we have the resources and expertise to make it a reality. Whether you are looking for capital to expand your business, financing a significant purchase or investment, want streamlined account balance access or would simply like a line of credit available—we can assist you with all your financing and deposit needs to ensure seamless, efficient management of your wealth. Our commitment to our clients and fiduciary excellence has been our promise since we opened our doors in 1868 and it remains our promise today. Let us help you plan for and accomplish your dreams for tomorrow… today.
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Grandeur Advisory Board The board is a group designed to help ensure that our coverage of the good life in Southwest Florida reaches the high expectations we always strive to meet.
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President, Susan Bennett Marketing & Media
Gail Markham
busey.com 239.790.8000 10 | NOVEMBER 2018 | grandeurmagazine.com
Markham Norton Mosteller Wright & Company, P.A.
Dwayne Bergmann Principal/ Designer Dwayne Bergmann, LLC
Larry Norris
Founder, Norris Furniture & Interiors
Karen Johnson– Crowther
Principal, Director of Retail Services, Colliers International
Robbie Roepstorff President, Edison National Bank
Tracey Galloway
CEO of Community Cooperative
Jennifer Williams
Owner, Jennifer’s Inc.
grand | EDITOR’S LETTER
Food for thought O
12 | NOVEMBER 2018 | grandeurmagazine.com
PHOTO BY BRIAN TIETZ
Kathryn poses, on location at the Waterside Shops in Naples, in an Sportmax asymmetric AGRO dress and Botswana Agate necklace by LuluMargot, provided by MaxMara. Ella totes and Brooke riding boots provided by Tory Burch.
pen jar, mix pre-set ingredients, pour in pan and boil water. That’s basically what I know about cooking. OK, that might be a slight exaggeration. I do know you have to actually turn the oven on when you’re ready. Truly, besides preparing holiday meals every year for my family, which I do love, I really have very few culinary skills, and I’m quite fine with that. I wish I could say I envy those who can present that perfect dish or turn leftovers into a masterpiece with one ingredient from the pantry, but I don’t. I’d much prefer to experience fine cusine at the hands of skilled chefs. Just like the ones we feature in this month’s cover story. This talented group from all over the country, and all over the globe, have raised the bar when it comes to Southwest Florida dining. Each of them brings their passion for cooking and diverse backgrounds to their craft, page 31. Honestly, I really had a 50/50 shot at absorbing any kitchen skills. It would have been nice to follow in the foodsteps of my Cuban grandmother, who was no master chef but who I remember fondly standing at the stove, cooking what seems like every meal in an old black cast iron frying pan that had to weigh at least 10 pounds. The rich aroma of spices filled our entire home. Picadillo, fried sweet plantains, arroz y pollo (rice and chicken) and flan were staples and are the dishes that I remember the most. To this day when I see one of these on a menu, a smile immediately comes across my face. I on the other hand followed the lead of my mother who was more of a meatloaf with ketchup on top, canned veggies, dry roast beef and instant mashed pototes kind of cook. Even my father only had one decent dish: gravy at Thanksgiving. As we approach this holiday of family, friends, food and of course Dad’s gravy, I will affectionally look back at all the meals, good or bad, that I’ve shared with these very important people in my life. I will appreciate every bite taken, every laugh and every story told across the dining table. However you plan to spend the holiday, take the time to be thankful for the true meaning of giving thanks, and whatever you do, don’t sweat the burnt buns. See you next month,
KATHRYN ROBINSON KINSEY EDITOR & GENERAL MANAGER
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grand | COLORS
Fit for royalty • The
Trésor tradition goes back 18 generations. That’s how long the family of the collection’s creator, Puja Bordia, served as the Royal Family of India’s Jaipur Kingdom. She instills rich culture and modern design sensibilities into every piece. These pink tourmaline marquise and diamond earrings are no exception. $3,600 at Kathein Jewelers of Marco.
Make it pop • The super famous Beats
by Dre wireless headphones get a funky makeover with the new Pop Collection. The Beats Solo3 Wireless On-Ear headphones ($299.95) and Powerbeats3 Wireless ($199.95) available at apple. com are jazzed up in cool color combinations just in time for the holidays. But the crisp sound and quality construction are never compromised. You’ll still enjoy Bluetooth connectivity and up to 40 hours of battery life. The Pop Magenta model is made for those stylish folks who refuse to blend in.
Magically MAGENTA R
oses are red, violets are blue, magenta is what you get when you mix the two. Beautifully diverse in hue (is it pink? is it purple?) and wildly sexy when adorning virtually everything from stilettos to designer furniture, magenta looks like a meld of hot pink and fuchsia. It’s certainly not for the faint of heart, having arrived on the scene in the late 1800s after being discovered in Northern Italy after a vicious battle during the Italian-French war. Discover notwithstanding, we are truly, madly, deeply mystified by magenta and hope you will be, too. —TRICIA O’CONNOR
Sleek and stable
• You’ll experience the perfect paddle with the Tsunami 140 kayak, available locally at Estero River Outfitters or West Marine. Shown here in eyecatching “Borealis Green” paired with a stark hot pink, this model from Wilderness Systems ($1,299) is exceptionally fast, yet stable in all conditions. It’s the features that enhance your on-the-water experience that really set the Tsunami 140 apart; from two removable mesh deck storage bags and improved under-deck storage to flared sidewalls and increased volume above the waterline. You’ll enjoy a full day exploring the mangroves with the Tsunami 140.
14 | NOVEMBER 2018 | grandeurmagazine.com
Berry good
• There is something undeniably sexy about a classic pair of Manolo Blahnik pumps, but even traditionalists will agree that a raspberry-colored stiletto ups the ante. The sumptuous Suede BB Pumps ($625 at marissacollections.com) feature a killer pointed toe, sleek design, and luxe Italian-made leather soles. Manolo Blahnik shoes are the epitome of precision, balance, workmanship and luxury.
I heart you
• Artist David Acevedo begins with a freehand drawing in ink, creating guidelines for an abstract figure. Watercolors create more interest in balance, before he finishes the piece with a smaller detail brush to retouch the ink and add more details. The result? A stunning painting on 140-pound cotton rag watercolor paper called “For You” available at DAAS CO-OP Art Gallery & Gifts or daascoop.com.
Evil art• Born in Northern Italy, artist Annalu is known
for her unique interpretations of metamorphosis and use of incongruent elements to create vibrant, contextual sculptures. “Les Fleurs du Mal” or The Flowers of Evil, is made of resin glass, mimicking an eruption of lava from the earth. The bottom unfolds into rising layers of white and light pink before bursting upward with delicate spikes heated toward a lavish fuchsia. Measuring 20-by-24-by-28, the sculpture is available at http://eastwestfineart.com/artist/annalu/.
Arm candy
• Imitation Midcentury modern furniture is making a comeback, but why get today’s retro-inspired designs when you can splurge on the real thing? This pair of darling vintage magenta chairs were first created in the 1950s by Brazilianbased designer Eisler Hauner. They are simple, sexy, and sleek. A stunning addition to your home. $26,000 a pair at Design West in Naples or dwest.com.
Tie one on • Luxuriously soft, gently
detailed, and hand-dyed a delectable shade of red wine, the Tencel tie front pocket shirt ($149) is your go-to girls night out shirt. The laid-back vibe features roll tab sleeves and a tie waist. We love it for line dancing, painting parties, or game night with friends. Available at Jennifer’s in Fort Myers or jennifersfortmyers.com. GRANDEUR | NOVEMBER 2018 | 15
grand | FACES
yum A
LABOR OF
Jean Baer and Betsy Ventura have forged a 10-year partnership creating a community and feeding the local economy through popular farmers markets.
iming is an important key to success, and Jean Baer and Betsy Ventura took flight with their intuition that Lee County had an unmet need for farm-fresh produce and artisanal delicacies. This year marks the 10th anniversary of their founding of Local Roots to organize and coordinate local farmers markets. The endeavor has grown from a five-week market in a parking lot on Sanibel Island to eight of the largest farmers markets in Lee County — each market featuring a personality of its own. Bringing together local farmers, bakers, fishmongers and small or home-based businesses that offer items such as all-natural soaps and candles, jams, honey, fruits and cut flowers has become more than their business. Betsy and Jean — long-time residents — both say the most rewarding aspect is supporting the local economy by providing steady income opportunities for some 150 vendors. Jean estimates the farmers markets scattered from Bonita Springs and Estero to Fort Myers and Boca Grande have a $12 million economic impact in Southwest Florida. They’ve watched as mom-and-pop operations have taken off to become full-fledged businesses with storefronts and grocery store shelf space. They’ve watched as cupcakemakers have expanded into four markets as they put their kids through college, and as The Nosh Truck has become a regional sensation. And the guy who showed up long ago with a large, stainless-steel bowl and cases of avocadoes for making fresh, to-order guacamole? “Now he’s in 17 markets, and his business is supporting the livelihoods
16 | NOVEMBER 2018 | grandeurmagazine.com
of three families,” Jean reports. “It’s an economic driver, and I’m proud of that. They’re dumping that money back into our county. They’re buying a car, their clothing. They are buying a home or renting — all the things that pump money into the economy.” And, they’ve been at it so long, long-time vendors have become like family. Betsy and Jean have hired one of the vendors’ teens — whom they’ve watched grow up at the market since he was 8 — as head of parking. Other Jean Baer and Betsy Ventura of Local Roots, at the Lakes Park vendors have made similar hires. One time, the market Farmer’s Market. stopped and vendors scrambled to pack up the fresh-fruit cutter’s tent when his wife went into labor so he could make it to the hospital. “It’s great to see everyone work together as a team,” Jean says. The Local Roots co-owners both live on Sanibel Island and Local Roots farmers markets each have their own personality. At Lakes Regional Park, you will find plenty have had a long involvement in of hot, fresh breakfast and lunch options to enjoy in business and the community. Jean the park. The JetBlue Park at Fenway South market has served as recreation director at the a strong emphasis on hand-crafted items and a flea South Seas Island Resort and genmarket atmosphere. eral manager at The Dunes Golf LOCATIONS: Bonita Springs, Coconut Point in Estero, & Tennis Club for many years. Lakes Regional Park, River District in downtown Fort Betsy and her husband, Marcel, Myers, Sanibel Island, Captiva, Boca Grande and Fenway South Farm & Flea Market at JetBlue Park. A one-day have co-owned YOLO WatersCaptiva Island Art Walk market will be held December ports on Captiva since 1992. Both 28, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. next to Doc Ford’s Restaurant in have two adult children who the South Seas Island Resort (5400 South Seas Plantation grew up, and are now working, Road, Captiva). It’s open to the public. Find out more at in the community. buylocallee.com.
A market near you
The duo’s sense of community led them to become a Blue Zones-approved organization, part of a global movement that encourages communities to implement healthful mindsets and habits that may extend and improve residents’ longevity and quality of life. Local Roots became the first in the state last year to receive the recognition for its category, with a focus on the Bonita Springs and Estero markets because they were already Blue Zone communities. More than 60 percent of the vendors pledged to join the movement; only 25 percent was required. More bicycle racks, a smoke-free environment, cooking demonstrations using Florida crops and ingredients, and supporting the Lakes Regional Park community garden were some of the commitments
Local Roots made. Shoppers can commit to lifestyle changes such as establishing a walking schedule, incorporating more beans, fruits and vegetables into their diet, and developing a positive circle of friends. After running the markets daily, full-time from October to early May, the women have a few summer months to relax, though they also use it to prepare ads and contracts, review applications and update details for the next season. They aren’t resting on their laurels. “People think that the longer you’re in business, it gets easier, but that’s not the case. It’s gotten more competitive,” Jean notes. “Our market is only as strong as our vendors.”
The women are yin and yang in business styles that complement each other’s strengths: Betsy is a detail-oriented organizer and social media maven, while Jean describes herself as an “out-of-the-box thinker. I like to try new things. My thought process is, ‘We can try it, and if it doesn’t work, we can go in a different direction.’” “We have a very healthy partnership,” Betsy says. “We both know what we are good at and have a huge respect for each other.”
STORY BY GINA BIRCH PHOTO BY AMANDA INSCORE GRANDEUR | NOVEMBER 2018 | 17
grand | FACES
STAYING TRUE
Paul Peden ushers in 40 years of fine dining at the iconic Veranda in downtown Fort Myers.
C
reating something unique and constantly updating while continuing strong traditions and service is the secret to success for Paul Peden. This year Paul celebrates 40 years as owner of the downtown Fort Myers icon The Veranda. “We’ve done well,” he says. “It has changed. Just like every business has change, we have to continue to evolve.” Peter balances this evolution with keeping the style and traditions of the restaurant’s iconic atmosphere. The Veranda is housed in two 115-year-old homes that were connected and converted into a fine dining establishment that has become a bastion of sophistication. “It was much simpler 40 years ago,” he says. “The restaurant business was much simpler. There was much less competition and a simpler menu.” That menu consisted mostly of steak, fish and chicken. Back then it cost about $20 for a steak dinner. “It was a pretty basic menu, and the presentation was simpler,” he says. “The restaurant was smaller. We closed in some spaces. We made more private dining rooms on the second floor.” He also made changes to the menu and continues to keep up with his customers’ palates. Now a complete meal costs about $60. “You start with the menu,” Paul explains. “That is the guide to your business.” On The Veranda menu, Paul experiments with the unusual, such as fried green tomato salad or escargot in puff pastry. But he also includes traditional and comfort foods, such as filet mignon, New Zealand lamb, Atlantic salmon or a Southern sampler of fish. To keep up with trends, he offers meals for the more health-conscious diner. No matter the menu, it’s also important to give people the quality they expect, Paul says.
“They expect to get the kind of service and food that you expect for $50 to $60 dollars a person,” he says. “The expectations you have for $10 is very different from $60.” That also means making everything from scratch. “If you are buying it from somebody, then somebody else can buy it, too, so it is hard to be unique,” he explains. “So we make everything from scratch. We still hand cut our steak and make our own bread. We do everything here in the kitchen. We make our own soups. There is nothing we don’t do.” While Paul stresses that the business is tougher, he says it is easier to know what his clients want and expect. “I read a lot,” he says. “I have always been curious about what everyone else is doing and saying. Now it is easier with social media.” While the menu has changed, the upscale atmosphere hasn’t. “We still have waiters in tuxedos,” Paul says. “We still offer a lot of unique experiences here.” The big chain restaurants can’t compete with The Veranda’s history. Its clapboard structures were built by Manuel Gonzalez, the founder of Fort Myers. In the 1970s the building was purchased by Herbert “Peter” Pulitzer. It was then given to longtime boat captain Fingers O’Bannon and housed previous dining iterations. Paul became the fourth owner in 1978, and The Veranda was born. “It is the character that it is,” Paul says. “We’ve stayed in character with what the building is. It is a unique environment. It is warm; it is inviting.” Black and white photos from the early days of Fort Myers line the walls. It’s like a walk through history — everything from ladies in old fashioned swimsuits to children in front of a school house. Thick, carved, polished wood frames the bar area. A shiny black piano sits prominently in one dining room. Old carved wood creates the railings of a dramatic staircase. Intricate chandeliers hang from the ceiling.
STORY BY ANDREA STETSON | PHOTO BY ANDREW WEST 18 | NOVEMBER 2018 | grandeurmagazine.com
Paul Peden has been the owner of The Veranda in downtown Fort Myers for 40 years.
A brick fireplace is the focal point of another room. Then there is the outside garden that is refreshed every autumn with new landscaping. Born in Ohio and raised in Venice, Florida, Paul earned his business degree from the University of South Florida. He got his first taste of the restaurant business by waiting tables at the revered Bern’s Steak House in Tampa. He later moved to Southwest Florida to work at Smitty’s, which he eventually owned. He’s also owned Chateau Robert, The Shallows, Matlacha Oyster Bar, Woody’s Bar-B-Q, Mason’s Bakery, and he still owns Rib City. Paul says he bought The Veranda because it was like nothing else in town. “It was in this market where I lived, and it was a different brand, and the price was right,” he says. “This is a unique property.” Even after 40 years, Paul is still on site several days a week, making notes on things that need to be done and planning menu changes. A study by Ohio State University shows that 60 percent of restaurants do not make it past the first year, and 80 percent go under in five years, yet the Veranda has lasted 40, making Paul very successful. But he shares his success with others. “Our waiters at night average more than a decade working here,” he says. “They have a combined time of over 200 years of dining experience. They are very sophisticated men and ladies that choose to be here, and I treat them accordingly. I think they share my passion about the restaurant, too.” While Paul enjoys helping people on a personal level, he also assists local charities. For The Veranda’s 40th anniversary, the restaurant is selling special stemless wine glasses and bottles of wine. The proceeds go to the Southwest Florida Community Foundation. “I respect the work that they do,” Paul says. “They are just a good organization. They are very thoughtful about what they do.” Paul has also assisted the American Cancer Society, Canterbury School, Junior League, March of Dimes, Community Cooperative, Southwest Florida Symphony and the Harry Chapin Food Bank. “It changes,” Paul says. “It’s an in-the-moment kind of thing. I don’t have one passion for one particular thing. It is what hits my radar screen.” Paul continues to look to the future. With Rib City, he plans to add new locations and take them in a different direction with walk-up ordering and a more limited menu. “It is more like a Panera,” he says. “It is a smaller footprint. That is where the market is going because of labor costs. We are playing with the model and intend to do that concept within the year.” At The Veranda, Peter is also updating and renovating. “This is an expensive property to maintain,” he says. “We continue to maintain it and upgrade it. We continue to change the menu. But if you have the basics, great service and great food, you are going to be OK. We know who we are here, and we are staying true to it.” GRANDEUR | NOVEMBER 2018 | 19
James Shannon,20, is owner of Breaking Bread Bakery.
Unusual unions Cape Coral baker James Shannon aims to bring people together with out-of-the-ordinary flavor pairings. STORY BY GINA BIRCH | PHOTOS BY ANDREW WEST 20 | NOVEMBER 2018 | grandeurmagazine.com
grand | FACES
rowing up in Cape Coral, James Shannon spent a lot of time with his grandmother. Not only did she impart her wisdom and values on him but also her love of baking. “I grew up baking with Grandma,” says James, founder of the Breaking Bread Bakery. “On weekends we would make a cake or cupcakes, cookies or something to pass the time. Baking became a passion.” James has been turning heads lately at charity events and private functions with cupcake creations such as Pineapple Upside, Campfire Favorite and Kiss of Death. Officially open about a year, James’ niche at Breaking Bread is creating unique and unusual flavor profiles, such as chicken and waffle cupcakes. The base is a bourbon and maple syrup cake with
maple syrup frosting. Real fried chicken and waffles are added to the top for a sweet and savory, soft and crunchy treat. “I like to experiment with flavors and things that typically don’t go together. It’s a nice surprise to find that it works,” the culinary expert says. As James honed his skills in the kitchen with his grandmother, he would bake for church events, friends and family. “People started buying what I made, and I enjoyed it, so I figured I should pursue it more,” he says. James researched culinary schools, toured various campuses and took summer classes before enrolling at Johnson & Wales University in North Miami, where he studied baking and pastry. “Culinary school is expensive, so I did my homework. I wanted to make sure this was really something I wanted to do,” he says. While his grandmother taught him passion, Johnson & Wales taught him technique. He learned how to make French pastries, breads, ice cream and more. When not in the kitchen classroom, James worked in the kitchen at the famed Fontainebleau hotel, where he got experience in volume, speed and hospitality in general. “I always knew, since I was a kid, that I would own my own business or enterprise. I didn’t know about being an entrepreneur when I was young, I just knew I wanted to be in charge.” Besides decadent cakes, cupcakes and the like, James makes sweetened breads, such as cinnamon and raisin or lemon. Classic breads are the next item on the list for this perfectionist to perfect. His favorite flavors are those that combine sweet and salty.
“I made a caramel popcorn cupcake that was simply amazing,” he says. “It has to be one of top five that I’ve made.” James first made a caramel cake, frosted it with salted vanilla butter cream and then topped it with handmade caramel popcorn. Besides innovation, quality ingredients are also key for James. “I use real butter for my frosting, no substitutes, no cutting corners like a lot of bakers do,” he says. He also makes his own flavor extracts using natural ingredients. “It makes a difference. I go that extra step, so I can really control what I create,” he says. “Say for instance a black pepper extract. I can make it, or I can spend time looking for it to buy. I’d rather make it, and it’s a unique selling point.” Breaking Bread Bakery products are custom made and sold direct to consumer (thebreakingbreadbakery.com); however, James’ vision is to have a storefront in Southwest Florida. His grandmother now lives in Georgia, but he speaks with her on a regular basis. “She is a smart business woman. I can talk to her about baking and business. It’s the best of both worlds,” he says. It’s not just her skills in the kitchen, or in business, but also in life that have rubbed off on the young entrepreneur. “She guided me with life principles that I didn’t fully grasp until I got older,” James says. “The small things, like looking someone in the eye, shaking their hand and dressing properly.” Success comes from more than just skill and passion, according to James. “It’s the little things that stand out, like treating people with respect. Something so simple can be so impactful.” About his business name, James says, “Breaking Bread Bakery encompasses all that I want with my desserts. Food brings us together; it unites all types of people. I want to create a feeling of hospitality, togetherness and happiness. We are in a time where that is really needed.”
“I always knew, since I was a kid, that I would own my own business or enterprise. I didn’t know about being an entrepreneur when I was young, I just knew I wanted to be in charge.” —JAMES SHANNON
GRANDEUR | NOVEMBER 2018 | 21
22 | NOVEMBER 2018 | grandeurmagazine.com
grand | MODEL BEHAVIOR
‘One of the coolest houses in Naples’ The Biscayne model home in Grey Oaks incorporates contemporary style and modern conveniences throughout.
W
hen a home has not one but two powder rooms, you know it goes way beyond the typical luxury abode in Naples. The Biscayne in Grey Oaks has so many unique and upscale features that it’s hard for people to choose a favorite. “It’s a cool house,” says Dan Guenther, broker associate with Premier Sotheby’s International Realty. “It’s a pretty unique style. It’s one of the coolest houses in Naples.” It all begins with a handcrafted mahogany front door that opens to a dramatic high-ceiling foyer. That leads to an open living room with an unusual wood paneled drop ceiling that continues down the main wall and wraps around a large flat-screen television. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlook a pool that comes right up to the house. “It was specifically designed so the reflecting pool, which is part of the swimming pool, comes right up to the house,” says John Cooney of Stofft Cooney Architects. “So the glass comes right down to the floor. The walls of the house are over the pool shelf to give you that modern look as well.” The gourmet kitchen features two large islands. The refrigerator and freezer are hidden behind taupe cabinet doors. A humongous walk-in pantry feels like a secret room hidden behind a door that mimics the cabinets. Induction burners don’t have
a hood to block the view through the large picture window that overlooks a small private garden. “It is really a gourmet chef ’s dream,” says Sharon Gilkey, president of Montanna Design Associates. Just off the kitchen is a small office space, known as a menu desk. “This became mainly out of evolution. A lot of clients are asking for a menu desk,” John explains. “It is a versatile space.” Nearby is a 102-bottle built-in wine refrigerator integrated into a wood paneled wall. The downstairs has two half baths; one is formal and the other more casual. “I think it’s practical,” says Greg Seligman, president of GES Construction Limited. “The reasoning was if you come in with your children, you have a washroom when you first come in from the garage. So you don’t have to run through the entire house and use the beautiful powder room with your kids. And there’s the proximity to the kitchen.” “I wanted that kind of service bathroom,” Sharon says about the less formal one. “Your guests are always using the formal bath, and that secondary bath can be if folks are doing handyman work, it is convenient to the kitchen, it’s great for the kids. If you are all sweaty, it is a great little bathroom.” The first floor has a VIP suite. This sprawling room includes a king-size bed, sitting area with glass doors to the pool, a morning kitchen, bathroom and walk-in closet.
STORY BY ANDREA STETSON | PHOTOS BY NICOLE RAUCHEISEN CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: All the guest rooms are suites with huge walk–in closets and balconies.• It’s not just the back of the house with floor to ceiling windows, but the front of the house too, giving lots of light and garden views for the dining room. • The home is a mecca of shapes from circular art work to square furniture. A theme of blues and whites prevails throughout the home. • The builder says dens are not used for work anymore so he created what he calls a club room in this home as more of another place for people to sit, relax or socialize. • The spacious lanai has sitting areas and dining areas all under cover. • The floating staircase is one of the grandest features in the home. Water from the pool comes right to the window by the staircase. •This model in Grey Oaks has many unique upscale features. To the right is one of two garages that is designed from the front to look like part of the house. GRANDEUR | NOVEMBER 2018 | 23
grand | MODEL BEHAVIOR
“Someone could stay there for a while and not feel like they are a burden,” John says. On the other side of the main floor is the club room. “Very few people are asking for a dedicated home office,” John explains. “With iPads and laptops, people are conducting work all over the house. So the club room has become a media, den, comfy space. If the kids are watching something in the great room, the parents can watch something in the club room.” The master suite features french doors that lead to the lanai. Picture windows overlook a grassy area and the golf course. There’s a sitting area to one side and a padded bench at the foot of the bed. CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: The lap pool stretches 50 feet long. Another section of the pool laps right up to the family room, den and staircase windows. • Indoor seating areas lead to outdoor seating areas. When the sliding glass doors are open in the cooler The peaked ceiling includes inlaid beams. weather one area flows to the next. • The master bathroom is huge with marble floors and a freestanding Kohler soaking tub. There Both walk-in closets are large, but hers has a is also a marble shower complete with bench seating and body sprays. • The kitchen has two islands. One is for sitting and eating window seat beneath a large window. The master while the other is more for food preparation. The stove is located by huge picture windows that look out on a small garden. bathroom has his and her sides. Each side has a sink area and toilet. Hers also has a bidet. leave here.” have opaque glass and light up,” Greg says. A floating staircase near the great room leads to the Lisa Mettetal and Jean Losier, interior designers with The home has other upscale features such as linear second floor. With water lapping at the windows by the Clive Daniel Home, added some decorative additions. diffusers tucked behind the crown molding. This not stairs and high ceilings above lit by a series of windows, “We got some very nice art work,” Jean explains. only hides the air vents, it makes the air conditioning the staircase becomes a focal point in the home. “We added color to the spaces. We added draperies and distribute more evenly. “The thought process was to have the visual effect of pillows and more seating areas.” It is a true smart home built with a Crestron home the pool washing through the staircase in the evening The entire home incorporates modern geometautomation system that integrates access via the ownand during the day,” Greg says. “That was to bring the ric shapes, from the floor tile to the square chairs to ers’ handheld devices. It includes programmable lights, elements from the outside to the inside.” the drop ceilings. The dramatically rectangular pool audio-video, thermostats, an alarm system and more. “The client wanted the more contemporary house stretches 50 feet long. A rectangular fire element sepThe Biscayne is priced at $6.595 million. The twothan what was currently being designed in the Estuarates the covered sitting, dining and outdoor kitchen story, contemporary-style home, built of concrete ary,” John says. “There were some things in the house from the pool area. The floating-style square spa is block spans 7,559 square feet under air and a total to show off that modern twist, and the stairs is one of sunken into the pool, surrounded by a splash shelf. of 10,624 square feet of total living space. The fivethem.” “It is a contemporary feel, a lot of symmetry,” bedroom-plus-den home has five full bathrooms and “I think the ceiling on top of the stairs really creates a Greg says. “There is consistency throughout the two half bathrooms. lot of interesting shadows in the evening,” Sharon adds. house with those architectural elements.” “It’s one of the homes I am most fond of,” “I just love that ceiling detail.” The lanai features dark cypress wood on the ceilJohn says. At the top of the stairs is a cozy sitting area that leads ing. Screens and shutters can be lowered from that to a large loft that’s great for entertaining. Sliding glass ceiling at the press of a button. doors lead to a terrace that overlooks the pool. There are Even the two garages are created in a unique way. also three bedrooms upstairs, each with a bathroom and The two-car garages face each other. From the street walk-in closet. Two bedrooms have glass doors that lead it’s hard to see them. Instead they look like part of the to a private terrace at the front of the house while the home. One garage is air conditioned. Frosted glass on third has glass sliders that lead to the back terrace. the garage doors lets in natural light. “This has a nice view,” Dan says. “Guests will not “In the evening they are a feature, because they Find more pictures of the Biscayne model online. 24 | NOVEMBER 2018 | grandeurmagazine.com
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grand | DINING
Grilled halloumi, sheep’s milk cheese, is served with tomato, cucumber and olives. Below: Moroccan Tea is one of the specialty beverages served at Kareem’s.
Lebanon STORY BY GINA BIRCH
THE HEART OF
W
hen I moved to Southwest Florida, one of the first friends I made was Lebanese. Until then I had never really been exposed to Lebanese food and definitely not the culture; there is something magnetic about both. That’s how it felt to dine at Kareem’s Lebanese Kitchen in Naples.
A modern yet warm feel with lots of earth tones and cedar, a wood commonly found in Lebanon. The lighting fixtures are shiny copper, a metal that figures prominently in the country’s craftsmanship and is believed to “drive out the bad spirits,” according to Executive Chef/ Owner Rachid Eido. The cuisine is from Beirut, Rachid’s hometown. The spices are distinct with Turkish and Asian influences.
Photos special to GRANDEUR
Savory and aromatic, Kareem’s is a labor of love that warms the soul.
GRANDEUR | NOVEMBER 2018 | 27
Chef Rachid’s grandfather was famous for his hummus, and his expertise was passed down. Silky and rich, it’s not like anything you’ll find in a grocery store or even in other local restaurants, and there’s a good reason why — it takes three days to make. Soaked overnight, the chickpeas are then slow cooked for six hours. Next, they rest and cool before being blended with lemon juice, garlic and tahini. It’s a true labor of love and it shows in the final product. Before moving to Naples, Rachid was executive chef for 15 Lebanese Taverna restaurants in the Washington, D.C., area. He was recruited to run the restaurant organization after making a name for himself at the Four Seasons Hotel where he was often requested to cook for Saudi Arabian royalty. While there is no royalty to speak of in Naples, he says, “I’ve met many third- and fourth-generation Lebanese people who know the food because of their grandma and family. It’s nice for them to experience it again.” Lemon juice, olive oil and garlic are the three basic elements in Lebanese cooking. Rachid estimates squeezing three or four cases of lemons a week. Many of the plates at Kareem’s, which means generous in Arabic, are designed for sharing. Pita is also an important part of the cuisine. A special oven turns balls of dough into puffy orbs, cooked to order and served hot; some 300 are made daily. 28 | NOVEMBER 2018 | grandeurmagazine.com
Photos special to GRANDEUR
grand | DINING
THIS PAGE CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: A colorful tripoli sauce dresses up Kareem’s grilled Mediterranean sea bass. • The Chef Rachid Platter is perhaps one of the best introductions to Lebanese cuisine at Kareem’s. • Chef Rachid slices a succulent rotisserie of beef shawarma for specialty wraps.
THIS PAGE CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: This salad with romaine, tomato, and cucumber (Fattoush) is topped with pita chips and pomegranate dressing. • Tabbouleh is one of the bestl known Lebanese salads, made with parsley, mint, bulgar, lemon juice, onion, and tomato. • A beautiful and delicious assortment of traditional Lebanese desserts. • Salty cheese and flavorful Zaatar seasoning top Kareem’s house made flatbread. • Cedar wood and earth tones give Kareem’s Lebanese Kitchen a warm feel. • Creamy Baba Ghanoush, made from fresh eggplant, is sprinkled with pomegranate seeds for color and flavor.
Start with the Chef Rachid Platter. Nine compartments are filled with small servings of items like grape leaves, hummus, baba ghanoush, eggplant salad, moussaka and a ball of falafel on top of tahini sauce with diced vegetables. The fried kibbeh (chopped beef) is placed over strained Greek yogurt with sprinkles of pomegranate seeds for presentation and flavor. The dough of the spinach pie is delectable, and in the center of the plate is a fresh mound of tabbouleh (parsley salad). Chicken Farrouj is one of the most popular entrees. Chef debones a chicken, cuts it in half and roasts it until the skin is crisp and the meat is juicy. A flat pita smeared with yogurt, garlic and onion rests on the bottom of the wooden board used for serving, along with a mound of fresh vegetables seasoned with Rachid’s secret spice blend. You might be throwing elbows to get the last bite if you share. The Colorado lamb shank takes almost two days to make. The juice from the braised meat is used to cook the accompanying rice and stuffed grape leaves. Served in a tagine for an earthy touch with artichokes, cherry tomatoes, mint and more, it’s savory and aromatic. With a menu full of Middle Eastern favorites like kabobs, shawarma and gyros, you’ll also find sea bass and vegetarian selections.
Kareem’s serves beer and wine, including some from Lebanon. I tasted through the Massaya Winery portfolio with the owner recently and recommend ordering any of these wines. After dinner, tea and Arabic coffee are poured from ornate silver and copper pots. The Lebanese doughnuts are a special treat, and the baklava comes in delectable bite-size sticks with pomegranate syrup for a twist. However, for a dessert that is like none other in Southwest Florida, ask for the Kanafeh, or Lebanese cheesecake. It’s not on the menu. Chef Rachid soaks the salt out of a brined cheese and then mixes it by hand with rose water and orange blossom. It’s then spread on top of a semolina crust and cooked until golden. Flipped upside down to serve and drizzled with saffron syrup, small pita-like buns topped with sesame seeds come on the side. Fill the buns with the warm, slightly stringy cheesecake and drag through the syrup; it’s magnificent. Lebanese cuisine is labor intensive and best when shared with family and friends. The dishes you’ll find at Kareem’s are some of the most flavorful and colorful you’ll find in Southwest Florida. —Kareem’s Lebanese Kitchen is located at 4270 Tamiami Trail E, Naples. Call 239-315-4167 or visit kareemskitchen. com for more information. GRANDEUR | NOVEMBER 2018 | 29
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30 | NOVEMBER 2018 | grandeurmagazine.com
grand | COVER STORY
STORY BY GINA BIRCH | PHOTO BY BRIAN TIETZ
CHEFS OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA
F
ood is an important part of the culture of Southwest Florida, and its landscape is getting more and more diverse. Chefs from all over the country and all over the world are making their mark locally, and collectively, they are helping to raise the bar when it comes to local dining. Besides their passion for food, each of these chefs is passionate about providing their personal touch, both in the front and the back of the house. If you don’t already, we thought you should know these names.
GRANDEUR | NOVEMBER 2018 | 31
Jacob
JASINSKI
Chef Jacob Jasinski relocated from Rhode Island last spring to open Sails, one of the hottest new restaurants on Fifth Avenue South in Naples. Working primarily with seafood that is flown in daily from all over the world is right up this New Englander’s alley. Scallops are one of his favorite foods and the first thing he eats when he returns home. “When we get live scallops at Sails, it’s very exciting. There’s nothing like it,” he says. “You don’t have to do much at all to them, a touch of citrus and fat, like olive oil, and that’s it. It’s pretty perfect the way it is.” About cooking seafood, he says, “It’s a good measure of your abilities and experience as a cook. Fifteen to 20 seconds makes a tremendous difference between pretty good, exceptional and overcooked.” Having worked all over the U.S., France and Italy, his love of cooking began as a child making stuffed cabbage with his Polish grandma and lasagna with his dad. A curious kid with an inclination toward cooking, he was clear in high school that after graduation he would enroll in culinary school. When not in the kitchen, he plays guitar and chases that elusive family time that chefs seldom get enough of.
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grand | COVER STORY
Melissa
TALMAGE Melissa Talmage has been serving Sanibel Island diners for more than 10 years. “I have an amazing staff,” she says. “That’s one of the reasons I’ve been able to last as long as I have. We’re small and really close.” Born outside of Philadelphia and working in big cities such as New York and D.C., the time she spent in New Orleans is quite evident in her cooking. “I experiment with different food,” she says, “but I still lean toward Southern/French Creole.” She ended up in Southwest Florida following Hurricane Katrina. Owning a restaurant on an island, seafood figures prominently, however, she says adamantly, “No fried grouper.” Her fish stew is a signature. Laughing, she recalls, “I tried to take it off the menu once and people rioted over it.” Vegetables are also important to the popular chef. When she creates a dish, she starts at the bottom of the plate and builds up from there, so it doesn’t just taste great, it looks great, too. She admits that while keeping her patrons in mind, “I still cook for myself. When I create a dish, 95 percent of the time it’s something that I would want to eat. It seems to be working.”
Location: The chefs photographed in the Poliform kitchens of the Richlin International showroom located in the Miromar Design Center, Estero. GRANDEUR | NOVEMBER 2018 | 33
Benjamin
VOISIN
“I was a good student and when I said I wanted to go to hospitality school, one of my teachers told my mom, ‘He can do much better,’” remembers Benjamin Voisin, executive chef and owner of Fathoms and Gather in Cape Coral. “I was offended and thought, screw you, I’m gonna be a good chef,” he says defiantly. Today at the age of 33, Ben is a business owner and worked in kitchens across Europe and the Caribbean before landing in Southwest Florida — if that teacher could only see him now. Born outside of Paris, he grew up in Bordeaux and also owns Black Salt Culinary with his executive chef and right-hand man, Chef Fabrice Deletrain. With a big city vibe, Gather is his newest endeavor, where breakfast is also served, and it’s anything but standard. His eggs Benedict come over pan-seared lobster cakes, and the corn beef hash has a porcini demi glaze. The only time you won’t see him at one of his two restaurants is if a big soccer game is on or if it’s Sunday when he cooks at home. “I have my own wood fire pit and cook a big Argentinean (his wife’s home country) barbecue with family and friends,” he says. “To me that is the best.”
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grand | COVER STORY
Fabrice
DELETRAIN Fabrice Deletrain is most often found in the open kitchen at Fathoms in Cape Coral, although he also serves as executive chef for Gather. Growing up in a culinary family in Paris, he got his official chef ’s coat as a teenager, before moving to Southwest Florida. “I always had a love for food,” he says. “There is nothing I will not eat.” When Ben Voisin and partners bought the restaurant where he was chef, changing it to Fathoms, Fabrice was given a new culinary freedom, and it made quite an impact on Cape Coral dining. He is inspired by travel. Flying home from a recent trip to New York City, he grabbed a slice of pizza from a restaurant near his gate. “It had Brussels sprouts, blue cheese, and I was like, damn, that’s good pizza.” He came home and created his own version affectionately called The LaGuardia. Besides being talented in the kitchen, Fabrice has personality. He understands the role of today’s chef, explaining, “People don’t just come in for food but also the ambience, to be entertained, the whole experience.” And they come in to see him. Always taking time to connect with patrons, both he and Ben are also quite visible in the community — the dynamic French duo. One of Fabrice’s favorite things to do in the kitchen: “I like to butcher and clean fish. It’s relaxing to me, meditative, like my yoga class.”
GRANDEUR | NOVEMBER 2018 | 35
Asif
SYED
Asif Syed has been on the Food Network more than any other local chef, and in September he actually “Beat Bobby Flay” in the eponymous cooking show. He did it with chicken tandoori. “I was fully prepared,” says the exuberant chef, “This was not an ordinary competition; he is an iron chef.” Classically trained, Chef Asif was born near Hyderabad, India, famous for Mughlai cuisine. That is what you’ll find at his Naples restaurant, 21 Spices. “The menu is unique,” he says. “No other Indian restaurant has these dishes, from this part of India.” It’s an area influenced by Turkish and Middle Eastern cultures. The spices are rich and expensive with ingredients like saffron. He adds his classic techniques and American experiences for truly unique creations. Asif is always in a chef ’s coat but has a strong team in the kitchen, allowing him to be out front interacting with diners. “My main thing is my connection with my guests,” chef says. “I want them to leave satisfied and with memories, like a photograph, captured in their brain.” His energy is infectious, so is his smile, and with a big one spreading across his face, he declares for 21 Spices, “I want a Michelin star.”
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grand | COVER STORY
Ryan
FREDSTROM For all intents and purposes, Chef Ryan Fredstrom is a Naples native. Born in Texas, he moved here as an infant. Today as executive chef at Angelina’s Ristorante in Bonita Springs, he’s seen the local culinary scene change drastically. “The area has really come into its own,” he says. Growing up, he says, “I cooked a little, helping my mom and grandma.” He laughs. “I liked to make sandwiches and perfected the art of folding turkey, meat and cheese.” But mostly he liked to eat. “I ate everything and anything that tasted good. It didn’t matter what kind of cuisine.” The switch flipped for him at the age of 16 on a school trip to London; he dined at his first Michelin Star restaurant. “My mind was blown ever since then,” he says, “the French cuisine, the plates. I fell in love.” Not knowing what path to take when it was time for college, he remembers, “Eating has always been my passion, so I took a vocational class in culinary arts.” That class sealed the deal, and he enrolled in Johnson & Wales University to become a chef. One of his favorite childhood comfort foods, “my mom and grandma make an egg casserole for Christmas with rye bread, pork sausage and Swiss cheese. This would be my death row dish.”
GRANDEUR | NOVEMBER 2018 | 37
Emma CALCARA “There are a million and one Italian restaurants in Southwest Florida but none specializing in where I’m from,” says Emma Calcara, chef and owner of Palladio in Naples. She is from Vicenza in the Veneto region of northern Italy where linguini with squid ink is a specialty. “These recipes have been around for hundreds of years,” she says. “My grandma and great grandma had restaurants, so I’m bringing back their dishes with my twist.” Her father is also a chef. Emma makes much of her own pasta, including bigoli; it looks like thick spaghetti but with a different consistency and texture, like that of gnocchi. Made with duck eggs, she calls it “rich” and serves it with duck ragu, another dish from her region. The Italian chef moved to Southwest Florida from Los Angeles nearly three years ago to be closer to family. As a bass player, she moved to LA to be a musician but instead of becoming a rock star, she cooked for them as the chef on tour with Live Nation. You might imagine she has live music in the restaurant, and when cooking she says, “My mother is Brazilian so sometimes I listen to bossa nova, but if I need to rock it out, you’ll hear Iron Maiden from the kitchen. Music helps me work. It puts my mind in a good space.”
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grand | COVER STORY
Joe
PITTMAN
Culinary school or brewing school? That was the question Joe Pittman asked himself at the age of 24. Today he is celebrating three years at the helm of Azure in Fort Myers. “I grew up in the South,” says the Mobile, Alabama native, “where food was always a part of life. My dad was the grill master.” Pittman started bussing tables at the age of 15 and later managed a brewery before going to culinary school. “You have to put your heart into cooking. I cook from what I know. I know a lot of French but also low country, so I incorporate those flavors with French technique,” he says. He cooks classics such as foie gras, sweet breads and coq au vin but sometimes adds a Southern twist of flavors and ingredients, like with his New Orleans-style shrimp Creole or coddled egg. “I try to do some fusion here but still love the classics, rich veal sauces. Or taking an organ and making it into a delicate beautiful dish that people might be hesitant to eat, and they try it and love it.” Even though he chose culinary school over brewing, he is still passionate about the latter. When not in the kitchen, you’ll find him brewing at home.
GRANDEUR | NOVEMBER 2018 | 39
grand | PETS
STORY BY ANDREA STETSON PHOTOS BY SRIJITA CHATTOPADHYAY
Everywhere that Sarah goes Charlie is sure to follow.
arah LaMont has a sleek red dog that many people know, and almost everywhere that Sarah is her canine is sure to go. Charlie, the Irish setter, follows her to work, the beach, boating, fishing and even on vacation around the country. Yet this canine companion wasn’t what Sarah originally wanted. “She was an engagement gift from my father-in-law, who was obsessed with hunting and loves Irish setters,” Sarah explains. “I grew up with mastiffs, and I didn’t want an Irish setter, and we weren’t going to get one, and then my father-in-law showed up with her.” Charlie wasn’t what Sarah expected. “I thought she would be hyper, but she is calm and smart,” Sarah says. “I taught her to sit in just one try. Our life is really easy together. As long as we are together, she is happy.” 40 | NOVEMBER 2018 | grandeurmagazine.com
Charlie, an Irish setter, is the Why Style owner, Sarah LaMont’s 5-yearold child. “She is the only child I want to have,” Sarah says.
Sarah and Charlie are almost always together. Sarah owns Why Style and travels to upscale shops around Naples looking for the perfect fashions for her customers. “She comes with me everywhere,” Sarah says. “She is always in fitting rooms, and it has been that way since she was a puppy. For me Charlie is a member of the family. She is bred to be a hunting dog. She is bred to work. She is happiest when she is with me. As long as we are together she is super happy.” Charlie tags along when Sarah peruses the clothing racks at Nordstrom and Saks. She goes to the smaller boutiques, such as Rouze and the Cypress and Palm. “A lot of times if I am pulling (clothes) everyone wants to take Charlie,” Sarah says. “At Saks they would take Charlie around and introduce her to people, and she would always come back with a Saks bow.”
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The timing for Charlie to be a work companion was perfect. “I started my own company when she was about a year old,” Sarah says. Charlie will be 6 on St. Patrick’s Day. While Charlie is surrounded by high fashion, she doesn’t get to wear many clothes. She has a Christmas sweater and a Halloween dress-up tradition. “I usually go trick-or-treating with her, and we both dress up in Wonder Woman costumes,” Sarah says. “When we have dinner parties at the house, I put a fake diamond necklace on her, but I don’t even put her in a fancy collar. I just want her to be natural.” How did she come to be called Charlie? “It’s kind of embarrassing how she got her name,” Sarah says. “It is my favorite name, and I always said if I ever had a kid I would name him or her Charlie. So when we decided to not have kids, we named her Charlie. This is my first kid, and her name is Charlie.” That name wasn’t always popular with her family. “My father-in-law thought I should name her Rose or that Charlie can be short for Charlotte,” she says. “But I like Charlie. It is her personality. She is kind of goofy, but she is very glamorous. When I get mad at her, I call her Chuck.” But that doesn’t happen often. Sarah says Charlie is a very well-behaved dog. She is so good that she gets to go paddleboarding with Sarah and sits patiently at the front of the board. “When it is hot, she will swim next to us,” Sarah says. “Other times she will stay on the board.”
Charlie travels with Sarah LaMont wherever she goes — work or vacation. OF F I CES : F ORT MYERS | C A PE CO R A L L E HI G H ACR E S P U N TA G OR DA
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Charlie is also a frequent flyer who took her first flight from her native Wisconsin to Florida at the age of 8 weeks. More recently she flew to Montana and Seattle. “We just got back from Montana,” Sarah says. “She goes fly fishing with my husband. My husband has a favorite place to fish. It has big black rocks with crevices, and Charlie is like a mountain goat jumping from steep rock to steep rock, and she points the fish and finds fish for him.” Back in Florida, Charlie not only finds fish, she catches them. “She gets really still with water up to her chest, and she waits and watches the fish, and the fish start feeding off her hair, and then she dives in and gets a fish,” Sarah says. “It is insanity. It has happened twice in front of me.” The 45-pound dog has eating habits that are as unique as her fishing habits. “Her favorite thing is kale,” Sarah says. “Whenever I have a kale salad, I share my salad with her. She eats bananas, sliced apple. She eats a lot of raw meat. She loves watermelon. We are healthy eaters and so is Charlie.” Charlie goes so many places that she is often recognized around town. “Lots of people who call me say, ‘I know you. I saw you out with your dog,’” she says. “They recognize me. It gives me the opportunity to meet people. I have met some clients because they stopped to ask about my dog.” And everywhere that Sarah goes Charlie goes the same. “She is like my kid,” Sarah says. “I have the freedom to take her with me, so why not? She makes my day so much more fun.”
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Stock Signature Homes GRANDEUR | NOVEMBER 2018 | 43
Stock Development offers three tiers of residential excellence The Stock name is renowned throughout Southwest Florida for quality residences built with style. With a legacy of award-winning design and a keen understanding of the Florida lifestyle, Stock builds a unique range of exceptional masterpieces from quality-built Classic Homes to masterfully crafted Signature Residences like the Wyndam in TwinEagles to uniquely inspired Custom Estates. CLASSIC SERIES Built on a tradition of quality, innovative design, and a keen understanding of what homebuyers are looking for, the Classic Series gives homebuyers the opportunity to select from a collection of welldesigned homes that deliver exceptional value. With Stock Classic Homes, homebuyers have the opportunity to select from a collection of welldesigned homes that deliver exceptional value backed by the solid reputation of an award-winning builder. Stock’s decades of experience produces homes with broad appeal that feature gourmet kitchens, fabulous outdoor living areas and beautiful master suites. STOCK SIGNATURE HOMES With distinctive architectural styles, luxurious interiors, and an extensive array of finish choices, Stock Signature Homes’ spacious residences are inspiring both inside and out. With distinctive architectural styles, luxurious interiors and extensive customization options, Stock
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Signature Homes’ spacious residences are inspiring both inside and out. These exceptional residences feature masterful finishes, distinctive interiors and spectacular outdoor living spaces—all the elegant appointments luxury homeowners crave. A quintessential example is Stock’s Wyndam model at TwinEagles, which offers 4,298 square feet with four bedrooms, a bonus room or fourth bedroom, four-and-a-half baths, a great room, kitchen and breakfast nook, a formal dining room, a 983 square-foot outdoor living area overlooking the lake that includes an outdoor kitchen, fireplace, bar area, dining and conversation areas, and a pool and spa, a two-car garage, and a one-car garage with dedicated golf cart storage. The Wyndam’s magnificent interior design features a high-contrast look that provides an immediate “wow” factor. Light off-white backgrounds are accented with indigo and soft gray tones, a combination that creates a sense of drama. Architectural features, including beamed ceiling details in the great room, are complimented by backlighting. Flooring throughout the living areas is highly polished white 24-by-24-inch marblelooking porcelain tile with warm striations. The kitchen cabinetry is finished in a soft alabaster and crowned with taupe quartz countertops that accent the white tones of the cabinetry, while the study provides a workspace with built-in bookcases and a table desk perpendicular to the wall. The space is finished with sandstone oak
wood flooring with a light taupe gray finish. A short shag carpet compliments the master bedroom’s two-toned furnishings finished in a light off-white and driftwood color pattern. A recessed area sports a pair of settees with long love seat-type legs and a chrome and glass cocktail table. The outdoor living area features an asymmetrical fireplace wall using small staggered pieces of soft white chiseled stone. The fireplace includes a smooth concrete mantle and hearth. Furnishings include a wicker sofa and two wicker side chairs, faux concrete end tables, and a 48-by-48-inch canvas ottoman that serves as a cocktail table. An L-shaped outdoor kitchen is outfitted with bar stool seating facing TwinEagles’ largest lake and the concrete dining table is outfitted with wicker and canvas chairs. STOCK CUSTOM HOMES Custom grand estate residences by Stock Custom Homes are designed and built to fulfill each homeowner’s unique personal preferences. Highlights include dramatic ceiling details, walk-in wine rooms, sprawling kitchens, cherished studies, splendid master suites, and magnificent outdoor living spaces. Custom grand estate residences by Stock Custom Homes are one-of-a-kind homes found in some of the most prestigious areas of Naples, Palm Beach and Marco Island.
INSPIRED ADMIRED DESIRED From quality-built Classic Homes to masterfully crafted Signature Residences and uniquely inspired Custom Estates, Stock offers homeowners dazzling choices in the most desirable locations. Experience our exquisite models, ready-to-enjoy residences and find your dream home, beautifully designed and created by the region’s leading luxury homebuilder for over 17 years.
Q from the $400s to over $7 million
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StockDevelopment.com 239.592.7344 FLStockDevelopment
BROKER PARTICIPATION WELCOMED. ORAL REPRESENTATIONS 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. PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.
GRANDEUR | NOVEMBER 2018 | 45
Award-winning models on display at Talis Park Talis Park offers an expanded collection of new resort-style coach homes, terrace homes and penthouse homes in its Corsica and Viansa neighborhoods. These thoughtfully-designed residences offer a low-maintenance lifestyle with fairway, water, and nature preserve views just moments from Talis Park’s award-winning Vyne House clubhouse. FrontDoor Communities’ Coach Homes at Corsica recently received a Grand Aurora Award for Best Multifamily Housing during the 39th Annual SEBC Aurora Awards, a program affiliated with the Florida Home Builders Association (FHBA) and the Southeast Building Conference (SEBC), one of two regional trade shows recognized by and affiliated with the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). The recently-completed Messina II coach home model is now open for viewing in Corsica. Located at 16158 Corsica Way #101, the 2,532-square-foot under air first-floor coach home model features interior design by Allied ASID interior designers Jean
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Losier and Christina Rosolia of Clive Daniel Home. The Messina II model has an air of luxurious comfort throughout its three-bedroom, three-bath design. Soft tones of beige and white provide a neutral backdrop while rich pops of jeweled blue greens offer a depth of color. With a splash of sparkling champagne finishes and warm grays, there is a polished feeling that is felt throughout the spaces. This color palette invites the lush landscape and lake views from outside to blend seamlessly with the home. The air of luxury can be felt with dramatic wood detailing of the master bathroom vanity and the great room entertainment built-in. This is all anchored by warm gray wood flooring that helps balance the rich finishes and textures found throughout the home. WCI/Lennar offers two new furnished models in the Viansa neighborhood. The new Viansa Terrace Model is sumptuously furnished by the awardwinning Naples design firm, Cinnabar Design. The Terrace home features a formal foyer leading into an open kitchen and great room, with glass sliders that
seamlessly blend the indoor space with the gracious lanai for an emphasis on alfresco living. The home is complete with three full bedrooms, three full baths, a powder room and a den. Terrace Homes at Viansa are priced from the high-$600s. The second model is the new Penthouse home at Viansa. Naples’ own Beasley & Henley have stylishly designed the model with transitional furnishings, rustic touches, and light, fresh tones of cream, grey and aqua accents. The Viansa penthouse-style homes feature private elevators, breezy living areas, and ample space for entertaining indoors and out. Penthouse Homes at Viansa are priced from the low-$900s. Prospective homebuyers may experience Talis Park by participating in the community’s Gold Pass program. For details, call 239-292-0846. Community tours are available seven days a week by visiting Talis Park’s Garden House Information & Sales Center, 16980 Livingston Rd. (just north of Immokalee Rd.). For details, call 239-449-5900 or visit talispark.com.
A new flavor of luxury COMPLETED RESIDENCES AVAILABLE
VIANSA
VIANSA Penthouse Homes from the $800’s Resort-style CORSICA Coach Homes from the $700’s VIANSA Terrace Homes from the $600’s MODELS OPEN DAILY
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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.
grand | SHOPPING
Mayor The
OF GULF COAST
TOWN CENTER
Giacomo Battaglia’s expert eye for menswear design has put him in the company of greats such as Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin.
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esigning a man’s “look” is a life-changing experience and brands him in every aspect of his world. If you mention to Giacomo Battaglia the saying, “Clothes make the man,” you better buckle your seat belt and get ready for the ride of your life. The shop — Giacomo Battaglia for Men — is named after the charismatic owner, who’s nicknamed the Mayor of Gulf Coast Town Center and wears a custom suit every single day. When you walk in the door, you’ll likely hear him say, “Welcome to the finest men’s shop in America!” STORY BY MICHAELA VATTIMO • PHOTOS BY ANDREA MELENDEZ
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What makes Giacomo Battaglia unique and an international house of fashion? His clients respect his never-ending professionalism, design expertise, one-on-one consultation, attention to detail and the ability to dress each client successfully based on the individual’s lifestyle needs. For 65 years, he has worked as a style expert and will tell you with a twinkle in his eye that the owner is always right. It certainly appears that hundreds of clients appreciate his straightforward with a twist of humor approach and undivided attention to customer service. During the consultation, he takes time documenting notes including but not limited to the color of the client’s hair, eye color, profession, hobbies, favorite colors and style preference (classic, modern, on-trend). With a custom design order, Giacomo provides a numbered matching system for the client that updates his closet with several suits, shirts, shoes and casual lines, making
it easy for him to mix-and-match his new wardrobe. Although Giacomo does provide some casual lines of sports shirts and jeans, his shop reflects mostly fine suiting, dress shirts, ties, cuff links and shoes that are custom ordered with some ready-to-wear product. He does mention proudly that the denim pant has been a best seller and is approved by some country clubs as suitable dinner attire, especially when matched with a dinner jacket and eye-catching shoes. Shoes do make the man, and Giacomo provides custom ordered, color-blended shoes that complement a suit or denim pant. No reason to limit that shoe selection to black, brown and burgundy. Through the years, styles may change, but Giacomo’s rule of life remains the same: “You must believe in yourself to earn respect, have pride in the way you look and work at something every day.”
About Giacomo Battaglia for Men
• Located at 9903 Gulf Coast Main St., San Carlos Park • Open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Saturday • Appointment recommended; call 239-437-3888. • The store carries several popular brands, but the top seller is Fashion Concepts, manufactured under Marcello. • On the walls are six decades of various celebrities, professional athletes and influential business men photographed with owner Giacomo Battaglia. Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr. and Joe DiMaggio are just some of the many famous faces you’ll recognize. These celebrities were his lifelong clients and close friends.
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WINTER WONDERLAND
DREAMING OF A CANADIAN 50 | NOVEMBER 2018 | grandeurmagazine.com
PHOTOS COURTESY OF BANFF LAKE LOUISE
grand | GETAWAY
he passionate stories travelers share upon their return from trips to Canada year-round are nothing short of awe-inspiring; however, a winter experience is often described as some of the most heavenly views one can see, especially in Whistler and the Banff-Lake Louise areas. Oh, the views! For the winter sport enthusiast, a visit to Whistler — home of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games — is one that should be on every traveler’s bucket list. Cape Coral resident Gena Gossett embarked on her snow adventure with her husband and 12-year-old twin girls to Whistler. “Upon arrival at Whistler, our initial thought was WOW! It’s a winter wonderland. We arrived in the evening. Everything was covered with snow, and twinkle lights added to the magic,” she describes. Whistler is known for its ski village and ability to maneuver much of the area via walking. “What I loved most about Whistler was its walkability. Once we parked our car, we didn’t need it until it was time to drive back to Seattle,” Gena recalls. “There’s quite a bit of entertainment in the village, too. Lots of shopping, bars, fantastic restaurants, ice skating and a movie theater. We stayed at the Westin, a ski-out resort located in the middle of the very quaint village.” Another experience Gena touts is visiting the Olympic Village. “We also skied Olympic park, the site of the 2010 Olympics.” Mary Zinck, manager of travel media for Tourism Whistler, also touts the village’s quaint and magical feel. “Standing in the pedestrian-only Village, guests are surrounded by endless mountain views with the Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains at the forefront,” she describes. Mary recommends guests take a ride on the Peak 2 Peak Gondola (360-degree views of Whistler Village, mountain peaks, lakes, glaciers and forests), take advantage of the free Moun-
tain Host ski and snowboard tours or the free Mountain Host sightseeing tours. “It’s really the variety of activities available — on-mountain or off-mountain, ticketed and free — there’s so much to do,” she says. “Dine in Christine’s On Blackcomb (in the Rendezvous Lodge) or Steep’s Grill on Whistler (in Roundhouse Lodge). The food is great and only made better by the views. And stop by the new year-round Umbrella Bar on Whistler Mountain.” Fort Myers resident Allison Ferguson has traveled to Whistler with her husband, Chris, and she says a highlight was riding the Peak 2 Peak Gondola. “Whistler is breathtakingly beautiful. We just loved the beautiful views on top of the mountain,” Allison says. “We just enjoyed one day in Whistler, and we liked the drive up on the Sea-to-Sky Highway, and after exploring the mountains, we enjoyed a nice dinner in town at the Dubh Linn Gate Irish Pub.” For the non-skier, snowmobiling the Canadian backcountry (other excursions available, too, including a family version and those with dining opportunities — think mountain top candlelight fondue dinner) and winter zip lining are two excursions to experience, including a twilight zip lining tour under the stars. For those desiring the mountain experience, there are more than 200 runs between the two mountains (Blackcomb and Whistler) for all levels of skiers from beginner to advanced. “New for this season, skier/snowboarders on Whistler Bowl will make their way under the new Cloudraker Suspension Bridge (unfortunately the suspension bridge is only open to the public in the summer, but that just means you have to come back and experience it),” Mary says. “Whistler and Blackcomb mountains are accessible for everyone — from the never-ever skier/snowboarder to the expert to the sightseer.” Gena and her family crossed skiing off their itinerary. “Our daughters took ski and snowboarding lessons while my husband did quite a few blue runs. I did one green and had to be rescued by ski patrol. After that ordeal, I spent the rest of my time shopping and searching the village restaurants for the perfect cabernet,” she says. GRANDEUR | NOVEMBER 2018 | 51
grand | GETAWAY From 7th Heaven Bowl to Rider’s Revenge, Overbite to Lower Olympic and Pony Trail to Doom & Gloom, there are many runs to experience and check off a skier’s wish list. But beyond skiing, or for the extremely passionate skiers who partake in heliskiing, there are other ways to view the vastness and stunning glaciers. “Blackcomb Helicopter offers a variety of sightseeing tours, from short flyovers to landing on a glacier. If you want to splurge, Headline Mountain Holidays offers Heli-Ice Cave Tours and/or helisnowmobiling,” Mary recommends. The ski runs typically do not open until Thanksgiving Day, but in November, Whistler hosts the Cornucopia food festival. “Taking place November 8-18, Cornucopia is Whistler’s celebration of food and drink, an 11-day festival that showcases the best of British Columbia and beyond for food and drink with winery dinners, culinary demonstrations and workshops, seminars, chef luncheons, grand tastings and more,” Mary says. Also new for 2018, several hotel renovations are just coming to completion, such as The Westin Resort & Spa, Whistler, the Fairmont Chateau Whistler, Blackcomb Springs Suites and the just opened Pangea Pod Hotel. “Other new offerings are Steak Night dinner at Sproatt Mountain cabin by snowmobile, S’mores by the Camper in the courtyard of Sidecut restaurant. Sidecut will also be launching a ‘Blackcomb Mountain Apres’ featuring food ‘mountains’ (towers), Bloody Caesars (Canadian cocktail similar to a Bloody Mary) and their award-winning cocktail program Spirit of the Mountains,” she describes. Traveling to Whistler in the winter will surely be a temperature shock for Floridians. “If you go to Whistler in the winter time, a good base layer is paramount,” Gena says. “Their temps are not for the faint. You can’t go wrong with Hot Chillys and a warm pair of Uggs, enough warmth to go for a nighttime sleigh ride, which was definitely the highlight of our family’s trip.” Another must-see year-round Canadian destination that is nearly impossible to describe without personally experiencing this natural beauty is Banff and Lake Louise, just east of Whistler. Marco Island resident Jane Watt experienced Banff and Lake Louise firsthand with her immediate and extended family during a summer vacation. “The entire area around Banff and Lake Louise is one of the most beautiful places in the world. The water is so blue, and the surrounding mountains are majestic,” Jane says. “Banff was very clean and had many cute shops and restaurants. It was fun to explore the area. We walked around the town each night. Jim and I would run each morning along the river that runs through the town. I will never forget how blue the water was.” One of Jane’s experiences included walking on a glacier and hiking up a mountain that overlooked Banff. “The area was so clean and beautiful. I was very taken 52 | NOVEMBER 2018 | grandeurmagazine.com
by the views from every angle. I wanted to take a picture of everything, so I would remember it,” she says. Visiting the same area in summer, Fort Myers resident Kimber Cook went with her husband and two grown children. She says the destination was amazing with breathtaking scenery and topography. “We visited during the end of June. The days were warm and the evenings cool,” she describes. “I just loved the sheer beauty and its vastness. The mountains are so much bigger than the North Carolina mountains that I am accustomed to.” During Kimber’s trip, she and her family did a lot of hiking. “That’s one of the things we love to do as a family (always have, even when the kids were little). We always try to find hikes that lead to a waterfall. We saw lots of bears, deer, chipmunks and goats. The deer actually walked along side us during one of our hikes,” she says. “We also took a ski lift up a mountain to take in the view. On our visit to the Lake Louise, we toured the Fairmont Chateau, which was breathtaking. Just grand!” Banff & Lake Louise Tourism spokesperson John Doherty advises going up the mountain in the Banff Gondola to gain perspective on how vast and incredible this place is. “There is no better way to get inspired for the remainder of your trip, and of course, get that selfie,” John says. “If you prefer to just sit back and enjoy the views, the Banff Gondola offers some of the most stunning views imaginable, especially in the winter.” Banff and Lake Louise are a true winter wonderland with activities for everyone. “Skiing, snowshoeing, and even dogsledding will allow
you to see parts of Banff National Park that would otherwise be unavailable,” John advises. “More and more new experiences are being offered every year, such as joining a mountain guide for a snowshoe tour atop Lake Louise Ski Resort, or really testing yourself by taking an ice climbing lesson.” During winter months, John recommends heading to Lake Louise to skate on one of, if not the most, famous ice surface in the world. “If you can’t ice skate, this is an amazing place to learn. There are also sleigh rides offered along the shores of Lake Louise that are a must-experience as well, creating a truly memorable moment for you and your friends or loved ones,” he suggests. “Next, I would say join a mountain guide and educate yourself. Discover Banff Tours has some incredible offerings and a very informative team (they can share information about the winter wildlife you can expect to see, including elk and mule-deer). You also need to venture out to the Columbia Icefield and take a Glacier Adventure on a massive ice explorer through the Athabasca Glacier.” Allison and her husband visited Banff and Lake Louise twice. “We went dogsledding, snowmobiling and snowshoeing. We also rode a carriage in Lake Louise,” she says. “We were just so taken by the natural beauty of this destination.” This destination does not disappoint for avid skiers as well. “Banff is fortunate enough to boast three world class ski resorts: Banff Sunshine Village, Lake Louise Ski Resort and Mt. Norquay. These individual resorts come together to form SkiBig3. When you book with SkiBig3, not only do you get all three mountains, you can reserve your accommodation, rentals and transportation, too,” John explains. “Mt. Norquay is the closest to the Banff townsite and is where many young skiers in the area first learned to ski, making it a great family mountain. Banff Sunshine has incredible terrain for all skill levels and sees the most champagne powder snow of the three resorts. Lake Louise Ski Resort is perhaps the most well-known as it is the home to the Lake Louise Ski World Cup, and you simply cannot go wrong spending your day on their slopes.” Traveling to Banff and Lake Louise in November, guests can get into the holiday spirit early by attending the Santa Claus parade November 17. There’s also the Banff Christmas Market (November 22-25) held at the Warner Stables, which features festive entertainment, culinary delights and artisanal gifts. Two other not-to-miss events in November include the Banff Craft Beer Festival (November 22-24) at the home of Canada’s first national park, the Cave and Basin National Historic Site, and the Lake Louise World Cup (November 24-25 for men’s and November 30-December 2 for women’s) at the Lake Louise Ski Resort. “Spending a magical day in Lake Louise and visiting the ice castle, skating on Lake Louise, taking a sleigh ride along the shores of Lake Louise, and enjoying a glass of mulled wine at the ice bar,” John recommends. “To me, that’s the perfect winter day in the Canadian Rockies.”
WELLNESS DIRECTORY
GRANDEUR | NOVEMBER 2018 | 53
There’s a new alternative to the busy Emergency Department Feeling sick during the week or weekend and can’t get in to see your primary care doctor? There’s a new alternative to the busy Emergency Department! Millennium’s Fort Myers & Cape Coral Walk-in Medical Centers are now open late and weekends to better care for you during all of life’s minor emergencies. There are no appointments necessary and wait times are much shorter than a typical Emergency Department or Urgent Care Center. The Walk-in is now accepting new patients, and you don’t have to be an established Millennium Physician Group patient to utilize the convenient services. Most insurance plans are accepted and
54 | NOVEMBER 2018 | grandeurmagazine.com
self-pay patients are always welcome. Millennium’s family-friendly Walk-in Medical Center provides treatment for all of your urgent care needs, such as colds, sore throats, flu, rashes and earaches. Our physicians also treat non-life threatening emergencies like sprains, abrasions, and burns. Our Walk-in Medical Center teams know that when you visit our Centers, you want to feel better quickly and without a lot of hassle. No need to wait in an emergency room or wait to schedule an appointment with your physician, the Walk-in Medical Center can see you today. Skip the Wait! No need to wait hours at a local
Emergency Room or busy Urgent Care Center. Millennium’s Walk-in Medical Centers now have a feature to allow you to view all of the wait times at their Walk-in facilities. You simply “skip the line” by pre-registering for a time that you would like to be seen for the day and essentially you get to “skip the line” when you arrive. If the provider is running behind you will receive a text message letting you know to come in a few minutes later, reducing any wait time. Log-on to www.MillenniumPhysician.com and select “Skip the Line” at the top of the webpage. View the wait times and get in line to feeling better today! To learn more about Millennium Physician Group, please visit www.MillenniumPhysician.com.
Innovative procedure can help patients with Glaucoma Eye Centers of Florida is offering an innovative procedure that can reduce the dependence on glaucoma eyedrops. It is called the iStent inject® Trabecular Micro-Bypass System. iStent inject is indicated for use in conjunction with cataract surgery for adult patients with mild to moderate primary open-angle glaucoma. Once implanted in the eye, iStent inject can effectively lower intraocular pressure and patients may experience a reduction in reliance on glaucoma medication (at discretion of eye care professional). “This is an exciting option for patients who are not getting good results with glaucoma eyedrops or are tired of the frequency or expense of glaucoma eyedrops,” said Dr. David C. Brown. “We now have an advanced option that not only effectively manages eye pressure associated with glaucoma, but may also reduce our patients’ reliance on glaucoma medication.” iStent inject includes two tiny implants, which make up the world’s smallest medical device known to be implanted in the human body. iStent inject is the latest innovation in trabecular micro-bypass devices, which have been implanted in hundreds
of thousands of eyes, with more patients benefitting from this technology every day. Together, these tiny implants create two bypasses, or openings, between the front part of the eye and its natural drainage pathway, restoring the eye’s natural ability to drain fluid. In the U.S. pivotal trial, iStent inject was shown to be effective in decreasing intraocular pressure, with an excellent safety profile, few complications, and fast recovery time. To schedule a consultation at Eye Centers of Florida, please call 888.EYE.APPT (888.393.2778) or dial **EYE on your mobile phone.
ALL AT ONCE I’M FREE! Cataract surgery and glaucoma therapy— all in one procedure. Eye Centers of Florida now offers iStent inject® — an advanced device for glaucoma therapy. Implanted during cataract surgery, the FDA-approved iStent inject is designed to reduce eye pressure, and may allow your doctor to reduce your glaucoma medication. Call 888.EYE.APPT (888-393-2778) or dial **EYE on your mobile phone to find out if iStent inject is right for you.
4101 Evans Ave. Fort Myers, FL 33901 www.ecof.com INDICATION FOR USE. The iStent inject ® Trabecular Micro-Bypass System Model G2-M-IS is indicated for use in conjunction with cataract surgery for the reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP) in adult patients with mild to moderate primary open-angle glaucoma. CONTRAINDICATIONS. The iStent inject is contraindicated in eyes with angle-closure glaucoma, traumatic, malignant, uveitic, or neovascular glaucoma, discernible congenital anomalies of the anterior chamber (AC) angle, retrobulbar tumor, thyroid eye disease, or SturgeWeber Syndrome or any other type of condition that may cause elevated episcleral venous pressure. WARNINGS. Gonioscopy should be performed prior to surgery to exclude congenital anomalies of the angle, PAS, rubeosis, or conditions that would prohibit adequate visualization of the angle that could lead to improper placement of the stent and pose a hazard. MRI INFORMATION. The iStent inject is MR-Conditional, i.e., the device is safe for use in a specified MR environment under specified conditions; please see Directions for Use (DFU) label for details. PRECAUTIONS. The surgeon should monitor the patient postoperatively for proper maintenance of IOP. The safety and effectiveness of the iStent inject have not been established as an alternative to the primary treatment of glaucoma with medications, in children, in eyes with significant prior trauma, abnormal anterior segment, chronic inflammation, prior glaucoma surgery (except SLT performed > 90 days preoperative), glaucoma associated with vascular disorders, pseudoexfoliative, pigmentary or other secondary openangle glaucomas, pseudophakic eyes, phakic eyes without concomitant cataract surgery or with complicated cataract surgery, eyes with medicated IOP > 24 mmHg or unmedicated IOP < 21 mmHg or > 36 mmHg, or for implantation of more or less than two stents. ADVERSE EVENTS. Common postoperative adverse events reported in the randomized pivotal trial included stent obstruction (6.2%), intraocular inflammation (5.7% for iStent inject vs. 4.2% for cataract surgery only), secondary surgical intervention (5.4% vs. 5.0%) and BCVA loss ≥ 2 lines ≥ 3 months (2.6% vs. 4.2%). CAUTION: Federal law restricts this device to sale by, or on the order of, a physician. Please see DFU for a complete list of contraindications, warnings, precautions, and adverse events. ©2018 Glaukos Corporation. Glaukos and iStent inject are registered trademarks of Glaukos Corporation. PM-US-0046
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grand | RIDE
mini L MANIA
Bill and Mary Newman’s 2003 and 1972 Mini Coopers.
STORY BY STEPHANIE BORDEN PHOTOS BY ANDREW WEST
Let Bill and Mary Newman school you on the Mini legacy’s big impression on the international auto world.
ook behind the wheel of a 2019 BMW MINI Cooper, and you’re likely to find a 30-something driver who wasn’t born yet when the first British Mini rolled onto English streets in 1959, igniting an automotive revolution. Ride instead with Mini collectors Bill and Mary Newman and you’ll be treated to a history lesson on the automobile voted “The European Car of the Century” with worldwide sales topping 5 million units. The first Mini was launched by the British Motor Corporation in 1959 in response to the Suez Canal fuel crisis. In an era populated by gas guzzlers, BMC told industrial designer Alec Issigonis to develop the smallest car possible that could hold four adults along with their luggage. He conquered this space challenge brilliantly by inventing a groundbreaking frontwheel-drive engine.
GRANDEUR | NOVEMBER 2018 | 57
The first Mini had 10-inch wheels and measured only 4 feet wide, 4 feet tall and 10 feet long. Sliding windows left room for pockets to hold papers and personal items. Another smart feature was the boot (trunk) lid that had the hinges at the bottom, so the car could be driven without closing the lid. The classic Mini truly was an international car. Over its lifespan, it was built in the United Kingdom, Australia, Belgium, Chile, Italy, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Uruguay and Venezuela. The Mini was so cheeky it attracted raves from the British press and orders from celebrities, including actor Peter Sellers and Beatles John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Members of the royal family were photographed zipping around London in their new Minis. Fashion designer Mary Quant borrowed the Mini name to label the short-short skirts she created to symbolize the kicky new freedom of the ’60s in England and across the pond. The Mini was spotlighted as a speedy and nimble performer in several hit movies including “A Shot in the Dark” — the second film in the Pink Panther series — and 1969’s “The Italian Job” co-starring Michael Caine and Noel Coward. Years later in “The Bourne Identity,” Matt Damon outruns the Parisian motorcycle squad in a MINI. And who can forget the green 1969 BMC Morris Mini 1000 Mark 2 playing a comic role in so many hilarious episodes of “Mr. Bean”? The first Mini, called the Mk I, had three impor58 | NOVEMBER 2018 | grandeurmagazine.com
tant updates: The Mk II, the Clubman and the Mk III. The Mini Cooper and the Cooper S were sportier models with racing honors, including three Monte Carlo Rally victories. That racing reputation is one of the Mini’s attractions for Bill, who is president of The British Car Club of Southwest Florida and his wife, Mary, the
club secretary. “Before we got married,” she recalls, “we both did a Skip Barber racing course at Roebling Road Raceway near Savannah, Georgia. That started the racing bug for Bill, and I was content to be crew chief.” Although she likes to get behind the wheel herself for autocross events in Buckingham, Mary works as
grand | RIDE
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Mary and Bill Newman own a pair of Mini Coopers. • The Newman’s award-winning Mini is a right-hand drive. • The squared-off front end of the 1972 MINI was designed by a former Ford man to make engine access easier.
Bill’s crew chief when he competes in the vintage auto races the Sports Car Club of America runs at the Sebring International Raceway, a converted World War II airport. On Labor Day weekend, Bill raced his white 1971 Triumph GT6 fastback. “Concentration is the key,” says Bill, “paying attention to where your car is in relation to the other cars around you, when to brake and when to accelerate, and your distance from the corner.” The Matlacha car couple has owned several Minis. In 1999, they attended the Mini 40th Birthday Celebration at Silverstone Raceway in England, where several thousand Minis were shown in different body styles and configurations. “We saw the introduction of the new MINI One, presented inside a bubble,” Mary says. She ordered the Chili Red version in 2003 and waited three years for delivery in the States. “That began my love affair with the MINI,” she remembers. “I named her
‘Chili Girl’ and I’ve driven her over 164,000 miles.” Bill drove a 2005 Hyper Blue MINI with a British flag on its roof for years before trading it in for a red 2016 MINI Cooper S. But despite the lure of the late-model BMW MINI models, the Newmans are rather sentimental about their show car, a 1972 Mini Clubman, painted purple with flames along the sides. Its squared-off front end was designed by a former Ford man to make engine access easier. The couple’s award-winning Clubman is right-hand drive. If British cars intrigue you, plan to drop in at one of the monthly meetings of The British Car Club of Southwest Florida, held the second Tuesday beginning at 6:30 p.m. at Famous Dave’s, 12148 S. Cleveland Ave., south Fort Myers. British car ownership is not a requirement for membership. More information is available at bccswf.com.
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grand | FASHION
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From left Stephen Blancett, Jennifer Benton and Marc Collins stand for a portrait at the Arts for ACT gallery in downtown Fort Myers.
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The Courtyard Is Open and dining never looked so good!
grand | WINE
Tackling the Thanksgiving wine conundrum
I
t’s an exciting time of the year — the holiday season is here. With Halloween behind us, Thanksgiving is officially in the crosshairs and it’s one of the biggest food events of the year. As thrilling as it is for foodies and non-foodies alike, this holiday almost always presents a wine dilemma. Most Thanksgiving feasts include a menagerie of spices and flavors. Since the food served is typically
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Egly-Ouriet Brut Tradition Grand Cru ($75) » Champagne at its best. It’s a blend of pinot noir and chardonnay grapes that were all picked from grand cru vineyards. This growerproducer allows the fruit to ripen fully on the vines before harvest, unlike the more common names you may be familiar with in Champagne. Because of the fruit’s ripeness, the wine shows flavors of fresh peaches, strawberries and toasted brioche. It’s a very complex Champagne and a great value for your money.
–b
Dutcher Crossing Pinot Noir 2016 ($46) » Pinot noir is standard operating procedure for Thanksgiving in my book. Whether serving turkey, lamb, salmon, cranberries, mushroom dressing or all of the above, this will do the trick. From Sonoma’s Russian River Valley, this pinot has a bit of everything: red fruits like pomegranate, spices like those in your pumpkin pie, the earthy qualities you expect from a pinot, toasty notes and soft tannins.
GINA BIRCH
verandarestaurant.com 62 | NOVEMBER 2018 | grandeurmagazine.com
–g
Gina Birch is the wine columnist for The NewsPress in Fort Myers. Follow her social media here: Twitter: @ginabirch Facebook: GinaBirch
all over the map, nailing that perfect wine pairing is nearly impossible. I teamed up with certified sommelier Brad Hardt, wine director of Fairways Wine Vault in Naples, to fill this month’s case of wine. Together we’ve assembled a selection suitable for both giving and serving, guaranteed to please almost any palate and suit all price points while making the best match possible for your holiday celebration.
Maison L’Envoyé, Moulin-a-Vent 2015 ($22) » In almost any grocery or liquor store this time of year, you’ll see festive displays of Beaujolais Nouveau. Do not confuse this lovely Beaujolais with those thin, young wines on end-caps. From Burgundy, made from gamay noir grapes growing on 60-year-old vines, this has some muscle for a lighter red. A wine with dark berry, spice and minerality, it tastes even better the next day, if you manage to save any. Good with a variety of foods, it’s perfect for a table full of Thanksgiving indulgences.
–g
Radio Coteau “Wingtine” Chardonnay 2016 ($62) » One of the best California chardonnays I have ever had, and I’ve had a lot. Coming from a cool region of the Sonoma Coast, this wine is perfectly structured. It has a richness similar to that found in many other California chards, however, the acidity in this wine makes it feel much leaner. There are flavors of apples, citrus and vanilla showing through in this delicious wine.
BRAD HARDT
–b
Guest columnist, wine director of Fairways Wine Vault, Naples
Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve della Toscana 2012 ($126) » I’ve enjoyed this Italian wine for many years. I find both the older vintages and newer ones excellent. A rich and powerful wine in its youth, it’s also one that will age for many years. The fruit is top quality and picked from the best vineyards available to the winemakers. It shows flavors of red, black and blue fruits, smoke, spices and Italian earth, a great option for the California cabernet wine drinker looking to try wines from Tuscany.
–b
Reata Chardonnay 2016 ($20) » Brad and I agree, some of the most intriguing California chardonnays come from the Sonoma Coast; this one is no exception. From Jamieson Ranch, it has a nice round body with brioche and brûlée, as well as fresh acidity for a nice balance. Its fruit is tropical, with apple and a touch of banana. And then there is the spice on the finish — clove. Put all of these flavors together, and it begs to be chilled for Thanksgiving.
–g
Melanson Vineyard Matthew’s Block Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 ($145) » This Napa Valley cabernet comes from the famed area of Prichard Hill, home to many of California’s cult wines. The vintner here makes a wine that stands up to the other wines from the area at a price that is not through the roof. It’s a rich and concentrated wine with flavors of blackberries, dark cherry and mocha, concluding with a long finish. I have had the opportunity to enjoy a couple of bottles with the winery owner who is also a resident of Southwest Florida.
–b
Urban Provence Rosé 2017 ($23) » Give me a rosé any day, especially Thanksgiving. One that is dry but still fruity is good as an aperitif, with overcooked turkey, salty ham and even some desserts. From the highly regarded French region of Provence, this one not only tastes but also looks the holiday part in its elegant, embossed bottle. It smells floral and a bit like a watermelon Now and Later candy. As it sits in the glass not only do you taste watermelon but also strawberry and raspberry. With nice acidity and a little spice, this one’s a keeper.
–g
Robert Mondavi Maestro 2014 ($50) » This maestro makes music in a bottle, bringing together some of the best grapes from Robert Mondavi Winery’s many vineyards in order to compose a noteworthy Bordeaux blend. It not only looks masculine but also tastes masculine with slate, iron and cherry tobacco notes. A substantial wine, it also has flavors of caramel and cinnamon from its nearly two years in barrels during the blending process. Give me some grilled meat, please.
–g
Benanti Etna Bianco 2016 ($26) » I’ve chosen another wine from Italy, but this time it’s from the island of Sicily. A white wine from native grapes called carricante, the fruit is grown in the soil of an active volcano: Mount Etna. This is a fresh and bright wine with flavors of green apples, citrus and orange blossom. There is a flint and crushed rock aroma to this wine that lends some complexity. It is perfect for our hot climate here in Southwest Florida and pairs great with seafood.
–b
Tangent Albarino 2016 ($17) » I’ve been enjoying wines from the Edna Valley lately, California’s Central Coast. I have to admit that around the holidays I not only look at what is inside the bottle but what the bottle looks like on the table; this does indeed look like the season. Vibrant, citrusy, floral and with good acidity, it’s a wine perfectly suited for those creamy crab and veggie dips that are often a prelude to the big meal. In general it’s a good wine for Southwest Florida’s climate and cuisine.
–g
*Prices listed can vary. Some of these wines can be found in local wine shops, others are limited production and may require shipment from the producers themselves.
1999 Paul Jaboulet Aine Hermitage La Chapelle ($98) » Here is a Syrah from the northern Rhone Valley in France. An intensely aromatic and concentrated wine with aromas and flavors of red and blue fruits, spices, tobacco, cedar and candied ham. Yes, candied ham. Every time I drink this complex and interesting wine, it reminds me of why I enjoy wine so much.
–b
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grand | OPEN DOOR
ONE LAST TIME
Quail West residents David and Connie Derry create their ultimate retirement dream home. GRANDEUR | NOVEMBER 2018 | 65
grand | OPEN DOOR
STORY BY CATHY CHESTNUT PHOTOS BY SRIJITA CHATTOPADHYAY
avid and Connie Derry have vast experience putting their designer’s touch on a few homes, in California and Idaho, and Kensington Golf & Country Club in Naples. When they decided to build the final retirement home of their dreams, they bought a lot in Quail West three years ago and got to work.
Last year, they finally moved in for a couple of weeks — and evacuated in the face of Hurricane Irma. They lost some landscaping, but other than that, their 5,510-square-foot nest on a roomy .83-acre estate lot on the par-5 11th hole of the Lakes Course was unscathed. After living 14 years at Kensington, the Derrys were thrilled to relocate to a community with two championship golf courses. “We decided we wanted to build our last dream house,” Connie says. “We loved the area — both of us are golfers — and we love the fact that there are two courses here.”
The star of the house In addition to their view of the grassy corridor, Connie’s baby grand piano takes a starring role in the foyer. The beloved musical instrument drove part of the home design. In their last residence, the piano was relegated to a back corner. When the Derrys looked at models, “we could never find one that had a wide enough foyer for the piano. That was kind of a priority when we designed the house — to have that baby out and crank it up again,” says Connie, who took lessons for a decade while growing up in Kansas City. She
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: David and Connie Derry are celebrating their first year in the home they designed from the ground up in Quail West in Naples. • Floor-to-ceiling windows enhance spaces with plenty of natural lighting. • There are dining options galore in the Derry residence: at the kitchen island, in the dining nook or on the spacious lanai. 66 | NOVEMBER 2018 | grandeurmagazine.com
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: The baby grand piano takes center stage in the grand foyer. • The kitchen, great room, dining room and bar create an open space that feels relaxed and is ideal for entertaining. • An array of interesting lighting fixtures, wide-plank wood flooring, different types of marble and a five-color palette used throughout the home create variety and consistency.
is taking lessons again to learn popular tunes, so guests can sing along to create a fun, salon atmosphere. “People don’t sing to Bach and Beethoven,” she notes. “I’m playing a lot more than I used to.” With the Quail West home, they had the opportunity to guide every detail. “We were starting from scratch. We were bringing nothing but dishes and silverware,” she says. “I knew we needed a designer. I’ve always used a designer.” The Derrys worked closely with Michael Diamond, president of Naples-based Diamond Custom Homes, and interior designers Charlie Hansen and Rebekah ErrettPikosky of Clive Daniel Home. Their hard work paid off, earning two Collier Building Industry Association Sand Dollar Awards for Interior Design of the Year for a singlefamily detached home and one for Best Outdoor Living Space in its price range. “You get to let your creative freedom out, so it’s very
nice,” Charlie says. “They are very relaxed individuals, and they wanted that in their home. It’s warm, relaxed and inviting, with a layer of sophistication.” And Connie agrees. “It was a long process, but very well worth it. We got pretty much everything we wanted. It has a great feeling,” Connie says.
Elegant but cozy The single-story, West Indies-style home has a linear plan from the grand entryway, which features a soaring ceiling and white marble floor set against the black baby grand. Opposite the piano is a sitting area with two comfortable chairs and end tables flanking an elongated fireplace tucked into a split-faced marble and polished marble wall. It’s a cozy spot for listening to live music and viewing the bubbling fountains, pool Jacuzzi, fire bowls and fairway beyond GRANDEUR | NOVEMBER 2018 | 67
grand | OPEN DOOR
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: • The Derrys worked with Diamond Custom Homes on the design of their five-bedroom West Indies-style home. • Walnut-stained, custom built-ins bring warmth to the home office, bar and great room. • Connie plays her piano in the foyer.
from the floor-to-ceiling windows. “What a nice feeling. It’s understated elegance but very cozy,” Connie says. “I feel like it’s a comfortable place where I can put my feet up on the couch.” She loves how the mix of drape fabrics, varied lighting fixtures and the hardwood, wide-plank floors lend warmth to the hallways, master bedroom, great room and dining area, and other rooms. The designers chose a muted palette of variegated shades of gray, taupe, white and blue — four shades of blue in the foyer alone. “I would have never thought to do that,” Connie says. “They came in with this color palette that blew me away.” The master suite is discretely tucked away on one side of the house, and three bedrooms for visiting family and friends are on the other side. “It’s really great for company,” she says. Off the foyer is an open area encompassing the great room, kitchen, bar and eight-seat dining table in a cozy nook. Large sliding glass doors to the spacious lanai are opened in the cooler months. There is no screen enclosure cage to mar the view; clear screen installed between architectural columns keeps the views crisp and lanai insect-free. And thanks to the Derrys’ passion for golf and 68 | NOVEMBER 2018 | grandeurmagazine.com
past experience, there are no errant golf balls coming through, uninvited. They learned a tough lesson while living in a golf course community in Tucson, Arizona, where “you would get bombarded,” she says. “We don’t get any golf balls because we purposefully looked at this lot” and where it was strategically located along the course. Both Dave and Connie are originally from Kansas City. Dave, 64, had a long career as a Microsoft general manager that took them to northern and southern California. Connie, 62, was a marketing representative for IBM, working with major clients, such as AT&T, in need of large central processing computers. Suffice it to say, they are enjoying retirement in Naples. Dave is an avid tennis player who’s sharpening his game. She golfs four times a week. Dave goes fishing with his trustworthy guide, hunting with a fly rod for tarpon. The couple picked up fly fishing in Idaho, and still enjoy casting for bonefish. “It’s very peaceful,” she says. And, as the Derrys’ friends begin returning for the season, Connie looks forward to inviting them to stop at their bar before taking a front-row seat at the piano or heading out to the lanai. “Boy, is it easy to entertain in, because it’s so open,” she enthuses. “It’s always fun when you start completely over. Everything’s fresh and new.”
grand | OPEN DOOR
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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: The master bathroom features a mosaic tiled wall detail behind the tub with split his and hers vanities. • Cozy but sophisticated, the master bedroom features a high wooden ceiling and sitting area with relaxing views. • The master is styled in white and blue with warm hues from the overhead light. • The small open bar sits elegantly at the center of the home. • Near the foyer lies a small yet decorated bathroom with wall installations.
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grand | MAKE IT A DOUBLE
Chic COASTAL
Sweet and sexy, the Sake To Me features Ty Ky coconut sake and Three Olives coconut water vodka.
COCKTAILS Thistle Lodge gets away from the everyday tourist drinks and brings coastal chic to the glass.
GRANDEUR | NOVEMBER 2018 | 71
T
STORY BY GINA BIRCH • PHOTOS BY KINFAY MOROTI
he bar at Casa Ybel Resort’s Thistle Lodge on Sanibel is an island destination for craft cocktails, sunsets, and during season, a little late-night action as well. “We want to get away from the everyday tourist cocktails while giving the classics a new twist,” says restaurant manager Sean Ramsey. The new cocktails go with the new bar, recently remodeled in a coastal chic motif. Ramsey says the bar is using more fresh ingredients for their cocktails. Take for instance the trendy Frosé ($12), a frozen rosé wine cocktail. Fresh strawberries and agave syrup are blended over ice with Ponzi rosé. The result is a naturally sweet and refreshing, fruity frozen 72 | NOVEMBER 2018 | grandeurmagazine.com
drink that goes nicely with spicy bar tapas such as the ahi tuna wedge. Speaking of spice, the Paloma ($13) is superb. Jose Cuervo Silver tequila is muddled with jalapeno and lemon juice before adding agave syrup, pomegranate liquor, pink grapefruit juice and club soda. A cocktail that could easily be overwhelmed with either spice or acid, this is well balanced and worthy of a second round. For a drink that has a “wow factor,” order the Old New Fashioned ($15). Bartenders torch a red oak plank and then trap the smoke in an overturned rocks glass. Woodford Reserve bourbon, Peychaud Bitters and simple syrup are stirred and poured into the rocks glass as soon as it’s turned over. To keep things cool, a smoke infused ball of ice is also added. Garnished with a caramelized orange slice, it
grand | MAKE IT A DOUBLE looks and smells like the season — sweet, smoky and warming. A dessert-like cocktail that’s not too sweet is the Sake To Me ($12). The toasted coconut sprinkled in the bottom of a martini glass takes flight once the mix of Ty Ku coconut sake, Three Olives coconut water vodka and coconut-infused simple syrup is added. It looks even more festive when another round of toasted coconut is sprinkled on top. The 10 taps behind the bar serve only local and Florida beers, and tasting flights are available for
both wine and spirits. Besides a beautiful bar and smart happy hour creations, perhaps the best thing about cocktailing at the Thistle Lodge is that not only can you see the sunset from inside, but you can also take your craft beverage down to the beach for an even better view. — The Thistle Lodge is located at 2255 W. Gulf Drive, Sanibel. Call 239472-9200 for more information.
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BEETHOVEN V. COLDPLAY MAY 4 CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Frosé cocktails are the rage, but this one uses fresh strawberries and raspberries along with agave. • Paired with grilled octopus, the Paloma not only has citrus but also spice, courtesy of the jalapeños. • One of the most popular small plates at the Thistle Lodge is the spicy ahi tuna wedge with wasabi cream and sweet chili soy drizzle. Get out your camera for the presentation of the Old New Fashioned; smoke and fire are involved. GRANDEUR | NOVEMBER 2018 | 73
grand | BEHIND THE BENEFIT
Music TO OUR
EARS Opera Naples gala aims to enrich the community for years to come.
N
othing is quite as captivating or moving as an exquisitely crafted melody. Opera Naples has spent years nourishing and educating youth so that love and promise of inspired chords will continue to captivate. Over 60,000 children have been introduced to opera because of Opera Naples’ educational outreach and community service. The programs, outreach, performances and Opera Naples Academy all help bring music to life through exceptional vocalists and by nurturing the region’s promising young talent. This year marks the 14th season for Opera Naples, which is continually growing and evolving. The company’s first performance of “Tosca” back in 2006 was performed at Gulf Coast High School. Now in 2018, for the first time, Opera Naples is performing two productions — “Aida” and “Carmen” — two times each at the Artis—Naples. The Opera Naples annual gala is its signature fundraiser and a main source of support to sustain an enriching and permanent opera company for the region. This year’s “An Egyptian Fantasy” is sure to be an event rich in melodic greatness. It will feature acclaimed soloists like this year’s honorary chairman, the legendary Verdi baritone and Grammy winner Sherrill Milnes, and one of today’s leading tenors in Bel Canto repertoire, Argentinian Santiago Ballerini. STORY BY SARA COGGIN PHOTOS BY NICOLE RAUCHEISEN
74 | NOVEMBER 2018 | grandeurmagazine.com
Key players in this year’s orchestration: Charley Nevaril, board member and gala committee member, sang in church choirs and musicals until his 60s, when he sang opera for the first time in Opera Naples’ very first performance of “Tosca.” He is passionate about Opera Naples and has seen the development of the company since its inception. Bruce Ford, gala co-chair, board member, tenor and retired opera singer, teaches quite a lot and gives master classes around the world. He ultimately wants to help the future of opera in our community and is very excited to be directly involved with an event that does just that.
TUNING INTO 2018: What’s new? Charley: The annual gala has a truly
unique series of offerings for live auction, coupled with a jewelry-oriented silent auction. Opera Naples Board hopes to secure over one-third of our operating budget support this December 11. It is the single most important fundraising event of the season and promises to be the most spectacular.
Bruce: This season we are presenting two major productions. There will be an exciting live auction as well as great entertainment. Our honorary chairman is the incomparable Sherrill Milnes, one of the most celebrated baritones of our generation, as well a young tenor that will be performing, Santiago Ballerini, whom I consider to be one of the finest young “Tenore di Grazie” today.
BEHIND THE MUSIC: Personal connection Charley: Opera Naples is in my
blood…as a performer, as a volunteer, as a board member, as a member of the gala committee and as a lover of
opera itself. I sometimes wonder what it will be like when I cannot perform anymore. Not a pretty thought, but I am consoled by the many other ways that a person can stay involved. And I encourage Southwest Florida opera lovers to find a way to join with us at Opera Naples. Bruce: As this is my second gala (first attending and this time being a cochair), I am very excited to be directly involved in the immense planning of this fundraising event. As a retired opera singer, this is something new for me, in other words, to be involved on the fundraising side of opera rather than performing in it. Normally, I just needed to learn roles and sing, but a gala of this magnitude takes an enormous amount of planning — very much like an opera production. I’m so very lucky to have gala co-committee members who are just as passionate as I am about opera and want to see our city enriched by it.
REACHING FOR HIGH NOTES: Gala goals Charley: One of the keys to success of the company is the ability to raise support. Performing arts organizations never succeed on ticket sales alone. Our goal in “An Egyptian Fantasy” will be for a celebration of our current support base with an eye to involving many more core supporters. Each year, the Opera Naples’ gala not only is a foundational fundraiser, but also serves to expand the influence and support for the company. Bruce: A very simple answer: Raise funds for our endeavor and have some fun. But most of all we would like to entice other like-minded music lovers to come be a part of this wonderful organization. This is directly helping our community operatic art form financially. Without that, it simply would not exist. The benefits are quite simply … operatic!
Opera Naples board member Charley Nevaril, left, and Opera Naples’ Annual Benefit Gala co-chair Bruce Ford pose for a portrait at Opera Naples in Naples.
Opera Naples Annual Benefit Gala 6 p.m. December 11 • Club Pelican Bay, 707 Gulf Park Drive, Naples • Phone: 239-9639050 • Online: operanaples.org or operanaples. org/event/operanaples-gala-2018
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n artist, wife, and mom of two boys, the last thing Mary Smallwood wanted to fuss over was her purse. The 53-year-old longed for something stylish and practical, a handbag more versatile than a clutch, wristlet or cross-body bag, that didn’t get in the way, and had ample space for the essentials. “I wanted to make something for women that works well when they go to the grocery store, have cocktails with their girlfriends and dance in a nightclub,” says Mary at her Naples home studio inside a garage. That’s where her line of Nexus Handbags was born. Made of leather and available in five
STORY BY ASHLEY COLLINS PHOTO BY NICOLE RAUCHEISEN colors, each handbag fits like a glove, Mary says, with a loop that wraps around the wrist for a stylish, hands-free look. Inside each bag is a zip pouch perfect for storing smaller items while leaving room for larger essentials like a wallet and cell phone. In her travels, she saw similar products, but wanted to make something more practical and cute. About two years ago, She designed her handbag and wore one to a Halloween party. All her friends loved the bag and encouraged her to get a patent. And she did. Fast-forward to today — Mary works with a local fourth-generation manufacturer to make the handbags available to the masses. She shows them off at trunk shows nationwide and is working to partner with boutiques. A Nexus Handbag retails for $245, is
Mary Smallwood at her home studio in Naples.
12 inches long and 10 inches wide, and comes in colors of red, navy, beige, black or gray. Metallic is currently available for a limited time only, but Mary hopes to make it a permanent part of the collection. Before launching Smallwood Designs, which includes the Nexus Handbag and jewelry like couture cuffs, Mary didn’t have any experience in the fashion industry. She relied on her creativity and business knowhow to learn the ropes. “Other than being a big consumer of fashion, I didn’t know anything about manufacturing and sourcing,” Mary says. But she did have an eye for design. Smallwood has always considered herself an artist. Several of her paintings hang inside her home. She started making colorful jewelry before her kids — now ages 12 and 14 — were born. Mary grew up in Naples, studied business at Florida State University, and built a career in marketing before working alongside her husband, Joe Smallwood, chief executive officer of BCB Homes in Naples.
“That’s where I got my love for leather and the handbags just organically came from there,” she says. Mary never thought she’d launch a business in Naples, a city that was more of a fishing village when she was growing up. “But the business culture is growing,” she says. And Naples is a prime spot. Many of her clients are part-time residents and when they go back north for the summer, they take their handbags with them, and word travels fast, she says. While it’s been challenging juggling motherhood and her design business, Mary says it’s all been worth it. She encourages other busy moms to give their ideas a try. “You’ve just got to jump in and try. And if you fail, you fail,” she says. In the near future, Smallwood plans to add a larger sized handbag and more designs to the collection. — Shop for a Nexus Handbag at marysmallwood.com or call 239-293-0349. Follow Smallwood Designs on Instagram (@smallwood_designs) and Facebook.
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BOO BALL The speakeasy-themed Boo Ball, a costumed fundraising gala, raised $174,000 to enhance vital academic and social programs at PACE Center for Girls, Lee County. More than 260 guests donned costumes from the Roaring Twenties at the sold-out event on Oct. 6 at the Burroughs Home & Gardens in Fort Myers.
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1. Stefanie Ink-Edwards, Jenn Pavich, Sonya Sawyer, Amy Sanford, Melissa Cofta, Christin Collins and Tracy Siekmann 2. Marc Collins, Wendi Carroll and Lori Collins 3. Gerry Teeven and Judy Cutler-Teeven with Kathy and Jeff Basik 4. Meg Geltner, Monica Espinal and Kendra Pugh 5. Scott and Diana Willis 6. Jordan Husar, Emily Golden, Elise Rose, Chalaire Miller, Heather Maupin and Manny Gonzalez 7. Meghan Collins, Melissa Vogt, Colleen Fitzgerald and Melissa Cofta 8. Susan and Mark Blust with Allyson Ross 9. Gail Markham and Doug Meurer 10. Sandy StilwellYoungquist and Tim Youngquist 11. Tracy Siekmann, Michelle Graham and Shelley Starner
Photos courtesy of RED DOOR PHOTOGRAPHY
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BECOMING COSMOPOLITAN: FIRE & ICE Community Cooperative and FineMark National Bank & Trust held the annual Becoming Cosmopolitan fundraiser on October 4 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. Heather Sedmack, Natalie Van Horn and Paige LeBoutillier 2. Ashley Marks, Brittany O’Connor, Lindsay Bejelis and Jen Pagnutti 3. Gina Banasiak, Vita Allan, Jada Fleming and Lindsey Thorstad 4. Danielle Downey and Audrey Owen 5. Theresa Mitchell and Laura Taylor 6. Blain and Jessica Lindsey 7. Elaine Hawkins, Renee Ciccarello and Katy Ciccarello
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PARTY WITH A PURPOSE Youth Haven held ts fourth annual Party with a Purpose at Silverspot Cinema pon September 14. The event raised $14,000 for the children and teens of Youth Haven.
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1. Na-Ann and Gregg Poole 2. Back row: Mo Camacho, Cassie Chase, Meredith Curley, Nicole Ryan and Charlie Miller. Front row: Allson Murrell, Ann Griffo, Laura Reed 3. Alex Daane, Matt and Taylor Flores and Brian Flores 4. Brenda Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Connor, Jinx Ligget and Danielle Dejthai 5. Alicia Davis, Colleen Cornwall, Kim Raiser and Cassie Chase 6. Adi Minerva and Lindsay Dodd 7. Jessica Santella, Laura Pangallo and Danielle Dejthai 8. Claire and Amanda Bailey
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ENPY AWARDS The Cape Coral Community Foundation honored area nonprofits at the second annual Excellence in Nonprofit Performance Yearly Awards, also known as the ENPYs, on October 9. The luncheon hosted nearly 200 community leaders at the Crowne Plaza Bell Tower in south Fort Myers.
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1. Michael Chatman, Kathryn Kelly and Brian Rist 2. Michael Chatman, J. Thomas Uhler and Keith Veres 3. Michael Chatman, Karen Watson and Brian Gomer 4. Michael Chatman, Diana Willis and Bryan Black 5. Michael Chatman, Scott Carpenter and Jeff Muddell 6. Michael Chatman, Aimee McLaughlin and Jeannie Joy
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Photos special to GRANDEUR
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Valerieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s House hosted Sunset Soiree, its annual fundraising event, on October 11 at ShangriLa Springs in Bonita Springs. The event raised $205,000 through sponsorships, ticket sales, childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s artwork and both silent and live auctions.
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Amavida, a new 32acre luxury, resort-style independent living, assisted living and memory care community in Fort Myers, recently hosted more than 40 prospective residents interested in learning more about the retirement destination.
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1. Norman and Mary Love 2. Krista Fogelsong and Talisha Faber 3. Radford and Kathy Sturgis 4. Brad and Colbi Congress with Angela Melvin and Christina Prendiville 5. David Lucas and Joe Catti 6. Franz and Ute Rosinus with Allison and Chauncey Goss 7. Donna Caruso and Victoria Loyola 8. Gary Avin, Gary Copie and Jennifer Avin
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Next month Grandeur brings you holiday gift ideas for every person you need to shop for — mom, dad, boyfriend, stylish friend — and more.
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