LSM HOLIDAY ISSUE 2021

THE CITY OF LAKES LIFESTYLE & DESIGN PUBLICATION

HOLIDAY 2021

M I N N E A P OL I S C IT Y L AK ES HOLIDAY 2021

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C E L E B R AT I O N . J OY. P R O S P E R I T Y.

612.354.7102 rabbitcreekmn.com HOLIDAY 2021

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A R C H I T E C T U R A L 4

P H O T O G R A P H Y lake society magazine

Home - Garden - Gifts

1 3 1 1 We s t 2 5 t h St r ee t

| M i n n e a p o l i s, M N 5 5 4 0 5 | 6 1 2 .9 9 9.4 6 8 0 | i s l e s s t u d i o . c o m HOLIDAY 2021

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being a good

neighborhood grocer starts by being

a grateful one

When you put as much food on as many holiday tables as we do, you learn a thing or two about giving thanks.

So we’d like to take this opportunity to say thank you – for shopping here, for working here, for growing and making great products and selling them here. Thank you.

Thank you for your time and dedication to quality and service. Thank you for your passion, knowledge and

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expertise. Thank you for your friendship and loyalty.

Thank you for every email and call, for every like and share. For each and every way you’ve been a part of Kowalski’s this year, we thank you most sincerely.

It is an honor to be your grocers at this time of year and all year long.

May your holiday season be full of happiness, kindness and, most of all, the joy of good food.

kowalskis.com

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LOVE Happy Holidays from

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nvrsurfaces.com (612) 200-0326 8

TILE AND COUNTERTOPS

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Unexpected Beauty

Ruby, Diamond and 18k White Gold Bracelet 27 Oval Rubies 7.64ctw 300 Round Diamonds 2.07ctw

Laurie Kottke F IN E JEW ELER S

3033 Excelsior Blvd Suite 200 | Minneapolis, MN 55416 | (612) 825-9898 | lauriekottkefinejewelers.com Photo by Jim Hughes jimhphoto.com

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photo by Spacecrafting

Serious about style. Fanatic about function.

Fiddlehead DesignGroup.com HOLIDAY 2021

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R E A L E S TAT E + I N T E R I O R D E S I G N

CityDwellingsMN.com | SpencerDesignAssociates.com

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763.760.0761 123 FARRINGTON STREET ST. PAUL, MN 55102 ANDREWFLESHER.COM HOLIDAY 2021

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For the Frill of It, Ceramic Installation by Eileen Cohen 15.5’ x 12’ x 10”. Photo Seth Dahlseid.

Ready to collect art?

Your art concierge curating pieces with only you in mind. artgirlsmpls.com 14

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restorhomesllc.com | 612.481.3067 | @restorhomes HOLIDAY 2021

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Local Expertise in Fine Downtown Minneapolis and City Lakes Real Estate 612.327.5905 | betsylucasrealtor.com

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612-338-2020 vujovich.com MN License: BC006077

Transformative Home Remodeling

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Letter from the Editor Once again, the holiday season is upon us. The supply chain issues have people feeling a little frazzled. We would like to propose a shift in that energy. Shop local. Buy something from a local artisan. Simplify. We love gifts that foster a human connection – like a meal together or resuming a favorite holiday tradition. Carter Averbeck has some excellent suggestions for family-friendly projects you can experience at home.

We are excited to launch a new feature: Chef at Home.

We’ll visit some of the region’s finest chefs and give you a glimpse of what they value and how they live. Our first visit was with David Fhima and his beautiful wife, Lori, who invited us into their European-style kitchen for a cozy, stove-side chat. He also shared a favorite recipe for Guest-Worthy Pasta that even a novice in the kitchen could successfully tackle.

In this issue, we have the rare opportunity to preview a creative project that Tina Wilcox has been laboring over for many months. She teamed up with the talented photographer Shelly Mosman and our friend Carter Averbeck, trained in old-world scenic design, to create the most amazing coffee table book, The Conscious Kingdom, available in 2022. The project will benefit the Animal Humane Society. It’s unlike anything we have ever seen; it’s simply stunning. Take the time to read the beautiful stories Tina has written about her animal friends – they will take you on a magical journey that will captivate your heart. We also spent some time with Tina in her well-known Golden Valley home, The Castle. She is a woman of many passions, with a very generous heart.

Our home features in this issue will not disappoint.

We had the chance to visit a beautiful downtown condo, recently redone by Andrew Flesher. The space is very sophisticated and is a showcase of Andrew’s finest work.

Christine Albertsson provided a peek into the thinking behind the family compound she designed on the shores of Sand Lake in Northern Minnesota. The structures blend into the surrounding area but offer two fortunate families an opportunity to create new memories in an area steeped in local history.

We are so appreciative of each of our feature contributors.

Carter has a penchant for tradition with a twist, and his choices reflect a little bit of “old soul.” Jen and Andréa also are thinking about cozying up as the temperatures drop and they share some of their most coveted finds. Susan Thayer and her team at Rabbit Creek put together “A Few of Their Favorite Things” to close out 2021. Another reminder that we are about to turn the calendar to 2022 is Benjamin Moore’s reveal of October Mist as Color of the Year.

As we reflect on another busy and tumultuous year, we remain grateful for the things we value above all else: our friends, our families, our good health, and a life filled with abundance. For those of you who have experienced loss, our hearts are with you. May the Holidays bring each of you peace and joy! We remain grateful for your readership and support.

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HOLIDAY 2021 THE CITY OF LAKES LIFESTYLE & DESIGN PUBLICATION

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M I N N E A P OL I S C IT Y L AK ES HOLIDAY 2021

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ON THE COVER TITLE: WHITE STAG CREATED AND CAPTURED BY SHELLY MOSMAN AVAILABLE AT ISLES STUDIO ALONG WITH OTHER ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPHS BY SHELLY MOSMAN PUBLISHER KAREN T. STOECKEL GRAPHIC DESIGN SHEBA CONCEPT & DESIGN, INC. ART DIRECTION KAREN T. STOECKEL MANAGING EDITOR ELLEN OLSON SOCIAL MEDIA JACOB PIERRE LOUIS III CONTRIBUTING WRITERS CARTER AVERBECK ANDRÉA DIXON ANDREW FLESHER NANCY MONROE SUSAN THAYER TINA WILCOX JEN ZIEMER CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS COREY GAFFER PHOTOGRAPHY STEVE HENKE STUDIO SHELLY MOSMAN PHOTOGRAPHY SPACECRAFTING

Lakesocietymagazine.com Lakesocietymagazine@gmail.com @lsm_magazine lake society magazine

healthy smiles for a lifetime

4289 Sheridan Ave S, Minneapolis // lindenhillsdentistry.com // 612.922.6164

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Innovative, respectful & contemporary solutions for your home, old or new. dhdstudio.com

| info@dhdstudio.com | 612.337.5060 HOLIDAY 2021

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L AKESOCIETYMAGAZINE.COM

Your local real estate experts,

providing unwavering

dedication to service

and superior results.

Jerome D’Alessandro Realtor®

763-458-7321 jerome@fazhomes.com

James Paddon Realtor®

612-868-3814 james@fazhomes.com

Fazendin Realtors Voted Minnesota’s Best Luxury Real Estate Brokerage

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CONTENTS HOLIDAY 2021

18 A LETTER FROM the editor 26 SUSTAINABLY CHIC Carter shares some suggestions for creating innovative, fun-for-the-family holiday experiences.

28 HOME

A modern lakeside family compound was designed to respect the natural beauty and history of the area.

38 THE TASTEMAKER DIARIES Jen and Andréa share what they are hunkering down with this winter.

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40 LIFESTYLE

Tina Wilcox loves historic properties and ‘The Castle’ is her latest project to undergo a significant transformation.

44 ASK ANDREW

Andrew recommends a strong design concept and a color palette as foundations for a whole home renovation.

46 HOME

The extensive remodel of a downtown condominium is a showcase of Andrew Flesher’s best work. lake society magazine

54 EXQUISITE SPACES

66 CHEF AT HOME

56 SPOTLIGHT

70 COLOR STORY

The team at Rabbit Creek showcases “A Few of Their Favorite Things” from leading industry brands.

Enjoy a sneak peek at “The Conscious Kingdom” – a stunning coffee table book benefitting the Animal Humane Society.

David Fhima’s rich cultural heritage, along with his classic French training, informs everything he does – in the kitchen and beyond.

Benjamin Moore reveals their Color of The Year 2022: October Mist.

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SUSTAINABLY

Chic

A WARM GESTURE OF LOVE IS WORTH THE THE PRICE OF WINTER. The reign of Old Man Winter is about to begin; a momentary hush blanketing the land in icy slumber, forcing us all to reflect on a year gone by. A roaring fire, a mug of cocoa, and the start of the goal to find just the right present for your loved ones for the holidays. Yet more and more people are looking for experiences in lieu of gifts. In my sustainable driven world, this is a blessing to have rampant consumerism replaced with thoughtful connectedness through simple pleasures such as spending time doing a project with a loved one. And so it is with great pleasure that I bring you some innovative, fun-for-the-family ideas to not only pass the time, but to spread the love with memories that last long after Winter’s chill has thawed to Spring.

These projects listed here can be accomplished with things you already have in your home. Enlist your children, partner or friends to make it even more special.

Some sustainable (and enjoyable) projects to try:

2. Fill your home with aromas of orange, cloves and cinnamon to mitigate the icy chills of outside.

Liv from Naturally Made Mom will have you creating these wonderful candles to hand out as gifts or keep for your own.

1. Forget the traditional wreath on your front door and replace it with a fresh take on the holidays with a pair of old skates filled with evergreens and decor.

3. Feel the nostalgia by wrapping presents in old newspaper instead of holiday wrap.

Add personal touches like this cutout mustache.

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4. Take those old magazines and create paper ornaments for the tree that scream style. Thin folded strips of paper are glued around an old ornament, extending the life of it in a stylish way.

5. Origami is a great hobby to adopt. These holiday themed origami tutorials will have you mastering the art in no time.

Carter Averbeck is an interior designer specializing in stylish, sustainable design.

For More Information: Info@omformedesign.com.

Origami tutorial: youtu.be/pAsNGOvwEC8 6. Look at your furniture and decide if a refresh is what is needed. Look to small upholstery shops or interior designers to help you transform your belongings into fresh, updated pieces ready for the next decade ahead.

(Mid Century lounge chair available at Omforme Design)

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JUST RIGHT

A modern lakeside family compound was designed to respect the natural beauty and history of the area. written by ellen olson, photography by corey gaffer 28

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“The project reflects an authentic,

unassuming simplicity and sense of timelessness.”

–CHRISTINE L. ALBERTSSON, AIA 30

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project credits: architect: albertsson hanson architecture • christine l. albertsson, aia, cid, ncarb, partner • tammy angraran, aia leed ga • abigail merlis, assoc. aia construction: howard homes, princeton, mn interior design consultant: lynne boyer 34

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Lagom is a Swedish word that means just the right amount or just the right size, and it implies life in balance or perfect simplicity. It’s a value central to architect Christine Albertsson’s work and was at the heart of the design for a family compound on Big Sand Lake.

Christine founded Albertsson Hanson Architecture in 2000 so she could design high-quality residential projects at her own pace. She now has three business partners. Their work is characterized by practical, thoughtful designs that are timeless and well built. They forgo opulent and ostentatious for designs that represent good value and high quality.

Her clients for the Big Sand project were two college buddies.

One of the families had lived on the lake for generations, and the two of them had great memories of summers together. They wanted to create a comparable experience for their own families. “My clients had a fairly rigorous selection process, and they wanted to be sure that whatever we designed looked like it belonged,” said Christine.

“They took us to the site and toured us through Grandpa’s fishing shed, which is next door. It was filled with tools, fishing poles, and gasoline for the boat. It was that authentic, unassuming simplicity that they wanted the whole place to have.”

The lakeside lot had a non-conforming structure that her clients wanted to replace. The local building codes allowed them to build a new structure that maintained the same non-conformance, but also to move it to the other side of the lot. The result provided for better utilization of the beach area, and now the building is nestled behind a stand of trees. Before long, the idea for a family compound was born.

“I knew that whatever we designed had to accommodate a lot of people, and we needed a lot of bedrooms,” said Christine. “But, before long, you end up with a massive home that doesn’t blend in with the scale of the original structures in the area. We decided to build a main home, a guest home, and a two-story garage that serves as a hangout space. It feels like a camp.” The buildings open onto a common area for gathering, yet each has ample privacy and lake views. A custom green color was created for the Marvin windows, so they blend with the surrounding forest.

Several choices were made during the design and construction to keep the cottages “right-sized.” The roof trusses were hand-framed onsite so rooflines could be kept low. High-velocity cooling and infloor heating systems eliminated the need for conventional ductwork that takes up a lot of space. The indoor areas were designed to maximize efficiency yet live well. “Once we set the tone for the project, creating a modern take on the vintage 1930 fishing cottage, we had to check all of our decisions against that design goal,” remarked Christine. “We used an 8’4” ceiling height on the interiors, then chose an 8’ window head height, thereby pushing the windows close to the ceiling to flood the interiors with light.” White oak is used throughout the project, both on the floors and custom millwork. It creates a clean and uniform backdrop to cozy and comfortable furnishings. Low VOC coatings were used on all of the wood finishes to ensure indoor air quality.

The exteriors are a combination of burnt wood, or shou sugi ban, an ancient Japanese technique for preserving wood with fire, and painted fiber cement. It was a unique choice of finish, but it helped the buildings to blend into the forest. A beautifully quarried, black limestone used for the fireplace makes the chimney recede into the landscape. It brings the shou sugi ban effect into the interiors of the main cottage. Both Swedish and Japanese cultures venerate nature and appreciate fine details and craftsmanship. These values are infused throughout this beautifully constructed retreat. aharchitecture.com

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THE

TASTEMAKER Diaries

Interior designers Jen Ziemer and Andrea Dixon of award-winning Fiddlehead Design Group share what we are surrounding ourselves with while we hunker down this winter.

Texture, beauty, and everything cozy.

Break out the good stuff Laura Zindell Isles Studio

S’more is more Fiddleheaddesigngroup Photo by Spacecrafting

Frost yourself Local luxe by Filigree jewelers 38

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Vintage charm Shop Umei

Functional Art Timber & Tulip

Treat yourself Shop Umei

Cozy kicks and tote Bumbershute

It’s sweatah weathah Martin Patrick 3

Two Red Horses Maureen Welter Gallery 360 HOLIDAY 2021

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CASTLE Love

Tina Wilcox loves historic properties and this is her latest project to undergo a significant transformation. written by ellen olson, photography by spacecrafting HOLIDAY 2021

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Tina Wilcox is a woman of many passions. She does nothing halfway.

In the business community, she is known as a retail brand dynamo.

She founded FAME, a retail brand agency, in 1990, which was later purchased by Omnicom Worldwide. In 2004, she left the firm and taught at Minneapolis College of Art and Design, and began working on a children’s book. In 2005, she partnered with two former colleagues and founded BLACK RETAIL. Throughout her career, Tina has worked with most of the biggest retail and consumer brands – Target, Walmart, Martha Stewart, Disney, Universal, just to name a few. The list is impressive. “I always say that my best qualification is that I am a tragically addicted shopper,” said Tina. “The pulse and current mindset of the world shows up tangibly at retail. It is expressed via trends, products and design. I find shopping inspiring - it ignites my creativity.” Her forte is the physical retail environment, including branding, store design, product development, packaging, merchandising, and promotion. It’s a 360 degree approach that results in “brand love” and a ‘”brand loyal” community of customers.

Her work remains very much in demand, and she loves studying and understanding consumer behavior.

Tina grew up in Milwaukee, WI. Her passion and love for animals led to her work in animal welfare. Tina has served on boards, and been a donor, volunteer, foster and adopter for a variety of rescue organizations.

She has participated in boots-on-the-ground initiatives such as puppy mill seizures. She ran a bird foster and has cared for and adopted blind, deaf and disabled animals. She has devoted countless hours, if not decades, to fighting for the humane treatment of animals.

While on the board of The Animal Humane Society, she realized that one challenge Animal Welfare organizations in general face is that a small group of high-level donors carry most of the weight.

Fundraising is always a challenge. “Animal lovers want to donate to the cause, but sometimes aren’t able to make the larger donations,” said Tina. “I began to brainstorm what I could do to significantly boost the volume of these donations to create a larger, financial impact. What if I created a beautiful book these donors could purchase, and donate a healthy portion of the proceeds to animal welfare? That’s when the idea for my coffee table book, The Conscious Kingdom, was born.”

Another of Tina’s passions is home interiors and remodeling. She has owned seven homes, and each of them ended up being a significant remodel project. Her latest purchase, the “Castle”, located in Golden Valley, has a storied history and is well known in the neighborhood. The head of the Jewish Mafia, Isadore Blumenfeld, better known as Kid Cann, is thought to have built the home, which was fashioned after a castle that he admired. He was friendly with Al Capone, and legend has it that Al lived in the house for a period of time. Despite all of those associations, for Tina, the stone castle was “love at first sight. I knew immediately that I wanted to buy it.” It was smaller than the historic property she was living in on Lowry Hill. Still, she quickly began imagining where to place her extensive furniture, art, and animal collection.

Tina has completed some remodeling in the kitchen and bedrooms, but her primary focus was redoing the backyard. “One of the previous owners was an arborist, so the yard was filled with beautiful plants and trees,” said Tina. “I created a plan for making it a livable and inviting extension to my home.” She improved it by designing paver brick walkways so she and her guests can enjoy the garden. Birdcages, filled with birdseed, have been hung in the trees to attract many feathered friends, which keep her company. The property provides ample opportunity for Tina to garden, another one of her hobbies. Her home is a beautiful and unique respite that fosters her seemingly endless well of creativity and reflects her generous spirit.

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ASK ANDREW

Andrew recommends a strong design concept and a color palette as foundations for a whole home renovation. photography by steve henke studio

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Q.

I just purchased a new house that needs work, and it’s big enough that I need to do the work over time. How do I make sure that when I’m done, it’s cohesive and it works?

A.

Congratulations! Buying a new home is an exciting process. Before you start swinging a hammer or ordering furniture, take a step back and take the time to develop a solid concept for the design. Do you like contemporary or traditional? Do you prefer to blend styles? Getting clarity on this will create the foundation for your work. You will need to follow this through on every decision you make, regardless of how long the project takes. Whenever you make a move, you should ask yourself, “Does this fit my design concept?”

At the start of every project, I create a color palette for the home. Color inspiration can come from a favorite painting, photograph, or nature. I’ve even been inspired by a favorite piece of clothing. Make sure your palette includes some neutrals. I tend to use neutrals on large upholstered pieces and save those “big” pops of colors for accents, like pillows, an ottoman, or a side chair. If your palette is primarily pastels, cut the sweetness with an unexpected choice of a bold or earthy color. Consider the view to the outdoors, especially if you have large expanses of windows.

The colors in your palette show up throughout the house in wall and window coverings, paint, fabrics, and other soft furnishings. You create excitement by varying the proportion of color in each room. A color’s value can change from room to room. You don’t need to use the exact same shade to create visual continuity.

Another critical aspect of design is to vary texture. Visually, texture provides variety and interest. Right now, many of the furniture showrooms feature sumptuous velvets, velveteen, mohair, and boucle on their upholstered pieces. I personally love to use big, chunky rugs in a neutral color to anchor a room. Balance the proportions of hard and soft or crisp and luxurious. If you are mixing furniture styles, use that same concept when choosing pieces. Don’t fill a room a single style – all traditional or all modern. Keep a balance of styles in each room.

If this feels too overwhelming, an experienced designer can guide you through this process. I have worked on many projects that took place over an extended period of time. With a strong design concept, including a palette for color and materials, you can create a beautiful, cohesive look in your new home over time. If you are mindful to make classic and timeless choices along the way, by the time you’re done with the project, you won’t have to start over again!

If you have a design question that you’d like me to address, please send it to editor@lakesocietymagazine and I’ll do my best to answer it. A portfolio of my work is available on my website: andrewflesher.com.

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URBAN

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The extensive remodel of a downtown condominium is a showcase of Andrew Flesher’s best work. written by ellen olson, photography by spacecrafting HOLIDAY 2021 47

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“The Knoll Saarinen dining chairs are

one of my favorite – classic and super comfortable.”

–ANDREW FLESHER

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When a new client chose Andrew Flesher Interiors to remodel a downtown condominium, the project’s original scope was to purchase new furniture and re-carpet two bedrooms. It quickly became apparent that more was needed. The finishes were dated and were going to be challenging to transform. Ultimately the unit, which occupies onehalf of a floor, was gutted. Andrew’s clients wanted their urban oasis to feel contemporary yet warm and inviting.

“This project was a dream,” said Andrew. “My client told me that he wanted the home to be a showcase of my best design. He was involved in all of the decisions, but he did not limit me in any way. He said, ‘Design the place the way you think it should be designed.’ I’ve been in the business for almost 30 years, and I don’t know that I have ever been given that kind of freedom in a project!”

Andrew’s process always begins with developing a deep understanding of his client’s likes and dislikes. He’s pretty adept at honing in on a style that fits. Then he creates a palette of materials and colors that are expressed throughout the project. “Because of the large expanses of windows, condos at the Ivy can end up feeling a little cold,” remarked Andrew. “So I worked diligently to bring warmth into the equation with cozy fabrics and warm wood finishes.” The existing dated cherry floors have all been painted black with the Hollandlac enamel from Fine Paints of Europe.

The main living area features impressive views of the city skyline, but the room is narrow in width and almost seventy feet long, which creates some real challenges with furniture placement. “I knew that I wanted to create several intimate seating areas that allow people to gather, yet break into smaller groups,” said Andrew. “We ended up creating three seating areas, along with a dining room.” The best views are enjoyed at one end of the room from an upholstered sofa, which sits aside a beautiful carved oval coffee table.

Andrew favors round or oval dining tables as they promote conversation. A custom-designed table from Michael Taylor is the centerpiece of the dining area, with its hand-carved base and elliptical medallion on the tabletop. The Knoll Saarinen dining chairs are upholstered in chartreuse mohair. “The chairs are one of my favorites,” said Andrew. “They’re classic and super comfortable. People want to hang around the table for a coffee or after-dinner drink, long after the meal is finished.”

Andrew’s client is an avid book collector, so custom-built bookcases line the walls of his study. Bookcases reappear in a reading room at one end of the main living area, where a sofa is tucked into them to create a quiet getaway. Stained walnut panels are part of the kitchen design, but they extend into the living room. The objective was to look like one unit and create continuity between the separate living areas.

The kitchen island features a cantilevered 2½” thick piece of walnut – a beautiful design created by Andrew. “I wanted to have this piece of wood appear as if it was sandwiched between two pieces of Calacutta Borghini.” The cantilever is an element echoed in the owners’ bath, where the marble bathtub deck extends into the shower to create a bench. Andrew also designed a built-in window seat in the guest bedroom, which has its occupant feel like they are hanging over the side of the building.

Andrew was involved in every aspect of the design, including selecting the beautiful artwork. “I had so much fun designing this project,” remarked Andrew. “My client and I worked in a very collaborative way, but he always respected my vision.” The result is an elegant home perched high above the city, full of exquisite details the homeowner continues to discover and enjoy. andrewflesher.com HOLIDAY 2021

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EXQUISITE SPAC As the year draws to an end, we can’t help but look back and reflect at the whirlwind of 2021. We hope you enjoyed seeing our “best of ” list throughout the year. We want to showcase ”A Few of Our Favorite Things”, including 12 of our team’s most treasured items from our industry leading brands. On behalf of all of us here at Rabbit Creek, Happy Holidays.

MARK’S FAVORITES

KEVIN’S FAVORITES

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ES MATT’S FAVORITES

SUSAN’S FAVORITES

Susan Thayer is the founder and owner of Rabbit Creek, an exceptionally curated showroom of the industry’s finest furnishings, lighting and accessories. Available at International Market Square, to the trade. rabbitcreekmn.com HOLIDAY 2021

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“When I look into the eyes of an animal I do not see an animal.

I see a living being. I feel their soul.”

–TINA WILCOX

LSM is proud to feature this beautiful excerpt from Tina Wilcox’s new coffee table book, The Conscious Kingdom.

The profits from the book will be donated to the Animal Humane Society – to help them continue to advance animal welfare and shape the way our world cares for animals.

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TINA WILCOX Stories, Animal Costumes, Sets On any given weekend, you’re most likely to find Tina Wilcox rummaging through a box of vintage fabric at an antique store, flea market or estate sale somewhere in the world. Her home and studio house years of collecting – from bins of Elizabethan and Victorian era textiles, jewelry parts, curiosities and more from the 17th, 18th, and early 19th centuries.

“It’s as if for 30 years the universe has been leading me to collect these items to create The Conscious Kingdom.”

SHELLY MOSMAN Photography Shelly Mosman has a BFA from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design with a photography career spanning over 20 years. As a commission artist, her work is recognized around the world and has been published in Germany, France, Australia, Brazil and the U.S.

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CARTER AVERBECK Scenics Carter Averbeck is a classically trained fresco artist whose works have been featured in major theatre productions, magazines and television. Obscure and forgotten painting techniques are a part of his repertoire as a seasoned “old school” painter, creating layers of indistinguishable finishes with mystique and an impressionistic style.

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David Fhima’s rich cultural heritage, along 66

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CHEF HOME AT

with his classic French training, informs everything he does–in the kitchen and beyond.

written by nancy monroe, photography by spacecrafting HOLIDAY 2021

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CHEF

DAVID FHIMA’S GUEST-WORTHY PASTA This is very simple, light, pasta that is both flavorful and healthy.

INGREDIENTS: 4 cloves of garlic (sliced thin) ¼ cup olive oil 2 tbsp rice bran oil 1 whole squash sliced ¼ inch thick on a bias 1 tbsp fresh oregano 1 whole zucchini sliced ¼ inch thick on a bias 1 cup grated parmesan 4 cups dry penne pasta (I prefer cooking fresh pasta, but dried, good quality pasta works well) 1 tbsp (10 leaves cut chiffonade) basil 4 cups arugula 1 cup white wine 2 tbsp grass-fed butter 2 cups Brussels sprouts (trimmed and cut in half) ½ cup toasted pine nuts Salt and pepper to taste DIRECTIONS: Bring water to boil and follow pasta direction on package.

Heat pan on high.

Add rice bran oil – when oil is hot, reduce heat to half.

Add garlic, caramelize (2 minutes).

Add Brussels sprouts and brown (3-4 min).

Add squash/zucchini (brown on both sides).

Deglaze with white wine.

Cook for 3-5 minutes at medium heat.

Add oregano.

Add pasta with excess water (not too much).

Toss pasta in vegetable medley.

Cook at low heat until most of the water is gone.

Add fresh basil and butter.

Toss well.

Add salt and pepper to taste.

Serve pasta in your preferred bowl.

Garnish with arugula, pine nuts, parmesan and olive oil.

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Here’s how a seasoned chef designs his home kitchen: Stand in front of the stove with your arms straight out, turn in a complete circle and everything you need for cooking—from pots and pans to knives to seasonings—should be within that radius. This explains the bookend pot racks and a stove-side drawer, usually reserved for silverware, filled with restaurantquality spices.

It was the European-style kitchen that first sold David and Lori Fhima on the 7,000-square-foot brick Victorian in Kenwood that the couple has called home for the past twelve or so years. Second only to a vintage French La Cornue stove topped off with an oversized copper hood is a massive island that seats 12 and takes over dining-room duties so guests and family alike can gather in the kitchen. “We have a formal dining room but 99 percent of the time we’re around this table,” said Lori.

Lori may be the primary cook at home, but when they have guests, David takes center stove. “I’m more excited to cook for others than myself,” he said, which explains their running joke that although he works in a restaurant all day, he always comes home hungry. He has classic French culinary training, but he’s not judgmental. “I’m not critical of anyone’s cooking,” he said.

“I know the effort necessary to cook. I have my preferences, but I’m grateful when someone cooks for me, especially my wife.”

As the owner of Fhima’s Mpls and a partner with Levy Restaurants at the Target Center, David Fhima has been a fixture in the Twin Cities culinary scene for the past thirty years. He has opened and closed more restaurants than many people visit in a year. But rather than be prickly, he owns up to sometimes not hitting the right note with the consumer.

Feeding the public, after all, is a journey with many destinations along the path. Which is why COVID-19 only scared him from a health standpoint. “I had the answer for my business,” he said. “Shut down and start all over again.” And start over he has, by adding several other venues to his portfolio. Some are public knowledge, like Mother Dough in the Capella Tower, while others are still in negotiations.

His restaurant in the historic Forum location in downtown Minneapolis is thriving, thanks to a large degree, he said, to his son, Eli, who is the consummate host. He makes guests feel both welcome and the millennial equivalent of “cool.” One of the traditions of the Fhimas’ Moroccan heritage is pouring mint tea tableside. The more welcome a guest, the higher the stream of tea hitting the cup. “Eli,” he said with a laugh, “has poured tea from the balcony, which results in thrilled guests and tea stains on the first floor.”

As David prepares a pasta dish for us, he responds to a query about the beautiful, but too-small chandelier over the island. He originally bought it for $300 from an architectural reseller for his Mpls Cafe. When the restaurant closed, a guest offered to buy it, but when David said he was taking it home, the would-be buyer told him it was 120-years old and blown from a single piece of glass — and worth thousands.

Hanging on to history is David’s modus operandi at work and home. He was born in Casablanca to a “French, Moroccan, Jewish mom and Sicilian father.” As one of 17 children, he grew up poor, but rich in culture. “I won the culture lottery,” he crows. His cooking has the “passion of Sicily, the colors of Spain and the flavors of Morocco”— and the techniques of classical French.

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