Jason Roberts Live
The evening started out with a cocktail hour where guests were able to mingle wth Jason and get to know him on a more personal level. Quiet and subdued, with the soft murmurings of Naples most well known socialites, the cocktail hour presented a hint of the extraordinary meal, prepared by Chef Roberts, that was to come.
Passed for guests to enjoy was a wonderful Amuse of Pumpkin Soup with Pistou, served in delicate aperitif glasses, and a delicious appetizer of Avocado and Stone Crab Tartletts. It did not, however, prepare guests for the spectacal that is Jason Roberts Live.
If you have never had the pleasure of experiencing a Jason Roberts Live Show as I have, this chef's embrace and passion for life can best be summed up by the watching the video below.....
Jason's show, part vaudeville act (yes, he and stage partner Jeff Radloff tap danced and slapsticked with the best of them) part cooking show and part philosophy class, this energetic chef gives you your money's worth of entertainment and culinary excellence all in one package. Think Emeril Lagasse, add an Aussie accent, then to use Lagasse's line, "Kick it up a notch!!" What you then have is Celebrity Chef Jason Roberts. Funny, outrageous, down to earth and charming, he makes being in the kitchen fun and exciting. He and Jeff danced, joked and cooked, keeping the audience opened mouthed most of the night with their raucus, rowdy and ribald presentation.
My partner and I had the pleasure of sitting with Chef Roberts, his manager Maree Gadd, and the rest of their entourage, while enjoying the excellent fare Jason had prepared for the event. Were it not for the extrordinary flavors and offerings presented by him on the plate, I would surely have overlooked the meal entirely, such was the fun and laughter at the table. Spend any time at all with this lively group and you can't help but be caught up in their enthusiasm, humor and passion for life.
Kudos to Key Bank for bringing to its patrons a taste of something outside the box. Unlike some society affairs, that can tend be a bit stiff, it was apparent that the guests attending on this night were enjoying a brief opportunity to let their hair down and just have a good time. I was so taken with Jason and his views on cooking, family and life, that I will be traveling to Atlanta May 3-4 to sit with him where he is appearing in the 'Metropolitan Cooking and Entertainment Show' with Foodnetwork Chef Paula Deen, so that we can bring you a June edition of "Upclose and Personal."
Candlelighters
Step Into Spring
Friday, March 28th saw the 6th Annual Spring Fashion Show for Candlelighters of Southwest Florida. This year's event was held at The Forest Country Club in Ft. Myers. The event started with a silent Chinese Auction where attendees bid on numerous items donated by local businesses.
Guests were then treated to a lovely luncheon, starting with mixed greens topped with fresh berries, red onions and mandarin oranges. The entree that followed was a Grilled Chicken breast with citrus vinagrette and for dessert, a Key Lime mousse topped with fresh berries.After opening remarks from Chairperson Betty Bussleberg, Founder Klair Snellbaker hosted a live auction.
Then began the fashion show with presenters Mary Lou Anderson of Stein Mart and Deborah Federici from Children's Couture.The models for this years show were:
Sue Bain from Signature Florals, William Brown III, 17 years old, who suffers from Sickle Cell anemia, WINK News Reporter Maggie Crane, who is a childhood cancer survivor, WINK News Anchor Jennifer Stacy, board member of Candlelighters, Nicholas Heintz, whose brother was diagnosed with Leukemia some ten years ago, Meigan Holland, fourth grader,
who was diagnosed with Leukemia, accompanied by her sister Brehna Holland and their mom Jody, Michael Martin, who's brother was diagnosed and succumbed to Neuroblastoma, Barb O' Malley, a retired nurse and friend to Candlelighters and Linda Trusk, friend to Candlelighters and a cancer survivor herself.To say that this organization is special to all these individuals would be a gross understatement and you can hear some of their comments and what this event means to them in the video below.
WINK News Meteorologist Brian Monahan broadcast the noon weather
from the event where Michael Martin (pictured at left) made his broadcasting debut by giving the weekly forecast live on camera.Cadlelighters is a terrific organization that regularly holds events such as this and contributions can be sent to the address below. As one of the models remarked to me on the day of this event, "What makes Candlelighters special is that it gives these children stricken with this terrible disease a chance to just enjoy being a kid."
Please enjoy the video of the event below and don't forget to check out this month's "Upclose and Personal" where I sit down for an intimate chat with Candlelighters founder, Klair Snellbaker.
Candlelighters of Southwest Florida, Inc.
9981 S. HealthPark Drive
Fort Myers, Florida 33908
239-432-2223
www.candlelightersofswfl.org