Wine Tasting Dinner deemed a success
Recently, the Friends of Matanzas Pass Preserve held their second annual Wine Tasting Dinner at the Mango Street Inn. Hosts Chef Dan Andre and Sommeiler Tree Andre amazed and delighted the diners.
The Around the World theme presented delicious tastings masterfully paired with elegant wines. Lee County Parks & Recreation Director, Barbara Manzo, entertained the crowd with a delightful personal story of wine tasting in Italy.
“Matanzas Pass Preserve is a 60-acre hidden treasure on Fort Myers Beach. It offers both residents and visitors the ability to escape the daily excitement of the beach and soak up the peace and serenity of its incredible beauty,” she said. “The Friends of Matanzas Pass Preserve are the volunteer backbone of Fort Myers Beach best kept secret. They have worked tirelessly to insure the preservation of this 60-acre paradise and physically work to keep it pristine. Thanks to the Friends, Lee County Parks and Recreation is able to rest easier in these economically challenging times knowing that the Preserve is well taken care of!”
Commissioner Ray Judah enjoyed the evening as well.
“The recent second annual Wine Tasting Dinner to benefit the Friends of the Matanzas Pass Preserve was a wonderful and meaningful effort to facilitate important collaboration between the town of Fort Myers Beach, Lee County and the Friends to ensure proper stewardship of the Matanzas Pass Preserve,” he said. “The Matanzas Pass Preserve is an important and valuable ecological system and educational environment to enhance the public’s understanding of living in harmony with natural systems. Dan and Tree Andre of the Mango Street Inn and the caring and dedicated Friends of the Matanzas Pass Preserve are to be commended for raising financial support and public awareness to protect and manage the Matanzas Pass Preserve.”
Beach resident and Lee County Land Steward Terry Cain stated the evening was a great success.
“It was a wonderful evening for the Friends with great food & wine and lively conversation. A night not to be missed in the future,” she said.
The hosts showed their appreciation to their guests for attending the fundraising event.
“We think that the evening was magical and only with the collective effort of everyone involved were we able to pull it off,” said Dan and Tree. “Thank you for all your help in making it happen.”
–submitted by Julie Schwab