FEATURE
OLD VINES NAPLES
AT MERCATO OPENING THIS FALL Old Vines makes its debut in North Naples at Mercato this fall! Haute Living Naples had the opportunity to sit down with the owners, Jon Ellms and Rick Taranto, and managing director and partner Brooke Kravetz to discuss their upcoming restaurant. BY DARBY KORDONOWY
Haute Living: Tell me about the history of Old Vines. Jon Ellms: Yes, Old Vines started in 2009 as a wine bar in Kennebunk. It later became a wine and cocktail bar and then evolved into a restaurant. Brooke started her career here as a chef. We purchased it in 2015 because we loved it and didn’t want to see it close. We were part-time residents here in Kennebunk, and eventually, we moved full-time. We both have jobs in other industries. Rick works in scientific research, and I work in pharmaceutical marketing. We moved here full-time in 2020, right around the time of the COVID pandemic. HL: Brooke, you started working as a chef at Old Vines in Kennebunk in 2010, right after the wine bar opened? Brooke Kravetz: Yes, I started doing a bit of everything and then took over in the kitchen. Back then, the entire kitchen was just a server station beside the bar. We served paninis, a few nice salads, a flatbread or two, small tapas bites, cheese and charcuterie, and chicken meatballs, which are still among our top sellers today.
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HAUTE LIVING NAPLES
