Featuring Appearances by
Jovana Batkovic
Jovana Batkovic is a chef and owner of Nice Guys Pizza in Cape Coral with her partner, Greg Gebhard. When she's not drizzling chili-infused honey over her pizzas, or making biscuit dough out of local lard, she's eating at her favorite restaurants around town.
Loren Merrigan
Loren is a visionary chef and Assistant Director Of Food And Beverage at SD Concession, providing food and drink for the Fort Myers Miracle. He offers expertise in food safety and sanitation, food preparation, menu development, event planning/catering, and inventory purchasing/control. Loren can also be found officiating High School, Football, Lacrosse and Soccer in three counties.
Steve McQuilkin
Steve is the Storytelling Coach at The News-Press and news-press.com. Before coming to Fort Myers in 1999, he worked for newspapers in Tampa and Winston-Salem, N.C., where he co-wrote a history of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. He is a Christian, deacon pastor, history buff and animal lover who enjoys running, reading, watching British mysteries and spending time with his wife and daughter. Firm believer that the Beatles are the best musical group ever and that dogs are people too.
Mildred and Pastor Mike Barnes
Mildred and Michael Barnes are former owners of the beloved Fort Myers soul-food restaurant Mildred’s. The couple behind Mildred's Restaurant have teamed with local churches to serve a free Thanksgiving meal to 500 as a new tradition. Michael Barnes is the pastor at Jerusalem Church of God in Christ in Fort Myers. Mildred's passion for food has never faded, despite having to close the family restaurant in 2008.
Pat Tobiasen
Pat is a retiree that continuing to work hard on experiencing the world. She lives in Fort Myers with her husband Tom. She loves spending time with her children and sharing in a rich family history.
Agenda
November 15, 2017
Food and Family: Jovana Batkovic - 'Kitchen Witches'
As a little girl growing up in Bosnia, Jovana dealt with a medical emergency on the day that her appendix burst. What follows are the lessons learned as her family brought her back to good health, thanks in large part to the family "kitchen witches".
November 15, 2017
Food and Family: Loren Merrigan - 'A Celebration of Life'
Loren shares the story about one of the proudest moments in his life. It was the moment he discovered that a great gift is a beautiful experience you can share with others.
November 15, 2017
Food and Family: Steve McQuilkin - Plain is Perfect
Steve shares with you exactly why plain is, in his eyes, the true spice of life.
November 15, 2017
Food and Family: Mildred and Michael Barnes - 'Soul Food Journeys'
Mildred never liked her name growing up. But one night after cooking for a special someone, her name and special gift became forever linked with a passion that she continues to share with her community and family.
November 15, 2017
Food and Family: Pat Tobiasen - From Tragedy, A New Tradition
Pat shares the story about an old Christmas tradition in her family's history, the difficult period that tested her family's resolve, and how a new holiday tradition was born.
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