ASPEC clubhouse gets renovation, art exhibit

By LENNIE BENNETT

© St. Petersburg Times, published October 1, 2000

The ASPEC folks are one lively bunch. Formally known as the Academy of Senior Professionals at Eckerd College, they number about 200 members, plus spouses, elected for their accomplishments. They have numerous affinity groups that meet daily, and every month they gather for a social and program.

This month's social on Thursday evening was special. Their "clubhouse," the Lewis House tucked into the western part of the campus, originally was built as the president's residence. It recently underwent a renovation that added a foyer and lots of wall and gallery-like corridor space that is temporarily graced with 22 paintings and sculptures from the collection of ASPEC members Bill and Seena Baker. Thursday's reception gave members a first look at the exhibition.

ASPEC director Merle Allshouse and wife Myrna greeted members as they arrived.

"This group is such a rich resource," said Allshouse, and indeed, the collective brain power was almost palpable. I doubt they ever lack for conversation, but it seems mostly to center on avocations and shared interests rather than past achievements.

I met Bob Stoffel -- "the man who invented the switch between the phone and the fax," Allshouse told me -- but instead of talking technology, we talked about his wife Jan's interest in flowers; and Mirella and Norm Smith, a scientist whose specialty is a word I've never heard of but has to do with "things that make wetter water" and involves industries such as NASA. He chatted with me about all the places they've lived during his career.

Also in attendance were Patton Hunter, Michael Milkovich, Heidi and Jim Crane, retired head of Eckerd's art department who helped organize the show; Helene Ross, also a show organizer; Heinz and Rose Marie Gasser; Virginia Horvath; Blanca Brown; Paul and Marge Siebert; Chuck Blaney; Edgar and Ginny Oppenheimer; Allen and Roz Kent; Cameron Lusty; Dr. Byron and Shirley Goldberg; and Suzanne and Gene Menendez, owners of the former Walgreen's building downtown on Central Avenue. They have leased space to a new gallery, Ungali, the name of the artist who operates it, and to the Center for Marine Conservation, which will have its regional headquarters here for the southeastern U.S. and the Caribbean.

I most enjoyed talking to the Bakers, who have moved across the street from Eckerd to a condominium in Dolphin Cay, where most of their art collection is still in boxes. He said they have stopped collecting, which is hard to believe. They claim to have no favorites, but are clearly partial to work by Angel Botello. As he told me about the artist, he stroked a bronze sculpture, looking at it as if for the first time.

Lewis House is not open to the public on a regular basis, but Mrs. Allshouse said that tours of the exhibition can be arranged by calling her at 866-7291.

Tom Chin, executive chef of the Renaissance Vinoy Resort, hosted a Chef's Table on Tuesday, serving new seasonal selections that will be featured in the resort's dining rooms through October. It also was one of his last official appearances, as he leaves for a job as executive chef at the venerable Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee.

The Florida climate never agreed with him, exacerbating his allergies, and when John Williams, his former boss at the Vinoy who is now general manager at the Pfister, offered him a job, he accepted.

Tom came to the Vinoy when it reopened in 1992 after a multimillion-dollar renovation. It was the most glamorous place St. Petersburg had seen in decades, and hostesses clamored to book its beautiful ballroom for parties.

Tom and his staff raised the bar on the quality of the food served at fund-raising galas here. He introduced many of us to exotic foodstuffs such as Peruvian purple potatoes, Chilean sea bass, truffle oil, baby vegetables and wild mushrooms. He served up meals of sophistication with complex sauces on our meats and fruit reductions painted onto our dessert plates. He used fresh herbs, goat cheese croutons, parmesan tuiles and gold leaf garnish, things that are now so ubiquitous we take them for granted.

He showed us that food could be visually interesting and that a banquet meal could stimulate, surprise and delight. Always passionate about food, Tom taught as he purveyed. Everyone who now sits at a gala table in the St. Petersburg area dines better in large part because of his work at the Vinoy.

Tom Chin's grace note is a group of autumn dishes that a few lucky souls like me previewed at a table set up in the kitchen of the Vinoy's Palm Court Ballroom. It was several hours of romancing the squash.

I have never considered myself a devotee of squash or its cousin, the pumpkin, but after trying it in everything from soup to nuts, I am a believer.

We were served: roasted butternut squash soup with cinnamon creme fraiche, tossed mixed greens with pumpkin seed oil and pumpkin chips, pumpkin ravioli with caramelized shallots, seared breast of duck with pumpkin risotto and port wine sauce, seared cod with braised winter squash and mushrooms, honey-lacquered roasted tenderloin of pork with acorn squash puree and apple cider brown butter, pumpkin pie, pumpkin cheesecake and pumpkin walnut roulade with raspberries and orange spice sauce.

Oh, and pumpkin scones, breads and muffins. With maple syrup butter. If I sound stuffed, I am, but happily so.

Some very nice wines from Valley of the Moon Winery were poured with the meal but, it being midday and a working lunch, I passed. I will say, the winery's bottle is one of the most chic I've ever seen, a good sign for the quality of the wine, I am told.

Looking ahead

ARTRAGEOUS EVENING: A silent auction benefits the Center Against Spouse Abuse at the ArtRageous Frameworks, 6205 Park Blvd., Pinellas Park. Light refreshments. 6:30-10:30 p.m. 895-4912.

Saturday

ST. PETERSBURG FESTIVAL BALLET OPENING PARTY: A new ballet ensemble is launched by the Ballet Society at the Brightwaters Boulevard home of Mike and Christy Conway. 7-9 p.m. 827-3828.

Oct. 9

ALL CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL GUILD CARD PARTY: The Beach Branch hosts the annual event, which includes a light lunch, bake sale and used book sale. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Treasure Island Community Center, 106th Ave. and 1 Park Place. $7.50. 393-2714.

R'CLUB LUNCHEON AND FASHION SHOW: The theme for this year's show is themed Chic Le Greek with the annual finale by members of the St. Petersburg Fire Department that always brings the house down. Mirror Lake Lyceum, 737 Third Ave. N. 578-5437.

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