Read full article featured in Vero Beach Magazine, written by Renae Tesauro.
June 26, 2023
Hosting a memorable Fourth of July barbecue is as easy as apple pie when your backyard is a tropical oasis, and the menu is in the creative hands of a highly seasoned chef.
Native Canadians Steve and Jane Jones have embraced this all-American holiday—and many more—since acquiring their riverfront estate in the member-owned Orchid Island Golf & Beach Club, a private barrier-island community spanning 600 acres between the Atlantic Ocean and Indian River Lagoon. Purchased in March 2020, their 6,200-square-foot British West Indies–style residence has an outdoor living area rivaling that of a premier resort.
The British West Indies-style home of Steve and Jane Jones is a riverfront oasis for friends and family.
Life at Coke was fast-paced and dynamic, Steve admits, as he assumed marketing and operational roles in Atlanta, London, Tokyo, and Houston, before his final job as corporate chief marketing officer. At 46, he wanted more entrepreneurial challenges. This wish led to several private equity deals and, ultimately, the launch of Fairlife, an experience he describes as the most rewarding of his business life.
By 2018, the Joneses were ready for a simpler but equally engaging life in Florida. They didn’t know the Sunshine State very well, so they spent the next two years exploring towns and communities, only to discover that life at Orchid Island checked all the boxes.
“You can’t beat living here,” says Steve. “It offers both ocean and Intracoastal living and a small but engaging community nestled around a great Arnold Palmer golf course. Add in excellent racquet sports, a fitness and wellness center, clubs and activities, and wonderful food and dining experiences, and it’s second to none.”
In 2020, the Joneses decided a riverfront property at Orchid Island was a perfect fit for their active and social lifestyle. “The river is full of life,” says Steve. “Between the pleasure craft, the yachts, the birds, and the dolphins, there is nonstop entertainment out there.”
For their Fourth of July celebration, the Joneses planned a more intimate backyard gathering with seasonal, locally sourced cuisine prepared by Orchid Island’s Executive Chef Chris Sozio as well as colorful cocktails and mocktails created by Food and Beverage Director Alex Heater.
The all-American menu includes a garden salad composed of locally sourced baby lettuce, pickled heirloom carrots, and sweet peppers from Pepper Trail Farm; pickled cucumbers and assorted heirloom tomatoes from Aunt Zorada Farm; preserved apricots; and goat cheese tartines—all tossed in a luscious green goddess dressing.
For a light, no-fuss dessert, Sozio created a patriotic parfait of macerated strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries layered with vanilla bean and Orchid Island Honey–whipped cream cheese, presented with a gluten-free chocolate pecan cookie.
Steve and Jane Jones, Megan and Rick Briggs, and David Prothro.
Good food, good friends, and a backyard with an expansive water view. Sounds like a recipe for a memorable Fourth of July as well as a happy retirement!
To view the festive Fourth of July recipes, read full article here.
