Saturday, November 14, 2026
After tasting the evening’s featured wine just hours before the event, Executive Chef Laura Owen said she spent the afternoon raiding her pantry at CJ’s to come up with the perfect appetizer.
Enjoying the success of their first Wine Wednesday, pictured left to right: Executive Chef Laura Owen of CJ’s by the Bay, Marco Island Florist and Gifts owner Nancy Carrington and her marketing specialist, Tracy Bower. PHOTOS BY MELINDA GRAY
Executive Chef Laura Owen offered each guest one of her culinary creations to goalong with their taste of wine.
After tasting the evening’s featured wine just hours before the event, Executive Chef Laura Owen said she spent the afternoon raiding her pantry at CJ’s to come up with the perfect appetizer.
By Melinda Gray
On Wednesday, Oct. 29, Marco Island Florist and Gifts partnered with Executive Chef Laura Owen of CJ’s on the Bay to host a wine tasting and food pairing event free to the public. The shop was filled with guests socializing, sipping wine, tasting food and shopping; it was their first Wine Wednesday with hopes of many more to come.
“We just wanted to do something different on Marco, and no one else is doing a
free wine tasting,” said Tracy Bower, marketing specialist for Marco Island Florist and Gifts.
The evening’s featured wine was a Mark West pinot noir, and Executive Chef Laura created the perfectly paired hors d’oeuvres: tiny tartlettes filled with Brie cheese and black currant, topped with a spiced walnut.
“We wanted to reach out to the community and thank them for their loyalty,” said Bower. “We are so excited to be doing this with Executive Chef Laura; she is
so down to earth and knows everybody in the community, so we wanted to bring CJs into this idea.”
Nancy Carrington, owner of Marco Island Florist and Gifts, said that it was recently suggested she hold a wine tasting to let people know that she has a package liquor license, allowing her customers to purchase a bottle of wine to add to a gift basket.
“It’s fun! I love having everyone mingle and enjoy themselves. It’s nice to
make a night of it, gathering and tasting wine, and the food makes it even more interesting,” said Carrington.
The event enjoyed a successful turnout, and they plan to host at least three more Wine Wednesdays in the coming months, each featuring a different wine and complementing appetizer. So mark your calendars; the next Wine Wednesday will be held on Nov. 19, and you’re invited!
For more information, visit Marco Island Florist and Gifts located at 178 S Barfield Dr. or call 239-394-8141.
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