There are some changes to announce at Stefano’s Trattoria, the popular Italian restaurant in Winter Springs. Beginning on July 18, the restaurant will be closed on Sundays. Owner F. Alejandro Martinez said that he and his executive chef, Lewis English, decided it was the best way to take some of the pressure off of the staff.

“Business is busier than ever,” he said in a message, “and we are exhausted.” He continued: “I want always to offer the best quality and service and this is why [we] decided to make this decision. We need time with our families and to recharge.”

Stefano’s has 54 employees, more than half of them in the kitchen. Martinez says that his restaurant, unlike many others following the pandemic, had very little turnover.

Attended another great wine tasting with KCuvée recently, this one a tour of France – and it didn’t require a 10-day quarantine period.

KCuvée’s owners, Katie Bean and Carolina Marin, walked us through the various French winemaking regions, explaining differences and distinctions of each. And as they do with each of their tastings, they included high-quality samples from each region.

We were greeted with a sparkling crémant from Burgundy’s Maison de Grand Esprit l’Etre Magique and our first wine in class was a 2017 Sancerre from La Colline aux Princes, crisp and aromatic. Marin explained to the class that French winemakers tend to fashion their wines after the foods the regions are known for, so this one would be terrific for one of the Loire Valley’s goat cheeses.

We also had Bouchard Aîné & Fils, Beaujolais-Villages (2018) and Vincent et Sophie Morey, Santenay Les Hâtes (2018).