When Spanish Conquistador Don Pedro Menéndez de Avilés landed on the shores of this beautiful area of the world in 1565, he settled on what would become St. Augustine. Flash forward to July 17, 1980, when the MacDonald family ended their year-long journey across the Atlantic on a 45-foot sailboat and decided to stay here. Then 18-year old Lorna, along with her brother Gaere and parents Tristan and Alex, had sailed from England in search of the American Dream. They soon found what they were looking for.
Initially, the family planned to settle along Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay. Yet St. Augustine drew them in, and they purchased a historic Victorian home on San Marco Avenue. Following a ten-month renovation to the 1879 structure, the MacDonalds opened what would become known as one of the top locations for upscale dining not only in St. Augustine – but in their new country. Lorna worked as a bartender and her brother Gaere as Chef on the Raintree Restaurant’s opening night.
“When we opened, it was all cummerbunds and bow ties,” says Lorna. “My parents believed in offering a formal dining experience for our guests. We even had proper English-style gardens surrounding the entirety of the restaurant.”
While the authentic charm remains, modern influences and expanded seating have been added. White tablecloths continue to grace the space as a lively ambiance fills the air. What hasn’t changed, in nearly four decades however, is the popularity of classic dishes such as hand-cut Beef Wellington and Brandy Peppersteak that Chef Chris Cantabene has perfected since taking over the kitchen.
Chef Chris joined the Raintree Restaurant as General Manager in 1998 and became integral to the operations alongside Lorna. Their partnership led to love, marriage, and the integration of family. However, they’d met previously over a game of paddle tennis at a mutual friend’s home. It was Gaere who initially hired Chris into the operation.
Originally from Indiana, Chris’s culinary journey began just before his 16th birthday when his brother hired him to wash dishes at an upscale Mediterranean restaurant. He soon moved his way through this kitchen, among others, and attended Syracuse University before embarking on a voyage of his own making. In 1983, he hitchhiked all the way from upstate New York to Florida.
“Hitchhiking wasn’t dangerous back then,” says Chris. “In fact, it was a reasonable way to travel, and this was just meant to be a visit to see my brother and cousins. It took me only two hours longer than if I’d driven myself. I did not imagine that I’d actually end up staying.”
Chris soon began working as a chef at Cap’s on Vilano Beach, eventually partnering in the restaurant’s purchase, and serving as chef/owner until 1996. Working alongside classically-trained chefs from Europe, Asia, and the Americas, he seeks to interweave international flavors into the menu whenever it makes sense. The Raintree menu boasts largely Mediterranean and American fare — pasta, steak, and seafood options to suit every palate. Champagne Sunday Brunch is famous for its crepes and ‘croques and overflowing buffet.
Staying true to its family-owned roots, the Raintree has succeeded in continuously reinventing itself in so subtly throughout the years in fact, that an unmatched authenticity remains at its core. Lorna and Chris serve as the second-generation husband-wife team, overseeing a multi-generational staff that they call family, as some indeed are. Lorna’s son Zach works as a manager and Chris’s daughter Chelsea helps in dish on Sunday mornings. Each of the couple’s four children have played roles in the Raintree at one time or another, though Brittany is now a lawyer and Caitlan is a paralegal.
“My parents taught me a work ethic that I try to pass on,” says Lorna. “I think being generous and kind is the first lesson to kids, and I hope they reflect that in their day to day.”
Lorna and Chris can’t get enough of cooking and entertaining. During the couple’s rare evenings at home together, they do much of the same as at work — cooking for family and friends. They also focus on their other passion, flipping homes. Chris holds a Certified General Contractor license in the State of Florida. “I really enjoy working with my hands, and tend to do a lot of the contracting work myself,” he says. “It’s come in handy while maintaining the Raintree.”
Notable awards from the local Taste of St. Augustine to the Wine Spectators Award of Excellence have been bestowed on the Raintree (also listed in the Zagat Survey of Outstanding Restaurants). The restaurant is constantly involved in programs benefitting the community, including Big Brothers, Big Sisters and Dining with Dignity. In addition, Lorna sits on multiple boards, including Boys & Girls Club, EPIC Behavioral Health, Wildflower Clinic, and Limelight Theatre.
“We both feel that it is important to give back to the community that has embraced us all these years,” Chris says. “We raised our children in St. Augustine and are grateful for a thriving business. As the owners of The Raintree, we feel privileged to play a part in so many people’s lives, who have made this workplace a home, as well as a special spot to share a meal with family.”
Raintree Restaurant is located at 102 San Marco Avenue. Visit them online at www.raintreerestaurant.com.
Written by Lauren Eastman. Photography by Brian Miller.
