RARE 1981 Chef de Cuisine Mark Davis & new Executive Chef Emanuel Zarlenga
Although I donโt know why Saddlebrook Resort decided to bring in a new Executive Chef and completely overhaul the menu at the resortโs RARE 1981, Iโll say this much โ there is definitely nothing exactly like it anywhere in the Tampa Bay area, much less in Wesley Chapel.
RARE 1981 new Executive Chef Emanuel Zarlenga, who is from Argentina, has replaced many of the dishes on the original menu with a variety of Argentinian-influenced options.
The good news is that RARE 1981 still has some of the best prime steaks in the area โ which is no surprise considering that Argentina is famous worldwide for serving some of the most delicious steaks anywhere. Jannah and loved our prime filet mignon (right), which was done to medium rare perfection.ย
There also is a โSeabass of the Dayโ and a โGulf Coast Catch of the Day,โ which, for us, was a delicious mahi-mahi (left) in a buttery lemon garlic sauce, served with a side of peas, sliced asparagus and turnips. Excellent.ย
Pretty much everything else we ordered were Argentine-inspired dishes.
Mine and photographer Charmaine Georgeโs favorite starter was the Whey-Melon Tuna (below left), which is 48-hour compressed melon cultured in whey, shaved and served with raw slices of pickled sushi-grade tuna, onions and carrots. Itโs definitely a large enough portion to share.ย
Our favorite of Chef Emanuelโs homeland-inspired dishes was the Choripan (right), which is an entrรฉe but also works as a shareable appetizer that features pieces of both Argentine and American chorizo sausage cooked โsous videโ style (vacuum-sealed and cooked in a temperature-controlled water bath) and served with crispy and warm brioche, pickled veggies and chimichurri sauce. Amazing.
Equally different was the Strawberry โGazpachoโ (not pictured), which featured nicely grilled scallops served with fermented strawberry and lacto-fermented cold gazpacho.
We also tried a variety of new Family Style Sides, including our two favorites โ the Hay Asparagus (below right), grilled with actual burning hay), and โTwo Potatoesโ (below left), made with buttery, tender potatoes, finished with a warm, airy potato espuma (foam). We also liked the 30-Hour Beets (cooked for 30 hours and finished with bee pollen, seaweed and fresh lime zest) and a traditional South American corn & squash Humita finished with queso fresco and a caramelized crust.ย
And, even though we had no room for dessert, we shared the RARE 1981 Dessert Trio of the Day, which featured guava with brie, arroz con leche (rice pudding atop creamy caramel) and bread pudding with vanilla ice cream.
For reservations & info, visit RARE1981.com or call (813) 907- 4466. โ GN; all photos by Charmaine George
Checking Out The Changes Since Mast Capitalโs $92-Million Investment To Return The Resort To Its Former Gloryย
Gary & Jannah Nager started off a short staycation at the all-new Saddlebrook Resort with a glass of champagne in their recently redecorated two-room suite overlooking one of the completely revamped Saddlebrook golf courses.ย (Photos by Charmaine George & GN)
Pyramid Global corporate chef James Messinger (left) and Saddlebrook GM Jeff Mayers at GOAT.ย
The last time Jannah and I stayed at Saddlebrook Resort was the night we got engaged back in 2015. Our room was big, but dated and musty. The restaurants we both loved โ especially Dempseyโs Steak House โ were either gone or no longer worth the money. We didnโt tell anyone at the resort, but we did tell each other that this would probably be the last time we would visit Saddlebrook unless we had a very good reason to do so.
A little more than a decade later, the resortโs new ownership group โ Mast Capital โ has largely completed its $92-million revamping of Saddlebrook, and has finally given us that very good reason to return.
The delicious grilled grouper at GOAT Kitchen & Bar.ย
Although Jannah and I had already visited (and I reported about it in these pages more than once) the new RARE 1981 steak house multiple times, there was so much other new โstuffโ to do that we decided to take a short โstaycationโ in one of Saddlebrookโs recently revamped rooms to check out the upgrades to the legendary Superpool and Palmhaus pool bar & restaurant, and watch a Tampa Bay Lightning game at the new GOAT (aka โGreatest Of All Timeโ) Kitchen & Bar, which definitely has an upscale sports bar feel but with better food than any of the chain restaurants in Wesley Chapel.
Lorena the bartender making specialty drinks at the Palmhaus pool bar.ย
The only things we didnโt get to enjoy were the resortโs now-27 holes of true championship golf โ since neither of us still plays at all; I was terrible when I did play โ or the new eight beautiful, new pickleball courts or the European-styleย Esthetics813 โThe Spa at Saddlebrook.โย
The good news is that everything we did do was so impressive that we surely will be back!
In the meantime, you can check out everything we enjoyed during our return trip and all of the tasting and indulging we shared.
The bottom line is that the new Saddlebrook Resort is now well worth your time and money. If you havenโt been there recently, you honestly havenโt been there at all!
All of the carpeting & furnishings in every guest room at Saddlebrook have been updated.ย The Superpool now has a large number of cabanas & umbrellas.ย
Gary & Jannah Return To Saddlebrook โ & Love Everything About It!ย
After experiencing the RARE 1981 steak house media preview and the separate Saddlebrook Media Day, both back in Nov. 2025 (both of which I reported about extensively in our Dec. 23 issue, so you wonโt see RARE photos in this feature), and the much more recent media preview of the new GOAT Kitchen & Bar, Jannah and I decided to reserve one of the resortโs fully redesigned hotel suites because we wanted to experience as much of the all-new Saddlebrook as possible for this story about everything new.
GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) Kitchen & Bar!ย (Top to bottom & l.-r.) The GOAT Kitchen & Bar is all-new and features great elevated sports bar fare like fish & chips, double smash burger, Hall of Fame short rib nachos and a decadent bananas Foster cheesecake.
I then interviewed Saddlebrook general manager Jeff Mayers to make sure I wasnโt missing anything that the resortโs new owner Mast Capital had redone as part of its $92 million makeover. Bottom line? Although you canโt really do all there is to do at Saddlebrook in one day or even an entire weekend, you can get a pretty good taste of what was once a worn out โold lady โof a resort returned to her โGrand Dameโ former glory.
Fully Renovated Hotel Rooms!ย
On these pages, I hope youโll get enough of a feel for all there is for couples and families to savor at the all-new Saddlebrook to want to stay there yourselves, or at least have a great meal. Want more good news? If you do visit just to dine at RARE 1981, GOAT or the also-new Palmhaus pool bar, ask your server to validate your valet parking ticket (there is no more self-parking at the resort) and Mayers says your $30 valet charge will be waived!ย
โWe have had much higher engagement and better response from both our members and the local community regarding all of the improvements,โ Mayers says. โRARE 1981, in particular, has seen tremendous turnout for member events and from local residents, although GOAT and Palmhaus also have gotten great reviews.โ He also told me that the number of memberships has increased significantly since the improvements have been open.
On a recent Friday afternoon, Jannah and I checked in to our completely overhauled two-bedroom, two-bath suite (one of 451 rooms at the resort) โ which is bigger than some of my previous apartments. It not only had all-new carpeting and furnishings, but also new fixtures in the bathrooms, and the kitchen was full-sized, with a new freezer and ice maker, plus a full oven and four-burner cooktop, as well as a full coffeemaker (although there is also the BREW lobby cafรฉ for artisanal coffee drinks and on-the-go bites). Unlike when we last stayed at the resort, everything smelled as clean and fresh as it looked. The bed was super-comfy and there were also bedside connections for electronic devices.
27 Holes Of Championship Golf!ย
Our patio looked out onto the 9th hole of the newly revamped 9-hole Oak golf course, one of three 9-hole Rees Jones-designed layouts (left photo) that have replaced the two 18-hole Arnold Palmer-designed original courses. The former driving range, located just inside Saddlebrookโs front gate, is gone and has been replaced by a much better driving range and putting green using some of the former golf course space.ย
I was told by a guy at the golf and racquet sports pro shop that both the Oak and Pine courses are completely redone and together are now about a 7,000-yard, par-72 track. The Cypress, the third nine-hole course, is still having its renovations finalized. And yes, you can still play golf (as well as tennis and pickleball) at Saddlebrook without having a membership (see info below), whether you stay over at the resort or not.ย
27 Holes Of Championship Golf!ย
You also donโt have to be a member to play on Saddlebrookโs fabled 41 tennis courts that include every championship surface (even Wimbledon-style grass) or its eight gorgeous, new pickleball courts. You might, however, get to see some current and future tennis or golf pros training at the Saddlebrook Golf Academy, Happy Hopman Tennis Academy and Saddlebrook Preparatory School, all of which train at the resort, which also is the home of both the Professional Tennis and Professional Pickleball Registries. Thereโs also an amazing fitness center that resort guests can use as part of their $28 per night (per room, not per person) resort fee. And of course, thereโs also the renowned Saddlebrook Superpool, now made even better by the addition of the Palmhaus Pool Bar, which also features live entertainment on the weekends. Donโt want to deal with kids running around? The resort also has an adults-only pool.ย
Palmhaus Pool Bar!ย
(Top-bottom & l.-r.) The Palmhaus Pool Bar also features delicious food, like the ahi tuna pokรฉ bowl, a poolside burger, grilled mahi-mahi tacos and a variety of frozen drinks.ย
โThe Superpool now offers DJ music on the weekends,โ Mayers says, โand there are sound system enhancements being added out there.โ
He adds that there already are new sound systems installed inside GOAT and RARE that have outdoor patio broadcast capabilities, โeven for sporting events.โย
You also donโt have to be a member or even a resort guest to indulge yourself at the Spa at Saddlebrook, also known as Esthetics813, operated by Kyymara Rose Wickiser, an Aveda Spa alum and long-time aesthetician in the Wesley Chapel area.
Kyymara says, โEsthetics813 is a premier holistic wellness and spa program. We are proud to be among only two resorts in Florida offering a fully curated, comprehensive wellness program that goes far beyond traditional spa services.โ She adds that the Spaโs philosophy is โBare-Faced Naked, which has nothing to do with the absence of makeup. It is the courageous, beautiful act of being fully comfortable and confident in who you are.โ
Spa services include customized facials, therapeutic massages, body treatments, manicures and pedicures, yoga, stretch and aqua classes, guided meditation and more.
Memberships & Club
Saddlebrook offers a variety of memberships, from social to racquet sports to golf, and each membership type comes with its own set of privileges.
Mayers says that although there have been ongoing discussions about converting or replacing the building that formerly housed Dempseyโs Steak House as a private club for Saddlebrook members, โnothing has been finalized yet. But, we will provide updates as those plans solidify.โ
In other words, if you last visited Saddlebrook before all of these improvements came online, you owe it to yourself to visit again. Donโt expect anything to be โcheap,โ but I believe it is now well worth the money youโll spend.
For reservations and more info about Saddlebrook Resort (5700 Saddlebrook Way), call (813) 973-1111 or visit Saddlebrook.com. To book services at Esthetics813, visit Esthetics813TheSpaatSaddlebrook.com or call (813) 474-4486. Or, see the ad below. โ GNย
Valerie Simon returns a shot during the Serve for Strength tournament at Saddlebrook on Apr. 19.ย
Anyone who was ever an athlete whose career โ whether you had any chance of turning pro or going to the Olympics โ was cut short by injury can certainly relate to the story of Wesley Chapel resident Valerie Simon.
Once the top-rated girls tennis player in Florida, who was training at the Harry Hopman Tennis Academy at Saddlebrook Resort, and one of the top handful in the entire country, Valerie, who is now 18, tripped on a tennis ball in 2023 and the injury she suffered, according to her mother Daniella, โwas misdiagnosed as not being a fracture.โ
As the pain of the injury continued to get worse, rather than improve, Valerie ended up at the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) in New York City, where titanium rods were surgically implanted to repair her broken navicular bone.
Following the recommended healing time, Valerie entered and won the Dasani Georgia Mayorโs Cup Junior โSuper Championship,โ but after receiving the trophy, Valerie insisted โMy other foot is broken.โ Because she had put so much pressure on her non-surgical foot during the tournament, Daniella says, โshe now had a broken navicular bone in her other foot. Her career was over at barely 16 years old. She tried many time to go back to tennis,โ but couldnโt because of the โloadingโ you have to do to hit those power shots.
Making Lemonade
(l.-r.) Victoria, Valerie, Vanessa, Daniella, Jonathan and Zachary Simon.
After seeing how expensive her medical bills were, Daniella says, โShe made lemonade from lemons and turned pain into purpose,โ by starting โServe for Strength,โ a 501(c)(3) nonprofit โsupporting individuals and families facing life-changing health challenges…Through community-driven events, we raise funds for organizations that provide care and relief to those in need.
Because of the amazing surgeries she received at HSS, Daniella says the new organizations first three fund raisers were held in New York to benefit the Foot & Ankle Dept. at HSS.
โI felt very alone after my injuries,โ Valerie says. โI didnโt want anyone else to feel alone.โ
Valerie signed with the Professional Pickleball Association in Jan., so Daniella decided to host Serve for Strengthโs most recent fund raiser on Apr. 19, on the new eight-court pickleball complex at Saddlebrook, where the entire family โ twin sisters Vanessa and Victoria, 16, her father Jonathan and 13-year-old brother Zachary, as well as Daniella, all played or helped run the event.ย
โWe had about 170 people enter the tournament, where we had multiple menโs and womenโs divisions โ a total of 12 age brackets. We brought together people of all ages, from teens to people in their 80s. Some had only four teams, others had as many as twelve. Several of the players had taken clinics with our girls and were playing competitively for the first time ever. We even had a โMeet a Partner, Make a Friendโ event after the tournament ended because we had to shut down the entries.โ
So, how did the tournament do?
โWe ended up raising about $3,500 to help fund the Foundationโs future events,โ Daniella says, because everything we want to do costs money.โ
Thanking The Sponsors
Daniella says that without the help of the major sponsors, especially Saddlebrook, โWe could never have put on an event like this. They were wonderful. [Saddlebrook general manager] Jeff Mayers donated the courts and hospitality tents, plus waters for all players, ice, orange juice and fresh fruit. They also provided T-shirts for every player. Serve for Strength split the cost of the shirts.โ Other sponsors included Century 21 Molly Nye, Josรฉ Pomoles from State Farm, and Farina Orthodontics. โYes! Apples is a year-round sponsor, too,โ Daniella says.
Up next for Serve for Strength is an entire weekend at Saddlebrook โ Saturday & Sunday, June 6-7.
โSaturday will be another pickleball event and Sunday will be a โSwing for Strengthโ golf tournament,โ she says. โWeโre just really trying to get the word out that we are here to help.โ
For more information about Serve for Strength or to enter either event in June, visit ServeforStrength.org.
If you were thinking there couldnโt possibly be more โstuff โ coming to Wesley Chapel this year (or at least by early 2027), think again.
Among the projects that are well underway but that we donโt have any kind of timelines for include:
โข The completion of Mast Capitalโs $92 million improvements to Saddlebrook Resort (above). We showed you the improvements that have already been completed in our last couple of issues, but there is still plenty more to come.ย
Since the Brew coffee shop and Rare 1981 restaurant opened, the Palm House Grill out by the resortโs revamped Superpool also recently opened. Weโll show you pictures of the Palm Houseโs food and beverages next issue. We also were told that all 27 holes of Saddlebrookโs golf courses also are open.
Still to come this year? The Sports Tavern off the resortโs lobby and the Saddlebrook National private club for members only. Weโll update you about all of these improvements in future issues.
Pinecrest Academy High Schoolย
Here & There, This & That…
Avalon Park โ In addition to Phase 2 of Avalon Parkโs downtown expected to begin building, Avalon Park Blvd., connecting the communityโs single-family subdivisions with the downtown area, could be completed any day now and may even be open as youโre receiving this issue.
Pasco Fire Rescue Station No. 2ย
In addition, although the existing buildings at the Pinecrest Academy charter school are already serving kids in grades K-11, the separate, new Pinecrest Academy High School will open to grades 9-12 for the 2026-27 year, which will allow kids in Pinecrest Academyโs middle school (Grades 6-8) to have their own building.
Pasco Fire Rescue Station No. 2 โ The much-needed new fire station on S.R. 54, less than a mile east of the new AdventHealth Meadow Pointe Emergency Room, should be ready to open before the end of this year.
New Walmart (Morris Bridge Rd @ S.R. 56)ย
New Walmart โ Located southwest of the intersection of Morris Bridge Rd. and S.R. 56, Wesley Chapelโs second Walmart store hasnโt broken ground yet, so itโs possible that it may not be completed by the end of 2026, but it should at least begin building this year.
Two Rivers Updates โ Even though Two Rivers is all technically located in Zephyrhills (with a portion in Thonotosassa south of the Pasco-Hillsborough county line), the private club to be called The Landing at Two Rivers is well under way and could be completed before the end of 2026. We have no further updates on the planned Peak Surf Park in Two Rivers, but will try to update that story in an upcoming issue. โ GN
(l.-r.) Jordan Kornberg of Mast Capital, Pasco County Comm. Jack Mariano & Florida Sports Coast exec. director Adam Thomas were among those who took the first swings on the new driving range at Saddlebrook Resort on Dec. 11.ย (Photos by Charmaine George & Gary Nager)
Since Mast Capital purchased Saddlebrook Resort & Spa from the resortโs late founder and owner Tom Dempsey back in 2022, the Wesley Chapel community has been anxiously waiting to see what Mast was going to do to update and upgrade what was once the jewel of Wesley Chapel.
To that end, on Dec. 11, Saddlebrook and Mast unveiled the resortโs newly relocated golf driving range with a โfirst driveโ ceremony, a champagne toast and a great party that thunder, lightning and the possibility of heavy rain cut short.
With Saddlebrookโs former driving range along S.R. 54 being replaced with apartments, the range was relocated to a portion of the former Palmer Course, one of two Arnold Palmer-designed 18-hole courses at the resort. But, Mast decided to do away with nine of the Palmer Courseโs 18 holes and the new driving range takes up about six of the other nine holes.
When the renovations are complete, Saddlebrook will be left with 27 holes of championship golf.
(Above, l.-r.) Saddlebrook managing director Raj Mohan, Kornberg & Mariano all spoke at the event.ย
Mast Capital chief investment officer Jordan Kornberg promised that the new driving range โis just the beginning. We will be returning Saddlebrook to its former glory.โ
Among those joining Kornberg for the ceremonial first drive (complete with exploding golf balls) were the resortโs managing director Raj Mohan, District 1 Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano and Florida Sports Coast executive director Adam Thomas.
Mohan said he was looking forward to the community seeing the changes now in motion at Saddlebrook and Mariano also expressed excitement for the future of the resort.
Attendees were treated to a picnic-style lunch with fried chicken, beef brisket and curried pork with all the trimmings, as well as enough umbrellas for everyone in attendance, as heavy showers were a looming possibility.
For more information about Saddlebrook Resort, visit Saddlebrook.com or call (813) 973-1111.ย
