May Practitioners

Honoring Mothers and Asian American Heritage

HAI TRAN

Sommelier

Hai Tran has been in wine for 14 years, but with a background in science from Duke University, the wine industry was not an obvious career path. As a first-generation Vietnamese-American, wine had virtually no presence during his upbringing in Orlando, FL but a stint in the restaurant industry, while pursuing a career in biotechnology, proved transformative as his exposure to fine dining and the world of wine sparked a new calling. Looking for a way into the wine industry, he started on the distribution side before landing an opportunity in 2008 as Wine Director for one of the most unique fine dining experiences in North Carolina centered around Southeast Asian flavors at ă New World Cuisine.

This led to opportunities to oversee the programs of two luxury hotels, The Umstead Hotel and Spa (Cary, NC) and The Rittenhouse (Philadelphia, PA), and in 2016 he was named one of the “Top 40 under 40 Taste Makers” by Wine Enthusiast magazine.

In 2020 he was leading the wine program for Starr Restaurant Group’s luxury steakhouse, Barclay Prime before COVID-19 hit, so with the challenges that were brought on by the pandemic, he joined Sommation Live, a collective of nine sommeliers working to promote the beverage industry through the lens of the sommelier, while keeping the doors open for all, and promoting mental and physical wellness.

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CHEF SHIN HORIGUCHI

Born and raised in Tokyo, Japan, Shin drew inspiration and learned authentic Japanese recipes from his parents. In his household, cooking was truly a family affair. His mother inspired his love of culinary art using only homemade ingredients and authentic recipes. Throughout his teenage years, he stayed focused on his goal. At 18, he entered the Tokyo Gakuen School of Culinary Art’s. After graduating, he began his culinary career at the Tokyo Bay Hilton, where he created innovative Italian, Indian and Continental entrees, and at Nadaman in Tokyo Bay Sheraton, where he gained experience in traditional Japanese cuisine.

In 1992, he moved to America and opened a Japanese restaurant in Palm Desert, CA. After proudly owning the business for 24 years, he decided to challenge himself in a new environment and test his abilities. Now, he works with private clubs and hotels in several states for consulting and serving at private events and banquets.

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LOLA'S APOTHECARY

After experiencing all the excitement of city life in London, Dominic dreamt of helping others on their own winding paths to wellness & inner peace. He had been lucky enough to grow up on an idyllic farm in Devon, surrounded by the beautiful British countryside. He climbed trees, fed baby lambs, swam in the River Taw & was constantly astounded by the many wonders of nature around him. Dominic discovered the magic of spa massage for the very first time on a family holiday in Greece as a young boy.

Wishing to combine his passions for Spa, wellness & nature into one holistic vision, Dominic set out to create a range of couture natural beauty, spa & wellness wonders, to be handmade by inspired artisans on his picturesque family estate.

Each product would be thoughtfully curated to bring joy, wellness & peace to the recipient. The products would be made by hand in small batches, capturing the magic of essential oil fragrance & the joyful love of nature in every bottle. The products would be packaged only in glass, protecting and honoring the potent natural materials within. The business would be a pioneer in sustainability, respecting the environment with every decision.

Dominic has assembled a team of inspired artisans from the local community in Devon. Each of these wonderful visionaries shares his passion and commitment to the founding principles of Lola’s Apothecary.

All of the products are effective yet gentle, inspired by nature and created with aromatherapeutic benefits in mind. Our thoughtfully designed beauty wonders combine glamour & decadence into the most luxurious of natural skin treats.

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ANNY STERN

Anny Stern grew surrounded by the beauty and vast variety of semi-precious stones and they always fascinated her with their wonderful colors and energy.

The first piece Anny remembers designing was when she was around eight years old. Her grandparents had a tremendous influence in this process. She still remembers that day, one of the many very special afternoons at her grandparent’s house; her grandmother looked at her and said: “see this crystal necklace and the pearls I have aside? I want you to take this necklace apart and redesign it, putting the pearls into it and creating a new piece.” Anny answered: “I do not know how to do it”, her grandma ignored her answer and said: “Yes you do, I know you do! Sit down and we will make it happen.”

The seed of ANNY STERN™ Fashion Jewelry was planted on that day and germinated in 2001 as a result of the fusion of a professional background in business and a gifted talent for jewelry design when, during a day of fun, Anny “magically” found herself at Saks Fifth Avenue at Worth Avenue in Palm Beach – Florida negotiating an event with the store jewelry manager who admired her necklace.

Whenever someone asks Anny Stern about how she got into the jewelry business, she has only one explanation to give. “IT’S A GIFT, everybody has a gift in life, and I call this a gift. I don’t have a lot of explanation, it just happens.” And lest her creativity be compromised, she readily admits that business is part of her, too. With her creative juices flowing and her business acumen, Anny Stern has built a viable, successful business career with her “gift.”

ANNY STERN™ Fashion Jewelry is these days showcased at prestigious locations and very high end boutiques.Anny Stern creates every single piece as part of herself; she infuses them with feelings, personality, and good energy. She designs her pieces wishing that customers will enjoy wearing her jewelry as much as she enjoys making them.
The stones are chosen with love; Anny Stern can feel that the stones talk to her like they know what they want to be. This can sound a little strange but it is the way she creates her designs, she looks at the stones, and if they “connect” then she will move forward with the creation process…it is like a love relationship. For this reason, she definitely believes all pieces are infused with good vibes.

Anny personally thinks it is all about the details, so every piece is meticulously designed and examined paying attention to that. ANNY STERN™ jewelry is designed with semi-precious stones and precious metals including sterling silver and 18k gold plated. Quality is a must on every single piece she designs, Anny loves paying attention to details, the little things that make the final piece unique.

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TALAY

At Talay, a dining location at our Montage Los Cabos property, is home to a Thai-inspired menu served street truck-style by Chef Marc Narongchai. With a sense of casual authenticity, wild creativity and a true appreciation for Thai culture, customs and ingredients, Talay brings a distinct, contemporary style to Thailand’s casual and inspired food truck culture with tropical surroundings, fire-grilled favorites and cocktails inspired by the country’s one-of-a-kind flavor.

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