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Love is in the air in the Mohawk Valley, as is the smell of great food.
Carlloyd Gowe, owner of Island Breeze Bar and Grill in Utica, he cooks his signature Jerk Chicken on the outdoor grill year-round, even when the snow is knee-deep. His wife Sandra Gowe, co-owner of the business, returns home to his native Jamaica every few months to buy authentic ingredients for the restaurant.
“It’s not that we don’t have herbs here. [in Utica]but if you really want that Jamaican flavor, that Jamaican flavor, you bring those herbs and that vibe right here,” Carlloyd said.
Meanwhile, Barry Cavanaugh, co-owner Raindrops on Roses Bed & Breakfast in Herkimer with his wife Denise Cavanaugh, he prepares breakfast for guests himself. He said that he has a secret method for cooking bacon that he learned from his father and that guests always clamor for more.
![Sandra and Carlloyd Gowe laugh together by the outdoor grill at their restaurant, Island Breeze Bar & Grill.](https://www.uticaod.com/gcdn/authoring/authoring-images/2024/02/08/NOBD/72524770007-gowes-at-grill.jpg?width=300&height=400&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Denise calls it “Barry’s world famous bacon.”
“The breakfasts are excellent,” Denise said. “He’s not going to say that, so I’ll do it. I mean, he’s developed a lot since we opened. We’ve had guests come back and say, ‘Oh, I can’t wait to have breakfast again.’ It’s really amazing”.
Partners in business and in love.
The Gowes will celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary this month, while the Cavanaughs will mark 35 years of marriage in May. While some people may resist the idea of working and running a business with their partner, both couples find that the experience enhances their relationship.
That doesn’t mean the situation is always perfect. Sandra said she and Carlloyd sometimes have disagreements about the business.
“But before the day is over…” Carlloyd said.
Sandra finished the sentence for him: “Everything is fine.”
![An exterior view of Raindrops on Roses Bed & Breakfast in Herkimer, New York.](https://www.uticaod.com/gcdn/authoring/authoring-images/2024/02/08/NOBD/72524774007-raindrops-on-roses-exterior.jpg?width=660&height=495&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
The Cavanaughs take on different roles at the bed and breakfast that play to each of their strengths. Barry is retired and does all the cooking and cleaning. Denise is the Executive Director of the Herkimer County Chamber of Commerce and handles the accounting and organization of the business.
Both welcome and connect with guests, striving to create an atmosphere of warm hospitality.
“People think it’s the perfect match, and it is, because we really both provide the services that we are best at,” Denise said. “And we know each other pretty well, so we’re pretty good at making decisions together. And I think we have always supported each other in our different capacities.”
The Gowes opened Island Breeze Bar & Grill in 2006 on Oneida Street and opened their current location on Mandeville Street in 2018. Carlloyd, the chef, has loved cooking since he was six years old, watching his mother prepare home-cooked meals and copying what she did.
Sandra does a little bit of everything else at the restaurant, from getting supplies to serving. Sometimes, if Carlloyd feels overwhelmed in the kitchen, she steps in to help.
Much to celebrate
February is a month full of celebrations for the Goweses: in addition to Valentine’s Day, there is the anniversary of the opening of the Mandeville Street location, their eldest son’s birthday, Sandra’s birthday and their wedding anniversary.
A week before Valentine’s Day, the Gowes didn’t have any specific plans, but they didn’t feel like they were necessary.
![Sandra and Carlloyd Gowe chat in the bar of their restaurant, Island Breeze Bar & Grill.](https://www.uticaod.com/gcdn/authoring/authoring-images/2024/02/08/NOBD/72524771007-gowes-at-bar.jpg?width=300&height=400&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
“Every day is Valentine’s Day for us,” Sandra said. “We don’t need any special day to be Valentine’s Day.”
The Cavanaughs also find it important to always celebrate special occasions like anniversaries and Valentine’s Day, whether it’s simply going out to dinner or bringing small but meaningful gifts.
Denise said that while she never thought of her and her husband as a particularly romantic couple, she is surprised when she talks to colleagues and friends and finds that many don’t do anything for such occasions.
“I guess I’m a very occasion-loving person, but I think those are the little things that really matter,” Denise said. “And it makes me sad when I hear people who maybe have kids or are younger or something say, ‘Oh, we’ve never done anything for our anniversary.’ And I say, what? Wait a minute. “They have to celebrate something and really take time for each other.”
The Cavanaughs opened Raindrops and Roses in November 2021. Before opening theirs, they were fans of bed and breakfasts and often stayed at these properties for anniversaries or small romantic getaways.
“From the beginning we had this attraction and then we both love to travel,” Barry said. “When we got married, we decided to drive and stay in bed and breakfasts all over Ireland, and it was a really fantastic romantic experience that we shared together.”
Raindrops and Roses has a wine tasting room with selections from local wineries, Prospect Falls Winery and Rustic Ridge Winery. They rent two rose-themed rooms, the charming Victorian Rose Room and the larger, more luxurious Tiffany Rose Room. Both rooms have private bathrooms and gas fireplaces, and the Tiffany Rose room includes a whirlpool tub.
A week before Valentine’s Day, the Cavanaughs also had no firm plans for the holiday, but they knew they would celebrate the occasion, perhaps spending a night curled up by the fire in Tiffany Rose’s bedroom.
![The Tiffany Rose Room at Raindrops on Roses Bed & Breakfast in Herkimer, New York.](https://www.uticaod.com/gcdn/authoring/authoring-images/2024/02/08/NOBD/72524777007-tiffany-rose-room.jpg?width=660&height=495&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Sparks fly, love endures
The Gowes said they were instantly attracted to each other when they met in Jamaica more than 35 years ago. Sandra immediately noticed Carlloyd’s appearance and her bright smile.
“I told my friend, ‘Oh, I have to catch him.’ He is mine. That’s my husband over there,’” Sandra said. “I claimed it right there.”
Carlloyd echoes Sandra’s memory of their first meeting.
“It was everything, his looks, his personality, everything,” he said. “He was just looking at her and thinking, ‘Oh my God, I really like this girl and I don’t want anyone else.’ “We have our ups and downs, but we still get through it all together.”
The Gowes plan to bring out special red tablecloths and hand out roses to customers for the holidays. The interior of Island Breeze is painted in vivid shades of sunshine yellow and ocean blue. Flags of different nations hang from the ceiling, reflecting the Gowes’ desire to welcome everyone.
“That’s why we do this, for our community,” Carlloyd said. “Island Breeze is for the community. And not just this community – everywhere. “I want to spread that good love.”
![Barry and Denise Cavanaugh are behind the bar in their wine tasting room at Raindrops on Roses Bed & Breakfast.](https://www.uticaod.com/gcdn/authoring/authoring-images/2024/02/08/NOBD/72527361007-cavanaughs-at-wine-bar.jpg?width=414&height=414&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
The Cavanaughs are offering a Valentine’s special that includes a complimentary bottle of champagne and fresh-baked cookies, courtesy of Barry, although they noted that January and February tend to be the slowest times of year for bookings.
The Cavanaughs love chatting with guests from all over and learning their stories.
The couple feels that they are a good couple and that their love is very lasting because their personalities complement each other and they can depend on each other for support. When they met, they were attracted to each other’s sense of humor and felt like they hit it off immediately.
“We can recite a lot of stories about when I’m crazy about something and then he says something ridiculous and we both end up laughing,” Denise said. “It’s very important. I admire Barry’s calmness, his ability to be content, which I don’t have. I think we really love the traits in each other that we don’t have. I admire his acumen with sports. He’s kind, calm and a good person”.
While Denise credits Barry for his excellent cooking and steady temperament, Barry credits Denise for making his dream of owning a bed and breakfast a reality.
“I love his personality, his looks, his knowledge, his drive,” Barry said. “If he was alone, he wouldn’t be sitting in a bed and breakfast right now. His ability to do things and do them well is amazing.”
Although the Gowes spend all day together at the restaurant, they make a point to snuggle together and watch a movie or television every night. That quality time is essential, they said.
“We are still madly in love after all these years,” Carlloyd said.
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