The Story of our ‘Lees’
ItaLees isn’t just a name. It’s two stories, converging.
Much of Lindsey’s childhood was spent on a farm in Medina, Ohio where her Great Aunt Sandra Lee (Aunt Sandie) taught her what hospitality actually looks like. The farm was *the* place for family gatherings and friends events – even a SNOBS Brewfest or two. Once, a large group of friends accidentally crashed a family gathering, and without missing a beat, Aunt Sandie made space, gathered supplies, and welcomed every single one of them as if they’d been expected all along. No fuss. Just room at the table. Lindsey never forgot it.
The Farm is where Lindsey learned to plant and harvest tomatoes, make sauce from scratch, roll meatballs by hand, and love Italian food the way you love something that connects you to people. Aunt Sandie radiated hospitality and her influence on Lindsey was tangible.
When Lindsey was 13, she walked into her grandmother’s favorite restaurant and asked for (and got) a job. She has been in the industry since, rising from hostess to owner.
Renee grew up near Chautauqua Lake, in a house that smelled like rising bread and her grandmother’s chocolate clove cookies. With grandparents from Sicily and Abruzzo, everything was made by hand including the wine which came from two barrels in the dirt cellar. Her grandmother never ate a hot meal – always serving others.
When she met her significant other Lee, she learned he loved to cook…for a crowd. Cooking for two posed a real problem. For 15 years Lee volunteered with the Army Reserve and would feed over a hundred soldiers and families at a time. She was so lucky to have met someone passionate and who loved when people gathered together. They built a life around food and friends.
Renee was also 13 when she got a food-service job – loading cotton candy onto boards for vendors at Cleveland Municipal Stadium. In 2008 she got a job as a restaurant hostess, like Lindsey.
For Lindsey – family has become the foundation of everything she does. She married her husband, who she first met in high school, in the Grand Tetons and they spend much of their time outdoors.
But life isn’t without sadness. In 2019, Aunt Sandie passed away after a long battle with cancer. But Lindsey found joy again in 2022 when she and her husband welcomed son Barret into their lives. Weekly camping trips remind them of the Farm, and of the deep-rooted sense of family and hospitality.
And in 2022, after 22 lucky years together, Renee lost Lee to a devastating stroke. With an incredible amount of support from an unmatched network of friends, Renee operates from a mindset of gratitude. The lessons of service from her grandmother, and Lee’s love of gathering with friends is something to be carried on and nurtured here.
Lindsey strives to share her vision of hospitality with the world every day. The example taught by Aunt Sandie (Sandra Lee) is one combining thoughtful food, meaningful connection, and a space where every guest feels seen, welcomed, and at home.
Two women. Two Lees. One name.
Both of us came to this place through people who believed that feeding someone is an act of love. That a full table means something. Every guest deserves to feel expected, welcomed, and cared for through great service and hospitality. ItaLees is our way of honoring that and of passing it on to you.
Welcome to ItaLees!
Need to reach out? Email us at admin@italeeskitchen.com