The Coastal Home Group Foodie Fems

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Jenn Bolognese, Sherri Fay, Nikki-lyn Holm, Tara Masters, Jenna Barley enjoying dinner and drinks at Vitos Italian Restaurant in Fruit Cove

That's Amore!

"When the moon hits your eye, Like a big pizza pie, that's amore...When the world seems to shine, Like you've had too much wine, that's amore...” Amore means “love” in Italian, and The Coastal Home Group ladies absolutely LOVE their Italian meals together. They also love supporting and promoting local businesses, and dining at favorite restaurants while holding business meetings, or simply celebrating after a successful closing or two.

Eleven years ago, Nikki Holm dabbled in culinary management, as her dream was to open an Italian wine bistro one day. Luckily for St. Johns families looking for the perfect home, she left the kitchen and pursued real estate.

As the leader of this all-female team, The Coastal Home Group, Nikki surrounds herself with a collaborative group of realtors who are focused on delivering high-level client satisfaction. Each woman brings empathy, respect, and compassion to the table as well as the crucial ability to multi-task. The result is a heart-centered and dynamic team clients love and appreciate.

​Each woman brings empathy, respect, and compassion to the table as well as the crucial ability to multi-task.
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In this year’s Food and Wine issue, The Coastal Home Group focused on their favorite Italian restaurants & pizza joints in St. Johns and the surrounding area. All the girls love discovering new restaurants and sharing their findings with the community. They believe that food is a powerful way to connect and can often be found exploring the local food scene, taking photos, and making suggestions about the best places to dine in and around Saint Johns.

Fun Fact: Nikki was partially raised by her Italian side of the family, and Jenn, the Operations Manager has the last name of a pasta sauce, (Bolognese) so this theme was a natural fit for them.

The Team's Top 5 Best Italian Restaurants in Town

Nikki-Lyn Holm 
Favorite: Vitos
Nikki: Hand’s down, it’s Vito’s Italian Restaurant in Fruit Cove. This spot is the go-to celebration place for her family. One of the reasons this authentic, organic, and delicious food resonates with her, is both the owner and her grandfather are Sicilian. The sauce is very nostalgic to that which she grew up eating. Nikki’s Go-To Dishes are Vito’s salad, Chicken Ala Rosa, or Filet Mignon with a merlot sauce on the side, and fettuccini. (Not exactly how it comes, but that’s how Nikki orders….her way)

Why We Love Vitos? 
“The piano bar offers a more casual and lighthearted place to dine. The owner Giulio is the most caring, fun, consistent, and personable chef in town. He always walks around and checks on his patrons. Consistently ranked as the BEST Italian restaurant in the area, year after year. Giulio says he makes “friends” not customers….Friends are for life!”     -Nikki-Lyn


Jenn Bolognese
Favorite: Catullo's Italian
Catullo's Italian restaurant in Nocatee is one of my favorite places to dine. I love the fresh-from-scratch ingredients, family recipes, and the clean, yet modern aesthetic of the interior. The wait staff and service are always exceptional, and the food...well the food speaks for itself. The Tortellacci di Ricotta e Spinaci - incredible. I promise you, your meal is worth the wait. (Nikki’s fave here: Pear Gnocchi)

Originally from Rhode Island, Jenn’s  journey in real estate began over 10 years ago as a licensed agent, however, her true calling lies in the intricate world of operations where she showcases organizational skills and a passion for optimizing processes. Beyond her professional accomplishments, Jennifer is a dedicated wife and mother, with a beautiful family of six children, and one grandchild.

Sherri Fay
Favorite: Enza’s
Enza’s is Sherri Fay’s go-to Italian Restaurant. The food is authentic, fresh, and delicious! Her go-to meal for starters is the handmade meatball for the table. It is served with dollops of ricotta and marinara sauce. For the main course, it will almost always be the Chicken Marsala. This dish is made with the best marsala wine and mushrooms. It always leaves her entirely too full but she cannot leave without having the homemade Cannoli! Some of the Fay Family favorites are Chicken Parmigiana, Fettuccine Alfredo, Baked Ziti, and Lasagna. You really can't go wrong with anything on the menu. If you haven't tried Enza’s, she strongly recommends you do and make a reservation. She hopes you enjoy it as much as they do! 

Sherri was born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina. When she was 19 she moved to Virginia Beach where she lived until she moved to Saint Johns County in 2017.  She is a mom of 5, with three in college and two in high school. She has been a Realtor for 7 years and started her love for the industry in property management. It brings her great joy serving the community, providing expert advice in real estate, getting to know families on a personal level, and making lifelong connections.

Tara Masters
Favorite: Al Dente’s
Tara enjoys the small, family owned atmosphere at Al Dente’s. It is a favorite dining spot during her work week. Whether you are going for happy hour, appetizers, or a full pasta dish, there is something for everyone. Seafood is normally not on the top of her list to order at an Italian restaurant, but at Al Dente’s… they do it right! The garlic shrimp is one of her favorite appetizers. What she really craves though is the Penne Al Vodka with Shrimp. She will even smother the sauce over steamed broccoli. It’s so good she could drink it with a straw! Mangiamo!

Tara has been in the Saint Johns area for the past 24 years. She moved here from Ormond Beach to attend The University of North Florida. She has always had a heart to help and serve people. Building relationships and having good communication is of utmost importance to her.  She does all of this while raising five kids and spending time with her grandson any chance she gets.  

Jenna Barley
Favorite: Pizza Time
Jenna was born in Connecticut and raised in Pennsylvania. She met her college sweetheart at Penn State University. 5 years ago, her family decided to move to Florida. They have been enjoying the Florida sun more than imagined! The Barley’s have two fun-loving boys and just celebrated their 17-year anniversary. In addition to her wonderful family, Jenna loves carbs! Whenever she goes to downtown Saint Augustine, Pizza time is one of her favorite stops! The giant New York style slices of deliciousness and the garlic knots are beyond amazing! Anytime her family and friends visit from out of town, Pizza time is always a huge hit!