Susan McKenna Grant never settles for “good enough.” She didn’t settle for mediocrity when she helped found Alias- the Toronto-based company that developed animation software for blockbusters like Toy Story - and she doesn’t settle for it now on her pristine property in Chianti Classico, Italy. From high end software to high-end agriturismo, where guests are treated to farm-fresh fare and relax in the lap of luxury, McKenna Grant does nothing by halves.
McKenna Grant's La Petraia
A picture-perfect property tucked a few kilometers off a winding country road, McKenna Grant’s “La Petraia” is a fabled sort of place where the scent of lavender caresses weary travelers who are lucky enough to visit. Over a decade ago, McKenna Grant sold her part of Alias and left with her husband, Canadian filmmaker Michael Grant, in search of a place that met their criteria. “It had to be self-sufficient, it had to have architectural integrity and be in a sound environment,” she explains.
Place of Stone
La Petraia- or place of stone- was that place in spades. The couple was “seduced” by the rambling 165 acre property, boasting a forest where wild boar are hunted and share the space with Cinta Senese pigs (a medieval breed), organic gardens, a vineyard and an olive grove. It also boasts a rambling farmhouse that the couple has painstakingly restored and updated while staying true to its ancient Italian roots.
McKenna Grant ‘s existence might seem like a Shangri La existence to the outsider- and to this, she says smiling, “My husband always says, ‘It’s an easier movie to watch than it is to make.” Her busy days are filled with farming, managing the property and staff, and cooking gourmet meals (worth the visit alone!) inspired by the land’s bounty for guests. She calls her food “La Petraia inspired” and it can range from a “study in red” lasagnette, with every component being made in-house, to a grilled medallion of the Cinta Senese pork with vegetables from the “orto” (or garden). Currently, she’s working with ex JK Wine Bar head chef Toby Nemeth and husband Michael Caballo in and outside of the kitchen.
Literally from Field to Fork
This Toronto triumvirate produces awe-inspiring culinary experiences in one of the most breathtaking places on earth, and they do it exceedingly well – which in Susan’s books is a must. After all, she and husband Michael have invested a sizable sum of their life savings into their dream. McKenna Grant says, “People thought we were crazy when we told them what we were planning to do here. Every step of the way has been scary,” she says adding, “But I figure nothing worth doing is ever really easy.” One step around the Etruscan-style terraced gardens or one bite of her perfectly made fresh fig tart and you know that all the work was well worth it.
Mary Luz Mejia - Colombian-born and Canadian raised. After earning an honours History degree from Queen's University and a Journalism post-grad diploma ...
