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Orthopedic surgeon invites us into Montelucia Villa home.
“This age old remedy calls for the golden type of raisins,” said Dr. Marc Rosen, referring to the arthritis pain reliever of gin soaked raisins. The orthopedic surgeon had just returned home from a long day in the operating room and joined his wife Marlene in the kitchen of their charming Montelucia Villa nestled beneath Camelback Mountain. “It’s very easy to make a batch,” he pointed out. “All you do is soak the raisins in gin in a bowl for about a week until the gin evaporates. But only eat a handful or so per day, because let’s not forget that raisins are full of sugar.”
Even the Rosen’s dog Pancho who ironically has arthritis, was curious about the homemade therapy. But the Rosen’s kitchen isn’t the only place that this surgeon has shared his opinion on the folk therapy. The gins and raisins remedy were part of the business seminar he hosted on arthritis. He held the seminar at the InterContinental Montelucia Resort & Spa. Now, as a Villa resident, the luxurious resort is not only part of Rosen’s neighborhood, but a major part of his lifestyle. “Since Marlene and I are both involved and support the Arthritis Foundation, we helped arrange for its upcoming fundraiser to be held at the resort,” he said of the Oscar Night America planned for February 27, 2011 to benefit the Arthritis Foundation Greater Southwest Chapter.
The Rosens, who were the first residents to move into the charming Monetlucia Villas in Paradise Valley, frequently enjoy taking advantage of the resort’s facilities for business and charitable meetings.
Rosens on their bike trip through Yellowstone Park
The couple who by the way are motorcycle enthusiasts with three bikes in their villa garage, appreciate their concierge lifestyle. “All we have to do is walk outside our door steps away to enjoy the resorts’ spa and exercise facilities,” said Marlene. It’s a big part of why they bought the two-story villa reminiscent of Spain’s Andalusia region.
In fact, the Rosens often “hop” over to Crave Café for coffee, or Prado for dinner, the resort’s restaurant where they serve up gourmet Italian dishes with a Spanish influence and the air is filled with the aroma of the wood fired grill. “Chef Claudio makes this wonderful eggplant parmesan,” said Marlene of Chef Claudio Urciuoli, “It takes them two days to specially prepare it.”
Marlene who is on the committee of the Oscar Night America, is helping to plan the black tie affair in the resort’s ballroom. Tickets for the dinner to watch the Academy Awards live start at $500 per person. The proceeds will benefit the 1.7 million people in Arizona and New Mexico who live with arthritis. For more details you can call the Arthritis Foundation Greater Southwest Chapter at 602.956.9400.
Kathy Shayna Shocket is a Phoenix based writer. If you have a good item for The AZ Insider, you can email her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
