John Willoughby
reporter2@greenepublishing.com
Without much thought, can you recite "The Muffin Man" song – yes, the same traditional nursery rhyme that refers to the famous baker who lives on Drury Lane? Surely, the Muffin Man is still around, and while he may rightly live somewhere along Drury Lane, the Muffin Man is bringing the sweets, and other delectables, to you!
For the last several months, Ft. Lauderdale-native Erik Wolfer, the Muffin Man himself, has been working diligently in preparation of opening his bakery and restaurant, the Muffin Man Mania Mess Hall, at the corner of County Road 255 and US Hwy. 90, in Lee. Wolfer hopes to open the doors of the restaurant dedicated to his late brother, Gunnery Sergeant Karl Wolfer, sometime in July.
While the jovial Wolfer has been in the food industry for the last 37 years, how did he exactly find himself in such a jolly role as the Muffin Man? Since taking on his role, Wolfer has become a figure at the annual Camelot Days Medieval Festival, in Hollywood, Fla. The first year at the festival, Wolfer brought muffins, cookies, brownies and other goods as the only dessert vendor on the premises. And while selling the goods didn't make enough to cover the costs associated with participating on the first day, he knew he needed to do something different on the second and final day if there was any chance at saving money from being lost.
"We didn't cover squat for our expenses for the first day," he added. "The next day, we go ahead [with the festival]. We're half-way through the day and I'm like 'I've got to do something." It was there he picked up the biggest wicker basket he had, filled it with assorted baked goods and began walking around the festival, singing catchy tunes, including his theme song, "The Muffin Man." Since then, Wolfer is often found at the festival, and select events, dressed in his blousing blue shirt and the famous chef hat (formally known as a toque). "I've had so much fun in general," the character notes.
Aside from his self-made gig, Wolfer has enjoyed cooking and baking for the last 37 years of his life, and so far, there's no stopping him. He got his start as a bus boy at Marie's Restaurant and Pizzeria, a small Italian establishment, just days after his 16th birthday. Once he transferred positions to become a dishwasher in the kitchen, he's never left the kitchen area of a restaurant. Over the years, Wolfer walked into positions and gained experience in serving as an executive chef, a kitchen manager, line cook and other back-of-house duties.
"I've done it all, from fast-food to fine dining and back," Wolfer undeniably states. When asked about a speciality, he will tell you he doesn't have one. However, he does refer to an experience he had as an executive chef in Colorado. "[An individual] went ahead and said, 'Do you want to learn how to do Jamaican food? I'm like, 'Oh heck yeah.' So he brought a woman in – four hours a day, five days a week for a month – We had so much fun," while Wolfer learned how to cook delicious oxtail, items with curry, stew peas and other delicious plates.
Wolfer moved to Lee in 2013, and recently purchased the building on the southeast end of the only caution light in the Town of Lee. That store, for many years, held the favored Archie's, known for their prime rib dinners, as well as a number of other restaurants and stores. But, to Wolfer, it was a unique opportunity to honor his brother in the best way he knew how.
Gunnery Sergeant (GySgt.) Karl Wolfer was a 21-year veteran of the United States Marine Corps. GySgt. Wolfer served as a cook for Marine Corps-sanctioned mess halls. Known as a councilman in a town in North Carolina, Wolfer was followed from the store he was operating to his condo in Lighthouse Point, Fla., where he was found in the early morning hours of July 7, 2017, dead from two gunshot wounds to the head. He was murdered at the age of 54, and Miami-resident Terrance Leonard Mathis was taken into custody in August of that year.
"He was just a 100 percent all-american kind of guy," Wolfer noted. "He loved to see people smile just like I do."
As far as what Wolfer thinks of being able to honor his brother by naming the restaurant a mess hall, he calls it "amazing." "I wish I didn't have to. I kind of wish I had him cooking next to me. People say 'If you had one day, what would you do?' We'd set up a freaking buffet."
The Muffin Man Mania Mess Hall will feature a variety of baked goods and gourmet dishes, including his favorite, Hot Beef Sundae, which mirrors a banana split. The Hot Beef Sundae offers three scoops of mashed potatoes, topped with shredded beef and gravy, with a dollop of sour cream and a grape tomato. Breakfast and lunch will be served Monday through Saturday, with a brunch buffet available for hungry residents after Sunday services. Dinner will be served Wednesday through Saturday. Specials will also be offered on select days, such as Muffin Monday, Taco Tuesday and other themed specials.