Titus Letschert, founder of Café L'Europe, was born in Holland.

His culinary journey began when he met Executive Chef Holsher for Dikker and Thyss Restaurant in Amsterdam, when he was a child.

He showed Titus around the kitchen and he was immediately sold on the restaurant business. After graduating from Saint Hubertes Hotel and Restaurant School in Amsterdam, he held various restaurant positions in Holland, Germany, Canada and Bermuda before deciding to venture off to America.

Arriving in New York City with $500 and one suitcase; first staying at the YMCA, he took a position at Bill Paley's Ground Floor Restaurant as Assistant General Manager.

While working there, he orchestrated the delivery of 20,000 tulips from Holland for the wedding of Tiny Tim (who wrote and sang the song "Tiptoe through the Tulips") and Miss Vicki. The ceremony aired on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show in December 1969 which at the time had the highest volume viewing audience for that show, drawing 40 million viewers.

Titus co-managed the Sign of the Dove Restaurant and Yellow Finger Discotheque on the Upper East Side of Manhattan which is where he met Norbert Goldner.

The two men bonded and agreed that some day they would combine their Dutch and German influences and open a continental restaurant.

While visiting a friend in Sarasota, Titus found the perfect location for their shared dream. The property located on elegant St. Armands Circle, which was originally owned by John Ringling and used as his real estate office, was occupied at the time by Columbi's Italian Restaurant.

Café L'Europe became one of the first restaurants in Sarasota to specialize in continental cuisine on January 21, 1973.

The Café L'Europe vision and namesake were inspired by the classic European ambiance of the popular L'Europe Hotel in Amsterdam.

Unfortunately, Titus Letschert lost his battle with cancer in February 2011. His widow, Betsie Coolidge who ran the business with him for the past 20 years continues his legacy.

Some of Betsie's favorite menus items are the Brandied Duckling, Dover Sole Meuniere, Chateaubriand served table side and Lobster Bisque.