Coral Gables February 2023

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“ NINO WAS CERTAINLY THE ULTIMATE HOST. YOU CAN SEE BY THE TURNOUT TODAY NOT ONLY HOW POPULAR NINO WAS, BUT HOW MUCH HE WAS LOVED.

MEMORIES OF SALLYE

In a city populated by an extraordinary array of talented people, every so often someone comes along who is so remarkable that they deserve special recognition. Sallye Jude, who recently passed away at the age of 96, was such a person.

VILLAGE HOMES TOUR

A glimpse into The Villagers’ annual House Tour. The Villagers, a nonprofit which supports preservation efforts county-wide, recently held its annual House Tour in Coral Gables. This signature fundraiser – the 37th House Tour in the organization’s 56-year history – allows participants to enter private historic homes.

HISTORIC HOMES GET A LITTLE TLC

Throughout the year, the Historic Preservation Board of Coral Gables makes pitches to the City Commission applying for Ad Valorem tax relief for restored historic properties. The renovations are striking, transforming a poorly kept home with a history into an updated version that pays homage to its original features.

You can help provide timely, lifesaving care to those who need it most. BaptistHealth.net/GenerosityHeals or 786-467-5400.

Why It Matters: Baptist Hospital Rooftop Helipad

Patient transports since October 2020

In 2017, the Ocean Reef community in Key Largo committed to a multi-year campaign to raise the funds needed to build a helipad on the roof of Baptist Health’s Baptist Hospital Victor E. Clarke Emergency Center. Previously, patients had to be transported in an ambulance from a groundlevel helipad to the emergency center, wasting precious minutes getting them to treatment for life-threatening conditions such as stroke, heart attacks and trauma. The philanthropic efforts of the Ocean Reef community provided much of the $9 million needed for the new helipad, which opened in October 2020.

Time flies in medical emergencies. But thanks to the compassion of our donors, Baptist Health will always keep up.

When time is of the essence, generosity delivers.

Being More Like Sallye

Ifirst heard about Sallye Jude decades ago, when I went to have a drink at the Miami River Inn. She was the proprietor – and the restorer – of this historic property. I remember wondering who she was and thinking how great it was to have someone like her in the city.

Many years later, I had the privilege of attending an event at Java Head, the historic property on the Coral Gables waterway where she lived for many years. That home – impeccably restored – was fascinating and magnificent. But equally impressive was the botanical garden she had planted there, including several tall, willowy Rainbow Eucalyptus trees, which I had never seen before.

Now, we are dedicating our first annual Home & Garden Issue to her and the superb example she set for civic involvement, demonstrating the power that a single person has to make the world a better place. Her decades of unswerving dedication to historic preservation and her love of horticulture are inspirational.

In pondering her contributions to the community, we wonder what lessons we could take from her life. If she were alive today, what would she say?

I think her first words of advice would be to plant more trees – one of the reasons her beloved Coral Gables Garden Club dedicated its Canopy Project to her. As Sallye once said, “If everyone planted one tree, we could make a difference.”

She would also ask you to avoid the use of all plastics and foams, which are of course not biodegradable, and to reduce your use of paper – yes, even paper towels – to help preserve our forests.

In terms of specific calls to action, among her last priorities were two: one, to make the culturally preserved Marjory Stoneman Douglass House (now on the National Register of Historic Places, thanks to Sallye) a museum and education hub open to the public; and two, to preserve the Garden of our Lord at the St. James Church across from the Coral Gables Woman’s Club, now threatened with a developer’s bulldozer. It was designed by the same architect as Java Head, Robert Fitch Smith.

We will do our best.

JP FABER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF CORAL GABLES MAGAZINE

CEO & PUBLISHER

Richard Roffman

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

J.P. Faber

EVP / PUBLISHER

Gail Scott

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

Amy Donner

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

Monica Del Carpio-Raucci

VP SALES

Sherry Adams

MANAGING EDITOR

Kylie Wang

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Gabrielle Lord

ART DIRECTOR

Jon Braeley

EDITOR-AT-LARGE

Grace Carricarte

SENIOR WRITERS

Mike Clary

Karen Buchsbaum

WRITERS

Andrew Gayle

Patrick Alexander

PROOFREADER

Lesley Fonger

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Rodolfo Benitez

Tiege Dolly

Jeff Wade

Ezra Stoller

PRODUCTION MANAGER

Toni Kirkland

CIRCULATION & DISTRIBUTION

CircIntel

OFFICIAL FRAMER

Adam Brand / Frames USA

Coral Gables Magazine is published monthly by City Regional Media, 1200 Anastasia Ave. Suite 115, Coral Gables FL 33134. Telephone: (305) 995-0995. Copyright 2023 by City Regional Media. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part of any text, photograph or illustration without prior written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Send address changes to subscriptions@coralgablesmagazine. com. General mailbox email and letters to editor@coralgablesmagazine.com.

On the cover: Painting of Sallye Jude, photographed by Rodolfo Benitez, courtesy of the Jude family

a bank that cares about you.

Each month, we print letters we receive from our readers. We encourage all commentary, including criticism as well as compliments, and any thoughts about our community. If you are interested, please send your thoughts to letters@coralgablesmagazine.com. Letters are edited for brevity.

No Room for Pickleball

I read with interest your article “In a Pickle” in the Streetwise/Sports Section of your December 2022 issue. I have played Pickleball a few times and appreciate the growth the sport is experiencing.

My apartment overlooks Phillips Park and, since I moved here from Orlando in Spring 2022, I have enjoyed watching residents of Coral Gables use the park. Not a day passes when I do not see tennis lessons before sunrise (the courts are used all day), the nearby school facilitating physical education classes on the field, pickup soccer and rugby games every day, birthday parties nearly every week, basketball games on the paved court, and countless adults using the quarter-mile track to work out.

So why is the city investing $8 million in taxpayer funds to improve a park that, from my perspective, is used and enjoyed 100 percent of the time? Where does the city plan to locate pickleball courts when every square foot of the park is currently being used? David

Harries, resident

Get Your Facts Straight

In your last issue, an article states that the Maude Black Cottage, “built as a barn in 1866 by Charles Siebold... was converted to a home in 1899 and is now privately owned.”

Here is the real story... Charles Siebold came to Miami circa 1873 by way of Brooklyn (Arva Parks interview with Mrs. Maude Richards Siebold Black, 1971). Mr. Siebold purchased a 40-acre tract where the building in question sits on Old Cutler Road in 1891 (Dade County Deed from 1891). During the same interview, Maude recalled that the structure was originally a barn but was converted into a house by the time she married Mr. Siebold in 1899. This indicates that the structure was constructed sometime between 1891 and 1899.

After Mr. Siebold passed away, Maude married Charles E. Black. Mrs. Black (the former Mrs. Siebold) was living in the house at the time of her death in 1977. These Dade County pioneers were tough old birds... she was born in 1879 on her grandfather’s homestead, which is still the oldest house in the Miami area. For most of her life she did

not have running water and electric, and she lived to be almost 100!

Dr. Brett Gillis,

historian and preservationist

Editor’s note: While we did correctly state that the barn became a home in 1899, we stand corrected on the barn build.

A Part for Patrick

I am a NY Times bestselling author of 30 novels, most of which are set in Coral Gables, where I have lived for over 40 years. What follows is a short essay about a 16-year-old boy named Patrick Battle, whose family has lived in Coral Gables since the 1920s. When Patrick Battle died of cancer at age 16, I promised his parents I would write him into my next novel as a character. The essay “Battle Strong” is a reflection on that journey, which I think will be of interest to your readers, many of whom know the Battle family personally or through their well-known insurance agency in Coral Gables.

“Battle Strong”

The legal disclaimer says, “any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.” It appears in all thirty of my novels. This time, there’s a twist. My friendship with the Battle family goes back more than two decades, predating the birth of Patrick Trowbridge Battle, Jr. in 2002. To his mother and all those who knew him in diapers, he was “Baby Patrick.” Patrick received a cancer diagnosis in 2017, and despite the love, prayers, and optimism of the “Battle Strong” movement, he passed away on December 11, 2018 at the age of sixteen.

In a moment of love, compassion, and perhaps temporary insanity, I promised his parents I would write Patrick into one of my novels. What was I thinking? We’ve all been there: wanting to do something when there’s nothing we can do. But I was way out there. In a way, I had promised to bring Patrick back to life.

Over the years, I’ve supported a number of charities by donating the right to name a character in one of my novels to the highest bidder at fundraising auctions. But those were just naming rights. Patrick was very different. I couldn’t just name any character

“Patrick Battle,” and be done with it. I’d known Patrick his entire life. I still see his parents.

I’ve never experienced writer’s block as a published author, but I simply couldn’t find a place for a teenage boy in my next two novels. My promise to Patrick’s parents was hanging out there, but I came up empty – no Patrick. Then, when the seeds for my 30th novel were just taking root, it occurred to me that by the time the book would be in bookstores, Patrick would have been a young man in his twenties. It was a lightbulb moment: I would age Patrick in real time.

As any novelist will tell you, writing fiction is a strange exercise, and that “other world” we create is very real to us. Putting Patrick in my world, and imagining him as a young man, made me realize how well I knew him. And how much I missed him. Patrick doesn’t just “appear” in my novel. As it turned out, he’s one of the main characters. I hope you get to meet him. For a moment, you might even feel “Battle Strong.”

James Grippando

Time for a Referendum

The cities of Miami Beach and Key Biscayne require voter referendum approval of all major development projects. I formally request that each [City Commissioner] advocate and vote for either amending the City Charter or putting this matter up to a referendum vote. Vince Damian convinced the Commission to impose term limits circa 2010. This can be done.

Let’s be honest. Citizens United has ended democracy in Coral Gables. With developers out-donating all voters combined by 4 to 1, we now have a developer-ocracy. If Coral Gables cannot summon the courage to do what Miami Beach and Key Biscayne have done, to return democracy to Coral Gables, Coral Gables cannot truly claim to be a national leader among cities. It is that simple.

The horse is out of the barn; Coral Gables has passed a point of no return in becoming a megapolopolis. Please help salvage what we have left of the soul of Coral Gables, by enabling the referenda above described.

Jackson Rip Holmes

Streetwise

DAUGHTERS TATIANA AND KATERINA AT THE CEREMONY DESIGNATING NINO PERNETTI WAY.

From City Hall

AT ITS TWO MEETINGS IN JANUARY, THE CORAL GABLES CITY COMMISSION:

LISTENED TO A PRESENTATION ON THE LIFE of the recently deceased Sallye Jude, a well-known Coral Gables resident and philanthropist, and offered condolences to the bereaved family. One of Jude’s seven children, Peter, spoke for several minutes on his mother’s legacy after Mayor Vince Lago read a summary of her many achievements. For more information on Sallye Jude’s legacy, see story on page 58.

PRESENTED THE FRIENDS OF GABLES HIGH nonprofit, which provides support for Coral Gables High School, with a check for $2,737.66. The donation from the City of Coral Gables was collected during the Holiday Sip & Shop event last December, when 19 businesses on Miracle Mile stayed open late to serve wine and food and offer discounts to patrons.

LISTENED TO AN UPDATE ON THE INSTALLATION of solar panels at Burger Bob’s. Both Mayor Lago and Vice Mayor Michael Mena expressed concerns over what they felt was a relatively low environmental impact (at most offsetting 35 percent of electrical consumption for a project costing between $35,000 and $100,000 depending on location). However, the main issue at hand was aesthetic, since the panels will be visible. Commissioner Rhonda Anderson suggested placing trees in the sightline of the property, far enough away to not shade the panels but close enough to shield the unsightly display of environmental patriotism. It was decided to place the panels at the “back” of the property and further research the effectiveness of different panels before applying for a $20,000 grant to offset costs.

(Sponsored by Mayor Lago and Commissioner Anderson)

VOTED 5-0 TO AMEND THE CURRENT RESOLUTION for the annexation of Little Gables to include the neighborhoods of High Pines and Ponce Davis. The current resolution is still being addressed by the county and Mayor Lago, who was appointed to be the representative for the project in meetings with the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners. “I put this on the agenda because we’ve all been getting a lot of phone calls from residents who feel like they’re being left behind,” Lago said. The resolution allows city staff to continue their due diligence on what a potential annexation would look like.

(Sponsored by Mayor Lago)

VOTED 5-0 TO APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT of Deputy City Attorney

Cristina Suarez to City Attorney after accepting the resignation of City Attorney Miriam Ramos. The Commission spent the better part of an hour honoring Ramos, lauding her performance in the position for more than five years. “She has served this city, always putting the city first,” said Mayor Lago. “She has never compro-

mised the city or her own values… This city is that shining city on a hill because of people like you.” Vice Mayor Mena was so choked up he could not continue talking after complimenting Ramos not only as an attorney but as a parent. “I wish you would write a book on parenting because I think your kids are the best testimony to who you are,” he said. Ramos, herself also in tears, said, “This is way too much. I am humbled by this tribute.” She was presented with the key to the city and January 10, 2023 was declared Miriam Soler Ramos Day in Coral Gables. She will next take a job with prestigious Miami law firm Holland & Knight.

VOTED 5-0 TO EXPEDITE THE RENOVATION WORK at Burger Bob’s by waiving the competitive process so negotiations for a contract can begin swiftly. City Manager Peter Iglesias promised the Commission that the city will still “negotiate heavily,” while Commissioner Kirk Menendez told residents, “We heard you. That’s why we’re taking the step today… to expedite the process [and] shorten that timeline so that we can deliver what the community wants.” (Sponsored by Commissioner Menendez and Mayor Lago)

VOTED 3-2 TO APPROVE A PERMANENT PUBLIC ART installation of the sculpture “Whispering Through a Stone” by renowned international artist Janine Antoni. The sculpture is made from carved stone and is meant to facilitate private conversations in public. Commissioner Anderson and Vice Mayor Mena voted against because they wanted to see more options.

VOTED 5-0 TO APPROVE ADDITIONAL PENALTIES for those who use their bicycles on pedestrian sidewalks, including Miracle Mile and sections of Ponce de Leon Blvd. and Giralda Ave. Current fines are $35. The new penalties target repeat offenders with the first fine staying at $35 but the second going to $100, and the third to $200. Citizens objected because in some cases there are no bicycle lanes in adjacent streets. Commissioner Menendez suggested that bicyclists walk their bikes through crowded pedestrian areas.

LISTENED TO AN UPDATE ON A TEST PROGRAM for recycling plant waste. The program would reduce annual disposal costs by $200,000 a year; the city currently spends $1.2 million each year for the disposal of green matter. “Our yard waste is a commodity, and we are wasting it,” said Commissioner Anderson. (Sponsored by Mayor Lago) ■

CITY ATTORNEY MIRIAM RAMOS

Talk of the Town

Nino’s Way

In an emotional ceremony last month, the City of Coral Gables designated the 300 block of Aragon Avenue as Nino Pernetti Way, honoring the man who owned and operated Caffe Abbracci for more than 30 years. Pernetti passed away last year from COVID complications.

Nearly 100 people attended the event, including more than two dozen civic and community leaders, many of whom were regular customers at what became power lunch central in the Gables and beyond. As the consummate host of Abbracci, Pernetti welcomed guests who ranged from former presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama to movie stars like Matt Damon, Robert De Niro, Robin Williams, Antonio Banderas – the list goes on. His favorites were his local regulars, of course.

“Nino was certainly the ultimate host,” said Mayor Vince Lago at the unveiling of the sign. “You can see by the turnout today not only how popular Nino was, but how much he was loved.” As former Mayor Raul Valdés-Fauli remarked afterwards, “If I had a country, I would name him ambassador to the whole world. He was a wonderful, wonderful person, and he is sorely missed.” Nino’s daughters Tatiana and Katerina, who were in attendance, plan to continue operating the restaurant.

The Next Tiger Woods?

Billed as the contest for the world’s best young golfers, the annual four-day Junior Orange Bowl International Golf Championship at the Biltmore Hotel did not disappoint. Jay Brooks of Boca Raton beat No. 2 Marco Florioli of Italy for the boys’ trophy, while Anna Davis of Spring Valley, CA, beat No. 2 Savannah de Bock of Belgium for the girls’ title. Brooks finished with a comeback 3-under-par 68 to win the contest, which is one of the athletic, artistic, and cultural events that make up the Junior Orange Bowl International Youth Festival.

Football Funding Fever

How important is the Hurricanes football team to the University of Miami? It’s worth at least a $100 million investment. UM recently filed plans for a $100 million football operations center on what is now a campus parking lot on Dickinson Drive. The new center will comprise 150,000-square-feet and provide space for offices, classrooms, and athletic facilities for the training, recovery, nutrition, academics, and recruiting of players. A ground-floor dining hall of 15,000-square-feet is also planned for players.

The building was designed by Miami-based Arquitectonica. “The building will support student athletes and the university’s goal of recruiting the best talent in the nation,” UM VP of Facilities Jessica Brumley said in the letter of intent. UM is hoping to rebuild its once-vaunted football program after closing out this season with a losing record.

“It is always exciting to see these talented players get their first title at the Biltmore and then see their professional golf careers take off from here,” said Tom Prescott, executive vice president at the Biltmore. And just for the record, Tiger Woods did win the championship as a young golfer back in 1991.

JAY BROOKS AND ANNA DAVIS ARE FLANKED BY (ON THE LEFT) FORMER GABLES MAYOR DON SLESNICK, BILTMORE EXECUTIVE VP TOM PRESCOTT, CITY COMMISSIONER KIRK MENENDEZ, AND (ON THE RIGHT) BILTMORE MANAGING DIRECTOR MATTHIAS KAMMERER, BILTMORE GOLF DIRECTOR LARA PAULOFF, AND BILTMORE PRESIDENT GENE PRESCOTT.

MAYOR VINCE LAGO, VICE MAYOR MICHAEL MENA, AND CITY COMMISSIONER KIRK MENENDEZ AT THE UNVEILING.

Culture Clutch

More than 220 people attended the annual fundraiser for the Coral Gables Museum last month, raising over $125,000 in funds to support the museum’s new exhibitions and programming. Under the new leadership of Executive Director Elvis Fuentes, the museum has aggressively expanded its mission to present the work of groundbreaking artists. At the gala, the museum also honored two couples, Raul and Nino Rodriguez and Alirio and Dorys Torealba, with Civic Arts Awards for their contributions to the museum and community culture.

The Rewards of Recycling

For the kids who use it, recycling has its rewards: The top 10 recyclers of cans and plastic bottles in the new Reverse Vending Machine at the War Memorial Youth Center will get free movie tickets and popcorn at the Coral Gables Art Cinema. The machine was installed last November, designed to encourage kids to recycle disposable drink containers. In its first month, some 1,500 containers were deposited. “This was brought to us by three UM students who started this as one of their business courses projects. It became a business after they graduated,” says Solanch Lopez, co-executive director of the Keep Coral Gables Beautiful program. “They wanted to partner with a municipality [for a beta test], so they came to us. We thought it was a great idea.”

In addition to tickets and popcorn, the machine provides other rewards as well. “Kids are searching all over the Youth Center to collect bottles to put into the machine, just to hear them crunch,” says Lopez. And then there are the aesthetic benefits. “Plastic bottles are no longer left behind [at the Youth Center], providing for a cleaner, more inviting playground,” said Mayor Vince Lago, who has been leading an aggressive campaign to keep the city’s streets clean and well-manicured.

The Real Housewife of Coral Gables

In the TV celebrity category, we note that one of “The Real Housewives of Miami” has purchased a new home in Coral Gables. Board-certified anesthesiologist Dr. Nicole Martin and her fiancé, attorney Anthony M. Lopez, purchased a 10,860-square-foot waterfront home in the Old Cutler Bay neighborhood. The couple plans a $10 million renovation for the 7-bed, 9-bath home that sold for $21.5 million, including a seaplane dock. And you thought that reality TV stars weren’t flamboyant! ■

CO-DIRECTORS SOLANCH LOPEZ AND MATT ANDERSON WATCH AS KIDS USE THE REVERSE VENDING MACHINE.

JOSE VALDES-FAULI, CHAIRMAN OF THE CORAL GABLES MUSEUM BOARD, WITH DORYS MARTIN TORREALBA, ALIRIO TORREALBA

CHOOSE LOWELL FOR ALL YOUR REAL ESTATE NEEDS

3709 POINCIANA AVE, COCONUT GROVE JUST SOLD FOR $4,250,000

4,432 SF | 10,947 SF LOT | 5 BED | 6 BATH

BLAIR SONVILLE - REP BUYER 305.989.8149

9400 SW 116TH STREET, MIAMI JUST SOLD FOR $3,500,000

5,179 SF | 36,852 SF LOT | 6 BED | 6 BATH

S. LANI KAHN DRODY - REP BUYER 305.216.1550

3820 ALHAMBRA CT, CORAL GABLES JUST SOLD FOR $1,705,375

LAND | 15,067 SF LOT

S. LANI KAHN DRODY 305.216.1550

1021 PLACETAS AVE, CORAL GABLES UNDER CONTRACT

2,995 LIVING AREA SF | 13,316 SF LOT | 4 BED | 4 BATH

S. LANI KAHN DRODY 305.216.1550

A Treasure or a Teardown?

A NEW STATE LAW COULD DOOM HISTORIC WATERFRONT PROPERTIES, STARTING WITH A $45 MILLION GABLES ESTATE MASTERPIECE

BY MIKE CLARY

Awaterfront mansion designed by famed architect Alfred Browning Parker could be among the first historic Coral Gables properties to be lost under a new state law that allows owners to demolish homes located in low-lying areas susceptible to flooding.

The three-story residence, at 140 Arvida Parkway in Gables Estates, is currently on the market for $45 million. The seven-bedroom, five-bath home, built by Parker in 1963 as his own residence, has not been designated historic and could be a teardown. “Build your dream home or renovate the existing property,” reads the online listing from Compass, the realty firm.

The possibility that the home – most recently the residence of the late philanthropist Bunny Bastian – could be bull-

dozed has alarmed preservationists and city officials. “As a result of this law, there will be no oversight on whether a home is significant or not,” said preservation advocate Karelia Martinez Carbonell. “Allowing old homes in coastal areas to be demolished and rebuilt because they are vulnerable to sea level rise is like killing patients because they are vulnerable to disease.”

The Arvida Parkway property, along with many other homes in coastal areas of the Gables, were placed in potential jeopardy in March 2022 when the Florida legislature adopted House Bill 423, which limits local governments’ ability to block demolition of some single-family homes in or below base flood elevation. The law, which went into effect July 1, does not apply to homes designated historic

before Jan 1, 2022.

In August, the Gables City Commission unanimously passed a resolution that condemned the state’s action and asked the legislature to rescind it. The city “currently has over 1,200 historic landmark properties and may have a significant number of undesignated properties that are potentially eligible for historic designation,” the resolution states. Moreover, the state’s move “encroaches on the city’s home rule power and overrides its ability [to] regulate the protection of historic structures through its zoning authority…”

Similar objections to the law were made by the cities of Miami Beach and Palm Beach, which, like Coral Gables, have many historic homes as well as rigorous preservation standards. With the Arvida Parkway home

up for sale, it is not certain it would be knocked down by a new owner. But that has been the trend among speculative South Florida developers buying up older properties near the coast and replacing them with bigger homes for wealthy buyers.

Last fall, Miami attorney Alexander Almazan, representing a client interested in buying the property, asked Gables officials to confirm that the house could be demolished without opposition from the city. In an October 2022 response, Gables Development Services Director Suramy Cabrera said that since the property had not been designated historic and was in a flood hazard area, a “permit to demolish the entire structure would only be administratively reviewed” and a “demolition permit would NOT (sic) be routed to the Historic Preservation Department for review.”

While declining to identify his client, Almazan said, “That is a property on which a prospective buyer would be interested in building something new. The law (HB 423) was vastly overdue, so we can combat things like climate change.”

The 140 Arvida property, owned by Bastian’s trust, is described in its Compass listing as having 200-feet of direct frontage on Biscayne Bay, with unobstructed views of Key Biscayne, Stiltsville and the ocean. A waterway at the rear of the property is ideal for docking a yacht.

“The idea that the Alfred Browning Parker Gables Estates opus is in jeopardy is extremely troublesome and infuriating,” said Randolph C. Henning, author of “The Architecture of Alfred Browning Parker: Miami’s Maverick Modernist” (University Press of Florida, 2011). “That home is, without question, one of Parker’s undisputed and unequivocal masterworks. Its loss would be a devastating tragedy on many levels.” ■

THE HISTORIC HOME AT 140 ARVIDA PARKWAY IS IN DANGER OF BEING DEMOLISHED.

PHOTO: EZRA STOLLER/ESTO

Living

History and the Coral Gables Museum

Page 34

THE NEW EXHIBIT IN THE FRANK LYNN GALLERY EMPHASIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF GEORGE MERRICK’S VISION FOR CORAL GABLES.

Best Bets for February

WHAT TO DO THIS MONTH IN THE GABLES

for Chamber members, $60 for non-members, and $225 for a fivepack. 201 Alhambra Cir. burgerliscious.com.

“JIMMY

BUFFETT’S ESCAPE TO MARGARITAVILLE”

A heartwarming musical comedy for the whole family, “Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville’’ revolves around a part-time bartender and singer who falls in love with a tourist. The show is based on Buffet’s music and features beloved classics like “Cheeseburger in Paradise,’’ “Margaritaville,” and “It’s Five O’clock Somewhere,” as well as original songs. The Actors’ Playhouse production is running at the Miracle Theatre from February 1 to 26, with performances Wednesday through Sunday. Tickets start at $40. 280 Miracle Mile. actorsplayhouse.org.

CANDLELIGHT CONCERT: VALENTINE’S DAY SPECIAL

Celebrate love at the Hotel Colonnade Coral Gables on February 10 with Candlelight Concert’s Valentine’s Day Special. The romantic concert performed by the Listeso String Quartet at 6:30 and 9 pm will feature swoon-worthy classics like “Moon River’’ from “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” Debussy’s “Clair de Lune,” and “My Heart Will Go On” from “Titanic.” Tickets start at $50. 180 Aragon Ave. candlelightexperience.com.

BURGERLISCIOUS BLOCK PARTY

On February 9, Burgerliscious is back and bigger than ever. From 5:30 to 9:30 pm at the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce, this mouth-watering block party will serve up burgers and sides from all your favorite carnivorous Coral Gables restaurants. Tickets are $50

CORAL GABLES FARMER’S MARKET

It’s farmer’s market season in the City Beautiful! Every Saturday from 8 am to 2 pm through March 25, the street outside City Hall will be shut down to showcase an array of local vendors’ produce, baked goods, plants, and other foods and drinks. All are welcome to stop by and shop local. 405 Biltmore Way.

“A

DOLL’S HOUSE, PART 2 “

“A Doll’s House, Part 2” is Lucas Hnath’s sequel to Henrik Ibsen’s revolutionary three-act play. Set in the late 1800s, the story follows Nora, a wife and mother who has a favor to ask the family she abandoned 15 years prior. Filled with awkward moments and bristling stand-offs, this GableStage production will make you ponder questions about marriage, gender equality, and human rights. Runs from February 24 through March 19. Tickets start at $40. 1200 Anastasia Ave #230. gablestage.org.

Prokofiev’s fifth symphony, known for its use of hidden messages and jabs at the Soviet authoritarian state. Tickets start at $10. 1314 Miller Dr. events.miami.edu.

CONVERGENCE FROST SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

At 7:30 pm on February 11, the Frost Symphony Orchestra will bring together three compositions in “Convergence” at the University of Miami’s Gusman Hall. The concert will begin with Bright Sheng’s “Tibetan Swing,” which blends long sleeve-swinging and the rhythmic foot stomps of Tibetan music. It’ll be followed by a performance of Ginastera’s “Harp Concerto, Op. 5” by the 2022 FSO Harp Concerto Competition winner, and will conclude with

14TH ANNUAL TOUR OF KITCHENS

The Tour of Kitchens is an annual self-guided tour of some of the most beautiful homes and kitchens in Coral Gables. Put on by the Coral Gables Community Foundation, this year’s 14th annual tour takes place on February 11 from 9 am to 4 pm. Starting at the courtyard in the Shops at Merrick Park, guests will have the opportunity to take a closer look at the City Beautiful’s stunning residences while indulging in bites and sips from local brands. Proceeds benefit the Community Foundation’s education scholarships. Tickets start at $125. 358 San Lorenzo Ave. gablesfoundation.org.

BEST REASON TO LEAVE THE GABLES: DISCOVER BOATING MIAMI INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW

From February 15 to 19, the International Miami Boat Show and Miami Yacht Show are teaming up to create the Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show, the largest boat and yacht show in the world! With everything from kayaks to super yachts, the expo takes place in multiple locations, including the Miami Beach Convention Center, Pride Park, One Herald Plaza, and three different marinas. One-day tickets to the event start at $42 for adults, $16 for kids, and go as high as $325 for VIPs. For tickets and the full schedule, visit miamiboatshow.com. ■

DISTINCTIVE LIVING MEETS

BEST-IN-CLASS CARE

Belmont Village Coral Gables to Redefine Senior Living

A unique collaboration between leading senior housing provider Belmont Village Senior Living and renowned Baptist Health South Florida is redefining senior living. Belmont Village Coral Gables, opening in 2023, is the first in a series of senior living communities coming to South Florida through this innovative partnership. Along with five-star hospitality and amenities, first-class accommodations, a rich social environment, and first-rate care, Belmont Village Coral Gables will feature Live Healthy by Baptist Health on the ground floor, a wellness-focused center for its residents and seniors in the greater Coral Gables area.

4111 Salzedo Street | Coral Gables, Florida

A V-Day

BY GABRIELLE LORD

Gift Guide

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, it’s time to pull out all the stops for your sweetie, whether you’re going traditional with flowers and chocolate or looking for something a little more unique. Consider this list of great places to shop as our Valentine’s gift to you.

A Card from Barnes & Noble

The best gifts are ones that come from the heart. If you struggle with telling someone exactly what they mean to you, you might want to pick up a prewritten card from Barnes & Noble. Touting a wide variety of options with funny sayings, as well as sentimental tear-jerkers, they are sure to have a card that will resonate with you and your loved one. And while you’re there, you might also want to pick up a relationship journal or date night idea book. Our recommendation: Valentine’s Day Greeting Card Favorite Things ($6.50).

BARNES & NOBLE

152 MIRACLE MILE

305.446.4152

Candles from Ben & Giules Concept Store

Did you know that scent is our most powerful link to memory? That’s why a whiff of apple might take you back to cooking pies with your mom as a kid. Or why a passerby’s cologne might send you spiraling over an ex who used to wear the same fragrance. So, what better way to commemorate Valentine’s Day 2023 than buying a special aroma just for the occasion? Leave it burning all day and you will forever associate that smell with a special time spent with the one you love. Our recommendation: The Intention Candle ($30), with four options: love and light, harmony, moonlight, and abundance. Name your game!

BEN & GIULES CONCEPT STORE

290 MIRACLE MILE

954.681.2711

Flowers from Belle Fleur Coral Gables

In merry old England, Victorians used bouquets of flowers to telegraph their feelings in a hidden code known as floriography. Today, red roses, which symbolize love, beauty, and romance, are still among the top V-Day gifts. For both simple and extravagant arrangements, we turn to renowned floral designer and educator Mario Fernandez at Belle Fleur Coral Gables, whose works have adorned the homes and events of celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, Will Smith, and Madonna. At Belle Fleur, you can find anything from a simple bouquet of tulips (starting at $125) to the Royal Septenary Arrangement of 700 roses ($7,500). Our recommendation: Modern Style Roses (starting at $200).

BELLE FLEUR CORAL GABLES

333 ALCAZAR AVE

305.444.0883

Lapels from Sartori Amici/My Grooms Room

No matter if it’s an upscale Valentine’s Day date night or a black-tie event, dressing to code is crucial. If your partner is of the suit-wearing type – or if you’d like him to be – a notch lapel by The Lapel

LIVING

Project, found at Sartori Amici/My Grooms Room, is a solid go-to gift. Featured on Shark Tank, these lapels transform any suit into a tuxedo in a matter of seconds. They are available in a variety of colors and fabrics, from black velvet ($69.99) to golden alligator print ($99.99), and are easy to use. Our recommendation: The Classic Black Satin Notch ($59.99).

SARTORI AMICI/MY GROOMS ROOM

255 MIRACLE MILE

305.964.5073

Jewelry from Jae’s Jewelers

Classic. Timeless. Everlasting. Jewelry is a special keepsake that can not only be worn every day but can also be passed down and treasured for generations to come. If you’re looking for a gift that says “forever,” we suggest popping into Jae’s Jewelers and picking out a piece that speaks to your loved one’s personal style. They have some sparkling steals for under $1,000, but if you’re ready to splurge, our recommendation is the 18-karat yellow gold multicolor sapphire and diamond dome ring ($6,995).

JAE’S JEWELERS

225 MIRACLE MILE

305.443.7724

Chocolates from Chocolate Fashion

Whether it’s your first or 50th Valentine’s Day together, you can’t go wrong with chocolates. Looking for something extra decadent? Chocolate Fashion has an extensive assortment of sweet treats, from heart-shaped chocolate boxes that are actually made from chocolate ($19.25) to rose petal macaroons, and everything in between. Our recommendation: the six-inch chocolate lovers’ cake ($34).

CHOCOLATE FASHION

248 ANDALUSIA AVE

305.461.3200

Gifts from Violetas

If you want to give a gift that you know won’t go to waste, a home accessory might be your best bet. Violeta’s is one of our favorite shops for highend, one-of-a-kind pieces that bring any room to life. Their colorful wool “Buddy Throw” from Missoni ($475) is perfect for the always-freezing fashionista. Or perhaps the luxurious multicolor glass goblet set from Vetrerie di Empoli (six for $1,010) is a better fit. However, our recommendation is the Baccarat crystal picture frame from the Eye collection ($500). Our memories are precious, so why not display them in something equally special?

VIOLETAS

257 MIRACLE MILE

305.381.0711

Wine

from

Wolfe’s Wine Shoppe

A good bottle of wine can make any evening memorable and romantic. No matter if you’re a connoisseur of rich reds or a devotee of sweet whites, Wolfe’s Wine Shoppe has a bottle suitable for your flavor palate. Popular bottles include Lapierre Raisins Gaulois 2018 ($20), a simple Vin de France made from organically or biodynamically grown grapes (with little intervention of chemicals and additives), and Occhipinti SP68 Bianco ($30), a dry white with a sweet grapefruit aroma. However, for a celebration of love, our recommendation is a bottle of bubbly like Raventos i Blanc De Nit, Conca Del Riu Anoia 2018 ($29).

WOLFE’S

WINE SHOPPE

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GIOVANNA FOUNDER & BROKER GUZMAN

History and the Coral Gables Museum

NEW EXHIBITS SHED LIFE ON PAST TIMES

BY PATRICK ALEXANDER

Since its opening 12 years ago, the Coral Gables Museum has featured an exhibit curated by a local historian – the late Arva Moore Parks – entitled ‘Creating the Dream.’ The four-gallery exhibit traced the creation of the city of Coral Gables by its visionary founder, George Edgar Merrick.

When the exhibit was decommissioned in October 2022, there was a lot of public concern that, under new management, the Museum was turning its back on its history, and that the legacy of George Merrick would soon be forgotten. This concern followed a movement, and a 2021 petition circulated by some University of Miami students, arguing that George Merrick was a racist whose name should be removed from the University and other public buildings. There was even talk of removing his statue from in front of City Hall.

But far from turning its back on the history of Coral Gables, the museum has sought to reinvigorate interest in our founding father and his vision for the City Beautiful.

The original ‘Creating the Dream’ exhibit is being preserved in a digital format to remain available for viewing at the Betty & L.D. Pankey Gallery and on the museum’s website. Additionally, a new and condensed version of the story, entitled ‘George Merrick’s Vision,’ is being offered by the Museum and the Visitor Center to the public for free. The new exhibit, in the Frank Lynn Gallery, emphasizes the importance of Merrick’s vision for not only the history of our city, but also its future development. Even more than Pierre L’Enfant in Washington D.C. or Baron

Georges-Eugène Haussmann in Paris, George Merrick imposed his vision and personality on the city, a vision which local developers and architects are now carrying into the 21st century.

Finally, the new exhibit illustrates the warm relationships that both George Merrick and his father Solomon maintained with the Black Bahamian community and how, despite Florida’s segregationist Jim Crow laws, Merrick ceaselessly fought to improve the living conditions of Miami’s Black citizens.

The history of Coral Gables is further celebrated in another current exhibit devoted to the city’s only female mayor, Dorothy Thompson. It was Thompson’s historic vote which saved the Biltmore Hotel, the jewel in the crown of George Merrick’s beautiful city. The current exhibit explores the life and times of this fascinating woman and her significant role in preserving Merrick’s legacy.

Another way the museum is focused on the city’s history is the Link & Learn lecture series focused on the Mediterranean Architecture of Coral Gables. From October 2022 to May 2023, in collaboration with ICAA Florida Chapter and the UM School of Architecture, the museum is presenting six lectures by distinguished local architects concerning the architectural and cultural patrimony of George Merrick, Mediterranean Architecture, and the City Beautiful movement.

A completely different exhibit is also on display, focused on more recent history: a selection of photographs by TV anchor and photographer Raúl de Molina during his time as a

photo reporter and paparazzo in 1980s Miami. Simultaneous to capturing what was happening in real life, from riots to police corruption and drug dealing, Molina also documented the activity behind the scenes of NBC’s popular crime drama series “Miami Vice.” The dialogue between the fictional and the real images show how, in some

cases, real life imitates art as much as art imitates real life.

Far from rejecting South Florida’s history, the Coral Gables Museum is celebrating it with three current exhibits, a permanent digital exhibit, and a lecture series. Our history is not something old and dusty but something vibrant, relevant, and constantly being renewed. ■

TOP: THE PREVIOUS ‘CREATING THE DREAM’ EXHIBIT MIDDLE: THE NEW EXHIBIT: ‘GEORGE MERRICK’S VISION’ BOTTOM: A HISTORY OF CORAL GABLES DEVOTED TO DOROTHY THOMPSON, THE ONLY FEMALE MAYOR

A Roll of the Dice

BACKGAMMON IS BACK ON GIRALDA

Nearly 5,000 years ago, tables games emerged in Mesopotamia and Persia as players got together, rolled dice, and moved their counters across wooden boards. A few millennia later, Rice Mediterranean Kitchen on Giralda Plaza is the new hotspot for such games, with weekly backgammon tournaments for both “sharks” (experts) and “fish” (novices).

Each Wednesday at 6:45 pm, the Miami Backgammon group enters their names into brackets and does what those ancient Mesopotamians did. For novice “fish,” matches often last multiple games spanning an hour or more. While they’re counting out combinations to decide the best move, the expert “sharks” are moving brutally fast, launching their pieces across the points on the board with blinding speed and precision. The buy-in is $10 for novices and $30 for experts, with each match going to seven points and cash rewards for first and second place.

On the night I strolled into Rice, I felt confident in my abilities, despite having just learned the game during the week prior. I’d defeated all the opponents I could find (including our fearless editor-in-chief in possibly the greatest comeback the game has ever seen), and I had my wooden board ready and a chip on my shoulder. I was, however, unprepared for the sheer length of the tournament, which, for newbies, can run several hours. If you’re going, you’d better love backgammon. As one old-timer told me, “We play well into the night and we don’t stop until we have a winner.”—Kylie

Wang

Lani Kahn Drody Broker | Owner 305.216.1550

A Jazz Tale

A NIGHT OF JAZZ AT THE THESIS HOTEL

The impetus came from Rick Katz, executive director of the nonprofit Miami Jazz Co-Op, which for seven years operated from the Open Stage on Galiano Street. Ever since the city shut down that venue looking for higher rent, Katz has searched for another home for jazz in the Gables.

One idea bore fruit. Each year, renowned musicians fly to Miami to be part of the Jazz Cruise from PortMiami. Katz thought some could be talked into one more session, the night before the cruise’s Friday departure. The THesis Hotel (on US-1) agreed to stage the session.

The magic sauce was the event’s host, Emmett Cohen. A brilliant jazz pianist and graduate of the University of Miami Frost School of Music, Cohen gained notoriety during the pandemic by running a weekly YouTube jazz concert “Live From Emmett’s Place” – his apartment in Harlem. The event went viral, gaining more than 100,000 followers.

Here is the twist. Born in Coral Gables, Cohen moved to Indiana when he was a boy. A decade later, Frost School Dean Shelly Berg discovers Cohen playing piano in Indiana. Berg immediately sees the kid’s talent and invites him to UM’s school of music.

Another decade and a half later, you’ve got Cohen on stage at the THesis Hotel in January, joined by an array of world-class musicians – a bass player from Tokyo, a drummer from Los Angeles, a trumpet player from Australia, etc. After Cohen blows the crowd away with his keyboard prowess, he introduces Dean Berg as “my teacher and my mentor.” Berg then takes to the piano and loses himself in a delirium of jazz riffs. “This is for anyone who thinks there is no culture down here,” Cohen says to the roaring crowd. Berg beams with pride for his protégé. —JP Faber

THE EVENT’S HOST, EMMET COHEN, PLAYING PIANO (ABOVE) AND FROST SCHOOL DEAN SHELLY BERG ON PIANO (RIGHT). BERG DISCOVERED COHEN, WHO WAS BORN IN CORAL GABLES, IN INDIANA.

Photos: Jeff Wade

Bites

New Places: Beauty & The Butcher

Page 44

WAGYU BEEF TENDERLOIN WITH FRIED POLENTA AT CHEF FORD’S BEAUTY & THE BUTCHER

Quick Bites

SATISFY YOUR SWEET TOOTH

The Challah French toast ($15) at Bachour is a fruit-slash-sweets lover’s paradise, with globs of mascarpone cream cheese mousse, fresh berries, and jam stacked on top of a buttery soft piece of Challah toast. Lightly sprinkled with powdered sugar and a generous helping of maple syrup on the side, this is a picture-perfect dish worthy of any Instagram. 2020 Salzedo St. 305.203.0552

RETURN OF THE MAC

Ecléctico has a huge menu, including 15 different kinds of tacos, but the Return of The Mac ($16) is one of the most – forgive us – eclectic. Two purple five-inch corn tortillas wrap around a fried ball of mac and cheese, which is then garnished with truffle crema, gouda cream, jalapeño, and micro cilantro. Not exactly our best recommendation for a first date, but if you’re comfortable with your partner don’t be afraid to go for the big bite. 320 San Lorenzo Ave. (Shops at Merrick Park) 786.615.5735

BRAVO FOR BRAVAS

Bulla’s tapas are likely the most popular in Coral Gables – and for good reason. The small plates section of the menu is expansive. But we’ll always go for the patatas bravas ($8.50), which are perfect to share without getting messy and surprisingly filling for a dish under $10. The crispy potato cubes are drizzled with a spicy brava sauce as well as a subtle garlic aioli, making for a salty, delightful combination of flavors. 2500 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 786.810.6215

NA’CHO REGULAR HUEVOS

Bay 13 may not seem like a go-to brunch spot, but its weekend menu, available from 10 am to 5 pm, is the brewery’s best offering – besides its beer, of course. The baked ranchero eggs ($15) with chorizo, cheese, parsley, and a sunny side up egg over a bed of crispy tortilla strips are the highlight of the brunch menu. They’re basically breakfast nachos, but hey, who doesn’t love that combination? 65 Alhambra Plaza. 786.452.0935

TIRAMISU FOR YOU

With the proliferation of Italian restaurants in Coral Gables, Opera Italian Restaurant is often forgotten. It’s not as upscale as Zucca or Caffe Abbracci, but that may not count when it comes their tiramisu dessert ($10), served in a coffee cup and so delicious you could drink it. The recipe is the same as any other tiramisu (ladyfinger biscuits, espresso, mascarpone cream, chocolate), but this little cup is enchantingly soft and creamy, a real delicacy. 130 Miracle Mile. 786.391.1276

ECLÉCTICO:

BAY

FROM THE TOP: BACHOUR: CHALLAH FRENCH TOAST

RETURN OF THE MAC BULLA: PATATAS BRAVAS

13: BAKED RANCHERO EGGS

OPERA ITALIAN RESTAURANT: TIRAMISU DESSERT

Complementary Contradictions

AT CHEF FORD’S BEAUTY & THE BUTCHER, IT’S ALL ABOUT THE COMBINATIONS

BY KYLIE WANG

Afew weeks ago, Superblue, the wonderfully peculiar art museum in Allapattah, put on a virtual reality food exhibit. Participants donned goggles that visually immersed them in interactive worlds ranging from an ethereal Greek garden in the clouds to a Picasso-like city where violins and tubas rained from the sky. In each setting, there was a small bite of food, each completely unique and promising such odd tastes as “the first time you bit your lip.” Naturally, I went. The exhibit was interesting but overall underwhelming, quickly shoved to the back of my mind until, that is, I was forcibly reminded of it during a visit to Beauty & The Butcher, where “interesting” is an understatement.

The restaurant is Chef Jeremy Ford’s newest in Miami and his first in the Gables. You may know him from Stubborn Seed, a sexy South Beach hotspot that earned him a Michelin Star last year, or from “Top Chef,” the competitive cooking show that he won in 2015. Beauty & The Butcher, however, is a separate concept, one that begs the Superblue-esque question: Can you taste a contradiction?

Ford’s dishes say emphatically, “Yes, of course you can.”

Take, for example, the Local Lettuce salad ($16), which combines yogurt with radish, fruit, and turmeric vinaigrette. The leaves aren’t actually lettuce but Castelfranco Radicchio, an Italian heirloom vegetable with an acidic taste that lingers in the hard palate at the front of the mouth and is made even more bitter by the vinegar-based dressing. This is all offset, however, by the sweetness of the

fruit and yogurt; a perfect bite encapsulates all the ingredients, each blending without overpowering the others.

Then there’s the sourdough focaccia ($9), which comes with ‘Nduja butter and Koji honey from a local farm in Homestead. The butter is made from ‘Nduja, an Italian sausage, as well as a combination of other meats and spices that give it an unmistakably tangy pork flavor. Juxtaposed with the syrupy honey, it’s a perfect spread for another seemingly incongruous item: the inwardly soft yet outwardly crisp sourdough bread from Sullivan St. Bakery, which lies on the eastern edge of Little Haiti.

“We’re very much based off the idea of community,” lead server Christopher de Piazza said. “Chef Jeremy is a southern Floridian himself, [so] we source as much as we can from local farmers and purveyors to give back to the community that he grew up with.”

But throw all this out the window for the real highlight on Ford’s menu, the Wagyu beef tenderloin ($69), made from grade eight Australian meat (the Australian Wagyu grading scores top out at nine) and accompanied by a side of crispy fried polenta and a sour cherry mustard sauce. It’s somehow smooth and savory while also being salty and tangy, with Chef Ford’s famous sauce (built from red wine vinegar, ruby port, cherries, and mustard powder) drizzled warmly over the most tender cut of meat I believe I’ve ever had. The polenta tots are the perfect side, adding in a contrasting crunch. This right here is what makes Ford “the butcher” – and maybe the “beauty” too. ■

CHEF JEREMY FORD (LEFT) & CHEF DE CUISINE JUAN VIEIRA

ABOVE: WAGYU BEEF TENDERLOIN WITH FRIED POLENTA

BOTTOM: SOURDOUGH FOCACCIA WITH ‘NDUJA BUTTER

Photo: Rodolfo Benitez

Viva Argentina

AT GRAZIANO’S, THERE IS SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT THE BEEF

BY ANDREW GAYLE

Anyone who has traveled to Argentina knows the country is fanatical when it comes to quality meat, especially beef. Juicy, tender, flavorful – they will tell you it’s the best in the world. Why? Partly it’s because their cattle are grass-fed on the Pampas, partly it’s the unique beef cuts, and partly it’s because of the cooking techniques.

All of that is apparent at Graziano’s restaurant on the corner of Giralda and Le Jeune. Part of a family-run group that now includes restaurants and marketplaces in Miami, Doral, Weston, Aventura, and the Gables (there is a Graziano’s Market on Galiano Street), the location on Giralda is a showcase. The entrance is framed by a glassed-in fire pit, where the meats are roasted Asado-style by

wood fire. Inside, the restaurant wraps around an open kitchen, where a second kind of meat cooking – on a grill – takes place. The walls, meanwhile, display floor-to-ceiling racks of wine bottles, most of them from Argentina.

The Gables location is managed by Nicholas Graziano, the grandson of Mario Graziano, the man who started the business in Argentina in 1962. When Mario was 18, he opened the first of what would become 11 butcher shops; by the time he was 45, he decided to move to Miami with his wife Maria and their three children, to reinvent himself in the New World.

“We started Graziano’s in 1986, a small butcher shop on Coral Way, then moved to Bird Road,” says Nicholas. “My dad

TOP

TOP:

MIDDLE:

BOTTOM: A SUPERB SELECTION OF WINES FROM ARGENTINA

GRAZIANO’S 394 GIRALDA AVE. 305.774.3599

LEFT: A YOUNG MARIO GRAZIANO DANCING IN ARGENTINA

THE GRAZIANOS: CAROLINA, MARY, MARIO, LEO, CECILIA

THE FRONT ENTRANCE OF GRAZIANO’S RESTAURANT

[Mario’s son Leo] would cook chorizo outside. We set up little picnic tables and little by little we garnered attention. After that, we opened the first restaurant.” The Gables location opened in 2005, and expanded several years later, doubling its size.

Today, it is one of the busiest restaurants in the Gables, with a loyal clientele that comes primarily for one of two things: meats cooked asado style –which means on a vertical spit, roasted by an open flame – or a la parrilla, which means on a grill with charcoal. In either case, the beef comes from the Logros family ranch in Córdoba, Argentina, where it is pasture-fed on grass.

The wood used to roast the meat is quebracho, also imported from Argentina. “It’s for the flavor,” says Nicholas. “It’s really a bit denser than hickory, heavy with smokey properties.” And with beef like that, little is needed for seasoning, except for “good old Argentine salt,” he says.

The night we went, we ordered two meats cooked asado-style, and two cooked a la parrilla. From the quebracho wood, we tried short ribs (cooked for three hours, $59) and pollo de granja al limon (we had to try at least one non-beef dish; $39 for a whole bird, $29 for half). The short ribs were enormous, with a pleasantly chewy texture and huge flavor.

The limon chicken, marinated for 72 hours, was just that – very lemony – and juicy as well. Both were our favorites of the night.

From the grill, we ordered bife gaucho and skirt steak. The gaucho steak (named after the Argentine cowboys of the Pampas) was the closest thing to a traditional steak we tasted – a 22-ounce bone-in ribeye ($59). Again, it was tender and flavorful, and surprisingly juicy for a lean meat (cows in the field tend to be less fatty). The skirt steak (18-ounce, hand carved, $49) was as good as that cut gets. And there are some less expensive cuts, such as the flap steak and chorizo (both $35).

The menu at Graziano’s is extensive, and by no means limited to meat. Their appetizers include a robust Burrata salad with heirloom tomatoes, Japanese eggplant, and arti-

chokes ($18); add aged prosciutto di parma ($5) and your table guests will be fighting over it. We also tried a hearty asparagus soup ($12) which could cure any cold. They have grilled appetizers as well, with things like blood sausage, beef sweetbreads, and octopus, and the meat dishes come with sides of grilled vegetables, mashed potatoes, polenta, etc. Pasta also abounds on the menu.

Graziano’s is a well-run family business. Mario’s son Leo is now the CEO, and his siblings and Mario’s grandkids operate all aspects of the business. The food is hearty and authentic. The wine selection is superb (our 2019 bottle of Rutini Malbec was divine at $69) and the desserts are exquisite (we recommend the panna cote with dulce de leche sauce). But here, the meats take center stage. ■

ABOVE LEFT: MEATS COOKING ASADO-STYLE – ON A VERTICAL SPIT OVER OPEN FLAMES

TOP RIGHT: BURRATA SALAD WITH HEIRLOOM TOMATOES, JAPANESE EGGPLANT, AND ARTICHOKES.

BOTTOM RIGHT: GAUCHO STEAK, A 22-OUNCE BONE-IN RIBEYE

WholeRooftopHog

THE CAJA CHINA LIVES ON GIRALDA

If it’s the first Wednesday of the month, then the rooftop restaurant Cebada will be resonating with the aroma of roast pig, Cuban-style. On that day, Chef Jorge Ramos, Jr. will be employing his Caja China – China Box – which replicates the rural Cuban practice of cooking a whole pig in the ground with hot coals.

“The whole premise of the restaurant is inspired by my [Cuban] heritage and what our family did when I was growing up,” said Ramos, whose father joined him as “cooking partner” for the inaugural roast. “We have been doing Caja Chinas the last 30 years of my life.”

The process starts with drying and curing the pig, then brining the skin with salt, followed by slow cooking for seven or eight hours.

“We use a technique where we dry it out and we cure it for a few days, because we want the skin to be like leather. By doing that, when it puffs up we’re able to take the whole skin off in one piece, so we’re able to make one really big Chicharrón. That’s the pressure I have on me – making sure I don’t mess that up!”

Chef Ramos did not mess it up on the first Wednesday in January, and hopefully won’t when you visit to try some delicious lechón, done the old-fashioned way, as long as it lasts. Servings begin at around 7 pm. —JP Faber

CEBADA ROOFTOP RESTAURANT + RAW BAR

124 GIRALDA AVE. 786.409.2287

Coral Gables is always in bloom.

With over 15 years of experience in and around Coral Gables, I can help you navigate this season’s real estate market.

Are you interested in maximizing your home’s value? Call me if you are looking to leverage your neighborhood’s blossoming market.

JJ Snow Hansen Real Estate Advisor

305.608.8750

jj@jjsnowhansen.com

“THE WHOLE PREMISE OF THE RESTAURANT IS INSPIRED BY MY [CUBAN] HERITAGE,” SAYS CHEF JORGE RAMOS, JR., HOLDING THE ROAST PIG.

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With tailored care levels and enriching educational programs designed to enhance growth and connection, the community is a place to thrive. Be among the first to experience Coral Gables’ most anticipated residential offering of 2023. Offering Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Memory Care, The Watermark at Coral Gables is rich with possibilities.

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People

Featuring:

Tony Gilbert Mohamed “Mo” Alkassar Michael Salem

SEAKEEPER TONY GILBERT

Tony Gilbert

PROGRAM DIRECTOR, SEAKEEPERS

After getting a degree in entertainment and intellectual property law in 2018, Tony Gilbert had no clue that helping out at the Coral Gables-based nonprofit Seakeepers for a couple weeks would lead to a career in ocean conservation that has now lasted five years. Today, Gilbert serves as program director, connecting data analysts and marine scientists with yacht owners and captains who donate their vessels to field research on the high seas. In addition to liaising these trips, Gilbert also takes to the water himself, contributing to the research first-hand. Some of his favorite excursions include swimming with sharks, studying ocean sunfish, and recording the vocalizations of humpback whales.

LATEST ACHIEVEMENT

One of the most recent additions to Gilbert’s job is the supervision of a marine education program for students, the Junior Seakeepers, which shows high schoolers what a career in marine science looks like. Through the program, students are able to create their own research projects and gain access to an uncommon but rich educational experience. Seakeepers has also been meeting with tech developers to create gadgets that transform regular boats into research discovery vessels so that even small boat owners can help the cause. These devices attach to the bottom of the vessel to collect data on marine life and the environment as the ship moves through the water.

WHAT HE SAYS

“If you don’t take up the responsibility to keep marine life intact, it will cease to exist, at least as you currently know it,” Gilbert says. “Although our reach is global, we are still grounded and have a lot of love and pride for the Gables, and we hope that the community sees this and gives back as well.”

“ IT’S ALMOST LIKE YOU’RE A PART OF HISTORY TO BE WITH SCIENTISTS AND SEE SOMETHING EVEN THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.”

Photo: Rodolfo Benitez

What the years have taught me

What’s a MM?

In a nutshell, it’s about personal innovation and reclaiming your pre-baby body.

This should start with a return to regular exercise and sound nutrition. But there are challenges that are beyond these important self-help measures. Breastfeeding often causes breasts to look deflated or saggy. Replacing lost fill with an implant often can lift and re-energize breast appearance, although at times a breast lift or reduction might be indicated. That’s Part 1 of the MM. Part 2 is the tummy. The last trimester of pregnancy is especially hard on the tummy since the muscle wall needs to stretch so much. Often the tummy doesn’t retighten enough, especially after more than one baby. Exercise is important to re-tone your muscles, but it won’t tighten the stretched-out areas between the muscles (so called ‘diastasis’). It also won’t remove loose skin. The job of the tummy tuck is to re-tighten the stretched ‘muscle’ tissues as well as loose skin, along with some optional liposuction on the sides.

Things the years have taught me:

1. Safety must be always come first, especially for moms. Thus, time in surgery should not exceed four hours and be performed in the safest environment possible and with safe anesthesia. For me, that means an ambulatory surgery center, next to and operated by a major hospital.

2. Doing good work takes time. An aesthetically pleasing tummy tuck takes about three hours. A breast augmentation adds about one hour, so both together are a safe combo in a healthy patient. But if an implant alone is not enough and a breast lift or reduction is indicated, it’s safer to divide the MM into two separate surgeries.

3. There are 3 keys to a good TT result: low, out-of-sight placement of the smiley-shaped tummy scar, thorough ‘muscle’ tightening, and a small, inconspicuous belly button. Surgical markings are critical for final scar shape and placement and are best done, without rush, the day before surgery.

4. To use or not to use a drain is NOT a critical issue. The point is to minimize the main complication of TT surgery which is the accumulation of fluid under the skin (called ‘seroma’). What is critical is that you end up with the best possible aesthetic result, independent of surgeon technique or drain preference.

5. Best TT results happen when patient and an experienced surgeon work together as a team. The TT addresses anatomic issues beyond the reach of the patient and patients can do things that go beyond the surgery. So patients who embrace good exercise and nutrition habits enjoy the best results.

6. Patients who have been well prepared and have realistic expectations do well.

As always, research carefully both the procedure and your plastic surgeon before proceeding, so you end up safe and happy.

Mohamed “Mo” Alkassar

Spanish native Mohamed Alkassar began his culinary management career at Maison Blanche in Madrid before working for some of the most recognized hospitality groups in the Middle East. Among other roles, he launched the food & beverage arm of the development company in Qatar responsible for brands such as Mondrian Hotel, Wolfgang Puck, Magnolia Bakery, and Shakespeare & Co. He eventually became the regional operations manager for 40 outlets across the Middle East and North Africa, based in Dubai. He then moved to the U.S. under the advice of his mentor, food & beverage icon Michael Bonadies; landing in Miami, he worked for the Genuine Hospital Group, where he met Chef de Cuisine Niven Patel at Michael’s Genuine in the Design District.

LATEST ACHIEVEMENT

While working as Chief Operating Officer for NRI, the company that developed Gables Station and Paseo, Mo Alkassar partnered with Chef Patel, who was then launching the Indian restaurant Ghee in Dadeland. Together, they formed the Gables-based Alpareno Restaurant Group, which went on to create Mamey and Orno, both at the THesis Hotel in Paseo. Last year, Mamey was named by the New York Times as one of the 50 best restaurants in the United States. This year, he and Patel were finalists for The James Beard Outstanding Restaurateur award. Alpareno’s next move is to open a new restaurant in the Gables Station building (now the Gables Lifetime building) called Erba. It will be an “Italian-inspired” restaurant with Chef Patel’s unique twists.

WHAT HE SAYS

“I do feel like we are more localized than most of the restaurant groups here. I don’t know anyone else that owns their own farm. So, we have a huge advantage in terms of ingredients. Our competitive edge is the produce, and Italian is all about fresh ingredients. Niven is entrenched in the farming community, so that helps,” he says. “We are not trying to compete with traditional, classic Italian restaurants. We are not white tablecloth…. We are all about the local feel, Old World meets New World. It’s also going to be very bright and fun, with a Miami adaptation.”

FOUNDING PARTNER, ALPARENO RESTAURANT GROUP

“ THE NEW YORK TIMES HAS COVERED US TWICE. THEY THOUGHT WE WERE CRAZY –BUT CONFIDENT – TO OPEN NEW PLACES DURING COVID, WHEN EVERYONE ELSE WAS SHUTTING DOWN. ”

“I have known Alex for over 25 years. Born and raised in Coral Gables, he is now an attorney who is widely respected for his skill and integrity. Alex is a fresh face who will bring a thoughtful approach and creative solutions to the commission.

Throughout his tenure on the Code Enforcement Board, I have been impressed with Alex’s display of leadership and his compassion in applying our regulations. The Bucelo family treasures the ambiance of their hometown, and thus, Alex is committed to maintaining the City Beautiful ’s quality of life. Join me in voting for Alex Bucelo for City Commission!”

– Don Slesnick, Former Coral Gables Mayor

“Knowing the challenges our community faces in the coming years, I am convinced that Alex Bucelo is the best choice for Commissioner in Group III.”

Alex Bucelo, Candidate for Coral Gables Commissioner

Michael Salem is on a mission to revolutionize the fast-food industry and its perception nationwide. Formerly the head of culinary innovation and commercialization at Burger King, Salem is most notably credited for creating, developing, and launching “The Impossible Burger,” one of the first plant-based alternatives in fastfood. Today, the Coral Gables resident is buckling down on his plantbased approach to convenient meals in partnership with famous actor and comedian Kevin Hart. Together, they have created Hart House, a vegan fast-food joint.

Michael Salem

LATEST ACHIEVEMENT

In his current role as head of culinary innovation at Hart House, Salem is tasked with creating fast-food cuisine that is both delicious and accessible to the masses. With the product as his number one priority, Salem seeks to curate a menu of “incredible, crave-able, and delicious” dishes that also happen to be entirely plant-based. Popular items at Hart House include the Crispy Chick’n sandwich with vegan mayo and pickles, the Double Burg’r (two “impossible” patties topped with Hart House’s signature sauce), and plant-based milkshakes. Unlike other vegan options that often come with a high price tag, Hart House is committed to keeping costs in the “sweet spot,” with the Single Burg’r coming in at $5.99 and a full meal at just $10.49. Although there are currently only locations in California, the chain plans on expanding eastward into Miami within the next few years.

WHAT HE SAYS

“We are never going to change people’s eating habits by value shaming them into it,” Salem says. “It’s incredible the amount of passion [Kevin Hart] has for the brand. We have the opportunity to shift dining habits across the world. I have a tremendous amount of hope for the future of fast-food.”

HEAD OF CULINARY INNOVATION AT HART HOUSE

“WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHIFT DINING HABITS ACROSS THE WORLD. ”

Your Family’s Plans Can Have Impact Plan for your family’s future and the causes you

care about

Planning for the future is always a good idea, no matter where you are in life. Nicklaus Children’s Hospital relies on community support, including estate gifts of non-cash assets, to continue creating a healthy future for every child.

From stocks and real estate, to insurance, retirement assets, and cryptocurrency, there are many ways to fund a gift that ensures the people and causes most important to you benefit from your generosity. Contact us to help change kids’ lives today and in the future. Contact

nicklauschildrens.org/giftplanning

HOME & GARDEN

Memories of

Sallye

Memories of Sallye Jude from those who knew and loved her

In a city populated by an extraordinary array of talented people, every so often someone comes along who is so remarkable that they deserve special recognition. Sallye Jude, who recently passed away at the age of 96, was such a person. A force of nature, she immediately registers in our minds as an icon, a community legend, a tenacious historical preservationist, a focused conservationist, and a God-loving woman of deep faith. Her warm manner extended to all – excluding plastics, foams, and the destruction of our historical and natural treasures. The sheer number of biographies and articles about Sallye is overwhelming. If only we could also hear from all the flora she surrounded herself with, like the 27-year-old fern she nurtured at her Java Head home. Perhaps her most precious secrets are held by them. Many Gableites have a Sallye story. Here, we offer a sample from a few who walked alongside her.

Roles & Awards

Whether founder, president, advisor, member, trustee, or partner Sallye held leadership roles with Dade Reading Foundation, Magic City Enterprises, Florida Trust for History Preservation, Dade Heritage Trust, Deering Foundation, St. Augustine Church, Historic Preservation Association of Coral Gables, Miami Serra Club, Land Trust of Miami-Dade County, Urban Environment League, Miami River Business Association, Florida Federation of Garden Clubs, The Villagers, the National Garden Club Association, Friends of the Everglades, Coral Gables Garden Club, and several other local plant societies, among a myriad of others.

Awards include the “Unsung Heroine” by the City of Miami’s Commission on the Status of Women in 1995, the F. Carl Weinhardt Award by the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation, “A Woman of Impact” by the Women’s History Coalition in 1998, and the Henrietta Harris Award by Dade Heritage Trust in 2000.

Sallye and her husband with Don Slesnick (right) and friends.

COLLECTED BY GRACE CARRICARTE

Birth of a Legend

Sallye Garrigan was born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1926. She graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in economics and was awarded a Kappa Delta sorority scholarship to do graduate work at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, where she received a Masters in Elementary Education. It was there that she met a young medical student, James Jude, at a Catholic Club gathering. They married in 1952.

In the mid-1950s, the Judes returned to Baltimore to live, work, and raise their family. It was while Dr. Jude was doing his residency at Johns Hopkins University that he was part of a team which pioneered the research leading to the development of CPR. Dr. Jude’s work with CPR received national recognition and brought the Judes and their family to Miami in 1964, where Dr. Jude became c] Chief of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery at the University of Miami School of Medicine and at Jackson Memorial Hospital.

Upon arriving in Miami, Sallye – while raising her family of seven children (five boys and two girls) – became an active and integral part of the community. It was in the environmental and historic preservation realms that her star would really shine.

Sallye’s love for her community and deep affection for her family and friends was readily apparent to all. She had a heart of gold and was kind, warm, and always had the time to stop and give support and encouragement to those coming up behind her (or attempting to follow in her large footsteps). She is truly an inspiration!

By Marlin Ebbert and Sherry Jordan, taken with permission from Coral Gables Garden Club website

The Tree Lover

Sallye Jude was a member of the Coral Gables Garden Club for 40 years. She was a Life Member, a Master Gardener, and a Master Flower Show Judge for the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs and the National Garden Clubs, Inc.

She was our tree whisperer, and because of her life-long dedication to planting trees, we dedicated our City of Coral Gables tree planting program, “Project Canopy,” to her in September 2020. Every chance she could, Sallye made us keenly aware of our environment and how we can protect and care for it. She attended her last Garden Club meeting on November 28th, 2022, and asked us to reduce the number of paper towels we used to save our trees. She was a great lady, a City of Coral Gables Icon, and will be missed.

Please go to coralgablesgardenclub.org if you would like to read more about Sallye Jude’s life or donate to our Project Canopy program in Sallye’s name.

Susan Rodriguez, president of the Coral Gables Garden Club

“Project Canopy” was dedicated to Sallye

Sallye on her Wedding day

From Java Head to Marjory Stoneman Douglas’ Home

Sallye Jude was president of the board of Dade Heritage Trust in 1980 when I attended my first historic preservation meeting in Miami, held on the grounds of the historic home of William Jennings Bryan. That meeting began a 43-year-long friendship with Sallye and led to decades of historic preservation work together for Dade Heritage Trust (DHT), the Florida Trust, the National Trust, the Villagers, and the Deering Estate. Sallye’s determination, personal commitment, and hands-on restoration efforts were an inspiration to us all.

Sallye and her husband Dr. Jim Jude were gracious in opening their beautiful historic estate “Java Head” for countless meetings, tours, and special events to benefit preservation and environmental groups. I so appreciated their hosting a DHT book signing for my book “Florida’s Historic Restaurants” and another for “Miami’s Historic Neighborhoods.” Her two-story living room, filled with fabulous antiques and art, was a magnificent setting for parties.

After Hurricane Andrew destroyed the docks at Matheson Hammock – and our sailboat miraculously survived –Sallye and Jim offered to let us tie up our boat behind their house at their deep coral-rock protected dock on the Coral Gables Waterway. Little did we all know that it would be over two years before the County’s docks were repaired! They graciously tolerated our weekly visits as we traipsed to our boat through their ever-expanding terraced gardens.

Sallye was a founding member and president of the Land Trust of Dade County, created in 1988. She persuaded my husband, Tom Matkov, a real estate attorney, to be vice president (and pro bono attorney for everything!), and for over thirty years they worked together on the board to save and restore the Coconut Grove home of Marjory Stoneman Douglas.

Rebecca R. Matkov A Floral Fascination

I first ‘met’ Sallye through a newspaper article about the Metropolitan Miami Flower Show that she was organizing. Being a flower arranger, I wanted to enter. As it turned out, I would be out of town for the show but we arranged to meet when I returned.

Sallye had arranged a meeting of the 29 Garden Clubs in our area to discuss the following year’s show. She announced that we were forming a new garden club at Pinecrest Gardens and I would be a member. We started out with about 20 ladies, and within a few months, there were nearly 90 members. Two years later, we hosted the Metropolitan Miami Flower Show.

Today, the Pinecrest Garden Club is a vibrant, active group of women and men and just one of the many legacies Sallye leaves behind. Sallye loved to encourage everyone to learn about floral design, horticulture, and the environment. She was a force and will be missed by many.

Sharon Trbovich

Sallye at their Java Head home

Sallye’s garden at Normandy Village

Notes from A Best Friend

Sallye and I met in 1972, as we found ourselves to be kindred spirits in the early days of Dade Heritage Trust with a shared love of historic architecture.

We worked shoulder to shoulder to create a county historic resources department and to fund a county-wide historic survey. For the 1776 Bicentennial, we got the City of Miami to acquire Dr. Jackson’s Office and Surgery for a preservation center which continues to serve as Dade Heritage Trust Headquarters. Another Bicentennial project was the acquisition of the 1855 Wagner Homestead, which was slated to be bowled over by the Metrorail. It was moved to Lummus Park, where it serves as a museum and education center.

We traveled together a lot, including an epic trip to India, Buhtan, Sikkim, and Nepal. We went to a dozen or more conferences of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation, from San Francisco to Mobile to Boston and many places in between.

In recent years, Sallye downsized from her art deco historic home [Java Head] to a town house in the French Normandy Village, right across the street from me! We used to joke about getting a couple of tin cans and some rope and setting up a “phone line” across the road.

In the last few years of her life, Sallye found herself challenged by technology, but that didn’t stop her advocacy for things she believed in. She would call me and say, “I think we should write a letter to the Herald about...” She would dictate her thoughts and I would put them in letter form and send them off to the editor or different elected officials. I am pleased to say we have a pretty good track record for publication.

I shall miss my dear kindred spirit.

Dolly McIntyre

Dolly McIntyre with Sallye

Historic Preservationist

The relationship between Sallye Jude and the Slesnick family goes back to the late 1970s when we were introduced to a young emerging organization: Dade Heritage Trust. It was not long thereafter that we were immersed in the cause of saving our community’s built heritage as best we could.

Sallye and Dolly McIntyre were tireless warriors on behalf of preservation, holding homemade spaghetti dinners and bake sales to raise funds for the cause. When Don became President of DHT, he and Sallye fought many preservation battles together – some successfully (Wagner Homestead, Dr. Jackson’s office, old Miami High), some partially successfully (Ryan Motor Car Building, Anderson’s Corners), and some with sad endings (Brown House). There are too many to name.

She was our preservation mentor in both DHT and the Florida Trust. Don becoming President of both organizations was due in great part to Sallye’s encouragement and mentorship.

When Jeannett was on the Coral Gables Historic Preservation Board and when Don was chairing the Coral Gables Planning and Zoning Board, Sallye was an active influence supporting efforts to strengthen the Historic Preservation Ordinance (removing the need for owner consent, providing for TDRs, and enacting the Mediterranean Ordinance for commercial properties).

When Don was mayor and later when Jeannett was on the City Commission, Sallye, despite entering the last quarter of her life, never stopped lobbying for and promoting preservation and environmental issues – she did it with grace and civility (a rare commodity in this age of extreme partisanship and public distrust).

If we had to sum up Sallye Jude in one sentence, it would be: “Sallye was a tireless warrior who never backed away from what she perceived to be right; but effectively used ‘soft power’ and ‘tough love’ to accomplish her goals.”

Don and Jeannett Slesnick

Sallye and the Historic Presevvation Society(Jeannett Slesnick, right)

A Daughter’s Eulogy

As many of you know, my mother had seven children, all two years apart in age. I am the third from the eldest and the oldest girl. You probably know what that means; I got to be my mother’s biggest “little” helper.

Having had so many children, my mother was always very, very busy. At one point, we were in six different schools. How she managed to get all of us to school on time is still a wonder to me. You see, my mother never had a driver’s license. She relied on many of you, her friends, to help her get us to school and take her to whereever she needed to go. And she was always going places, because she had many interests and responsibilities.

First and foremost, she was a mother and wife. She cooked every meal and was very strict about what we ate. We never had soda, except on very special occasions. We could only eat Cheerios or Rice Krispies for breakfast. Coco Puffs were a Saturday treat, and on Sundays we went to the Krispy Kreme in the Grove after Mass at St. Hugh’s. I am pretty sure that was my dad’s doing though. She was also very strict about when and how much TV we watched. No TV on school nights and we were limited to two hours on weekends.

As a wife, she was always there to support my father; we waited for him to come home for dinner every night, even if he was late. She attended many, many medical conferences with him and hosted cocktail parties for doctors in their home. She was an active member of the University of Miami medical faculty wives.

When my father decided to run for Mayor of Coral Gables in 1969, she was a big help in running his campaign. She volunteered in all of our schools, always helping with fundraisers. That was something she was good at. I remember my mother and other moms making figures of the Three Kings out of papier mâché in our garage for the annual bazaar at

Carrolton, with the funds going to build a new high school building. She is credited with being part of the small group that founded the Dade Reading Foundation one of the earliest programs in Miami-Dade County for learning disabled children.

We moved to Miami in the summer of 1964 when my father took a job at the University of Miami as Chief of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. Two weeks after we moved into a rental house, we went through our first – that was a true “Welcome to Miami”. Without electricity, our parents took us to stay at a motel in Key West, which we thought was great because it had a swimming pool. Shortly thereafter, they bought Java Head, the home they lived in together for 49 years and moved into on January 1, 1965.

As my mother acclimated to her newly adopted city and its subtropical climate, she threw herself into furnishing her new “historic” home and figuring out what would grow in her garden. For the first year, she tried planting the spring flowers she was familiar with from growing up in Baltimore. Well, as you can imagine, that didn’t work out very well. I

Sallye: A young mother

Mother and father on their many travels

Mom Grilling at home

remember pansies wilting in the April heat. I think it was this first couple of years, setting up her historic home and her attempts at gardening, that sparked her interest in historic preservation and preserving our natural world.

My mother was also a woman of faith. Our parents raised us in the Roman Catholic faith and set an example by going to Mass with us every Sunday. They dutifully made sure we received all of the sacraments. And my mother was always very worried about any of her children or grandchildren that were not following the faith. She was never shy about talking to them about it, in addition to always praying for their return to the fold.

In recent years, she and our father turned their attention to supporting Serra Club, which promotes and fosters vocations to the priesthood and consecrated religious life under Serra International. For the last 20 years, they served as officers for the Club, raising funds for the local seminary, St. John Vianney, hosting holiday parties for nuns in our community, and annually honoring young altar servers. Privately, she made significant donations to St. John Vianney seminary.

My mother was involved at the local and state level in multiple historic preservation and environmental organizations, as well as local plant societies. Rather than repeat what has already been very eloquently said by others, today I would like to speak to how her interest and involvement in the community touched and affected her children. From our mother we were taught that: 1) You don’t sit back and watch the world go by… 2) You lead… 3) You help make a change in the world you live in, even if it is in a small way… 4) You don’t stay quiet about

things you believe in… 5) You put your money where your mouth is.

My mother thrived on her work in the community, serving on committees and boards and working with many of you on countless fundraisers and events. Her interaction with you kept her mind sharp. My siblings and I are grateful to you for sharing your time and talents with her.

In closing, I would like to thank the one person who singlehandedly made it possible for our mother to live in her home until the day she died, without the assistance of any outside caregivers. This is our brother John. Many of you know John because he was our mother’s “wheels” these past 20 years or so. But much more than just providing her transportation, he was there to do whatever she needed to have done at the moment she needed it done!

John, all of us, your brothers and sisters, thank you from the bottom of our hearts for taking care of Mom so well, especially after Dad died seven years ago. Mom will love you always for this, as will we.

Cecilia Jude Prahl

My mother was a woman of faith and both my parents were raised as Roman Catholics, attending Mass on Sundays that set an example for their children.

THE FRENCH COUNTRY HOUSE OF LEE SCHRAGER AND DR. RICARDO RESTREPO

HISTORIC HOMES

THAT MAKE THE CITY BEAUTIFUL

A GLIMPSE INTO THE VILLAGERS’ ANNUAL HOUSE TOUR

BY KAREN F. BUCHSBAUM

The Villagers, a nonprofit which supports preservation efforts county-wide, recently held its annual House Tour in Coral Gables. This signature fundraiser – the 37th House Tour in the organization’s 56-year history – allows participants to enter private historic homes.

From formal to playful, December’s Holiday House Tour showcased five “Gables Gems from the Roaring 20s.” Hundreds of local history lovers supported the cause of historic preservation while experiencing an insider’s peek into homes built from 1924 to 1928. Villager House Tour Co-Chairs Marlin Ebbert and Sweet Pea Ellman put together a tour that included three homes from George Merrick’s iconic thematic Villages. Villager members were on-hand to explain the unique details and history of each home. What follows are four of those five homes.

The Villagers began in 1966 when a group of dedicated preservationists organized to prevent Douglas Entrance from being bulldozed for a supermarket. From work on that project, to preserving the fountain at the Biltmore, to painting the fence around the Venetian Pool (their members are

not afraid to pitch in), The Villagers have fought to identify significant local historic properties for preservation and recognition by the National Register of Historic Places.

To date, more than 80 local sites and organizations have received Villager support, both with elbow grease and grants to organizations that help protect crumbling properties. In 1972, The Villagers helped create the Dade Heritage Trust to expand the reach and scope of preservation county-wide. They funded and worked on the Trust’s first project surveying historic area resources, identifying more than 875 sites. The group has also been a leader in funding Florida-based university scholarships, with annual grants to architectural students who focus on historic preservation.

The Villagers is the area’s longest-standing preservation organization. The all-volunteer group has no paid staff or office. Monthly meetings are held in many of the sites they helped restore and members can take advantage of specially curated historic day tours throughout South Florida. For details about how to join and help, visit thevillagersinc.org.

A FRENCH COUNTRY HOUSE Residence of Lee Schrager and Dr. Ricardo Restrepo

The home of Lee Schrager and Dr. Ricardo Restrepo appropriately pays homage to their love of entertaining. Dr. Restrepo is the Chief of Pediatric Interventional Radiology at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital and Schrager is the force behind the world-famous South Beach Food and Wine Festival. Their extensive patios and grounds provide a variety of settings, including a Tuscan-inspired pool area, covered patios, and courtyards. The theme of plates and cutlery inset on some of the walkways is carried forward to a colorful dining area also embedded with plates. Another tip of the hat to Schrager’s culinary background was the array of sparkling food and wine ornaments on his Christmas tree.

The home reflects their collection of mid-century furniture and many items from their travels around the world. Of special note is the contemporary photography collection they have been building together for years.

The most entertaining room on the tour was their TV room. Designed around an enormous photograph of a ventriloquist’s dummy (“Talking Heads” by Matthew Rolston), the décor plays off the red in the painting, pulling in other red accents through pillows, a vintage Coca-Cola dispenser, and a Superman figurine, topped off by a dramatic red ceiling.

TOP LEFT: TWO STONE CARVED DOGS GUARD THE FRONT DOOR

TOP: ENTERTAINMENT ROOM

ABOVE LEFT: SITTING AREA OFF THE LIVING ROOM

ABOVE RIGHT: MASTER BEDROOM

Photos: Jon Braeley

A DUTCH SOUTH AFRICAN HOME

Residence of Roxana Bruno and Seamus Lamb

Recent arrivals from New York, homeowners Roxana Bruno and Seamus Lamb are renovating one of the five homes in Coral Gables’ Dutch South African Village Historic District. The couple wanted a historic home for their young family, and when they saw one become available in the Dutch Village, they jumped at the chance. “We are thrilled. This is one of our favorite Villages,” said Bruno. “We want to preserve as much as possible.”

Their work began with essential basics, such as a new roof and work on the pool. The home was designed by prominent Palm Beach architect Marion Sims Wyeth (who also designed the Governor’s mansion in Tallahassee) and is one of four in a compound that shares a common exterior wall.

The distinctive exterior flourishes with circular turned chimneys, flat white surfaces, walled gardens, steeply pitched roofs, high domed arches, and scrollwork, which is carried through to the indoor stairs with detail on the newel post finial. Double Dutch doors lead into and out of the kitchen, a further nod to the farmhouse style of the original design.

“With historic homes the more you live in it, the more you learn how to use it,” Bruno explained.

TOP LEFT: ENTRANCE HALL AND STAIRCASE DETAIL

TOP: REAR OF THE HOME FROM THE SWIMMING POOL

ABOVE: LIVING ROOM WITH BEAMED HIGH CEILING

Photos: Tiege

Dolly

A FRENCH COUNTRY HOUSE

Residence of Liz Muraro

The turreted French Country home of Liz Muraro looks like it popped off the pages of a fairytale. A former resident of the French City Historic Village, Muraro – who “fell in love with French architecture” during her travels – bought the chateau-style home in 1997. The moment you pass beyond the quilted front door with its gargoyle knocker you know you are in a special place. Muraro has a diverse art collection, many with images featuring women and others with automotive themes. The entrance of this home is a surprise, tucked away behind wrought iron gates at what should be the back of the house.

Many of Muraro’s pieces were either purchased or inspired by her trips abroad, like the butterfly display cabinet she uses to store linens, and a distinctive copper and brass lighting fixture from Denmark that graces her garden room. A final touch of whimsy was spotted on the way out – a bright red British phone booth. During a trip to London, she heard someone had bought a stock and shipped them to the U.S. for sale. After buying it and taking years to put it together, it first graced the room of her growing son and now holds center stage in an attractive outdoor courtyard.

TOP LEFT: RICHLY DETAILED TURRETED ENTRANCE

TOP: SITTING ROOM IN WARM HUES AND BLUE FABRICS

ABOVE: A DIVERSE ART COLLECTION IS ON DISPLAY

Photos: Tiege

Dolly

The Next Move Is Yours

A MEDITERRANEAN REVIVAL Residence of Kristine Wenzel and Roark Young

One of the homes was a Mediterranean Revival residence that is a fine example of how historic homes can be graciously expanded. Despite additions over the years, homes can keep their unique design elements and preserve their history, as evident in the luxurious home of Kristine Wenzel and Roark Young. Even though the home has now grown to more than 6,000-squarefeet, the beautiful wrought ironwork seen throughout has been retained. Original stair banisters, interior balconies, and sconces all remain, but the stars of the show are the commanding gates leading into the formal dining room.

Wenzel can trace her family history back to their arrival on the Mayflower and keeps a portrait of an early American ancestor in her office. She loves to collect, and her home provides a wonderful backdrop to creatively display her eclectic art collection featuring Russian icons, glass paperweights, and silver. Her diverse artwork ranges from pieces by multidisciplinary artist Susan Campbell to impressionistic work by Cuban artists and includes contemporary artist Jack Amoroso, a founder of the Coconut Grove Arts Festival, and Purvis Young, a now famous, self-taught, contemporary-urban artist from Overtown. ■

TOP LEFT: ORIGINAL METALWORK AND SCONCES REMAIN

TOP: PERIOD FIREPLACE IN THE LIVING ROOM

ABOVE: THE OWNERS’ ART COLLECTION IS ON DISPLAY

THROUGHOUT THE HOME

Photo by Rodolfo Benitez

coralgablesmagazine.com

Photos: Karen Buchsbaum

Let’s Keep Coral Gables Fire Rescue Among the Best

The Coral Gables Fire Department was the first in Miami-Dade to provide telemedicine services, connecting paramedicals with local hospitals for consultation during emergency medical calls for on-site expertise and treatment.

With an average response time of 6 minutes and a top-five customer service rating from an outside rating service, the Fire Department provides exceptional service to Coral Gables residents.

In addition, with three stations within the city limits and a fourth planned to begin construction in 2023, every resident will soon live within two miles of a fire station.

Our Fire Department is one we can be proud of, and together we can ensure it keeps setting the standard in South Florida.

Mayor Vince Lago is committed to continuing to transform Coral Gables into a city that offers opportunity for everyone. That is why he has championed economic diversification, worked with the community to improve public safety and is addressing the environmental challenges facing the city of Coral Gables. Paid for by Coral Gables First, 2600 Douglas Rd., Ste. 900 , Coral Gables, FL 33134.

HISTORIC HOMES GET A LITTLE TLC

TAX RELIEF FOR RESTORED HISTORIC PROPERTIES

BY KYLIE WANG

Throughout the year, the Historic Preservation Board of Coral Gables makes pitches to the City Commission applying for Ad Valorem tax relief for restored historic properties. At the meetings, Warren Adams, the Director of Historical Resources and Cultural Arts, presents slideshows showing before-and-after pictures of the homes and details the list of renovations. Some of these take place over several years and can include

everything from a new coat of paint to a second-story addition. The renovations are striking, transforming a poorly kept home with a history into an updated version that pays homage to its original features. The Ad Valorem tax relief is meant to help homeowners with the costs that come with putting loving care into these historic properties. All of the following homes were granted the tax relief unanimously by the City Commission.

2907 COLUMBUS BOULEVARD

A LABOR OF LOVE

“To say this was a labor of love is an understatement,” Commissioner Michael Mena said after viewing a slideshow showing the Castile Ave. property before and after Jorge and Kathrina Saladrigas renovated it. The project took about seven years and encompassed every part of the house from the addition of impact windows, a pool, and a deck to the restoration of the front door and rear terrace. The family also added a second balcony and a one-story addition over the garage, and refurbished the landscaping. To finish, they covered the house in a new coat of paint and replaced the original windowsills.

ORIGINAL BEAUTY

2907 COLUMBUS BOULEVARD

Homeowner Ana Navarro, known for her role as a cohost on “The View,” took this Columbus Blvd. property and restored it to its original beauty with new landscaping, interior remodeling, and repair of the original stucco walls. Inside, the original wood floors were refinished, the family room expanded, and several additions made, including an octagonal breakfast nook and a butler’s pantry. Outside, a detached gazebo was added, as well as

a swimming pool, pool deck, covered terrace, and a perimeter fence at the southeast corner of the property. Said Mayor Vince Lago, “It’s incredible how returning it back to its original beauty makes it look even more contemporary.” Navarro’s husband, Al Cardenas, a well-known lawyer, politician, and conservative activist, gave credit to the city saying, “When you know this program exists, you put in the extra effort.” BEFORE

Cernuda Arte is proud to announce its participation in

in downtown Miami on Biscayne Bay ONE HERALD PLAZA @ NE 14th STREET, MIAMI, FL 33132

Cernuda Arte is honored to have been one of the founding galleries of this prestigious international event, exhibiting every year since the art fair’s inauguration in 2012.

For this special TENTH ANNIVERSARY EDITION of Art Wynwood, the Gallery has assembled an impressive showcase of over 120 paintings and sculptures by 32 modern international masters, blue chip contemporary artists, and mid-career talents.

MEDITERRANEAN REVIVAL

711 UNIVERSITY DRIVE

If you attended the Tour of Kitchens last year, you saw firsthand how owner Rebecca Byam transformed this home on University Drive from its dilapidated state of disrepair to a tasteful, Mediterranean Revival-style home. This property required renovations from the inside out, including electrical and plumbing work, a new roof, and the demolition of later additions that were deemed inappropriate for its historic status. Byam did, however, add her

own extensions: two one-story additions at the southwest corner and west side of the property. The driveway was repaved, the swimming pool restored, and all walls, fences, and gates updated. “To see this home be brought to its original glory really brings a smile to my face,” Mayor Lago said. He also recognized the enormous False Banyan tree that overhangs the property, which, according to the Coral Gables website’s tree map, is over 60-feet tall.

BEFORE AFTER

Presents

A Doll’s House Part 2

A Doll’s House Part 2

by Lucas Hnath by Lucas Hnath

Directed by Bari Newport

Directed by Bari Newport

February 24 - March 19

As a door slams in 1879 Norway, a young wife and mother leaves behind her family, freeing herself from the shackles of traditional societal constraints. Now, 15 years later, that same door opens to reveal Nora, a changed woman with an incredibly awkward favor to ask the people whom she abandoned. Lucas Hnath’s bitingly funny sequel to Ibsen’s revolutionary masterpiece unfolds in a series of bristling standoffs that reveal in Nora’s world, much like our own, behind every opinion there is a person, and a slamming door isn’t just an end, but also the chance for a new beginning. Starring Rachel Burttram, Brendan Powers, Yasmine Harrell and Elizabeth Dimon.

“[A Doll’s House Part 2] delivers explosive laughs while also posing thoughtful questions about marriage, gender inequality and human rights…”

— Hollywood Reporter

After 15 years, Nora is back with a $15 discount for you!

SCAN QR CODE for $15 OFF

HOME SOURCES GUIDE TO THE GABLES

While buying furniture or home goods online has become immensely popular recently, there’s something to be said about seeing your next bed frame or sofa or desk drawer knobs in-person for yourself. It turns out Coral Gables has a proliferation of home stores, from furniture purveyors for any room to those who sell such specific items as sink faucets and designer book ends. We’ve created a master list of home stores for you to reference when you’re thinking of upgrading your abode, all of which are here in the City Beautiful.

FURNITURE

Artefacto 101 S. Dixie Hwy artefacto.com

305.774.0004

Bo Concept 342 San Lorenzo Ave #110 boconcept.com

305.602.8980

Decor House 425 S. Dixie Hwy decorhousefurniture.com

305.448.6200

Fine Line Furniture & Accessories

4217 Ponce de Leon Blvd finelinefurnitureandaccessories.com

305.661.4414

Janus et Cie 273 Giralda Ave janusetcie.com/residential

305.438.0005

Kartell 450 Biltmore Way kartell.com

305.573.4010

Kettal 147 Miracle Mile kettal.com

786.552.9002

Luminare

2331 Ponce de Leon Blvd luminare.com

305.448.7367

Modo Furniture

4214 Ponce de Leon Blvd modo-furniture.com

305.567.2970

Patio & Things

240 Aragon Ave patio-n-things.com

305.446.6162

Roche Bobois 450 Biltmore Way roche-bobois.com 305.444.1017

Sierra Furniture 301 Altara Ave #122 Sierrafurnituremiami.com 888.844.1672

Timothy Oulton 358 San Lorenzo Ave #2020 timothyoulton.com 786.752.4530

Victoria’s Armoire 4077 Ponce de Leon Blvd

victoriasarmoire.net 305.445.3848

HOME GOODS

China Cabinet 430 S. Dixie Hwy china-cabinet.com 305.667.8989

Crate & Barrel 358 San Lorenzo Ave

ARTEFACTO

KARTELL

MUSIC MUSIC MUSIC AT AT AT

McBRIDE McBRIDE McBRIDE PLAZA PLAZA PLAZA

A FREE, OUTDOOR CONCERT SERIES FEATURING

Make time for music! Make time for music! Every concert features a different and Every concert features a different and talented ensemble from UM's Frost School of Music. Enjoy these talented ensemble from UM's Frost School of Music. Enjoy these outdoor concerts in the heart of Downtown Coral Gables. outdoor concerts in the heart of Downtown Coral Gables.

McBride Plaza

150 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables

5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

2 23 6

Brought to you by Arthur B. McBride, Sr. Family Foundation

crateandbarrel.com

305.460.3560

Pottery Barn

358 San Lorenzo Ave #2115

potterybarn.com

305.569.9022

Pottery Barn Kids

350 San Lorenzo Ave #2010

potternbarnkids.com

305.446.6511

Target

1906 Ponce de Leon Blvd

target.com

786.437.3207

Violetas

257 Miracle Mile violetashomedesign.com

305.381.0711

Williams Sonoma

350 San Lorenzo Ave #2005 williams-sonoma.com

305.446.9421

INTERIOR DESIGN

Closet Factory

536 S. Dixie Hwy #2

closetfactory.com

305.969.8470

Design It Studio

4102 Ponce de Leon Blvd

designit.studio

305.853.8555

Ivette Arango Interiors

300 Palermo Ave

ivettearango.com

305.576.6243

MandiCasa Miami Flagship

Showroom

4110 Ponce de Leon Blvd

mandicasa.com

786.662.3850

Pure Project Home

480 Biltmore Way

pureprojecthome.com

305.418.0325

Studio Becker

4216 Ponce de Leon Blvd

studiobecker.com

305.514.0400

Veneta Cucine

347 Miracle Mile venetacucine.us

786.502.8155

CARPET & TILE

Carpet Boutique 4103 Ponce de Leon Blvd

thecarpetboutiquemiami.com

305.445.1939

Contempo Coverings

300 Aragon Ave contempocoverings.com

305.639.9998

Designer’s Tile 300 Palermo Ave

designerstile.com

305.573.2000

Grand Oriental Rug Gallery 383 Aragon Ave grandorientalruggallery.com

305.442.4500

WILLIAMS SONOMA

STUDIO BECKER

GRAND ORIENTAL RUG GALLERY

Iberia Tiles

4221 Ponce de Leon Blvd

iberiatiles.com

305.446.0222

Innovative Surfaces

3218 Ponce de Leon Blvd

innosurfaces.com

305.446.9059

Marble Systems

2716 Ponce de Leon Blvd

marblesystems.com

305.463.9850

Royal Rug Gallery

450 S. Dixie Hwy

royalruggallery.com

305.661.6500

Unique Surfaces

2980 Ponce de Leon Blvd

uniquesurfacestile.com

786.536.4773

KITCHENS & APPLIANCES

Bell’s Appliances

3140 Ponce de Leon Blvd

lacornueusa.com

305.448.2681

Coral Gables Kitchen & Bath

452 Biltmore Way

cgkmiami.com

305.441.9954

Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting

4119 Ponce de Leon Blvd ferguson.com

305.507.6221

House of Appliances

2850 Salzedo St

houseofappliancesinc.com

305.514.0352

MiaCucina

105-107 Miracle Mile

miacucina.com

305.792.9494

Miele Experience Center

4218 Ponce de Leon Blvd miele.com

786.673.0280

Scavolini

2600 Ponce de Leon Blvd scavolini.com

786.615.7974

MISCELLANEOUS

Bathrooms Unique Bathrooms

3180 Ponce de Leon Blvd 305.447.4733

Biscayne Decor Windows

1404 Ponce de Leon Blvd biscaynedecor.com

305.569.0505

G K Design Center

Wall coverings & drapes 2319 S. Le Jeune Rd gkdesigncenter.com

305.461.1002

LBU Lighting

Lighting Fixtures and Fans

12455 S. Dixie Hwy. Lbulighting.com

305.235.2852

BELL’S APPLIANCES

SCAVOLINI

FERGUSON BATH, KITCHEN & LIGHTING

February Dining Guide

TOP RESTAURANTS IN CORAL GABLES

The New Year is here, and what better way to celebrate than by dining in one of Coral Gables’ many fine dining establishments. What follows is our list of the best of the tried and true, and the best of the innovative and new. We dine at all locations anonymously, and we list only the places where we love to eat.

$ ............ Under $25

$$ .......... $25-$40

$$$ ........ $35-$75

$$$$ ...... $70-$100+

Prices are per person for appetizer and entrée, without tax, tip, or drinks. Prices are approximations.

AMERICAN Bachour

Maybe it was the lure of pastries by world-renowned chef Antonio Bachour, but this airy, industrial-chic spot has become the new power breakfast place in town, with amazingly good eggs benedict and challah French toast. Also open for lunch and an early dinner, with great Greek salad and roast chicken breast. $$

2020 Salzedo St. 305.203.0552

Cebada Rooftop & Raw Bar

It’s hard to pigeonhole this new rooftop restaurant by Chef Jorge Ramos (fresh from his acclaimed Barley restaurant in Dadeland). He calls it “contemporary American with a Latin overlay,” which means roast bone marrow with salsa verde and baby back ribs with pimiento marmalade. A good raw bar, a great view. $$-$$$

124 Giralda Ave. 786.409.2287

Cheesecake Factory

We still don’t know how they can offer over 250 menu items, but there is something for everyone here, from Thai peanut lettuce wraps to chicken salad sandwiches on toasted white bread. Their cheesecake is still a calorie overload, but now balanced by their “SkinnyLicious” menu. Still, our favorite: Godiva chocolate cheesecake. $$

2418 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.529.0703

Clutch Burger

You may have to unhinge your jaw

to take in some of their burgers, but they are the best. Most of the burgers hover close to $20 because they’re made with quality Wagyu beef. The “Clutch” is the cheeseburger of the house, but our favorite is “My Boy Bleu.” They also specialize in craft beers brewed here in Miami. $$

146 Giralda Ave. 305.400.8242

Doc B’s Restaurant + Bar

Doc B’s Restaurant + Bar serves craveable American fare dishes made from scratch daily. Offering brunch, lunch, dinner, and a solid happy hour, signature dishes include the Wok Out Bowls, but our favorites are the candied bacon, the grilled artichokes, and the Southern fried chicken. $$

301 Miracle Mile. 786.864.1220

The Globe

The Globe is a Gables icon, and one of the coolest places to eat in the city – assuming you like a smart, Euro-style bistro. Decorated with classic paintings (and globes over their old-world bar), the menu is mostly American dishes – salads, burgers, fish, steaks, etc. – perfected over the years. Best conch fritters. $$

377 Alhambra Cir. 305.445.3555

The Gramercy

They meant it to be over the top, and they succeeded. To us, it feels a little like a bordello in New Orleans, circa 19th century. But this is now the singles hot spot, replacing Tarpon Bend. Good sushi counter, interesting sides, and Wagyu hamburgers, but happy hour is where they shine. $$$-$$$$

65 Miracle Mile. 786.747.4854

Hillstone

There are very few restaurants in the Gables where clients will wait in a line outside. Hillstone is one of them. A power lunch spot, a happy hour singles anchor, and a family restaurant at night, the food and service are consistently top notch,

with an elegant interior that is both comfortable and sophisticated at the same time. $$$

201 Miracle Mile. 305.529.0141

Lion & The Rambler

At Lion & the Rambler, everything is made from scratch, from the créme fraîche down to the finishing salts, which are extracted from Miami seawater and hand-delivered to the restaurant by a local fisherman. The inventive restaurant serves up a menu as much inspired by the three-Michelin-star Denmark restaurant Noma as the humble Cool Ranch Dorito. Try an infladita and see what we mean. $$-$$$

804 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.603.7612

Orno

Located in the same building as Mamey (THēsis Hotel), Orno is Chef Niven Patel’s latest creation, focusing on “New American” cuisine with farm-to-table local produce. An eclectic menu lets Patel stretch his culinary imagination, using a wood-burning oven and a wood-burning grill. Be prepared for new and fascinating flavors. $$$

1350 S. Dixie Hwy. (THēsis Hotel) 305.667.6766

Seasons 52

The restaurant for healthy eaters who enjoy quality as well. The menu,

changing four times a year with each season, is always full of inventive treatments for fresh veggies, soups, and salads. Their fish and meat dishes are great values, and the flatbread menu is a nice touch. It’s a chain, but we forgive them. $$

321 Miracle Mile. 305.442.8552

Tap 42

Tap 42 is big, noisy, and fun, with a huge island bar and lots of booths. Reliably good ribs, steaks, and burgers, plus shines in the sides (roasted Brussels sprouts with maple mustard, truffle mac & cheese with parmesan crust). Nice random Asian dishes (grilled salmon Zen bowl, Asian coleslaw). $$-$$$

301 Giralda Ave. 786.391.1566

Yard House

A cavernous space with huge screens for sports fans, oversized paintings, classic rock in the background, and large booths, all making for a comfortable space in which to pick and choose from an immense and reliable menu of American classics with Asian dishes interspersed. Literally something for everyone. $$

320 San Lorenzo Ave. 305.447.9273

ASIAN

Canton

Why there are not more Chinese restaurants in the Gables remains

LUCA OSTERIA

BACHOUR

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We’ll be happy to welcome you and your family to any of our two locations in Dade and Broward County.

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CORAL GABLES

555 Biltmore Way Suite 106, Coral Gables, FL 33134

(305) 648.3717

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DAVIE 12545 Orange Drive, Suite 501, Davie, FL 33330

(954) 723-7771

Davie@DRM.center

DINING GUIDE

a mystery, but Canton has been serving reliably good Cantonese-style food for decades. Feels like you are in New York’s Chinatown, with sweet and sour pork, chicken chop suey, barbecue spareribs, and wonton soup. Plus, the best lunch deals in town. $$

2614 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.448.3736

Crudos Fusion Art

For art lovers and foodies alike, Crudos blends both into an Asian fusion dining experience complete with sushi rolls and a variety of mojitos (available for the amateur bartender in “Do it Yourself” kits). The new Coral Gables spot is Crudos Fusion Art’s fourth location under Executive Chef-Partner Edixon Hernandez and includes a Japanese highball whiskey lounge, Aka, on the second floor. Try the POP sushi roll for something different – pop rocks included – in this “immersive experience.” $$-$$$

2415 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.392.0054

Ichimi

This off-Mile eatery has developed a cult following, with diners content to stand and wait just for the

opportunity to eat Ichimi’s Japanese noodles and rice bowls. And the wait is worth it. Delicious, rich, and faraway flavors in dishes you can’t find just anywhere, in a raw, cool space. $-$$

2330 Salzedo St. 305.960.7016

Izakaya

Located across the street from the Colonnade building, this tiny, bustling Japanese restaurant serves a great bento box – along with an impressive array of daily specials that are posted on the wall in chalk. Super popular lunch spot, for good reason. $$

159 Aragon Ave. 305.445.2584

Khaosan Road

Formerly Bangkok, Bangkok, this Giralda Plaza mainstay – with plenty of outdoor tables – has reinvented itself as the new home for Thai street food. Think you know Thai food? Be prepared for new and delicious flavors. $$

157 Giralda Ave. 305.444.2397

KAO Sushi & Grill

Not sure of the vibe here – the décor inside feels oddly like you’re in Las Vegas – but the outside seating on the Mile is quite nice. Menu-wise, it

has specialty rolls with an interesting Peruvian spin that includes a wide selection of ceviche, along with empanadas and chorizo. $$ 127 Miracle Mile. 786.864.1212

Malakor Thai Isaan

This eatery on Miracle Mile prides itself on delivering true, tasty Thai food. That means pork skewers with sticky rice, grilled fatty pork neck sliced and tossed with lime juice, or the Gang Aom, a Thai curry with fish sauce, dill, and herb paste. $$ 90 Miracle Mile 786.558.4862

Miss Saigon

Repeatedly voted the best Vietnamese restaurant in Miami by the readers of New Times, Miss Saigon serves the kind of vegetable-rich food that makes you feel light and clean afterwards. Excellent seafood choices, and any of their crispy rolls or dumplings make great starters. Their clear, hearty soups – what they call Pho – are the big winners here. $$ 148 Giralda Ave. 305.446.8006

Moon Thai & Japanese

Can’t decide between Japanese or Thai food? No problem. Here, you can have a Japanese house salad or

miso soup as an appetizer and pad thai as an entrée. Truly the best of both worlds. Comfy booths inside and umbrella-covered outdoor tables. Across the street from UM’s campus. $-$$

1118 S. Dixie Hwy. 305.668.9890

Namaste

Hidden on a side street off Ponce, the last standing Indian restaurant in the Gables is small and humble (“namaste” means “I bow to you”), yet superb in its rendering of classic Indian dishes, from tandoris to biryanis. Our favorite is the mango curry chicken, followed by the chef’s special black pepper shrimp. $$ 221 Navarre Ave. 786.534.2161

Sakura Japanese

A vast menu for rolls, along with selections of noodles, yakitori, katsu, tempura, teriyaki, etc. But they serve some of the best sushi and sashimi in town if raw fish is your thing. We also love their seating – a half dozen alcoves that line the walls and provide a sense of private space. $$ 440 S Dixie Hwy. 305.665.7020

Sawa

Delicious take on Japanese flavors served in parallel with Lebanese

Mediterranean, Sawa offers seating inside or outside at Merrick Park. A vast selection of sushi rolls and tapas that range from chicken yakitori to octopus ceviche, along with super fresh Middle Eastern comfort food. World’s best lamb chops. Also has a doggy menu. $$$

360 San Lorenzo Ave. (Shops at Merrick Park) 305.447.6555

Sushi Sake

Just one block south of Sushi Maki, Sushi Sake is the latest contestant in the battle for sushi fans, with an upscale edge and a menu that stretches past sushi, sashimi, and handrolls to hibachi, katsu, and noodle dishes. A full bar gives them happy hour honors (weekdays 4 to 6 pm) with half-off drinks, appetizers, and Thai donuts. $$-$$$

202 Miracle Mile. 786.636.8125

Zitz Sum

Brought to you by Chef Pablo Zitzmann of No Name Chinese fame, this “pop up” restaurant off the huge lobby of the 396 Building is here to stay. The result of a year-long pandemic dive into dim sum by Zitzmann, the dumplings (dinner only), hand-rolled daily, are superb. Other menu items are highly inven-

tive and flavorful. $$-$$$

396 Alhambra Cir. 786.409.6920

FRENCH

Brasserie Central

Secretly owned by Pascal’s on Ponce, this restaurant is half inside, half outside in the courtyard of the Shops. A typical French bistro with wonderful onion soup, fresh bread, and superb paté. Everything on the menu is fresh, French, and all you would expect from Pascal. Lots of little French touches. $$-$$$

320 San Lorenzo Ave. (Shops at Merrick Park) 786.536.9388

Chef Sucre Café

“A French restaurant bistro with a Latin Twist,” this inexpensive café serves breakfast all day – including great croque madams and croque monsieurs. Good sandwiches, lovely croissants, and a flourless chocolate cake to die for. $

475 Biltmore Way. 305.444.2025

Chocolate Fashion

This restaurant and bakery is a breakfast and lunch hotspot. Lunch is a steal with most sandwiches priced around $11 with a side salad and cornichons – those mini pickles

the French are famous for. Don’t forget the French pastries and desserts, ready to go. $-$$

248 Andalusia Ave. 305.461.3200

Frenchie’s Diner

It looks like an all-American diner (which it once was), but this is pure French cooking in a small but comfy setting. Frenchie himself is usually there. Some items on the menu can get pricey (filet mignon, $34) but the onion soup ($9) and escargots ($11) are great values, and the croque monsieur ($14) for lunch is a meal unto itself. $$$

2618 Galiano St. 305.442.4554

Gustave

Launched by a couple of friends with a track record in Paris, Gustave’s a light-filled, lovely addition to the local French cuisine scene. With a good selection of baked goods, this is a Paris-style café with good coffee and solid fare. Good to know where you can get a croque monsieur for lunch and boeuf bourguignon for dinner. $$-$$$

366 Miracle Mile. 305.640.5675

Pascal’s on Ponce

Elegant, quaint, and delicious, the home and culinary canvas of own-

er-chef Pascal Oudin, who brings authentic French cuisine to the heart of the city. Oudin excels in seafood, soufflés, and foie gras. Try the diver sea scallops and tomato tartin. $$$$$$$

2611 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.444.2024

ITALIAN

Amore

Small Italian spot with a half dozen tables and umbrellas outside. A wide selection of pastas, including pumpkin and lobster ravioli, and fagottini de pera – pasta stuffed with mascarpone and pears. Great homemade gnocchi. Nice service, reasonably priced, good house wines. $$ 94 Miracle Mile. 305.200.3216

Bugatti

Bugatti prides itself on its pasta – and for good reason, since the restaurant started as a pasta factory. The décor is simple and contemporary with lots of booths, and the service is crisp and superb. The dinner menu is straightforward, with pasta dishes mostly under $20 and entrees mostly under $30. And as many dessert listings (12) as pasta choices. $$

2504 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.441.2545

Caffe Abbracci

A Gables icon, the late Nino Pernetti’s Italian restaurant is both a power lunch favorite for the business elite and a cozy evening gathering place for families and couples. Abbracci is quiet and elegant, and the food is so consistently good that Pernetti had to publish his own cookbook. $$$

318 Aragon Ave. 305.441.0700

Caffe Vialetto

Not a huge menu, but when it comes to risotto, pappardelle, fettuccini, and ravioli, they do it right. And we love their Wednesday and Thursday “family” dinners for $100 that serve four or five diners. Reservations required, always full. $$$ 4019 Le Jeune Rd. 305.446.5659

Fiola

Brought to you by Washington, D.C. chef Fabio Trabocchi, this is fine dining at its finest. From the place settings to the artwork to the innovative cuisine, Fiola offers an exquisite dining experience. Among their must-try dishes are the porcini mushroom soup, sea scallops ceviche, and the signature lobster ravioli. Beautiful presentations. $$$$

1500 San Ignacio Ave. 305.912.2639

Fontana

The ambiance is as elegant as it comes: the Biltmore’s famed fountain courtyard. You can sit under the stars, in a covered archway, or inside to enjoy classic Italian dishes. Fresh ingredients, from the salads to the pasta that is made daily. Excellent seafood, pastas cooked perfectly. One of the most romantic restaurants in the Gables. $$$

1200 Anastasia Ave. (Biltmore Hotel) 305.913.3200

Fugato

They will tell you they serve “continental” fusion cuisine, and yes, there is a touch of French and Spanish cooking here. But the chicken florentine, ravioli aragosta, ravioli zucca, golden calamari, and veal ossobuco say otherwise. Well prepared dishes in an intimate setting make this a romantic choice. $$$-$$$$ 325 Alcazar Ave. 786.420.2910

Fratellino

Small, family run, with a fanatically loyal fan base, brilliant Italian comfort food. The long narrow set up with tile floors, wooden chairs, and tablecloths makes it feel like New York’s Little Italy. Their calamari, in

any variation, is superb, as is the fettuccine with prosciutto, mushrooms, and green peas. $$$

264 Miracle Mile 786.452.0068

Luca Osteria

Local celebrity chef Giorgio Rapicavoli (Eating House) made Luca Osteria an overnight, reservations-only hit for dinner on Giralda Plaza. His inventive take on classic Italian food is fresh and new; the Pasta al Limone and mortadella toast with fig balsamic are just the beginning. Great Italian cocktails. $$-$$$$

116 Giralda Ave. 305.381.5097

Opera

Chef Consiglio, along with partner-chef Gianluca Canna, makes a point of offering an array of dishes that include veal ossobuco, 10 varieties of pizza, fresh “al dente” pastas, and starters, including a wickedly delicious plate of truffle oil-laced prosciutto with baby artichokes ($16). But for us, the trip is worth it just for the branzino. $$ 130 Miracle Mile. 786.391.1276

Portosole

When they bring the pecorino cheese wheel to toss your pasta, you’re in heaven. Short of that, they do a fine job with the fritto misto, a

mixture of calamari, shrimp, filet of sole, tiny artichokes, and zucchini, all lightly fried. Equally appetizing is the fresh burrata with heirloom tomatoes, a deceptively simple salad of tomato and burrata cheese. $$$ 2530 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 786.359.4275.

Salumeria 104

Tratorria-style Salumeria is now two years old with a loyal clientele, especially at lunchtime. Partly because the food and ambience is authentically Northern Italian and rustic. It may also be thanks to their inventive pastas and sandwiches of artisan cured meats, always fresh and flavorful. Those sliced salumi meats are buono! $$ 117 Miracle Mile. 305.640.5547

Villagio Ristorante

Surprisingly good prices in this cavernous restaurant in the Shops at Merrick Park, with lots of outdoor seating. Even the dinner menu serves pasta entrees for less than $15, and the amazingly extensive selection of meat and fish mostly runs in the mid to low twenties. Also – randomly enough – the best apple pie anywhere. $$ 358 San Lorenzo Ave. (Shops at Merrick Park) 305.447.8144

38TH ANNUAL

DINING GUIDE

Zucca

Located at the elegant Hotel St. Michel, this is a star in the galaxy of Italian eateries in the Gables. Distinctly northern Italian, with recipes that chef Manuel Garcia developed in a career that included the legendary Casa Tua on Miami Beach. Modern Italian design, sophisticated, with great service. $$$-$$$$

162 Alcazar Ave. 786.580.3731

LATIN AMERICAN & CARIBBEAN

Agasago

The food here is authentically Colombian. Try their pescado camaronero, a seafood showstopper of grilled white fish filet topped with garlic cream and large shrimp, served with coconut rice and fried plantains. Also good: the sancocho de costilla, a beef rib stew with corn on the cobb, yucca, potatoes, bananas, onions, and beef broth – a meal in itself. $$

205 Aragon Ave. 786.401.7189

Aromas del Peru

Yes, they serve a dozen types of ceviche here. But it’s the breadth of the menu that impresses, with traditional soups, grilled meats, wok stir fries, and signature dishes such

as aji de gallina (shredded chicken in yellow pepper sauce) and seco de res (beef stewed in beer and cilantro, with vegetables). Good service, good prices, nice ambiance. $$

1930 Ponce de León Blvd. 305.476.5886

Divino Ceviche

Bringing a taste of Peru to Giralda Plaza, Divino Ceviche is known, as you might guess, for its ceviche. From the Ceviche Tradicional to Ceviche de Mercado to Ceviche Nikkei, there’s no shortage of the stuff. The restaurant also has notable non-ceviche dishes like octopus croquetas and a tasting of three different causas (layered potatoes with chiles, avocados, tuna, boiled eggs, onion). $$

160 Giralda Ave. 786.360.3775

Ecléctico

Brought to you by the folks at nearby Sawa, Ecléctico is an open, airy, Latin-fusion restaurant that serves “light” and inventive variations on Latin small plates with a Mexican overlay – and a truly awesome selection of mezcal and tequila. A fun place for dinner. $$

320 San Lorenzo Ave. (Shops at Merrick Park) 786.615.5735

Graziano’s

This large, popular Gables mainstay is true Argentine. A deep selection of Argentinian wines (which line several walls) go with beef slowly roasted over a quebracho wood fire, old school style. They have seafood, pasta, empanadas, and salads, but come here for the meat, a carnivore’s delight. $$$

394 Giralda Ave. 305.774.3599

Mamey

Chef Niven Patel, who is fast gaining a national reputation, hits it out of the park with this restaurant, heir to the creative Caribbean cuisine of Ortanique, but with its own unique and refreshing overlay of Polynesian, Thai, and Indian gastronomy. If your taste buds seek a new adventure, this is the place. $$$

1350 S. Dixie Hwy. (THēsis Hotel) 305.667.5611

Talavera Cocina Mexicana

High ceilings and ceramics make this a pleasant place to dine, but it’s the authentic fare that shines. The place for Mexicans homesick for cooking that’s not Tex-Mex. The chicken mole poblano is a winner at $20, and their huarache grill – masa flatbreads that are really haute tacos – are great at $17. $$

2299 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.444.2955

MEDITERRANEAN

Calista Greek Seafood Taverna

Fun and bright inside, comfortable outside (seating on Giralda Plaza), they serve all the Greek classics, such as moussaka (ground lamb with a top layer of mashed potatoes), which they do exceptionally well, and spanakopita, a spinach pie with feta and phyllo dough. Our favorite is the keftedes, beef meatballs with tzatziki. $$

150 Giralda Ave. 786.310.7660

Maroosh Mediterranean

Inside, the impression is Turkish, thanks to paintings of men wearing the Fez (made popular by the Ottoman Empire). Even the tea glasses, which sit in brass holders, feel Turkish. The food, however, is Pan-Middle Eastern, which means dishes like falafel with tahini sauce, lamb kababs, baba ghanoush, and hummus. $$-$$$

223 Valencia Ave. 305.476.9800

Sawa

While the menu has a huge selection of well-crafted Japanese sushi

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Where Am I?

To start 2023 on a high note, we are bringing back our popular “Where Am I?” contest. If you know where this Coral Gables statue is located, send the answer to editor@coralgablesmagazine.com along with your

home address. The first 2 winners will be sent two free passes to the Miracle Theatre, and the next 10 winners will be sent two free passes to the Coral Gables Museum, to ring in the new year. Photo by Kylie Wang.