Coral Gables Magazine December 2018

Introducing Merrick Style

BREAKING DOWN THE CORAL GABLES LOOK PLUS: GREAT PRIVATE ART COLLECTIONS PART ONE

DECEMBER 2018 $5.99

MG Developer has reignited George Merrick’s vision of Building Beautiful back to life – establishing Biltmore Square and complementing it with Biltmore Row and Althea Row (named after Merrick’s mother). The goal of MG’s developments is to create communal areas that reflect the city’s tradition of being the most desired living destination in South Florida. Bringing a new level of elegance and sophisticated “row” luxury living, Biltmore Row and Althea Row are the perfect expression of Southern European charm and urban finesse. This limited collection is defined by a Mediterranean style designed by De La Guardia Victoria Architecture – the same group of architects and urbanists behind Beatrice Row. Townhomes range from 5,500 square feet to 7,500 square feet, illustrating high-end quality finishes with cosmopolitan details including private elevators.

Most recently, MG Developer also commissioned an original stone bench sculpture designed by Roberto Behar & Rosario Marquardt of R & R studios entitled “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” which is now decorating Balboa Plaza near MG’s master planned community, Biltmore Square. Making Coral Gables history, MG Developer presented the City’s inaugural Art in Public Places, Public Art in Private Development sculpture during the official launch of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at Balboa Plaza. The evening celebration, in collaboration with the City of Coral Gables, included live classical music and an array of Shakespearean themed delights in a European-inspired ambiance.

For more information on any of MG’s projects visit:

www.mgdevelopermiami.com, or 718 Valencia Avenue, Coral Gables, FL 33134

305.460.6719 #BuildingBeautiful

Althea Row

DISCOVER PREMIUM RUMS THIS HOLIDAY

BACARDÍ CUATRO MISMO

2 parts BACARDÍ® Añejo Cuatro Rum

4 parts club soda

Method: BACARDÍ Añejo Cuatro Rum and soda. Build into a highball glass filled with ice and garnish with a lime wedge.

BACARDÍ CUATRO SMASH

1 1/2 parts BACARDÍ® Añejo Cuatro Rum

1 part St~Germain® Liquor

1 part ruby red grapefruit juice

Top with tonic water

Method: Shake all ingredients, serve into a highball glass filled with ice, top with tonic, garnish with grapefruit peel and fresh mint sprig.

BACARDÍ OCHO OLD CUBAN

1 1/2 parts BACARDÍ® Reserva Ocho Rum

2/3 part simple syrup

1/2 part fresh lime juice • 6 mint leaves

2 dashes ANGOSTURA® Bitters

2 parts MARTINI & ROSSI® Prosecco

Method: In a cocktail shaker, combine mint leaves, lime juice and simple syrup; gently muddle the mixture. Next, pour in the BACARDÍ Reserva Ocho Rum, ANGOSTURA® bitters and ice. Shake well and strain the mix into a coupe glass and top with Prosecco. Garnish with mint leaves and serve

BACARDÍ OCHO OLD FASHIONED

2 parts BACARDÍ® Reserva Ocho Rum

2 dashes ANGOSTURA® Bitters

1/2 part (splash) water

1 tsp. sugar

1 orange peel

Method: Add all ingredients into an old fashioned glass, add ice and stir until well mixed and very cold.

Garnish with a twist of orange peel

BACARDÍ EL PRESIDENTE NO.4

2 parts BACARDÍ® Añejo Cuatro Rum

3/4 parts MARTINI & ROSSI®

Rosso Vermouth

1/4 part dry Curaçao

2 dashes ANGOSTURA® Bitters

1 orange peel

Method: Pour the ingredients into a mixing glass with ice cubes and stir to chill and dilute the drink. Fine strain the mixture into a chilled cocktail glass.

Garnish with an orange peel twist.

BACARDÍ DIEZ NEAT

1.5 parts BACARDÍ®

Gran Reserva Diez

Method: Add rum to a tumbler glass.

Beautiful homes deserve beautiful storage solutions. That’s why we’ve been collaborating with homeowners for over 40 years to design, build, and install custom storage solutions for every room in the home. With a wide selection of carefully-curated premium finishes, accents, and accessories, we’re confident we can create a solution that matches your needs, taste, and style.

Chef Fabio Trabocchi at Fiola restaurant

The menu changes as the season moves, because the quality and freshness of the product is all important, as it should be with Italian food...

59

Great Art Collections, Part 1

Our first look at private collections in Coral Gables, starting with Mike Fernandez’s 20th century Cuban masters and Dr. Julio and Alina Ortiz’s Cuban art after the Revolution.

Murder Mystery

It has been 51 years since Coral Gables’ only unsolved death of a police officer. It is a case that still haunts the police department.

72

Moving up the Supply Chain

Veteran Gables politician and civic activist Chip Withers has taken the family firm from a local moving company to a world-wide logistics firm – while keeping his feet on the ground.

Police chief Ed Hudak, seen above at the murder scene at South Alhambra Circle

It is part of our history and we can’t get any closure on it. Not to be able to apprehend someone or hold someone accountable for a cowardly murder... it’s what haunts us all.

Holidays!

FROM OUR EWM FAMILY

THERE’S SOMETHING UNIQUELY SPECIAL ABOUT THE HOLIDAYS IN SOUTH FLORIDA.

WE’RE PROUD TO CALL IT OUR HOME.

MAY YOUR HOME BE FILLED WITH THE MAGIC OF THE HOLIDAYS THIS SEASON.

Readers Letters

Each month we will print letters that we receive from our readers. We encourage any and all commentary, including compliments as well as criticism, and of course comments about our community. If you are interested in writing to us with your opinions, thoughts or suggestions, please send them to: letters@thecoralgablesmagazine.com

Titles Matter

I have enjoyed reading your magazine over the past few months, and I have signed my family up for quite a few events I only learned about here. Thank you for creating this magazine!

In the interest of keeping the reporting for this magazine trustworthy, I must point out a serious mistake you made in the November 2018 issue article, “How to stay young in the Gables.”

In this article, you featured descriptions of 8 doctors who practice in Coral Gables, but Daniel Campos is not a doctor, he is a nurse. He has a Doctorate Nursing Practice, which is not a medical degree. There are many advanced degrees that allow for the title of “doctor”, such as a Ph.D, J.D., and now DNP, but none of these are medical doctors. Therefore, it is

inappropriate to refer to these specialists as “doctor” in a medical article, because readers will assume the specialist is a physician.

Dr. Julie Kanter

Editor’s note: Thank you for your observation. So that the record is straight, here they are:

Stephan Baker, MD; Daniel Campos, DNP; Daniel Careaga, MD; Michael Forman, DOM; Oscar Hevia, MD; Charles Mahl, MD; Victor Shabanah, MD; Angel Valezquez, DMD

The Real Barbarians

Re “Barbarians at the Gate” [November 2018 issue, about a potential 40-story high-rise on the edge of the Gables]. The Barbarians are already here. They crashed through the carefully protected

FROM CREATING A LEGACY TO SHAPING FLORIDA’S FUTURE

Florida is more than where we work At Gunster, it’s who we are

As one of the state’s oldest, largest and most progressive law firms, Gunster is committed to strategic growth that accommodates the evolving needs of Florida’s most prominent organizations and companies.

Across industries and across the state, we win with our people almost 200 forward-thinking attorneys and consultants who provide leadership experience in government, business and philanthropy

Since our founding in 1925, we’ve collaborated with our clients to devise better strategies and build value, one case at a time And while our Florida roots run deep, our faith in Florida’s future is unshakable

Gunster. Statewide and state wise.

Mediterranean style gates of our city in the form of uncivilized art. This was made possible by naive “culture specialists” at City Hall trying to curry favor with Art Basel. Everybody has seen the outlandish, ghoulish, outsized metal flower in the traffic circle at Segovia and Biltmore Way. Is that barbaric or what? Residents had no say in the matter. How does it feel [City Commissioners]?

June Frost

Let the Music Play

Downtown Coral Gables could benefit from the addition of live music. My husband and I used to enjoy going to Seasons 52 to have a drink and listen to the piano player at the bar. They no longer have that, and the reason the manager gave was that it was hard to retain reliable musicians. That seems hard to believe when to the north of us (Ft. Lauderdale) and south (Key Largo) there is plenty of live music.

Gina Guilford

Editor’s Note: We agree. There are a few good spots, however. There is music at John Martin’s Irish Pub and at the Open Stage on Galiano. Zucca, Books & Books, and The Globe also have live music. But we need more.

Editor’s Note

Changes

As we wrap up our first year of publishing Coral Gables Magazine, we are thrilled and honored to announce the receipt of the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce’s Diamond in the Rough Award. This year’s Diamond Awards program, now in its 21st year, was held at the Coral Gables Country Club at the end of November. The program honors businesses in our community that achieved “luminous success” with a combination of excellence in business, corporate citizenship, customer service and workplace environment. The Diamond in the Rough Award goes to a new business.

Having taken a bow for that badge of recognition, however, we are inspired to do better, starting with this issue.

You will notice we have two new features. One is our salute to what we are calling Merrick Style, another way of saying the Coral Gables look. Is there such a thing? If you have ever been to happy hour at Tarpon Bend on a Friday night, you would say yes. Or if you have attended any of the balls or fundraising events in our city, you would say yes. Or if you had visited any of our local masters of haute couture – designers like Maya Cisneros, Maritza Fernandez or Silvia Tcherassi – you would say yes.

In a reflection of that, we are beginning a series of fashion shoots in which one of the city’s fashion shops (starting at those at Merrick Park) dress up a local resident or professional with their latest outfits. We start this month with the Carolina Herrera store and with local resident and mortgage banker

Tamarind Effio, who appears on the cover.

We are also beginning a series about the private art collections in the Gables, another reflection of our community. The Gables was once the absolute hub for all things cultural in Miami, with an unparalleled collection of art galleries. Over the years many of those left for places like Wynwood and Little Havana, in search of cheaper rents. They are now beginning to return to the city where their clients live, work and play. Their patrons never left, however, and it is their extraordinary collections that we will share with you.

We have another new section of the magazine planned for January, as well: Home & Garden, which will feature both. You will have a peek at some of the fantastic interiors of Gables homes and interviews with the Gables designers who created them, along with an insider’s look at some of the stunning private, residential gardens in the city.

Of course, we will continue to deliver the same content that you have come to expect, stories about the culture, business, politics and personalities of our city, from its finest dining and latest business startups, to the issues that City Hall wrestles with monthly.

So, thank you, City of Coral Gables. We will continue to do our best, or better.

On the cover: Introducing Merrick Style Photograph by Jon Braeley

PUBLISHER

Richard Roffman

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

J.P.Faber

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

Amy Donner

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

Monica Del Carpio-Raucci

ART DIRECTOR

Jon Braeley

PRODUCTION MANAGER

Toni Kirkland

VP SALES DIRECTOR

Sherry Adams

SALES EXECUTIVE

Gloria Glanz

SENIOR WRITER

Doreen Hemlock

STAFF WRITER

Lizzie Wilcox

WRITERS

Karen F. Buchsbaum

Mike Clary

Kimberly Rodriguez

Cyn. Zarco

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Jonathan Dann

Robert Sullivan

SENIOR ADVISOR

Dennis Nason

CIRCULATION & DISTRIBUTION

CircIntel

J.P.Faber Editor-in-Chief

Coral Gables Magazine is published monthly by City Regional Media, 2051 SE Third St. Deerfield Beach, FL 33441. Telephone: (786) 206.8254. Copyright 2018 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 City Regional Media, 2051 SE Third St. Deerfield Beach, FL 33441. General mailbox email and letters to editor@thecoralgablesmagazine.com. BPA International Membership applied for March 2018. thecoralgablesmagazine.com

thecoralgablesmagazine.com

Dress modeled by Tamarind Effio

At the Diamond Awards: Sponsor Alirio Torrealba, Presenter Brad Barreto, Publisher Richard Roffman, Editor J.P. Faber and announcer Daniel Guerra.

OUR HOLIDAY GIFT TO YOU—SAVINGS ON OVER 500 SAILINGS

Gather your whole family for an award-winning vacation in the Caribbean, Alaska, Europe, or beyond, relaxing in luxurious staterooms, dining in distinctive restaurants, indulging in superlative service.

Contact one of our Holidays In Motion cruise specialist at 1-800-871-1777 or 305-443-3090 | CruiseLeaders.com

* Visit celebrity.com for full terms and conditions. Booking Window: Nov. 28, 2018 –Jan. 2, 2019 Sailing Range: departing 1/1/19 – 5/11/20. Galapagos and certain other itineraries are excluded. Savings amounts are per person and based on stateroom category. Savings are applied to cruise fares at checkout. Offer applies to the first two guests in a stateroom. Offer applies to the first two guests in a stateroom. 50% Off: Savings apply to the cruise fares of the third and fourth passengers booked in a triple, quad, or family ocean view, veranda, Concierge Class, or suite stateroom. Free Perk offer: Each of the first two guests in an ocean view through AquaClass stateroom is eligible to receive one complimentary amenity. Other amenities packages are available at additional charge. Each of the first two guests in a suite will receive four amenities with an upgrade to Premium Beverage Package. Onboard credit is not redeemable for cash and expires on the final night of the cruise. Offer applies to new individual bookings and to staterooms in noncontracted group bookings, is nontransferable, and is not combinable with any other offer. Changes to a booking may result in removal of an offer. Offers and prices are subject to availability, cancellation, and change without notice at any time. ©2018 Celebrity Cruises Inc. Ships’ registry: Malta and Ecuador. 11/2018

Proudly ser ving t his wonder ful communit y for more t han 60 years.

Coral Gables. There’s no place we’d rat her be.

Back to the Drawing Board

THE LONG-AWAITED APPROVAL FOR CITY CENTER IS AGAIN DELAYED

The reconstruction of the two city parking garages on Andalusia Ave. between Ponce and Le Jeune has been an ongoing discussion since May of 2013. That discussion will continue until at least the Jan. 22 City Commission meeting, following another request for changes by commissioners at their Nov. 13 meeting.

To be built by The Allen Morris Company, the proposed structures would consist of 700 parking spaces plus groundfloor retail, with office space or residential units above. At issue are the commission’s demands for change, mostly relating to the scale of the buildings.

“We have responded to all

the city requests and actually have revised the project… 19 times up until last week,” said developer Allen Morris.

The mixed-use structures would replace the aging Municipal Parking Garages #1 and #4, and would echo the iconic Mediterranean-style Alhambra Towers that Morris completed in 2002. The two new buildings would provide additional parking to residents and double the parking income to the city. “It’s a win for the city and it’s a win for the public,” said Morris.

Commissioner Vincent Lago questioned the scale, even if it fell within the city’s 189-foot height restrictions (which it does not). “I’m doing

Hold That Shot

SUING THE CITY FOR ITS ANTI-CRIME CAMERAS

The City of Coral Gables is being sued by resident Raul Mas Canosa, who claims that the license plate recognition cameras scattered across the city are an invasion of privacy. While police say the cameras are a way to prevent crime, the former banker doesn’t buy it. He believes the companies behind the cameras are more interested in selling residents’ data than keeping them safe. The lawsuit claims that Coral Gables “shares this

data with a private vendor, who sells it to still other… entities,” such as insurance companies interested in where motorists commute each day.

This isn’t Mas Canosa’s first disagreement with the city. Earlier this year, the city commission temporarily voted to ban the sale of automatic weapons in the Gables, to which Mas Canosa replied that he wanted to open a firearm dealership and would seek legal action.

everything in my power to reduce the scale of this project. I don’t want to build 700 parking spaces if I don’t have to,” he said. “I do not approve massive buildings in the city of Coral Gables in height and in scale,” he pointed out. “This will cast a shadow on Miracle Mile.”

Several residents spoke at the meeting in favor of the development, including Mark Trowbridge, CEO and president of the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce. “The garages that we have today that are serving our public obviously are not up to snuff,” he said. “And so, while there’s a lot of discussion about the number of spaces and where folks will

park, clearly we have a need for better parking.”

Trowbridge also believes the retail aspect of the buildings will benefit the city, saying that new stores will help existing ones in the downtown. Civic activist Jackson Rip Holmes, who posted a YouTube video the night before the commission meeting urging support for the development, went one step further. “We need to strengthen Miracle Mile with a department store,” he said.

The proposal will be revisited at the second commission meeting in January, looking at variations for a combined 600, 650 and 700 parking spots.

– Lizzie Wilcox

A license plate camera at work

A rendition of City Center

Nimby that Fire Station Just Drop It

TEXTING AND DRIVING? BAD, VERY BAD

THE CITY SCUTTLES A NEW FACILITY AFTER NEIGHBORS OBJECT

The debate lasted two hours at City Hall, and in the end the City Commission voted against a new fire station near the Cartagena Plaza roundabout, where Le Jeune Road, Sunset Drive and Old Cutler Road meet.

a fire truck – voiced opposition to a fire station in their neighborhood. “I don’t want to put a commercial facility in a residential neighborhood,” Lago agreed.

To reduce traffic and car accidents, the City of Coral Gables is supporting Put It Down, an educational campaign to raise awareness about distracted driving. Through social media and message boards on roads and highways, the city is advertising the dangers of texting and driving. Part of the program is signing a pledge promising you will not text and drive, which Maj. Brian Lawrence of the Coral Gables Police Department has taken

himself.

The city has also partnered with the University of Miami, recently holding a student safety fair on campus to teach bike and pedestrian safety, as well as the dangers of texting while driving. The fair included a simulator where students could experience a car-crash roll-over.

“My hope is that people drive safer, that we save lives, and that we reduce crashes in Coral Gables,” says Lawrence.

The proposed fire station at 7000 Old Cutler Rd. required approval from four out of five commissioners, but Michael Mena and Vincent Lago voted no. The location was proposed to improve response times to the area. Deputy Fire Chief Marcos De La Rosa explained that response times are critical for major medical emergencies. “For every minute that goes by, the chance of survival reduces by 10 percent,” he said.

The location at 7000 Old Cutler Rd. was chosen because of its proximity to major roads and its elevation – at 18 feet above sea level, it’s safe from storm floods.

Commissioner Mena and Vice Mayor Lago opposed the acquisition because the price of the land had skyrocketed to $4 million, far above the city’s offer of $1.3 million. Many residents – in matching T-shirts with a NO symbol through

Commissioner Frank Queseda supported the acquisition, taking a more emotional stance. Six years ago, he lost a colleague in the area due to slow response time. “I lost someone who should be here today,” he said. Commissioner Patricia Keon also voted yes, calling quick response time “an essential service.” Ten years ago, her husband died from an aneurism after first responders took 14 minutes to get to her Edgewater Drive home.

Mayor Raul Valdés-Fauli didn’t voice his opinion until the end of the long discussion.

“We thought the existing stations were not adequate because of the traffic,” he said. “[But] the residents and the neighbors have spoken and you do not want it.” A resolution was made to look for other properties along the Sunset corridor. Coral Gables now has three fire stations, the closest of which is at 525 S. Dixie Hwy, near UM. –

Lizzie Wilcox

New, unwrapped toys will be collected for Nicklaus Children’s Hospital patients (ages 0-21) and distributed on December 25th.

For more information and to view our complete wish list of toys, please visit nicklauschildrens.org/spreadjoy or contact us at toydrive@nicklaushealth.org or 786.624.2880

Drop-off Location:

Nicklaus Children’s Hospital

Blue Garage Registration Office 3100 SW 62nd Avenue, Miami

Monday - Friday: 9 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Saturday - Sunday: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Gabriela, 9, was born with a cleft palate and has undergone 5 surgeries

Join us to ensure that every child at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital has a very happy holiday!

Shop

Introducing Merrick Style

IS THERE SUCH A THING AS A CORAL GABLES STYLE? DO THE RESIDENTS OF THE GABLES DRESS WITH GREATER REFINEMENT THAN THOSE WHO LIVE OUTSIDE THE CITY?

We would like to think so. We are not cowed by the uber-trendiness of Brickell, or the glitter of South Beach, or the ostentation of Little Havana. Our style is one of understated elegance, of taste and refinement, a sense of chic that is sophisticated rather than showy.

Each month we will bring you a different selection of the latest and finest from the shops of Coral Gables, with the styles worn by a citizen of the city rather than a model.

We start this month with the Carolina Herrera store in the Shops at Merrick Park, showcasing a preview of their Spring/Summer 2019 collection. The new garments, says CH spokesman Derek Cabrera, “breathe the influence of urban art in different details,” such as color, the juxtaposition of black and ivory, and a reinterpretation of polka dots.

Our model this month is Tamarind Effio, a Gables resident who works as a residential mortgage advisor in the Gables office of TIAA Bank, formerly Everbank. Born to British and Panamanian parents, she was raised in both England and Panama and attended FSU. After working in Jacksonville for Everbank, she was transferred to Coral Gables eight years ago thanks to her fluent Spanish. Her two children attend St. Philips Episcopal School on Andalusia.

Cover & above: Column silhouette gown in black and ivory ($1,120) with red Metropolitan handbag ($620). The classic colors are part of the House of Herrera. This beautiful silk crepe gown has an exquisite drape and fall to it. The shoes are black & white striped flower pumps ($560).

Photography by Jon Braeley

Taffeta wrap dress in peony color with an iconic CH bow detail ($920). The crystal dandelion brooch ($285) transitions the dress from cocktail to evening. Cobalt blue stiletto high heels ($620) and Insignia sequoia-leather handbag with gold-plated handle ($1,150) complete the look.

Merrick Style

Polka dot shirt of fresh and breathable poplin cotton ($410) paired with Culotte pants made from tricotine twill-weave worsted fabric, with double-ribbed front and gold buttons ($635). Accessorized with a mimosa leather “shopper” bag ($400), Insignia bracelet with pearls ($435), and two-toned rope wedge shoes ($470).

Pearl and gold button tulipshaped cocktail dress, in the iconic red of the House of Herrera ($635, reduced to $317). An asymmetrical neckline adds a touch of modernity allowing for easy pairing with a cheetah-print Baret Bag ($3,500) and black,

high-heeled sandals ($530).

Along for the Ride

SUNCYCLING TRACKS THE TREND FOR ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION

then to the Gables two years ago. It was in Madrid where he got the cycling bug and decided to make a business of it. New bikes can sell for a few hundred dollars to upwards of $1,000; his shop also sells biking accessories, from shoes to helmets.

Born in Venezuela, de Abreu moved to Madrid and

That is good news for SunCycling, launched on Ponce in April by Gables resident Oliver de Abreu. It’s his third shop in the Miami area (including Hialeah and Coconut Grove) and one that he believes holds promise. “We think that Coral Gables [residents] have the potential to buy good quality bikes,” de Abreu says.In terms of trends, de Abreu says sales are up for foldable bikes, the best choice for apartment dwellers. De Abreu also nodded to the future of cycling: E-bikes, electronic bikes that can go over 20 mph and last for 120 miles on a fully-charged battery. In the meantime, he says, his biggest customer base are people who want to commute on two wheels. “We need to support other means of transport,” he says.

FERNANDO DE SZYSZLO

HUMBERTO CALZADA

ELMAR ROJAS 4213 PONCE DE LEON BLVD. CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA 33146 305.446.5578 www.americascollection.com

Untitled-1.indd 1 12/3/2018 8:25:01 PM 30 thecoralgablesmagazine.com Shop

SEBASTIAN SPRENG

s people look for environmentally friendly ways to travel that don’t involve a car, bicycling looms as a healthy alternative. Some 12.5 percent of Americans cycle on a regular basis, creating a $6 billion annual market for bicycles, bicycle parts and accessories.

SMALL ENOUGH TO BE PERSONAL LARGE ENOUGH TO BE GLOBAL

OUR BOUTIQUE FIRM IS READY TO EXPERTLY HANDLE THE COMPLEXITIES OF MIAMI’S LUXURY PROPERTY MARKET WITH PERSONALIZED SERVICE AND BRILLIANT RESULTS.

Pictured from left to right: PATTI CECCHERINI, CARLA OLIVARES, BLAIR SONVILLE, LILIANA QUINTERO-SIDERIS, BEATRIZ CARDONA, LANI KAHN DRODY, JOHANNA ROLDAN, LAUREN BILLINGSLEA DOWLEN, JJ SNOW HANSEN, CARRIE FOOTE, SUZANNE SANTOS

1.

Last Minute Sho ing

Cigar Humidor with one bottle of BACARDÍ® Reserva Ocho Rum and one bottle of BACARDÍ® Gran Reserva Diez Rum. $70 Available at: JENSEN’S LIQUORS, MEGA WINE & SPIRITS, TOTAL WINE & MORE

2.

14 karat rose gold and diamond celestial earrings featuring a crescent moon and shooting star. $645

JAE’S JEWELERS, 237 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables • 305.443.7724

www.jaesjewelers.com

2019 Argon 18 Nitrogen Disc Ultegra Di2 $5,399 SUNCYCLING 2710 Ponce de Leon Blvd, Coral Gables 305-786.502.3069 • www.suncycling.

100% organic, shade-grown arabica co ee from the highlands of Chiapas, Mexico. Grown in partnership with indigenous Mayan farmer cooperatives using traditional principles of sustainable farming.  Medium, Dark, Espresso, Decaf, & Specialty  Roasts | $9-$45

Phone orders: (512) 472-9638

Online orders: www.rutamayaco ee.com/shop

Pony hair crossbody purse with 3 detachable pouches, black leather strap, 6” tall by 9” wide. $120 FILOMENA FERNANDEZ

4217 Ponce de Leon Blvd, 2nd Floor, Coral Gables 305.661.4448 • lomenafernandez.com

3.

Where Sharks and Sustainability Meet

The Shark Research & Conservation Program (SRC) at the University of Miami conducts cutting-edge science to save the ocean’s apex predators and subsequently restore ecosystem function in a human-altered world.

With a focus on understanding and creating solutions for human threats such as climate change, exploitation and habitat loss on sharks and their ecosystems, SRC and its dedicated team of students generates the critical science needed to implement effective shark and marine conservation.

RUTA MAYA COFFEE is a Proud Sponsor of UM’s Shark Research & Conservation Program. Community partners are integral in advancing SRC’s research and educating the next generation of environmentally conscious leaders. Ruta Maya’s contributions will help further mutual goals of environmental awareness through shark tracking studies and hands-on youth experiences.

To learn more about how you can make an impact visit:www.SharkTagging.com

www.RutaMayaCoffee.com

• FB@RutaMayaOrganicCoffee

© Josh Liberman-SharkTagging.com

12601OldCutlerRd.com

MAURICIO J. BARBA, P.A.

Broker-Associate I Estate Agent ONE Sotheby’s International Realty

t 305.444.7224 c 305.439.8311

mauricio@miamisignaturehomes.com

MiamiSignatureHomes.com I HomesOfSplendor.com

4001SantaMariaSt.com

12601 Old Cutler Road | Coral Gables

Absolutely enchanting Euro-style residence located on historic Old Cutler Road in the Gables-by-the Sea area (opposite the Village of Pinecrest). Walled and gated for privacy, the home is sited on an oversized 37,000 SF lot and offers access from the rear road in addition to the main entry on Old Cutler.

4001 Santa Maria Street | Coral Gables

Cote d’Or is a classic estate-sized home backing to the newly renovated Riviera Golf Course! Expanded in the early 2000’s, it features a sprawling floor plan with views of the golf course from many rooms of the home.

501 Alcazar Avenue | Coral Gables

“La Casa Reposada II” was originally designed in the 1930’s by prominent architect E. Dean Parmalee, whose style typically encompassed outdoor living areas, cathedral ceilings and other architectural components.

11111SW77Ave.com

Offered at $2,096,000

11111 SW 77 Avenue | Pinecrest

beds | 7 baths | 6,714 adj sf | 8,197 total sf | 54,450 sf lot

Your eyes are not failing! The price is right and absolutely mind-boggling. Live like a royal in this 2006 Mediterranean-inspired estate. Besides its lush, tropical greenery, the outdoor area offers a pool, a barbeque area and half basketball court.

9385 Balada Street | Coral Gables | Pending Sale

Introducing Balada Pointe in the esteemed yachting community of Old Cutler Bay in Coral Gables. This 2007-built residence is sited on a rarely available point lot offering 364 feet of water frontage and set on a 31,181 SF lot. Access to Biscayne Bay is just a few minutes away.

1800ColumbusBlvd.com

Offered at $1,180,000

1800 Columbus Boulevard | Coral Gables

4 beds | 3 baths | 3,126 adj sf | 3,534 total sf | 8,579 sf lot

Coral Gables’ Iconic “Turret House” is finally available for purchase. This heavenly residence embodies the very essence of The Gables and has been featured in numerous books and magazines. First erected in 1938 and masterfully expanded in the mid 90’s to include an upstairs master suite.

637SantanderAve.com

2614 Alhambra Circle | Coral Gables

“Villa Verano” is a contemporary gem that is engulfed in natural light and masterfully crafted with the finest materials, offering all the modern amenities available today!

637 Santander Avenue | Coral Gables

3

The much celebrated Santander Townhouses are a collective set of 10 homes and located in a choice, tree-lined neighborhood where walkability and bikeability is a way of life. Just a short distance to Venetian Pool, Library, Youth Center, Salvador Tennis Park, The Biltmore and the Golf Course.

A Bend in the River

WAYNE ELDRED KEEPS HIS MIRACLE MILE MAINSTAY FRESH

Straying far from his original life plan to become a Catholic priest, Wayne Eldred took over Tarpon Bend Raw Bar & Grill in 2013. In fact, he strayed from a few career paths before becoming the owner of Tarpon Bend, having studied mechanical engineering at FIU.

Eldred had worked in restaurants since he was 15-years-old, but only to make extra money. He worked at a Burger King during high school, and washed dishes at a Ruby Tuesday while at FIU. Eldred ended up staying at Ruby Tuesday for over seven years, working his way up to become “their youngest GM in the country at the time.” From there he was recruited by the previous owners of Tarpon Bend, whom he worked for from 2005 to 2013, when he bought them out and became his own boss.

Eldred says he owes his success in the restaurant business to the way he was raised. “I’ve always had a natural affinity for hospitality,” he says. “My parents were very generous, very good people, so hospitality was something that was inbred in us.”

Eldred attended high school in Daytona Beach, but had a diverse childhood. He was born in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. His father, an engineer, was constantly transferred for different projects. The family resided in Jamaica, India, Egypt and finally England. In 1992, they moved to the U.S.

“I’ve lived all over the world, so I can come up with all kinds of dynamic food products,” Eldred says. One of those dynamic products is the Bombay steamed buns. Made with clove-braised chicken, red onion and cilantro, the buns were added to the menu as a tribute to his mother, a British-Indian woman, who passed away last year. He tweaked it a bit, putting it all inside a Korean steamed bun, creating a soft and flavorful dish.

While such “grill” items are offered – including excellent burgers and fried chicken – seafood holds sway at Tarpon, dishes like seared yellowfin tuna salad, a dolphin Rueben and whole fried fish. Six months ago, Eldred revamped the menu, catering to the tapa trend with small plates and “shareables.” The new best-seller? The Szechuan calamari. “Every single one is hand-battered to order, whereas most calamari are pre-battered and then fried,” the owner says.

Eldred also finally brought sushi to the restaurant with the new menu. “I’ve been wanting to do sushi here for a decade,” he says. Tarpon now offers five rolls; the fan favorite is the Machu Picchu, a Peruvian style roll made with corvina ceviche, salmon, avocado, aji amarillo, salsa criolla and truffle ponzu. It’s a bright and refreshing addition to the seafood lineup.

The Patagonia Shrimp

My parents were very generous, very good people, so hospitality was something that was inbred in us...

Wayne Eldred, owner, Tarpon Bend Raw Bar & Grill

PRESTIGIOUS SOUTH GABLES ESTATE

5901 Maynada St, Coral Gables 33146 4 BEDROOMS | 2 MASTER SUITES | 3 BATHS | 4,013 SF | 2-CAR GARAGE

Overlooking the Biltmore Golf Course, this inspiring gated residence is sure to amaze you with its masterfully planned living spaces. Built in 1924 and situated on nearly an acre, Spanish influence is found throughout. Volume ceilings, renaissance-style double doors and stunning hardwood floors enhance the residence’s appeal. The interior boasts a grand formal living room with 20 foot coffered wood ceilings, formal dining room, library, sun porches, antique lighting fixtures, 3 fireplaces and a modern kitchen featuring top appliances. The split floor plan offers a private wing for residents, and a guest suite in the north wing. The estate has not changed hands in 75 years, offering a rare opportunity to purchase one of Coral Gables’ original gems.

This lovely home, located in the heart of Coral Gables, is the perfect blend of contemporary architecture and modern updates. It features 4 bedrooms and 3 baths. Two master suites, one is upstairs, the ultimate private refuge. The second master suite is downstairs. Some recent upgrades include recessed lighting, new impact windows and doors, interior paint. Fantastic natural light, beautiful marble floors, plentiful storage. Grand formal entertaining areas overlook a lagoon-style pool & private spa. Expansive kitchen and family room with center island, oversized wine chiller, built-in entertainment center and separate desk provide many areas for family gathering. This elegant home sits on a lush, walled, corner lot, filled with a mixture of majestic oaks and mature fruit trees. Perfect central location. 2 car garage. Call today for a private appointment.

Bites

roll, which Eldred calls a “comfort roll,” is another addition. It’s stuffed with shrimp tempura, jalapeno, scallions and cream cheese, and topped with sliced avocado and spicy mayo. The jalapeno and scallions add a nice crunch but are not spicy. If you want a kick, add some real wasabi. Unlike most restaurants that have horseradish-based wasabi, Tarpon serves the real deal from the root of the plant Wasabia Japonica. Real wasabi affects you in a different way: It hits the sinuses and not the throat like horseradish, and the heat doesn’t linger.

Eldred is big on serving dishes one by one, as soon as they’re ready, so that each can be enjoyed at the proper temperature. This is especially important for bites like the tuna tartare. The dish, consisting of hand chopped yellowfin tuna tossed in extra virgin olive oil, balsamic confit, shallots and chives, is served atop a warm rice cake. “You want to bite through it so you get the warmth of the rice

cake and the cold [of the tuna] at the same time,” Eldred says.

As for 2019, which marks the restaurant’s 15-year anniversary, Eldred already has plans. On Thursdays and Fridays, Tarpon is going to have a $10 lunch menu from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. For the same price, they will also roll out a bar menu every day from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., an adjunct to an already popular happy hour. “That’s going to be, I think, massive,” Eldred says, whose philosophy is to “undersell and over deliver.”

As for his life passion to become a priest, Eldred never gave up on the idea of service to others. As well as being chairman of the Doctors Hospital Foundation, he is on the board of directors for the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce, the Camillus House, the Coral Gables Community Foundation, and the Baptist Health Foundation. “It’s all about serving, and about giving,” he says. His mother would be proud.

Taking the Fifth

BELLMONT CELEBRATES FIVE YEARS ON THE MILE

“The first year was tough but we kept going,” says Sergio Bellmont, whose eponymous restaurant just celebrated its fifth year on Miracle Mile. Serving strictly Spanish cuisine – even the fresh fish is flown in from España – Bellmont has found a loyal clientele in the Gables’ Cuban and Spanish communities. Among Bellmont’s specialties: meat cooked at your table on a hot volcanic rock from Granada,

and suckling pigs roasted in a 14,700 pound, wood-burning oven from Pereruela, Spain. “It was hard to install but worth it,” says Bellmont. “We are the only restaurant that cooks it [the suckling pig]. We’ve served 2,500 since we opened.” Flamenco dancing and guitar helped put their recent celebration over the top; you can experience more of the same Dec. 22, when the monthly Saturday night Flamenco returns.

That’s Good

Finally, an informal, take-out sandwich place has opened in the Shops at Merrick Park. Not that we object to the more formal sitdown dining at Sawa, Villagio, Yardhouse or the Brasserie, or the snacks you can get with your coffee at Ebar. But with C’est Bon (which means ‘That’s

Good’), you have a full array of French pastries, sandwiches, wraps, paninis, salads – even six variations of avocado toast – almost all of them for under $10. It’s brought to you by the owners of Sawa (Middle Eastern and Asian dishes), which explains the tabouli, hummus, and baba ganough salads.

CHEAP EATS AT MERRICK

The Happiest Hour

AT UVAGGIO, A CLASSIER APPROACH TO HAPPY HOUR

That’s a Spicy Meatball

If you’re looking for inexpensive eats and drinks, but not in the mood to deal with the cacophony of a regular happy hour, Uvaggio should be first on your list. Taking a classier approach to the traditional happy hour, Uvaggio serves fine wines and fancy snacks for half the price. From 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on any Tuesday through Friday evenings, guests can indulge in whites, reds or bubbles for only $6 a glass. They have vinos from all over the world, including Portugal, Chile and India.

The wine bar bites include

pickled shrimp for $7 and mixed olives and nuts for $4. This petite restaurant on the Mile also has draft beers for $4 and “frothers” for $5, like the “Blueberry Jito,” made from prosecco, blueberry and mint.

In our opinion, the best deal is the bottle of wine plus meat and cheese board for $35. You pick the wine; the chef picks the cheese. Adding to the experience is the quiet atmosphere; you can actually hear the person next to you, and no one is throwing elbows to get at that half-off craft IPA.

It’s been less than a year since owner and founder Craig Bernstein launched his sixth Doc B’s Fresh Kitchen on Miracle Mile, but already it’s uber popular for everyone from weekday executives to weekend families.

Partly, it’s the look and feel – the open-space, sleek, wood and fabric modern décor that’s the hallmark of nearby Hillstone and Seasons 52. The other reason is the extensive, eclectic and reasonably priced menu. “We make everything from scratch daily and have such an expansive menu that there really is something for everyone,” founder Craig Bernstein told us.

As far as the main courses go, the wait staff brags about the angry meatball. Yes, you read

that right, it’s not plural. It’s just one giant meatball for $19, made completely of wagyu and topped with spicy tomato sauce and ricotta cheese. Mama mia!

We, however, were more interested in the dessert menu. Bernstein recommends Rob’s Double Decker Cheesecake, which was the favorite of his late father Dr. Bernstein, for whom the chain is named. But our choice was another variation, the cinnamon toast crunch cheesecake. It will transport you directly back to your childhood, when sugar and cinnamon on toast or in a cereal was considered a healthy breakfast.

They also bake a fine Key Lime Pie. But no matter which treat you choose, they’re all $10. And fresh.

DOC B’S FRESH KITCHEN HITS THE MARK

Living p44

Best Bets of

Best Bets of What to do This Month

It wouldn’t be the holiday season without seeing this classic Christmas tale. Step into the magical world of toy soldiers, colorful characters and the enchanting “Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy,” set to the music

of Tchaikovsky performed by a live orchestra and the world-class Miami City Ballet. Dec. 14 – 24 at the Ziff Ballet Opera House, Adrienne Arsht Center. Tickets: $30 - $90.

Miami City Ballet: The Nutcracker Night Garden

Fairchild Tropical Botanic Gardens transforms into an illuminated wonderland at night. Guests can journey through lighting displays, special effects, motion-sensing technology, illuminated mazes, holograms, sculptures and more. Open 6 pm to 10 pm on weeknights, until 11 pm weekends. Tickets are $28 for adults, $20 for children under 10.

Wishing you a joyous holiday season, and a peaceful and prosperous new year.

Laser Fridays: A Nutcracker Fantasy

This holiday season Frost Science is introducing a new laser show inspired by the family holiday classic. The show com-

bines Nutcracker animation with the ballet’s iconic score. Dec. 21 at 7 p.m. $10 adults, $8 children (11 or younger)

Mary Queen of Scots

The dramatic feature directorial debut of theatrical visionary Josie Rourke, depicting the betrayal and rebellion within Mary’s turbulent court. Stars Oscar nominee Saoirse Ronan as Mary, and Oscar nominee Margot Robbie as Elizabeth. Dec. 21-27, Coral Gables Art Cinema. Tickets: $10-$11.75

A Seraphic Fire Christmas

Seraphic Fire will fill you with the spirit of the season, singing beloved traditional English carols and mystical Gregorian

chants. Dec. 16 (Sun.) 4 p.m. South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center. Tickets: $20 - $55

“Transforming men, women and children to effect lasting change”

The Miami Rescue Mission | Broward Outreach Centers (The Caring Place) provides emergency shelter, residential programs, job training, education & computer literacy classes, healthcare, transitional housing, permanent housing, employment opportunities for homeless men, women, and children as well as programs for “at-risk” youth.

No One is Homeless

For more information, visit www.caringplace.org

Irving Berlin’s White Christmas

The classic story of two showbiz buddies putting on a show in a picturesque Vermont inn, and finding the perfect friends in the process. Full of dancing, romance, laughter and great music

Dec. 25 – 30, Tues.-Sat. at 8 p.m.; Sat.at 2 p.m.; Sun. at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Ziff Ballet Opera House, Adrienne Arsht Center. Tickets: $34 - $123

Who Ya Gonna Call?

THE DEERING ESTATE GHOST TOUR MAY TURN YOU INTO A BELIEVER

Few people today realize that Christmas once held a tradition of sharing spooky stories. Perhaps it had to do with the dark days of winter, and ancient tales of goblins climbing down chimneys. That has all changed – though it’s still remembered in Charles Dickens’ 19th century tale “A Christmas Carol,” which had more ghosts than gifts.

If you’d like to get your spook on this holiday, there’s no better place than Deering Estate on the south tip of town. The compound housed the family of Charles Deering, who died there in 1927. But the property is still home to certain members of the family – their spirits, that is.

Deering Estate offers weekly ghost tours led by Paranormal Research and Investigative Studies (PRISM) founder David Pierce Rodriguez. Now an international organization with 16 teams in places as far off as Australia, Rodriquez founded the ghost hunting group in 2004, having been obsessed with ghosts since his childhood in Ohio. There, he began communicating with spirits in the house his grandfather built in the 1920s. His form of communicating? He would knock on doors or walls and dead residents would knock back.

Now a Gables resident and graphic designer, Rodriguez became the estate’s official

ghost guide three years ago. He’s turned an upstairs room in Richmond Cottage – one of the houses on the 444-acre property – into a lab of sorts, littered with machines that can pick up paranormal activity. If you’re brave enough to join him on a ghost excursion, you’ll be given a handheld device that picks up electromagnetic frequencies. If it lights up, a ghost is present. Rodriguez is equipped with his own devices to both see and hear the “residents.”

“I like voices and I like evidence,” he says of the tour that starts in the main ballroom of the estate but quickly descends into the cold, dark wine cellar, haunted presumably by the spirits of two people who used to work for Mr. Deering. Other rooms in the tour include Mr. and Mrs. Deering’s bedrooms. Back then husband and wife slept in different rooms. Regardless, they’re both haunted.

The equipment is what made ghost tourist Erin Regan believe in spirits. “I thought they would tell me ghost stories about weird stuff that happened in [the estate]. I didn’t think about the technology part of it,” says Regan, who admitted to being “completely skeptical” prior to the tour. Afterwards she wasn’t so sure, especially after one of the devices picked up a “presence” in a child’s rocking chair in the playroom of Richmond Cottage.

That could have been a

boy named Peter, one of the “friends” that Rodriguez has formed a relationship with during his investigation of the property. “It’s kind of like being a cat person; the cats know,” he explains. “But if you don’t like cats, they’ll stay away from you. Ghosts are kind of the same.”

The houses on the property aren’t the only spots where hauntings have occurred. Peo-

ple have claimed to see a ball of light or the apparition of a woman in a white dress down by the waterfront.

Do you see dead people?

Maybe in your Gables home or office? If so, Rodriguez wants to hear from you at www.DoYouSeeDeadPeople.org. Or call 305.235.16678 to reserve your 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. tour for $30 a person. –Lizzie

Wilcox

It’s kind of like being a cat person; the cats know... but if you don’t like cats, they’ll stay away from you...

David Pierce Rodriguez

Deering Estate official ghost guide

Waterfront contemporary redesign by Ramon Pacheco.

Gated entrance and Islands of Cocoplum Amenities! 6/6/1 | 7,082 sf. | 20,300 sf. lot | $6,750,000

Perotti Architects, Ana Bru Interiors with owner’s custom finishes and upgrades.

| 5,971 adj. sf. | 11,251 sf. lot | $3,798,000

Designed by Arquitectonica! Open, bright, great finishes. Gated entrance and Coral Gables Police Patrol!

| 5,653 adj. sf. | 20,923 sf. lot | $3,395,000

New Listing! Great opportunity to own a Stunning Lake-front estate in gated, prestigious Hammock Oaks.

| 9,109 adj. sf. | 38,840 sf. lot | $3,350,000

sf. lot | $2,949,000

Great family home on quiet cul-de-sac. Oversized lot!

Gated entrance and Coral Gables Police Patrol!

| 5,173 adj. sf. | 22,712 sf. lot | $2,498,000

Fully updated/expanded on prestigious Riviera Dr. If you like naturally bright and flowing interiors, look no more!

| 4,003 adj. sf. | 12,000 sf. lot | $2,199,000

166 Isla Dorada Blvd. Islands of Cocoplum, Coral Gables

7222 Monaco St. Cocoplum, Coral Gables Split lever built in 1997. High ceilings, 3 car garage

and Coral Gables Police Patrol!

8000 Los Pinos Blvd. Cocoplum, Coral Gables Classic

7370 Vistalmar St. Cocoplum, Coral Gables

7610 SW 47 Ave. (Erwin Road) Ponce Davis, Miami Custom Portuondo

7210 E Lago Dr. Islands of Cocoplum, Coral Gables

7423 Vistalmar St. Cocoplum, Coral Gables

6001 Riviera Drive, Coral Gables

11098 Marin St, Coral Gables, FL 33156

Grace Carricarte

Since 2009, Gables resident Grace “Gracie” Carricarte has run the Ganley Foundation, a South Florida non-profit dedicated to promoting mental health education for the prevention of suicide by high school and college students. As the executive director, Carricarte makes educational presentations to teachers, parents, students, crisis intervention teams, law enforcement personnel and volunteer organizations. Previously she was a youth counselor for low-income families. She has a graduate degree from UM in mental health counseling and is certified in school suicide prevention by the American Association of Suicidology. She lives near St. Teresa school, which her father, philanthropist Michael Carricarte, attended as a child.

LATEST ENDEAVOR WHAT SHE SAYS

Carricarte has just come off the fall school season, during which she makes 5 to 12 presentations weekly to help communities understand why and how suicide is preventable. The Ganley Foundation recently received a grant from the Coral Gables Community Foundation to continue their work.

Carricarte is determined to reduce the stigma of talking about teenage suicide, and helping potential victims, their parents and their educators understand that it is caused by undiagnosed mental illnesses, such as depression. “I don’t like the expression ‘commit suicide,’ because that implies an act of choice to do something bad. We don’t believe any biological

illness is necessarily an act of choice. People die by suicide, like they die by cancer.”

One of Carricarte’s missions is to encourage students to reach out for help. “There is nothing worse than feeling alone and that there is no ‘out’ for one’s pain… But the courage it takes to reach out and say, ‘I’m not okay,’ is enormous.”

The sad trend is that suicide is now the second leading cause of death for young people… I am galvanized by the idea of prevention...

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, GANLEY FOUNDATION

Jesse Stein is a highly successful internet entrepreneur who operates from downtown Coral Gables. Formerly CEO of New York’s Soho Digital, an online marketing company which he sold in 2005, Stein went on to found Triton Web Properties and SportsMemorabilia.com, which he operated from a Gables warehouse until it was sold in 2016. Since then he has been running Dietspotlight.com from his offices on Valencia Ave. A vendor of natural dietary supplements and weight loss software, Dietspotlight has gotten 120 million visits since it was founded.

Jesse Stein

LATEST ACHIEVEMENT WHAT HE SAYS

Stein is this year’s chairman of the America’s Gateway chapter of the Young President’s Organization, a society of super successful business leaders, all of whom have run a company with at least $13 million in annual revenue (or at least 50 employees) before age 45. There are 24,000 members worldwide.

“I have been in the Gables for five years now. I love it. This is a great place to have an office. It’s as pedestrian as it gets. I love walking around, especially now with Girdalda [Plaza] finished, and the widened sidewalks on Miracle Mile,” he says. “The most humbling thing [in Internet marketing] is the SEO [Search Engine Optimization – i.e. rankings] game. Google continues to humble me, because they will make sudden

algorithmic changes month by month, and you have to reverse engineer what you think it is they now like.”

As for his YPO chapter, Stein says, “We are one of the most diverse chapters in north America, with 26 nationalities among our 75 members… My goal this year is to increase engagement among members, to make everyone feel a deep connection with the chapter.”

The Gables is a great place to have an office. It’s as pedestrian as it gets...

FOUNDER & CEO, DIETSPOTLIGHT.COM; YPO AMERICAS GATEWAY CHAIRMAN

Antonio Bachour

Antonio Bachour grew up in the shadow of his family’s bakery in Puerto Rico, where he worked and dreamed of becoming a pastry chef. A graduate of New York’s French Culinary Institute, Bachour worked for the Westin and Ritz Carlton in Puerto Rico, then at Saluda in Miami and at the Westin and Trump Soho in New York as pastry chef. In 2013, he released his debut cookbook “Bachour”, which sold out. He has since published three others. He returned to Miami in 2015 to start Bachour Bakery + Bistro on Brickell. After selling his bakery, Bachour was approached by Coral Gables developer Armando Codina, who convinced him to set up a bakery, pastry shop and restaurant at Codina’s new HQ building at 2020 Salzedo.

LATEST ACHIEVEMENT WHAT HE SAYS

“I think they gave me the award because I am influential with other people. There are a lot of good pastry chefs in the world, but this is about influencing other pastry chefs through social media, travelling and my books,” he says. Known for the beauty of his pastry creations, he says, “People eat with their eyes first, so I want to create something that gets

a ‘Wow’ reaction. At the same time, it has to taste amazing, better than it looks.”

Asked what is trending in pastries, he says, “Less fat, more fruit and less sugar. A lot of butter and cream used to be used, but people don’t want their stomachs to feel heavy, they want to feel light,” he says. “Also, lemon dough is trendy right now.”

Bachour was named the 2018 Best Pastry Chef by the Best Chef Awards, held in Milan and sponsored by Barilla, which basically means he is the best pastry chef in the world. His new Gables pastry shop, bakery and restaurant opens in January.

WORLD RENOWNED PASTRY CHEF, GABLES BAKER

People eat with their eyes first, so I want to create something that gets a ‘Wow’ reaction...

For more than 18 years servicing Coral Gables, our staff would like to welcome you to our new office location!

Our team is excited to meet you and help you achieve and maintain a vibrant, healthy smile.

THE GREAT ART COLLECTIONS OF CORAL GABLES, PART I

Coral Gables is home to some of the finest private art collections in the country. As Stacey Conde of Conde Contemporary gallery says, “Coral Gables has always had an appreciation of art and all things cultural. I would be absolutely shocked if there were more [top private collections] anywhere else in Miami.” To be close to where the collectors live, work, eat and shop, the Gables is also home to a number of exclusive art galleries, including Cernuda Arte, The Americas Collection, and Conde Contemporary.

Because so many of he city’s residents have roots in Central and South America, the galleries and collections here tend to spotlight Latin American art. The Americas Collection, for example, represents artists from Ecuador, Colombia, Argentina, Panama, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua, among others. And with so many residents of Cuban origin, there is an additional focus on art from that island nation.

For this reason, our first look at private collections in Coral Gables visits that of Mike Fernandez, which centers on 20th century Cuban masters, and that of Dr. Julio and Alina Ortiz, which revolves around Cuban art after the Revolution. Both are museum worthy.

THE FERNANDEZ COLLECTION

WITH A WINK TOWARD MASSIVE SCULPTURE, MIKE FERNANDEZ’S COLLECTION EMBRACES THE MASTERS OF 20TH CENTURY CUBAN ART

Out Front: In his home on Biscayne Bay, Mike Fernandez displays two massive sculptures by Colombian artist Fernando Botero

ON THE LAM: FERNANDEZ BEGAN HIS COLLECTION IN 1989 WITH A SMALL WORK BY THE MOST ACCLAIMED CUBAN MASTER OF THE 20TH CENTURY, WIFREDO LAM. HIS WORKS TODAY SELL FOR MULTI-MILLION-DOLLAR PRICES, SUCH AS THE WALL-SIZED PAINTING FERNANDEZ RECENTLY PURCHASED (ON COVER PAGE 59). TODAY, FERNANDEZ OWNS MORE THAN THREE DOZEN PAINTINGS BY LAM.

Photography by Jon Braeley

Mike Fernandez is one of the most storied individuals who calls Coral Gables home. Having been involved in some 27 startups in the Gables, most of them in the medical field, he has amassed a multi-billion-dollar fortune that he uses philanthropically – and to increase his stunning collection of art.

As a Cuban who emigrated to the U.S. as a boy, Fernandez has focused his collection on artists from his native island, enhanced by sculptures created by the Colombian great Fernando Botero and the Italian Ugo Riva.

The core of his collection consists of more than three dozen paintings by the most famous of all Cuban artists, Wifredo Lam, a contemporary of Picasso and fellow master in Cubism. After meeting André Breton in Paris, Lam also became an active member of the Surrealist

movement, and was influenced by African art, which enjoyed a vogue in Paris in the 1930s and has always had an influence on Cuban art.

Fernandez’s first major acquisition was a small Lam that he bought in 1989 for far less than the multi-million price tag he most recently paid for a large Lam that hangs in the central hallway of his 40,000+ square foot home in the Gables.

“I used to buy only dead painters [Lam died in 1982] because their value is established and they don’t produce any more,” he says, half joking. “After a while I bought [Tomás] Sánchez and [Roberto] Fabelo, artists who are obviously alive.” A massive waterfall by Cuban landscape painter Sanchez hangs in Fernandez’s dining room. Fernandez also has a soft spot for several other living Cuban artists, including José Bedia, Kcho, and up-andcoming portrait painter Cesar Santos.

But it is the Cuban artists of the 20th century that enthrall Fernandez, and there are few that he does not own, with at least several canvases each by such greats as René Portocarrero (1912-1985), Roberto Matta (1911-2002), and Cundo Bermúdez (1914-2008). For other greats, such as Amelia Peláez (1896-1968) and Victor Manuel (1897-1969), Fernandez owns more than a dozen paintings by each.

Unlike other collectors in Coral Gables, Fernandez also has ample room for large sculptures, which he places on the water’s edge of his property and/or near the entrance to his estate. “I like to show the art outside so that people who go by on boat can see it,” he says. “I would encourage others in the Gables to do the same. There’s no point keeping it hidden.”

While most of what Fernandez owns are artists of great value and collectability, he also goes after art that simply pleases him, regardless of value. At the top of the Cuban art chain, Lam’s works are selling for $6 million to $8 million, with works by Peláez reaching $1 million, Sanchez $700,000 to $900,000, and those by Portocarrero and Manuel selling in the $500,000 to $600,000 range, according to Cuban art expert and gallery owner Ramón Cernuda. Fernandez, meanwhile, also loves the work of Kcho, an artist who lives in Cuba and is considered a cutting-edge contemporary artist – but whose canvases sell for between $20,000 and $40,000.

“He was Castro’s favorite painter,” says Fernandez. “But to me it’s interesting, because all he paints about are things to leave the island. I have one of a propeller. I have another one of a sinking boat… It’s very hard to get your hands on [his works].”

“It’s all a matter of taste,” says Cernuda. “Cuba is a country, in the context of Latin America, that has produced a very interesting body of art. It has to do with the colonial occupation, and an island with many different ethnicities and cultures, where one element did not control the island.”

Fernandez’s collection, which ranges from Matta’s priceless “Last Supper” painted on canvas rice bags to a small portrait by Santos that cost him a mere $10,000,

Top: A work by José Bedia, a Havana native who now lives in Miami and is considered one of the great Cuban ‘diaspora’ artists who immigrated from the island. His iconic works are in numerous museum and private collections.

Bottom: A painting by Victor Manuel, an early member of the “Vanguardia” movement in the 1920s and 1930s that created a distinctly Cuban aesthetic of European concepts of modern art combined with native primitivism.

Opposite top: A jungle scene by Tomás Sánchez, who at 70 years of age is the most expensive living Cuban painter. A master of landscape painting, his works are now selling for $600,000 to $900,000.

Opposite bottom: A work by contemporary Cuban painter and sculptor Alexis Leiva Machado, better known at Kcho (pronounced Ka Cho), whose paintings have been in museum and gallery shows across Europe and in the U.S.

The collection of Dr. Julio and Alina Ortiz covers every wall of their Gables home, itself a work of art that sits on a spit of land overlooking Biscayne Bay. Both of Cuban descent – he was born there, she was born in Miami of Cuban parents – they have focused on collecting Cuban artists who painted after the Revolution came to power in 1959.

While many of Cuba’s most famous 20th century painters have grown enormously in value – artists such as Wifredo Lam, Roberto Matta, René Portocarrero and Amelia Paláez – the newer generation has also produced a coterie of collectable artists. “Cuban art continues to grow and evolve with a vibrant contemporary movement,” says Ramón Cernuda, whose gallery has focused on Cuban art since it located in the Gables nearly two decades ago. “So, it’s not only the 20th century

artists, but the new artists that are coming out, gradually finding their way into modern and contemporary international collections.”

The Ortiz collection – which does have several works by the older masters – is one of the top collections of more contemporary Cuban artists. While not as valuable (yet), their work is exhibits a powerful range of themes, color, vibrancy and emotion. “We’re not investment buyers. We buy what we like, on an emotional basis,” says Dr. Ortiz, a highly successful ophthalmologist.

Their favorite Cuban artist is Manuel Mendive, who at 74 is still painting in Havana. Mendive is considered one of the leading Afro-Cuban artists to emerge from the revolutionary period, and along with Tomás Sánchez is among the most important Cuban artists living today. The Ortiz

ABOVE: PACIFIC SUNSET BY CARLOS ALFONZO. LEFT: DR. JULIO AND ALINA ORTIZ IN FRONT OF “THE STRONG MAN,” BY JOSÉ BEDIA, WHICH HANGS ABOVE THEIR KITCHEN DINING TABLE

THE ORTIZ COLLECTION

WITH ITS FOCUS ON POST-REVOLUTION CUBA ART, THE ORTIZ FAMILY HAS A SUBSTANTIAL COLLECTION OF IMPORTANT CONTEMPORARY CUBAN ARTISTS – ALONG WITH A FEW OF THE OLDER MASTERS

Opposite top: Mendive’s “Igboo” – the word for “killer” in African dialect – with its rich symbols of nature, death, the afterlife and God, in a painting that shows a dead man whose entrails are becoming a tree.

Opposite bottom: “The Kiss #1,” a 1966 work by Servando Cabrera Moreno that “expresses the violence of love,” says Dr. Ortiz.

Top: “The Last Interview,” by Dayron Gonzalez, which depicts an elderly Fidel Castro in his dying hours.

Bottom: “The Mirror” another Cabrera in which the painter depicts himself as a woman.

collection includes 20 paintings by this primitive, whose works incorporate visions of the Afro-Cuban Yoruba myths; most of these paintings hang in a room devoted to him. “His theme is the universality of the human condition,” says Dr. Ortiz.

The other post-revolutionary Cuban artists that comprise the Ortiz collection are Servando Cabrera, Roberto Fabelo, José Bedia, and Dayron Gonzalez, of which they have a half-dozen canvases of each. While they do own paintings by classic Cuban artists of the 20th century – Mariano Rodriguez and Portocorrero, for example –more recent works are their focus.

Among these is a huge painting by Bedia called “The Strong Man.” Dr. Ortiz explains that it is about Sri-Tanka, head of the Lacoda Sioux who were massacred by U.S. soldiers at Wounded Knee. A small image of Sri-Tanka’s frozen body is imbedded in the work, which hangs in their kitchen.

Their favorite work is called “Pacific Sunset,” by the painter Carlos Alfonzo, who died of AIDS in 1991. His paintings hang in the Whitney in New York and the Smithsonian in Washington, but not this extraordinary piece hanging over their bed, which resembles an abstract heart being stabbed by knives, daggers and spikes. “He’s tough to collect because people don’t give up his art,” says Alina. “We feel lucky to have it.”

Among their most important works are those by Servando Cabrera Moreno, who died while still in his 50s. One of these is “The Kiss #1,” a 1966 work that “expresses the violence of love, including the love for country,” says Dr. Ortiz.

Another Cabrera in the Ortiz home is a self-portrait called “The Mirror,” which resembles the artist but as a woman. Persecuted at the time for his protests against the regime, he is now being recognized in Cuba as an important artist. “I think the Cuban government would love to have it in their museum. But it’s mine,” says Dr. Ortiz.

While works by Mendive and Cabrera are now fetching prices between $150,000 and $250,000, the Ortiz collection is equally endowed with works by upand-coming artists such as Dayron Gonzalez, whose paintings are worth perhaps a tenth of that. Among those is a large work called “The Last Interview,” with Castro lying on a bed next to an anonymous note taker. “It’s an eclectic collection,” says Dr. Ortiz. “We purchase on instinct.”

We’re not investment buyers. We buy what we like, on an emotional basis...

Dr. Julio Ortiz

Murder Mystery

IT HAS BEEN 51 YEARS SINCE CORAL GABLES’ ONLY UNSOLVED DEATH OF A POLICE OFFICER. IT IS A CASE THAT STILL HAUNTS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

By Mike Clary

In the 93-year history of the Coral Gables police department, eight officers have been killed in the line of duty. One was struck by a drunk driver, another died in a motorcycle crash, and six officers were gunned down. Only one of those six gunshot homicides – that of Officer Walter Stathers – remains unsolved.

“It is part of our history and we can’t get any closure on it,” says Chief Ed Hudak. “Not to be able to apprehend someone or hold someone accountable for a cowardly murder... it’s what haunts us all.” Now, 51 years after the night Stathers was found face-down on the lawn of a stately home on South Alhambra Circle, police and the officer’s son are again talking about the cold case mystery they can never forget. If there is any chance that the killer – or someone who knows the killer –is alive, that chance is fading fast.

“I have a picture of my father on my desk, and I look at it every day,” says Wayne Stathers, a 19-year-old college student at the time of the slaying. “I have lived with a lot of questions. I have always hoped I’d get a phone call, and an officer would say, ‘We got him.’”

“Before I leave this world,” says Stathers, now 70, “I’d like to find out.”

In the universe of U.S. homicides, police killings are rare. Rarer still are unsolved homicides of police officers. “Usually these cases are closed at a high rate, and very soon afterward, because they become high priorities,” says University of Maryland criminologist Charles Wellford, who has studied police shootings. “So, when a case like this drags on, and is never closed, that is extremely rare.”

The last hours of Officer Walter Stathers’ life unspooled

Opposite page: Coral Gables Police Officer Walter Stathers was murdered in 1967 and the case remains unsolved

Top left: Coral Gables Police motorcade at the funeral of the slain officer

Top right: Police )fficer Walter Stathers with his son, Wayne

Above: Wayne Stathers today, a 70-year old Vietnam vet and grandfather of five

on a Wednesday night in the week before Christmas, when most of the city slept. Stathers, 46, was a burly, affable Navy veteran who routinely worked the midnight shift, patrolling a residential neighborhood east of U.S. 1. That’s where he was in the early hours of Dec. 19, 1967, when at 2:59 a.m. he received a call about a disturbance in the 5000 block of San Vicente Street. “Talked to the Hughes boy and another couple and asked them to keep it a little lower,” he wrote in his work sheet.

A little more than an hour later – at 4:18 a.m. – Stathers apparently spotted something suspicious. “204,” he said over the police radio, giving his unit number, “send me a dog car to South Alhambra Circle.” Fellow officer James Harley – who would later become Coral Gables police chief – says that even though Stathers did not give his exact location, the veteran cop was likely to be near an elaborate display of Christmas lights at the home of car dealer Anthony Abraham.

“You knew if you went looking for Walt after 4 a.m., if there were no other calls, he would be there keeping an eye out on it,” Harley said later.

As Harley rushed to the location, “I heard a faint gunshot,” he reported. He stopped an oncoming car, which turned out to be that of a man delivering papers.

Harley circled several blocks before hearing a radio call about a car in the backyard of a house at 700 South Alhambra Circle. At the scene, Harley found Stathers’ squad car, engine running, driver’s door open, and wedged up against the house. And face down on the lawn, the body of his friend.

“Officer Slawson and myself rolled him on his back to try to find a pulse or heartbeat and after rolling him over we saw where the projectile had apparently gone in the lower right side of his neck and came out the upper left forehead,” Harley wrote in his incident report. “His eyes were rolled back in his head and there was no sign of life, whatsoever.”

A resident of the house at 700 South Alhambra told police he saw Stathers standing, and then “heard a pistol shot and saw a flash of fire,” according to Harley. A maid, looking out the window, told police she saw a tall, thin black man ride off on a bicycle.

Later that morning, Sgt. Leland “Monk” Pluto, a fellow officer who lived across from Walt and Ethel Stathers in Cutler Ridge, woke the couple’s only child,

I heard a faint gunshot. Officer Slawson and myself rolled him on his back to try to find a pulse or heartbeat...

Fellow Officer James Harley writing in his report

Wayne. “I don’t remember exactly what he said,” recalls Stathers. “But when he woke me up, I pretty much knew there was something wrong.”

Police focused the investigation on the reason Stathers called for a canine unit. “We know he had a prowler,” Chief William Kimbrough told reporters. “But we don’t know if he had him in custody or whether the man came up to him when he stopped. His weapon is missing – that’s all we know.” Over the next few weeks police questioned several young men who lived in nearby Coconut Grove. They went to Alabama to interview a possible suspect. They looked high and low for Stathers’ missing gun, a .357 Colt Trooper. It was never found.

In the years after the slaying, Wayne married, went into the Army, served two combat tours in Vietnam, and came home to raise two daughters while making a living as a mechanic. A grandfather of

five, he now works as a dive master in Key Largo, where he lives. His mother, Ethel Stathers, remarried and died in 2011.

Police have made several efforts to garner evidence or leads that might help crack the case. About 10 years ago, a detective with the Miami-Dade Police Department – which handles homicide investigations for Coral Gables – hand carried Stathers’ police uniform hat to a Washington D.C.-area forensics lab where new techniques could be used to pick up any traces of DNA. Nothing was found, says Wayne Stathers.

To call attention to the Stathers case in hopes of generating leads, there have been news stories on anniversaries of his death. In 2011 Stathers’ face was painted on the side of NASCAR driver Kevin Conway’s racecar at Homestead Miami Speedway as part of a plea for information. The following year police and Crime Stoppers of Miami-Dade County released a video reenactment of the crime.

Officially, the murder of Walter Stathers remains under investigation by the Miami-Dade police Cold Case squad. Decades have gone by with no new devel-

opments. The public has largely forgotten the case. But not so the family.

In 2016, the Coral Gables Police Department’s K9 Roy, a 5-year-old Belgian Malinois, was fitted with a bullet-proof vest donated by the nonprofit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. and the Stathers family. The vest is embroidered with the words: “To honor the memory of Walter F. Stathers EOW 12/19/67.” The EOW stands for “End of Watch,” and is used by police to signify the date of death of an officer killed in the line of duty.

At the Coral Gables PD, the slaying remains fresh in the minds of fellow officers who were not even born when Stathers was killed. “When it’s one of your own, it’s personal,” said Hudak. “There is always going to be that hole in our department, that someone was killed and no one was held accountable. I think about it all the time.”

Hudak says he discussed the Stathers slaying several times with Harley before the former chief died in 2015. “He knew Officer Stathers, so it was always with him,” says Hudak. “Just like any cop who loses a partner, they re-live that day – the ‘What if, what could we have done better?’

“We’ll never forget,” says Hudak. “We’ll always be working on it… We make sure our new officers understand that it can happen anywhere.”

MOVING UP THE SUPPLY CHAIN

VETERAN GABLES POLITICIAN AND CIVIC ACTIVIST CHIP WITHERS HAS TAKEN THE FAMILY FIRM FROM A LOCAL MOVING COMPANY TO A WORLD-WIDE LOGISTICS FIRM – WHILE KEEPING HIS FEET ON THE GROUND

By Mike Clary

WHEN CHIP WITHERS was a student at the University of Florida, he did well enough in science to think he might have a career in medicine. “Maybe in clinical research,” he says.

But the call of the family business proved to be too strong to resist. Withers bought Withers Transfer & Storage from his father in 1980, becoming the fourth generation of his family to run the company. In his years at the helm, he has transformed the family business from a moving company to an international logistics firm, transporting hundreds of millions of dollars worth of goods worldwide – including surfboards for Jimmy Buffett

and a crated-up guitar Bruce Springsteen left behind after a concert. He has also helped relocate thousands of families, not forgetting the company’s roots.

Withers has never forgotten his community roots, either. He spent 20 years on the Coral Gables City Commission, helping create the Coral Gables Museum and serving on dozens of boards, foundations and committees. “If he took something on, he gave it his all,” says former City Manager Jack Eads. “Chip has a wonderful perspective, tries to be helpful, and looks for a solution. He always has a positive outlook.”

In honor of his community service,

the Rotary Club of Coral Gables earlier this year presented Withers with its annual Coral Gables Martin Hughes Citizen of the Year Award. Past honorees include former Miami Herald publisher David Lawrence Jr., activist Roxcy Bolton, and Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Steven Leifman.

“It’s a very humbling experience, coming from an institution that has as its motto ‘Service Above Self,’” says Withers, 66.

What would become Withers Worldwide Transportation Systems began in 1909 when John E. Withers moved south from Minnesota to begin a new life. But, says Chip Withers, “[my] great grandfather was a dirt farmer who found his

It’s a very humbling experience, coming from an institution that has as its motto ‘Service Above Self’...

Chip Withers on the Coral Gables Martin Hughes Citizen of the Year Award

wooden ploughs couldn’t deal with coral rock. He failed miserably.”

That failure became opportunity. With his one horse and buggy, John Withers began to meet arrivals at the Miami train station, hauling their luggage to Henry Flagler’s Royal Palm Hotel on the Miami River. From there the business grew.

Wayne Elmer “Chip” Withers Jr. is now the fourth generation of the family to head the business, which can still handle a cross-town move in Miami-Dade County or resettle a family from Minnesota. Among personal belongings moved were those of former Miami resident Madonna. But moving household goods now represents only about 10 percent of what the company does.

The bulk of today’s business is what Withers describes as international freight logistics, chiefly for the hospitality industry. “We put together a supply line – warehouses, transportation and installation,” he says.  “For example, we might move raw silk from Korea to France, where it is dyed, then send it back to a factory in China where it is used in furniture, then move that furniture to Texas to be treated with a

flame retardant, and then send the furniture to the Four Seasons Resort in Nevis where we manage the installation in the hotel.” The company handles an estimated $400 million in product annually, he says.

Withers was elected to his first term as a city commissioner in 1991 after tasting political success running a mayoral campaign for George Corrigan. “I fell in love with it,” he said of politics. By then, the company had relocated from the 300 block of Almeria Avenue to a massive warehouse in the Doral area. But Withers remained a Gables resident and civic leader.

During his two decades in office, Withers was the critical driving force behind the creation of the Coral Gables Museum, which opened in 2013 in the old police and fire station listed on the National Register of Historic Places (see Time Machine, pg. 104). Withers still holds the position of Chairman Emeritus on the museum’s Board of Trustees.

Withers also spoke out against efforts to tighten restrictions on the number of unrelated persons allowed to live in one home, a response to complaints about noise from households of University of

Above: Inside the reception area of Withers Worldwide Transportation Systems

Great grandfather was a dirt farmer who found his wooden ploughs couldn’t deal with coral rock. He failed miserably...

Chip Withers on his grandfather moving to Florida

Miami students living off campus. The proposed ban was opposed as discriminatory by gay and lesbian groups. “We are trying to legislate morality,” Withers said in 2000. “When the government gets in that role, it’s dangerous.”

The list of Withers’ community activities is impressive. For the city, he has served on the boards of Planning and Zoning, Economic Development, Code Enforcement, Youth Advisory and Parks & Recreation. He served as President of the Pan American International Mover’s Association and is a member of the University of Florida Alumni Association. He serves as the Chairman of The Alpha-1 Project, Inc., which raises funds to combat lung disease.

It goes on from there. Withers was a founding board member of the Coral Gables Foundation, a director of the Bank of Coral Gables, the Governor’s appointee to the Small Business Council of the State of Florida, and was honored as one of Ronald McDonald’s House of Twelve Good Men. He is a Member of the UF Foundation Board and of the UF Gator Booster Organization.

Withers left the city commission in 2011. He made an unsuccessful bid to regain his seat in 2017, motivated in part by

his opposition to the Paseo de la Riviera project on U.S.1, a controversial mixed-use development that required a land-use map change to allow for a 252-room hotel, 224 residences and 13-story office building.

“I think the city is at the tipping point,” says Withers. “Coral Gables is known for its neighborhoods. But with the emphasis on downtown living, and as the central business district grows, comes pressure from developers that impacts residential neighborhoods. Coral Gables should not become a concrete canyon. I think you have to hold the line.”

Of his loss at the polls, Withers says, “It was not meant to be, and I am at peace with that.”

The family business now seems destined to be headed by a fifth-generation Withers. Both Shaefer Withers and Taylor Withers, two of Chip’s four children, work for the company.

And what would his forebears think of the firm today? “I think they would see that in the 1980s we took a major turn, leaving our roots in moving household goods for a new venture in logistics,” he said. “But leaving the farm in Minnesota was a major turn as well. Both involve a pioneering attitude. I think they would be happy with our spirit and direction.”

Top: The staff gives a big wave at the company’s warehouse.

Above: Withers was the critical driving force behind the creation of the Coral Gables Museum. (See Time Machine, pg. 104).

The New Standard

FIOLA HAS LANDED, AND INSTANTLY UPPED THE ANTE FOR FINE DINING IN THE GABLES

by Andrew Gayle

The fact that Fabio Trabocchi chose Coral Gables for the expansion of his collection of high-end restaurants in Washington, D.C., is a nod to the city’s reputation for fine dining. The relocation also owes its impetus to Facundo Bacardi, who lured Trabocchi to the Gables with a made-toorder space in the spectacular new family office building at the edge of the city on Sunset.

Regardless of how or why, the arrival of Trabocchi’s latest culinary creation, Fiola Miami, is the new standard for fine dining in Coral Gables. Overnight, it has become the must-see, must-do restaurant for the city’s elite.

Starting with a grand corner entrance on San Ignacio Avenue, Fiola offers a superlative dining experience. The interior looks and feels like a power-player restaurant in DC or New York, as though it had been transplanted whole cloth. Every detail is perfect, from the high ceilings, Venetian Murano chandeliers and wall-hung paintings to the recessed lighting, leather upholstered seating and gold-plated table wear.

Even the music is impeccable –perfect amplitude, transitioning from Cuban samba to Count Basie jazz. It imbues Fiola with a sense of sophistication from a lost supper club era where elegance ruled.

The wait staff is also superbly trained. The core cadre – executive chef, pastry chef, service director, etc. – are veterans from Trabocchi’s other establishments who relocated to the Gables; one more reason why this new restaurant feels like it’s been here for years. Just the advice of veteran sommelier Joseph Gewarges is worth dining at Fiola; he was brought in to curate the restaurant’s selection of 1,000 choices (8,000 bottles in stock), and despite his disarming modesty possesses an enormous knowledge of vineyards and pairings.

And then there is the food. To call this cuisine Italian understates its inventiveness. Trabocchi pushes his dishes beyond the traditional. They are really his creations, each one an exploration of taste, texture and appearance. Mushroom soup? Here it is Porcini Mushroom “Cappucino” Soup, and starts

Chef Fabio Trabocchi

Above: A signature dish is the Fiola Lobster Ravioli

Opposite top: The main dining room at Fiola

Opposite bottom: Bucatini with Red King Prawns

I was chasing the best chefs I knew and working for them for free...

with a bowl occupied by Parmigiano foam, chanterelle mushrooms and sheep’s milk ricotta-stuffed pasta, over which the waiter pours a hot porcini mushroom broth from a porcelain coffee pot. A work of art filled with subtle shifts of flavor.

Another ingenious dish is the oysters & caviar appetizer, which couples a dollop of Calvisius caviar with two oysters bathed in a prosecco zabaglione sauce, accompanied by pane carasau – a Sardinian flat bread – to anchor the sweet and salty tastes. It is a piquant, savory start to the meal. Or you could start with the Diver Sea Scallops Ceviche, a refreshing mélange of scallops, avocado, coconut and key lime. It is served on a mother of pearl, oversized oyster half shell, itself floating on a silver bowl of ice. Cool, clean, and delicately delicious.

This being an Italian restaurant, Fiola’s naturally has a selection of pastas. Among these is Trabocchi’s signature Lobster Ravioli, the most popular dish in his D.C. locations. Obsessed with quality and freshness of ingredients, Trabocchi cooks the lobster over a low temperature rather than boiling it, to ensure the juiciness of the meat. The ravioli dough is wonton, not egg pasta, so that it can be steamed rather than boiled. The dish uses ginger and rosemary to enhance the flavor, but it’s really about the chunks of lobster in the pasta and on the plate. “This is a very personal dish for me,” says Trabocchi. “We asked, ‘How do we make this dish better? We don’t add cheese or eggs, we just showcase and respect the lobster.”

Trabocchi himself was raised in the Marche region of Italy’s Adriatic coast, and from the age of 14 pursued a culi-

nary career, “chasing the best chefs I knew and working for them for free.” He became an executive chef in Italy, then in Moscow, and then in the U.S., where he emerged as top chef for Bice restaurant – in the very building where he would launch his first Fiola in 2011. Since then he has grown his restaurant empire to five in D.C. (Fiola, Del Mar, Fiola Mare and two Sfoglina Pasta Houses), and now to six with the Coral Gables location.

The cuisine at Fiola is not wedded to one region of Italy, says Trabocchi, but moves with the seasons. In fall and winter, it features northern Italian cuisine, and in spring and summer the foods come from the mid and southern regions. “The menu changes as the season moves, because the quality and freshness of the product is all important, as it should be with Italian food,” he says.

Having had to satisfy Washington DC’s particular trope toward high-end steakhouses, Fiola also offers an array of top meat choices. These cuts may not all originate in Italy, but Trabocchi puts his Italian spin on the preparation. We tried the Miyazaki Wagyu Beef which he amps up with an anchovy-based Pesto Cetarese and a rosemary hollandaise, accompanied by a poached, marinated Lady apple and pickled grapes. At $30 an ounce, this may be the best tasting beef you’ll ever eat.

Like the Wagyu Beef, Trabocchi’s gustatory wonders

come at a price, of course. While you can escape with a pasta dish in the $20s, appetizers are $20 to $30, and main dishes $30 to $50. But what food! A whole, saltcrusted branzino! Bison tartare! Bucatini with Red King Prawns! And the world’s best Tiramisu for desert, along with a selection of other creative finishes to your meal, including a creamy terrine of Peruvian chocolate with Sicilian pistachio mousse.

Fiola brings a whole new level of dining sophistication to the Gables. The attention to detail is beyond meticulous, yet subtle, everything executed with seamless competence. From the grand entrance, to the glass wall of wine selections, to the open, coppersheathed kitchen with its army of white-jacketed cooks, dining at Fiola is a choreographed experience, a perfect ballet of sight, sound, smell and taste.

Above: The bison tartare

Left: The grand corner entrance on San Ignacio Avenue

PRACTICE AREAS

Administrative Law & Licensing

Anti-Money Laundering

Antitrust

Appellate

Class Action

Commercial Leasing

Community Associations

Complex Loan Workouts

Attorneys at Law

Construction

Government Law

Health Law & Life Sciences

Hospitality

Immigration

Insurance

Intellectual Property

International Dispute Resolution

Labor and Employment

Land Use & Zoning

Since 1910

Corporate

Creditors’ Rights & Bankruptcy

Cuba Task Force

Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Task Force

Eminent Domain/Inverse Condemnation

Environmental

Financial Services

Government Contracts

Litigation

Public Finance

Shutts & Bowen is a full-service law firm with more than 280 attorneys in eight offices in Florida, our attorneys focus on more than 30 distinct practice areas nationally and internationally.

Real Estate

Securities Fraud Litigation

Taxation

Trusts and Estates

White Collar Criminal Defense & Governmental Investigations

Shutts & Bowen is a full-service law firm that has provided leadership and high-quality legal services to businesses and individuals for over a century. With more than 280 attorneys in eight offices in Florida, our attorneys focus on more than 30 distinct practice areas nationally and internationally.

Aliette DelPozo Rodz, Partner Chair, Focus on Women Group Member, Business Litigation

THE TOP

RESTAURANTS IN CORAL GABLES

CoralGables is a moveable feast, a veritable mecca of fine dining. It has the highest density of quality restaurants for any city in South Florida – close to 100 good dining establishments. The restaurants do cluster near the main street of Miracle Mile, but are also spread throughout the Gables. This is not the sort of town where one wanders about in large shopping malls, but nonetheless there are some hidden gems to be found there and even in out-of-the way strip malls.

Dining hours in the Gables stretch from the early evening – when It is common to see people at restaurants close to where they work – until late at night, when it’s not unusual go

$ Under $25

$$ $25-$40

$$$ $35-$75

$$$$ $70-$100+

Prices are per person for appetizer and entrée, no tax, tip or drinks. Prices are approximate

AMERICAN California Pizza Kitchen

A local favorite, the home of “California-style” pizza, this national chain that started in Beverly Hills is both casual and polished, with a truly inventive array of non-traditional pizzas. Things like cauliflower crust, spicy chipotle chicken, carne asada. And then there are the patrons who come only for the butter cake, which they consider one of the best things on earth.

300 Miracle Mile 305.774.9940

$$ Pizza/American Eating House

Groovy place with inventive ever-changing menu, with dishes like nutmeg risotto, pumpkin tiradito, and fried Brussels sprouts. Dynamite freerange fried chicken. Simple artsy décor but superb food, excellent presentation, great value.

804 Ponce de Leon Blvd.

305.448.6524

$$ Innovative American 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 flat bread menu is really a nice touch. It’s a chain, but we forgive them.

321 Miracle Mile 305.442.8552

$$ Healthy American

Shula’s 347 Grill

If it’s beef you are after but want to avoid the formality of a high-end steak house, Shula’s is perfect for you. Good service and pleasant décor – including lots of photos of the coach – make this a go-to place for professionals in the area. Great use of cheeses – boursin in their mac & cheese, and gorgonzola in their cream spinach. Best Specialty Burger says Coral Gables magazine. 6915 Red Rd. 305.665.9661

$$$ Steak and seafood

Tap 42

Winner of Best Overall Burger by Coral Gables magazine, 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 cole slaw).

301 Giralda Ave. 786.391.1566

$$-$$$ American Pub

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

$$ American and more

to a restaurant at 10 pm and find the place packed, even with children.

Many of the restaurants in Coral Gables are world-class. But the culinary scene is also changing. Where once the topflight, traditional dining spots catered to lawyers, bankers, businessmen and diplomats, there is a new crop of edgier places, with young chefs and new tastes, catering to a younger clientele.

What follows is our list of the tried and true, and the innovative and new. We dine at all locations anonymously, and we list only the places where we love to eat.

ASIAN

Ichimi

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

$-$$ Japanese

Izkaya

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

$$ Japanese

Kao Sushi & Grill by Sushi Club

A fresh and interesting take on Sushi as it is blended with the flavors of Peru. Steamed gyoza dumplings with chorizo? Tuna tataki with traditional Peruvian sauce? Cooked white rice over chipotle seasoned furikake? Yes, to all three. They also do some interesting things with steak, since the creators of the Sushi Club come from Buenos Aires. Outdoor seating on the Mile.

127 Miracle Mile 786.864.1212

$$ Peruvian Japanese

Matsuri

Just over the city line at Bird and Red roads, Matsuri is tucked humbly away in non-descript Red Bird Shopping Center. Yet it serves the world-class sushi, the finest anywhere in South Florida, and has an enormous menu of traditional Japanese food as well. You will need reservations to snag a seat

Demystifying the Facelift

Q&A’s: MINI OR WHAT?

1. MINI FACE: For someone with early cheek skin relaxation but no neck concerns.

2. MINI NECK: For the patient whose mid face looks good but with early neck skin loosening and no need for muscle band tightening.

3. FACE PLUS MINI NECK: Addresses prominent cheek jowls and early neck skin relaxation but no muscle bands.

4. NECK LIFT: For the patient with a saggy neck and visible muscle bands that need tightening. Usually part of the Face and Neck Lift.

5. FACE AND NECK LIFT: The gold standard and longest lasting result. For the patient with cheek jowls, neck sagging and muscle bands that need tightening. Restores tone to the cheek and neck muscles and removes all loose skin. You look yourself but refreshed and no longer tired. Skin looks young again.

What to Choose?

It depends on anatomical findings and a patient’s expectations.

Where are the scars?

Designed carefully around the ear to be imperceptible.

Is there a scar under the chin?

Only if the neck muscles deserve tightening which provides for the longest lasting and best neck result. One inch long and hidden.

What about anesthesia?

Everyone’s worry, yet it’s safer than driving in South Florida. Local numbing is always utilized to prevent pain. How much other anesthesia is used depends on the procedure, but most patients prefer to sleep and wake up when surgery is over.

How to get started?

Consult with an experienced plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Face surgery isn’t easy, so do your research - it’s your face after all.

Photo by Nick Garcia

Le Provençal

BoGo Burgers

from its devoted clientele. 5759 Bird Rd. 305.663.1615

$$-$$$ Japanese

Red Koi Lounge

If you like Thai food, then you will love Red Koi, which takes the Asian specialty up a notch. Their Bangkok Shrimp is worth the visit alone, and their cashew curry chicken will make you come back. Hopefully they will be expanding their few outdoor tables soon.

317 Miracle Mile 305.446.2690

$$ Thai

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 yatkitori to octopus ceviche, along with super fresh Middle Eastern comfort food. Some nice “samplers” let you check out the menu’s range, plus great naan flatbreads. World’s best lamb chops. Also has a doggy menu.

360 San Lorenzo Ave. (Shops of Merrick Park) // 305.447.6555

$$$ Japanese and Mediterranean

FRENCH

Brasserie Central

Secretly owned by Pascal of Ponce fame, the restaurant is half inside half in the courtyard of the Shops. A typical French bistro with wonderful onion soup, fresh bread and a superb paté. Everything on the menu is fresh, French, and all you would expect from Pascal. Lots of little French touches, though not cheap.

Shops at Merrick Park 786.536.9388

$$-$$$ French

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

$$-$$$ French

Le Provençal

This Gables mainstay (30 years in the same location) is under new ownership, so expect some intriguing innovations. But what they do extremely well is classic French cuisine, with such crowd-pleasing favorites as duck a l’orange, Coquille St. Jacques, escargot and steak au poivre. New sidewalk seating for the Parisian café experience, perfect pre-theater location.

266 Miracle Mile 305.448.8984

$$$ French

Palm d’Or

The award-winning Palm d’Or is a dining icon in Coral Gables. At once traditional and innovative, the French cuisine created by Chef Gregory Pugin is a work of art, literally. Each serving in his $115 six-course meals – or his $155 chef’s tasting menu – is impeccable in taste and appearance.

1200 Anastasia Ave. (at the Biltmore Hotel) 305.913.3200

$$$$ French

Pascal’s On Ponce

Elegant, quaint and delicious, Pacal’s is the home and culinary canvas of owner-chef Pascal Oudin, who brings authentic French cuisine to the heart of the city. Oudin excels in seafood, soufflés and desserts. Try the leeks & hearts of palm salad.

2611 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.444.2024

$$$ French

ITALIAN

Caffe Abbracci

A Gables icon, 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. Closely shepherded by the welcoming Pernetti, Abbracci is quiet, elegant and flavorful. The food is so consistently good that Pernetti had to publish his own cookbook.

318 Aragon Ave. 305.441.0700

$$$ Italian

Cibo Wine Bar

Cibo has two locations in South Florida, one on South Beach and the other here, on Miracle Mile. Rustic Italian food in a warm interior with exposed brick, wood finishes, butcher block tables and a wall of wine selections. Extensive traditional Italian menu, with lots of pizza options cooked in a brick oven.

45 Miracle Mile 305.442.4925

$$-$$$ Italian

Fontana

The setting is as elegant as the service and food: The Biltmore’s famed fountain courtyard. You can sit under the stars, in a covered archway, or inside to enjoy Italian classics. Fresh ingredients, from the salads to the pasta that is made daily. Great octopus, pastas cooked perfectly. One of the most romantic restaurants in the Gables. 1200 Anastasia Ave. (Biltmore Hotel) 305.913.3200

$$$ Italian

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, and the fettuccine with prosciutto, mushrooms and green peas is to die for.

264 Miracle Mile 786.452.0068

$$$ Italian

La Palma

Exquisite setting in a historic building with lovely courtyard dining. For years, La Palma was known for its incredible lunch buffet. At $13.95 it’s still a bargain, but now served only on Tuesdays. For other weekdays, they have an executive lunch for $17.95. And good to know they always have pasta fagioli, the Tuscan white bean soup.

116 Alhambra Circle 305.445.8777

$$-$$$ Italian

Zucca

A worthy heir to the hallowed grounds of the old St. Michel restaurant, this one-year-old is a new star in the galaxy of Italian eateries in the Gables. Distinctly northern Italian, with the home-taught recipes that chef Simone Mua learned in his native Milan. Modern Italian design, sophisticated, with haute comfort food and great service.

162 Alcazar Ave. 786.580.3731

$$$-$$$$ Northern Italian

LATIN & SOUTH AMERICAN

Aromas del Peru

The shrine for ceviche, with a wide range of choices – 18 ceviches at last count – for great prices. Haute Peruvian appetizers and good fish dishes, right up to the whole fried snapper.

And don’t miss the pisco sour soup. Comfortable leather seats, too.

1930 Ponce de León Blvd. // 305.476.5886

$$ Peruvian

Bocas House

Interesting take on traditional Latin food, fused with Asian and American tastes. The Arroz al Wok specials (shrimp, beef, or chicken/mixed) consist of Latin style rice cooked in a wok with a reduction of soy, sesame oil and oyster sauce. The signature dish is fried green plantains with ‘wok-smoked’ pork steak covered with shredded white cheese. Big selection of arepas, great (albeit pricey) milkshakes.

2 Aragon Ave. 786.631.3703

$$ Latin American fusion

Caffe Vialetto

Two brothers, managing to keep sibling rivalry at bay, have concocted a menu of upscale Latin food that is consistently changing and interesting. Yuca, mofongo (garlic flavored mashed plantains), and other Caribbean and Latin flavors make for an out of the ordinary experience. Reservations required, always full.

4019 LeJuene Rd. 305.446.5659

$$$ Cuban/Latin

Graziano’s

This large, bustling Gables mainstay is true Argentine. A deep selection of Argentine wines (which line every wall) to go with churrasco meats slowly roasted over a quebracho wood fire, old school style. They have seafood and pasta, empanadas and salads, but come here for the meat, the selection of which will stun even hardcore carnivores.

394 Giralda Ave. 305.774.3599

$$$ Argentine

Havana Harry’s

It’s big, it’s easy, it’s comfortable, and it’s where the shredded onion/garlic chicken dinner (pollo vaca frita) with rice, beans and plantains is still just $12.95. The same with the fried pork chunks (massas de Puerco). Large menu with all your Cuban favorite dishes along with – surprising for a Cuban place – some nice dinner salads.

4612 S. LeJeune Rd. 305.661.2622

$$ Cuban Mikuna Peruvian

“It’s time to feel the real Peru” boasts the Mikuna web site, and they do indeed move beyond ceviche to the other dishes that make Peruvian food one of the best cuisines in Latin America. These include lobster with Peruvian yellow pepper sauce, seafood rice with squid ink, and skewered swordfish. Other unique tastes include shrimp bisque with rice and egg.

325 Alcazar Ave. 786.420.2910

$$$ Peruvian

Dining Guide

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 flat breads that are really haute tacos – are great at $17.

2299 Ponce de Leon Blvd.

305.444.2955

$$ Mexican

SEAFOOD

La Dorada

Regarded by many to be the finest restaurant devoted to seafood in the Gables, La Dorada is traditional Spanish cooking with a deep-sea focus (and a pleasant, ocean-deco décor). The house specialty is a baked whole fish crusted in sea salt, but don’t miss the traditional Mediterranean seafood stews or the shellfish prepared Galician style.

177 Giralda Ave. 305.446.2002

$$$$ Spanish Seafood

M House

New restaurant on the ground floor of the Aloft Hotel, M House has soaring ceilings and clever plant hangings that

create a great space. Fantastic seafood and new tastes abound, as Chef Abraham Silva uses a Josper Oven to bake in flavors at high heats. Great new takes on octopus, scallops and mussels, along with a masterful whole fish. Delicious Josper-cooked lamb chops. 2524 S. Le Jeune Rd. 786.369.5155

$$$ European coastal cuisine, seafood

Mesa Mar

A relative newcomer, though the family has been in the restaurant business for many years. Some of the best seafood in the Gables. Try the golden-fried hogsnapper accompanied by lobster bisque with whole chunks of Florida lobster. Also serves delicious ceviches. 264 Giralda Ave. 305.640.8448

$$$ Seafood

Tarpon Bend

Tarpon Bend is busy even on off days. Why? Great, fresh fish at reasonable prices, like cedar plank salmon with veggies for $25 or Asian tuna burger for $15. Owner Wayne stays on top of quality and it shows. Their daily special features three fish prepared any way you like. Big happy hour scene.65 Miracle Mile 305.444.3210

$$ Seafood

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse

SPANISH

Bellmónt

Modern décor meets traditional Spanish dishes. Their house specialty is the roast suckling pig. If you want the whole pig ($230 for 4) you need to order 4 hours in advance. If it’s just you ($49) you’ll need to wait just 50 minutes. As for the rest: authentic Spanish cuisine, with great seafood dishes, fantastic paella. 339 Miracle Mile // 786.502.4684

$$$ Spanish

Bulla Gastro

As valued for its cocktails as for its tapas, Bulla’s is also something Coral Gables needs – an informal, smart neighborhood hangout with a young, boisterous vibe. Great ‘small plates’ and refreshing sangria. Yes, it is a national chain, but it still feels local. 2500 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.441.0107

$$ Spanish

La Taberna Giralda

Routinely rated among the top tapas places in South Florida, La Taberna brings the added twist of a chef from Galicia, who puts his own regional spin

The perfect venue for your next event!

the dishes. It’s a small place with a neighborhood vibe, orange walls, string lights and live flamenco on the weekends ($5 cover), so reservations are a must.

254 Giralda Avenue 786.362.5677

$$ Spanish

STEAK

Christy’s

Touted as Coral Gables oldest steakhouse, Christy’s was long the power lunch go-to – until it stopped serving lunch except on Fridays. Still, its aged steaks are consistently excellent, as are the seafood entrees. And their classic Caesar salad is still the best in town.

3101 Ponce de Leon Blvd.

305.446.1400

$$$ Steakhouse

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse

Fantastic aged steaks, a seafood tower that won’t quit, and a wine cellar that appears to have no end of its depth. A place for special celebrations. Recently redecorated, but the open kitchen with its copper ‘sash’ across the top still gives the main dining room a glow. Good menu at the bar.

2525 Ponce de Leon Blvd.

305.569.7995

$$$-$$$$ Steak & Seafood

Morton’s Coral Gables

Morton’s in the Gables is not just another Morton’s. Its setting in the Colonnades gives it a unique elegance, with outdoor seating under the arches. Dependable quality, prime-aged beef, and excellent salads. Good place to take that important client. Great happy hour with filet mignon sandwiches or short rib tacos for $8.

2333 Ponce de Leon Blvd.

305.442.1662

$$$ Steakhouse

Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse

There is a reason that the tables at Ruth’s are typically full, even on week nights. This is where the best steaks are sent and where cholesterol is sent to the devil for the sake of extraordinary taste. Lots of wood paneling, wonderful service, and huge wine selection complete the package.

2320 Salzedo St. 205.461.8360

$$$$ Steakhouse

PUBS, CAFES & MISC.

John Martin’s Irish Pub

Where else in the Gables can you find a relaxed Irish pub with excellent comfort food like shepherd’s pie, bangers & mash, and fish & chips? Answer: nowhere. Which is why this long-established eatery and bar is so beloved

by its clientele. Lots of American staples as well, from hot pastrami on rye to their signature Pub Burger. Jazz every Wednesday night.

253 Miracle Mile 305.445.3777

$ Pub Food

The Seven Dials

Calling itself an “eclectic American gastropub,” Seven Dials is a fusion of American recipes with British culinary standards, with nice twists. The shepherd’s pie is made from lamb, the chicken breast is cooked with curry sauce. There is also a nice Welsh Rarebit snack and a beer-battered Indian-inspired cauliflower with mint aioli and tamarind. Relaxed, pub-like interior.

2030 S. Douglas Rd. 786.542.1603

$$ British American

ThreeFold Café

You have to love a place that is dedicated to breakfast all day long. But who needs dinner when you can get shrimp tacos for breakfast, along with salmon scrambled eggs, chicken parma, and that Millenial favorite, smashed avocado toast? The brain child of Australian Nick Sharp, ThreeFold is also popular for Sunday brunch – partly because of nice outdoor seating on Giralda Plaza. 141 Giralda Ave. 305.704.8007

$$ American

Old Lisbon

It’s just outside the Gables in South Miami, but if you want great Portuguese food this is the place. The best codfish in town (11 variations), great mussels with a special sauce, and unique dishes like grilled Portuguese sardines and traditional caldo verde (potato and sausage) soup. Good service, and Portuguese wines at good prices.

5837 Sunset Drive 305.662.7435

$$-$$$ Portuguese

Ortanique on the Mile

A long-time favorite on Miracle Mile, Ortanique is named for a tropical citrus fruit (their sister restaurant is in Grand Cayman) and its Caribbean fine dining reflects chef Cindy Hutson’s commitment to “cuisine of the sun.” A warm and welcoming place.

278 Miracle Mile 305.446.7710

$$ Caribbean

Pincho Factory

One of the few places where you can get delicious food at a low price in the Gables, this home-grown chain (based here) combines Brazilian shish kabob (served in rice bowls or as wraps) with uniquely flavored hamburgers. A guilty pleasure for the well to do.

30 Giralda Ave. 305.446.5666

$ Latin Street Food

Real Estate

What Will $1.5 to $2 Million Buy in Coral Gables?

Coral Gables has some of the most valuable real estate in South Florida, with a median price per square foot ($423) that is almost twice that of the Miami/Fort Lauderdale area. Average prices over the last five years have risen 43 percent.

To see what $1.5 to $2 million would buy today, we asked four real estate agents to submit one of their homes for sale in that price range. Here is what they came up with, in different Gables locations, give or take a few hundred thousand dollars.

Gables near the Grove

441 GERONA AVE.

Listing Price

$1.995M

5 bed/4 1/2 bath/pool. 3,842 sq. ft. on 22,750 sq. ft. lot

A half dozen blocks from Merrie Christmas Park, in that slice of Gables opposite deepest Coconut Grove, this 2005 house has marble and cherry wood floors, 2-story ceilings in the foyer and dining room, and a 2-car garage. Also, an eat-in kitchen with breakfast bar, and first floor bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms ideal for guests. Listing Agents: Lani Kahh Drody and Lauren Dowlen (Lowell International Realty). 305.540.5420

New Historic Gables

801 NAVARRE AVE.

Listing Price

$1.849M

5 bed/5 bath, pool. 4,526 sq. ft.

Located off Alhambra Circle near the Granada Golf Course and Coral Gables Country Club, this house was built in 2005 in classic Mediterranean style. It has high ceilings, Jerusalem stone floors, an eat-in kitchen with beamed ceiling, and a dramatic foyer entry. Master suite has his and hers walk-in closets, Jacuzzi tub. Four bedrooms include en-suite baths. Listing Agent: Audrey H. Ross (Compass Florida LLC) 305.661.4003

Waterfront Townhouse

4807 UNIVERSITY DRIVE

Listing Price

$1.795M

4 bed/4 bath/1 half bath, pool. 3,451 sq. ft. Ocean access, near UM and walkable to the Riviera Golf Course, this townhome with private dock and private garage has travertine floors, a gourmet kitchen with leathered granite countertops, and an elevator. The master suite has a sitting room, hardwood floors, and balcony overlooking waterway. The master bath has Carrera marble and double sinks. Listing Agent: Gloria Arango (Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate) 305.951.5245

Health & Wellness

THE BIG CHILL

THE LATEST TECHNIQUE TO PRODUCE WELL-BEING? DROP IT LIKE IT’S ICE COLD.

By Doreen Hemlock

Stepping into sub-zero temperatures is not my usual idea of fun, but when my pal Gail recommended Whole Body Cryotherapy as a wonderful pick-me-up, I figured I’d give it a try. After all, each session lasts only about three minutes, a short enough time to shiver for an energy boost that was supposed to last hours.

We tried out the cold therapy used by Lebron James and other athletes at Cryo Xtreme, one of several locales in Coral Gables that offer the service. The manager there, Maru Molero, explained that we’d enter a shower-like cylinder open at the top and would keep our heads out. Good to know, since the chamber is chilled to 169 degrees below Fahrenheit with liquid nitrogen. The idea is that the cold sends your blood toward your core, helping reduce inflammation much like ice packs do. Athletes and weekend warriors like it to soothe sore muscles. Many folks burn an extra 500 to 800 calories in the 24-hours after a session, because the wintry burst also speeds metabolism, Maru told us.

Raised in the Caribbean, I prefer heat to cold. So, I took a friend from Germany for his opinion, too. Molero first made sure we had no medical conditions that might rule out the treatment – like a recent heart attack or hypertension. Cleared to go, we each stripped to our underwear and put on a robe,

warm mittens, knee-high socks and sturdy slippers provided –all very clean. My friend went first. Molero suggested he keep moving inside the chamber, walking in circles. “It’s like being in Germany in the winter,” he said, happy to have his head out, his ears and nose still at Florida room temperature. During the second minute, his legs felt tingly, so he jogged in place. Soon, the 2:40-minute session was done. “I was a little tired when I went in, and now, I feel awake,” he beamed.

I stepped into the cylinder and took off my robe, as Molero elevated the floor to raise my head out. Vapors like dry-ice rose from the chamber. The first minute flew by. Then, my legs and the skin by the mittens felt icy, so I kept jumping in circles. When I stepped out, my friend noticed my skin was reddish and glowing. “I feel like I want to take on the world,” I blurted out. “It’s like the high from a good workout, but without the sweat.”

Prices vary at different centers, but Cryo Xtreme in Coral Gables typically charges $40 for an initial session and $65 for each session thereafter, with packages available. My friend said the session seemed to awaken his appetite hours later and helped him sleep better that night. The three minutes of cold seemed to sharpen my mind for hours. He’s looking forward to another round, and I’d go again too.

Cryo Xtreme in Coral Gables typically charges $40 for an initial session and $65 for each session thereafter, with packages available.

Cyro Xtreme

1430 S. Dixie Hway #103

786.725.9000

Staffer Lizzie Wilcox gives the “thumbs up” to the deep freeze.

Evidence-based multisensory instruction to successfully educate children with dyslexia

The Seen

Having a Ball

early all 225 guests who attended the annual Beaux Arts Ball wore elaborate costumes to commemorate the theme of “Miami – the Magic City.” Each year the costume ball is held by the Beaux Arts organization to benefit the University of Miami Lowe Art Museum and arts education. The winning costume award went to Christo’s “Surrounded Islands” created by Coco and Venny Torre, who took home first prize, while the annual skit competition was won

NTHE 66TH BEAUX ARTS COSTUME BALL FOR THE LOWE by the “Miami Hurricanes,” created by Mandy MacMullan Greenan and husband Tyler, featuring weather forecaster ‘Stormy Daniels.’ The ball was held in early November, under a huge clear tent at the Biscayne Bay Yacht Club in Coconut Grove. The evening program was introduced by current Beaux Arts President Aubrie Page Andrea, who introduced Dr. Jill Deupi, the Beaux Arts Director and Chief Curator of the University of Miami Lowe Art Museum.

Above: Coco and Venny Torre, as Christo’s “Surrounded Islands”

Right top to bottom: Miami Hurricanes Skit Winners Vicki Carbonell Williamson, Mary Munroe Seabrook, Mandy Greenan, Caroline Irvin and Bentley Bazelbre; Mr. Victor Deupi and Dr. Jill Deupi, Lowe Art Museum Chief Curator; Dance floor at the ball; Beaux Arts Selfies

Below: Beaux Arts Member Priscilla Rettig

CEO

The Seen Miami Lighthouse for the blind

CELEBRATING NINE DECADES OF EXCELLENCE IN VISION REHABILITATION

More than 250 community leaders attended the annual “See the Light” luncheon at the Coral Gables Country Club at the end of October, honoring how Miami Lighthouse has transformed the lives of the blind and visually impaired since 1931. CEO Virginia Jacko recalled Miami Lighthouse’s early history when Mrs. Charles Brickell raised funds by hosting garden parties, one of which was attended by Helen Keller.

The theme of excellence in vision rehabilitation was

demonstrated by blind musicians, led by vocalist Arantza Espinosa, Miami Lighthouse student and winner of Melodias del Alma, the first International Blind Singing Competition.

The keynote address was given by Joseph Chica, former Miami Lighthouse program participant and current student at UM who was accompanied by his guide dog Gunner. Miami Lighthouse now provides vision rehabilitation and eye care to more than 17,000 individuals annually.

Vision of Tomorrow

MERCEDES-BENZ OF CORAL GABLES UNVEILS ITS LATEST “HOTTEST” VEHICLE

More than 150 people attended the Mercedes-Benz of Coral Gables unveiling of the Mercedes-Benz AMG GT 63 S

4MATIC+ at a special event in late October. The vehicle stopped in the Gables as part of its tour of the Southeast United States. “Our event was a wonderful combination of the best Mercedes-Benz has to offer – our AMG line, great people, a fantastic restaurant partner, the newly opened Seek + Find,

and more,” said Juan Gonzalez, AMG sales manager at the Gables Mercedes-Benz dealership. “There is so much excitement associated with this new AMG vehicle.” The limited-edition model will be available for purchase in the U.S. in early 2019. Mercedes-Benz of Coral Gables is a Bill Ussery Motors company and AMG Performance Center; it is one of the original seven Mercedes-Benz U.S. dealerships and the first in Florida, awarded in 1957.

Top: The new Mercedes-Benz AMG GT 63 S 4MATIC at is unveiling

Bottom: Lexie and Cole Brockway, 4th generation Usser family members

Top: Miami Lighthouse

Virginia Jacko

Bottom: The Miami Lighthouse United Voices Choir

José Andrés

David Burtka

Rhonda Carano

Giada De Laurentiis

Guy Fieri

Neil Patrick Harris

Missy Robbins

Nancy Silverton

Trisha Yearwood & Many More

$28M+

The Seen

Fun for the Whole Family

NICKLAUS CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION HOSTS FIRST EVER SUPERDUPER FUN DAY

Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Foundation, which supports the medical services available at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, held its first SuperDuper Fun Day Walk and Family Festival last month.

The event gave current and former patients and community supporters the opportunity to create teams and raise funds for the hospital. Held in Coconut Grove, the day featured a onemile walk with interactive stations along Bayshore Drive, ending in Regatta Park for rides and games.

“We hope that this event enables the community to understand the role that Nicklaus Children’s Hospital plays, and to support the hospital,” said Dr. Narendra Kini, President and CEO, Nicklaus Children’s Health System. “It brings to the fore that we are a community organization dedicated to improving the lives of children and their families.”

With FedEx as the lead sponsor, the festival included roller coasters, fun slides, rock climbing, and a dance party.

Top: Miami FC mascot Golazo kicks off the race Bottom: Apollo pet therapy dog seated with friends

Can you imagine an enchanted place where trees talk and the line between fantasy and reality mysteriously disappears? That’s what happens when the sun sets at The NightGarden at Fairchild. An amazing experience full of incredible surprises that you and your family can’t miss. A MAGICAL LIGHT SPECTACULAR AT FAIRCHILD TROPICAL BOTANIC GARDEN

Give Back for Special Equestrians, a non-profit that provides therapeutic horseback riding for disabled children and veterans, is riding high after raising $15,000 at Tally Ho!, its first Miami event, held at the Coral Gables Museum at the end of November.

The fund-raiser featured a discussion about the history of horses in Coral Gables by noted historian Arva Moore Parks McCabe and the museum’s historian-in-residence, Malcolm Lauredo. Coral Gables founder George Merrick’s vision for the city included

Top: Presenting sponsor Alirio Torrealba of MG Developer, and John Allen, director of the Coral Gables Museum

Bottom: Sissy DeMaria Koehne, Arva Moore Parks, and Malcolm Lauredo

horses and their importance in a well-rounded social and sporting lifestyle.

During the event, Give Back for Special Equestrians presented a $15,000 check to the Good Hope Equestrian Training Center, its stable partner that provides equine-assisted therapy programs. More than 100 guests attended the event to support the non-profit, which was co-founded by Sissy DeMaria Koehne and Dr. Heather Kuhl.

For more information call 305.608.5350 or visit giveabuckeq.org.

Time Machine

THE OLD POLICE AND FIRE STATION

The Coral Gables Municipal Building – aka the “Old Police and Fire Station” – was built during the Great Depression in 1939 as a project of the WPA (Works Progress Administration).

Designed by Phineas Paist and Harold Steward, the iconic structure on Salzedo Street between Aragon and Giralda avenues is listed on the National

Register of Historic Places. Above the three bays for fire trucks are the heads of two Gables firemen; behind them are faces of the typical family they protect. Now part of the Museum of Coral Gables, its old jail cells, courtroom and hook & ladder room are museum exhibits.

IN 1939

Germany invades

Poland, starts WWII

A new house costs an average of $3,800, gasoline 10 cents a gallon

Lou Gehrig retires from Major League Baseball, diagnosed with ALS

The movies “Gone with the Wind” and “The Wizard of Oz” premier

The World’s Fair and LaGuardia Airport both open in New York City

Real Estate That Moves You.

Home and family are cornerstones in my own life and I strive to share my expertise with clients so that their real estate decisions mirror their own goals.

Upsizing and downsizing are semantics, real estate is more than a financial transaction; it’s typically about a family’s safe haven.

With this in mind, I treat the process with singular focus and the utmost respect because it demands nothing less.

Let me and my team exceed your expectations.