Coral Gables Magazine July 2023

CORAL GABLES

The Best of Coral Gables

CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA

OPENED: JANUARY 15, 1926

THE BILTMORE HOTEL

Scan here.

You’ll be surprised!

One look and you know it’s The Palace.

Facelift Variations

There might be some confusion these days among prospective patients, caused by claims made on social media, that one type of facelift might be better, more effective, or longer lasting. Confusion leads to anxiety and more confusion, which is not helpful. So, let’s focus on what matters when it comes to your face.

Most facelift patients care about safety and want to end up with an aesthetic and natural looking result. They wish to look younger, refreshed but still like themselves - not pulled, not weird, not different, and certainly all with minimal or no unnecessary risk. How a surgeon proposes to accomplish this goal, isn’t really their concern, it is the surgeon’s job and challenge. In aesthetics and plastic surgery there isn’t always one way of doing things. Different approaches and innovations are fundamental to progress. With years of training in plastic surgery and actual facelift experience, capable surgeons will evolve different, personalized techniques and nuances which work best in their hands and optimize their patients’ safety and aesthetic outcomes. Imposing one particular ‘technique’ on every patient isn’t sensible. Patients are different, anatomically, medically, and emotionally, and surgical techniques should allow for these variations.

It is worth noting that your result is created by your plastic surgeon, not a particular technique. Excellent surgeons generally create excellent results, and consistently, with whatever technique they have evolved, and which has proven itself safe and effective in their hands. One particular ‘technique’ applied inappropriately or poorly by a less experienced or less skillful surgeon will not guarantee a happy result. Thus claiming one particular ‘technique’ to be superior to another is really more about marketing and selfpromotion than the patient. With that in mind, let’s briefly review variations in facelifting.

Facelifts started decades ago as a skin-only procedure, sometimes resulting in a pulled or ‘surgical’ appearance. Despite its potential shortcomings, it remains a reasonable option in certain patients.

Anatomic face studies in the 1970’s revealed the presence of a strong support layer below the skin. The difficult to pronounce name given by anatomists to this layer was abbreviated as ‘SMAS’. Plastic surgeons began to add this layer to their previous skin-only facelifts and learned that, when skillfully performed, this new SMAS lift did improve aesthetic outcomes and generally provided longer lasting

results when compared to most skin lifts. Why? Because the tension to lift the face was transferred from the skin to the deeper and stronger SMAS layer. The skin was thus allowed to re-assume its natural function to cover the face, not to lift and hold it up, which really is the job of the deep support (SMAS) layer.

In the late 80’s, early 90’s, some surgeons ventured below the SMAS, and while keeping the skin and SMAS together, lifted it as a single (or composite) unit. Though initially called a ‘composite lift’, the name was soon simplified to the ‘deep plane lift’. But this deeper layer, below the SMAS, is the territory of glands, the muscles of facial expression and their nerves. Careful evaluation and experience with the ‘deep plane lift’ by plastic surgeons, along with live, simultaneous

... Your plastic surgeon should be experienced and flexible in his/her approach to your anatomic uniqueness ...

comparison operations at scientific meetings of our principal plastic surgery societies (ASPS, ASAPS) unfortunately (or fortunately?) did not demonstrate better or more effective or longer lasting results, despite its potentially increased risks to sensitive deeper structures, which could result in months of patient distress. Most plastic surgeons therefore abandoned this technique a few decades ago.

Despite the ‘deep is dangerous’ concern by experienced plastic surgeons, the ‘deep plane lift’ of the 1990’s remains a technique that some surgeons may prefer and select for their patients. In recent years, however, graduates from ear, nose and throat (ENT or Otolaryngology) training programs, self-designated as ‘facial plastic surgeons’, have engaged in marketing campaigns, especially on social media, to resurrect the ‘deep plane lift’, and claiming it to be superior with regard to result and longevity. Any claims of superiority of the ‘deep plane lift’ are simply opinions, not fact!

Returning to what matters to you, the patient. There is more than one way to get a good or excellent and long-lasting facelift result. Your plastic surgeon should be experienced and flexible in his/her approach to your anatomic uniqueness and select the appropriate technique he/she is most experienced and comfortable with to give you the result you seek, and in the safest way possible!

There is agreement that a modern facelift today should in most patients provide ‘deep support’ with tightening of the strong connective tissue (SMAS) layer in the cheek, along the jawline,

as well as the superficial muscles of the neck (platysma). Yet it is equally important to mobilize and remove lax, sagging skin, particularly in the jowl and neck areas. The combination of ‘deep support’ and skin tightening, when skillfully performed, will provide a smooth jawline (the key feature of youth and beauty!) and a pleasing, refreshed appearance, and with the least amount of risk to deeper structures. The skill required to do so well will vary greatly among surgeons, so research and evaluate your prospective surgeon with care before entrusting your face.

Dr. Baker is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, with decades of experience in facelifting, and a Member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

STEPHAN BAKER, MD, FACS

Plastic Surgery of the Face Breast and Body

Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery

305.381.8837 | www.drbaker.com

3850 Bird Road Suite 702, Miami, FL 33146

... Patients are different, anatomically, medically, and emotionally, and surgical techiques should allow for these variations ...

LIVING

BITES

Sandwiches Galore; The HappiestHour; A Tradition in Fine Dining

PEOPLE

Notable Residents: Ray Corral; Dr. Robert Rothrock; Cal Thomas

TRYING TO CROSS THERE IS LIKE PLAYING DODGE BALL... ”

VICE MAYOR ANDERSON COMMENTING ON THE INTERSECTION AT THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF GRANADA GOLF COURSE, THE SITE OF NUMEROUS CAR CRASHES. SEE CITY HALL, PAGE 18.

Welcome to the Warmer Side of Care.

There are many sides of care at Baptist Health. And each one stays true to our values. Bringing humanity, warmth and understanding to every person that comes through our doors. Which is why we’re here to stand by you, through all of life’s moments.

Welcome to Baptist Health.

THE BEST OF THE GABLES 2023

Coral Gables is a city endowed with an abundance of fine dining, high culture, elegant architecture, family entertainment, and retail options. With such an embarrassment of riches, it’s a challenge to decided what is best. To help us figure that out, we enlisted the help of a blue-ribbon panel of 30 local luminaries from a variety of backgrounds. This year, for the first time, we also asked our readers to submit their votes.

WILLY’S DREAM HOUSE

A look at a noted architect’s new home in the heart of historic Coral Gables. “I mean, it’s just special,” says Willy Bermello. “Getting to the house on a Friday [evening] after working long hours, I go upstairs. The sun comes down on the terrace. I’ll have a Presidente beer. I light up a cigar. I put on my 1970s music - Creedence Clearwater Revival - and I’m off and running. I’m there, happy as a lark.”

Photo: Salvadore Park, voted best park.

It’s Tough Being the Best

Each year, we run a list of what we consider to be the best of Coral Gables. Some of it is about shopping. Some of it is about entertainment. Some of it is about our favorite places. But a lot of it is about eating. Indoor, outdoor, haute, casual, gourmet, inexpensive – Coral Gables is nothing if not a moveable feast. And a walkable one.

The challenge with deciding what’s the best in Coral Gables is our embarrassment of riches. Residents take rightful pride in having the best neighborhoods, the prettiest streets, the best schools, the handsomest homes, the most historic public buildings, the best library, the best public pool, the best bookstores, the best theaters, and so on. In any other city of comparable size, picking the best of anything would not be so hard. How about something simple, like the best Italian restaurant. How is it possible to decide between Fiola, Zucca, Luca Osteria, Caffe Abbracci, Fratellino, Portosole, Bugatti, Vialetto, Villagio, and newcomer Tullio?

So, to help us pick the best of our

multifarious, mostly cuisine categories, we asked a panel of know-it-alls, from hospitality executives to social influencers to realtors, to tell us their choices. We also asked our readers to make their picks, and several hundred responded. What we found was that, in most cases, our panel and our readers agreed – a testament to what really is considered the best. When readers had another idea, we printed that pick separately. And when staff felt that someone, or something, important had been left out, we added a special mention.

So, enjoy this snapshot of some of what makes Coral Gables such a special, magical place to live. And please send suggestions for anything “best” that we missed to editor@coralgablesmagazine.com.

The Best of Coral Gables

JP FABER

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

CORAL GABLES MAGAZINE

CEO & PUBLISHER

Richard Roffman

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

J.P. Faber

EVP / PUBLISHER

Gail Scott

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

Amy Donner

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

Monica Del Carpio-Raucci

VP SALES

Sherry Adams

MANAGING EDITOR

Kylie Wang

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Natalia Clement

EDITORIAL INTERNS

Isabella Cascio

Ava Volman

ART DIRECTOR

Jon Braeley

EDITOR-AT-LARGE

Grace Carricarte

WRITERS

James Broida

Andrew Gayle

Doreen Hemlock

Katelin Stecz

Karen Buschsbaum

PROOFREADER

Lesley Fonger

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Rodolfo Benitez

Jonathan Dann

PRODUCTION MANAGER

Toni Kirkland

CIRCULATION & DISTRIBUTION

CircIntel

OFFICIAL FRAMER

Adam Brand / Frames USA

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

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

Thanks for the Memories

Please accept my gratitude for the wonderfully written article in the current [June 2023] edition that is focused on my life’s journey thus far. Karen Buchsbaum wrote in a refreshingly personal manner that flowed so nicely, with “sidewalks” bookending it all, which I thought was rather clever.

I also appreciated Mayor Valdés-Fauli and Commissioner Menendez contributing their remarks, and I have thanked them. Again, thank you for publishing this lovely article. I will cherish it.

Dorothy Thomson

The Election Dilemma

Please note my letter to you as editor is written only on an individual basis and not on behalf of any other individual or organization. With that said, I am concerned about voter turnout. While you write about the election upset this spring, why is no one concerned that only 20 percent of voters in the City VOTE? It is not the weather, it is not that this election didn’t include election for our mayor, it is about either indifference or a bigger problem!

Should 20 percent of the residents be the voice for the other 80 percent, and make decisions for our entire community? What can and should be done to encourage voter participation? Can this be a topic for commissioners to address? Any thoughts or suggestions? If you don’t vote, then how can any resident or organization allege that the voice of the residents in the community is not being heard by the commissioners?

Gema Pinon Lopez, Esq.

That Metallic Flower

Regarding the article in May’s issue of Coral Gables Magazine, “Art for Everyone,” it was nicely written. So nice that one would think that the public art supported by Catherine Cathers, Coral Gables Arts and Culture Specialist, actually enhances the character and identity of our city.

In the article, Cathers says, “I seldom, if ever, hear somebody go, ‘Eh’” in reference to the enormous flower sculpture in the traffic circle at Segovia and Biltmore Way. Cathers must have heard that in 2016 those of us who detested the look of the futuristic

monstrous metallic flower took to the streets wherever possible to gather hundreds of signatures from discontented residents to get rid of the sculpture. We held meetings all over the Gables, including City Hall, and were written up in The Herald. But to no avail.

June Frost

EV’s Not That Bad

[This is] in response to the author of “EVs Won’t Save the Globe” in the editorial section [of May 2023], wherein the author implied the city overrated the sustainability factor of EVs primarily because the initial manufacturing of the EV created 10 to 20 tons of Co2. Compare that to an internal combustion engine that creates 55 tons over its average lifespan, and you might judge the city made a wise decision.

Without going into the environmental detriment of oil wells, oil spills, and abandoned oil wells necessary for gas engines, the writer’s position on the lithium mining was accurate. Because we must access many minerals (lithium, copper, cobalt, etc.) to advance sustainability through electrifying clean energy modalities, mining is a necessity. [But] given the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts, today’s mining processes do not have to be tomorrow’s.

The clean energy movement demands we evolve to protect this planet. One thing we can count on is technology advancing improvements to our mining techniques, and I believe the city is forward thinking when it comes to achieving carbon neutrality for Coral Gables by investing in electric vehicles for its fleet.

Libby Mahaffey

Let’s Preserve as Much as We Can May I suggest a series of articles that focus on the immediate need for the conservation of our city’s historic resources? Our few Merrick-era monuments are deteriorated and, when repaired, the repairs are often incorrect and inappropriate.

The DeSoto Fountain needs concrete repairs. But when the city sent someone to repair one of the historic bollards the job was (and still is) terrible! The Plaza pylons on Coral Way have inappropriate street name plates added in the ’80s. Today most are bro-

ken. They need to be removed. And many of the monuments’ “repairs” need to be repaired.

The WPA Matheson Hammock Park has two historic buildings that are in ruins because the city has let the county ignore them. The Welcome House on Old Cutler is ready to fall down. The greenhouse is so overgrown it is not possible to see what remains. Both are important works by W. Lyman Phillips and his WPA crews. Phillips was the famous landscape architect for Bok Tower [in Lake Wales], Fairchild Garden, and all the major parks in the county. Please spur the City to “push” the county to restore these historic buildings.

The city is in dire need of a conservator. Why? The conservation of historic materials is very different from today’s materials, applications, and building techniques. Repairs completed in the past few years have often been haphazard and irreparably damaged a number of Merrick’s remaining artifacts. A conservator matches materials, designs repairs, and renovations that are 100 percent in keeping with standards for preservation and conservation. Even several noted restoration architects do not fully grasp the need for proper conservation/preservation over making something look new. Case in point: The architectural cast stone window surrounds on the front windows of H. George Fink’s studio were never originally painted because they are cast stone meant to look old. Rather than be cleaned and restored, as was the cast stone front door surround, they were simply repainted. Both are the same materials and should have been treated similarly, as was the original work.

The Historic Preservation Board has repeatedly called to hire a conservator. Warren [Adams, head of historic preservation] was trying to move this forward, but with his departure, it needs to be pushed by the Landmarks Board, the CG Historic Association, and our city media.

There are many things our city can and should do to conserve and preserve our uniquely built heritage. Simply designating a building historic is not enough. Properly and authentically conserving and preserving our monuments must be an integral part of our historic preservation efforts and policies.

Michael Maxwell

Streetwise

Talk of the Town

Page 20

BRENDA MOE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CORAL GABLES ART CINEMA

From City Hall

AT ITS LAST MEETING IN JUNE, THE CITY COMMISSION:

LISTENED TO A PRESENTATION BY RAIMUNDO RODULFO, head of the city’s Innovation and Technology Department, on three prestigious “smart city” awards received over the previous six months: The 2023 Smart 50 Award (one of three overall global award winners from 50 awarded projects); the 2023 Smart21 Communities of the Year (one of 21 communities worldwide); and the 2022 IEEE Smart Cities Jury Award (for its technologies and innovation, by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers).

DISCUSSED WAYS TO LIMIT THE REMOVAL AND proliferation of shopping carts, in particular around Whole Foods (on Red Road) and Target (on Ponce). Whole Foods reportedly lost 67 out of 100 new shopping carts purchased last year. Both are advised to implement the wheel-locking technology used by Publix. (Sponsored by Mayor Vince Lago)

VOTED 5-0 TO AMEND THE CITY ORDINANCE PROHIBITING abandoned or junk motor vehicles on public or private properties. Cars can be parked on the right of way approach to a driveway (but not on swales) so long as they have a form-fitted cover. (Sponsored by Mayor Lago and Commissioner Fernandez)

VOTED 5-0 TO CONSIDER HIRING URBAN DESIGN FIRM Dover Cole to create a plan to create public parks in and around Coral Gables High School. The public school has been undergoing a $46 million renovation and expansion, but no funds were set aside for landscaping. (Sponsored by Commissioner Menendez)

VOTED 5-0 TO ELIMINATE THE USE OF GAS LEAF BLOWERS in the city, beginning with a six-month warning period that starts Oct. 1, 2024. After April 1, 2025, homeowners can be fined. The Commission must still decide on the amount of the fine, which could begin at $250, or could begin at $50, the fee to climb another $50 for each violation (i.e. $50, $100, $150). This item will return in September for a final vote. (Sponsored by Commissioner Fernandez, Vice Mayor Anderson and Commissioner Castro)

DISCUSSED POTENTIAL AMENDMENTS TO THE Mediterranean Bonus, which allows buildings extra height if they are deemed within the Mediterranean Revival style of Coral Gables architecture. The potential amendments would clarify what architectural elements would make buildings “Mediterranean,” in response to criticisms that the bonus has been abused by developers. (Sponsored by Vice Mayor Anderson)

VOTED 5-0 TO APPROVE A “SPECIAL CERTIFICATE OF appropriateness” for the county to install a roundabout at the intersection of Coral

Way, Anderson Road, and South Greenway Drive, at the Southwest corner of Granada Golf Course. The intersection has been the site of numerous car crashes – 34 crashes in the three years of 2015 to 2017, according to one study – and has no pedestrian crossings. “Trying to cross there is like playing dodgeball,” commented Vice Mayor Anderson. Citizens concerned with preserving historic monuments at the intersection were assured that these would be protected.

LISTENED TO A PRESENTATION BY THE CITY ATTORNEY AND City Clerk’s Office regarding a potential change of date for the city’s biennial election. Currently, the election is held on the second Tuesday in April of odd years and, with a run-off, costs $250,000 in total. “[It] has been the trend in recent years, locally and nationally, to move to concurrent elections with general elections,” said Assistant City Attorney Stephanie Throckmorton. Several options were presented, but the most popular was moving the election to November of even years (concurrent with the nationwide election) with the run-off a month later. This option would save the city over $100,000, increase voter turnout threefold, and would allow for a two-week early voting period. (Sponsored by Commissioner Fernandez and Vice Mayor Anderson)

DISCUSSED ALLOWING THE PRIMARY SPONSOR OF SPECIFIC Commission discussion items to determine whether public comment will be allowed on it. Mayor Lago dissented on the basis that there is already a public comment period allowed at the beginning of each Commission meeting and that discussion items are meant only for the Commission, with no actual action taken until they become resolutions or ordinances. The mayor cited similar processes in other cities within Miami-Dade County and the county itself, which offer much less time for public comment. Mayor Lago decided to eliminate the Mayor’s Comments section of Commission meetings, which allows him to solicit resident input on his own discussion items and instead include those items in the regular Commission agenda to be fair to his colleagues. No vote was taken; the item is expected to appear again during the next Commission meeting. (Sponsored by Commissioners Castro and Fernandez)

VOTED 5-0 TO ACCEPT A $750,000 GRANT FROM THE State of Florida for the restoration and reconstruction of the historic Gondola Building on the grounds of the Biltmore Hotel. The building collapsed in late 2021 and will now be relocated for better use. The new location has not been determined, although it will have to remain within the Biltmore’s golf course.

VOTED 5-0 TO PUBLICLY REAFFIRM THE CITY’S SUPPORT for the rights, freedoms, and equal treatment and inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals within Coral Gables, and to encourage cities and states around the country to do the same. ■

Talk of the Town

Ryder Moves to Town

Ryder is becoming a Gableite! The global leader in supply chain, dedicated transportation, and fleet management solutions has announced its new headquarters will be located at the Colonnade building in downtown Coral Gables. Ryder was initially founded in Miami back in 1933 and sold their Medley-based HQ in March. The firm will be officially moved in by early 2024. The building will be marked with the company’s logo and renamed Ryder Colonnade, with two entire floors devoted to the business. The office will be home to about 800 South Florida-based employees and include a customer innovation center, which will showcase Ryder’s technological prowess in the industry.

Taste the Gables

Each year in August and September, Miami Spice brings to the table hundreds of area restaurants with reasonably priced fixed menus, hoping to lure new customers. This year, with the help of Miami New Times, the city of Coral Gables is jumping the gun with its own Taste the Gables. For the month of July, more than 40 restaurants in the Gables will offer three course menus for lunch ($30 to $35) and/or dinner ($45 to $60), hoping to attract more visitors from outside the city. As part of Taste month, there will also be weekly concerts on Giralda Plaza every Friday from 8 to 10 pm, featuring bands like Los Wizzards and Suénalo. To see a full list of participating restaurants and performers, plus additional activations, scan the QR code below.

Young Talent, Big Dreams

Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre has announced this year’s winners of the Young Talent Big Dreams competition, a free local youth talent contest with categories in vocals, spoken word, composition, dance, and more. After several rounds of competition, some in front of live audiences, the finals were held in mid-May with student performers from Miami-Dade County, ages eight to 17, competing their hearts out for the grand prize: $500 in cash, four tickets to Universal Orlando, and a hotel stay for two nights. Other prizes included cash, master classes with industry professionals, and performing arts scholarships. Hundreds of hopefuls applied, with winners in nine categories, but only two took home the Overall Grand Prize: Nicole Becker, 14, from Miami Arts Studio 6-12 @ Zelda Glazer, and Emma Van Assche, 13, from International Studies Charter School. “Actors’ Playhouse is proud to be part of nurturing young performers so that they can continue to soar in their experiences,” said Executive Producing Director Barbara Stein.

Hurray for Merrick

In June, the Historic Preservation Association of Coral Gables commemorated the third annual “Founder’s Day” in recognition of city father George Merrick’s birthday and legacy. Two years ago, the

WINNERS NICOLE BECKER AND EMMA VAN ASSCHE

city issued a proclamation to mark the 135th anniversary of his birth and last year officially recognized June 3 as “Founders Day” in Coral Gables. This year’s ceremony was a champagne reception held at the newly restored H. George Fink Studio, a hallmark of Mediterranean Revival architecture, which the city bought in 2016.

Another Alien Species

It started, says Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson, with the Garden Club’s project to restore the original canopy of Camp Mahachee, the girl scout enclave off Old Cutler Road. Several acres of native plant life had been destroyed by air potatoes, a fast-growing vine that is toxic for humans and kills the plants (including trees) they envelop. “I saw that it was air potato vines covering the canopy and suffocating it, and that it was a problem throughout Miami-Dade County,” says Anderson, one of many volunteers who helped clear the site starting last fall. Anderson also learned that other cities, such as Gainesville, have held contests to encourage residents to remove the vines. “And they eradicated them,” she says.

Architect Ana Alvarez and her team at

Architects, along with conservator Caroline Dickensheets of RLA Conservation, discussed the restoration – which won the Institute of Classical Architecture and Art (Florida Chapter) 2022 Addison Mizner Award for Historic Preservation. Economic Development Director Belkys Perez, Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson, and former Mayor Dorothy Thomson were in attendance.

So, Anderson used her Commission expense funds to reward anyone who would bring in uprooted potato plants. “I thought it was a good project for kids,” she says, paying $10 per pound, with a limit of 25 pounds per collector. The trick is that the potato bulb must be dug up, or it will keep regrowing. “You have to pull that ugly thing out of the ground,” says Anderson. In addition to the spud rewards, Anderson is offering a $10 gift certificate for Books & Books to any kid who also brings a parental note saying they’ve read a book. Just drag your bag to City Hall and one of the commission aides will weigh and pay. Go to coralgables.com/news/no-more-airpotatoes for more information. The vines can be found all over the Gables, on Banyan Drive, Sevilla Avenue, Bird Road, etc. Once you see them in one place….

As It Was Meant to be Seen

Ask Brenda Moe, executive director of the Coral Gables Art Cinema, why 70mm films look so good on screen and she won’t hesitate. “70mm film projects movies onto a big screen using a film print that is 70mm wide, which is about twice the size of regular 35mm film.

Martinez Alvarez

“ I SAW THAT IT WAS AIR POTATO VINES COVERING THE CANOPY AND SUFFOCATING IT, AND THAT IT WAS A PROBLEM THROUGHOUT MIAMI-DADE COUNTY.”

VICE MAYOR RHONDA ANDERSON

Photo by Rodolfo Benitez

This wider film format allows for a much greater amount of detail and image quality,” she says, “resulting in a more immersive and visually stunning cinematic experience.” Most movie houses today don’t even use 35mm, but digital projectors, which are even less sharp. The good news is that the Art Cinema is equipped to screen 70mm films, the only such movie house in the Southeastern U.S. In the past, they have used the gear to show films like “2001, A Space Odyssey,” “Dunkirk,” and “West Side Story.” This summer (starting July 21) they will show the new Christopher Nolan feature “Oppenheimer” for three weeks in 70mm. “The difficulty is that it takes lots of muscle on reel-to-reel systems. The projectionist is loading and unloading and threading all the reels.” But the result, including better sound, is worth it, says Moe. Expect additional titles this fall.

Looking for a Savior of History

For those familiar with the architectural patrimony of Coral Gables, the name Phineas Paist is sacred. The projects he designed include Douglas Entrance (1924), Venetian Pool (1925), the Colonnade Building (1926), and Coral Gables City Hall (1928). Another building he designed, the Coral Gables Police and Fire Station (1939), is now the Coral Gables Museum, which, ironically, is searching for a way to preserve a collection of 700 Paist artifacts.

The collection is owned by Tampa resident Michael Turbeville, a retired antique dealer and collector of anything tobacco-related. Years ago, he purchased a cigar box painted by Paist, which set him off collecting other works by the architect, who was also a painter. Turbev-

ille eventually bought Paist’s entire estate from the architect’s son.

In 2006, Turbeville offered the collection to Coral Gables for $1 million. At the time, the city did not have a museum (it opened in 2010) and politely declined. Now, Turbeville is again offering it to the city for $1.5 million.

“He purchased the entire estate, including not only drawings, watercolors, and small paintings, but important documents, family photos, and letters to George Merrick and “Doc” Dammers, some of the most important people in the story of Coral Gables,” says Elvis Fuentes, executive director of the Coral Gables Museum. “For us, the collection is priceless… Of course, $1.5 million out of the blue from the city budget is not possible.”

Even if the city decides to buy, the process will take time – and that’s the concern. “[Turbeville] says he is getting offers to sell piece by piece, and that would be a shame, so time is off the essence,” says Fuentes. One suggestion is a crowdfunding campaign. “What we really need is for a donor to step forward, someone who understands the importance of this for the DNA of the city,” he says. In the meantime, the museum is planning a Paist retrospective in August. Turbeville declined to loan any of his collection for the event. ■

ARCHITECT PHINEAS PAIST AND A PAIST WATERCOLOR

BRENDA MOE OF THE CORAL GABLES ART CINEMA AND 70MM FILM PRINTS

Visions of The Underline

AT LONG LAST, THE UNDERLINE HEADS FOR THE GABLES

BY NATALIA CLEMENT

Last month, Friends of The Underline and the Miami-Dade Department of Transportation & Public Works held a second round of public meetings where they unveiled tentative blueprints for Phase 3 of the linear park. Conceived and spearheaded by Coral Gables resident Meg Daly, the Underline’s reimagined spaces will be filled with community amenities through the last 7.36 miles of the path beneath the Metrorail, from Coconut Grove to Dadeland.

Phase 3 is composed of seven segments, three of which are within Coral Gables. The construction timeline for this final phase comprises two waves. The first wave will commence this September (with an estimated completion of October 2024) and includes the first Coral Gables segment between Douglas and LeJeune Roads.

Here you will see The Underline Plaza – consisting of food trucks, art installations, and an urban “beach” – directly south of the Douglas Metrorail Station. A second nearby amenity, which will be best enjoyed by our furry friends, is the Bark Park, located along Ponce de Leon Boulevard between LeJeune and Grand Avenue. It will include shade trees, an agility course, artificial turf, doggie tunnels, and seating areas.

The other two segments in Coral Gables (spanning from LeJeune to Red Road) will have to wait until the second stage of construction, slated to begin next March. The creation of rain gardens and stormwater ponds will improve resiliency and water quality while creating new habitats and outdoor spaces (with lots of opportunities

for public art!). Other amenities include an “outdoor fitness room” behind the Gables Fire Station with a half basketball court and fitness stations; a water balcony over the Gables Waterway with waterside seating and kayak access; sport courts near Carrillo Street hosting pickleball, basketball, and soccer; and the Rock Ridge Plaza, an outdoor classroom and performance space just north of Stanford Drive.

Of the 12 amenities presented, eight will be in the City Beautiful. The designs may still be refined according to public feedback, and some are pending funding. Luckily for us, we won’t have to wait for construction to be finished to enjoy Phase 3; as each amenity is completed, it will be opened to the public.

Another key focus is creating safe multi-modal transportation via pedestrian and bike trails. The 10-foot-wide two-way bike path will have paved shoulders and a planted buffer to protect cyclists from US-1. Pedestrians can use a dedicated eight-foot-wide path. The project is improving 25 key intersections as well, including Douglas and LeJeune Roads, by straightening crossings, creating ample waiting spaces, and increasing cross times.

Greenery is at the center of The Underline, with inspiration coming from native plant communities in South Florida, like hammocks, pine rock lands, and sawgrass. The goal is to reintroduce native plants and create new habitats for birds and pollinators. When completed, Phase 3 will have added 350,000 new plants to the corridor and increased trees and palms by 62.5 percent to almost 4,000.

So, what’s next? The Underline team will implement some adjustments and finalize the design, which will be presented to the public during a third meeting, along with a more concrete construction schedule. ■

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Living

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Page 34

JIM MCLEAN, AT THE JIM MCLEAN GOLF SCHOOL AT THE BILTMORE HOTEL

PHOTO BY RODOLFO BENITEZ

Best Bets for July and August

“NATIVE GARDENS” AT GABLESTAGE

Cultures and gardens clash in the latest GableStage production, “Native Gardens” by Karen Zacarías. Watch as well-intentioned neighbors turn into feuding enemies after a young couple purchases a home next to a well-established couple with a prize-worthy English garden. An impending barbecue and delicate disagreement over a fence line soon spiral into an all-out dispute, exposing both couples’ notions of race, taste, class, and privilege. Read the review on page 36. Performances: Wed. at 2 and 7 pm, Thurs. to Sat. at 8 pm, and Sun. at 2 pm, through July 16. Tickets range from $45 to $75, with a streaming option available ($27). 1200 Anastasia Ave. gablestage.org

URBAN SKETCH CRAWL

The Coral Gables Museum is exploring the city’s architecture and history through a new lens this summer with its Urban Sketch Crawl series. The program, held on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month at 6 pm, provides a tour of the city with an artistic element. In addition to guides providing historical context, tours will also have art teachers to give pointers and creative direction. Each one has a different focus: July 12 is Art in Public Places, July 26 is Back to the Beginning, August 9 is Recent Renovations, and August 23 is Paist Buildings. Tickets are $15. 285 Aragon Ave. coralgablesmuseum.org

MANGO FESTIVAL AT FAIRCHILD GARDEN

It’s that time of year again! Stop by Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden on July 8 or 9 for the annual Mango Festival held all-day long (10 am to 5 pm). Shop from a wide variety of unique mangos or purchase a tree for your home garden; enjoy tastings, cooking demos, and mango-inspired activities and classes; attend lectures offering insight into various mango types, growing techniques, storing, and harvesting; and enjoy fresh mango smoothies, specialty mango cocktails, delicious food, live music, and family-friendly games. Tickets are $19.95 and $9.95 for adult and child members respectively and $24.95 and $11.95 for nonmember adults and children respectively. Kids six and younger are free. 10901 Old Cutler Road. fairchildgarden.org

“DEFENDING THE CAVEWOMAN” BY ACTORS’ PLAYHOUSE AT MIRACLE THEATRE

A mid-life existential crisis unfolds as “Defending the Cavewoman” digs deep into the caves of the female psyche, debunking the stereotypical myths about how women think. It’s a tongue-in-cheek, affectionate look at the quirks and idiosyncrasies of both men and women, from the modern female perspective. Don’t miss the United States

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premiere of this inspirational comedy written by Emma Peirson and starring award-winning actress Lindsey Corey. The show runs from July 19 to August 6, with performances Wednesday to Saturday at 8 pm and Sunday at 3 pm. Tickets are $55 to $65 on weekdays and $65 to $75 on weekends. 280 Miracle Mile. actorsplayhouse.org

SUMMER CONCERT SERIES AT CORAL GABLES CONGREGATIONAL

This July and August, on every other Thursday evening, Coral Gables Congregational United Church of Christ will host the Community Arts Program 2023 Summer Concert Series. On July 20, you can hear New Orleans jazz drummist Shannon Powell, above, and his trio; on August 3, the all-saxophone Sinta Quartet will play classical and modern works; and on August 17, you can hear the jazz vocalizations of award-winning Ekep Nkwelle. Shows begin at 7:30 pm. Tickets $35. 3010 De Soto Boulevard (across from the Biltmore Hotel). communityartsprogram.org/tickets

open bar, and a comedy lounge by The Culture Can, this evening will be replete with things to do and see – and all in support of the Coral Gables Museum, where the event will be held. Stop by from 6 to 9 pm to socialize and immerse yourself in experiential art. Tickets are $30 and can be found on Eventbrite. Use promo code CGMAG for $5 off. 285 Aragon Ave. coralgablesmuseum.org

“STUART LITTLE” AT MIRACLE THEATRE

Based on the classic book by E.B. White, this charming musical about a “little guy underdog” who is determined to survive in a “real people’s world” will touch your heart and tickle your funny bone. Cats, cars, and ships are just a few of the challenges that Stuart faces in his quest to be accepted for who he is. Performances will be held at Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre each Saturday at 2 pm between July 7 and July 30. Tickets are $25. There will be a free sensory inclusive performance on Sunday, July 16 at 2 pm. 280 Miracle Mile. actorsplayhouse.org

ART OFF THE WALL

Presented by the Young Associates of the Coral Gables Museum, this immersive art event on July 20 brings together young professionals, neighbors, and friends. With live art installations, music, an

BEST REASON TO LEAVE THE GABLES: “THE LITTLE MERMAID”

After two sold-out runs of “Beauty and the Beast,” Area Stage is going back to the magical world of Disney to bring “The Little Mermaid” to the Adrienne Arsht Center. Set inside a seaside tavern where sailors and pirates gather to share tales of adventure, Ariel and Eric’s love story will be brought to life in an immersive under-the-sea spectacle. This classic fable will capture your heart with its irresistible songs, including “Under the Sea” and “Kiss the Girl.” The show runs from August 9 to August 27 at the Carnival Studio Theater with performances Wednesday at 2 and 7:30 pm, Thursday and Friday at 7:30 pm, and Saturday and Sunday at 1 and 7 pm. Tickets are $52 for students and children, $83.50 for general admission, and $110 for VIP tickets with immersive seating. 1300 Biscayne Blvd. arshtcenter.org

To keep track of all the fun events in the Gables this month, check out our events calendar by scanning the QR code!

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A VISIT TO THE #1 GOLF SCHOOL IN AMERICA

BY KYLIE WANG

Just a few weeks ago, professional golfer Lexi Thompson came to the Jim McLean Golf School at the Biltmore Hotel. The LPGA Tour pro was experiencing a problem with her swing, so she took a private lesson with Jim McLean himself, who had coached her early on in her career. McLean is known throughout the golf world as the de facto coach for all things golf – his school, headquartered at the Biltmore, has been ranked number one in the U.S. for years and he has personally coached many of the greats, including Cristie Kerr, Gary Woodland, and Curtis Strange. His resume, which includes membership in four golf Halls of Fame, is far too long to list here.

I visited with McLean to learn the ins and outs of golf and what running an international school with locations in such places as Seoul, South Korea and Playa del Carmen, Mexico is like. I may not be the next Lexi Thompson, but after a tour of the facilities and a lesson with one of the school’s assistants, it felt tantalizingly possible.

Lessons at the Jim McLean Golf School (beginning at $145 for one hour) start simply for amateurs, with a few swings of a sand wedge club, aiming to just brush the ground past a line chalked into the turf. Once that’s been mastered, you advance to hitting a tee, and

then, finally, an actual golf ball. All the while, the instructor gives you advice on your stance, swing, and body movement. The objective on the first day is simple: make good contact with the ball. According to McLean, this is the best way to build a swing. His philosophy? “Start small.”

The coolest part of the lesson is the equipment. At some point, you’ll enter a small room where you’ll be filmed hitting balls. Then, the instructor will use software to compare your movements and placement with that of a professional – and yes, you can pick who you want to see. My first video was nothing short of an abomination – all sway and no hips. But after comparing myself to a video of Lexi Thompson from a few years ago, I could see exactly where I needed to improve.

“That’s basically my way of teaching,” says McLean, who offers private lessons himself, ranging from $750 to $3,500. “We bring up pro examples and show you some of the things they do. It’s not that you have to be perfect. There really is no ‘perfect’ in golf. You have to allow for some individuality.” He references athletes like Patrick Mahomes, the quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs football team, who has an unorthodox throw but is already one of the most respected players in the game. “The greatest players always have a little bit of their own.”

That probably just means swaying around like a palm tree in the breeze for me, but McLean assures me that my lack of knowledge is actually for the best. Bad habits in golf can be fixed, but it requires a lot of time and effort. As McLean says, “Even when you’re great, you still go back to the fundamentals.” ■

JIM MCLEAN GOLF SCHOOL 1200 ANASTASIA AVE. 305.591.6409 JIMMCLEAN.COM

“ IT’S NOT THAT YOU HAVE TO BE PERFECT. THERE REALLY IS NO ‘PERFECT’ IN GOLF. YOU HAVE TO ALLOW FOR SOME INDIVIDUALITY.”

JIM MCLEAN, JIM MCLEAN GOLF SCHOOL AT THE BILTMORE HOTEL

Photo by Rodolfo Benitez

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GABLESTAGE’S “NATIVE GARDENS” BRINGS MUCH-NEEDED HUMOR TO A BORDER DISPUTE

BY CHRISTINE DOLEN, ARTBURST MIAMI PHOTOS BY MAGNUS STARK

With conflict at the center of so many headlines, it’s easy to forget that coexistence among people with differences is possible. Not simple, but possible. And, in the case of “Native Gardens” by Karen Zacarías, the road to compromise can be uproariously amusing.

Closing out the current season at GableStage, the four-character play about a burgeoning dispute between neighbors has been performed throughout the U.S. since its world premiere in 2016. During the 2018-2019 season, “Native Gardens” was among the top 10 plays produced by America’s regional theaters.

“When I read the play, I thought, ‘Oh, this is fun.’ It’s kind of a creative vacation,” says Victoria Collado, the show’s director. “The conflicts are funny.” When a younger Latin couple buys the townhouse next door to one owned by an older Anglo couple, a relationship that begins with civility and friendly gestures frays for multiple reasons, including a property line dispute.

In his poem “Mending Wall,’ Robert Frost memorably wrote:

“Good fences make good neighbors.” That’s not always the case, as “Native Gardens” illustrates. All four characters are smart and likable – in other words, no one is a villain with malicious intent. But differences and biases lead to escalating conflict.

Bari Newport, wrapping up her second season as GableStage’s producing artistic director, says, “Karen has done a fabulous job of very clearly drawing parallels between a border dispute involving two suburban lawns and all kinds of border disputes . . .The play is topical, polarizing, hysterically funny, all within a fabulous story.”

In the play, Tania Del Valle (Diana Garle), a New Mexico-born Ph.D. candidate who is eight months pregnant, is a passionate gardener dedicated to creating a garden built around native plants and natural ways of cultivating them. Her husband Pablo (Kevin Cruz), who comes from a wealthy Chilean family, is establishing himself as an attorney and trying to impress his colleagues.

Virginia Butley (Barbara Sloan), an engineer working for a defense contractor, lives next door with her husband Frank (David Kwiat), who works for an unspecified federal agency and is devoted to cultivating his formal English-style garden – pesticides and all. After Frank’s much-anticipated neighborhood horticultural compe-

“ WHEN I READ THE PLAY, I THOUGHT, ‘OH, THIS IS FUN. IT’S KIND OF A CREATIVE VACATION’...”

VICTORIA COLLADO, ABOVE, “NATIVE GARDENS” DIRECTOR

KEVIN CRUZ AND DIANA GARLE PLAY A COUPLE CHECKING OUT THEIR NEIGHBORS’ BACKYARD GARDEN

tition and Pablo’s backyard barbecue for his firm are scheduled for the same weekend, simmering conflict boils over.

Kwiat and Sloan, a couple offstage as well as on, have each been in numerous GableStage productions. This is Kwiat’s first time back with the company since the passing of longtime producing artistic director Joseph Adler during the pandemic. Sloan notes that this is her third time playing memorable women named Virginia in a GableStage show – she was previously Ginnie in Joshua Harmon’s “Admissions” in 2018 and Virginia in Claudia Rankine’s “The White Card” in 2022.

Discussing Zacarías’ play, the Carbonell Award-winning Kwiat lists numerous issues explored in the play. He says they include territorial rights, organic pest control vs. pesticides, biodiversity, the glass ceiling for women, inequity in the workplace, border walls, xenophobia, Islamophobia, politicizing issues, Brexit, ageism, racism, classicism, sexism, white privilege, homophobia, victimhood, and the American Dream, to name a few.

Garle, whose career in television and film is growing ever hotter, hasn’t been onstage in a while but said yes to “Native Gardens” when she was cast a year ago. The daughter of a hard-working single mother, the now-bicoastal Miami actor has been performing since she was five and doing commercials since she was eight (that’s Garle playing the cashier with dimples in the latest Pollo Tropical commercial). In the GableStage play, she wears a weighted baby bump under her costumes. Though she saw her cousin born when

she was 18 (“it was traumatic,” she admits), she hadn’t given much thought to having a family until recently – maybe because she’ll turn 30 during the run of “Native Gardens.”

“‘Native Gardens,’” Garle says, is “very much an ensemble piece,” incorporating serious topics in a wild comedy that surges toward the style of a telenovela near its end. If you have only been to see the more serious dramas that GableStage is noted for, or if you haven’t seen any of their performances this year, this is the one not to miss. ■

ArtburstMiami.com is a nonprofit source of dance, visual arts, music, and performing arts news.

“NATIVE GARDENS” BY KAREN ZACARÍAS GABLESTAGE AT THE BILTMORE HOTEL 1200 ANASTASIA AVE.

WEDNESDAYS 2 PM AND 7 PM; THURSDAY-SATURDAY 8 PM; SUNDAYS 2 PM (ADDITIONAL MATINEES JULY 7 AND JULY 15), THROUGH JULY 16. STREAMING VERSION AVAILABLE DURING PERFORMANCES. $40-$70 (STREAMING TICKET $27). CALL 305.445.1119 OR GO TO GABLESTAGE.ORG. FOR MORE INFORMATION.

FROM LEFT, DIANA GARLE, KEVIN CRUZ, BARBARA SLOAN AND DAVID KWIAT PLAY NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBORS IN KAREN ZACARÍAS’ COMEDY “NATIVE GARDENS”

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Bites

AT CHRISTY’S TRADITION IS THE THEME, WITH DARK WOOD INTERIORS AND OIL PAINTINGS ADORNING THE WALLS

PHOTO BY RODOLFO BENITEZ

Quick Bites

Sandwiches!

Ever since the Earl of Sandwich put sliced beef between two pieces of bread during a card game in 1762, the sandwich has become a Western staple – portable, edible without utensils, and somehow deeply satisfying. These are among the best we’ve discovered in the city.

HERE’S THE BEEF

Maybe it’s because they bake the bread there, so it’s artisanal and rich-tasting. Or maybe it’s the fresh tomatoes from local farms, or the handsome stack of medium-rare meat in the center. Who cares! The roast beef sandwich at Madruga Bakery ($15) – where you can choose the bread – is the best you will ever consume. Is the secret the home-roasted meat, the rye or sourdough, or the garlic aioli and French mustard? Who cares! 1430 S. Dixie Hwy. 305.262.6130

CUSTOM CREATIONS

La Sandwicherie’s sandwiches can all be customized to your liking, but our favorite version comes with the shop’s homemade chicken mix ($8.25). The one pictured here has pepper jack cheese, lettuce, hot peppers, and red onions on a baguette, but there are various toppings available, including tomatoes, black olives, cucumbers, green peppers, and cornichons. Don’t forget to add La Sandwicherie’s signature vinaigrette, “The Magic Sauce,” which adds a little kick to any choice. 142 Giralda Ave. 786.615.2724

PANINI PLEASURE

After grabbing a good book, why not dive right into it while enjoying a good bite? Luckily, you don’t have to go far on Aragon Avenue at The Café at Books & Books. Their turkey panini ($16), a perfect balance of savory and sweet, deserves all the rave. The combination of turkey, brie, watercress, pear, and mango chutney makes every bite as refreshing as the courtyard’s breeze. Pro tip: add extra pear and chutney. 265 Aragon Ave. 305.448.9599

CHEESE THE DAY!

It doesn’t get cheesier than this. Grilled Cheese Gallery’s “A Night in Amsterdam” sandwich ($9) comes packed with four different types of cheese (gouda, gruyere, Swiss, and cheddar) served on white or sourdough bread. Possibly the best traditional grilled cheese you’ll ever have, the Gallery’s take on the classic kid’s meal is quite literally dripping with cheese and comes with a saucer of tomato soup for dipping. For goudaness sake, you’d cheddar believe it! 1573 Sunset Dr. 786.953.4056

PORK DELIGHT

Most customers come to Vicky Bakery for a quick café con leche or cortadito, or maybe one of the Cuban sandwiches in the display case. What’s not out front – you must ask for it – is a Gables rarity: pan con lechón, or roast pork sandwich. It will take a few minutes, as they pull the pork and sauté it with onions, but the result is mouthwatering. Just get there before 2 pm when the kitchen closes. 2345 University Drive. 305.441.0611 ■

TOP TO BOTTOM: MADRUGA BAKERY: ROAST BEEF SANDWICH

LA SANDWICHERIE: HOMEMADE CHICKEN MIX

CAFÉ AT BOOKS & BOOKS: TURKEY PANINI

GRILLED CHEESE GALLERY: A NIGHT IN AMSTERDAM

VICKY BAKERY: PAN CON LECHÓN

Tasting Miami

CHEF GIORGIO’S HOMAGE TO SOME OF THE MOST ICONIC SPOTS IN THE MAGIC CITY

BY NATALIA CLEMENT

Restaurants are always cooking up new ways to keep patrons engaged, but few come close to Eating House’s Tasting Miami series. This rotating, sharing-style menu is a culinary delight dreamt up by Miami native Chef Giorgio Rapicavoli. As a chef that focuses on fusing his Argentine and Italian heritage with the city’s rich culinary culture (he also helms nearby Luca Osteria), there’s no one we trust more to recreate the essence of classic Miami spots.

We sat at the sleek bar during a busy-as-usual night at Eating House, not knowing what the second rendition of the series had in store for us. The first two courses were tributes to two Coral Gables staples: Christy’s steakhouse and Sports Grill. In a nod to the local steakhouse’s revered meats (see review pg. 52), the first plate consisted of Mishima wagyu beef tartare topped with Caesar breadcrumbs – a rich dish self-served on lettuce leaves. It was paired with Chef Giorgio’s take on the Gables’ wings mecca: grilled heirloom carrots (a tribute to Sports Grill’s “Special Grilled” chicken wings) in a gorgonzola and Worcestershire sauce. The carrots alone are worth the experience, almost making us forget that we weren’t actually eating wings. One can only hope they make their way onto Eating House’s regular dinner menu.

The decades-long dim sum favorite on Bird Road, Tropical Chinese, was channeled in the next dish with a true Miami twist: croqueta bao buns topped with cucumber, green onion, hoisin, and a special “3-0-5 spice.” With the softness of the buns and the crispiness of the croquetas, it was a match made in culinary heaven. Our bartender recommended pairing it with their signature “Mr. Pink” cocktail, a mix of Havana Club Blanco, Chinola passion fruit, and coconut cordial. You can also order a “Mrs. Pink” made with strawberries – both equally light and refreshing.

The feast continued with two main courses modeled after the South Miami Cuban eatery Casa Larios and Hialeah’s Pincho Man. The former was reinvented as camarones enchilados risotto, a creamy shrimp risotto stewed in chili sauce, which could hold its ground as a standalone plate. For the meat lover, the beautifully plated short rib “pincho” took skewers to another level with Gruyere, mojo, smoked bordelaise, and potato crisps.

As if our dinner wasn’t decadent enough, we closed out the night with two desserts. Palace 18, named after the iconic Tamiami movie theater, consists of Palmetto Bay’s Cry Baby Creamery popcorn ice cream plated with meringue flakes and topped with brown butter glaze. At first skeptical of the mix, the first spoonful won us over. The best part is how it combines with the final plate: potato

“buñuelos” coated in sugar and served with cafe con leche condensada. A fitting tribute to the Cuban coffee and pastries served at Versailles on Eighth Street.

For $59 per person with a minimum of two diners (it is, after all, meant to be shared) this elaborate gastronomic journey makes it worth a weeknight outing when the menus are available, Tuesday through Thursday. ■

TOP: TROPICAL CHINESE’S CROQUETA BAO BUNS WITH MR. PINK COCKTAIL ABOVE LEFT: SPORTS GRILL’S GRILLED HEIRLOOM CARROTS ABOVE RIGHT: PINCHO MAN’S SHORT RIBS

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The Happiest Hour

BY NATALIA CLEMENT

Whether it be the vacation mentality or the scorching heat, there’s something about summer that makes you crave a good drink – especially after a hard day’s work. Our editorial team, along with foodie content creator Libna Echeverri from @peanuttandjelly on Instagram, set out on a quest to experience five different happy hours (yes, all in one day) in downtown Coral Gables.

More Than Wine

We started at Vinya Table, known for its plethora of wines. During happy hour, you can enjoy discounted wines along with a no-corkage fee on in-store bottles. However, we decided to taste test their cocktails to see if their mixology lived up to their oenology. The ChinChin Tonic ($9) is Vinya’s take on the classic gin drink, served with a drizzle of chinola (passion fruit liqueur) and garnished with cucumber. Wine-adjacent, we also tried Ceci’s Sangria for Two ($10) which can be ordered with rosé or red wine and, obviously, is meant to be shared. Let’s not forget the second part of the name: Table. We filled ours with a diverse selection of happy hour bites, including west coast oysters ($8 for three), juicy shrimp ceviche ($8), and roasted piquillo peppers ($5). Our favorite were the grilled artichokes ($8), laid on top of a delicious spicy tzatziki.

Lucky Hour

After devouring Vinya’s bites, we decided to cross the street for some beers at John Martin’s. Dropping by their “Lucky Hour,” we were met with half-priced Irish beers, house wines, and select Irish whiskeys. Out of all the locations, the offerings here were the most limited, but there was still something for everyone. We enjoyed the house prosecco ($4.50), a heavy-bodied draft Guinness stout pint ($6), and a refreshing Harp Lager ($4.50). Perfect for beer lovers looking for a quick pint after work.

VINYA TABLE

JOHN MARTIN’S

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BITES / HAPPY HOUR

Not Just for Partying

Our next stop was Copper 29. Known for its bustling nightlife, Copper’s happy hour is largely overlooked. Here, you can enjoy $5 wines and $4 beers, but the true deal is the $7 to $8 cocktails. The Passion Martini ($7) is as delicious as it is beautiful, thanks to passion fruit puree and a decorative purple flower. Classics like Moscow mules and margaritas are also available.

Although the selection of happy hour bites is limited, they’re hearty enough to share. The chicken flatbread ($10) was a table favorite, with an ample amount of chicken baked into gooey cheese and drizzled with BBQ sauce. We also ordered the truffle mac’n’cheese ($10), which could easily be enjoyed as a standalone plate.

Sunset Daze

Our last stop, Cebada Rooftop, was strategically planned so we could enjoy the golden hour before sunset on the picturesque outdoor rooftop. Known for the comically named drinks, Cebada’s happy hour serves up $10 cocktails with names like “Bro, Why Are Your Pants So Tight” and “Relax, It Only Tingles a Little.”

But the brash names were no indication of the beautiful cocktails we received, garnished with baby sprout flowers, and served in an empty cigar box. By the time we finished, the sun had set, leaving us filled with the warm feeling of the happiest hour(s) we shared together. ■

Buzzed at Bulla

Our thorough research had us feeling a bit light-headed as we turned the corner of Ponce de Leon south towards Bulla Gastrobar. Their happy hour includes half-off wines, $8 cocktails, and $28 pitchers of sangria. Our waiter recommended the Lemongrass Collins and Bougie Palmer, both of which were refreshingly cool.

Although there are no food specials during happy hour, sharing tapas at Bulla is a must. We went for the tabla mixta ($25), a charcuterie board filled with Tetilla, Manchego, Serrano ham, chorizo, walnuts, and olives. We also ordered the montaditos ($15): toasted bread topped with brisket, tomato marmalade, guindilla peppers, and tetilla cheese. We can never say no to tapas.

LIBNA ECHEVERRI AT COPPER 29

CEBADA ROOFTOP

BULLA GASTROBAR

Live Where Life is Beautiful

The Avenue is a boutique property coming soon to Coral Gables. Inside, discover turnkey residences, rich amenities, and expertly selected finishes and furnishings. Outside, enjoy easy access to The Shops at Merrick Park and everything that makes this historic city so desirable.

Florida Limited Liability Company (“developer”), which was formed solely for such purpose. Roger Development Group, Inc. “Roger” is affiliated with this entity, but is not the developer of this project. Purchasers shall look solely to the developer (and not to Roger and/ or any of its affiliates other than developer) with respect to any and all matters relating to the marketing and/or development of the condominium and with respect to the sales of units in the condominium. All images and designs depicted herein are artist’s conceptual renderings, which are based upon preliminary development plans, and are subject to change without notice in the manner provided in the offering documents. All such materials are not to scale and are shown solely for illustrative purposes.

New Places

BY KYLIE WANG

MIAM Cafe

This casual bistro is the second of its kind in Miami – the original location in Wynwood opened back in 2014. And no, we didn’t spell “Miami” wrong – miam means “yum” in French.

The food is similar to the recently opened Bistro Café (see “New Places” in our June issue) with a menu consisting mostly of breakfast and brunch food, plus smoothies and sandwiches. The avocado toast is decently packed with smashed avocado, red onions, and radishes on multigrain toast, an invigorating start to the morning – and arguably the most aesthetically pleasing item on the menu. But the standouts here are the pastries, in particular the Nutella croissant ($4.50), which is large enough to count as a full meal, dusted with powdered sugar and drizzled with hazelnut spread. The inside is also full of Nutella, though not an exorbitant amount – just a good mix of croissant and chocolate hazelnut richness.

Also available are coffees, ranging from cortados to lattes to macchiatos, with additions like vanilla, caramel, and chocolate. MIAM really shines in the beverage area, with a full menu of drinks beyond traditional coffee; there’s cold brew, chai and matcha lattes, tea, smoothies, juices, wine, and beer. The inside of the bistro is pleasing for Instagram afficionados too – full of pink murals, flowers, and bright neon coffee art. It’s the kind of place where you might stop to have a morning coffee before work or meet up with a friend on your lunch break. Miam!

2300 PONCE DE LEON

305.200.3190

HOURS: 7 AM TO 4 PM (OPENS AT 7:30 AM ON SAT. AND 8 AM ON SUN.)

Graziano’s Market

Located inside the Lifetime building on US-1, this new Graziano’s Market location has a slightly smaller market than the downtown Coral Gables location, but more space devoted to eating. It’s also wonderfully convenient if you are (like we are) a Trader Joe’s enthusiast – the grocery store is just a few steps away, meaning you can theoretically do all of your shopping in one building.

Our favorite part of Graziano’s Market isn’t the imported San Marzano tomatoes or the spicy salami calabrese you can have cut up at the deli though – it’s the meals. From steaks and Argentinian street food to milanesas and raviolis, the food at this iteration of Graziano’s is both fresh and toothsome with a touch of upscale authenticity. Still, the prices are reasonable ($14.95 for a panini, $12.95 for a burger) and the pastas could give some of the Gables’ traditional Italian restaurants a run for their money. Particularly enjoyable is the spinach and ricotta ravioli ($18.95), which we chose to be served with Graziano’s pink sauce, a creamy tomato dressing for a well-sized and filling dish. Also available are regular tomato sauce and alfredo – you make the choice.

It’s casual dining, where you order at a counter and then wait at a table, but somehow still feels high-end, as if you were on vacation, taking a break from sightseeing for a bite at a European food hall.

229 S DIXIE HWY

786.633.3948

MIAM AVOCADO TOAST AND COFFEE

GRAZIANO’S CHURRASQUITO

SENIOR LIVING REDEFINED

At Belmont Village, senior living goes beyond luxury amenities and hospitality – it’s anticipating your every need, so you can enjoy life. You can rely on best-in-class care with licensed nurses on-site 24/7, in-house fitness and therapy, and a unique partnership with Baptist Health that offers our residents support from the most awarded healthcare system in South Florida.

Live Healthy by Baptist Health at Belmont Village Coral Gables offers a holistic approach to healthy living in a spa-like setting on our ground floor. With preventive care, quick access to Baptist Health practitioners, virtual wellness programs and telehealth options, health has never been closer to home.

BelmontVillage.com/CoralGables | 305-760-4408

Where Tradition Shines

THE OLDEST STEAKHOUSE IN THE GABLES, CHRISTY’S DELIVERS TRADITION WITH PANACHE

BY ANDREW GAYLE PHOTOS BY RODOLFO BENITEZ

There is something to be said for longevity, especially in a city like Coral Gables, which honors its past. Perhaps no other restaurant delivers that sense of tradition better than Christy’s, a testament to quality that holds its own even as the world around it changes.

Not that Christy’s has stood still. Its elegant bar has been updated to be more open and inviting. And the artwork that adorns the wall has been modernized, leaving behind the staid pastoral scenes and still life depictions in favor of silk screen, impressionism, pop art, and the like. Somehow it works, especially since the walls remain drenched in the classic steakhouse red of yesteryear. Even the seating is time-honored. Unable to find anything as remotely comfortable as the old, leather covered chairs that have been there since the restaurant’s 1978 inception, managing partner Chris Klaik had them reupholstered – a few at a time, so as not to disrupt the customer experience.

What you find today at Christy’s is not far removed from the classic experience this enduring eatery has always delivered: superb steaks, excellent service, low lighting, cocktails worthy of Mad Men’s 1950s flair, and a classic Caesar salad that remains, with its secret recipe, arguably the best in the city.

With a tip of the hat to menus that offer a vast number of options, there is something to be said about an establishment confident enough to keep the menu to a reasonable size. They may not tender a prodigious selection, but what they do proffer is prepared very well. You want a salad here? Two choices: Their “famous” Caesar with anchovies on the side, and their wedge salad with blue cheese dressing, Nueske’s bacon, and crispy shallots. Both wonderfully cold and crisp. You want soup? One choice: French onion, beautifully laced with melted gruyere cheese.

For appetizers, you have the same deliberately constrained selection of classics, some of which can’t be found anywhere else –like their Oysters Rockefeller, with spinach, parmesan cheese, and bacon. The last time we indulged in these rich, succulent bivalves

TOP: AT CHRISTY’S, TRADITION IS THE THEME, WITH DARK WOOD INTERIORS AND A BAR THAT DELIVERS COCKTAILS LIKE OLD FASHIONEDS AND MANHATTANS.

ABOVE: OUR SERVER, JOSIE FOSSELMAN, A FORMER CHEF WHO KEEPS TRADITION ALIVE WITH HER COCKTAIL RECOMMENDATIONS.

OPPOSITE: TOP LEFT: THE “FAMOUS” CHRISTY’S CAESAR

TOP RIGHT: OYSTERS ROCKEFELLER

BOTTOM LEFT: 20-OUNCE AGED RIB EYE

BOTTOM RIGHT: ROAST PRIME RIB

CHRISTY’S 3101 PONCE DE LEON BLVD. 305.446.1400

was at the Carlyle in New York City. Likewise, their escargot is done old school, not de-constructed or gussied up with pastry. Just cooked with white wine and garlic herb butter, served in the sort of circular, ceramic dish with indented cups you would find in a Parisian café. The same goes for their lump crab cakes and shrimp cocktails. Old school all the way.

For entrées, we could not resist sampling Christy’s aged beef –though we did try the sherry and honey-glazed rack of lamb (with Greek mint yogurt!) and the seared deep-sea scallops that arrived on a bed of English pea risotto. Both toothsome. But what we came for was the 20-ounce aged ribeye, seared to a beautiful pink, and another rarity, prime rib. The latter is something that you just can’t find anymore, owing perhaps to the requirement that it be roasted for two hours. The one we were served looked like it came from the table of Fred Flintstone, large enough to feed at least two diners. These great slabs are available on a first-come-first serve basis, so arrive early if you must have it.

Our server for the night, Josie Fosselman, added to the pleasure of the experience – an ebullient former chef who decided to leave

the heat of the kitchen behind to work the front of the house. For cocktails, she recommended we stay with the time-honored Classic Manhattan and Christy’s Old Fashioned, both time machines to an era when drinks had a bite and were not supposed to mimic something from a soda fountain – though I did try a martini that was enhanced with espresso and simple syrup. Yes, it was like drinking an alcoholic chocolate soda, unmanly but delicious.

Speaking of the sweet side, we deliberately avoided ordering the Baked Alaska, another throwback that is impossible to find elsewhere. Once these appear, flaming tableside, it starts a domino effect, and we decided to have mercy on Josie. Instead we ordered the light key lime pie with a toasted almond-graham crust, and a five-nut brownie with sea salt caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream. No regrets.

At this point, Christy’s is open only for dinner, but one can only hope they will expand to lunch when the adjacent office towers of The Plaza Coral Gables are fully occupied with hungry executives. Perhaps there will never be a return to the two-martini lunches of Madison Avenue in its heyday, but at Christy’s it would not feel out of place. ■

Fresh from Japan

SUSHI THAT IS CERTIFIABLY NOT LOCAL

BY ISABELLA CASCIO

Just off Miracle Mile, Anaba is your quintessential hole-in-the-wall sushi restaurant, with a door framed by curtains and a sushi bar where you can watch your meal being made. The overall ambiance is cozy and intimate, a perfect spot for a date or a bite with friends, but what makes Anaba special is that all of its fish is flown in fresh, straight from Japan.

We started our meal with a steaming bowl of miso soup, a rich, savory broth with a comforting umami flavor, but we couldn’t wait for the sashimi platter, featuring six types of fish right from the Land of the Rising Sun. The platter was presented to us at the bar with an explanation of each item. The variety of fish was impressive, with staples like salmon as well as less common options like mackerel, red snapper, and sea bream. The freshness was apparent.

For rolls, we chose two that sounded enticing. The fatty tuna and scallion maki was a standout, with buttery tuna and a bright burst of flavor from the scallions. The Sugar Daddy roll was even more remarkable, with a perfect balance of sweet and smoky flavors; the combination of shrimp tempura, avocado, and mango was already a delicious combination, but the addition of torched sugar salmon on top elevated the dish to another level.

Throughout our meal, the service was attentive and helpful without being intrusive, and the atmosphere welcoming. But it’s the high-quality sushi and sashimi that impressed – and at a reasonable price point. ■

Gables Golf Course Living at Its Finest

I had the honor of assisting two clients find their dream home on Santa Maria Street, nestled among Riviera Country Club’s gorgeous greens. Looking for your own Golf Course home in the Gables? Reach out to me today and embark on this remarkable lifestyle opportunity.

I had the honor of assisting two clients find their dream home on Santa Maria Street, nestled among Riviera Country Club’s gorgeous greens. Looking for your own Golf Course home in the Gables? Reach out to me today and embark on this remarkable lifestyle opportunity.

Real Estate Advisor

305.608.8750

jj@jjsnowhansen.com

BE IT EVER SO HUMBLE, SUSHI ON ARAGON

People Featuring: Ray Corral Robert Rothrock, M.D. Cal Thomas

CORAL GABLES RESIDENT RAY CORRAL, CEO OF MOSAICIST

PHOTO BY RODOLFO BENITEZ

Ray Corral

CEO OF MOSAICIST

For the past 25 years, Coral Gables resident Ray Corral has been installing highly refined mosaics in the pools of local homes, as well as in homes across the country. With 160,000 Instagram followers, his firm Mosaicist, Inc., now has more than two years’ worth of orders for glass-tiled mosaics. In the last several years, Corral has become an active participant in the arts and culture of the community, donating $250,000 to community projects, largely administered by the Coral Gables Community Foundation. He is now serving his second year as a volunteer on the city’s Cultural Development Board and was recently designated a local artist by the Arts Advisory Panel for his work in designing his company’s murals. He lives in a historic home on Country Club Prado.

LATEST ACHIEVEMENT

Corral was recently recognized as a Rock of the Community by the Coral Gables Community Foundation, an acknowledgement that is bestowed for donors that make unrestricted donations of $100,000 or more to the Foundation. He recently donated and installed a large mosaic mural at Carver Elementary School, which will be enhanced with landscaping he is also funding. He is underwriting the Corral and Cathers Art Fund with a $50,000 donation to create a fund for grants to local artists, and was one of the principal donors behind the Moon Over the Gables installation on Ponce Circle.

WHAT HE SAYS

“We are now understanding the power of art to uplift and unite a community, especially with art in public places,” says Corral. “This is something the mayor has recognized and championed – that public art sparks conversations and nurtures creativity. It’s not only about hospitality and fine dining. The city can become a bigger brand through art itself. I want to help that world, where art is an inspiration.…” Corral also says that for the pool mosaics he installs in Gables homes, he works to respect the city’s Mediterranean design heritage. “I design it around the historic architecture of the home, to bring synergy with the vision of the city when it was first built.”

“WE ARE NOW UNDERSTANDING THE POWER OF ART TO UPLIFT AND UNITE A COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY WITH ART IN PUBLIC PLACES.”

Photo by Rodolfo Benitez

Robert Rothrock, M.D.

DIRECTOR OF SPINAL ONCOLOGY, BAPTIST HEALTH

As a spinal neurosurgeon and the director of spinal oncology at both the Baptist Health Miami Neuroscience Institute and the Baptist Health Miami Cancer Institute, Dr. Robert Rothrock spends most of his days treating spinal tumors. The 37-year-old bilingual physician is a Miami native (he was actually born at Baptist), but spent 15 years studying, completing his residency, and doing fellowships around the U.S. He returned to South Florida in 2021 to complete a fellowship in minimally invasive and reconstructive spine surgery at the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine and then joined the team at Baptist.

LATEST ACHIEVEMENT

Baptist Health’s comprehensive spinal tumor center is the only one of its kind in South Florida, where numerous doctors work under one roof to help patients with spinal tumors. As director of the Institute, Dr. Rothrock was instrumental in creating the center and spends virtually every single day (including weekends) working with patients or performing surgery. One of the clinical trials he’s overseeing at Baptist right now is an attempt to prevent the need for surgery by giving earlier, high-dose, precision radiation treatments. “No one else is doing that right now, as far as I know, in the United States,” says the physician.

WHAT HE SAYS

“The nice thing about being a doctor, the thing that helps us get out of bed every day, is the patients. That’s what we work for…. And it’s hard to do that for a lifetime, to give and give and give. But there is so much meaning in helping people…. That’s why I wanted to work in a place where I have time to actually be a doctor and sit and listen and solve problems.”

“THE NICE THING ABOUT BEING A DOCTOR, THE THING THAT HELPS US GET OUT OF BED EVERY DAY, IS THE PATIENTS.”

Photo by Jonathan Dann

START DISHING stop searching

PERRY’S STEAKHOUSE / YARD HOUSE / VILLAGIO RESTAURANT

Cal Thomas

Cal Thomas is one of the most highly regarded voices on American politics and contemporary society. For nearly 40 years, he has written two columns a week appearing in more than 250 newspapers. He also produces five one-minute commentaries a week for more than 250 radio stations. Thomas is a veteran of broadcast and print journalism, having worked for NBC News in Washington, D.C., hosted his own program on CNBC, and for 19 years was a commentator on the Fox News Channel. In 2011, he received the William F. Buckley, Jr. Award for Media Excellence from the Media Research Center. He has authored many books, including “Common Ground: How to Stop the Partisan War that is Destroying America” (2008), “What Works: Common Sense Solutions for a Stronger America” (2014), and “America’s Expiration Date: The Fall of Empires and Superpowers and the Future of the United States” (2020).

LATEST ACHIEVEMENT

Thomas, who keeps a home in Coral Gables, recently published “A Watchman in the Night: What I’ve Seen Over 50 Years Reporting on America,” from which he will read excerpts on July 14 at Books & Books. “I thought it would be fun to go back and look at the columns that started in 1984, and my years as a reporter before then, to see what has changed,” says Thomas. “The answer is not much. Human nature never changes, so that is the problem.”

WHAT HE SAYS

When asked if he is optimistic about America, Thomas is not sanguine. “There are certain commonalities for every nation state that has existed, and the three things that precipitate the collapse of an empire. These are massive debt, uncontrolled immigration, and the loss of a shared sense of moral values, which is the glue that has always held a country and culture together.” That, he says, is what the nation is experiencing today. “There is no secret to these things, but people are ignorant of their own history. I am not very optimistic about the future.” Right now, says Thomas, “We are running on the inertia of the greatest generation [and] we are only one generation away from collapse.” As for his centrist politics, he says “I’m a conservative but one with a sense of humor. I want to preserve things that have proven themselves in the past.”

SYNDICATED COLUMNIST, AUTHOR, RADIO & TV COMMENTATOR

“I’M A CONSERVATIVE BUT ONE WITH A SENSE OF HUMOR. I WANT TO PRESERVE THINGS THAT HAVE PROVEN THEMSELVES IN THE PAST.”

The Best of

the Gables

WELCOME TO OUR ANNUAL GUIDE

Coral Gables is an exceptional city, having inherited the vision of its founder George Merrick and the City Beautiful movement of the early 20th century. It is a city endowed with an abundance of fine dining, high culture, elegant architecture, family entertainment, and retail options. With such an embarrassment of riches, it’s a challenge to decided what is best. To help us figure that out, we enlisted the help of a blue-ribbon panel of 30 local luminaries from a variety of backgrounds. We also asked our readers to submit their votes in more than 80 categories. The results follow. Where our board (and staff) agreed with the readers’ choice, we offer just the one pick – and it is amazing how many times our readers agreed with our panel. Where the readers’ opinion differed, we list both. See if you agree – or disagree – with our picks, or those of the readers who participated. Let us know what you think (editor@coralgablesmagazine.com) and we’ll share your insights. Now, read on. Hopefully you will find something new – or just have your opinion reinforced.

THE “BEST OF” BOARD OF ADVISORS

Ashley Airaghi, attorney; Patrick Alexander, writer; Rodney Barreto, Barreto Hospitality; Karelia Carbonell, historic activist; Ray Corral, Mosaicist; Ashley Cusack, realtor; Meg Daly, Miami Underline; Swanee DiMare, philanthropist; Sissy DeMaria, publicist; Lani Drody, realtor; David Evensky, financial planner; Danny Guiteras, The Globe; Vince Lago, mayor; Israel Kreps, publicist; Matthew Meahan, entrepreneur; Paola Mendez, social influencer; Ben Mollere, healthcare executive; Michael Moore, attorney; Patrick O’Connell, Realtor; Jose Ortega, developer; Silvia Ortiz, art gallerist; Martha Pantin, city media; Susan Rodriguez, Coral Gables Garden Club; Marc Schwarzberg, developer; Don Slesnick, attorney and former mayor; Mary Snow, Coral Gables Community Foundation; Mark Trowbridge, Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce; the staff of the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce; Francesca Valdes, retail srategist; Rosanna Weber, attorney.

BEST RESTAURANTS BY NATIONALITY

BEST SPANISH: BULLA

From ‘Fermin’ Serrano ham to Basque sheep cheese to Galician white bean soup, this popular corner spot on Andalusia and Ponce is as Spanish as it gets, plus a great, cheery vibe.

BEST ARGENTINE: GRAZIANO’S

The family came from Argentina, opened a butcher’s shop on Bird Road, started roasting meat on weekends, then went big with this large, boisterous gaucho institution. Good wines, too.

BEST ITALIAN: BUGATTI

With a staff that has been onboard for decades, this popular ristorante used to be a pasta factory. It still serves fresh pasta daily to a loyal clientele.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: LUCA OSTERIA

Chic, urbane café creation of Chef Giorgio Rapicavoli (of Eating House fame), where Campari is the vibe and the food is as impeccable as it is imaginative.

BEST JAPANESE: SU SHIN IZAKAYA

Cozy haunt for authentic Japanese food that goes far beyond their sushi bar, with daily blackboard specials like diced pork belly, steamed manilla clams, fried Japanese eggplant.

BEST THAI: KHAOSAN ROAD

The place for those with a more adventurous palate – traditional Thai street food and lots of spice. The whole fried fish with sweet chili paste is a must.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: LOTUS GARDEN

A quiet spot on Miracle Mile with all the standard Thai favorites that we love, like Pad Thai and chicken satay.

BEST PERUVIAN: AROMAS DEL PERU

Great fish dishes in addition to 15 styles of ceviche, along with Peruvian style wok plates and traditional stuffed yellow potatoes, just off the beaten path on Ponce.

BEST FRENCH: FRENCHIE’S

It feels like a small French café because that’s what it is, where you can order a great quiche or mussels with fries. Daily specials on the board.

HONORABLE MENTION: LA CASITA

It still feels like the 1960s in here, and that includes the prices for great, basic Cuban dishes.

BEST AMERICAN: HILLSTONE

The only Gables restaurant where people wait in line to get in: comfortable booth seating, warm décor, excellent service, and a reliable menu ranging from sushi to steak.

BEST FOOD BY TYPE

BEST ICE CREAM: WHIP N DIP

BEST STEAK HOUSE: CHRISTY’S

This is the oldest steak house in the city, where tradition refuses to die, along with the best Caesar salad – and only prime rib – in the Gables.

BEST COCKTAILS: AMERICANA KITCHEN

Elegant interior with a refined drinks menu, opens onto The Plaza; the perfect place for date night while you’re on an overnight staycation at the Loews Hotel.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: CEBADA

BEST MEDITERRANEAN: TUR

Chef Christian knocks it out of the park with beautifully plated dishes. Here, you can find goat, lamb, and the best pork in town in an elegant, upscale setting.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: MOTEK

Winners of the best burger at Burger Bash two years in a row, they do even better with tzatziki.

The best spot for locals in the South Gables, with soft serve and handmade ice cream, made fresh daily.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: BEN AND JERRY’S

A blast from the past. Who can’t claim a childhood full of Phish Food and Cherry Garcia?

Strong pours with hilarious names and a rooftop setting that is both unique and romantic.

BEST CUBAN: HAVANA HARRY’S

All the standard Cuban dishes, but with huge portions and packed sides. Exactly what you hope to find in a spacious, family-style restaurant.

BEST BAKERY: CHOCOLATE FASHION

You can eat in or take out. Either way, great baguettes, croissants, and brioches, along with a sinful collection of chocolate creations, from cakes to bon-bons.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: BACHOUR

We’d call this more of a restaurant than a bakery, but those haute pastries are its claim to fame.

BEST SEAFOOD: MESAMAR

The rock shrimp in their secret ponzu sauce is reason enough. And where else do they show you the fish that you are going to eat? (Clear eyes mean fresh.)

BEST SALAD: SWEETGREEN

Welcome to the world of bowls, where they mix in great combos of veggies with chicken, shrimp, tofu, or hummus – or just keep it green. Informal, outdoor seating.

BEST SANDWICH: LA SANDWICHERIE

The best sandwiches are the ones you customize to your liking, something La Sandwicherie is well aware of. And their secret sauce is a cult favorite.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: BACHOUR

BEST FRIED CHICKEN: EATING HOUSE

Seriously, is there anything Chef Giorgio can’t do? Just add perfectly fried chicken to the list.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: DOC B’S

The place for casual American food, with over 15 menu items featuring chicken. The boneless Southern fried chicken earns them this award.

BEST PIZZA: MIAMI’S BEST

It’s the “best” for a reason: New York-style pizza with a crust that is just thick enough –and great tomato sauce. Best time to go: during a UM home game.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: PUMMAROLA

This is Sicilian-style pizza, which means a soft crust with wet tomato sauce and mozzarella.

Eggs Benedict in town, guava pancakes, worldclass pastries, and a wide breezy courtyard to boot.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: THREEFOLD CAFÉ

Breakfast all day with some creative dishes and an utterly loyal clientele.

BEST BRUNCH: BILTMORE

It all starts in the Fontana courtyard, which provides a lovely setting for a cornucopia of offerings, from seafood to eggs to buttery croissants.

BEST CHEAP EATS: BARISTA CAFÉ

Tiny café just north of Miracle Mile, with traditional Colombian fare at wonderfully affordable prices. Best place to pick up a to-go order for lunch.

BEST LUNCH SPECIAL: LA TABERNA GIRALDA

$13 for a high-class two-course meal (grilled salmon, fried calamari, pork tenderloin) and $5 wines, served inside, out front, or in their secret courtyard.

BEST NEW RESTAURANT: TULLIO

Elegant hospitality in an upscale setting, with a northern Italian seafood focus. Half the fun is the service provided by the proprietor. Plus, amazingly great gelato, made daily.

HONORABLE MENTION: ALTAGRACIA

Newly opened, Altagracia serves stunning, inventive ravioli dishes, the best we’ve ever had, in a warm, intimate atmosphere.

BEST RESTAURANT BY EXPERIENCE

BEST COFFEE HOUSE: CAFÉ DEMETRIO

In the historic 1926 former home of the Miami News, with a charming shady courtyard, an old world vibe inside, and insanely good coffee and snacks.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: THREEFOLD CAFE

It’s an all-day breakfast place, after all, so it makes sense that they pride themselves on great coffee.

BEST ROMANTIC RESTAURANT: NOMA BEACH

As the sun goes down over Biscayne Bay, you can share a plate of Chef Donatella’s famous meatballs and then take a walk along the Matheson Hammock beach with your lover.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: ZUCCA

Upscale Italian chic, with low lighting and a long bar, and Hotel St. Michel right upstairs.

HONORABLE MENTION: FONTANA

BEST OUTDOOR DINING: ANYWHERE ON GIRALDA

No cars allowed on this people promenade with Mexican, Thai, Peruvian, Japanese, Argentine, American, Cuban, Vietnamese, Basque, and Middle Eastern restaurants.

BEST HAMBURGERS: CLUTCH BURGER

Not even the newly opened Capital Burger could dethrone this Gables classic, where you have to unhinge your jaw to take a bite.

The most beautiful courtyard in the city, with its Venetian fountain and intimate atmosphere.

BEST BREAKFAST: BACHOUR

Masters of the six-minute poached egg, the best

BEST HAPPY HOUR: FOGO DE CHÃO

Every hour is happy hour at Fogo. $8 burgers, $5 bar bites and beer, and the best caipirinha’s for $10 served all day in a sleek modern setting.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: BAY 13 BREWERY

It can be dangerous going here on a worknight when you’re tempted by half-off beers, wine, and $5 margs.

BEST LOCAL HANGOUT: JOHN MARTIN’S

Newly remodeled and all but having tossed aside the claim of Irish “pub,” this new version of John Martin’s looks to be a local mainstay, with better food and a huge bar.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: THE BAR

One of the only spots in the city for a night out on the town. A great place to dance on weekends.

BEST FINE DINING: ZUCCA

Haute Italian cuisine at its finest in a sophisticated setting from somewhere in modern Milan. The newest power lunch spot, at night it’s all glitter.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: FIOLA

Miami’s outpost for the famous Washington, D.C. restaurant. Fine dishes served with white glove elegance.

SHOPPING & RETAIL

BEST JEWELRY STORE: SNOW’S

Where diamonds are a girl’s best friend. Family-run for decades, Snow’s has a reputation for high-end stones, square deals, and great wedding rings.

BEST CHILDREN’S STORE: BOY MEETS GIRL

Where boy meets girl and girls and boys meet cuteness. Adorable designer kids’ clothes for newborns to 10-year-olds, plus toys and gifts.

BEST WOMEN’S CLOTHING STORE: NEIMAN MARCUS

Where the latest designer styles can be found, tailored to you. Plus it always smells nice when you shop there, thanks to an abundance of fragrances for sale.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: NORDSTROM

You can find an outfit here for any occasion or price point, and the restaurant upstairs is a great place to take a break. Don’t actually shop ‘til you drop!

forefront of nailcare in Coral Gables, and there are great membership options.

BEST MEN’S CLOTHING STORE: ARTIGIANO

Not the easiest shop to find, just north of Merrick Park, but worth it. Tailored Italian suits and shirts; for shoes, they send your measurements to cobblers in Italy.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: NORDSTROM

If you must wear Michael Kors off the rack, this is your place. Wide selection, good sales.

BEST FURNITURE STORE: ARTEFACTO

Their showrooms along US-1 alone are worth an award by themselves. Modern design with a wide range of woods and fabrics assembled in Brazil.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: VICTORIA’S ARMOIRE

You’ll find more than an armoire in this charming shop on Ponce just south of Bird Rd.

BEST SPA: THE BILTMORE SPA Expensive? Of course. But the facials and massages here are to die for, with a huge range of menu options, in the warm embrace of the historic Biltmore Hotel.

BEST MANICURE: GLOSS

Precise and clean, Gloss has always been at the

BEST PLACE TO BUY GIFTS: VIOLETAS

Unique designer pieces, mostly in home décor, from lamps and candles to wall clocks and Fornasetti plates, along with reasonably priced jewelry.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: BOOKS & BOOKS

There’s no better gift than the gift of knowledge, conveniently sized in approximately 300 pages.

BEST PLACE TO BUY WINE: WOLFE’S WINE SHOPPE

Part of what makes Coral Gables a village is a wine shop where you can walk in and talk to the proprietor, and get thoughtful recommendations.

BEST FINE DINING: ZUCCA

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

BEST LIVE THEATER: MIRACLE THEATRE

Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre is the gem of Miracle Mile, with high-quality plays and musicals that range across all genres.

HONORABLE MENTION: GABLESTAGE

The (generally) more serious side of theater, in an intimate space with dramatic, moving performances.

BEST ART GALLERY: LOWE ART MUSEUM

Perhaps the most under-appreciated cultural venue in Coral Gables, with lovely, expansive galleries and an immense collection of European and world art.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: CERNUDA ARTE

Master curator of Cuban art Ramon Cernuda now has three galleries, like museums, on Ponce.

BEST MUSEUM: CORAL GABLES MUSEUM

a natural aquifer. Plus, the highly trained lifeguards give mom and dad a little chance to relax.

BEST PICNIC SPOT: MATHESON HAMMOCK

Take a blanket and spread out with drinks from the nearby NOMA Beach at Redfish restaurant. The lagoon is for kids, the sun and breeze is for you.

BEST LIVE MUSIC: THE GLOBE

On Saturday nights, there is no cooler place to be in Coral Gables, especially when the Afro-Cuban jazz band Entre Amigos plays with their mesmerizing chanteuse.

BEST PLACE TO DANCE: COPPER 29

Not a place for conversation, this small, richly decorated bar gets packed on weekend nights to the tune of loud, boisterous music.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: THE BAR

There’s nowhere better to make mistakes than on The Bar’s dancefloor on a Friday night.

Where local history meets modern art, the building itself is an exhibit, restored from Coral Gables original fire station. Great family activities.

BEST GYM: LIFETIME

It’s not just the vaulted space and the army of gear and equipment. It’s the instructors and the classes, and those big ropes you can work out with.

BEST TENNIS COURTS: SALVADORE PARK

Probably the place where most Gableites went to swing their first ever racket. Just make sure to book your courts ahead of time.

BEST PERFORMANCE SPACE: SANCTUARY OF THE ARTS

Historic repurposing at its finest, this former church across from City Hall is now a lovely, open theater for performances of dance and (mostly classical) music.

SPORTS & RECREATION

BEST YOGA STUDIO: PRANA YOGA

One must bend oneself like an animal to release the pure energy and balance inside. Seriously, this is ground zero for the ancient art.

BEST MOVIE THEATER: CORAL GABLES ART CINEMA

The home of indie films, classics, documentaries, and more, the Art Cinema is an homage to what makes Coral Gables so special – its culture.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: THE LANDMARK AT MERRICK PARK

A luxurious option to other nearby movie theaters. And $8 tickets on Tuesdays!

BEST

There’s just something about ice cold water from

BEST GOLF COURSE: THE BILTMORE GOLF COURSE

Home to America’s No. 1 golf school, the Biltmore course recently underwent a multi-million facelift. Considered one of the top public courses in the country.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: GRANADA GOLF COURSE

More easily accessible than the Biltmore’s, the Granada course also has more of a locals’ flair. And it’s just nine holes, so you can fit it in your schedule.

BEST WAY TO WALK YOUR DOG

Have your furry friends walked by Equipaws – the pros when it comes to the loving care of Gables canines – especially when you’re away.

PLACE TO SWIM: VENETIAN POOL

ARCHITECTURE & PUBLIC PLACES

BEST PLACE TO WALK YOUR DOG: GRANADA GOLF COURSE

Just make sure your four-legged friend (and you) can make the whole two-miles-plus trek – or cut it off halfway and grab a gelato at Le Parc.

BEST HISTORIC LANDMARK: BILTMORE HOTEL

Built in 1926, just before the big hurricane hit. After falling into disrepair, now refurbished to its glory days. Stunning lobby, biggest pool in Florida, always a “wow.”

BEST PLACE WE MISS THE MOST: BURGER BOB’S

This classic Coral Gables 1950s-era diner closed during the pandemic but is expected to return sometime next year (hopefully).

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: TARPON BEND

It’s been years, but we’ll always remember our favorite happy hour spot, where people crowded around the bar and spilled out onto the sidewalk.

BEST PLACE TO TAKE OUT-OF-TOWNERS: FAIRCHILD TROPICAL BOTANIC GARDEN

What other city is lucky enough to have an 83acre botanical garden, dense with rare plants, palm groves, a butterfly house, and grand vistas for festivals and public events?

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: GIRALDA PLAZA

No better place to show off the Gables’ foodie scene to your jealous friends from up north.

courts) even before its new renovations, but now it has a zipline and inclusive playground features too. Woohoo!

BEST PLACE TO MEET MEN: MANKIND GROOMING & SERVICES

This place doesn’t just have to be for men –women can come play a round of pool, have a beer, or enjoy the cigar room upstairs.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: HILLSTONE

The counterpart to Ms. Right are the welldressed, eligible bachelors with high-paying finance jobs. We’re just saying.

BEST PUBLIC ART: THE PLAZA CORAL GABLES

The Plaza has been controversial for its size, but the quality is undeniable, including an array of courtyard sculptures and fountains that are world class.

BEST PEOPLE-WATCHING SPOT: MIRACLE MILE

There’s nowhere else in the city with such a high volume of people, and no better place to get a glimpse of Gables style; a veritable parade.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: GIRALDA PLAZA

Choose any restaurant, grab a seat, and eavesdrop on your neighbors. Or view passersby from the Cebada rooftop overhead. Jammed with humanity on weekend nights.

BEST PARK: SALVADORE PARK

It was the best park (with the best tennis

BEST PLACE TO MEET WOMEN: THE GRAMERCY

Come for brunch or an evening drink and leave with a date. This is where all the gals come dressed to impress.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: HILLSTONE

The post-work happy hour spot for professionals over 30, with a bevy of beautiful, welldressed, successful women.

BEST PLACE TO MEET INTELLIGENT MEN/ WOMEN: BOOKS & BOOKS

At least you know they read! Plus, what better way to get a date than “accidentally” reaching for the same copy of “Catcher in the Rye”? ■

FAIRCHILD TROPICAL BOTANIC GARDEN

Willy’s Dream Home

“ I MEAN, IT’S JUST SPECIAL. GETTING TO THE HOUSE ON A FRIDAY EVENING AFTER WORKING LONG HOURS, I GO UPSTAIRS. THE SUN COMES DOWN ON THE TERRACE... ” ARCHITECT WILLY BERMELLO

A look at a noted architect’s new home in the heart of historic Coral Gables

In his book “The Most Beautiful House in the World,” author Witold Rybczynski puts it quite directly: the most beautiful house in the world is the one you build yourself. While Willy Bermello, the principal of Gables-based Bermello Ajamil & Partners, did not actually build his new home – that accolade goes to The Calta Group – he did design it, right down to the most fanatical detail. And for an architect, that is something of a dream.

Bermello’s new home, completed late last year, is situated across the street from the Biltmore Hotel. It fills part of an open field that has for years been used for everything from overflow parking at the nearby Coral Gables Congregational Church to a resting spot for the police department’s mounted patrol and its horse trailer. Now it is filled, in

BY J.P. FABER PHOTOS BY RODOLFO BENITEZ

part, with a 7,000-square-foot all-white architectural fantasy that combines a number of styles, from Florida Pioneer to Neoclassical.

“Spanish Mediterranean architecture is about Spain. I wanted a house that was more American, more the feeling of this country,” says Bermello. “I wanted something that would have some Neoclassical touches, a little bit of Key West, a little bit of the cracker-style house, in a special combination – and certainly, breaking away from the Spanish Mediterranean. I love George Merrick, but yeah, been there, done that.”

The house was not in the family’s master plan, says Bermello, but came about as a result of the pandemic. “Our exercise routine changed from going to the gym, which was closed. The only activity that we had was just walking. So, we started really meeting

the Gables and understanding our neighborhood, walking down to the Biltmore and back. And I saw a property [for sale].” Bermello thought it was “the right time to buy, when people were concerned with what was happening in the world. I thought this would be a buyer’s market.” He ended up buying not the first lot he saw, but the one where he built; regardless, he hit the market at the right moment, just before Florida housing prices skyrocketed with buyers arriving in droves from the Northeast.

The house that Calta Group constructed is not an ostentatious home as much as it is a perfected residence, with everything bespoke to Bermello’s taste. As a collector of (mostly Cuban) art, Bermello was always frustrated by the lack of adequate wall space in his family home for 28 years on Alhambra Circle. His

new home provides ample wall space for his oil paintings, as well as numerous wall niches – each lined with gold leaf – for sculptural pieces.

It also contains a small pool in a central inclosure, reminiscent of an Arabic courtyard – with one side up against a wall. This is not permitted for pools, per se, but because of its square footage – 240 feet – Bermello was able to classify it as a “spa.” On one side is an expansive kitchen and family eating/ sitting area, on another a glass door to the master bedroom, and on a third a kind of two-story tower capped with a veranda where Bermello goes to smoke cigars and gaze at the nearby Biltmore tower.

“I mean, it’s just special,” says Bermello. “Getting to the house on a Friday [evening] after working long hours, I go upstairs. The sun comes down on the terrace. I’ll have a Presidente beer. I light up a cigar. I put on my 1970s music – Creedence Clearwater Revival – and I’m off and running. I’m there, happy as a lark.”

To get to the tower, Bermello takes a small built-in elevator. He says he is tired of walking up staircases, one reason he placed his master bedroom on the ground floor. Another unique element is a circular dining room on

the edge of the house where Anastasia and Malaga Avenues meet and form the tip of a rough triangle. Here, four couples can sit beneath a chandelier in a space that is classical in proportion, with columns lining the exterior.

As remarkable as the structure itself is was the speed in which it was built. Breaking ground in March 2020, it was finished in November of 2021, in roughly 18 months. “A house like this would easily take two years,” says Ignacio Caltagirone, the CEO and co-founder of the Gables-based Calta Group, which specializes in high-end residential homes. “And this was during the pandemic, when things were delayed and [supplies] were hard to come by.”

TOP: THE POOL, OR “SPA,” IN THE ENCLOSED COURTYARD WITH ACCESS FROM MAJOR ROOMS. ABOVE; IGNACIO CALTAGIRONE, WITH HIS CLIENT (AND FATHER-IN-LAW) ARCHITECT WILLY BERMELLO

“ A HOUSE LIKE THIS WOULD EASILY TAKE TWO YEARS. AND THIS WAS DURING THE PANDEMIC...”

IGNACIO CALTAGIRONE, CEO OF CALTA GROUP, ON HIS CLIENT BEING BOTH OWNER AND ARCHITECT, WHICH EXPEDITED THE CONSTRUCTION.

One reason things moved quickly was because the middleman was eliminated. Normally, there is a three-legged stool in such projects: the architect, the builder, and the homeowner. In this case, the architect and homeowner were one and the same. “Willy had it very clear in his head what he wanted,” says Caltagirone. Another key factor: Caltagirone is married to Bermello’s daughter Alexia, so the dialogue between the two was, at the very least, guaranteed to be cordial.

“There’re always differences between the drawings and what is actually put in place,” says Caltagirone. “You figure things out together a lot of the time. So, if [Bermello] had a general contractor instead of someone in the family being the GC, I think it would have taken a lot longer, just the process of bouncing ideas off each other and resolving issues and taking decisions.”

That give and take was critical, considering the complexity of the project. “The geometry of the house, as a lot, is a trapezoid,” says Bermello. “But once you work the setbacks, what you’re left with to build is an isosceles triangle. So, people ask, ‘What’s so different about that?’ Well, there are walls that are not parallel… every truss that’s above us, every single truss, was a different dimension. And the

“

WELL, THERE ARE WALLS THAT ARE NOT PARALLEL… EVERY TRUSS THAT’S ABOVE US, EVERY SINGLE TRUSS WAS A DIFFERENT DIMENSION.”

joinery, instead of being at a 90-degree angle, is at an oblique angle. It’s complex.”

“I saw this as an opportunity to improve what I do, which is build luxury homes here. But I’ve never built anything of this detail or with this difficulty,” says Caltagirone, who considers the home a showcase of the Calta Group’s skills.

As for living in the house, Bermello says it still hasn’t sunk in that this is his new home. “I feel like every Saturday morning, I think I’m going to get a little notice from the front desk [that] you’ve got to go, you’ve got to check out. Because I feel like I’m in a resort. It doesn’t feel like Coral Gables, it feels like I’m somewhere else.” ■

WILLY BERMELLO ON THE COMPLEXITY OF THE PROJECT THAT GAVE THE INTERIOR ITS DRAMATIC ANGLES.

TOP: CENTRAL STAIRWELL WITH WALLS AND CEILINGS AT COMPLEX ANGLES.

ABOVE; THE CIRCULAR DINING ROOM WITH SEATING FOR FOUR COUPLES..

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Beauty and the Brutes

THE MODERNIST ARCHITECTURE IN

CORAL GABLES

BY BRUCE FITZGERALD AND KARELIA MARTINEZ CARBONELL

PHOTOS BY ROBIN HILL

One of the liveliest ongoing conversations in the City Beautiful centers around the concept of beauty itself, especially when it comes to our rich architectural heritage. Does the city’s design sensibility begin –and more importantly end – with the 1920s? Or does it expand over time so that, with the benefit of hindsight, we’re able to envisage our built environment as a dynamic work in progress, a “moveable feast” of diverse building styles that reflect changing standards of beauty, utility, and sustainability?

There was a time when concrete was king. For better or worse, it was an era that produced what has been labeled “Brutalism” – a “form-follows-function” building style that rose from the ashes in post-WWII Europe and continued to influence modern art and architecture for decades thereafter, from Marseilles to Miami. It was a signature component of the Bauhaus Movement and generally featured raw concrete surfaces and bold, large-scale sculptured forms of such brash originality as to be considered “incompatible” when they landed like intruders among the genteel Villages of the City Beautiful.

Their rarity in our current urban landscape allows the three buildings shown here to draw ever more attention and appreciation. Extant Brutalist and Modernist structures around the world are being reappraised and re-purposed as new conversations about the adverse effects of demolition advance our thinking about adaptive reuse as a viable alternative. As older buildings seemingly outlive their usefulness or desirability, is the wiser course of action to demolish or to re-purpose them? While beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, what’s certain is that demolition and subsequent new construction release vast amounts of poisonous carbon dioxide into our atmosphere.

The new Modernist building style arrived in the U.S. on a wave of optimism following WWII. Car culture (eventually to undergo its own reappraisal) and dance music had reached new heights of popularity, while architecture had brought functionalism to the fore. What you saw was what you got. As art historian Alexandra Lange stated in reviewing the exhibition “Toward A Concrete Utopia” at New York’s Museum of Modern Art: “My theory about why we love concrete architecture now is simple; it has body.”

It also has green appeal when we consider the words of architect Carl Elefante, past president of the American Institute of Architects: “The greenest building is the one that already exists.” And, one might add, “that still exists.”

2801 SALZEDO STREET: THE FORMER CORAL GABLES PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING, DESIGNED IN 1973 BY WALTER KLEMENTS, AS IT APPEARS TODAY, BEING RE-PURPOSED BY MERCEDES-BENZ CORAL GABLES.

CLOSE UP: THE SIGNATURE MIX OF ANGULARITY AND CURVATURE CREATES THE HIGH DRAMA FOR WHICH BRUTALIST ARCHITECTURE IS WIDELY RECOGNIZED.

2555 PONCE: THE 1964 FLAGSHIP NATIONAL BANK OF MIAMI BUILDING HAS UNDERGONE NAME CHANGES AND RENOVATIONS OVER THE YEARS (NOW A WELLS FARGO BANK) BUT STILL RETAINS ITS ORIGINAL MODERNIST DESIGN AESTHETIC.

CLOSE UP: THE COMPOSITION AND BOLD PROPORTIONING OF DESIGN ELEMENTS MANAGES TO CONVEY AN AURA OF STRENGTH FOR AN ESTABLISHED FINANCIAL INSTITUTION.

BELOW:

385 ANDALUSIA: SOLIDS AND VOIDS CREATE A STRONG CONTRAST OF LIGHT AND SHADOW, PRODUCING A “CHIAROSCURO” EFFECT AT MUNICIPAL GARAGE #4, BUILT IN 1975-76 BY FERGUSON, GLASGOW, SCHUSTER.

CLOSE UP: THE BUILDING’S ROOF LINE SEEMS TO PIERCE THE SKY LIKE THE PROW OF A SHIP, AS IF TO SIGNAL THE MOVEMENT OF CARS FLOWING INTO AND OUT OF THE GARAGE.

The “City Beautiful Movement” – of which Coral Gables is a stunning example – actually began around the time of Chicago’s Columbian Exposition in 1893, which espoused the then-novel idea that comprehensive, organized urban planning could make cities more livable. “Livability” still exists as the core identity of the Gables, even as we consider that now may be the perfect time to conflate aesthetics and ethics. Wouldn’t that be shocking.

What is now to be lauded is the preservation of the former Public Safety Building by Mercedes-Benz Coral Gables. When police, fire, and emergency services moved to the new Public Safety Building on Salzedo between Minorca and Alcazar, its former HQ was up for demolition. But through a swap between The Codina Group, which acquired the building, and the car dealership, it is now being used to house a fleet of sleek new cars. Repurposing at its finest! ■

Coral Gables Trust hosts “Curing Cancer from Within: The Promise of Immune Therapy as an Alternative to Chemotherapy”

Jim Davidson, founder & CEO of Coral Gables Trust, one of the fastest-growing trust and wealth management firms headquartered in Florida, hosted the firm’s latest Health and Wealth series event. Featuring world-renowned cancer expert Guenther Koehne, M.D. PhD, along with David Ferreiro, PhD, partner of TimesSquare Capital Management in New York, the two-part discussion focused on the evolution of cancer immunotherapy and the pharmaceutical companies leading the way. The program and dinner were held on May 23 at the Biscayne Bay Yacht Club and were co-hosted by Judy Zeder with The Jills Zeder Group.

1. Shannon Fairbanks, Bernardo Fort-Brescia, Kate Bohner, Jim Davidson, Roxanne

Cason, and Patty Godwin

2. Mason Williams, Michael Unger, and Bob Williamson

3. Jim Davidson and Mike Eidson

4. Dan and Bru Kodsi, Sissy DeMaria-Koehne, and Dr. Guenther Koehne

Reception in honor of prominent surgeon Dr. John Uribe to discuss monumental expansion plans for Doctor’s Hospital

Passionate about healthcare and the pressing need to raise funds for the expansion of Coral Gables’ Doctor’s Hospital, part of Baptist Health South Florida, philanthropists Sid and Ashley Perkins hosted an intimate reception and discussion at their Coral Gables home in May. The guest of honor was Dr. John Uribe, chief medical executive of Baptist Health Orthopedic Care at Doctor’s Hospital. Co-hosts included Judy Zeder, foundation chair of Doctor’s Hospital and Baptist Health Orthopedic Care, and the force behind the nation’s top real estate team, The Jills Zeder Group; and Javier Hernandez-Lichtl, CEO of Doctor’s Hospital and Baptist Health Orthopedic Care, and chief academic officer.

1. Ashley and Sid Perkins

2. Mara Suarez, Dr. Juan Suarez, and Javier Hernandez-Lichtl

3. Ben Mollere, Judy Zeder, Rupa Tak, and Thad and Ana Adams

4. Judy Zeder, Dr. John Uribe, and Javier Hernandez-Lichtl

Meandering About Town #3

IN WHICH A FORMER MAYOR CONTINUES TO SEEK THE SOUL OF THE CITY

BY DON SLESNICK

My plans of venturing to the southern regions of our City Beautiful were interrupted by climatic circumstances. As Marilyn Monroe once sang in the 1954 movie “There’s No Business Like Show Business”: “We’re having a heat wave, a tropical heat wave, the temperature’s rising….” Thus, fearful of sun stroke, I sought out the sea breezes blowing across the silvery sands of Venetian Pool (yes, Virginia, there is a beach!). To avoid the mass of humanity gathered in what was once a limestone rock pit, which provided building material for some of Merrick’s original housing stock, I took refuge across the street in a most pleasant new public park. This pristine place for rest, relaxation, and contemplation was dedicated last year to honor one of our city’s most interesting citizens: Lamar Louise Curry.

“Miss Curry” (the appellation by which she was known), whose death occurred in 2012 just short of her 106th birthday, was an early resident of the area we know as “Gables Estates.” She was best known to the broader community as an educator – a social studies public school teacher for 32 years at Miami Senior High School where she mentored more than 6,000 students. These included such great public servants as Senator/Governor Bob Graham and Florida Attorney General Robert Shevin, not to mention a bevy of judges and a future mayor of Coral Gables (this roving rambler).

In August 2000, the Miami-Dade School Board named a Middle School in her honor. Upon her death, as a parting gift to her beloved community, she bequeathed a sum of money for use by the Coral Gables Garden Club to create a flowering tree park – a lovely space for reverie and reflection. The park, which consumed 10 years in planning and construction, features captivating vegetation (including Hong Kong orchid trees, dwarf ylang-ylang trees, red frangipani, white geiger, queen’s wreath flowering vine, and pink jatropha), a pond, paved walking paths, benches, and a mini-lending library.

Joining me for my visit to this beautiful addition to our urban landscape were four leaders of the Garden Club who played significant roles in the creation of this delightful place. (This 98-years old club has partnered with the city government in support of many private-public projects besides parks, such as several of the city’s formal entrance features and the George Merrick statue at City Hall). Noted residential real estate broker Audrey Ross was Lamar’s best friend, neighbor, and confidant. She referred to Miss Curry as her “adopted grandmother.” They shared careers in education, a love of gardening, and the First Methodist Church of Coral Gables. It was Audrey who advised Lamar on establishing a fund to leave something beautiful for her fellow citizens.

Past President Sharon Trbovich, whose administration started the strategic planning process for the park, found Lamar to be a delightful lady who was a wonderful source of historical knowledge – starting with her family’s relationship to Henry Flagler. These two ladies shared a love of orchids. Past President Betsy Tilghman noted that bringing the concept of the park to reality involved five Garden Club presidents, three Gables mayors, numerous city employees

“ JOINING ME FOR MY VISIT TO THIS BEAUTIFUL ADDITION TO OUR URBAN LANDSCAPE WERE FOUR LEADERS OF THE GARDEN CLUB WHO PLAYED SIGNIFICANT ROLES IN THE CREATION OF THIS DELIGHTFUL PLACE...”

ABOVE: AT THE LAMAR LOUISE CURRY PARK WITH SHARON TRBOVICH, SUSAN RODRIGUEZ, AUDREY ROSS, AND BETSY TILGHMAN

(especially members of the city manager’s staff, the Community Recreation Department, and the Public Works Department), and three landscape architects. She mentioned other Garden Club contributors, including past Presidents Jana White, Judy Mangasarian, and Nita Norman.

Current President Susan Rodriguez is pleased to have been at the Club’s helm for the grand opening and ribbon cutting with Mayor Vince Lago. She is proud to have located and procured the classic specimen of the rare Yellow Poinciana (Miss Curry’s favorite tree) which is the park’s vegetation centerpiece. Together, we looked around us in awe of the quiet beauty which sits in stark contrast to the hectic vibrancy of Venetian Pool just 100 feet to the south. This magazine’s editor has indicated that I am “seeking the soul of our city.” While my rambles will continue, it is already clear to me that the soul of our community is its people. ■

This column appears monthly by Don Slesnick, who served as mayor of Coral Gables from 2001 to 2011.

The Club at The Biltmore offers multiple benefits, including Technogym® strength and cardio equipment, numerous weekly group classes, special savings on stays and spa services, world-class restaurants, and much more. Join today.

Membership: 305-913-3230 1200 Anastasia Ave. Coral Gables, FL 33134 www.biltmorehotel.com

Brother, Can You Spare a Smile?

IN

BY JAMES BROIDA PHOTOS BY RODOLFO BENITEZ

Smiling, like yawning, is contagious. As the song goes, “When you’re smiling, the whole world....” Well, you know.

The power of the smile is even more profound. In his book “Blink,” Malcolm Gladwell cites a study on facial expressions. When the researchers spent the day practicing frowning expressions, they felt depressed; when they practiced smiling expressions, they felt upbeat, even happy.

With that in mind, I decided that, like Billy Crystal in the movie “City Slickers,” it was time to go and find my smile. The problem was that my teeth were not in great shape, which left me with a tendency to grin, but not broadly smile.

I knew it was long past time to visit a dentist even before I saw the wide-eyed look of Dr. Laura Davila. “It’s been how many years?” she asked. For her, dental maintenance – meaning at least a teeth cleaning –should be a quarterly event. I wasn’t even in the same ballpark.

So began my odyssey to a new smile. And it started very

pleasantly. Dr. Davila and her partner Dr. Cristina Osorio are the proprietors of Coral Gables Dentistry, on a corner of Ponce de Leon as it heads south toward Bird Road. It borders on private homes on Camillo Street; the oak trees outside have orchids on them, exuding a calming effect from the start.

That calming effect was immediately enhanced by: 1) a warm collar that relaxed the tensions in my neck; 2) a photo overhead of woods in New England; 3) an iPod with a vast selection of music; and 4) the application of nitrous oxide, upon request. Which I requested. It was that last touch which made my visits deeply pleasant, delivered by a non-intrusive nose cup. Once I drifted off on that magic carpet ride, as I did listening to the Beatles “Abbey Road” album, I couldn’t care less about what was being done to my mouth.

“If you smile more, you will be a happier person,” Dr. Davila told me. “It’s psychosomatic. You’ll feel better, less stressed.” Got it. As for what others think of you, “The whiter, the brighter, the larger, leads to someone considering you more trustworthy,” she said. “People also associate [a good smile] with better health.”

“Our practice,” says Dr. Osorio, “is for people who seek a rejuvenated smile, or because they didn’t get the aesthetic result they wanted

WHICH THE AUTHOR PUTS HIMSELF IN THE HANDS OF THREE LOCAL EXPERTS IN THE REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE OF HAPPY TEETH

“ IF YOU SMILE MORE, YOU WILL BE A HAPPIER PERSON. IT’S PSYCHOSOMATIC. YOU’LL FEEL BETTER, LESS STRESSED...”

DR. LAURA DAVILA (LEFT) WITH DR. CRISTINA OSORIO, CORAL GABLES DENTISTRY

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[from another dentist] or to improve the functionality of their bite –because it’s not only about getting a big bright smile, it’s about getting chewable functional improvements, with an ability to clean it.”

That cleaning part is big for the doctors, who are all about maintenance. “The more you come in for cleanings, the less you’ll need us. We have a very strong hygiene program,” says Dr. Davila. They also use a new arsenal of high-tech tools under the rubric of “digital dentistry,” which means “we don’t take a hard impression but rather photos and videos of the teeth,” says Dr. Osorio. The result is CAD – computer assisted design – for perfect smiles. “When people are stopped because someone likes their smile, that is where we get the most satisfaction,” she says.

The carnage which Dr. Davila and Dr. Osorio surveyed in my mouth did not bode well for me. I knew I was already missing a tooth (one of the back ones, so you wouldn’t notice looking at me) but I wasn’t prepared for the slew of cavities and damaged crowns the X-rays revealed. I soon learned there are subspecialties in the dental world. While Drs. Osorio and Davila are brilliant when it comes to cavities, crowns, and veneers – the health and beauty aspects of dentistry – they are not trained to fix deeper periodontal issues.

I would need some bone work on my jaw where I had a missing tooth, and also work to rebuild damage in several other places, including my gums. So, Davila and Osorio sent me to the Dr. M Center Coral Gables, the M being short for Dr. Francisco Montamarta, a certified periodontist. His website’s motto is: “Live Healthy. Live Happy. Live Longer,” the last admonition referring to the grim fact that gum disease can damage your heart.

Dr. Montamarta is also infected with a kind of upbeat attitude, dressed in black scrubs with running shoes. Instead of a rural photograph hanging overhead, his treatment rooms calm the patients with moving videos of the Italian and French countrysides and coastlines. He is also big on Novocaine to numb things.

“I like to lighten the mood, because we can help – and there is a light at the end of the tunnel,” says Dr. Montamarta, who is thrilled with recent technological advances in dentistry. He was an early adopter of the laser, which “without a doubt, has transformed the way that we deal with diseases of the gums and bones,” allowing him to vaporize diseased tissue and stimulate new growth. In previous years, the surgery was long and painful, and “most people felt uneasy with the old style. Lasers are a fantastic addition.”

He also uses new high-tech materials to rebuild bone. “These are bone-like materials that the body eventually transforms into the same bone properties as the host. There is almost no difference under a microscope and none clinically,” he says. Dr. Montamarta also notes that more than 82 percent of adults in the U.S. have some form of gum-related diseases, and that his goal is to “replace anything lost from disease.”

In the Dr. M Center, right down the street from City Hall, I went in for several sessions to repair gum damage in a couple of places, and to rebuild bone where I’d lost my tooth. Once these repairs had taken place, and healed, I returned to Dr. Davila and Dr. Osorio to have them install a new tooth, replace two cracked crowns, fill my cavities, and then whiten everything up.

The results have been transformative. I can chew better now. I find myself smiling at the slightest provocation without my previous hesitancy. I also notice the yellowing, unhealthy teeth of others, and raise an eyebrow – now that I am a member of the smile club.

“A smile is an open door and a winning ticket. That is the best way to describe it,” says Dr. Montamarta. “A good smile is also a healthy smile. It means a healthy body and healthy soul.… It’s not only the way the smile looks. It’s what it represents.” ■

“ I LIKE TO LIGHTEN THE MOOD, BECAUSE WE CAN HELP – AND THERE IS A LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL....”

DR. FRANCISCO MONTAMARTA, OF DR. M CENTER CORAL GABLES

Top Restaurants in Coral Gables

JULY / AUGUST DINING GUIDE

With so many new restaurants opening in the Gables, you’ll have plenty of places to try this summer. What follows is our list of the best of the tried and true, and the best of the new, many of which opened just this year. We dine at all locations anonymously, and we list only the places where we love to eat.

$ ............ Under $25 $$ .......... $25-$40 $$$ ........ $35-$75 $$$$ ...... $70-$100+

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

AMERICAN Beauty and the Butcher

You may know Chef Jeremy Ford from Stubborn Seed, a sexy South Beach hotspot that earned him a Michelin Star last year. Beauty & The Butcher, however, is a separate concept.  The real highlight here is the Wagyu beef tenderloin, made from grade eight Australian meat and accompanied by a side of crispy fried polenta and a sour cherry mustard sauce. It’s somehow smooth and savory while also being salty and tangy, with Chef Ford’s famous sauce (built from red wine vinegar, ruby port, cherries, and mustard powder) drizzled warmly over the most tender cut of meat you’ll ever have. $$$-$$$$ 6915 Red Rd. 305.665.9661.

Capital Burger

Lots of buzz surrounded this newest addition to Miracle Mile, filling the spot formerly occupied by California Pizza Kitchen. Owned by the same folks as The Capital Grille, this upscale burger joint delves into gourmet cuisine with signature burgers, boozy milkshakes, and craft cocktails. $$ 300 Miracle Mile. 786.437.3741.

Cebada Rooftop & Raw Bar

It’s hard to pigeonhole this rooftop restaurant by Chef Jorge Ramos (fresh from his acclaimed Barley restaurant in Dadeland). He calls it “contemporary American with a Latin overlay” which means bone

marrow with oxtail marmalade and baby back ribs with pimiento marmalade. A good raw bar, a great view. $$-$$$

124 Giralda Ave. 786.409.2287

Clutch Burger

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

146 Giralda Ave. 305.400.8242

Eating House

Back in a new location post-pandemic, Chef Giorgio Rapicavoli’s new iteration of his fan-favorite is a lot more mature – but still features the fun, inspired dishes that made the original restaurant so popular. The cavatelli carbonara? To die for. The Cap’n Crunch pancakes? Back for brunch and better than ever. Plus, try their new lunch menu and their prix fixe tasting menus on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. $$$

128 Giralda Ave. 786.580.3745

The Globe

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

377 Alhambra Circle. 305.445.3555

Hillstone

There are very few restaurants in the Gables where clients will wait in a line outside. Hillstone is one of them. A power lunch spot, a happy

hour singles anchor, and a family restaurant at night, the food and service are consistently top notch, with an elegant interior that is both comfortable and sophisticated at the same time. $$$

201 Miracle Mile. 305.529.0141

Lion & The Rambler

At Lion and the Rambler, everything is made from scratch, from the creme fraiche down to the finishing salts, which are extracted from Miami seawater and hand-delivered to the restaurant by a local fisherman. The inventive restaurant serves up an ever-changing menu as much inspired by the three-Michelin-star Denmark restaurant Noma as the humble Cool Ranch Dorito. $$-$$$ 804 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.603.7612

Orno

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

flavors. $$$

1350 S. Dixie Highway (Thēsis Hotel). 305.667.6766

Vinya Table

A wine lover’s retreat and former pop-up, Vinya is a full restaurant with seafood, pasta, charcuterie, and a 42 oz tomahawk steak, among other meats. But if you’re not looking at the wine list first, you might be in the wrong place. Categorized by region, rarity, price, flavor profile, winemaking, and varietal, Vinya has wines for every kind of sommelier wannabe and then some. And they have food to go with your wine too!

$$-$$$

266 Miracle Mile. 305.203.4229

ASIAN

Canton

Why there are not more Chinese restaurants in the Gables remains a mystery, but Canton has been serving reliably good Cantonese-style food for decades. Feels like you are in New York’s Chinatown, with sweet and sour pork, chicken chop suey, barbecue spareribs, and wonton soup. Plus, the best lunch deals in town.

2614 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.448.3736. $$

HILLSTONE

FONTANA

DINING GUIDE

Ichimi

This off-Mile eatery has developed a cult following, with diners content to stand and stare just for the opportunity to eat Ichimi’s Japanese ramen and rice bowls. And the wait is worth it. Delicious, rich, and faraway flavors in dishes you can’t find just anywhere. $-$$

2330 Salzedo St. 305.960.7016

Izakaya

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

159 Aragon Ave. 305.445.2584

Khaosan Road

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

157 Giralda Plaza 305.444.2397

Malakor Thai Isaan

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

90 Miracle Mile 786.558.4862

Miss Saigon

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

148 Giralda Ave. 305.446.8006.

Moon Thai & Japanese

Can’t decide between Japanese or Thai food? No problem. Here, you can have a Japanese house salad or miso soup as an appetizer and pad Thai as an entrée. Truly the best of both worlds. Comfy booths inside and umbrella-covered outdoor tables. Across the street from UM’s campus. $-$$

1118 S. Dixie Hwy. 305.668.9890

Namaste

Hidden on a side street off Ponce, the last standing Indian restaurant

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

Shingo

If you’re looking for a luxurious experience, consider the omakase menu ($180) at SHINGO. Located in the historic La Palma building, the restaurant is the brainchild of Michelin-starred Chef Shingo Akikuni. Every element of the restaurant is carefully curated, from the pristine presentation of the 14seat table to the order and method in which each course is served. The multi-course menu prepared by Chef Shingo and his two sous chefs takes you through an authentic Japanese journey. $$$$

112 Alhambra Circle. shingomiami.com.

Zitz Sum

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

396 Alhambra Circle. 786.409.6920

FRENCH

Bachour

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

2020 Salzedo St. 305.203.0552

Chocolate Fashion

This restaurant and bakery is a breakfast and lunch hotspot. Lunch is a steal with most sandwiches priced around $11, with a side salad and cornichons – those mini pickles the French are famous for. Don’t forget the French pastries and desserts, ready to go. $-$$

248 Andalusia Ave. 305.461.3200

Frenchie’s Diner

It looks like an all-American diner (which it once was) but this is pure French cooking in a small but comfy

setting. Frenchie himself is usually there. Some items on the menu can get pricey (filet mignon, $34) but the onion soup ($9) and escargot ($11) are great values, and the croque monsieur ($14) for lunch is a meal unto itself. $$$

2618 Galiano St. 305.442.4554

Gustave

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

366 Miracle Mile. 305.640.5675

Pascal’s on Ponce

Elegant, quaint, and delicious, this 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 foie gras. Try the diver sea scallops and tomato tartin. $$$-$$$$

2611 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.444.2024

ITALIAN

Altagracia

Not only does it have a refreshing modern décor, this Argentinian-Italian fusion restaurant brings a new and welcome twist to the Gables’ already plentiful pasta options. The stars here are the three creamy raviolis: a pumpkin and cheese ravioli drenched in truffle cream, a short rib ravioli, and the ricotta ravioli in a four cheese sauce =. Both the pumpkin (topped with fried quinoa) and the ricotta ravioli (topped with almonds) have an added crunch that makes the taste experience delightfully complex. $$-$$$ 276 Alhambra Cir. 786.862.1636.

Bugatti

Bugatti prides itself on its pasta – and for good reason, since the restaurant started as a pasta factory. The décor is simple and contemporary, with lots of booths, and the service is crisp and superb. The dinner menu is straightforward, with pasta dishes mostly under $30 and entrees mostly under $40. And as many dessert listings as pasta choices. $$ 2504 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.441.2545

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. Abbracci is quiet and elegant, and the food is so consistently good that Pernetti had to publish his own cookbook. We miss him every day. $$$

318 Aragon Ave. 305.441.0700

Fiola

Brought to you by Washington, D.C. chef Fabio Trabocchi, this is fine dining at its finest. From the place settings to the artwork to the innovative cuisine, Fiola offers an exquisite dining experience. Among their must-try dishes are the porcini mushroom soup, sea scallop ceviche, and the signature lobster ravioli. Beautiful presentations. $$$$ 1500 San Ignacio Ave. 305.912.2639

Fontana

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

1200 Anastasia Ave. (Biltmore Hotel) 305.913.3200

ALTAGRACIA’S PUMPKIN RAVIOLI

Fratellino

Small, family-run, with a fanatically loyal fanbase, brilliant Italian comfort food. The long narrow set-up with tile floors, wooden chairs, and tablecloths makes it feel like New York’s Little Italy. Their calamari, in any variation, is superb, as is the fettuccine with prosciutto, mushrooms, and green peas. $$$ 264 Miracle Mile 786.452.0068

Johnny Pappagallo

Located in the old Swensen’s building, Johnny Pappagallo replaced The One on Sunset, a casual restaurant-slash-comedy club which lasted less than a year. Try the filetto su canoe bones, a basic beef tartare that’s amplified with grilled bone marrow instead of the usual quail’s egg — a unique version of the classic dish. Or the tortellini in salsa rosa, which is stuffed with veal, of all things. Nothing, however, beats the alcoholic ice cream for dessert. $$-$$$

1586 S. Dixie Hwy. 786.332.2417

La Terrazza

The showstoppers here, at Fiola’s reinvented rooftop bar, are the fish and meat. The one-pound Margaret River New York Strip is an Australian Wagyu of exceptional flavor, rich and easily shared by a party of four. The fish is painted with an Adriatic blend of herbs in oil, like herb butter but less fatty, which lets the skin crisp to a sweet wafer that compliments the moist morsels of fish that flake apart at the touch of a fork. Yum. $$$-$$$$

1500 San Ignacio Ave. 305.912.2639

Luca Osteria

Local celebrity chef Giorgio Rapicavoli’s (Eating House) second restaurant in the Gables, Luca Osteria became an overnight, reservations-only hit for dinner on Giralda Plaza. His inventive take on classic Italian food is fresh and new; the pasta al limone and patate fritte with black truffle and egg yolk are just the beginning.

Great cocktails. $$$-$$$$

116 Giralda Ave. 305.381.5097

NOMA Beach at Redfish

Redfish is born again, this time as NOMA Beach at Redfish, under the command of celebrity chef Donatella Arpaia. The pricey haute cuisine of Chef Adrianne has been replaced with simpler, more moderately priced dishes that feel much closer to the old Redfish, albeit with an Italian seafood spin. $$$

9610 Old Cutler Rd. 305.668.8788

Portosole

When they bring the pecorino cheese wheel to toss your pasta, you’re in heaven. Short of that, they do a fine job with the fritto misto, a mixture of calamari, shrimp, filet of sole, tiny artichokes, and zucchini, all lightly fried. Equally appetizing is the fresh burrata with heirloom tomatoes, a deceptively simple salad of tomato and burrata cheese.

2530 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 786.359.4275. $$$

Sospiro

Sospiro’s vibe is somewhere between a Parisian and Italian wine shop, with an extensive list (over 300) of organic natural wines both bottled and by the glass, sorted by their country of origin. There are 30 different “orange” wines, which are made from white grape varieties that have spent time in contact with the grape skins. The food menu features a delicious stack of truffle fries and peculiarly elongated gnocchi in a creamy queso fundido sauce (ask for bread to dip). $$

2626 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 786.233.9300

Tullio

The brainchild of Lucio Zanon and his son Sebastiano — who previously launched Portosole — Tullio is a refreshing twist on Italian cuisine, with a northern sensibility, a focus on seafood, and some very inventive

LUCA OSTERIA

dishes. The fish is exceptionally fresh, the branzino flown in from the coastal waters of Italy, the shrimp from the coastal waters of Argentina, and the lobster from the coastal waters of Maine. $$$

2525 Ponce de Leon. 305.926.4208

Zucca

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

162 Alcazar Ave. 786.580.3731

LATIN AMERICAN & CARRIBEAN

Aromas del Peru

Yes, they serve a dozen types of ceviche here. But it’s the breadth of the menu that impresses, with traditional soups, grilled meats, wok stir fries, and signature dishes such as aji de gallina (shredded chicken in yellow pepper sauce) and seco de res (beef stewed in beer and cilantro with vegetables). Good service, good prices, nice ambiance. $$

1930 Ponce de León Blvd. 305.476.5886

Bistro Café

The popular Puerto Rican restaurant Bistro Café has opened a location in the Gables following its stellar success in Downtown Miami. Lucky for us, they brought their upscale breakfast, right by The Shops at Merrick Park. All-day breakfast is never a bad idea, especially when it’s this elevated. The expansive menu has a huge list of savory and sweet options, from innovative plates to upgraded classics. $$ 4155 Laguna St. 305.530.8193.

Divino Ceviche

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

160 Giralda Ave. 786.360.3775

Ecléctico

Brought to you by the folks at

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

320 San Lorenzo Ave. 786.615.5735

Graziano’s

This large, popular Gables mainstay is true Argentine. A deep selection of Argentine wines (which line several walls) go with beef slowly roasted over a quebracho wood fire, old school-style. They have seafood

and pasta, empanadas and salads, but come here for the meat, a carnivore’s delight. $$$

394 Giralda Ave. 305.774.3599

Mamey

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

1350 S. Dixie Hwy. (Thēsis Hotel) 305.667.5611

MAMEY

Talavera Cocina Mexicana

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

2299 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.444.2955

MEDITERRANEAN

Levant

Another Middle Eastern restaurant has come to the Gables: Levant, named after the Mediterranean region of Western Asia that includes Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, Iraq, and most of Turkey (also Cyprus, depending on who you ask).

At the Coral Gables restaurant, all the chefs are Turkish and the owners hail from Iraq. The food is similarly eclectic, featuring dishes from across the Levant, including Lebanese batata harra (spicy potatoes), Grecian Saganaki cheese, and Turkish baklava. $$-$$$

2415 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 786.762.2905.

Motek

Surprisingly enough, this Israeli-inspired restaurant has taken home the prize for the best burger at Burger Bash twice in a row now, an unexpected feat explicable only by a bite of the sandwich itself. But as popular as the Arayes Burger is, it’s not why you should visit Motek. You come here for the Eastern Mediterranean food: a smorgasbord of shish kebabs, mezzes (the Middle Eastern version of tapas), shawarma, and hummus. $$

45 Miracle Mile. 305.396.8547

TUR Kitchen

A wonderfully inventive menu of Mediterranean cuisine by Chef Christian Chirino, who plates beautiful dishes that combine the flavors of Turkey, Greece, Lebanon, and Egypt. Amazing stuffed Turkish pide bread, stunning braised goat with gnocchi, the best crème fraiche you’ve ever tasted. Elegant seating under arches along Giralda.

$$$-$$$$

259 Giralda Ave. 786.483.8014

SEAFOOD

Gringo’s

Oyster Bar

A great selection of oysters at this neighborhood favorite. And they

change sources twice weekly – like malpeques from Canada, or wellfleets from Main, or steamboats from Washington state. Also, great lobster rolls, crab cakes, and conch ceviche. Specials include Lobster Tuesdays and a daily oyster happy hour from 3 to 6 pm when prices drop in half. $$ 1549 Sunset Dr. 305.284.9989

MesaMar

Some of the best – if not THE best – seafood in the Gables with inventive fusions between Peruvian and Japanese cuisine. Their fish is caught daily in local waters and brought to your table for inspection. The whole

fried fish is a marvel. Also, make sure to try the lobster tacos. $$$

264 Giralda Ave. 305.640.8448

Sea Grill

Sea Grill is a popular weekend destination for lovers of Mediterranean seafood. A large, brightly lit, and futuristic space with lots of energy, it serves fish caught in the Aegean Sea and flown to the Gables. Their octopus, which takes two days to prepare, is simply the best. Lots of outdoor seating. $$$

4250 Salzedo St. (Shops at Merrick Park) 305.447.3990

TUR KITCHEN

SPANISH

Bellmónt

Modern décor meets traditional Spanish dishes. Their house specialty is the roast suckling pig. If you want the whole pig ($340 for six or $295 for four) you need to order several hours in advance. If it’s just you ($69), you’ll need to wait just an hour. As for the rest: authentic Spanish cuisine, with great seafood dishes, fantastic paella, and live Flamenco twice a month. $$$ 339 Miracle Mile. 786.502.4684

Bulla Gastrobar

As valued for its cocktails as for its tapas, Bulla 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 feels local. $$

2500 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.441.0107

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 on 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. Great lunch specials. $$

254 Giralda Ave. 786.362.5677

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. Their classic Caesar salad is still the best in town, and the jumbo shrimp cocktail is a house specialty. $$$

3101 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.446.1400

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 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 warm glow. Good menu at the bar. $$$-$$$$

2525 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.569.7995

Fogo de Chão

At Fogo de Chão, meat reigns supreme. Try the “churrasco experience” ($61) and let expert gaucho chefs keep the finely cut slabs coming, from beef ribeye to flank steak to lamb pincanha. If you’re a Wagyu fan, this is the place to be. The interior is as grand as the experience, which is a show in itself, Brazilian style. Great happy hour deals with $5 bites. $$$-$$$$

2801 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 786.297.8788

Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille

The youngest entry among Coral Gables’ steak houses, Perry’s is a Texas chain that gets its beef from the heart of the Lone Star State. Great outdoor space with a fire pit and a huge interior with its own piano bar. The entrees are all carefully concocted, including excellent reduction sauces for the finer cuts and their famous five-finger giant pork chop that is carved at the table and can feed two. $$$$

4251 Salzedo St. (Shops at Merrick Park) 786.703.9094

BELLMONT

DINING GUIDE

PUBS & CAFÉS

Bay 13 Brewery and Kitchen

The cuisine is largely Australian pub food – fish & chips, smoked salmon rangoons, Aussie-style chicken parm – the setting is spectacular, and the beer unbeatable at this brewer’s hot spot. You can sit inside by the vast tankards, or outside with a fine view of the Alhambra fountain. Amazing lamb. $$

65 Alhambra Plaza. 786.452.0935

Fritz and Franz Bierhaus

Be transported from Coral Gables to Oktoberfest. Enjoy German comfort food like Weisswurst and Heringsschmaus. Our favorite is the currywurst. Naturally, you must order a beer, but here you can have it served in a giant glass boot. $$ 60 Merrick Way. 305.774.1883

John Martin’s

The venerable pub that closed during COVID is back, updated as a “21st Century” Irish pub. This means a bright new bar and lots of light from floor-to-ceiling windows. Along with the new look is a significantly upgraded menu, with things like Guinness glazed

meatballs and duck flatbread added to the Shepherd’s pie. 253 Miracle Mile. 305.209.0609

$$-$$$

MIAM Cafe

This casual bistro joint is the second of its kind in Miami – the original location in Wynwood opened back in 2014. The menu mostly consists of breakfast and brunch food, plus smoothies and sandwiches. But the real standouts here are the pastries, in particular the Nutella croissant ($4.50), which is large enough to count as a full meal, dusted with powdered sugar and drizzled with the hazelnut spread. $

2300 Ponce de Leon. 305.200.3190

Sports Grill

A go-to spot for any major sporting event, but also a popular destination for any given night of the week. You don’t even need to look at the menu: the pub is home to the Special Grilled wings, dipped in their signature sauce, then charbroiled and lightly covered in a secret sauce. $ 1559 Sunset Dr. 305.668.0396

Tinta y Café

Funky and comfortable, this former

gas station turned Cuban café has 1) the best Cuban coffee, 2) great fluffy eggs for breakfast, 3) furniture that makes you feel like you are in someone’s living room, and 4) all the other things that make you love Cuban food, like croquetas and media noche sandwiches. $ 1315 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.285.0101

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 Millennial favorite, smashed avocado toast? The brainchild of Australian Nick Sharp, Threefold is also popular for Sunday brunch. And the coffee is some of the best around. $$ 141 Giralda Ave. 305.704.8007 ■

Picture Frame SALE

JOHN MARTIN’S

Where Am I?

You’ve probably walked past this tile mural a hundred times and not noticed it. If you know where in Coral Gables it’s located, send the answer and your home address to editor@coralgablesmagazine.com. The first two winners will receive two free tickets to the Actors’ Playhouse production of their choice at the Miracle Theatre, and the next two will receive the same to any GableStage production. The following 10 winners will receive two free tickets to the Coral Gables Museum. Last month’s “Where Am I?” was a statue in front of SAWA in the Shops at Merrick Park.