THE TOUR OF KITCHENS

NOTHING SAYS HOME LIKE A WELL-APPOINTED KITCHEN

For more than a decade, the Coral Gables Community Foundation has put on an annual Tour of Kitchens in the city. These kitchens are the pride of their owners, and each year they generously invite strangers to come inside their homes to view and enjoy these spaces. The event is by ticket only, and the funds raised provide a major infusion of donations for the Foundation’s scholarship fund.

This year, because of the pandemic, the foundation will not be providing a tour. “It’s our second largest fundraiser of the year, but in these times of Covid it’s impossible to host what has historically been an 800-person event,” says Mary Snow, executive director of the Foundation.

The Tour of Kitchens was originated 11 years ago by a volunteer team that included past foundation chairs Jeannett Slesnick and Mary Young, along with kitchen committee members Patricia Blanco and Herbert Brito (all are still on the committee). “The kitchen is the center point for gathering in every home, and the trends that are evolving in kitchen designs are something that people want to see,” says Snow. “And it has become more than a view of the kitchen, with the tours involving main living areas.”

In homage to past tours, and with an eye toward next year, we present two of the top kitchens from each of the past three years, followed by a couple of variations of the kitchens of tomorrow.

The Modern Townhouse Kitchen

European oak flooring enhances the grey-quartz island in this kitchen at the Torre home on Valencia Avenue. “I like the clean airiness,” says Venny Torre, whose kitchen duties mostly involve consuming the culinary wizardry of wife Coco Torre. Miele side-by-side fridge-freezer; Stosa Cucine cabinetry.

Italian Village Heritage

This kitchen of Sidney and Monique Lazard on Altara Avenue enjoys the rich heritage of a 1925 home built by three-time presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan. The vibe here is Italian farmhouse, with hand-carved woodwork and a stone-topped island. Bosch dishwasher; Sub-Zero fridge; Wolf cooktops.