THE NEW & TH E NOW Official Outfitter MAKING MAGIC

BY CASEY BRENNAN

Mario Carbone and Major Food Group are back with Carbone Beach during Formula 1 weekend

ince landing in Miami in early 2021, Major Food Group has wasted no time making a mark on the city’s culinary scene. Under the leadership of chef Mario Carbone and partners Jeff Zalaznik and Rich Torrisi, the company has opened hit after hit: classic red sauce celeb haunt Carbone, Mediterranean-inspired HaSalon, steakhouse Dirty French, private members club ZZ’s and bagel and schmear spot Sadelle’s (including a new location at the Kith boutique in the Design District) among others. Next came Contessa, a two-story Northern Italian-style “grand trattoria,” a term Carbone told GRAZIA USA “is an oxymoron and subcategory we somewhat invented.” For Miami Grand Prix Formula 1 2023, Major Food Group is bringing back Carbone Beach—a super-exclusive beachfront event with tickets going for a staggering $3,000 a seat. The party includes an overthe-top luxurious dining experience for VIPS (last year’s guest list included LeBron James and David Beckham with performances by Wyclef Jean, Andrea Bocelli, Kygo and Nas). Ahead of race weekend, we caught up with Carbone about what inspires him as a chef, the current hospitality landscape in Miami and what he does to unwind out of the kitchen.

Puma takes the lead with F1 as the exclusive licensing partner and trackside retailer

BY COLLEEN KRATOFIL

GRAZIA USA: How would you describe the current hospitality landscape of Miami?

Mario Carbone: Miami’s hospitality industry is booming, mirroring the growth seen throughout the city, and we are thrilled to play a prominent role in it.

G: How has Major Food Group fit into and influenced the Miami culinary scene?

Carbone: Jeff, Rich and are passionate about creating unique luxury dining experiences across the board. When we came to Miami, our goal was to keep pursuing our passion for creating and building, as well as to continue sharing meaningful stories as storytellers. Miami embraced us with open arms, and we are excited to be a part of this renaissance.

G: What inspires you as a chef?

Carbone: I am frequently inspired in many different ways, and while the kitchen is a common source of inspiration, it can come from elsewhere too. Some of these inspirations may have nothing to do with food but still greatly impact and influence every aspect of the restaurant.

G: What are some of your favorite spots in Miami?

Carbone: Joe's Stone Crab, Pura Vida and Bachour Bakery.

G: What do you enjoy doing to relax and unwind?

Carbone: I find comfort in spending quality time with friends and family, as well as visiting any of our restaurants and soaking up the energy that each of them has to offer. Aside from that, I enjoy running, having Frank Sinatra on repeat and a good cigar.

G: What can guests expect from Carbone Beach at F1 this year?

Carbone: Guests can expect the grandest form of a supper club from a bygone era. This year we plan to increase the decadence level even further. The biggest and newest element this year will be a new roster of surprise headlining performers.

G: What’s next for you and MFG?

Carbone: We are just getting started. We recently announced our plans to build Villa—a waterfront condo tower in Edgewater. My clothing line, Our Lady of Rocco, continues to evolve with new collections. This spring, we are launching an all-white capsule collection, which will coincide with a pop-up store in Miami. We look forward to adding several new South Florida restaurants to our portfolio in the year to come and continuing the expansion of ZZ’s Members Club.

The merch at F1 races is getting even cooler thanks to its new exclusive licensing partner and trackside retailer, Puma. The German sportswear giant is bringing a streetwear edge to the Formula 1 scene after being named the official supplier at Formula 1 races. That means, get ready for F1-branded Puma apparel, footwear and accessories, plus fanwear of all 10 teams.

Since this is Puma we’re talking about, this new exclusive deal with F1 means they can appeal to the ever-growing fanbase of F1 viewers—and those that just want to tap into the current racing aesthetic that's driving many collections (see pg. 15 for proof). Puma promises to bring “on-track gear to offtrack fashion” but they’re still creating technical gear too—Puma will also equip Formula 1 sports officials on the track.

The partnership is an extension of the rich history the brand already has with the sport. After all, Puma has been making fireproof overalls and race gear for drivers since the ‘80s, along with teamwear, fanwear and lifestyle collections for successful teams. They’ve also worked with partners including Mercedes AMG Petronas F1, Scuderia Ferrari, Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake, BMW M Motorsport and Porsche Motorsport.

“PUMA has become the most authentic and credible sports brand in motorsports and has the expertise to create the best products for the world’s leading drivers and teams as well as for its fans,” said Arne Freundt, CEO of PUMA. “The influence of motorsport, and Formula 1 in particular, on sports and streetwear culture has significantly increased in recent years. Our new partnership with Formula 1 is an exciting opportunity to further explore this blend of motorsports and lifestyle. PUMA has always sat at the intersection of sports and fashion and we feel we are in the perfect position to translate the culture of the sport into relevant streetwear collections and drive brand heat with a young, affluent, and diverse audience.”

Helping operate the fan retail stores at races will be Puma’s subsidiary stichd, where shoppers will find team replica, fanwear and special-edition collections from all 10 teams on the Formula 1 grid and F1 legends. Get ready to see up to 65 mobile stores at over 20 races in 19 different countries.

“Selling fanwear at every F1 race is a fun and challenging project because the conditions at every track are different, from the hillsides of Zeltweg and Spa to the city centers of Monaco and Baku,” said Nina Nix, CEO of stichd. “No matter where the race is held, stichd will create a truly immersive fan experience that goes well beyond selling fanwear.”

The partnership kicks off in 2024.