INDULGE APRIL-MAY 2015

INDULGE April / May 2015

SPRING

HOM Carola Hinojosa’s serene Key Biscayne hideaway

Issue!

At home with Silvia Tcherassi

ANd Interviews with Tui Pranich, Lindsay Pumpa, Don Peebles and more! + The art of living with savoir faire

in this issue

Nick Garcia

94

FEATURES 82 Urban Grace What happens when a fashion designer with eclectic inclinations meets a luxurious condo in the Grove? Silvia Tcherassi opens her doors and invites us in.

88 White Magic Interior Designer Carola Hinojosa unleashes her signature minimalistic style on her own Key Biscayne condo.

94 We’ll Always Have Paris To celebrate French interior design show Maison et Objet’s American debut in Miami Beach this May, we’re exploring the art of living with that famously indescribable je ne sais quoi. INDULGE asked six fabulously French ex-pats, all of whom now call the Magic City home, to share their ideas on everything from decorating to dressing and drinking.

INDULGE April / MAy 2015

SPRING

HOM caroLa hinojosa’s serene Key BIscayne hIdeaway

and IntervIews wIth Tui Pranich, Lindsay PumPa, don PeebLes and more! + the art of lIvIng wIth savoir faire

ISSue!

at home wIth siLvia Tcherassi

ON THE COVER Photography by Felipe Cuevas Wardrobe by Silvia Tcherassi

in this issue 26

94

54 The Expert Miami Designer and host of HGTV’s Urban Oasis Lindsay Pumpa offers her best advice for turning a cold condo into a warm, homey space.

the life

the local 23 The Local How to bring spring’s fashion floral trend home, plus our favorite picks in the 2015 color of the year.

26 Launching Now Two delectably sweet introductions, Louis Vuitton’s new Design District digs; art arrives at Bal Harbour Shops; and seriously green hotel opens in time for Earth Day. 28 Beauty New fragrance bottles beautiful enough to display; a dynamic hair duo arrives in Wynwood; and the glam squad that’s willing to come to you.

30 My 305 Style TUI PRANICH The high-end interior designer creates clean lines and classic looks for the home—and knows a good Miami look when he sees one.

32 Party INDULGE attended the Women of Tomorrow Mentor & Scholarship Program’s Annual Black Tie Gala and asked fellow revelers to describe their home in a few words.

34 Source In their midtown showroom, design mavericks Scott Parker and Bruce Platt distill their obsessions with unique, handcrafted finds from around the world.

the movers 43 The Rainmaker With $3 billion in real estate projects currently under way, from the Big Apple down to the Magic City, luxury developer Don Peebles is on fire.

54

46 The Advocate A real estate agent by trade, Jenny Arias May's true passion is teaching others to preserve the environment.

48 The Writer P. Scott Cunningham is on a mission to bring poetry to the people.

50 The Artist Mikhaile Solomon, a talented curator and the woman pushing to bring more art to Opa-locka, on why having art at home matters.

61 The Dish Everything from risotto to pancake breakfast is getting a whole grain makeover at the hands of some of Miami’s best chefs.

64 The Recipe Fireman Derek Kaplan is Miami’s newest baking phenom. He teaches us to make perfectly flaky, flavorful pie.

66 The Pour As local craft beer continues to blossom, we find five fantastic brews made with local ingredients and exclusive to Miami.

68 The Neighborhood Edgewater, with boundaries from 17th Street to the south, 37th Street to the north, Biscayne Bay to the east and Northeast First Avenue to the west, is swiftly gentrifying and going vertical.

73 The Escape Thanks to a vibrant restaurant scene, world-class museums and hotels that spare no luxury, Bogotá is ready for rediscovery.

INDULGENCES 106 A gorgeous chair from Luminaire that’s fit for poetry.

editor’s letter

I

f there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years as a magazine editor it’s how to recognize something special when I see it. So last fall, when an invitation to fly to Paris to attend Maison et Objet, France’s top interior design show, popped into my email, I knew it was an opportunity nothing short of spectacular. (That's me during the trip, on a sojourn to the Petit Palais.) What I could not have imagined, however, was what a total knockout the show would be—picture eight Costco-sized pavilions, one next to the other, brimming with the most beautiful objects on the planet. For four whole days, my eyes feasted on gorgeousness left and right, but what was most extraordinary was this: learning that the very same show was in the midst of planning its American debut, in none other than Miami.

I came away inspired and proud, but now I’m just plain excited because Maison’s Miami show is only a few weeks away. It takes place from May 12 to 15 at the Miami Beach Convention Center. To celebrate the arrival of our ever-stylish Parisian friends, and to help welcome them to the Magic City, INDULGE tracked down a host of French ex-pats, all of whom now live here, and asked them to share thoughts on the art of living with their famous savoir faire.

For ideas on everything from how often to drink Champagne to creating a look of effortless chic at home to dressing with classic French panache, turn to “We’ll Always Have Paris,” on P. 94.

On a separate note, spring is by far my favorite season. I love that it brings gentle weather, longer days and happy flowers. Mostly I’m moved by what it represents: new beginnings and new beauty. We worked tirelessly to infuse this issue with a sense of rebirth and freshness. Which is why we went home with two of Miami’s most exquisite women—fashion icon Silvia Tcherassi and interior design maven Carola Hinojosa— who walked us through how they transformed their living spaces into homes filled with meaning, warmth and flair. Tcherassi’s Coconut Grove condo, featured in “Urban Grace,” on P. 82, is a study in elegant eclecticism but it’s also a real home where the married Betty Cortina-Weiss Editor-in-Chief mother of two lives a very real life. Hinojosa’s Key Biscayne lair, featured in “White Magic,” on P. 88, is her personal ode to minimalism in the city’s, and her, favorite hue.

Yes, new things can feel wonderful, but I still hesitate to let go of the past entirely. Later this month, on April 17 at the InterContinental Miami, I get to hold on just a little longer to our last cover—which featured six fabulous female chefs from South Florida. The ladies and I will host VeritageMiami’s Interactive Dinner, leading some 800 guests in cooking dishes at their own tables, all while wine flows freely, in what is surely one of South Florida’s most raucous philanthropic events.

The best part: it’s for a great cause, the United Way of Miami-Dade, whose mission is to build community by helping people care for one another. I can’t think of a more beautiful beginning for my spring.

E G L U D N I

Keep in touch! Follow INDULGE on Twitter @MiamiIndulge, and follow me @bettycortina Friend us! facebook.com/MiamiIndulge | Visit our online edition at www.miamiindulge.com

INDULGE A S P E C I A L P U B LI C AT I O N P r o d uce d b y

President and Publisher Alexandra Villoch EDITORIAL editor-in-Chief Betty Cortina-Weiss Contributing Design Director John Michael Coto Miami Herald Special Publications Manager Roberto Hernández-Alende Contributing writers Andrea Carneiro, Paula Echevarria, Rebecca Kleinman, Christiana Lilly, Lydia Martin, Ana Menendez, Claudia Miyar, Stephanie Sayfie Aagaard, Jennifer Scruby

ADVERTISING Vice President of Advertising Samuel Brown Sales Director Donna Dickey Advertising Manager Kristina Schulz-Corrales National Accounts Jaclyn Kaplan Local Accounts Liana Guilarte Automotive/Real Estate Accounts Manager Fran Rosenthal Marketing & Events Manager Adele Lorenzo Magazine Coordinator Yvonne Cloud

Contributing photographers Felipe Cuevas, Nick Garcia, Manny Hernandez Color correction Wilbert Mooyoung For editorial information: editor@miamiindulge.com

Advertising, sales and distribution information: 305-376-2801 kcorrales@MiamiHerald.com

Y / MARCH FEBRUAR

2015

PLUS

WHERE IN IS THE WORLD N? NINA COMPTOIVE AN EXCLUS CATCH-UP WITH THE TOP CHEF ALUM

dıne foow &ISSUE

OUSE FEMALE SIX POWERH MIAMI MORE ING CHEFS MAK N EVER HOW TO THA DELICIOUS A PERFECT BOT TLE D T FIN AYS ALW CITY’S BES THE MAGIC ATES OF WINE COL S DAY CHO VALENTINE’

the local

N e w. N o w.

A n d rig h t h e r e .

Compiled by Claudia Miyar

COOL CARPET

Marsala red is surprisingly neutral and easy to incorporate into a room.

On NIBA’s Beliar rug, the deep tone looks chic but playful as a loose zigzag pattern. Price upon request. NIBA Rug Collections, 30 NE 40th Street, Miami; 305-573-1355; nibarugs.com.

LIGHT IT UP

This Best & Lloyd red crystal faceted lamp is a true jewel, and adds a majestic air to any room. Price upon request. Monica James, 140 NE 40th Street, Miami; 305-576-6222; monicajames.com.

marsala Mad for

Pantone’s 2015 color of the year is a creamy wine hue that chicly warms up any outfit or room.

GEOMETRY CLASS

This plush pillow features a geometric design of velvet diamonds on creamy linen. $350. Jalan Jalan, 3921 NE Second Avenue, Miami; 305-572-9998; jalanjalan.com.

VINTAGE ARTISTRY

This gorgeous, new cement tile from Waterworks is eco-friendly, derived from natural materials and made with artisanal craftsmanship. $69 per square foot.

Waterworks, 167 NE 39th Street, Miami; 305-573-7593; waterworks.com.

BERRY GOOD

The Dark Damson feather light pleated tulle dress from Burberry Prorsum is light and fresh yet undeniably sophisticated in this deep shade. $2,495.Burberry, 112 NE 39th Street, Miami; 305-423-0078; burberry.com.

SUMPTUOUS STINGRAY

PRIME SEAT

Top-grain Italian leather in a deep wine hue gets an added dose of richness with a brass nail head trim. Starts at $1,195. Restoration Hardware, 19575 Biscayne Boulevard, Aventura; 305-935-1253; restorationhardware.com.

A new introduction for Holly Hunt’s luxurious leathers collection, this is an embossed hide in an elegant wine hue.

Price upon request. Holly Hunt Miami, 3833 NE Second Avenue, Miami; 305-571-2012; hollyhunt.com.

the local Compiled by Claudia Miyar

LOTUS LOUNGER

Wingback chairs were originally constructed during Colonial times to block out the cold.

This version is handmade in the U.S. and was inspired by an antique found at a New England flea market. $1,398. Anthropologie, Lincoln Road Mall, 1108 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach; 305-659-0775; anthropologie.com.

BRIGHT IDEAS

A cheery cotton printed fabric in punchy colors looks right at home in Miami. $110 per yard, to the trade. Lee Jofa at Design Center of the Americas, 1855 Griffin Road, Dania Beach; 954-925-2424; leejofa.com.

FLORAL FLOCK

OUTSTANDING STAND

Flower Carpet, a new design by tile maker Bisazza, comes in three colorways.

Pictured here in green, it looks stunning lining a pool. Price upon request.

Bisazza, 3740 NE Second Avenue, Miami; 305-438-4388; bisazza.com.

flower POWER

Spring’s runways were filled with beautiful buds. Here’s how to bring the trend home.

KING OF THE TASSEL

Lively tassels add old-school elegance to this whimsical tulippatterned pillow. $150. Neiman Marcus at Village of Merrick Park, 390 San Lorenzo Avenue, Coral Gables; 786-999-1000; neimanmarcus.com.

MARVELOUS MAGNOLIA

Legendary fashion designer Vivienne Westwood designed a magnolia motif on this hand-knotted Tibetan wool and silk rug. $224 per square foot. The Rug Company, 4040 NE Second Avenue, Miami; 305-576-9898; therugcompany.com.

Evoking the feminine silhouette of the 50s, this Michael Kors dress is a classic made fresh in vivid pink with a cheeky midriff cutout. Price upon request.

Michael Kors, Bal Harbour Shops, 9700 Collins Avenue, Bal Harbour; 305-864-4144; michaelkors.com.

the local LAUNCHING NOW

SWEET SPRING

House of Louis Louis Vuitton continues its expansion into Miami’s world of luxury in April, as it debuts its new Maison in the Design District’s swanky Palm Court. As a nod to local history, the store’s interior will feature design influences ranging from Art Deco to 1950s Tropical Modernism. The shop will also offer exclusively Miami products, like monogrammed hard-sided travel cases with custom South Florida-inspired coral and light blue lining. Also available: limited-edition crocodile and ostrich Capucine bags in bright, sunny colors.

Just in time for Mother’s Day and spring weddings, here are two delectably sweet introductions. Laudurée, the legendary French house of macarons that opened its Miami Beach outpost a little more than a year ago, just announced a collaboration with renowned Japanese pearl jeweler Mikimoto to create a gem of their own: pearly macaron shells filled with delicate rose and lychee cream. The special macaron will be available from April 1 through May 31 at the store, located at 1118 Lincoln Road in Miami Beach.

Meanwhile, Florida’s most acclaimed chocolatier, Norman Love, launched his collection of handcrafted, femininely colored chocolates—a perfect treat for the mom in your life. Flavors include Cherry Cheesecake, Berries and Cream and Cup of Tea. You can purchase Norman Love chocolates at normanloveconfections.com.

Artful Shopping Glam Goes Green Looking to commemorate Earth Day (April 22) with a little Miami style? Make your way to South Beach’s just opened eco-conscious 1 Hotel, which not only offers 426-rooms featuring hemp-filled mattresses, driftwood furnishings and yoga mats, but also farm-to-table dining from chef Tom Colicchio and a fleet of chauffeured Teslas. The hotel boasts the city’s largest rooftop pool and an impressive 600 feet of pristine waterfront—an entire city block! Most impressive of all? Their Do-Gooder program, which pairs with local nonprofits to create volunteer experiences for guests. That’s right: they’ll even help you plant a tree. 1 Hotel is located at 2377 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach.

In celebration of its 50th birthday, Bal Harbour Shops is launching Fashion Project, a curated art space on the famously luxe shopping center’s third floor where projects and programs will explore the world of fashion, and the culture and history surrounding its design, innovation production and consumption. First on its lineup: a collaboration with Londonbased curator Judith Clark, whose opening exhibition will showcase experimentation in fashion over the past century. Objects will include a 1913 Ballet Russes’ costume and a 1999 futuristic, remote control dress.

The first exhibit, called “The Exhibition,” runs from April 9 through May 21. The second, called “The Exhibition, Morphing,” will go from May 28 through August 10.

For details, go to balharbourshops.com.

the local BEAUTY

By Jennifer Scruby

Chloé Love Story

“I keep this on my dressing table. The bottle’s super classic.

I love the shape, the name and the little peach ribbon at the cap, and the orange-blossom scent is clean and fresh. It just telegraphs ‘well-groomed.’”

TOM FORD NEROLI PORTOFINO

“This unisex cologne has refreshing green and citrusy notes, but I’d buy it just for the bottle. The shape’s masculine in a ’30s Berlin way, and the combination of peacock blue and matte copper looks incredibly elegant. If you want something to put in a guest bath or powder room, this is the winner.”

Bottles Up Miami interior designer Alicia Kossick is one of the chicest and most creative women we know.

Now, having spent years searching the world over for high-end collectible crafts, she’s launching a website: handmade-good-trade.com. A brilliantly curated mix of fashion and lifestyle products, it features everything from vivid, hand-loomed blankets and striped hammocks (all made by women artisans) to vintage collectibles like Kossick’s beloved Guerlain Impériale fragrance bottles, originally designed for the wife of Napoleon III. “I love collecting classic perfume bottles because they make the best decorative accessories,” she says. “Clustered on a silver tray in different sizes, the Guerlain bottles offer an amazing contrast against more primitive pieces.”

So we asked her: Of the new spring fragrances, which ones look as good as they smell?

Lancôme La Nuit Trésor

“This is a velvety floral with rose and vanilla, and I love how the mauve-violet color makes it feel like a jewel.

I’d set it on a glass-topped vanity next to my jewelry. It looks like a glass-cut diamond.”

GUERLAIN AQUA ALLEGORIA TEAZZURA

“A small treasure. This is an update on the original etched-glass bottle, using gold filagree as an overlay. And the blend of citrus, green tea and musk smells like freshly-pressed linen spritzed with lemon: light and crisp.”

BEAUTY TO GO If you’re one of the countless women who’ve wished they had an expert style team on call, now’s your moment. Already a runaway hit in NYC and L.A., GlamSquad, an on-demand, inhome hair and makeup service, just launched a Miami outpost.

“We have an amazing team here,” said CEO Alexandra Wilkis Wilson, a Harvard Business School grad who cofounded Gilt.com. “Our clients are important VIPs and we’re going into their homes, so the care we take in selecting our artists is very special.” You can book through the GlamSquad app any time of day, and the company happily fields calls from 7 a.m, to midnight. “Our clients are very loyal,” Wilkis Wilson said. “Once they’ve experienced GlamSquad at home, the office or a hotel, they realize we offer a very high quality service at a reasonable price.” For a lot of clients, having their makeup professionally done for the first time has been an eye opener, she added: “Before a party, event, meeting or TV appearance, it really makes a difference,” she said. “We’re delivering convenience and self-confidence in every visit.”

Emerging social media stars in the hairstyling world, Hamlet Garcia and Rachel Ringwood live and style by the credo “Don’t be boring.” He’s famous for on-trend, gentleman’s pompadours.

She’s a master of spiky short cuts and non-mumsy bobs with a penchant for bold, punky color.

Their common denominator? Sexy volume. So at the couple’s new, buzzed-about Wynwood salon, His & Hers Parlour, they teach clients how to conjure lasting body that won’t wilt in the heat.

Rule #1: Blow-dry. “That way, you can direct your hair and build volume without using lots of products that could weigh it down,” said Garcia. Rule #2 : “Invest in one great, do-it-all styler,” said Ringwood: “Unite 7 Seconds Conditioner is light, eco-friendly and does it all—detangles, strengthens, smoothes and protects against heat and UV damage.” His & Hers Parlor, 3434 NW Seventh Avenue, Wynwood; 305-807-7381. Conditioner, $26.25, uniteeurotherapy.com.

PHOTO BY Jose Argueta (HIS & HERS PARLOUR)

Big Love

the local STYLE Compiled by Christiana Lilly THE BLAZER “Classic but different.

The style on this jacket is sophisticated and has a unique cut that’s always flattering.” $2,525.

Neiman Marcus at Village of Merrick Park, 390 San Lorenzo Avenue, Coral Gables; 786-999-1000; neimanmarcus.com.

my 305 style

THE GETAWAY

“Soho Beach House is where I go to relax on the beach and enjoy the Miami weather, especially on Sundays.” Soho Beach House, 4385 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 786-507-7900; sohobeachhouse.com.

THE ARCHITECTURE

TUI PRANICH The high-end interior designer creates clean lines and classic looks for the home—and knows a good Miami look when he sees one.

“World renowned architect Zaha Hadid has famously brought her designs to Miami.

Her buildings—like the one under construction at 1000 Biscayne Boulevard—aren’t just architecture. They’re art.”

1000 Museum, 1000 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami; 1000museum.com.

THE TRAVEL BAG

THE ACCESSORIES

“Traveling is everything to me.

And Rimowa is my ultimate travel bag. The quality is superb and it radiates style.” $660. Luggage & More, 358 San Lorenzo Avenue, Coral Gables; 305-442-2244; luggagemore.com.

“I buy a lot of Bottega Venetta, like belts and bracelets. Love their woven leather designs, and they’re very well made.” $580. Barneys, 832 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305-421-2010; barneys.com.

THE EXHIBITION

THE FOOD

“I’m originally from Thailand and I love Asian food. Sushi Siam is my go-to place for great food and atmosphere.”

Sushi Siam, 5582 NE Fourth Court, Miami; 305-751-7818; sushisiam.com.

THE SHOE

“Comfort is what I want in shoes because I walk a lot.” $1,240. Louis Vuitton, 170 NE 40th Street, Miami; 305-573-1366; louisvuitton.com.

Installation View: One Way: Peter Marino, Bass Museum of Art. Photo: Luc Castel

“Peter Marino is not just an interior designer, he’s also a great art collector. His exhibition is one of the best I’ve seen!” On exhibit through May 2. Bass Museum, 2100 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305-673-7530; bassmuseum.org.

the local PARTY

“Ridiculously eclectic, continual morphing.”

Jennifer Valoppi (with sons Jordan and Julian de Berdouare) “Elegant, clean, cozy.”

Andrea Petrova (with husband Peter) “Family, friendly and eclectically modern.”

Amy Hollub (with husband Harry)

“French, contemporary, awesome.”

Chapman Ducote (with wife Kristin) “Love, effervescent, never a dull moment.”

Don Browne (with wife Maria)

INDULGE attended the Women of Tomorrow Mentor & Scholarship Program’s Annual Black Tie Gala and asked fellow revelers…

In just a few words, describe your home.

WHAT The Women of Tomorrow Mentor & Scholarship Program hosted its Annual Black Tie Gala at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in March, with a cocktail reception, silent and live auctions, an extravagant four-course dinner and a live performance by South Florida’s own Soul Survivors.

WHO The evening was organized by Women of Tomorrow cofounders, television journalist Jennifer Valoppi and Don Browne, former president of Telemundo, and the organization’s co-vice president the Honorable Katherine Fernandez Rundle, as well as Gala Chair Marisa Toccin Lucas. Honorees included renowned artist James Rosenquist, philanthropists Carol and Marc Iacovelli, Miami-Dade Superintendent of Schools Alberto Carvalho, Publix Super Markets and Publix Super Markets Charities, and NBC6 anchor Pam Giganti.

WHY The Women of Tomorrow Mentor & Scholarship Program works with at-risk girls and young women through a unique mentoring program that pairs them with highly accomplished professional women as well as scholarship opportunities. The program currently works with 3,500 girls in 183 public South Florida high schools.

Text by Stephanie Sayfie Aagaard / Photography by Manny Hernandez

“Classic, nurturing, welcoming.”

Judge Bronwyn Miller “Warm, loving, joy.”

Marisa Toccin Lucas (with husband Hal Lucas)

“Traditional, artistic, Floridian.”

Leslie Brown

“Organized chaos.”

Neki Mohan (with Trina Robinson.)

“Eccentric, 1960s and a dash of Grey Gardens.”

Tara Solomon (with Nick D’Annunzio)

the local SOURCE “People like that our collection is always different, always fresh, and so do we.”

glam

GLOBAL

Opposite page: Pratt and Parker at the showroom entrance. This page: Inside, Moroccan metal lanterns and dressers inlaid with motherof-pearl mingle with custom upholstery, a natural-edge mahogany dining table, a vintage typewriter, a giant mirror with an hand-pieced mosaic frame and tabletop items from around the globe.

In their Midtown showroom, design mavericks Scott Parker and Bruce Platt distill their obsessions with unique, handcrafted finds from around the world.

W

hat do you get when you team a Ralph Lauren and Armani-trained interior designer with a master of importing?

Jalan Jalan, an ever-changing home furnishings store in the Design District that big-name clients and other decorators adore. The shop’s name means “create your own path” in Indonesian, and it shows. “What makes us different is our combination of unconventional, one-of-a-kind pieces,” said cofounder Bruce Platt, who has a genius for melding far-flung motifs—memorable, textured pieces sourced from India, Morocco, Asia, Europe and Africa, as well as through U.S. artisans—in a way that feels new and timeless all at once. His partner, Scott Parker, helms the business side, making sure there’s a constant flow of new offerings and that, whatever you buy, you can take it home that day. “I don’t want people to see something they love and then have to wait for 6 to 12 weeks to enjoy it,” he said.

Since items sell quickly, the tableaux on the showroom floor change often, sometimes daily. “When you come in here, you never know what you’re going to get,” said Platt. “People like that our collection is always different, always fresh, and so do we.” Since setting up shop in 2002, the partners have already expanded their showroom to 10,000 square feet. Even if they were to sell everything on display, they could restock on the same day, thanks to nearby warehouses that brim with the duo’s favorite new finds.

Parker and Platt travel often, scouring souks and street bazaars around the world for fresh influences and suppliers. “We buy what we like and stay true to our aesthetic,” said Parker. That includes a shared love for beautiful, handmade pieces (“the kinds of things that lend instant warmth to otherwise stark, modern spaces,” Platt notes), comfortable seating and insanely gorgeous, one-off dining tables made from materials like Carrara marble or walnut with a natural edge. “We’re mostly known for our accessories, but designers can always expect to find a great dining table here,” said Platt.

On a recent afternoon, Jalan Jalan’s airy showroom represented a melting pot of stone cat sculptures, woven baskets and vivid bead necklaces from Africa; traditionally woven Moroccan rugs in rich, muted colors; porcelain ginger jars from Asia; oversize French lanterns; and custom upholstery pieces. A well-known actor had just snapped up a huge mirror with a handcrafted, mother-of-pearl mosaic frame, a piece dreamed up by Jalan Jalan’s in-house design team that was made by artisans in Morocco.

“Everything we sell has a story behind it,” Parker said. “The best thing is having the same clients and designers come back over and over, and seeing the joy that people experience from the products we find. That tells us we’re doing a good job.” For Platt, the hardest part is having to leave some beautiful things behind. “We can’t buy everything,” he admits.

“But there’s always a next time!”

TEXT BY JENNIFER SCRUBY / PHOTOGRAPHY BY FELIPE CUEVAS

the movers

p e o pl e WHO m o v e miami .

{THE RAINMAKER}

Don Peebles

With $3 billion in real estate projects currently under way, from the Big Apple down to the Magic City, this luxury developer is on fire.

TEXT BY REBECCA KLEINMAN / PHOTOGRAPHY BY NICK GARCIA

the movers “Miami also appealed to me because it was a blank slate being built.”

Peebles is the developer behind the ultra-luxurious Bath Club, pictured here, in Miami Beach.

VITALS 55; born in Washington, D.C., the only child of divorced parents; came from an extended family that eked out a living with jobs as janitors, doormen, file clerks and auto mechanics; attended a small, prestigious high school for Capitol Hill pages, during which he worked for three congressmen and earned money to help pay the bills; dropped out of Rutgers University to acquire his real estate license; appointed chairman of Washington, D.C.’s property tax appeals board by the age of 24; three years later, founded a real estate appraisal firm and developed his first property, an office building; moved to Miami in 1998; married for 23 years to Katrina, a principal and creative director for the namesake company he founded, whom he met at the hair salon they both frequented; father to Donahue III, a 21-year-old junior at Columbia University who works at Peebles’ New York satellite office, and Chloe, a 12-year-old who studies at Gulliver Schools.

CURRENT POSITION Chairman and chief executive officer of The Peebles Corporation, a privately held real estate investment and development firm based in Coral Gables.

BEST CAREER ADVICE EVER RECEIVED “Each step back is an opportunity in disguise. If the real estate market is in decline, there’s an opportunity to buy.

If someone changes a business deal, it gives you the opportunity to change it in your favor as well.”

SOMETHING PEOPLE DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU “That I’m very much a family man. I travel a lot for business, so I prize my time with them. I’ve only missed one of my daughter’s equestrian shows in nine years, and moved my offices to be closer to my kids’ after-school activities. Also, that I live a simple life. I don’t golf or hunt. On weekends, I have lunch with my wife.”

GREATEST EXTRAVAGANCE “A few things: my private jet, which is my most practical tool in business; homes in Miami, Manhattan, the Hamptons and Washington, D.C.; above all, it’s my daughter Chloe’s horse riding, as anyone involved in the sport can tell you. When she started, my friend told me not to quit my day job.”

FIRST PAYING JOB “I had several beginning at the age of 11. I cleaned my mom’s offices, repaired cars with my dad, and pumped gas and wiped windshields.”

ADVICE FOR ENTREPRENEURS “Allow yourself to dream big because society imposes limits on us. I’m as improbable a case as any, but I was able to break the odds. Rather than being in it for the money, build a transformational business that gives you the power to bring about change, like providing opportunities to people who wouldn’t otherwise have them.”

AS A KID, WANTED TO BE “I just wanted to own a business. My best friend’s dad, Barry Gordy, Jr., who founded Motown, taught me how exciting it was to be an entrepreneur.”

LAST TIME YOU DID SOMETHING NEW FOR THE FIRST TIME “My daughter gave me a guitar for Father’s Day, and we’re taking lessons together. I loved music as a kid, and she showed me that it’s never too late to start.”

MOMENT YOU KNEW YOU MADE IT “When my very first building wasn’t built yet but it was pre-leased. I could at least calculate the profit and know I wouldn’t have to worry about financing basic necessities ever again.

It was a relief, like thank God that’s behind me.”

WHAT YOU ALWAYS HAVE WITHIN REACH “My iPhone and iPad for business, reading and watching my daughter’s sporting events on FaceTime.”

ON DOING BUSINESS IN MIAMI “Florida started looking really good when I saw my income tax bill while living in Washington, D.C., with a snowstorm on the way. Miami also appealed to me because it was a blank slate being built. There were no fancy high-rises, hotels and arenas, so it was full of opportunity.”

A PERSONAL GOAL “I’d like to continue supporting education in underprivileged communities. Our firm helped to renovate buildings for CARE [Christian Academy for Reaching Excellence] Elementary School in Overtown, and we funded an entrepreneurial academy at The Hospitality High School in Washington, D.C.” YOUR MOTTO “No limitations and never quit.”

the movers A real estate agent by trade, her true passion is teaching others to preserve the environment.

J

enny Arias May never set out to be an environmentalist.

The real estate agent and founder of Miami Sustainable Living, a consulting arm catering to her real estate clients who want to live a greener lifestyle, said her interest in the environment grew organically—no pun intended. Born in Miami but raised in Las Vegas, Nev., May spent summers traveling through the national parks with her family, where her connection to nature blossomed. “I loved the environment in that sense, the nature side of it,” she said. A predilection and natural aptitude for science led May to a degree in biology, followed by a career as an environmental specialist, planner and consultant for everyone from the Miami-Dade Department of Environmental Resources Management to the Biscayne Bay Partnership Initiative. That was followed by a transition into “green” real estate ventures. Most recently, the Metro1 Properties agent took on the role of Chair for Dream in Green, a local nonprofit that develops and implements educational programs that empower people to help solve climate change issues. “I’ve been on the board for eight years now,” said May, who was introduced to the organization through a friend. “I was blown away by their mission and what they are all about.

I have really put my heart and soul into this organization to help build it up to where we are now.”

Tell us about the Green Schools Challenge, where students and staff are directly involved in designing and implementing environmental solutions at their schools.

The Green Schools Challenge has always been our baby. We wanted to create a way for schools to challenge themselves and their students. Not only the kids, but also the entire school—

{The ADVOCATE}

Jenny Arias May principals, teachers, maintenance crew—so that everyone works together to improve the school. We started with about 50 schools. From that 50, other schools started finding out about the program. Now we’ve grown to 165.

And now, not only are we building relationships with public schools, but private schools are knocking on our doors too. We have more private schools than ever.

How are you working with the Miami-Dade School Board and what changes are you seeing?

I’m really proud of the relationship we have with the school board and how we’ve created a synergy with them. Working with government is tough, so building that bridge is important. I’m starting to see the changes in a lot of schools because of our involvement with MDCPS and because of [Superintendent] Alberto Carvalho. He actually created an office of sustainability within the MDCPS. What they’re trying to do is focus on implementing a lot of green practices within the building of new schools.

There’s a new high school called

TERRA, which is Gold LEED certified and they’re teaching students there about why and how it was built.

What other programs have you been working on in Miami-Dade County?

We have the WE-LAB, where we do workshops once a month through a grant we received from the Environmental Protection Agency. It’s a partnership between Dream in Green and Miami-Dade Water and Sewer. We try to spread them out all over Dade County. It’s an hour-long workshop and it’s pretty hands-on. We talk about low-flow toilets, etc… and at the end of the session the participants receive a package to help them implement changes in their own home. By making these small, simple changes in their life they can make a difference.

Any plans to expand to Broward County?

We rely on donors and grants. If we grew too much, then the quality of our services would lack. We would love to go to Broward! If we had the money, we would definitely be there.

Text by Andrea Carneiro / Photography by Nick Garcia

Did you know?

The organization offers mini-grants to elementary, middle and high schools students participating in the Green Schools Challenge.

According to DIG, schools typically spend more on energy than on books and computers combined.

Their annual fundraiser will take place May 8 at 1 Hotel South Beach, a LEEDcertified property.

the movers

{The WRITER}

P. Scott Cunningham He’s a man on a mission to bring poetry to the people.

F

or P. Scott Cunningham, bringing the art of poetry to a mass audience isn’t as far-fetched or elevated as some may think. In fact, the O, Miami founder sees it as a completely natural connection. “What’s great about poetry is that it is, I believe, the most democratic art form,” said Cunningham. “You don’t need to know how to write. You don’t need anyone to help you. You have all the material in the world to draw from, and I think that’s really powerful.”

Now in its fourth year, the O, Miami poetry festival (organized by the nonprofit of the same name) aims to have every citizen of MiamiDade County encounter a poem during the month of April. But Cunningham’s vision of a poetry encounter is far from the traditional coffeehouse or literary journal. This year the

call for submissions includes the chance to see creations on a “poetry popsicle” handed out at events across the county or writing an “Ode to the Zip Code” where amateur poets can create a work structured around their particular zip (i.e. three words, three words, one word for 331) culminating in a final reading and prizes with WLRN. Also on tap: Poetic boat trips up the Miami River, Poetry in the Park Wallcasts at Soundscape park and performances by Chicago’s Manual Cinema immersive theater.

The participation of the community is a key point for both the festival and the nonprofit, both of which are the result of Boca-native Cunningham’s vision and desire to merge Miami’s literary history with a future literary community in what he calls “a big way.” Luckily, the Knight Foundation agreed. “They agreed to fund O, Miami…in the way that I envisioned it,”

he said. “The idea doesn’t work halfway. There’s no mini version of O, Miami and luckily they understood that.”

In addition to the festival, a visiting writer series and literary programs, O, Miami recently launched Jai-Alai Books to “expand and advance literary culture in Miami.” So far the imprint, under Cunningham’s direction, has released “Forager: A Subjective Guide to Miami’s Edible Plants” as well as two bilingual volumes of poetry.

At the heart of Cunningham’s passion, though, is a love for the city in which he resides and its burgeoning arts scene. “There’s a vigorous grassroots energy,” he said of Miami. “People are programming with a lot of ambition and risk.

There are pros and cons, but it’s really exciting and unique to be in this place. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

Text by Andrea Carneiro / Photography by Nick Garcia

the movers {The ARTIST}

Mikhaile Solomon

A gifted curator who’s helping transform Opa-locka on why art at home matters— and buying the right piece.

A

rt,” choreographer Twyla Tharp once said, “is the only way to run away without leaving home.”

It’s a concept Miami designer and curator Mikhaile Solomon understands on a deeply personal level. As the director of public art for the Opalocka Community Development Corporation, the organization working to put art at the core of the city’s revitalization efforts, every day she witnesses the restorative and thought-provoking powers it can have. How it can change a person’s perspective, empower a neighborhood, and make home a more inspired, soulful place. “Art is transformative,” said Solomon, who last year founded Prizm, an annual exhibit that promotes contemporary artists of color from around the world during Art Basel. “It’s a conversation. And, if you’re standing in front of the right piece, it can speak to you.” We asked the South Florida native, who holds a bachelor’s degree in theater from the University of South Florida and a Master’s of Architecture from Florida International University, for advice on how to go about buying the right piece of art for home.

First, she said, “think about your aesthetic. What do you like to see?

Do you like landscapes or things that are surreal? Do you like geometric shapes or something more abstract? Yes, you want to make a good investment, but you also want to make sure that whatever you buy is actually something you want to see every day.”

Once you have a good sense of the kind of art you like, Solomon recommends going local. “Look around and learn about emerging artists in the area producing the kind of work you want,” she said. The good news, of course, is Miami is teeming with them. A few places to start the search, said Solomon: The Bakehouse Art Complex in Wynwood and South Beach’s ArtCenter/South Florida for more established artists, which will obviously call for a larger investment. If you’re on a tighter budget, or just want to minimize the spend, reach out to artist residency programs, like Miami’s Fountainhead and the new YoungArts Residency, where less established, but equally promising artists can be found. “There are some real gems here right now,” Solomon said.

After having identified an artist, do your research. “Learn about them, read their story,” Solomon urges. “Learn about the movement they represent. What are they motivated by? How innovative are they in relation to other artists? The more creative and different they are, the more valuable their art will likely be in the long run.”

And while it’s reasonable to want to know you’re making a good investment, Solomon said, it’s most important to understand what makes something valuable…to you. “There is an artist I’ve worked with who gave me a sketch as a gift. I keep it in my wall at home—always,” she said. “It represents the artist’s work, sure, but it is also something very personal to me. That’s what speaks to me.”

Text by Betty Cortina-Weiss / Photography by Nick Garcia

the movers {The EXPERT}

Lindsay Pumpa This Miami designer with national reach—she’s a regular on HGTV’s Urban Oasis—offers up her best advice for turning a cold condo into a warm, homey space.

D

iscovered while working a booth at a National Association of Home Builders show in Orlando in 2012, Lindsay Pumpa this year begins her fourth season as lead interior designer for HGTV’s Urban Oasis. Each episode documents how she works to decorate and transform an apartment in a secret building and city, taking it from cold and impersonal to warm and homey. In other words, Pumpa is a woman who understands a boxy condo’s hidden potential. When the Ohio native and Florida State University grad isn’t working on TV assignments that take her around the country, she’s running her full-service Miami Beach-based firm, L Pumpa Designs. Here, she shares tips on how to make any space cozy.

SOFT SPOT Nothing warms up glass and concrete like plush fabrics and rugs, Pumpa said. Full walls of drapery can be hung behind headboards and to cover windows in small rooms for dramatic effect. Instead of going with sheer white curtains, she suggests trying textured linen that’s beachy and airy, or double layers with a solid and open-weave overlay to break up monotony.

Because the eye also needs a break from marble floors, place shag carpets and 100 percent silk or bamboo silk rugs generously around the house. They can even change closets and balconies into real rooms.

LIGHTING TO LOVE There are three types of lighting—ambient for overhead, task for reading and watching TV, and accent for artworks. Most high-rises feature great rooms for multipurpose needs, so for Pumpa it’s key to create a range of mood lighting by installing dimmers on all overhead fixtures. “There are so many interesting fixtures available now that I compare them to sculptures and jewelry,” she said. Glass shimmers and casts shadows, she added, and brass is trending again. Geodes, crystals, marble and

onyx aren’t just for countertops and coasters anymore but are being used for lamp bases.

MIX-AND-MATCH FINISHES Single finishes can seem sterile, Pumpa said.

“So combine cool metals and warm woods with glass and stone. It’s an easy way to break up a great room.” For example: separate a living room from a foyer by having one area’s ceiling covered in wood, while choosing a wood vein marble floor for the other.

IT’S ALIVE! Bring life inside. “Think of how the abundance of potted palms make The Miami Beach Edition’s lobby such an inviting space,” Pumpa said.

“I suggest hearty specimens like fiddle leaf fig trees and aloe in tall planters.” Fresh-cut, large leaves—like elephant’s ear and monstera— last for months in vases. One of her go-to sources: phermonedesign.com, a company that specializes in artworks made with real nature from insects to shells.

COLOR POP “I admit that I’m the queen of monochromatic neutrals, especially sandy shades,” Pumpa said. “But that doesn’t mean you can’t paint an accent wall for a punch of color, or install a chair rail and paint the lower half a color, so it isn’t too overwhelming.” Rather than warm tones like red, stick with cool blues, greens and grays for bedrooms and other intimate spaces. You can always add color through throw pillows and rugs.

ECLECTIC FURNITURE Contemporary decor isn’t limited to that which is sleek, Pumpa advised. “You’d be surprised how much an antique wood side table can warm up your streamlined leather lounge chair,” she said.

For example, don’t be afraid to pair a rustic wood dining table (like Hudson Furniture’s English Windsor) with a super modern chair (like the Knoll’s Platner).

Text by rebecca kleinman / Photography by Nick Garcia

the life

D I N I N G . E N TE R TA I N I N G .

A N D H AV I N G FU N I N THE 3 0 5 .

{THE DISH}

GO WITH THE

GRAIN Everything from risotto to pancake breakfast is getting a whole grain makeover at the hands of some of Miami’s best chefs.

PHOTO BY FELIPE CUEVAS

A

cross the country, chefs are obsessing over whole grains. Farro, millet, amaranth are just a few that are frequently being used as tasty, filling alternatives to white rice, pasta and potatoes. Their healthy nutritional profile—they’re rich in minerals, antioxidants and fiber, and have been proven to reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer and diabetes—has helped cement the whole grains’ status as the power ingredients of the moment. In Miami, too, chefs are experimenting with them, making everything from creamy risottos to luscious chocolate tarts, and giving the once dreaded carb a new lease on life. Here are a some of our favorite local whole grain dishes.

the life Clockwise from left: The Embassy’s vegan platter features a dozen items that change daily; farro risotto with short ribs and sautéed vegetables at Corsair; a sprinkle of sorghum tops a chocolate tart at The Vagabond; pork belly over a bed of mushroom farro risotto at The District Miami. Bottom: Healthier blueberry pancakes—made with red quinoa!— at Basil Park.

said Andriola, a mindful eater since studying food science four years ago. And pancakes just wouldn’t be pancakes without a little whipped cream. So Andriola’s created a healthier version using coconut milk sweetened with brown rice syrup. Ready for your maple syrup? Basil Park: 17609 Collins Avenue, Sunny Isles Beach; 305-705-0004.

SAUTEED VEGETABLES AND FARRO RISOTTO One would expect chef Scott Conant, of Scarpetta Italian restaurant fame, to feature a rich risotto at his new Corsair, where farmhouse cooking meets the Mediterranean. But here, Conant replaces the traditional Arborio rice with farro, an ancient Roman grain, that’s been parboiled to release its creamy starches. It’s then cooled and reheated, as vegetable broth is slowly added using the classic risotto cooking technique.

“Farro is more forgiving than risotto, which has to be served right away, Conant said. “So it’s a huge bonus for home cooks during dinner parties.” After folding in butter and Parmesan,

Conant reaches for whatever’s in the pantry, whether spring peas or tarragon, and tosses them in. Even short ribs just might show up, too.

Corsair: 19999 West Country Club Drive, Aventura; 786-279-6800.

VEGAN PLATTER A self-professed carnivore from Argentina, chef owner Alan Hughes created a satisfying vegan platter after taking an eye-opening course in macrobiotics, a dietary regimen that calls for only eating unprocessed foods. These days, he works with a more diverse range of whole grains (wheat berries, millet, amaranth) than most local restaurants, serving them alongside a dozen raw, pickled and lightly dressed veggies. His best tip for prepping the grains at home? “Soak them overnight like you would legumes,” he said, “and measure the water you cook them in so none remains when they’re done.” Otherwise, he adds, “you’re wasting nutrients.” The Embassy: 4600 NE Second Avenue, Buena Vista; 305-571-8446.

RED QUINOA PANCAKES Tim Andriola wants his patrons to have their pancakes and eat them too. His trick? He makes his using red quinoa flour rather than the usual blood sugar-spiking white flour. Then “we achieve that fluffy pancake quality by using blueberries,”

THE BOXER The District Miami’s executive chef Horacio Rivadera places his decadent confit-style pork belly atop a bed of creamy farro, then adds a hint of freshness with tarragon puree and a frisée salad. He soaks the farro overnight and boils it with stock that’s flavored with bay leaves and multiple types of mushrooms, from morels to black trumpets. “I prefer the farro al dente like a risotto, which would be way too heavy with pork belly,” said Rivadero. Also on his menu: a quinoaenriched, golden lager beer called Cusqueña Quinua, which was concocted by Peruvian chef Gastón Acurio and Lima’s Backus Brewing.

(It’s also on tap at Nobu and Wynwood Kitchen & Bar.) The District Miami: 190 NE 46th Street, Buena Vista; 305-573-4199.

CHOCOLATE GANACHE TART Remember Rice Krispies treats? It hasn’t been that long since Alex Chang, The Vagabond’s 25-year-old chef, bit into one. When he developed the menu at the new Upper East Side gem he set out to update the classic recipe by using an ancient grain: sorghum, a gluten-free grain that’s the world’s fifth most important cereal crop and a staple in Africa and parts of Asia. For his chocolate ganache tart, sorghum is put to use in various ways: it’s made into a syrup and used to sweeten whipped cream, it’s deep-fried into a puffed topping, and it’s toasted and formed into bars bound with honey and used as a garnish.

“It’s as versatile as corn,” said Chang, who cites South Carolina-based Anson Mills as his go-to for heirloom grains. The Vagabond: 7301 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami; 786-409-5716.

TEXT BY REBECCA KLEINMAN

the life

TEXT BY BETTY CORTINA-WEISS / PHOTOGRAPHY BY FELIPE CUEVAS

L

{THE recipe}

Fireman Derek’s

Sweet Secret

Miami’s newest baking phenom on how to make perfectly flaky, flavorful pie.

Hint: start with fresh Florida blueberries, in season right this minute.

ife can twist and turn in ways you’d never expect, which is how a City of Miami fireman named Derek Kaplan— the kind of buff, brave hero who walks into fires while everyone else runs the other way—came to be…a pie maker.

To make not only sublimely creamy Key lime pies, but also chewy brownies, silky flans and moist quiches.

To know, disturbingly well, the particulars of creating a perfectly flaky crust and a cheesecake that doesn’t crack.

And to build a cult following out of a small storefront in impossibly hip Wynwood. Which is just about the last place you’d expect to see a fireman hanging out.

As the designated cook at Firehouse 1 in downtown Miami, Kaplan— who taught himself to cook as a teenager by watching the Food Network and reading cookbooks—has been whipping up breakfast, lunch and dinner for his fellow firefighters since he started working 24-hour shifts there about a decade ago. His desserts, specifically his Key lime pies, were so delicious friends and colleagues encouraged him to go into business. He started out by selling the sweet concoctions to local restaurants— My Ceviche, La Camaronera and the now shuttered Michy’s, to name a few—and received such rave reviews that, in 2011, he launched a food truck. Then, last summer he took the big plunge: he partnered with the widowed wife of a late firefighter who was one of his best friends and biggest fans, and opened his first brickand-mortar location.

Now, when Kaplan is not at the firehouse, he’s working the kitchen at Fireman Derek’s Bakeshop & Café. “On a good week, we’re turning out about 300 to 400 desserts and quiches,” he said.

“We outgrew the space within six months. And we’re already looking for a bigger place.” The shop may be most famous for its Key lime pie, but its menu has

expanded to include everything from homey apple and cherry pies to more tantalizing temptations (think chocolate-dipped flan on a stick, bread pudding cakes and the sinfully delicious crack pie, his take on the famously addictive bestseller at New York City’s Milk Bar.) But when Florida blueberries come in season in April and May, Kaplan pays tribute to local farmers by creating pies that put the fruit center stage. “When you’re using fresh berries you’re giving yourself an advantage because you rely on their natural, sweet taste,” he said. “You don’t need to do much to it.”

From there, his technique is straightforward. He cooks the berries with a mix of white and brown sugar, to “give it a little depth and complexity,” a dash of vanilla and a little butter “for extra shine.” His secret ingredient: a hint of orange zest to brighten things up. Meanwhile, his allbutter crust comes up flaky and packed with flavor without being cloyingly sweet. “It’s a blueberry pie,” he said. “It should taste, above all else, like blueberries.”

FIREMAN DEREK’S BLUEBERRY PIE For the crust 1¼ cups all purpose flour 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into ½ inch cubes and chilled 1 teaspoon sugar Pinch of salt Ice water 1 egg, lightly beaten For filling 3 pints fresh blueberries ½ cup white granulated sugar ½ cup brown sugar ½ tablespoons orange zest 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 tablespoons cornstarch For topping ½ stick of butter, cut into ½ inch cubes and chilled 1 cup flour cups brown sugar

1. Start by making the crust.

Using an electric mixer with a paddle attachment at low speed, mix the flour and cubed butter for about 4 minutes, until it begins to incorporate. Add salt and sugar.

Slowly add ice water and continue mixing until the dough looks shaggy and is moist enough to hold together when pressed between your fingers. Press the dough together and form it into a ball or disc. Wrap in plastic and chill in the refrigerator for 45 minutes before rolling out.

2. Let the dough sit at room temperature for a few minutes to soften slightly. Flour a clean surface. To roll out, place rolling pin the center of the dough.

Roll into a 1/8-inch-thick circle.

3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Gently place dough in 9-inch pie plate. Trim overhanging dough to one inch from the edge of pan. Place pie weights, dried beans or another disposable pie pan inside the crust to hold it down.

Bake the crust in the oven for 10 to 12 minutes, until it’s partially cooked. Remove from the oven and set aside.

4. Meanwhile, prepare the filling.

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, add blueberries, sugars, orange zest and butter.

Cook until berries have mostly broken down and released their juices. Add vanilla. Mix cornstarch with two tablespoons of water until smooth, and add to mixture.

Stir well and allow to thicken.

Remove from heat, let cool for a few minutes and pour the filling into the crust.

5. Make the crumble. In a medium mixing bowl, using your fingers, combine the ½ stick butter, flour and brown sugar until it resembles wet sand. Generously sprinkle the topping over the blueberry filling. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 to 45 minutes.

Remove from the oven and allow to cool and set for two hours before serving.

the life {THE POUR}

PINK

BEER

Only in the Magic City! As local craft beer continues to blossom, we find five fantastic brews made with local ingredients and exclusive to Miami.

WANT A TASTE

C

Tap into more than 120 craft beers and micro-brews, including ones by the local breweries listed here, at the Veritage Miami Craft Beer Tasting from 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, April 15 at the Wynwood Walls. Tickets are $55 a piece.

For details go to veritagemiami.com.

ooking fresh and seasonal is nothing new. In recent years, chefs and restaurants have gone out of their way to make it clear they source from local farms and rely on ingredients when they’re at their peak for maximum taste and health benefits. Now, the craft beer movement taking the country by storm is heading in the same direction—and the Magic City’s ever expanding brewing industry is in perfect lockstep. Local brew masters are pushing the boundaries of what beer typically tastes like and experimenting with South Florida’s bounty of tropical fruits.

The result? Beer with flavor and flair that’s uniquely—well—Miami.

Here’s our guide to five great ones to taste right now.

Geslacht by Wynwood Brewing CompanY The pioneering brewery’s famed, hearty “Pop’s Porter” won top accolades in the robust porter category at last year’s Great American Beer Festival—the Oscars of craft beer!—but these mild spring days have the WBC brewers experimenting with something on the brighter side. For their new Geslacht, they blended their mainstay Brickell Belgian IPA with any number of local exotic fruits from the Coconut Grove farmers market, most notably black sapote (or chocolate pudding fruit.) “The bitterness of the beer, as well as spice notes of the IPA, pair well

with the creamy texture of the sapote,” said David Rodriguez, assistant brewer at WBC. “It’s a pretty cool beer.” (Wynwood Brewing Company, 565 NW 24th Street, Miami; 305-982-8732; wynwoodbrewing.com.)

DFPF by J. Wakefield Brewing This may be Miami’s newest brewery, but make no mistake— there’s serious history here. Owner Jonathon Wakefield has long been known in the industry for making low-alcohol beers with locally grown tropical fruit. His most famous? A neon pink little number—yes, it’s actually pink!—made with dragon fruit and passion fruit (hence, DFPF). The brew is a Stush Berliner, an almost forgotten style of beer that originated in 16th century northern Germany and was the summer drink of choice before WWII. Wakefield brought it back and turned it into an interesting canvas for his concoctions. He’s used guava and mango treatments on it before, but nothing compares to the dragon fruit passion fruit version, which has been named one of the 100 top beers in the world.

(J. Wakefield Brewing, 120 NW 24th Street, Miami; 305-310-2797; jwakefieldbrewing.com.)

Conga Lime by M.I.A Brewing Co. The brewery’s name says it all.

M.I.A—which stands for Miami Inspired Ales—is well known for its Magic City pop culture-themed

suds. “We all take field trips to the Robert Is Here tropical fruit stand in Homestead,” said M.I.A brewer Piero Rodriguez, “and we sit around trying ingredients that are in season.” With the recent opening of its larger-than-life brewing and tap room facility in Doral, M.I.A expanded its menu to include new categories in their already extensive repertoire. The Conga Lime is cocktail-inspired beer that relies on a cream ale—pale lager’s more subdued relative—as a base.

Infused with fresh lavender flowers and Key lime purée, the resulting taste is herby, lemony perfection— ideal for warm weather and poolside sipping. (M.I.A. Brewing Co., 10400 NW 33rd Street, Suite 150, Doral; 786-801-1721; miabrewing.com.)

Ultra Double IPA by Titanic Restaurant & Brewing Long before the craft beer craze had hipsters in a froth, the Titanic Brewing Company in Coral Gables was making beer for locals, especially for University of Miami students. But owner Kevin Rusk recalls that, back then, he’d insist customers taste his big flavored beer before actually pouring a pint for them. “Because they would always send it back,” he said, lamenting that the lack of popularity around craft creations caused him to stop brewing at the time. Ah, what a difference two decades and a monster drink trend can make.

Today, “with all the craft beer excitement going on in the city, I’ve got people from all over calling

and asking when I’m going to start brewing it again.” The answer, Rusk said, is now. This spring, he’s bringing back his Ultra Double IPA, heavy on grapefruit tones and with a serious after-bite, for a limited release. (Titanic Restaurant & Brewery, 5813 Ponce De Leon Boulevard, Coral Gables; 305-6672537; titanicbrewery.com.)

Colada Porter by Biscayne Bay Brewing Company Really, it was only a matter of time: Cuban coffee-infused beer.

What more need we say?

Perhaps that this British style, dark and heavy-bodied brew receives a delicious caffeinated pick-meup that also brings out the beer’s sumptuous, malty roasted notes. And while you may not be able to saddle up to a ventanita to order a Colada Porter—and it’s not yet available at the Doral-based brewery either— you can buy it at Mendez Fuel, the combination Mobil gas station/ convenience store/hip beer boutique that specializes in local craft brews with a cult following. Because where else but in Miami could you even imagine such a place—or such a drink? (Mendez Fuel, 3201 Coral Way, Miami; 305-443-2976.)

Text by Paula Echevarria

the life {THE NEIGHBORHOOD}

EDGEWATER Not so long ago, you had to posses an urban pioneer’s grit to live in Edgewater. But claiming a stretch of glittering Biscayne Bay, the ’hood, even when it was undeniably rough, was one of Miami’s best secrets. Today, Edgewater, with boundaries from 17th Street to the south, 37th Street to the north, Biscayne Bay to the east and Northeast First Avenue to the west, is swiftly gentrifying and going vertical.

Meet our guide.

Gingi Beltran, a longtime real estate agent and a fixture of Miami’s glam party circuit, left a blown out South Beach for Edgewater in 2009. In search of a more low-key vibe, she moved into the older, 28-story Hamilton on the Bay, a hulking rental property at the foot of the Julia Tuttle Causeway. Now she’s anxiously awaiting the end of construction at Biscayne Beach, the new luxury glass tower at 30th Street and the bay, where she purchased a unit. A top sales associate with the Edgewater-based Cervera Realty, she’s become one of the neighborhood’s most passionate ambassadors.

“...only 15 minutes to the airport, less than that to downtown and Brickell, a quick stroll to the Design District.”

Genius Jones.

What’s the best place to meet new neighbors?

I love Unity on the Bay, the church that is not a church. It’s non-denominational and very much about the spiritual. You see the cross-section of the city there, just an incredible amount of diversity. In a way it’s like the old days where you connected with community through church. Here it’s less about any one religion and more about a broader consciousness movement, and it’s amazing the connections you make, with people from all walks. 411 NE 21st Street; 305-573-9191; unityonthebay.org.

The best spot for communing with nature?

Why Edgewater?

I was looking for an easier lifestyle.

Edgewater seemed perfectly located, right on the water and just a quick drive over the causeway if I wanted to be on the Beach. It’s also right off the highway, only 15 minutes to the airport, less than that to downtown and Brickell, a quick stroll to the Design District.

But I have to admit that when I first moved in, I was afraid I’d be very lonely because the neighborhood hadn’t taken off yet.

Now it has this young, bohemian energy that I love. And even though it’s upscaling, it’s still offering a much better waterfront value than most of South Florida.

Gingi Beltran, Cervera Realty agent.

Margaret Pace Park.

Margaret Pace Park. I take my Boston Terrier, Louis (a gift from her BFF, TV personality Louis Aguirre), and it’s such a peaceful place to be, even when it’s crowded. It has this open stretch of waterfront that’s just beautiful.

It’s one of the big selling points of the area. Edgewater is a dogloving community. There are no buildings in the neighborhood, old or new, that don’t allow dogs. You’ll run into everybody hanging out at the park with his or her dog. 1745 North Bayshore Drive; 305-860-3823; miamigov.com/parks.

the life The top spot for art and culture?

The National YoungArts Foundation at the historic Bacardi building. There are so many interesting performances and events there. They just did something with Jeff Koons. Also with Marina Abramovic. And I can’t wait for the Frank Gehry redesign of the campus to be completed. It’s going to be great to go to outdoor performances there and everything else they’re planning. 2100 Biscayne Boulevard; 305-377-1140; youngarts.org.

National YoungArts Foundation Building.

Where do you take a foodie for dinner?

The oysters at Mignonette are amazing. All of the seafood is very fresh and so well prepared.

But it’s not at all a stuffy place. It plays to what the neighborhood is all about. It’s very much about quality ingredients and quality service but without attitude. You can go there in jeans. You can go there after a black-tie. You walk in and you know everyone. It has great energy. The lobster roll is amazing too. And the butterscotch Heath bar bread pudding is just warm gooey yumminess. 210 NE 18th Street; 305-374-4635; mignonettemiami.com.

Isa Couture Fabrics.

Where do you go if you need to pick up a quick, killer hostess gift?

BunnieCakes is a guilty pleasure.

They make the most amazing cakes and cupcakes, including vegan and gluten-free varieties.

I stop there all the time to pick up a box of mini cupcakes to take to dinner parties and things like that. Everyone loves them. My favorites are the gluten-free guava cupcakes.

They’re so delicious! 2322 NE Second Avenue; 786-268-9790; bunniecakes.com.

The insider’s stop for a caffeine fix?

Unity on the Bay.

Coolest shop in the ʼhood?

I’d say Genius Jones. They have the hippest toys and gifts for kids.

Stuff you won’t see anywhere else. When I have to buy a baby shower gift, I don’t even bother with the registry to some other place. I just walk into Genius Jones. I love the tiny vintage rock T-shirts. They also have the most stylish kids’ furniture. Even as a grown-up, I’m fascinated by everything in that store.

288 NE Second Avenue, 305-571-2000; geniusjones.com.

Best-kept secret?

Probably Isa Couture Fabrics. It has to be the best fabric store in the city.

A lot of the designers go there. They have all of the couture fabrics. I’ve bought Ives Saint Laurent fabric

and had someone make me a dress from it. I don’t shop retail.

200 NE 30 th Street; 305-5733033; isacouturefabrics.com.

Mignonette.

“You can go there in jeans. You can go there after a black-tie. You walk in and you know everyone. It has Cupcakes from BunnieCakes. great energy.‟

Enriqueta’s Sandwich Shop. I always go to the window in the middle of the day for a cortadito made with evaporated milk.

You have to ask for the leche evaporada. It’s the best. I also take some of my most upscale clients from out of town there for lunch. Everybody wants to try Cuban food. The place is always packed with everybody from bluecollar workers to artists, gallery owners, major developers, you name it. You leave there smelling like lechón asado. But they do serve some of the best Cuban food in town, for cheap. One of my favorite things there is the pan con bistec, with a Materva, and flan for dessert. 186 NE 29th Street; 305-573-4681.

A place for worthy takeout and delivery?

I love Sabor a Perú. They have some of the best ceviche in town, amazing potatoes in Huancaína sauce. And their rocoto picante sauce is to die for. You know the place is great because it’s always packed with Peruvians. And they deliver, so what could be better? 2923 Biscayne Boulevard; 305-573-6736.

Text by Lydia Martin

{THE ESCAPE}

BACKin business

the life A bird’s-eye view of Bogotá.

Thanks to a vibrant restaurant scene, world-class museums and hotels that spare no luxury, Bogotá is ready for rediscovery.

T

he charming and coastal Cartagena has long garnered much of Colombia’s tourism buzz. Meanwhile, Bogotá—the country’s land-locked, high-altitude capital—wasn’t exactly a visitor magnet. How quickly things can change. Today, an improved social and political landscape, centered on current peace talks to end 50 years of fighting by Marxist FARC rebels, is ushering in an exciting new era, and introducing the world to Colombia’s glimmering, cosmopolitan side.

ALTITUDE CHAMBERS A confident sign of the city’s renaissance is the launch of W Bogotá amid the gleaming towers of the Santa Barbara financial district. Its glam décor was inspired by the local legend of El Rey Dorado, an ancient tribal leader said to have sailed nearby Lake Guatavita covered in gold dust on a raft loaded with treasures. That same fabled vessel served as inspiration for the goldaccented beds featured in each of the hotel’s 168 rooms and suites. In February, the hotel opened the Au Room, an indoor-outdoor lounge decorated in gold and black and named for the precious metal’s chemical element symbol.

Even Bogotá’s ongoing debate of street art versus vandalism found its way into the hotel’s golden setting: a custom mural, created by a local graffiti collective, sits inside the posh W Lounge. Healthy travelers can take Strala Yoga and CrossFit classes at FIT, a gym overlooking the city’s growing skyline, or soak in a black hydrotherapy pool beneath a shimmering gold ceiling.

Gold fringe decorates one of two lounges at the W Bogotá.

Two childhood best friends partnered to open Click Clack, a centrally located boutique hotel in the exclusive El Chico neighborhood that’s slated to expand to Cartagena and Miami. Designed by the Medellín-based plan:b arquitectos, the 11-story glass structure/artwork-in-process boasts 60 rooms, cutely sized from “XS” to “XL.” Book an “L” for a fishbowl experience, or an “M” for a grass-covered balcony. Delightful details abound, whether it’s the hotel’s façade, which depicts Bogotá’s street grid, or a coffee cup chandelier of huge Claes Oldenburg proportions. Snag a seat at the achingly hip Apache rooftop bar for a flight-worthy burger and a glass of Carménère, Chile’s preeminent varietal.

AJIACO & AHEAD Once sated with a bowl of ajiaco, a rich potato and chicken soup considered a national dish, try out the newcomers. Thanks to his homesick wife from Bogotá, Spanish toque Daniel Pedrosa Domingo imported his Michelin-starred talents from Madrid to Mordida, a translation of “bite” that lives up to its name. The restaurant’s manifesto for fresh local ingredients appears on a wall in the cozy historic house. What better way

the life Clockwise from left: Black Bear’s terrace takes one back in time; Colombian fashion designer Silvia Tcherassi’s boutique; the Museo del Oro; Azahar Coffee’s container bar; colorful comfort fare at 9-69.

to sample native exotic fruits like lulo and feijoa than in a frothy pisco sour or martini? Both complement fun starters such as kimchee-spiced tuna tartare scooped into a spring-roll cone, and Angus beef nigiri whose center reveals a quail egg surprise. The Amazonia corvina and shellfish ceviches’ presentation and flavors are enough to wow a Peruvian expert, while their Italian counterparts lap up sherry-laced bacon and eggs.

Grupo Takami, the restaurant powerhouse behind a slew of local hits (La Fama, Ugly American, Cacio & Pepe) looked to burly British-born chef Andrew Blackburn for its most recent concept, Black Bear.

Nosh on paw-shaped pumpernickel rolls while waiting for a meal, or linger on the terrace, encased in ornate wrought iron and greenhouse vegetation, where hobnobbing on green tufted banquettes is considered a contest. Share ample tapas (fish croquetas with wasabi coleslaw) and rounds of craft cocktails, a nascent trend here, starring gin and the national hangover inducer of choice, aguardiente.

With its quirky tiled floor and paper fish lighting installation, hipster hideaway 9-69 would be right at home in Wynwood. Teetotalers can treat themselves with spearmint and coconut milk-infused lemonade served in parfait glasses, as local bands, like Monsieur Periné, play a small stage. While they offer a variety of risotto balls (stuffed with everything from eggplant to feta), the restaurant is also one of the only places in town to get a decent taco.

FROM BAGS TO BEANS Miamians may be familiar with Silvia Tcherassi, a Colombian fashion designer with two stores, for ready-to-wear and bridal, in Coral Gables. But if you’re in her homeland, it’s smart to start a spree at her Bogotá flagship, where she sells mochilas, traditional knitted bags she glamorizes with Swarovski crystals in geometric patterns. Other mainstays with eponymous shops: Mercedes Salazar, who strings sweet charms on colorful thread; and Olga Piedrahita, whose avantgarde womenswear is displayed in a shop decorated with handwritten texts on the ceiling and walls.

At The Backroom, fashion blogger turned retailer Juan Diego Perdomo curates men’s and women’s collections by Colombia’s emerging designers. Browse Loren Hatch’s python totes, Leonor Rincón’s girlie cuts in exclusive silk prints and Lina Osorio’s custom hats.

For a break, stop in at Azahar, a coffee bar housed in a recycled shipping container. The café focuses on single origin coffee beans and prides itself on being able to trace each batch to small individual farmers across Colombia. Order a cup and choose your brewing method, from Chemex to French press.

Then buy bags of beans for caffeine addicts who will forever be spoiled.

FINE METALS, FINE ART To understand the beginnings of Bogotá, study the myths and masks on display at Museo del Oro. Display cases brim with ceramic and metal objects made by the Muisca and other native, Pre-Hispanic tribes. Don’t miss the glittery vault with recordings of modern-day shamans.

Happily, art thrives beyond Botero. Art Basel Miami Beach galleries Casas Riegner and Instituto de visión are forging the Bogotá Art District, while a collector couple founded NC Arte, a nonprofit that exhibits four artists annually, including the politically charged Clemencia Echeverri and Paris-based Iván Argote in April. Fall brings the decade-old, annual International Art Fair of Bogotá, where more than 70 galleries from Europe and the Americas are expected to show 3,000 works.

Text by Rebecca Kleinman

Gypsy Getaway From Bogotá, hop a short flight to Santa Marta and drive an hour, through thick jungle and banana plantations in the Sierra Nevada, to eco-chic resort Gitana del Mar. It’s the latest venture for Nina Arias, an entrepreneur and natural born gypsy who pioneered Wynwood, where she ran the Rocket Projects art gallery before relocating to Costa Rica, where she opened a boutique and event planning company and met her surfer husband Ryan Gorman. In 2012, the couple purchased a five-acre finca and built a dream setting in which to raise their six-month-old daughter, Maya Grace.

More recently, they began hosting guests in six bungalows with vine canopied outdoor baths and luxury comforts, like 450 thread-count linens.

The all-inclusive property caters to wellness and the area’s world-renowned nature. Yoga classes and retreats are held on the beach, and one can hear the surf from the open-air spa. View howler monkeys and exotic birds and butterflies while tubing down the nearby Don Diego River. Parque Tayrona, a main attraction thanks to its wildlifefilled hikes and breathtaking beaches, warrants a day trip.

Three healthy meals are offered daily in the communal dining room. And even if there were nearby eateries (and there are not), one would be hard-pressed to leave the resort after tasting dishes like pumpkin soup, whose creaminess comes from coconut milk, and ceviche with snook, a delicate white fish absent from Florida menus. The coast’s signature seafood platter—fried whole fish, coconut rice, salad and plantains—gets a tasty and healthy makeover here. The fish is roasted instead, and served with a spinach coconut rice and beet slaw with sesame seeds. Lavish breakfasts offer up arepas made of quinoa or choclo, and the stellar bar’s rumrefreshing Coco di Gitana will be sorely missed when you’re back home in Miami.

For details go to gitanadelmar.com.co.

INDULGE A p r il / m ay 2 0 1 5

PHOTO BY FELIPE CUEVAS

Home.

We’re feeling a little inspired right now. It’s because spring is in the air, and we’re ready to celebrate all it represents: new beginnings, fresh ideas, our collective rebirth. It’s also the season when Miami returns to those who truly call it home—the locals. As tourists and snowbirds find their way back north, the rest of us stretch out and settle in. The people you’ll meet on the following pages do so with style to spare.

The Colombian fashion star who infused playful eclecticism into her bay front lair.

The busy interior design maven who whipped up a serene hideaway for herself.

The host of French ex-pats who have brought a certain savoir faire to the Magic City.

This is our ode to them, and to the pearls of wisdom they share. Enjoy!

Grace

URBAN

What happens when a fashion designer with eclectic inclinations meets a luxurious condo in the grove?

Silvia Tcherassi opens her doors and invites us in.

A mid-century chandelier presides over the airy living room in Tcherassi’s Coconut Grove condo, which is filled with art, much of it from Latin America. But the real stars of the show? The gorgeous sunlight that streams in all day, and the breathtaking bay and city views.

T ex t b y B e tt y C o r t i n a - W e i s s P h ot o g r a p h y b y F e l ip e Cu e vas

S

Silvia Tcherassi knows a beautiful thing when she sees one. The Miamibased, Barranquilla-born fashion designer—considered the Carolina Herrera of Colombia—creates intricately embellished, playful and feminine womenswear for the line she sells at her eponymous boutique in the Village of Merrick Park, dreamy bridal gowns at her neighboring atelier, and is the spirit behind the Tcherassi Hotel & Spa, a 250-year-old colonial mansion she renovated and turned into Cartagena’s hottest boutique hotel.

So four years ago, when she first laid eyes on a 25th-floor condominium with breathtaking bay views in Coconut Grove, she recognized it was a masterpiece in waiting.

“We had been living in Key Biscayne and loved it. The kids were in great schools, and I got to ride my bike a lot,” she said.

“But once the kids were out of school, I started to feel out of place there. I was a working mom.

And the traffic to get to my store, in the Grove at the time, was pretty bad.” On those slow drives, she’d often pass in front of the Grovernor House, the luxurious 32-story

TABLE TALK

For the formal dining room, Tcherassi, who hosts dinner parties for friends and family once a month, wanted a table that would inspire conversation and be personal at the same time. So she had one custom-made by Italian design house Draga & Aurel.

The top was silkscreened and hand-painted with quotes from her book “Effortless Elegance.” (“Fashion is not a recipe; having the ingredients and following the instructions does not guarantee a good result,” reads one.) The large circle of red ribbons behind the table, a work by Italian artist Deniele Papuli, offers a helping of drama, while Philippe Starck chairs bring a dash of modern style.

An antique chandelier presides over it all for “balance and contrast at the same time.”

Words of stylish wisdom. Tcherassi (far left) selected a few of her favorite quotes from her 2010 book “Effortless Elegance” to have hand-painted onto the dining table in hopes the words would spark conversation during meals.

“I think living spaces are like women— they both need to be beautifully dressed.

In both interiors and fashion you must have balance between colors, textures and proportions. The same principles apply.”

condominium tower on Bayshore Drive, admiring it from afar. When she finally got the chance to step into one of its units “I was immediately seduced,” she recalled.

“The high ceilings, the simple lines, the bay and city views and the light. Oh my goodness, the light was beautiful.”

Before she could move in her brood—her husband, Mauricio, who heads finance for the family empire, their 17-year-old daughter Sofia, and 21-year-old Mauricio Jr.— some small but meaningful changes were in order. So Tcherassi called on the same architects who had built the Cartagena hotel for help. She wanted to tear down a couple of walls, upgrade the bathrooms and the kitchen.

“There really wasn’t much to do,” she said. “But those things made a big difference.”

From there, Tcherassi herself took over, leading the décor effort with the same flair she so famously unleashes on her

fashion line. “I think living spaces are like women—they both need to be beautifully dressed,” said Tcherassi, who studied interior design in Colombia before turning to fashion as a career. “And one is not different from the other. In both interiors and fashion you must have balance between colors, textures and proportions. The same principles apply.” She describes her look as “effortless elegance,” which also happens to be the title of the book she authored in 2010. And while a lush eclecticism prevails in the apartment, so do touches of creature comforts.

The couches in the living room may be fine Italian pieces by Piero Lissoni, but she had them made extra deep so her family and guests can easily sink into them for a nice nap. “I like surprises, yes, and nothing should be obvious,” she said. “But this is still a home where a family lives.

And it should feel like that.” ☐

To bring a touch of softness and warmth to the bedroom, Tcherassi lined the walls with embossed silk wallpaper—and kept things simple from there. A chair with clean lines. Modern but spacious and functional nightstands.

And, always, pretty floral arrangements she makes herself.

“I don’t like it when flowers look too perfect. I like them to be a little off, a little loose.”

ROOM WITH A VIEW

The lack of curtains and fussy window treatments—and the overall airy color palette that pervades the space—is a strategic choice on Tcherassi’s part. “It’s all about making the spectacular view the focal point,” she said. Especially so in the bedroom, which boasts the view in this photo. That means sunlight streams in from dawn until dusk. “I can’t tolerate dark spaces,” Tcherassi said. “I don’t even sleep with blackout shades. I like to wake up to the light of day.” Ever the designer, she says her work in the space is never quite done. “I haven’t really finished the bedroom,” she confessed. “I’m still looking for a great, comfortable chair. But I take my time and when I see something I love, I’ll bring it home.”

White Mag ic Interior Designer Carola Hinojosa unleashes her signature minimalistic style on her own Key Biscayne condo.

Text by Jennifer Scruby

Photography by Nick Garcia

“As a designer, I work on so many projects, so many rooms,” said Bolivian-born, Miami-based interior designer Carola Hinojosa, sitting in her living room.

“At home, I just want a blank canvas to help clear my head.”

A favorite treasure is a Tracey Emin work made of white neon wording, pictured above.

“Luckily, I met her and told her I loved the work but also loved everything in white,” Hinojosa said. “So she did a series of three and I got one.”

In the style evolution of famed decorator Carola Hinojosa, her arrival in Miami fourteen years ago marked a turning point.

Back in Bolivia, she’d gravitated toward traditional English interiors, heavy on florals and stripes. “But when I came here, I did the opposite,” she said. “I decided I wanted more of a clean, contemporary look. When you have those views and nature coming through your windows, you don’t need that much inside.”

With that in mind, Hinojosa honed her decorating sensibilities, settling on her preferred monochromatic palette and a self-assured, minimalist aesthetic.

“I like spaces to be modern but very livable, which means you have to make them homey,” said Hinojosa. For that, she relies on natural materials—beautiful woods, stones and textiles that add depth and texture to a room without color. These days, the challenge is less about creating these zen environments than fitting new projects into her busy schedule.

She regularly juggles a range of them, from private residential estates to high-profile country clubs and hotels—all brought in by word of mouth.

With her four children grown and living nearby, Hinojosa, 57, recently decided to renovate her own 2,200-square-foot Key Biscayne condominium—the same one she’d moved into when, newly divorced, she first settled in Miami. “I gutted the whole thing, so it’s totally new and done just for me,” she said. “It’s my sanctuary.”

Cast in clean, seamless white, it’s an inspiring illustration of less is more.

Originally, the space was quite dark. “It had a concrete wall at the entrance, ebony doors, travertine floors and a very dark kitchen, along with big mirrors and lots of drawers,” Hinojosa said. “Now, it’s all white and light oak. Even all the art is white. It looks a lot bigger because the spaces are empty— now it’s more about the art.”

Choosing the scrupulously pale theme was simple. “As a designer, I work on so many projects, so many rooms,” said Hinojosa. “At home, I just want a blank canvas to help clear my head.” To up the serenity factor, everything’s enclosed. “The kitchen disappears—the stove is enclosed—and all the doors are flush with the paneling,” she said.

AC grilles? Tucked out of sight.

Even the baseboards are hidden inside the walls.

Dreamy Dining “My lifestyle is very family-oriented and I love to host sit-down dinners for my kids and grandkids,” said Hinojosa. “The white spalted maple dining table seats 12—it’s a real conversation table—and was made

by John Houshmand. It’s cantilevered out from the Bulthaup kitchen, which doesn’t look like a kitchen because it’s all behind doors.”

Clockwise from top left: In the living room, a custom cabinet holds some of Hinojosa’s beloved art books, beneath a beaded ceramic necklace by Moroccan artist Lalla Essaydi. She keeps accessories, like this streamlined clock and porcelain vase simple, and only uses white flowers.

Serenity central: It took workers four months to perfect the master bath’s seamless white finish.

A simple wooden tray table keeps Hinojosa’s favorite bath products within arm’s reach.

The challenge was creating an impeccably geometric, minimalist space. “I wanted all the doors to be floor to ceiling, so the ceiling had to be perfectly flat in order for the doors to open,” she said. “That was a process.” Then came the master bathroom. “I didn’t want tiles or stone or grout lines, so it’s made with poured concrete with a special finish without any seams,” she added.

“That took four months alone. I wouldn’t do a design like that for a client because it’s so detailed, and you don’t even see the details!”

Hinojosa found it easy to keep things sophisticatedly spare, since she’s been culling her possessions ever since she came to Miami.

“Every year, I have less and less,” she said. When she decided to remodel, the first thing that came to mind—besides more art—was the dining table, a huge piece of white spalted maple that’s attached to the kitchen island. Lending some visual continuity, custom cabinetry in the living room is topped with the same type of wood.

That’s because, like most true style-makers, once Hinojosa finds

something she likes, she sticks with it. “My upholstered leather bed by Christian Liaigre, for instance, I’ve bought in brown and taupe, and now I have the same model in pure white,” she said. “In my New York apartment, I have black and white art, and in Miami I have only white art. But in both, I have exactly the same furniture: the same B&B Italia Luis couch—in white for Miami and black for New York—and the same custom-made coffee table—in a very light tan color for Miami and black for up there.”

At home in Miami, she’s often curled up on the round sofa in the living room. “Even if I’m alone I don’t feel lonely there because the space kind of embraces you,” she said.

And she loves to hang out on both terraces. One has views of the bay and a big white table where Hinojosa likes to eat breakfast before heading out for her daily workout at Barry’s Boot Camp or Flywheel. On the other, overlooking the ocean, an allwhite sitting area with yacht-worthy white decking takes center stage.

The best compliment she’s gotten on the renovation? “That the

space is very me,” Hinojosa said. “It really reflects who I am—I thought of all the details and it’s very, very serene. Likewise, my clothes are very minimal and neutral—you’ll never find color in my closet, and I’m not a jewelry person.”

Next up: “Now, it’s all about art—I still have a lot of spaces in the apartment that I want to fill,” Hinojosa said. She started collecting contemporary art about eight years ago. “Now I take courses, am always reading about art and travel all over the world to the fairs and museums,” she said. “It’s my biggest passion.”

What she’s definitely not passionate about is the idea of ever renovating her own home again. It’s much harder to make a decision when you’re designing for yourself, she admits. “You want everything to be perfect and it’s never perfect so you start doubting yourself. I’ve had this place since the day I arrived in this country so I don’t think I’ll ever sell it. But if I won the lottery, I’d buy a beautiful beach home and have someone else design it. I’m done with designing for me!” ☐

Master bedroom: Over the years, Hinojosa has bought the same model of upholstered leather Christian Liaigre bed in ever paler shades: brown, tan and now white. Her lucky children get her castoffs.

Julien Bigan

Communications Director, Roche Bobois

We’ll always have

Paris To celebrate French interior design show Maison et Objet’s American debut in Miami Beach this May, we’re exploring the art of living with that famously indescribable je ne sais quoi. INDULGE asked six fabulously French ex-pats, all of whom now call the Magic City home, to share their ideas on everything from decorating to dressing and drinking.

PortraitS by FELIPE CUEVAS

F

or Julien Bigan, style is not something that can be bought; it’s a life that must be assembled. That might be something of a surprise coming from the U.S. communications director of Roche Bobois, the French design house with outposts in Coral Gables and one soon to come in Aventura. But Bigan, 44, believes it is possible to have too much of a good thing—or at least too much of one thing. “When I lived in Milan, I got to know many fashion editors and they would say, ‘Yes, this bag is Balenciaga, these shoes are Louboutin, but the shirt is H&M,” he recalled. “That’s the European way: a few understated accessories with pieces that are more precious.” The same, he believes, applies to creating a relaxed feeling of luxury in the home. “The total look, even if it does all come from Roche Bobois, can be too much,” he said. “So I always say to mix.”

His philosophy on contrasting elements is something he believes should apply to life as well. While Bigan spends most of his days helping beautify some of Miami’s most lush homes, last year he volunteered to improve one of its most challenged ones. He teamed up with friend tennis champ Venus Williams, who also happens to be an interior designer, to furnish Lotus House, a shelter for homeless women and children in Miami. It was a chance, Bigan said, to rid the store of old inventory and do good at the same time.

Married to former tennis pro Ana Maria Zuleta, Bigan lives with her and their two sons in Edgewater.

With a third baby on the way, he said time with family is now the highest form of luxury. However, there is one thing he never skimps on: Time to put himself together properly. And when he travels, he always wears a suit. “I cannot leave the house without thinking about how to dress.” —Ana Menendez

Séverine Gianèse-Pittman

Jean Marc Durante

Co-owner, Red Market Salon

President, FrenchAmerican Chamber of Commerce of Miami

P

H

arisiennes have a knack for looking effortlessly cool, so much so that you might get the impression they cut their own hair and just happen to come out looking like famed actress and singer Charlotte Gainsbourg.

In fact, the French take their hairstyling seriously. The training of stylists in France is a much longer process than in the States, and the artistic side is just as important as the service, said stylist Jean Marc Durante, who was born in Lyon and now co-owns the cheerful, bustling Red Market Salon in Bal Harbour Shops. “We invest all our energy in the client’s experience, just like you’d do at a Michelin-starred restaurant,” he said. No surprise, women flock to Red Market from as far as Montreal and Brazil to get the authentic French salon treatment from Durante and his renowned colorist partner, Reynald Ricard, who also trained in Paris. So what’s the secret? There are two, the stylists insist.

First is the concept of inconspicuous color. A woman in France pays a lot for highlights that are so natural that they look like her own, notes Durante. “That’s why our signature is balayage, a French technique in which the color is carefully painted on by hand, without foils,” he said. Second: going for a style that can be easily recreated at home. In France, lots of women have shorter hair and not a lot of time for blowouts. “They want a cut that’s feminine, sexy and easy to maintain, and that lasts 8-10 weeks,” said Durante. It’s all about geometry. “I always think of Brigitte Bardot when I cut hair,” he added. “I love when the layers dry naturally in a great shape, like you didn’t even think about it. To me, the actress Audrey Tatou is a good example of a modern Parisian woman: confident, chic and not afraid to stand out.” —Jennifer Scruby

ere’s a fact you may not know: some 40,000 French citizens call Florida home. And at least half of those end up in Miami, figures Séverine Gianèse-Pittman, an attorney who for the last two years has also served as president of the French-American Chamber of Commerce of Miami. “The French fit in here,” she said. “You don’t feel like a foreigner because everyone is coming from somewhere else. And everybody has an accent.”

Licensed to practice law in both France and Florida, GianèsePittman, 39, has been juggling both cultures for almost 20 years. She first arrived for a short stay in 1999, intending to take a quick course at the University of Miami and return home. She ended up falling in love and, in 2002, returned to Miami to live. Today, she and her Cuban-American husband have two daughters they are raising in three languages. The trick to thriving in multiple cultures, she said, is harnessing the same flexibility and empathy she urges her clients to cultivate. “I always tell my children, ‘take the best of each culture and you’ll be happy,’” she said.

Still, there’s plenty she misses about France. The ease of walking everywhere. The creativity and flexibility. And, as a mother, French school lunches. “In France the school lunch is really healthy, really balanced and not full of sugar,” she said. But she appreciates much about her adopted country too. The way cultures come together. And, particularly, the American approach to business. “The French are a little more impatient. They want things fast,” she said. “Americans go more into details and can’t be rushed.

They want to be precise and this is very good. I tell my clients, you need to keep your calm,” she said, with a laugh, “because the French can be very emotional.” —AM

Pascal Oudin

Chef/Owner, Pascal’s on Ponce and Brasserie Central

T

he secret ingredient in all good food is…time.

That’s the first lesson Pascal Oudin learned as a young boy in his mother’s kitchen in a rural town in France’s Burgundy province. “You would wake up in the morning to go to school, and there was already stuff on the stove for lunch,” he said, pointing out that “for lunch, we ate a real meal!” Time to cook and time to eat. Money, he recalled, may have been secondary—not to mention scarce—but it didn’t matter. The family of seven always ate well: chicken stew, rabbit, potau-feu. The main course was always followed by cheese. And lunch was so hearty, his father frequently took a nap after the meal before he returned to work.

Now 55 and living in Coral Gables, the master behind Pascal’s on Ponce, one of the longest standing stars of Miami French dining, holds tightly to the traditions and memories of food in his homeland. Last fall, he opened a second French eatery, Brasserie Central, at the Village of Merrick Park. It’s a classic Parisian bistro where he’s “just trying to bring back the old things,” said Oudin, who landed his first kitchen job at 13 in a small restaurant in Moulins, and who by 17 had received the “Best Apprentice Chef Award” in France.

At Brasserie, he’s offering everything from house-made pâté, to hand-cut steak tartare, coq au vin to hearty soups and stews.

“Yesterday, I made onion soup and the pot was as big as me,” he joked.

That kind of large-scale cooking gets exhausting, he said. “I sometimes get tired of cooking,” he said, “But I always love to eat.” —AM

Déborah Kerchache

Owner, D-Koncept Boutique

D

éborah Kerchache, 30, a textbook French cool girl, has just set up shop in Wynwood and, thanks to her utter devotion to chic European street-wear, it’s already one of the hottest new boutiques in town. The store, D-Koncept, stocks everything—bags, beanies, accessories, sundresses, heels for women and sneakers for both sexes, and even French tea! “The idea was to bring casual stuff in the French style to people in Miami who really love fashion,” said Kerchache, a Paris fashion school graduate who’s worked as a costume designer and singer. “Parisian women follow trends but manage to take ownership of them. Whatever we wear, we want to make it our own.”

It starts, Kerchache said, with the basics. “Those are really important.

Quality sunglasses, a nice bag, a good sneaker for day and a good heel for night,” she said. “For work, a woman might wear a slim black pant with a flawless shirt to feel comfortable and a pair of stylish sneakers. At night, she’ll exchange the sneakers for heels, and put on an elegant black jacket with the sleeves rolled up and a nice necklace.” To stay feminine and trendy, French women are all about a high-low mix, she added. “For example, a Zara outfit with a pair of Zanotti heels and a YSL purse looks stylish and simple,” said Kerchache, whose favorite new trend is reversible unisex clothing. As for the rumor that Parisians always wear beautiful lingerie under it all? It’s true, she insists. “French women are really into details. We never know what could happen.” —JS

Cory Finot

Co-owner, Buena Vista Deli and Buena Vista Chocolate & Wine

W

hen Cory Finot got married in France some 13 years ago, the wedding party of 80 went through as many bottles of bubbly. It was a fitting celebration for a son of Reims—a small city in the Champagne province—whose great grandfather worked with Madame Clicquot herself. Not long ago, the family found a photo of the patriarch.

In it, he’s sitting at the end of a table next to Barbe-Nicole Clicquot Ponsardin, considered the grand dame of French Champagne. “They weren’t smiling,” Finot said.

Champagne is serious business.

And for Finot’s maternal line, still living in Champagne, there is no better libation. “My grandmother always says that Champagne is the only wine you can have with appetizers, main course and dessert. And she’s right,” Finot said, pointing out that even though his grandmother is now 88, she drinks at least one glass of Champagne every day. Finot, who had his first taste when he was 12, confesses that, now, he’s lucky if he gets through a bottle a week. “My family probably wouldn’t talk to me if they knew,” he joked. But “I have to work.”

Now 37, Finot has been a fixture of Miami’s dining scene almost since his arrival in the city in 1999. He’s one-half of the partnership that runs the Buena Vista Deli and the Buena Vista Chocolate & Wine shop. (His business partner, Claude Postel, hails from food royalty himself: his family has been in the restaurant business for seven generations.) And yet, when it came time to christen their businesses, the royal pedigreed duo turned not to their French roots, but to the local terroir. Because if you want Champagne, Finot said, go to Champagne. If you want a neighborhood place, name it after the locals. “Yes, we are French,” he said. “But we are locals. We are part of Buena Vista.” ☐ —AM

F r o m Pa r i s , W i t h St y l e When the organizers of Paris’ legendary Maison et Objet, the pre-eminent interior design show in France, decided to come to America, they picked South Florida as their landing spot.

Think of it as the Art Basel of interior design. Maison et Objet is France’s most prestigious and largest home furnishings trade show, a biannual celebration of all the things that make beautiful interiors, from furnishings to wallpaper, textiles to tabletop accessories. It began 20 years ago but only this year will the show finally debut in America—from May 12 to 15 at the Miami Beach Convention Center. Hoping to capitalize on both the North and South American markets, the organizers planned much more than a trade show: there will be seminars and workshops, cocktail parties and museum pop-ups and—this being Miami—tours of the latest “starchitect” projects. But the centerpiece of it all remains the exhibition itself, where more than 250 vendors from around the world will set up lavish and meticulously appointed displays of their new products—just like they do at the Paris shows. For the first three days, from May 12 through 14, Maison will be open only to the trade. On May 15, the show’s last day, it will be open to the public. For details and to purchase tickets go to maison-objet.com/americas.

A sneak peak at a few of the objects that will be on display at Maison et Objet’s Miami Beach show. Clockwise, starting above left: A flirty chair from New York City’s Koket line; a chandelier, inspired by wind instruments, from Portugal’s DelightFULL lighting company; a stunningly stenciled chest by Cote France; and a melted metal and gold plated side table from Portugal’s Boca do Lobo.

indulgences

“B

“Bring me a chair in the midst of thunder, a chair for me and for everyone not only to relieve an exhausted body but for every purpose and for every person, for squandered strength and for meditation…a single chair is the first sign of peace.” In “Ode to Common Things” the great Chilean poet Pablo Neruda praised the extraordinary in the ordinary—tables, the dictionary, his socks and, yes, a chair. With inimitably simple prose, he coaxed us to pause and look with fresh eyes at beauty all around. Perhaps designer Tokujin Yoshoika, whose works are part of the permanent collections of museums around the world, was channeling the Nobel laureate himself when he created the Prism Chair for Glas Italia. With unnervingly straight lines, it is a basic seat, but it is also a study in contrasts. Transparent, it shimmers with light. Made of thick glass, it hints at invisibility. It is a meeting of the mundane and the precious, a reminder that poetry can sit in the most unexpected of places. (Glas Italia’s Prism Chair, $4,660. Luminaire, 3901 NE Second Avenue, Miami; 305-576-5788; luminaire.com.)