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FROM THE EDITOR
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FEEL THE BURN
It’s not every day that you get to hang with a culinary great. So you can imagine why I was willing to break a serious sweat around the prodigious wood-fired megagrill of Francis Mallmann’s protégé, Argentine chef Sebastián Benítez. I learned about his mentor’s famed livefire cooking techniques and later savored Los Fuegos’ Sunday asado, a meal of meat and more meat (plus some roasted vegetables and an unlimited dessert bar for good measure). Not a bad way to spend a Sunday.
GET OUT THERE
One of the pleasures of living in Miami is being able to enjoy the outdoors yearround—whether that means partaking in a leisurely meal, going on an active excursion, or simply soaking up a little sun. That’s why this issue of Aventura is dedicated to the variety of ways Miamians can venture out in our palm-studded paradise, complete with sunscreen and shades, of course (see our favorite products on page 32).
Even in the middle of a city like Miami, nature can give us perspective to see things from new angles. Take, for example, Treetop Trekking, a new zip line and ropes course park that winds through six acres on Watson Island, letting you travel via tree canopy while spotting gibbons, lemurs, and other critters at the adjacent Jungle Island (page 21). Or if a high-fl ying adventure isn’t your speed, turn to page 68 to see Miami through the eyes of photographer Alessandro Sarno and his new book, Miami: Contemporary Visions from a Tropical Jungleland.
Dining outdoors and grilling poolside are beloved pastimes in Miami. But at the Faena Miami Beach, chef Sebastián Benítez takes your average barbecued fare to new heights with his Sunday asado at Los Fuegos. Don’t miss Christie Galeano-DeMott’s “Up in Flames” feature, beginning on page 54, to learn more about Benítez’s native Argentinian tradition of cooking with fi re, his training with renowned chef Francis Mallmann, and his tips for how you too can become a true grill master.
A Magic City mainstay returns this month, as the Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show drops anchor February 15-19. Turn to page 30 for our must-dos and insider tips for making the most of your visit to what’s billed as the largest boat and yacht event in the world. The latest industry trend that’s sure to turn heads and draw crowds at this year’s show? Electric watercraft, which are not only eco-friendly but whisper quiet, too. Howard Walker shares the top 10 coolest battery-powered vessels on the market in “Electric Waves” on page 60.
No matter how you choose to do it, here’s hoping this month’s issue inspires you to get out there and enjoy life in the great outdoors.
Kristen Desmond LeFevre
