Coral Gables Magazine November 2023

CORAL GABLES NOVEMBER 2023

MAGAZINE

THE FOOD ISSUE INTERNATIONAL DINING IN THE CITY BEAUTIFUL HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Departments

November 2023

10 EDITOR’S NOTE

Food, Glorious Food

12 READERS’ LETTERS Readers’ Feedback

15 STREETWISE

UM’s New Music Center A City Commission Pay Hike

15

31

31 LIVING

Meditation on Miracle Mile A Night Out on the Town

45 BITES

Inexpensive Quick Bites Niven Patel’s New Italian Eatery

53 PEOPLE

A Woman Enterpreneur, A Child Therapist, and A Mixologist

97 BACK OF BOOK

21st Century Historic Preservation Don’s Search for the City’s Soul

102 DINING GUIDE

American Food, Steak Houses, and Local Pubs

112 CITY LIFE

Remembering Gracie

45

“MY POINT IS THE PROCESS WAS NOT DONE RIGHT. IT WASN’T IN A DRAFT BUDGET, IT WASN’T DONE BY

ORDINANCE, THERE WAS NO DISCUSSION ITEM ON IT.” VICE MAYOR ANDERSON ON THE RAISING OF COMMISSIONERS’ SALARIES. SEE PAGE 20.

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coralgablesmagazine.com

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Features

Vol 6. Issue 10

61 THE FOOD ISSUE: A GLOBAL FEAST

Of the 170-plus restaurants that we keep tabs on here at Coral Gables Magazine, more than half are international, with foods from more than 20 nations. Think of culinary Coral Gables as a kind of cross between the United Nations and Epcot’s World Showcase, where you can eat your way around the world, on foot.

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73 THE HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE “As we look toward the Olympics in Paris this summer, we are advocating for holiday shopping to be added as an official gold medal sport,” says Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Mark Trowbridge. “So pick up your credit card and let’s go for the gold this holiday season.”

73

88 FALLEN IN THE LINE OF DUTY The names of fallen Coral Gables police and firefighters will be etched on a new memorial sculpture going up in front of the Public Safety Building. An ode to those who gave their last, final measure.

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coralgablesmagazine.com

Thank you

for believing in Baptist Health Foundation We wish to express our tremendous gratitude to the donors who have provided a gift of $1 million or more this year in support of Baptist Health. Your philanthropic commitment has made a significant impact on the well-being of our patients, healthcare professionals and communities. We honor your vision for a stronger and healthier South Florida.

Anonymous (3 donors wish to remain anonymous) Drs. Joe and Sally Bauer Cabrerizo Family Foundation, Inc. Rita & Rick Case CritiCare Clinics The Dunspaugh-Dalton Foundation, Inc. Sherrill W. & Mary Ann Hudson Eloise Kimmelman Foundation Joshua and Sonya Lee Gloria Vasta Lewis Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida The José Milton Foundation James & Joanne Mitchell Mark & Silvia Rich Jim Rifkin & Jane Packard Buddy Wilton & Shay Doll

Donations made from October 1, 2022 through September 30, 2023

EDITOR’S NOTE

Chef Niven Patel (right) and partner Mohamed Alkassar at the new Erba Restaurant

Food, Glorious Food

CEO & PUBLISHER Richard Roffman

Welcome to our annual Food Issue. With the holidays upon us, and the tradition of celebrating the season with dining, it’s good to know that Coral Gables has a vast selection of restaurants to choose from. We decided to celebrate this by bringing attention to the 90plus dining establishments that purvey foods from foreign countries. The range is remarkable, with the No. 1 category being Italian, deserving its own special section.

It’s with that top category in mind that we present our Fine Dining review for this month: the long-anticipated Erba Restaurant, which opened in October in the LifeTime building on US-1 (near the intersection with Ponce de Leon). Erba is an exemplar of international cuisine in the Gables. Chef Niven Patel is of Indian roots; his partner at the Alpareno Restaurant Group, Mohamed Alkassar, is a native of Spain with Arabic roots; and their new restaurant is Italian. The other restaurants of their group are Mamey (Caribbean and South Pacific fusion), Orno (New American), and Ghee (Indian). The first two are both in the THesis hotel on US-1 in South Gables, while the last is in Dadeland, for which we will have to forgive them.

“Overall, in Greater Miami the food scene is getting better every year. But we are blessed in the community of Coral Gables, which is where we have [most of ] our restaurants,” says Alkassar. “The highs

EVP / PUBLISHER Gail Scott

aren’t as high, and the lows aren’t as low.

Instead, it’s a very stable city, even in hard times. We opened Mamey in August 2020, in the heart of the pandemic, and the residents supported us. We feel like the community here appreciates our food, our humble hospitality, and that personal touch which we provide. Niven and I are always around.”

And then there is the food of Niven Patel, who may be the best chef in the city, certainly one who has garnered much national attention. Last year, The New York Times declared Mamey to be one of the best 50 restaurants in the United States. Ever humble, Chef Patel tips his hat to “our great teams,” and to the amount of work they do, especially keeping things local. “Everything in Erba is house-made, including the pasta and the mortadella, which we cure and grind and then slice,” says Patel. “Even the butter candle.” That little touch is a candle of ghee butter for each table. Once the wick is lit, it melts the Indian butter down for dipping with the Italian-style homemade bread in a setting that feels like French Morocco. Talk about thinking global and acting local.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF J.P. Faber

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Amy Donner DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS Monica Del Carpio-Raucci VP SALES Sherry Adams MANAGING EDITOR Kylie Wang DIGITAL EDITOR Natalia Clement EDITORIAL INTERN Ava Volman ART DIRECTOR Jon Braeley EDITOR-AT-LARGE Grace Carricarte SENIOR WRITERS James Broida Andrew Gayle Doreen Hemlock Katelin Stecz Mike Clary PROOFREADER Lesley Fonger PHOTOGRAPHERS Rodolfo Benitez Jonathan Dann Tiege Dolly PRODUCTION MANAGER Toni Kirkland CIRCULATION & DISTRIBUTION CircIntel OFFICIAL FRAMER Adam Brand / Frames USA

JP FABER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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On the cover: The Food Issue, A Global Feast.

Illustration by Jon Braeley

Coral Gables Magazine is published monthly by City Regional Media, 1200 Anastasia Ave. Suite 115, Coral Gables FL 33134.

Telephone: (305) 995-0995. Copyright 2023 by City Regional Media. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part of any text, photograph or illustration without prior written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Send address changes to subscriptions@coralgablesmagazine.com.

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Each, month we print letters we receive from our readers. We encourage all commentary, including criticism as well as compliments, and of course any commentary about our community. If you are interested in writing to us with your opinions, thoughts, or suggestions, please send them to letters@coralgablesmagazine.com. Letters may be edited for brevity.

Time to Take Back West Matheson

I realize the “Dog Fight” story about West Matheson Hammock was part of your annual “Dog Issue.” But dogs are a rabbit hole distraction. Worse, bogus assertions and lack of context further mislead readers. This is an egregious land-grab by a handful of entitled residents, with support from Miami-Dade County and the City of Coral Gables. They want to essentially cut off public access to land deeded by the Mathesons under the express condition that this land be accessible to the public. This deed-restricted land grant predates the neighboring subdivisions and their homeowner associations by decades.

It was open to vehicles directly, or we could park near the School House Road and Banyan Drive entrances. Then, somehow, the HOAs got Coral Gables to prohibit parking on these public streets and got Miami-Dade to close the entrances to vehicles.

The School House entrance was eventually reopened, then recently closed at the behest of the HOAs. They’re whining

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about traffic and dogs. Their benefactors at Miami-Dade are clearly on their side, cooking up a new-found interest in Environmentally Endangered Lands (EELs) as a pretext to restrict access. So is [the City of ] Coral Gables, which is startling, given how many of its own residents are now locked out of the park. Traffic on School House is a laughably low 133 vehicles a day, per the HOA. Half of this traffic is likely e-commerce deliveries, landscapers, pool cleaners, etc. Thousands of nearby residents live with far more traffic on their streets. It’s next-level chutzpah to feign support for EELs while planning a $3.4 million elevated boardwalk through the most environmentally sensitive tract in West Matheson, via a parking lot on Old Cutler Road, to funnel visitors. But who wants to trek a third of a mile through this isolated hammock to reach the park?

Here’s how we make things right. Let’s reconfigure EELs to allow two re-opened vehicle entrances, and limited parking, at School House and Banyan. The county has

denuded most of the park, so they have a blank canvas. Nix the boardwalk, as requested by the Tropical Audubon Society. Next, fence in a non-EEL area near Banyan for unleashed dogs. And make the remainder of the park exactly like every other non-dog park in the county: Dogs must be leashed, or not allowed at all. No direct vehicle access means no public access. Period. Shame on Miami-Dade and Coral Gables if the current plan moves forward.

Keith Donner Change Can Be Good

I mostly enjoy your interesting magazine.

But I was disappointed with the intense political comments about the CG Commission’s new members and the internal power shift. I think that, if anything, the Commission has been too one-sided, blindly representing developers and related interests; and it has treated residents’ interests poorly.

Change is good for a time. We will see.

Stephen E. McGaughey

coralgablesmagazine.com

Creatives. Entrepreneurs.

Philanthropic Innovators.

Alina Meledina and Ray Corral have been recognized as “Rocks of the Community” by the Coral Gables Community Foundation for their philanthropic leadership and support of the Community Foundation. We’re grateful for our enduring relationship with community leaders such as Alina and Ray. To support the Community Foundation or to learn about establishing your own fund, contact us at 305-446-9670 or katherine@gablesfoundation.org.

Ray and Alina showed their support for the Coral Gables Community Foundation with a generous gift of $100,000, ensuring a better future for Coral Gables and establishing the Corral & Cathers Working Artist Fund.

Streetwise Talk of the Town Page 24

THE NEW KNIGHT CENTER FOR MUSIC INNOVATION AT UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI’S FROST SCHOOL OF MUSIC HAS NOW OFFICIALLY OPENED. IT’S A 25,000-SQUARE-FOOT PERFORMANCE AND TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION HUB.

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STREETWISE / POLITICS

From City Hall At its second meeting in September, the City Commission: VOTED 5-0 ON SECOND READING TO INCREASE protections for trees by increasing the fine for removing them from $1,500 to $2,500 and removing palm trees from the list of acceptable replacement trees. For residents currently in the permitting process to remove a tree, these provisions will not take effect until the process currently underway is completed.

DEFERRED A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE the commissioning of public art

by R & R Studios as part of The Village at Coral Gables development. The city requires private developments to sponsor public art for the Art in Public Places program. The piece, named “Coral Light Way,” was unanimously recommended by the Arts Advisory Panel and the Cultural Development Board and includes 22 custom lamps that will “create a distinctive and subtle dreamscape” and “a memorable walking experience” along the perimeter of a whole city block.

At issue was the color of the steel poles, which looked bright red in renderings (not coral), and whether the lights would shine directly (and brightly) into nearby homes.

VOTED 5-0 ON FIRST READING TO AMEND the city’s Zoning Code to

allow TV screens on Giralda Plaza on the inside of windows – without sound. TVs will only be allowed every 25 feet, unless otherwise approved via special application. (Sponsored by Mayor Lago)

VOTED 4-1 TO AMEND THE ZONING CODE by disallowing the use of artificial turf between pavers on driveways seen from the street. For those who already have artificial turf in place, there will be no issue – future projects will have to use alternative methods like affixed rocks. Only Commissioner Melissa Castro dissented.

VOTED 3-2 TO STRIKE DOWN AN ORDINANCE TO REQUIRE a four-fifths

vote of the Commission to spend General Fund Reserves on anything except emergencies. “I don’t think we should use [the reserves] for capital projects. Those are things that we should budget for,” said Mayor Vince Lago. The roughly $50 million in reserve could cover damages for two minor storms (similar to Hurricane Irma), one major storm, or three months of lost revenues during an economic emergency. “Having an [untouchable] restricted reserve… sends a strong message about this Commission and this city’s seriousness in regard to our balance sheet and ensuring that we’re liquid and in the

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best financial shape in the future,” said Lago. Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson added that the reserve helps convince state representatives in Tallahassee to provide appropriations to the city.

Commissioner Ariel Fernandez disagreed, saying that in his discussion with state reps, “the message they’ve sent is maybe the city should use some of its own money to address some of those [capital] projects.” He continued, “We have an opportunity… to take a small portion of the reserve to address some of these projects and use the money when it’s worth the most.” He then went on to compare the mayor to a “totalitarian leader” like those in Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, who “change the threshold when it is convenient for them.” He, Commissioner Castro, and Commissioner Menendez, who remained silent throughout the debate, all voted against the item. (Sponsored by Mayor Lago) VOTED 5-0 TO REALLOCATE FUNDS FROM PHILLIPS PARK to the City Hall windows restoration. The Phillips Park renovations will still take place and the timeline will not be impacted. The funds are simply moving to a project that can be funded and completed faster, said Vice Mayor Anderson, while the park funds will be replaced in the next budget. The city’s Historic Preservation Board will be consulted on the City Hall project. (Sponsored by Vice Mayor Anderson) VOTED 5-0 TO REALLOCATE $250,000 IN FUNDING from the Youth Center to the Alhambra Water Tower restoration. Commissioner Menendez, who has personally spearheaded the Youth Center project(s), offered up the funds. (Sponsored by Vice Mayor Anderson) VOTED 5-0 TO ESTABLISH A SENIOR RELIEF GRANT FUND aligning with that of Miami-Dade County’s, which offers property tax benefits and exemptions. (Sponsored by Commissioners Fernandez and Menendez) VOTED 5-0 TO DIRECT CITY STAFF TO WORK with Commissioner Fernandez in coming up with an economic stimulus plan to provide financial relief to residents. The proposed $3.5 million would likely come out of the emergency reserves and be distributed to all residents as a one-time payment. “Everybody across the board gets the same amount of money,” said Commissioner Fernandez. Mayor Vince Lago expressed doubt about the original plan, advocating for an annual program rather than just a one-time payment. He argued the $3.5 million could be better spent on another program, like a pilot program to recycle green matter, which would reduce residents’ annual garbage fees. “We can… make a long-term investment that will pay dividends,” he said. “I think that’s a better investment that will pay year-over-year and also do something sustainable and environmentally friendly.”

Vice Mayor Anderson described Commissioner Fernandez’s proposed one-time payment as a simple millage rate discount rather than an economic stimulus plan and said, “There are ways we can… help those in the lower-income bracket more than just pulling money from reserves. Millions of dollars [will] be lost if this is done.” Commissioner Fernandez will explore options for residents’ financial relief and present them at a future Commission meeting.

(Sponsored by Commissioner Fernandez). ■

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STREETWISE / POLITICS

At its two meetings in October, the City Commission:

OPEN SPACE INCENTIVE PROGRAM

LISTENED TO A PRESENTATION ABOUT POTENTIALLY creating an incen-

tive program within downtown Coral Gables – excepting Miracle Mile and Giralda Plaza – for developers to create additional open public spaces by allowing a maximum building height of 137.5-feet.

The program would be limited only to MX2 properties and prohibited within 100-feet of a single-family home. A good example is the Villa Valencia building, which was pulled back from the property line in order to add in a pocket park. (Sponsored by Commissioner Menendez)

VOTED 5-0 TO AMEND THE CITY’S ZONING CODE to provide a four-foot

minimum space for pedestrian traffic within any covered outdoor space that has seating. “These arcades and loggias were designed for pedestrian traffic, and all too often they’re filled with tables, chairs, and people dining and servers in the way. They’re meant to encourage pedestrian traffic and now they’re actually stopping [it],” said Vice Mayor Anderson, who sponsored the bill.

VOTED 5-0 TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER and city attorney to

negotiate a 90-day license agreement with a 90-day extension option to engage a licensee for operation of the café space formerly occupied

by Le Parc at the Coral Gables Golf and Country Club. On October 4, the city’s Community Recreation department took over the space to provide baked goods and beverages using temporary city staff.

VOTED 3-2 TO END THE PROCESS OF ANNEXATION for High Pines/Ponce Davis. The city had a self-imposed deadline of Oct. 9 for residents in the area to “return” completed petitions, but Mayor Lago and Vice Mayor Anderson, the two dissenters, said they were still getting requests for more information from residents. They argued that some residents had only just mailed their petitions on Oct. 9, meaning those petitions had not yet been “returned.” A lengthy discussion followed, but Commissioners Menendez, Fernandez, and Castro decided the 12.89 percent of petitions gathered as of Oct. 10 was insufficient for annexation, which requires at least 20 percent to move forward.

ONLY THE AREAS IN DARK RED WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE INCENTIVE PROGRAM.

Innovation District to allow a maximum building height of 137.5feet if developers of a given building also create a public park. Commissioners Castro and Fernandez voted against the measure, citing general concerns about allowing increased heights. Commissioner Fernandez said many residents he spoke to opposed, while Vice Mayor Anderson said the residents who live in or near the District told her that getting parks superseded concerns about additional height. Commissioner Menendez, who supplied the swing vote, said: “I’m very torn on this issue but I don’t see another way to create green space where green space is needed.”

VOTED 3-2 TO READOPT THE CIVILITY CODE FOR members of the City

Commission and city staff, including at all public meetings and all interactions and communications. Both Vice Mayor Anderson and Commissioner Castro presented separate versions of this item, but only Castro’s received a majority vote with Commissioners Fernandez and Menendez in accord.

Anderson’s version included a prohibition on profanity and VOTED 5-0 TO DEVELOP A COST-BASED PILOT program to divert green “untruthful, disparaging remarks,” with consequences of a warning yard waste to more sustainable uses, thereby saving valuable billable at first offense and a public reprimand at second. She also included land at the landfill and bringing down residents’ costs. (Sponsored by a provision for giving notice to violators, wherein violations would Vice Mayor Anderson) be published seven days prior to the next Commission meeting, allowing for evidence-gathering. The violator would also be allowed VOTED 5-0 TO CONDEMN THE WAR LAUNCHED by Hamas terrorists to speak in their defense. against Israel (see Talk of the Town on page 24).

Castro’s version included consequences of a written reprimand for a first offense and issuance of a formal public apology for a VOTED 5-0 TO ACCEPT THE CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT BOARD’S recomsecond. The Commission would have to vote on whether the Code mendation to complete the Ponce Circle Park renovations in time has been violated with a majority ruling. There was nothing included for the city’s centennial in 2025, including infrastructure to support regarding giving notice to offenders or gathering evidence. the installation of future artwork in the park.

During the discussion, Mayor Lago asked for procedures to include those who use “proxies” like blogs or social media posts to VOTED 5-0 TO APPROVE THE CONCEPT AND commissioning of a work of make personal attacks, some of which have included pictures of his public art by gt2P Studios as part of the Alta development project children and father. The mayor recently came under fire for his disat 4101 Salzedo St. Two concepts were submitted: an elevated mural paraging comments about Commissioners Castro, Fernandez, and on the building’s façade and a tree-like sculpture on the ground. The Menendez on Spanish media, but took the opportunity to fire back, Commission agreed the mural wouldn’t be very visible; the developer accusing Fernandez of making defamatory comments against him agreed to remove it from the plans and take those funds to make the earlier this year “very similar to the comments [he] used to make in tree sculpture bigger.

Gables Insider,” Fernandez’s former blog. “I’m more than willing to move forward and work with this Commission, but there has to be VOTED 3-2 TO CREATE AN INCENTIVE PROGRAM within the Design & mutual respect,” the mayor said. ■

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STREETWISE / POLITICS

RaiseGate

LEFT TO RIGHT: COMMISSIONERS MELISSA CASTRO, KIRK MENENDEZ AND ARIEL FERNANDEZ

HOW THREE CORAL GABLES CITY COMMISSIONERS GAVE THEMSELVES A 101.14 PERCENT RAISE

BY KYLIE WANG

O

n September 13, the Coral Gables City Commission was scheduled for a long day. First, they’d have their regular Commission meeting – which usually last upwards of seven hours, sometimes into the evening – and then, at 3 pm, they’d have their First Budget Hearing. In the draft of the budget that was published online, which is 478 pages, there was no mention of anything involving commission raises. And yet, an item on commission raises was there, added at the last minute. It takes three members of the Commission to add an item to the budget, making it likely that Commissioners Kirk Menendez, Ariel Fernandez, and Melissa Castro – the three who voted in favor of the raise – were those who did so.

In the wake of this, rumors swirled and various numbers were thrown out by different outlets. Now, with two other Commission meetings having taken place, as well as the Second Budget Hearing, we have all – or at least most – of the facts.

It’s important to note first that the mayor, vice mayor, and the three commissioners all make slightly different salaries, including expense allowances (which they do not have to show receipts for). These original amounts before the raise are laid out in chart one on the right.

Three options for raises were initially proposed. Option 1 was the most modest, with an increase in salary alone and no

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extra money devoted to expense allowances (which would stay the same) or car allowances. Under this option, the three commissioners would get a yearly raise of 42.51 percent to a proposed $52,000 per year. The mayor and vice mayor would receive smaller raises, putting their salaries just above their colleagues.

Option 2 allowed for the same salary increases as in Option 1 but also included a car allowance of $6,497 and an increase of $2,400 in expense allowances, giving the three commissioners a 59.12 percent total raise to $65,697.

Option 3 was the most lucrative, and the one adopted (see chart two on pg. 22). The three commissioners

In the following commission meeting on Sept. 26, Vice Mayor Anderson sponsored an item on the agenda to reduce the proposed salary increases. “My point is the process was not done right,” the vice mayor said. “It wasn’t in a draft budget, it wasn’t done by ordinance, there was no discussion item on it.” She went on to say that she had been approached by residents both in-person and via email who were “really upset” about the way the situation had been handled. In an interview with Coral Gables Magazine, she confirmed that the issue she had was not necessarily with the raises themselves, but with the way the process was handled without resident input, which she called “a deceptive tactic.”

Fernandez, meanwhile, argued that he had received only two emails against the issue and “numerous” phone calls advocating either for the raise or for making the Commissioner role a full-time position with an appropriate corresponding salary. In a Coral

CHART ONE: COMMISSION MEMBERS’ SALARIES PRE-RAISE

COMMISSIONERS VICE MAYOR MAYOR

YEARLY SALARY

EXPENSE ALLOWANCE

CAR ALLOWANCE

TOTAL (WITH ALLOWANCES)

$36,488 $39,285 $44,905

$4,800 $4,800 $6,000

$0 $0 $0

$41,288 $44,085 $50,905

will receive a 101.14 percent raise overall, including $9,600 in expense allowances and $8,446 in car allowances. Reportedly, all three commissioners have already bought new luxury cars.

Gables Neighbors Association (CGNA) email that was sent out on Oct. 1, the organization further stated that “the commissioners’ voicemail boxes [were] jammed with abusive messages.” The facts do not bear that out, however. coralgablesmagazine.com

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STREETWISE / POLITICS Jessica Keller, a former city employee with the Public Works Department and current resident of Coral Gables, refutes that statement. “I made a public records request and I saw that that was not accurate,” she told Coral Gables Magazine. Her search included any e-mails sent to Menendez, Fernandez, or Castro that included the words “raise” or “compensation.” She found only four e-mails in support of the raises and 33 against: 14 to Fernandez, 10 to Castro, and nine to Menendez. Of the 33 that advocated against the raise, she found less than a third that could be considered “abusive” or rude.

In the end, the Commission voted 3-2 on Sept. 26 to move forward with the 101.14 percent raise. But the issue wasn’t finished with yet. In the two weeks before the next commission meeting, Mayor Lago took to Spanish-language radio and TV to expound upon his colleagues’ deficiencies.

He called the three commissioners “unprepared to do the job,” said they “put their hands down the pockets of residents,” and accused Menendez and Fernandez of “living off their wives,” all in Spanish. In response, Menendez formally censured the mayor during the Oct. 10 meeting with the support of Fernandez and Castro, a move that will likely have no real repercussions but does speak to the deepening divide on the dais.

Also during that Oct. 10 meeting, Anderson and Lago requested that they be allowed to amend the city code to adjust their compensation and expense allowances back to the pre-raise amounts and to eliminate both of their car allowances, effectively returning the money to the city. Fernandez responded with a prepared statement that accused his two colleagues of attempting to “limit the number of people who can potentially run against them in our next election,” though the logic behind this declaration was not given. Fernandez then went on to accuse the mayor of using “henchmen” to bully members of the media, and of committing crimes in the mayor’s personal business dealings as a real estate consultant. He further claimed that the mayor made derogatory comments about women at a recent city event. He did not provide any evidence for these claims.

All three commissioners voted against allowing Lago and Anderson to adjust their compensations, effectively forcing them to accept the money and then donate it back to the city. This will ensure that the money is double-taxed and, by the time it makes it back to the city, will be diminished. No reasoning for this was given, but the point was clear. “It’s flawed for the same reason that the raises were flawed” was Anderson’s only comment.

22

CHART TWO: COMMISSION MEMBERS’ ADOPTED SALARY RAISES SALARY ONLY

PRE-RAISE

PROPOSED

INCREASE

PERCENT INCREASE

COMMISSIONERS VICE MAYOR MAYOR

$36,488 $39,285 $44,905

$65,000 $67,000 $69,000

$28,512 $27,715 $24,095

78.14% 70.55% 53.66%

EXPENSE ALLOWANCE PRE-RAISE

PROPOSED

INCREASE

PERCENT INCREASE

COMMISSIONERS VICE MAYOR MAYOR

$4,800 $4,800 $6,000

$9,600 $9,600 $9,600

$4,800 $4,800 $3,600

100% 100% 60%

CAR ALLOWANCE

PRE-RAISE

PROPOSED

INCREASE

PERCENT INCREASE

COMMISSIONERS VICE MAYOR MAYOR

$0 $0 $0

$8,446 $8,446 $8,446

$8,446 $8,446 $8,446

N/A N/A N/A

TOTAL INCREASES

PRE-RAISE

PROPOSED

INCREASE

PERCENT INCREASE

COMMISSIONERS VICE MAYOR MAYOR

$41,288 $44,085 $50,905

$83,046 $85,046 $87,046

$41,758 $40,961 $36,141

101.14% 92.91% 71%

Fernandez’s notoriety largely comes from his previous position running the Gables Insider blog, which he sold after taking office. In an article published on Oct. 6, 2022, long before Fernandez became a city commissioner, he criticized the executive benefits package given – without Commission consent – to senior level employees. The article, entitled “Raises, Executive Benefits & More: Senior Staff Compensation Rises at Taxpayer Expense,” states, “ The attractive points of government work are job security and a pension that provides a stipend…”

When asked to provide a comment on the issue, he did not respond.

Castro and Menendez have had comparably little to say on the matter in public, although Castro has been more vocal in her support than Menendez, who has been uncharacteristically quiet over the last few commission meetings. He has been the subject of rumors accusing him of trading his vote to change the date of city elections – which he reversed – to get the raise because he’s currently facing financial challenges.

In an interview with Coral Gables Magazine, Menendez said that these rumors were totally false, and that he voted in favor of the wage raise because it would allow someone earning a low salary to become a city commissioner. “Nobody can really step into

this role unless you have your own practice [as an attorney], or you have your own company, or you’re retired,” he said. “Some residents say it’s still not high enough….

We bumped it up to 65, 67, and 69 thousand dollars [so that a] person can do this, and not be trapped in a situation where they could get fired from their job for missing time.” Menendez said the benchmark they used for the raise was what a senior administration assistant would make.

To be fair, several other cities in Miami-Dade compensate their elected officials more handsomely than Coral Gables did previously. According to Salary.com, the average compensation for city commissioners in Miami-Dade is $55,230. This ranges from the $1 per year that city councilmembers take in Key Biscayne, to the $138,000 that county commissioners make (they voted last year 7-5 to more than double their yearly compensation from $60,000.) And Coral Gables’ compensation for elected officials had not changed in 40 years.

In the end, says Vice Mayor Anderson, it was the method – not the amount – that was troublesome. When asked if she was surprised by Menendez’s vote on the raise, Anderson responded, “No, I was not surprised by it… I’m surprised by the manner in which he chose to do it.” ■ coralgablesmagazine.com

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STREETWISE / TALK OF THE TOWN

Talk of the Town The New Knight Center Opens

The Frost School of Music at the University of Miami has now officially opened its new Knight Center for Music Innovation, a $36.5 million, 25,000-square-foot cutting-edge performance and technology innovation hub. Designed by H3, an Arquitectonica Company, the new building features two dynamic performance spaces: the Robert and Judi Prokop Newman Recital Hall, a world-class, 200seat performance theater with superior acoustics; and the Thomas D. Hormel Music Innovation Stage, a versatile innovation space equipped with advanced recording, lighting, and broadcast technology. Both spaces will serve as training grounds and innovation centers for students enrolled at the Frost School.

“The future of music is the future that musicians will be able to create for themselves,” says Frost Dean Shelly Berg. “We’ve always enabled our students to imagine the possibilities that will shape and guide their futures and get hands-on, real-world experience… that is what sets an elite music school apart from others.” The Frost School is ranked as the top music school in the State of Florida, educating “the next generation of groundbreaking musicians, music industry professionals, music educators, and others,” according to Berg. The opening was celebrated by a week of musical events and a star-studded gala emceed by Gloria Estefan, with guests and performers that included Grammy Award-winners Jon Secada, Dawn Lewis, Bruce Hornsby, and Carmen Lundy. Performances at the Knight Center will be open to all Gables residents; in addition to seating inside, performances can be seen via a state-of-the-art technology Win-

24

THE KNIGHT CENTER: EXTERIOR (LEFT); RECITAL HALL (TOP); AND “WINDOWCAST”

dowcast system that broadcasts live events in the surrounding plaza.

For information on events, including dates, times, and ticket prices, go to frost-music-live.miami.edu.

Coming Together for Israel

Lately, city commission meetings have seen more than their fair share of contentiousness, but at the last meeting in October, all five commissioners united whole-heartedly in their support of Israel in its conflict with Hamas. In a unanimous decision, the Commission voted in favor of a resolution “supporting Israel and condemning the unprovoked and unjustified war launched by Hamas terrorists against Israel.”

Mayor Lago (above), who originally brought the item, was joined by the entire commission in sponsoring the resolution. “In these trying times, our city remains resolute in its support for Israel,” said Lago.

Three rabbis from local synagogues spoke on the issue as well as sevcoralgablesmagazine.com

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STREETWISE / TALK OF THE TOWN

RABBI JONATHAN FISCH OF TEMPLE JUDEA

eral Jewish residents of Coral Gables. “Your friendship is real,” said Rabbi Jonathan Fisch of Temple Judea to the Commission. “We feel it…. Over the last two and a half weeks, the Jewish community has really seen who our friends are. And I’m looking at friends, just five feet away from me.” Commissioner Ariel Fernandez called the attack Israel’s 9/11. “I think there’s no more important legislation that has come before this body since I was elected,” he said. “This attack on October 7 wasn’t an attack, as the Rabbi said, on the state of Israel… it was an attack on the people of the world.”

An emotional Commissioner Kirk Menendez added, “Those who failed to condemn, condone. And as long as we allow evil to prevail, unfortunately, history repeats itself.” Menendez called the Hamas’ actions an “an attack on the essence of life and what life is all about.” Mayor Lago suggested several Jewish organizations residents can donate to and committed a $1,000 personal donation to the Greater Miami Jewish Federation. City staff also presented options for a new menorah to be placed somewhere downtown, paid for personally by Mayor Lago.

not say the company should avoid doing any business with the city.

A more recent draft opinion, issued on Sept. 28, determined that Commissioner Castro would probably be in violation of the county’s ethics code if she benefits financially from representing clients who are securing permits from the city. The Ethics Commission will meet Nov. 8 to consider “a formal opinion regarding prohibitions on elected officials’ outside employment when the employment involves contacts with the official’s city.”

The Ethics Commission’s formal opinion will also address how other officials in Miami-Dade can interact with their cities, in response most notably to Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, who worked as a consultant to Coral Gables-based developer Rishi Kapoor when he was seeking permits for a Coconut Grove real estate project. A company partially owned by Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago also rented retail space to Kapoor, who was planning to build a luxury condo mid-rise on Ponce before the FBI stepped in to investigate.

Mayor Lago recused himself from votes on Kapoor’s project, however, and his firm is not seeking permits for the project.

Commissioner Castro, who has several dozen permits in process with the city, must now decide whether to sell her company, or terminate all its business in Coral Gables, or resign from her position as commissioner. Her recent vote to double her commissioner compensation from the city (see pg. 20) may make it easier to lose the income from permitting clients in Coral Gables. She did not return several requests from Coral Gables Magazine to comment on her plans.

A Gables Prodigy

12-YEAR-OLD PIANIST CHRISTOPHER ROCHA

Christopher Rocha is a middle school student at Coral Gables Preparatory Academy. He is also, at age 12, a talented pianist. He You have to commend Commissioner Melissa Castro (above) for requesting an opinion from the Miami-Dade Commission on Eth- has won numerous accolades, but most recently captured first prize ics and Public Trust regarding her company’s business with the city, in the prestigious 2023 New York Golden Classic Music Awards which she did after her April election. Her firm, M.E.D. Expeditors, International Competition. Christopher won top honors in the “Junior Piano Soloist” category after delivering an extraordinary helps developers get permits from the city’s building department.

An initial draft opinion in June recommended that she should limit audition among hundreds of candidates. As a result, he will perform in the Winners’ Concert at legendary Carnegie Hall in New York her interactions with city staff as the owner of M.E.D., but did

An Ethical Dilemma

26

coralgablesmagazine.com

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The UHealth Jackson standard for urgent care UHealth Jackson Urgent Care Centers are located throughout Miami-Dade County, staffed with board-certified physicians and equipped with state-of-the-art technologies. Now, we’ll be serving the Coral Gables community with world-class, same-day care, seven days a week. We are experienced in diagnosing and treating a variety of everyday illnesses and minor injuries. We’ll get you in, treated and on your way faster than you can imagine. To learn more, visit us at JacksonUrgentCare.com.

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STREETWISE / TALK OF THE TOWN City on Dec. 7.

Christopher has been playing piano since age six, tutored by local professional pianist Sahily Cánovas, herself educated in Russia.

If you want to see (and hear) him play, you won’t have to travel to NYC, however; Christopher will be a headliner at the City of Coral Gables Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony, where he will play Christmas favorites. That ceremony marks the beginning of the holiday season in the City Beautiful, scheduled for 6 pm on Dec. 1 in front of City Hall.

Christopher firmly believes God granted him his talent to play and his gift for perfect pitch. He performs at his school, his church, and at local festivals to give back. Among other achievements, he was a semifinalist in the 2021 Miami-Dade Young Talents Big Dreams Competition; won second place in the 2021 Miami Music Teacher Association; and is a scholarship recipient of the Coral Gables Music Club. In April 2022, he was selected by the U.S. Chopin Foundation as one of the best 16 young South Florida pianists. argue that these children are too young to be exposed to books that discuss subjects such as racism, the Holocaust, slavery, and sex.

Those opposed to the bans say that children 10 to 12 years old are mature enough to understand controversy, and that this has never been an issue at schools where librarians, teachers, and parents have traditionally curated the reading curriculum for children. “It’s about parents choosing what their kids read, not somebody’s else’s parent choosing what they can read,” says Kaplan. “The regulations and the interpretations of the laws coming out of Tallahassee are vague, and they are having a chilling effect on the school system.”

Book Ban Protest

MITCHELL KAPLAN LEADING THE PROTEST

In the face of recent book bannings in Florida public schools, thanks to legislation passed in Tallahassee at the behest of Gov. Ron DeSantis, the owner and patrons of Books & Books recently joined the national “Banned Books Tour 2023” as part of its Banned Books Week.

According to the “Parental Rights in Education” law passed in May, if a single parent in any county objects to a library book, it must be removed within five days and remain off the shelves until the issue is resolved. According to PEN America, 1,400 books have been banned in Florida during the past school year – 40 percent of the national total (Texas registered the second-highest with 625 books banned, followed by Missouri with 333, and Utah with 281).

Mitchell Kaplan, the owner of Books & Books, recently joined with parents and teachers opposed to the bans, helping lead a protest march from the Coral Gables Congregational United Church of Christ to the Books & Books store on Aragon Avenue. “Reading is all about empathy,” Kaplan says. “It’s all about learning one’s history and the history of others. If you attempt to restrict that, what you’re doing is... whitewashing history in a way that doesn’t allow young people to really understand the beauty of this democracy or how to make it better.”

Those who favor the bans note that the books are being pulled only from the shelves of elementary school libraries (grades one through six), and not from middle schools or high schools. They

28

FORMER MIAMI HERALD PUBLISHER DAVE LAWRENCE WITH A BANNED BOOK

Books currently banned in Florida counties include “Beloved” by Toni Morrison, removed because of “themes of race,” “anti-police messages,” and “divisive language.” Other banned titles are “Anne Frank’s Diary” (The Graphic Adaptation), “Michelangelo” by Mike Venzia, “The Fixer” by Bernard Malamud, “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini, “Fight Club” by Chuck Palahniuk, and “The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Underwood. coralgablesmagazine.com

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STREETWISE / TALK OF THE TOWN Snorkeling for a Cause

The Coral Gables-based nonprofit organization Miami Waterkeeper advocates for swimmable, drinkable, and fishable water for all.

From high school ambassador programs to habitat restorations, the organization educates the community on how to protect our South Florida waterways. Throughout the year, they host various cleanup efforts, such as kayak and beach cleanups. Their newest event invites volunteers to collect marine debris while snorkeling. The first snorkeling event in October focused on protecting our local coral reefs and marine animals; a key component of the cleanups is marine debris education, where volunteers learn about ecosystem health and resilience efforts.

“Contaminated waters affect fishing, swimming, boating, and more activities that our community relies on,” Executive Director Rachel Silverstein says. “We ensure volunteers leave with the knowledge and inspiration to make small changes in their daily lives that add up to large positive impacts on our environment and waterways.” So far this year, in 48 events with 1,600 participants, Miami Waterkeeper volunteers have removed over 6,000 pounds of marine debris. “I’m always impressed by the passion and commitment our volunteers demonstrate,” Silverstein says. “They often become regulars once they experience these events firsthand and see the tangible difference their efforts make.”

Join Miami Waterkeeper in Key Biscayne for the next snorkeling cleanup at Bear Cut Preserve on November 18 at 9 am, or during upcoming kayak cleanups at Crandon Marina on November 11 and December 9 at 9:30 am. For the latest waterway news and more ways to become involved, visit miamiwaterkeeper.org. ■

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coralgablesmagazine.com

Living The Monk on Miracle Mile Page 36

GEN TASHI KELSANG LEADING THE CLASS IN MEDITATION AT KADAMPA MEDITATION CENTER MIAMI, 316 MIRACLE MILE.

Photo by Rodolfo Benitez

31

LIVING / EVENTS

Best Bets for November

FAIRCHILD’S ENCHANTING NIGHTGARDEN

“SWEET GOATS & BLUEBERRY SEÑORITAS”

From Miami to Maine, “Sweet Goats & Blueberry Señoritas” follows a Cuban American baker named Beatriz in Maine as she tries to determine whether she should stay with the community she’s developed, or reunite with her estranged mother in Miami. Along the way, Beatriz explores what it means to belong as she cooks up the recipes of her childhood with the raw ingredients of her new hometown.

Visit Actors’ Playhouse at Miracle Theatre for the opening production of their 75th anniversary season, running from November 8 to December 17. Performances Wed. to Sat. at 8 pm and Sun. at 3 pm.

Tickets range from $65 to $85. Actors’ Playhouse at Miracle Theatre, 280 Miracle Mile. For more info: actorsplayhouse.org

Immerse yourself in the magical fairyland that is the NightGarden, the beloved winter lightshow at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden.

This illuminated activation combines lighting effects, holograms, motion-sensing technology, projection mapping, and music to create a truly enchanting experience. The NightGarden has various interactive opportunities, including joining a Fairy Quest, as well as food and drinks from some of Miami’s most popular food trucks. Visit the garden at night starting on November 10, Thurs. to Sun. from 6 to 10 pm. Tickets are $20 to $40, depending on the day of visit and membership status. Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, 10901 Old Cutler Rd. For more info: TheNightGarden.com

THE WOLF OF WALL STREET

Whether you’re new to investing or want to take your portfolio to the next level, don’t miss this unique evening with the “Wolf of Wall Street” himself, Jordan Belfort, described by Wikipedia as “an American former stockbroker, financial criminal, entrepreneur, speaker, and author” whose memoirs became the movie. He will be at Books & Books on November 8 at 6 pm for a meet-and-greet event. Learn from The New York Times bestselling writer and investment guru as he talks about his latest book, “The Wolf of Investing: My Insider’s Playbook for Making a Fortune on Wall Street.” Unlike traditional investment books, each page of Jordan’s lessons and colorful stories entertains you with the charismatic swagger famously portrayed on the big screen by Leonardo DiCaprio. $28.99 for general admission.

Books & Books, 265 Aragon Ave. For info: booksandbooks.com

32

“THE THANKSGIVING PLAY”

Larissa FastHorse is the first indigenous American woman to have a play on Broadway. Experience the regional premiere of Fasthorse’s shocking satire, “The Thanksgiving Play,” that “flips the bird” on one of America’s most prolific myths – the original Thanksgiving meal. With provocative questions around erasure and authorship of history, this comedy asks how we proceed when steadfast assumptions are disrupted. The show runs from November 17 to December 10, with perforcoralgablesmagazine.com

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Miami Royal Ballet and Coral Gables Senior High School Ga-

blettes will add to the festive spirit, along with holiday costumed characters, a 360° photo booth, and a highly anticipated appearance

by Santa Claus arriving on a Coral Gables Fire Department truck.

Ho ho ho! 358 San Lorenzo Ave. MIRACLE MILE WINE WALK

On Saturday, November 18, get your wine (and beer) on with the Young Associates of the Coral Gables Museum. The organization, which helps fund the museum, is putting on a Wine Walk that will begin at Bay 13 Brewery and end at Vinya Table on Miracle Mile.

Beginning at 2 pm, the Walk will offer a free drink at each of five local establishments, along with some light bites and special drink menus for those who want to indulge a little more. An after-party at The Bar will cap off the night at 9 pm. Tickets are $50. Scan the QR “THE THREEPENNY OPERA” code for tickets and more information.

Peer into a dark underworld during the latest production at The University of Miami’s Jerry Herman Ring Theatre. Catch the landmark musical “The Threepenny Opera” for a limited time from November 10 to 18. Featuring a sumptuous score with songs such as “Mack the Knife” and vividly drawn antiheroes, this satirical slap at the hypocrisy of capitalism remains eerily timely nearly 100 years after its debut. Watch as the line between vice and virtue continuously shifts. The Jerry Herman Ring Theatre, 1312 Miller Drive.

Performances Thurs.-Sun. 8 pm, tickets $15 to $30. For more info: ring-theatre.as.miami.edu.

NIGHT IN THE NEXT WHISKEY BAR: A MODERN TAPESTRY

Enjoy an evening of timeless operatic solos and ensembles seamlessly woven into a moving modern tapestry of life brought to you by the University of Miami’s Frost Opera Theater. This free event, taking place November 15 and 16 at 7:30 pm, will transform Clarke Recital Hall into a moody whiskey bar, stitching together riveting stories through repertoire from opera, operetta, and musical theater.

University of Miami’s Clarke Recital Hall, 5479 San Amaro Dr. RSVP at frost-music-live.miami.edu LIGHT IT UP!

Start the holidays at the Shops at Merrick Park’s 20th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony on Nov. 16 from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm. Witness the 50-foot tree light up as you enjoy a live performance by South Florida’s own Preston Howell, a former contestant on NBC’s The Voice, debuting his holiday single, “Christmas Without You.” The

34

BEST REASON TO LEAVE THE GABLES: DISCOVER COCONUT GROVE

The Coral Gables Bike Tour is leaving the City Beautiful for a visit to the neighboring area of Coconut Grove, one of Miami’s oldest neighborhoods. Admire the diverse mix of old and new as you pedal through the area’s historic sites, tree-lined streets, and bayfront parks that are iconic to this historic district. The tour starts at 10 ​​ am on November 19 from the Coral Gables Museum and includes museum admission. Tickets are $10 general admission and $5 for museum members and children under 12. Coral Gables Museum, 285 Aragon Ave. For more info: coralgablesmuseum.org ■ coralgablesmagazine.com

THE AMERICAS COLLECTION Art Gallery

W W W . A M E R I C A SC O L L E CT IO N . CO M

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LIVING / MEDITATION

The Monk on Miracle Mile

GEN TASHI KELSANG LEADING THE CLASS IN MEDITATION

me reassuringly. “Meditation in general is about familiarizing our mind with peaceful, positive ways of thinking and a peaceful, positive state of being.” That sounded good to me. I kicked off my shoes and took a seat facing the altar at the front of the room. In the back, there’s equipment for the hearing impaired and a camera to project WITH WHOM WE FIND A LITTLE PEACE, FOR ONCE the classes on Zoom. In the front, Gen Kelsang sits on a raised

BY KYLIE WANG platform and speaks softly into a microphone.

The class begins with a 15-minute meditation focused on breath, during which I thought a lot about the gelato I was planning ’d be the first to admit I could probably use more Zen in my to get after this was over. But when the 15 minutes were over, I relife. I’ve tried monthly massages (the knots return immediately), acupuncture (actually made me more stressed), running (do not rec- alized I hadn’t thought about much of anything – gelato or work or otherwise – in the last few minutes. Instead, I’d been focused solely ommend), and a litany of other activities to relieve the anxieties of daily life. So far, success has been limited. Next on the list, however, on the way my breathing felt.

The middle of the class consists of a short lecture from Gen Kelwas meditation.

Having studied a bit of Buddhism in college (one of the world’s sang on the topic of the day, which is usually pulled from a Buddhist largest religions, it originated in South Asia in the fifth century BC text and enhanced by the monk’s own experiences – “very practical and spent the next millennium spreading across Asia and the globe), things,” he explains, “like how to manage stress in daily life, how to improve our relationships with others… how to grow wisdom, beI knew about traditional meditation already. But I never really believed it would work for me. I’d tried it before on my own and found come more patient with difficulties….” Again, I found myself feeling my thoughts swirling, uncontrolled. So, I wasn’t sure what to expect very calm as he talked about seizing opportunities to enhance our fulfillment and peace. I connected with the material as we meditated for at the Kadampa Meditation Center Miami, a tiny second-story a few more minutes on it, thinking about what makes me feel fulfilled, space above the Lotus Garden restaurant on Miracle Mile. It’s so and challenging myself to do those things more often. nondescript, you’ve probably never noticed it before – but it’s been When I walked out a few minutes later, I felt calmer and more there since 2020.

The Center holds several classes a week in English and Spanish, in control of my anxieties. And, perhaps just as importantly, sleep led by Gen Tashi Kelsang, an ordained monk who studied the New came easily that night for the first time in weeks. ■ Kadampa Tradition in New York. Kadampa has centers worldwide, KADAMPA MEDITATION CENTER MIAMI all practicing and sharing the teachings of the Venerable Geshe-la, a 316 MIRACLE MILE. 786.529.7137 monk who trained from childhood in Tibet. When I walked in for the Monday night class, I wasn’t quite apprehensive, but maybe a bit CLASSES: SUNDAY 11AM; MONDAY & THURSDAY 7:30 PM; TUESDAY 7 PM IN SPANISH $15 PER CLASS, $45 MONTHLY FULL ACCESS, FREE 30-MINUTE GUIDED MEDITATION skeptical. I loved the philosophies behind Buddhism, but I wasn’t WEDNESDAYS quite sure what meditation could do for me.

FULL SCHEDULE AT MEDITATIONINMIAMI.ORG “People come for a lot of different reasons,” Gen Kelsang told

I

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LIVING / NIGHT OUT

PLATES, WINE & WILDE HOW WE SPENT A FRIDAY NIGHT IN THE GABLES

BY NATALIA CLEMENT

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Photo by Laurita Karam

he perfect night out in Coral Gables has three elements: delectable bites, good wine, and a captivating show. These three things are not hard to come by in the City Beautiful, as we discovered on a recent Friday night out.

Right after work, eager to let off some steam and satisfy our hunger, we headed to happy hour at Cebada Rooftop. Too early for a full-fledged dinner, we opted to combine cocktails with a selection of small plates to share. I had never understood the cauliflower craze until I dug into Chef Jorgie’s smoked cauliflower. Each crispy bite of the staple superfood was deliciously complemented by the salsa blanca and herb yogurt spread underneath. We followed with the smoked prime rib carpaccio. Plated like a pizza, the tasty toppings highlighted the quality of the meat, from the flavorful horseradish crema and salsa verde to the textures of shallot relish and papitas.

After our second round of “Peach Please” cocktails, a refreshing peach and vodka concoction, we decided we needed more calories before our next stop. Enter the carbs. Chef Jorgie elevates the traditional pan con tomate with high-level ingredients: Spanish pan de cristal, roasted tomato, black garlic aioli, black truffle, and Stracciatella. We may never have pizza again! Our final appetizer was Cebada’s take on the classic grilled cheese. One dip of the “bikini” grilled cheese – composed of truffle aioli, 500-day jamon serrano, and Havarti cheese – into the companion fig marmalade had our taste buds dancing. A perfect foodie pregame before a wine tasting on Miracle Mile.

Every Friday starting at 7 pm, Wolfe’s Wine Shoppe takes Gableites on a $25 journey through the vineyards of various countries. We had the pleasure of savoring Spain and Portugal. With eight bottles lined up and a homemade Spanish tortilla, owner Jeffrey Wolfe began walking us through the different wineries. From describing the flavor profiles to recounting engaging anecdotes about the winemakers (from personal experience or what he’s heard through the grapevine), Jeffrey entertained our intimate group of taste testers. If you’re a novice to the wine scene, this is the perfect place to develop your palate. Plus, with all featured bottles at $45 or less, it’s a good way to start your personal wine collection. For us, it was a no-brainer to leave with a red and a white from Portugal’s J. Cabral Almeida Musgo.

Last but certainly not least, we decided to get a little wild — that is, Oscar Wilde. Our final stop was the University of Miami’s Jerry Herman Ring Theatre to catch the season-opening production of “The Importance of Being Earnest.” We love a good romantic comedy, especially when it's set in Britain.

For a little over two hours, we were enthralled in the witty chronicle of two bachelor buddies, Jack and Algie, who devise double lives as a form of escapism from their responsibilities. As the classic goes, both take on the name “Ernest” in their quests for love.

Chaos ensues. From the fantastic Victorian-era wardrobe (think corsets and frock coats) to the humorous timing of lines, the university’s student cast and crew delivered with memorable professional-

Photo by Diego Mallens

T

FIRST, THE CEBADA ROOFTOP, THEN WINE TASTING AT WOLFE’S WINE SHOPPE AND A FINAL STOP AT UM‘S JERRY HERMAN RING THEATRE TO WATCH OSCAR WILDE’S “THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST”

ism. We’ll be back for “The Threepenny Opera” later this month (see Best Bets on pg. 32).

Walking through campus and back to our cars in the moonlight, we felt fulfilled – and we never had to leave the city. Although each stop met a different cultural need, our time at all three places brought us closer to the heartbeat of the Gables – one bite, sip, and laugh at a time. ■ coralgablesmagazine.com

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LIVING / ART

“I WAS AT A DINER, AND I DREW OUT ON A NAPKIN AN OLD-SCHOOL, CRINKLY FRY...”

ARTIST JOHN MILLER (LEFT) ON HOW HE GOT INSPIRED TO CREATE GLASS BLOWN SCULPTURES OF NOSTALGIC DINER FOOD

I’ll Have Some Blown Glass with Those Fries, Please A NEW POP ART EXHIBIT AT THE LOEWS IS AN HOMAGE TO THE AMERICAN DINER

BY J.P. FABER

A

rtist John Miller says the idea came to him while he was eating dinner in Illinois. “I was at a diner, and I drew out on a napkin an old-school, crinkly fry,” he says.

The ensuing series of sculptures, part of a body of work he calls “Blue Plate Special,” consisted of blown glass renderings of things like hot dogs, sodas, and hamburgers. “It was a combination of where I was physically and what I was doing at the time technically.”

That was back in 1999, and since then Miller has created an entourage of things iconic to the famed American roadside diner, like glasses of Coke and frothy milkshakes.

Despite their slow fade from the American landscape, says Miller, “there are quite a few

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[diners] that still exist.” He knows this because “I do my research by eating, and I have driven to every state.” The challenge, he says, is to get the children of the owners “hooked early-on [because] if you don’t hand the reins over, the children won’t have the same passion and they’ll sell them off.”

To help keep the nostalgia alive, Miller has created the new “Order Up!” installation, now at the Lowe Museum. The exhibition features 35 pieces of Miller’s oversized glass sculptures of food, drinks, and condiments, contextualized by 1950s diner fixtures and fittings, including a vintage jukebox.

Miller, who teaches glass sculpting at the Art Department of Illinois State Uni-

versity, first came to Miami last year during Art Basel, here to give a lecture at the behest of local art patron and glass-object collector Sheldon Palley. He just happened to bring a collection of his sculptures from the “Blue Plate Special” series, which he installed as a pop-up. Not only did the display lead to the current exhibit, it also led, one month later, to a commission to create a six-foot-tall martini glass for Grey Goose.

For Miller, the exhibit is one of several glass Pop-Art series he has created, including “Corsets” (colorful objects enveloped in copper), “The Gathering” (ornate goblets), and “Classic Heat” (a study in auto parts and hood ornaments that reflect his love of cars and road trips). He calls his work “a combination of Buster Keaton, Claes Oldenburg, and me, all tumbled together. This glass medium that I have committed my whole life to was a great vehicle to project my interests.”

To garner attention for the exhibit, the Lowe Museum has organized The Coral Gables Burger Scavenger Hunt: 12 glass mini burgers, created by Miller, will be hidden at 12 venues in the Gables. Participants include the Coral Gables Youth Center, the Coral Gables Library, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Capital Burger, the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce, Books & Books, Misha’s Cupcakes, Coral Gables Art Cinema, Threefold Café, Clutch Burger, and Pincho.

Miller’s sliders will be awarded by random selection from individuals who post selfies on Instagram with the hashtag #wherestheburger. Winners will collect their mini burgers at the “Order Up!” closing party on January 12, 2024, 7 to 9 pm, at the Lowe.

“The only downside of working on this project,” says Lowe Curator Caitlin Swindell, “is that every time I look at the images or write a label, for example, I am immediately hungry and ready for lunch!” ■ ORDER UP! THE POP ART OF JOHN MILLER OCTOBER 27 THROUGH JANUARY 14 LOWE ART MUSEUM UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI 1301 STANFORD DRIVE 305.284.3535

coralgablesmagazine.com

LIVING / TENNIS

For the Love of Game IF IT’S SUNDAY MORNING AT SALVADORE PARK, THAT MEANS IT’S TIME FOR THE HACKERS WORDS AND PHOTOS BY KATELIN STECZ

E

very Sunday morning at 7:30 am, Guy Nottoli, event director, arrives at Salvadore Park to prepare for Coral Gables’ most non-elite, competitive tennis contest: the weekly Hackers United tournament. As he anticipates the coming matches, a thousand questions run through his mind. Will he have to break up a fight on the court? Will all players arrive on time, or were some “the victims of Saturday night merriment?” Is there proper hydration available for before and after the games? And, most importantly, did someone remember to bring the “hole in a racquet” trophy?

Eventually, at around 8 am, players begin to saunter onto the courts. Like most highstakes tournaments, there is a fair amount of trash-talking and bravado before the matches start. As players stretch and warm up, you can feel the gravity of the competition. It’s almost like being at the final match of the U.S. Open between Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev… well, kind of.

The Hackers United may have the same passion apparent at any world-class championship; however, it isn’t exactly the most official tennis group in Miami, or in the

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Gables for that matter. In the tennis world, a hacker is someone who plays with improper form or doesn’t uphold the conventional tennis decorum. Or, as Nottoli says, “A hacker is someone who can play tennis but not in the most finessed, professional way.”

Hackers are regularly seen serving balls into the net, throwing their racquets across the court in frustration, or teasing opponents.

Show up to Salvadore Park on any given Sunday between 8 am and 10 am, and you’ll see the hackers at work, donning shirts with the group’s motto: “Bringing out the worst in each other.”

“You know, we’re all just a bunch of misfits, but our uniting force is that we all have a good sense of humor,” says Nottoli.

“If you’re going to be a hacker, that is our only requirement. Well, that, and you have to be able to hit a tennis ball. Oh, and be of outstanding moral fiber.”

Ranging in ages from “teenage delinquent to Century Village,” Nottoli says that anyone is welcome to be a hacker – or hackerette. However, you must contact him a week in advance so he can organize the match for the upcoming Sunday. If you don’t make the

LEFT: THE “HOLE IN A RACQUET” TROPHY ABOVE: GUY NOTTOLI IN BLUE, WARMING UP, AND BELOW, THE HACKERS UNITED

invite list, you can always show up and hope that one of the 16 hackers is absent, which, according to Nottoli, occasionally happens due to Saturday night pre-game activities. “We love having new people. We’re always actively recruiting, but you have to have the right characteristics,” says Nottoli. Namely, you must to be able to hang with the hacker crew, post-tennis festivities included.

Comprised of longtime tennis players and Gables residents, Hackers United has been officially going on for about eight years. Or maybe it’s 10 years. Nottoli isn’t concerned with the specifics. But he does expect that the Hackers will continue in the coming years, so long as the trophy survives. Like any serious tennis tournament, Hackers United has a grand prize that all players strive to win each week. At the end of each Sunday’s fight to the finish, the victor takes home the “hole in a racquet” trophy. However, the winner must return the trophy the following Sunday to defend their claim against other hackers.

Ultimately, the goal of Hackers United is to have fun. That’s what Nottoli envisioned when he started the group. If you think you have what it takes – a sense of humor and decent but not overwhelming tennis skills, text Nottoli at 305.710.0895 for more info and to sign up. Now, get hacking! ■ coralgablesmagazine.com

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Bites Fine Dining Review Page 48

CHEF NIVEN PATEL WORKS HIS CULINARY MAGIC AT HIS NEW ITALIAN RESTAURANT, ERBA, WHICH BOASTS AN EXOTIC INTERIOR WITH A RICH AND GLAMOROUS AMBIENCE.

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BITES

Quick Bites Cheap Eats

With prices rising everywhere, it seems impossible to find a reasonably priced lunch. As it turns out, there are quite a few options in the Gables that won’t empty your wallet. Here are a few of them.

CANTONESE FRESH

Formerly just a take-out spot, Wu’s Kitchen now has tablecloths for dining on-site. It’s a simple setting, with friendly service, fresh Cantonese food, and great prices. Their lunch menu carries the usual suspects, like vegetable lo mein, Szhechuan shrimp, and sweet & sour pork. We tried the General Tso’s chicken, loaded with fresh, crunchy vegetables, and the pepper steak, again with super fresh green peppers. Both tasty bargains at $11.95 each.

1533 MADRUGA AVE. 786.391.2387

WEEKDAY ITALIAN

A good plate of pasta under $20 is hard to come by. Fortunately, Altagracia serves three Argentinian-Italian fusions for just $15 on weekdays, noon to 3 pm. Indulge in their spaghetti Bolognese, with a generous beef red sauce and a sprinkle of goat cheese. Or dig into a plate of soft gnocchi bathed in a rich red wine sauce. If pasta is not your thing, for $1 more, order the crispy chicken Milanese: a plate-sized golden cutlet served with fries or salad. 276 ALHAMBRA CIRCLE. 786.862.1636

HOMEMADE COLOMBIAN

With two hearty lunch specials available weekdays for $13, it’s no wonder Barista Cafe is packed during lunch hour (it’s also quite small). On Wednesdays, you can pick between the juicy chicken fricassee with potato, or the filling pork loin stuffed with beef, carrots, and peas. Almost as good as abuela’s cooking! Each plate comes with a side of soup, rice, and salad. We’re doubling down on Wednesdays when the soup of the day is the classic Colombian ajiaco.

2351 SALZEDO ST. 305.877.6722

CREPE BOUQUET

If you’re looking to skip a formal lunch, Stephanie’s Crepes offers a budget-friendly quick dine or to-go alternative. Choose from savory, salad, vegetarian, or sweet crepes – all presented in a bouquet-like crepe wrap. The chicken pesto crepe ($12.99) is a perfect midday bite, filled with chicken, fresh pesto, organic arugula, cherry tomatoes, golden raisins, and a hint of goat cheese. You can also order a petite sweet crepe for dessert – like the classic Nutella with strawberries and banana ($10.99). Bon appétit! 2423 GALIANO ST. 786.402.1732

FAMILY CUBAN

In the last sliver of Coral Gables that extends north of 8th Street you’ll find La Casita, a family-run restaurant that feels unchanged from the 1960s or 70s. Their prices are also old fashioned, with lunch specials between $11.95 and $12.95. We recently tried their lomito de cerdo – roast pork smothered in onions – a Wednesday special for $12.95, which came with white rice, black beans, and sweet plantains. All your other Cuban favorites are here as well.

3805 SW 8TH ST. 305.448.8224 ■

TOP TO BOTTOM WU’S KITCHEN: GENERAL TSO’S CHICKEN ALTAGRACIA: SPAGHETTI BOLOGNESE BARISTA CAFE: CHICKEN FRICASSEE STEPHANIE’S CREPES: CHICKEN PESTO CREPE LA CASITA: LOMITO DE CERDO

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coralgablesmagazine.com

BITES / FINE DINING

Patel Goes Italian

CHEF WUNDERKIND NIVEN PATEL TAKES HIS CULINARY GENIUS TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL AT ERBA

BY ANDREW GAYLE

I

f the trifecta of a superb restaurant is a combination of cuisine, ambience, and service, then the new Erba restaurant in the LifeTime building on US-1 hits it out of the park.

Known for his previous creations of Ghee, Orno, and Mamey (the latter of which The New York Times declared to be one of the 50 best restaurants in the United States), Patel and his partner Mohammed Alkassar decided to enter the fray of the most crowded restaurant category in Coral Gables: Italian. But this is no ordinary Italian restaurant. You’re not going to find spaghetti and meatballs here – though there is one pizza offering. As for the rest, diners should strap on their seatbelts for an exquisite journey into new taste sensations, the hallmark of Chef Patel’s culinary imagination and penchant for blending and contrasting flavors from different global cuisines.

But first, the ambience. Entering Erba is like going to a foreign place in the best possible way. While it is self-styled as Venetian, the impression is more Morocco meets Paris. The elevated 18-foot ceilings, the deep red of the walls, the inlays of dark woodwork – and a glamorous, elevated bar – all speak of an exotic location somewhere else, even sometime else. There is a sense of Belle Époque, that this restaurant has been here a long time. The wait staff exudes the same sense of permanence, as though they have been at this job, in this place, for many years. They are adept at that perfect balance between taking care of their customers without being overbearing. They never ask that annoying question “How’s everything so far?” perhaps because they already know.

Which brings us to the food. Chef Patel has already created a Gables following with his New American, farm-to-table, woodfired restaurant Orno, and his Caribbean/Indian/South Pacific fusion restaurant Mamey. So, why Italian? “It’s really about just what I like to cook, and my experience in Florence, and my love for

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TOP: CHEF NIVEN PATEL ENTERS THE CORAL GABLES ITALIAN DINING SCENE WITH HIS SIGNATURE TASTE SENSATIONS. ABOVE: THE ERBA INTERIOR IS ECLECTIC (MOROCCO MEETS PARIS), CREATING A RICH AND GLAMOROUS AMBIENCE.

ERBA MIAMI 227 S DIXIE HWY 305.712.7788 ERBAMIAMI.COM

TOP LEFT: PISTACHIO GELATO MADE WITH SICILIAN PISTACHIOS.

coralgablesmagazine.com

making pasta,” says Patel. “Italian food is all about the ingredients, which is my passion. The menu [we designed] is about ingredients first, versus what dish we wanted to create.”

That is apparent in the malfladine pasta ($28), which uses a green vermentino pasta coated by diced Bahamian conch with lemon and parsley. Sort of like linguine alle vongole, but more robust and unique in its flavor. Our table could not get over how good it tasted.

Or the wahoo crudo ($23), which uses that Pacific (non-Mediterranean) fish in a lovely citron vinaigrette, each slice delicately topped with chopped fresno chilis and tiny bits of orange. Light and wonderful.

It’s rare when every dish at a restaurant is a standout, but that’s the case at Erba. The agnolotti pasta ($32), with slow cooked Wagyu beef cheeks, a wine reduction sauce, and pasta pockets filled with robiola cheese and caramelized onions, was a fulsome delight. Even the simple chitarra pasta ($25), with just tomatoes, petite basil, crispy garlic, and olive oil, was mouthwatering – possibly because the tomatoes were fresh Everglade heirlooms that remind you what tomatoes are supposed to taste like. And possibly because, like everything here, the pasta is made on the premises; the pasta-making station is part of the show, in an area you pass en route to the restrooms.

The cacio e pepe pave ($18), meanwhile, elevates the humble potato to a divine status (“to get that dish perfect means a lot of thinly sliced potato, with rosemary and garlic oil, cooked and pressed and

TOP LEFT: CACIO E PEPE PAVE - CRISPY POTATO WITH PARMIGIANO AND GARLIC OIL. TOP RIGHT: AGNOLOTTI PASTA WITH WAGYU BEEF CHEEKS AND CARAMELIZED ONION BOTTOM LEFT: CHITARRA PASTA WITH EVERGLADE TOMATOES, BASIL, CRISPY GARLIC, AND OLIVE OIL BOTTOM RIGHT: MISHIMA RESERVE DENVER STEAK WITH BONE MARROW SALSA VERDE AND FARM HAKUREI TURNIPS

then made crispy,” says Chef Patel). We also tried the mortadella ($22), which was made in-house and served with Sicilian pistachios; the lumachel pasta ($29) with confit rabbit, hen of the woods mushrooms, lemon, and oregano; and the Mishimi Reserve Denver Steak ($62), which was served with a bone marrow salsa verde your server funnels onto the sliced meat. All superb.

Erba also does a great job with their cocktails (who doesn’t like a classic negroni?) and their desserts. Of the latter, make a point of sampling the pistachio gelato ($10), which uses Sicilian pistachios.

Like everything on the menu, there is a lightness to the dessert dishes that belies the heaviness in traditional Italian cooking. Even their cannolis ($24) are light and crispy.

“We don’t want you to leave feeling heavy,” says Chef Patel. You will, however, leave feeling fulfilled – and wanting to return, to try all the dishes you couldn’t during your first visit. ■

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BITES / POP-UP

A Pop-Up From the Past

ORTANIQUE GETS RESURRECTED FOR THREE MONTHS

BY NATALIA CLEMENT

F

or those who pine for the haute Caribbean cuisine that was the hallmark of Ortanique, Christmas (or Chanukah) has arrived early. The beloved Coral Gables classic is back for a short time, inviting old and new patrons to experience the Caribbean “Cuisine of the Sun” that made it a Gableite favorite for over 20 years before closing during the pandemic. That reputation, and the associated hype that Chef Cindy Hutson’s pop-up must live up to, was top of mind as I walked in for an evening reservation at its host location, inside an Ortaniqueified MKT Kitchen.

Chef Hutson’s Caribbean-inspired menu always stood out in a city suffused with New American and Italian restaurants. Part of its charm was its orange-hue interior, which the ambiance of the pop-up’s decor recreates, from the beautifully adorned plates to the painted citrus motif along the back wall. From the start, the experience feels intimate: We were greeted by Chef Hutson’s long-time partner Delius Shirley, who showed us to one of a dozen or so tables glowing under the cozy low light. Once seated, we perused the concise three-course menu, which Chef Hutson says rotates about every week to showcase her cherished dishes.

Along with some crispy bread, our meal started with an amuse bouche: a beer-battered yellowtail snapper topped with malaga mash, Jamaican pickled vegetables, and woo aioli. The bite’s delicious balance of flavors was my first indication that Chef Hutson still knows what she is doing. For appetizers, we selected the Red Stripe Jamaican beer-steamed Mediterranean mussels and the West Indian curried jumbo lump crab cake. The latter exploded with the flavors of blended curries and red peppers, delectably complemented by a refreshing mango papaya relish.

For our entrees, we dug into a soft, pan sautéed grouper cooked in the restaurant’s orange liqueur Bacardi limon sauce and plated with chayote, carrots, and a sweet plantain boniato mash. The slight saltiness of the grouper danced perfectly with the sweetness of the mash – a match made in culinary heaven. The true star of the night, however, was the coffee and cocoa encrusted flat iron steak. The Angus beef was cooked medium rare (per Chef Hutson’s recommendation) and perfectly coated with a succulent chipotle agave glaze. This table favorite came with a creamy corn manchego yellow polenta and grilled asparagus.

Overall, we were enthralled by the homemade yet elevated feel of each plate. Chef Hutson’s magic was always to seamlessly combine simple Caribbean foods with her more complex flavorings, plating everything with intent. Dessert continued feeding our fascination as we sampled two classics elevated by her outstanding understanding of taste profiles. The rich bread pudding was coated with warm guava and served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The mango tres leches was an airy concoction, deliciously topped with whipped cream and mango coulis.

Dining at Ortanique, you feel taken care of from start to finish, not just by Delius and the waitstaff – who checked-in throughout the meal, making sure our wine glasses stayed full but by Chef

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TOP: MEMORIES OF ORTANIQUE: CHEF HUTSON IN THE OLD ORTANIQUE ABOVE: FLAT IRON STEAK, ENCRUSTED WITH COFFEE AND COCOA AND COATED WITH A SUCCULENT CHIPOTLE AGAVE GLAZE

Hutson herself. As our cohort of 6 pm reservations approached the end of our meals, she went from table to table asking diners about their experience.

“My excitement to actually be able to do this pop-up has to do not only with being able to give people the food they’ve been missing but being able to rekindle relationships with all those people that we’ve lost a little bit of touch with,” she says. “People should expect to find the same vibe – the warmth, the friendliness, the family feel.”

And, oh yes, that fabulous Ortanique take on Caribbean cuisine.

Ortanique will be serving guests with dinner reservations Thursday to Saturday at MKT Kitchen through December 16. ■ Reservations by phone only: 305.458.8422 coralgablesmagazine.com

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People Lauren Marsicano Dr. Jill Ehrenreich-May Randy Perez Page 54

DR. JILL EHRENREICH-MAY, DIRECTOR OF THE CHILD AND ADOLESCENT MOOD AND ANXIETY TREATMENT PROGRAM AT UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI

53

PEOPLE

Lauren Marsicano By day, Lauren Marsicano is a Coral Gables businesswoman and attorney.

By night, she is the executive director and founder of Women for Success.

After studying law at Oxford University, she moved first to Tampa and then to Miami, where she worked in corporate law representing clients such as Bank of America, Chase, and Ryder. Seven years ago, she and her best friend Carolina Leyva launched their firm Marsicano + Leyva PLLC in the Gables; Leyva focuses on family law, while Marsicano practices commercial litigation and business law.

Along the way, she was recognized by the American Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division as one of the Top 40 under 40 attorneys. Her specialty is defending companies facing frivolous lawsuits. “Sometimes we vilify companies in America, but many times these are smaller, family-run businesses.

Sometimes people sue them hoping to get quick bucks. Getting them great resolutions lets them keep operating.”

“ONLY 2.4 PERCENT OF VC FUNDING GOES TO WOMEN-OWNED COMPANIES… ”

Photo by Rodolfo Benitez

ATTORNEY, MENTOR

LATEST ACHIEVEMENT

WHAT SHE SAYS

Three years ago, Marsicano founded Women for Success, a nonprofit that provides women with free workshops, tools, resources, mentorship, and small business grants to ensure that every woman has a chance to succeed, and to “define success on her own terms.” She has raised and donated tens of thousands of dollars to female start-ups and connected first-time business owners with grantees who have given hundreds of thousands to kick start local businesses. This past September, Marsicano held her third “Female Founders Forum” at the Coral Gables Women’s Club. The threeday event brought together 170 like-minded funders, founders, and entrepreneurs, connecting female-owned businesses to help secure the

“For me, these people that we’re trying to help need to know that there is money out there and how to establish relationships with [investors]… A lot of this is about knowing how to get into the room, knowing how to pitch,” says Marsicano. “Only 2.4 percent of VC funding goes to women-owned companies. But women-led teams and ventures get 30 percent more return on investment than male-run companies, [and] these businesses usually have some component of social good…. It struck me that we value women as wives, but not as business leaders….

What we do is all geared toward increasing confidence.” ■

resources they need.

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coralgablesmagazine.com

SPONSORED CONTENT

Facelifts Beyond Techniques

A prospective facelift patient researching options these days is likely to encounter some confusion given today’s abundance of enticing advertising on Instagram and other social media platforms. Claims are made about the superiority of one ‘technique’ versus another, including a re-marketed technique originally conceived (and relegated) decades ago, the ‘deep plane’ of the 1980’s/90’s.

It is true that a facelift can be performed in more than one way - as a skin lift, a SMAS lift (with its own permutations of a ‘high’, ‘low’ or ‘extended’ version), a ‘deep plane’, or yet deeper, as a ‘subperiosteal’ lift (at the level of the facial bones). And that’s not all. This is not just confusing for patients but also for surgeons.

So, what to do? First, don’t believe everything you hear or watch on Instagram. Remain critical. Your result will be produced by your plastic surgeon, not a named ‘technique’.

That result will be the outcome of your surgeon’s artistic abilities (which vary considerably) and much actual experience, utilizing a combination of techniques which over time have proven safe and effective in their hands. Different surgeons may well use different techniques. Good, excellent surgeons usually produce solid results, and do so consistently.

So, what’s actually important in a facelift that matters to you?

First, it needs to be safe - medically, and aesthetically. You want to emerge healthy and looking normal since you can’t hide your face (at least without a mask).

Safety starts with medically screening patients for appropriate health, performing the procedure in a safe environment (accredited surgical facility, as an Ambulatory Surgery Center), under the care of a board-certified anesthesiologist with a judicious combo of local and sleep anesthesia. Obviously, having a safe surgeon is as critical as a safe pilot. Also, attentive after-surgery care matters.

Aesthetically, techniques selected depend on a patient’s anatomy and nuances. That’s up to the plastic surgeon and there is no substitute for the surgeon’s experience and craftsmanship. What’s important to accomplish during surgery is to re-tighten the support layer below the skin and to adequately mobilize and redrape the overlying skin after removing its excess. This needs to be done with a delicate touch (to minimize bruising and swelling) while staying away from sensitive, deeper situated facial nerves which if injured can induce obvious deformities. A ‘deep is dangerous’ awareness is a useful thought to behold throughout the procedure.

Stephan Baker MD Key areas to address are the neck and jowls, and often the upper eyelids. Many patients do not need a brow or lip lift.

Some volume addition, as well as Botox, can be helpful. A generally ‘less is more’ attitude is wise if you wish to remain looking like yourself.

In summary, facelifts are safe and highly effective procedures, providing unparalleled rejuvenation when expertly performed.

Surgically, they are time intensive and demanding to perform, requiring prolonged and nonstop attention to numerous details.

A good facelift looks normal and natural, like yourself, while leaving the observer pondering why you look good. The notso-good ones are pretty easy to spot, and you may have seen some.

As always, research and reflect carefully before proceeding. The ‘American Board of Plastic Surgery’ has been certifying plastic surgeons since 1937 and is a good starting point. Ask pointed questions, review results of previous work, and ask around.

Solid reputations take time to build.

STEPHAN BAKER, MD, FACS

Plastic Surgery of the Face Breast and Body Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery

305.381.8837 | www.drbaker.com 3850 Bird Road Suite 702, Miami, FL 33146

PEOPLE

Dr. Jill Ehrenreich-May DIRECTOR, UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI CAMAT PROGRAM As the director of the Child and Adolescent Mood and Anxiety Treatment (CAMAT) Program at University of Miami (UM), as well as a professor and the associate chair of the psychology department, Dr. Jill Ehrenreich-May has seen a lot. Her research mainly focuses on the development and evaluation of programs for youths with anxiety, depression, and other related concerns.

CAMAT, her clinical research program, serves that purpose by studying the mechanisms and outcomes associated with treatments and by offering training to students and therapists. The program treats about 200 children and families per year in group, telehealth, and individual therapy settings, mostly using exposure and cognitive behavioral therapies.

These work mainly by gradually “exposing” the patient to experiences they fear unnecessarily while supplementing that work with talk therapy centered around challenging unhelpful thoughts and creating helpful responses.

“WE’VE REALLY FOCUSED ON DIVERSIFYING THE WORKFORCE OF EVIDENCE-BASED CLINICIANS AND MAKING SURE THAT THERAPY IS AVAILABLE FOR EVERYONE”

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LATEST ACHIEVEMENT

WHAT SHE SAYS

Dr. Ehrenreich-May is at the tail end of her year-long presidency of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT), which champions the science behind psychotherapy. As president, she has used two published treatment manuals for children and adolescents suffering from emotional disorders that she created herself to inform her mission. CAMAT, which she founded in 2008, is now launching a new program at UM to provide free cognitive behavioral therapy for children and adolescents to about 80 families per year.

With funding from the Children’s Trust, the program treats children under 12 with up to 24 weeks of free group therapy and children 13 and up with individual therapy.

“We recognize that there is a lack of providers to meet the need of what’s really been a youth mental health crisis since the pandemic,” says Dr. Ehrenreich-May. “What I’m really thrilled about is the ability right now to extend beyond the more research-focused practice that we had, to a focus on the community here in South Florida and their needs, both through providing free [services] in schools, and through community provider trainings. If we can encourage people to use cognitive and behavioral practices, as well as other evidence-based approaches, children will have a higher likelihood of being able to function in a way that is more helpful to them.” ■

coralgablesmagazine.com

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PEOPLE

Randy Perez BEVERAGE DIRECTOR, MOTEK

Randy Perez is one of the best-known mixologists in Miami, and for good reason. The former beverage director at Broken Shaker on Miami Beach, Perez has received numerous accolades and was a large reason behind the bar’s two James Beard Award nominations – and its repeated recognition on the list of “The World’s 50 Best Bars.” In 2021, he co-founded Bar Lab Ready to Shake, an offshoot of Bar Lab Consulting that makes readymade mixers for restaurants. His other company, Magic City Garnish, creates quality cocktail garnishes from its location close to Miami International Airport.

“I SEE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY PLANT MY FEET SOMEWHERE AND NOT ONLY TRAIN THE STAFF AND GROW EVERYONE, BUT [ALSO] TO REALLY DEVELOP A PROGRAM TO BE THE BEST THAT IT CAN BE”

58

LATEST ACHIEVEMENT

WHAT HE SAYS

Recently named the beverage director of Motek, Perez is looking forward to bringing the Israeli-Mediterranean restaurant’s cocktail program to new heights. Motek recently opened in the Gables on Miracle Mile, but the restaurant also has locations in Aventura and Downtown Miami. Two new locations – one at Brickell City Centre and one on Miami Beach – will open soon. Perez’s new beverage program will debut alongside the grand opening of the Brickell location on November 1, and you can sample his cocktail concoctions at the massive, wrap-around copper bar at Motek.

“I see the opportunity to really plant my feet somewhere and not only train the staff and grow everyone, but [also] to really develop a program to be the best that it can be.,” says the mixologist. “[I want] to set the trends and be on the cutting edge of creativity, to develop a culture within the business of training, growing, and mentoring industry professionals. I feel like that has been lost.”

As for his process of creating a cocktail menu for a restaurant, Perez says, “I spend [about] three weeks doing really heavy research into the concept itself and seeing where the food derives from, how it’s made, and working with the chef very closely to see how he creates his dishes. After three weeks, I sit down and start the whole creation process… These cocktails are made with fresh ingredients and cutting-edge culinary techniques, and they complement the food.” ■ coralgablesmagazine.com

Consuelo T. Stewart 305.216.7348 cstewart@sheltonandstewart.com Tere Shelton Bernace 305.607.7212 tbernace@sheltonandstewart.com

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A GLOBAL FEAST Of the 170-plus restaurants that we keep tabs on here at Coral Gables Magazine, more than half of them are international, with foods from more than 20 nations. Think of culinary Coral Gables as a kind of cross between the United Nations and Epcot’s World Showcase, where you can eat your way around the world, on foot.

The winner in terms of the sheer number of representative restaurants in the Gables is Italy, as you might have guessed, especially if you include pizza within that national umbrella. After that, it’s Japanese, thanks to the now permanent rage for sushi. As for the rest, you’ll have to explore our look at cuisine from around the world.

61

EU ROPE ( S A NS ITA LY )

GERMANY

FRANCE

SPAIN GREECE

FRANCE

Bouchon Bistro

The latest outpost of classic French cooking from renowned chef Thomas Keller.

Typical French bistro with great onion soup, 2101 Galiano St. fresh bread, superb paté, and oyster specials. 305.990.1360 $$$-$$$$

Brasserie Central

C’est Bon

French breads, sandwiches, pastries, and salads in deli setting with outdooor seating.

330 San Lorenzo Ave. 305.445.5070 $

Chef Sucre Café

It’s all about the sandwiches, including croque madames and croque monsieurs.

475 Biltmore Way 305.444.2025 $ Shops at Merrick Park 786.536.9388 $$-$$$

62

Chocolate Fashion

French soups, salads, quiche, and sandwiches in a French bakery where chocolate rules.

248 Andalusia Ave. 305.461.3200 $-$$

Frenchie’s Diner

Delicious daily chalkboard specials, from sauteed trout to mussels to steak frites.

2618 Galiano St. 305.442.4554 $$$ coralgablesmagazine.com

Gustave

La Taberna Giralda

Paris-style café with onion soup for lunch, Wonderful, affordable lunch menus and boeuf bourguignon for dinner, and great bread. flamenco dancers Saturday nights.

254 Giralda Ave. 786.362.5677 $$

GERMANY

Fritz and Franz Bierhaus

Schnitzel anyone? What about currywurst or sauerbraten? And those beers!

Bellmónt

Serious Spanish cuisine, with rare ham, roast pigs, and paella dishes.

366 Miracle Mile 305.640.5675 $$-$$$

60 Merrick Way 305.774.1883 $$

L’artisane Bakery & Bistro

More a bakery than a restaurant, but oh, those croissant sandwiches!

2526 Ponce de Leon Blvd.

786.502.8595 $$

Pascal’s on Ponce

Chef Pascal brings classic haute French cuisine to life in this shrine to fine cooking.

GREECE 339 Miracle Mile 786.502.4684 $$$

Bulla Gastrobar

Voted best Spanish restaurant in Coral Gables, with lots of fun, small dishes.

KAIA

Healthy Greek food, with a focus on grilled fish and fresh veggies.

232 Miracle Mile 786.362.6997 $$$

Mylos Greek

Tidy, white tablecloth restaurant at the Hotel ChateauBleau; good spinach pie.

1111 Ponce de Leon Blvd.

305.461.0403 $$

Calista Greek Seafood Taverna

A brightly lit, energic spot on Giralda; large menu, best Greek meatballs.

2500 Ponce de Leon Blvd.

305.441.0107 $$-$$$ 2611 Ponce de Leon Blvd.

305.444.2024 $$$-$$$$

Tapeo

Basque cuisine from northern Spain, great tapas dishes reasonably priced.

SPAIN

Lili’s Mediterranean Food

Newly opened, cozy and elegant, with southern Spanish paella, eggplant, lentil, and fried garbanzos.

1915 Ponce de Leon Blvd.

862.881.0516 $$

150 Giralda Ave. 786.310.7660 $$

Rodilla

Sea Grill

Those little sandwiches with the crusts cut off ! Dozens to choose from.

135 Miracle Mile 786.332.3294 $-$$

112 Giralda Ave. 786.452.9902 $$

Bigger than life with huge screens of Greek pastoral scenes, best Greek salad.

4250 Salzedo St. (Shops at Merrick Park) 305.447.3990 $$$

63

ITALY

MILAN VENICE ITALY GENOA

FLORENCE

CORSICA

ROME NAPLES

SARDINIA

PALERMO SICILIY

ITALY

450 Gradi

Bugatti

Once a pasta factory, now a restaurant with some of the best pasta anywhere.

The newest Italian eatery, with inventive truffle pastas and flaming pizzas.

130 Miracle Mile #101 786.391.1276 $$-$$$

Classic Italian menu, good prices, Italian wines, and oh, those garlic balls.

3800 SW Eighth St. 305.443.8122 $$

Italian with Argentine fusion, easily the best creamy raviolis anywhere.

276 Alhambra Circle 786.862.1636 $$-$$$

Caffe Vialetto

Family style dinners with risotto, pappardelle, fettuccini, and ravioli.

4019 Le Jeune Rd. 305.446.5659 $$$

Amore

64

A Gables icon, in the same location for 30 years; business lunches or family dinners.

318 Aragon Ave. 305.441.0700 $$$

Café Italia

Altagracia

Nice small spot, romantic and reasonably priced, with good house wine.

94 Miracle Mile 305.200.3216 $$

Caffe Abbracci

2504 Ponce de Leon Blvd.

305.441.2545 $$

Coppola’s Bistro Ristorante

Seafood, salads, pasta, chicken, and beef, as coralgablesmagazine.com

well, but pizza is the star here.

2305 Ponce de Leon Blvd.

305.444.3388 $$

Erba Miami

The new spot by local celebrity chef Niven Patel, in the Lifetime Building.

227 S Dixie Hwy 305.712.7788 $$-$$$

Fiola

Fratellino

Portosole

Terre Del Sapore

Salumeria 104

Family-run New York style eatery, feels like you’re in Little Italy; a cult-like following.

264 Miracle Mile 786.452.0068 $$$ Superb Neapolitan pizza in a rustic setting, with a newly expansive menu. ..

Exquisite dining with superb porcini mushroom soup, divine lobster ravioli.

Ask for the pecorino cheese wheel to toss your pasta; best fritto misto.

2530 Ponce de Leon Blvd.

786.359.4275 $$$ Rustic tratorria with inventive pastas and sandwiches of artisan cured meats.

117 Miracle Mile 305.640.5547 $$

Sospiro

Truffle fries, gnocchi in a creamy cheese sauce, and 300 organic wines.

2626 Ponce de Leon Blvd.

786.233.9300 $$

Villagio Ristorante

Huge restaurant at Shops at Merrick Park, good prices for classics, great apple pie.

1500 San Ignacio Ave. 305.912.2639 $$$$

Fontana

The most romantic dining spot in the city, in a courtyard with Venetian fountain.

1200 Anastasia Ave. (Biltmore Hotel) 305.913.3200 $$$

Luca Osteria

Reservations-only for the latest hit by local celebrity chef Giorgio Rapicavoli.

246 Giralda Ave. 786.870.5955 $$-$$$

Johnny Pappagallo

Located in the old Swensen’s, with interesing twists on classic Italian dishes.

1586 S Dixie Hwy. 786.332.2417 $$-$$$

Tullio

Elegant new restaurant with a focus on seafood from Venice, top service.

358 San Lorenzo Ave. 305.447.8144 $$

Zucca

The new power-lunch spot; superb fish and pasta dishes, elegant setting.

116 Giralda Ave. 305.381.5097 $$$-$$$$

2525 Ponce de Leon 305.926.4208 $$$

Fugato

La Terrazza

Go for the chicken Florentine, stay for the ossobuco in this out-of-the-way place.

325 Alcazar Ave. 786.420.2910 $$$-$$$$

Fiola’s reinvented rooftop bar, with fish and meat showstoppers from downstairs.

1500 San Ignacio Ave. 305.912.2639 $$$-$$$$

162 Alcazar Ave. 786.580.3731 $$$-$$$$

65

L AT I N AMERICA

MEXICO

CUBA

ARGENTINA

PUERTO RICO

VENEZUELA

Graziano’s

Former butchers transformed into purveyors of Argentine meats cooked open-flame.

COLOMBIA

PERU BRAZIL

394 Giralda Ave. 305.774.3599 $$$

Baire’s

This chain of Argentine steakhouses offers much more in the way of healthy foods.

ARGENTINA

Graziano’s Market

A market of epicurean delights, from special cuts of meat to Argentine wines.

229 S. Dixie Hwy. 786.633.3948 $$ 2301 Galiano St. 305.460.0001 $$

Amigo Grill & Co.

Small place with a focus on open-flame grill, fast-service, less than atmospheric prices.

98 Miracle Mile 305.456.8125 $$

BRAZIL

Fogo de Chão 180 Aragon Ave. 786.409.5121 $$$

66

The famed emporium of meat Brazilian-style, where “gaucho” waiters shave off slices tableside. coralgablesmagazine.com

Off the Mile Restaurant

Taco Rico

Vicky’s

Talavera Cocina Mexicana

Right next to Vicky’s bakery; good basic Cuban breakfast and lunches.

245 University Dr. 305.529.6600 $$ Essentially a bakery, but also great sandwiches, including the rare Pan con Lechon.

245 University Dr. 305.441.0611 $ 2801 Ponce de Leon Blvd.

786.297.8788 $$$-$$$$

CUBA

Cortadito Coffee House

Project themselves as a coffee house, but lots of Cuban fast food, rice bowls.

200 Miracle Mile 786.410.0175 $-$$

Havana Harry’s

Huge interior, daily specials, not inexpensive but mammoth portions.

Barista Café

Small, authentic café with arepas, corn soups, daily specials, and great coffee.

2351 Salzedo St. 305.877.6722 $

MEXICO

Caja Caliente

Recently won the award for the best tacos in Florida, with Cuban flavorings.

808 Ponce de Leon Blvd.

786.431.1947 $$ Part of the massive fast-Mexican-food chain, they build your bowl to order.

2235 SW 37th Ave. 786.441.2385 $

Coyo Taco

Huge selection of tacos, and stays open until the wee hours.

120 Giralda Ave. 786.629.7929 $$

Tinta y Café

Upscale authenic Mexican cuisine with superb moles and a huarache grill.

COLOMBIA

Chipotle

4612 LeJeune Rd. 305.661.2622 $-$$

A TexMex chain with the usual suspects, burritos to chimichangas.

473 S Dixie Hwy. 305.663.3200 $-$$

Ecléctico

Fascinating trans-Latin cuisine with a Mexican overlay; extensive tequila selection.

Feels like a living room with a bar; always crowded, great breakfasts, solid sandwiches.

2299 Ponce de Leon Blvd.

305.444.2955 $$

Xochimex Cantina Grill

TexMex café with burritos, quesadilla, tacos, and nachos as entrees.

2209 Ponce de Leon Blvd.

786.401.6437 $

PERU

Aromas del Peru

A deep dive into Peruvian cuisine, well beyond their ceviche offerings.

1930 Ponce de León Blvd.

305.476.5886 $$

Divino Ceviche

Large selection of well-done ceviches, matched with artisanal Peruvian beers.

160 Giralda Ave. 786.360.3775 $$

PUERTO RICO

Bistro Café

The new outpost of the popular downtown restaurant, with all-day breakfast.

4155 Laguna St. 305.530.8193 $$

VENEZUELA

Punto Criollo 1315 Ponce de Leon Blvd.

305.285.0101 $-$$

320 San Lorenzo Ave. 786.615.5735 $$

Authentic arepas, asados, parrillas, and cachapas in small café with affordable prices.

262 Andalusia Ave. 786.599.7117 $-$$

67

A S I A & AU ST RALIA

JAPAN

CHINA

INDIA VIETNAM

THAILAND

AUSTRALIA

Zitz Sum

AUSTRALIA

Super inventive cuisine beyond tradition, from the master of the dumpling.

Bay 13 Brewery and Kitchen

Aussie pub food like meat pies, skewers, and fish & chips to go with the great beer.

65 Alhambra Plaza 786.452.0935 $$

CHINA

107 Taste

Formerly Lan Ramen-Ya; Chinese menu but with Korean Kimchi dishes and Ramen noodles.

357 Alcazar Ave. 786.409.6951 $

Canton

Serving reliably good Cantonese-style food for decades, best lunch deals in town.

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2614 Ponce de Leon Blvd.

305.448.3736 $$

Wu’s Kitchen & Wines

Humble Cantonese hole in the wall, now stepping up their game.

1533 Madruga Ave. 786.391.2387 $

396 Alhambra Circle.

786.409.6920 $$-$$$ coralgablesmagazine.com

JAPAN

Benihana

The franchise where cooking is part of the show – tossed shrimp and onion volcanoes.

242 Miracle Mile 305.567.2000 $$-$$$

Ichimi

A cult Millennial following for their Japanese ramen noodles and large rice bowls.

KAO Sushi & Grill

Highly inventive rolls, plus unique fusions with Latin cuisine.

127 Miracle Mile 786.864.1212 $$

SAWA

Sakura Japanese

Noodles, yakitori, katsu, tempura, teriyaki, and sushi with seating in glass alcoves.

440 S Dixie Hwy. 305.665.7020 $$

Su Shen Izakaya

Khaosan Road

Thai street food that will expand your palate, great whole fried fish.

Great selectio of rolls, with seating inside or out in Merrick Park

360 San Lorenzo Ave. 305.447.6555 $$$ 2330 Salzedo St. 305.960.7016 $-$$

1118 S. Dixie Hwy. 305.668.9890 $-$$

Sushi Maki

The simple décor here belies some of the best sushi in town.

2334 Ponce de Leon Blvd.

305.443.1884 $$

157 Giralda Plaza 305.444.2397 $$

VIETNAM

Miss Saigon

Lovely dumplings, great seafood, and hearty Pho soups. Super lunch deals.

SHINGO

Divine sushi experience is in this shrine to authentic omakase.

Small, bustling spot with a wide authentic chalkboard menu, great bento boxes.

148 Giralda Ave. 305.446.8006 $$

INDIA 112 Alhambra Circle shingomiami.com $$$$ 159 Aragon Ave. 305.445.2584 $$

Superb renderings of Indian classics, from tandoris to biryanis.

Lotus Garden

Sushi Sake

Upscale Japanese restaurant with sushi, sake, and much more.

202 Miracle Mile 786.636.8125 $$-$$$

JAPAN / SUSHI

KAE Sushi

THAILAND

Namaste

Outdoor seating on Giralda Plaza for servings of sushi and sashimi.

143 Giralda Ave. 786.289.9337 $$

Quiet setting for traditional Thai dishes.

318 Miracle Mile 305.446.2360 $

Malakor Thai Isaan

Sharp flavors and sticky rice, great Pad Thai.

90 Miracle Mile 786.558.4862 $$

Moon Thai & Japanese

Comfy booths and great duck dishes, Thai papaya salads.

221 Navarre Ave. 786.534.2161 $$

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M I D DLE E AST IRAQ

Levant

Middle Eastern with interesting Iraqi specialties, like eggplant stew with pomegranate molasses.

2415 Ponce de Leon Blvd.

786.762.2905 $$-$$$

ISRAEL

TURKEY LEBANON ISRAEL

PERSIA

IRAQ

Motek

A smorgasbord of shish kebabs, mezzes, shawarma, and hummus, Israeli-style.

EGYPT SAUDI ARABIA

OMAN

YEMEN

TURKEY

Maroosh Mediterranean 45 Miracle Mile 305.396.8547 $$

Paintings of men wearing the fez, Turkish coffee in glass cups, interesting dishes.

LEBANON

TRANS-MIDDLE EASTERN

Rice Mediterranean Kitchen

Inexpensive place to build your own bowl of carbs, veggies, and proteins.

164 Giralda Ave. 305.200.5282 $

TUR Kitchen

Sawa

Brilliant dishes derived from Egyptian, Lebanese, Greek, and Turkish palates.

The owners hail from Lebanon, and bring their authentic twist to Mideastern classics.

223 Valencia Ave. 305.476.9800 $$-$$$

PERSIA

Shahs of Kabob 360 San Lorenzo Ave. 305.447.6555 $$-$$$

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The newest location for these purveyors of meats, veggies, and shrimp on skewers.

2624 Ponce de Leon 786.580.5865 $$

259 Giralda Ave. 786.483.0516 $$$-$$$$ coralgablesmagazine.com

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SCAN TO LOCATE US IN THE PLAZA CORAL GABLES! 3005 PONCE DE LEON, SUITE 142 CORAL GABLES, FL 33134

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Open daily 8 am to 9 71 pm

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

Give us a call or visit us online to make your holidays extra special..

Mercedes-Benz of Coral Gables

Proudly serving Coral Gables since 1957.

300 Almeria Avenue | MBCoralGables.com | 305.445.8593 | @MercedesBenzCG

Holiday Gift Guide

2023

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COMMENTARY BY MARK A. TROWBRIDGE Mark A. Trowbridge is the President and CEO of the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce

On Your Mark, Get Ready, Shop!

A

“

This year, the Chamber will once again host a package of events on Small Business Saturday...

”

s we look toward the Olympics in Paris this summer, I am advocating for holiday shopping to be added as an official gold medal sport. No matter the retailer or the recipient, preparing for the holiday season requires careful planning, focused training, and intense repetition. And there is no time like the present to take advantage of motivated brands that want you to shop early and often.

Analysts suggest that one in three of us will spend more this holiday season – as much as four percent more – even as we do our best to shop and save along the way. Another third will spend the same or less. And nearly half of us have already begun to save for the holidays to make it even more affordable this season.

Thus, it is critical for our favorite local brands and stores to plan, too, elevating their appeal to consumers and loyal customers to avoid offering products

that don’t resonate with the educated shopper. It is their job to curate the perfect collection that satisfies your wish list.

Even as our economy struggles for solid footing due to inflation and stagnant consumer confidence, retailers are hard at work to get your attention and keep it throughout the long holiday run-up. This applies to brick-and-mortar stores, as well as local online stores that also offer great selections right here in our City Beautiful.

Our own Coral Gables continues to provide a bevy of offerings to the discriminating consumer, whether it be clothing, housewares, great books, or major purchases like a new car, surprise vacation, or appliance.

It is all about shopping local and supporting small businesses owned by your neighbors, friends, and faves. Our retailers – along both Miracle Mile and at the Shops at Merrick Park –

know your needs and wants and are holding the door open for you. Wide open.

This red carpet treatment is why we love the Gables – from restaurant gift cards for the perfect date night out on the town to that unique gift for anyone on your naughty but just nice enough list. This beautiful Gift Guide is a helpful roadmap to shopping Coral Gables, featuring some of our most celebrated brands and their holiday collections. It also celebrates Small Business Saturday – a collaboration our Chamber has co-hosted with our partners at American Express for the past dozen years. Mark your calendars for Saturday, November 25 and make plans to join us to shop small and buy local.

Now, put down those training shoes, pick up your credit card, and let’s go for the gold this holiday season – in every sense of the word. Happy hunting! ■

Small Business Saturday: Time to Go Local Small Business Saturday is a national day to celebrate and support small businesses and all they do for our communities. Each year, it falls on the Saturday after Thanksgiving – this year, it will take place on November 25. And, this year, small businesses in the Gables need your support more than ever, as they navigate, retool, and pivot from the effects of

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the coronavirus pandemic. Founded by American Express in 2010 and officially cosponsored by the Small Business Administration (SBA), Small Business Saturday is an important part of small, local retailers’ busiest shopping season. So please join in and shop at your favorite small Coral Gables businesses on this special day.

the perfect gift for the man who has everything.

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Discover more about All In here.

Receive a discount on bulk book orders.

order your copy today. allinbook.com

GIFT GUIDE

Park & Shop Map

Shopping for holiday gifts is no easy feat, and it’s always better to get a head start. The shops of the Gables offer up a wide range of trinkets, home décor products, gift cards, and – if all else fails – bottles of wine for this gift-giving season. It’s easy to order something online, but for a personal touch, think about supporting your local Gables’ businesses and foregoing worries over delayed shipping, hidden fees, or backordered items. To help you out this season, we’ve listed some of our favorite stores below and some of the gifts you can buy in downtown Gables in the following pages. That’s our gift to you! Happy holidays!

ALHAMBRA CIRCLE

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104 MERRICK P

SP+ GARAGE

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GIRALDA AVENUE

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GIRALDA PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY

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GARAGE

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DOUGLAS DOUGLAS ROAD

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P ARAGON

PASEO

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ARAGON AVENUE

GALIANO ST.

V

MIRACLE MILE

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250 ARAGON

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PASEO

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SALZEDO ST.

LOT 3

51 ARAGON GARAGE

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ARAGON AVENUE

PONCE DE LEON BLVD.

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LE JEUNE ROAD

240 GIRALDA

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KEY:

P PARKING LOTS V VALET STANDS

Municipal Parking Lot 3

1. Pepi Bertini 357 Miracle Mile (305) 461-3374 pepibertini.com

250 Aragon Ave Garage

2. Books & Books 265 Aragon Ave. (305) 442-4408 booksandbooks.com 3. Coral Gables Art Cinema 260 Aragon Ave. (786) 472-2249 gablescinema.com

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PASEO

VALENCIA AVENUE

4. Jae’s Jewelers 237 Miracle Mile (305) 443-7724 jaesjewelers.com

Mercedes Benz of Coral Gables 300 Almeria Ave. (305) 445-8593 mbcoralgables.com

5. Snow’s Jewelers 270 Miracle Mile (305) 443-7448 snowsjewelerscg

Montica Jewelers 500 S Dixie Hwy #203 (305) 446-2957 montica.com

Off-Map

Zucca 162 Alcazar Ave. (786) 580-3731 zuccamiami.com

City Pooch 1686 Coral Way (305) 859-7829 city-pooch.com

Paradise Pup Resort and Rescues (270) 993-2521 puppylove@paradisepupresort.com Victoria’s Armoire 4077 Ponce de Leon Blvd.

(305) 445-3848 victoriasarmoire.net Shops at Merrick Park 358 San Lorenzo Ave. (305) 529-1215 shopsatmerrickpark.com

coralgablesmagazine.com

Serving South Florida since 1992

We are proud to announce our new 10,000 sq’

Coral Gables Showroom: 4077 Ponce de Leon Blvd.

Coral Gables, FL 33146 Phone: 305-445-3848

Miami Showroom: 5150 NW 37th Ave. Miami, FL 33142 Phone: 786-542-1654

Showroom Open Monday - Saturday 10 am - 6 pm

Showroom Open Monday - Saturday 10 am - 5 pm

www.victoriasarmoire.net

victorias.armoire

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GIFT GUIDE

For the Discerning Gift Giver GIFT SUGGESTIONS FROM YOUR LOCAL RETAILERS PEPI BERTINI Pepi Bertini is the master tailor of the Gables. With an eye to what the modern, professional man should wear, Bertini will custom-make shirts, suits, tuxedos – or any other apparel – in a way that make you look and feel your best. The sport jacket on the right is a Houndstooth brown with a rust window pane pattern in wool and cotton, with a reversible soft wool scarf and rust-colored jeans. The safari jacket on the left is made of blue cashmere with a reversible two-tone scarf. Vanilla-colored jeans and a stamped leather belt complete the look.

357 Miracle Mile 305.461.3374 pepi@pepibertini.com

MERRICK FESTIVAL The Caroling Competition has been a holiday tradition in Coral Gables since 1987 when the 550 Biltmore Way Building first presented the city with a spectacular poinsettia tree. The free event features over 1,500 young people from 30 Miami-Dade schools competing for $20,000 in cash prizes. Since its inception, the Caroling Competition has given out almost $600,000 to help encourage and grow the music programs in our schools. Beginning Wednesday, November 29, the competition takes place over five nights on the steps of 550 Biltmore.

Evening shows are from 7 to 10 pm and Sunday performances are from 3 to 6 pm. Winners perform again on December 5. Give yourself a holiday gift by attending!

SNOW’S JEWELERS Does anybody cater to the jewelry needs– and desires – of Gablelites better than Snows?

Here is this classic exquisite diamond ring, with a GIA-certified “emerald cut” center diamond (3.01 carats) accented by two emerald-cut side diamonds (1.81 carats).

Voted “Best Jeweler in Coral Gables” by Coral Gables Magazine.

270 Miracle Mile 305.443.7448 snowsjewelers.cg

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357 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables FL 33134 305.461.3374 pepibertini.com

One Of A Kind

We want to be your Jeweler... and if you compare quality, service and price... we will!

30 Schools 5 Nights $20,000 in Cash Prizes

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NOVEMBER

Voted “Best Jeweler in Coral Gables,” by the readers of Coral Gables Magazine

270 Miracle Mile • Coral Gables 33134 • 305.443.7448

DECEMBER

3

550 Biltmore Way, Coral Gab l e s 305.491.4180 | www.carolingcompetition.org WITH THE SUPPORT OF: Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and The Cultural Affairs Council, The Miami-Dade County Mayor and the Board of County Commissioners, The City of Coral Gables, The Mayor and City Commissioners

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GIFT GUIDE

CORAL GABLES ART CINEMA A Coral Gables Art Cinema gift card is the ideal gift for the film connoisseur in your life this holiday season.

Presenting first-run and regional premieres of quality American independent and international movies, both fiction and documentary, the cinema also hosts special programs and film festival events. Gift cards can be used for tickets and concession items, including popcorn, candy, soda, beer, and wine – and they never expire. Purchase online and it will be sent by mail to the recipient with a personalized note.

260 Aragon Avenue 786.472.2249 gablescinema.com PARADISE PUP RESORT AND RESCUES Give the pup in your life special moments year-round and support local rescue dogs with “The Pawfect Pup” annual gift subscription from Paradise Pup Resort & Rescues. The ideal howliday gift for any pawrent and their bestie, “The Pawfect Pup” arrives once per month, shipped directly to the recipient filled with a delicious assortment of handmade, curated treats specifically designed for the furry recipient! Holiday shipments begin mid-December and end the following November, surprising the recipient with edible delights for a full 12-months of themed treat baskets, with options starting as low as $24.99 per month.

Please specify preferred starting holiday (Hanukkah, Christmas, General) when ordering.

270.993.2521 puppylove@paradisepupresort.com SNOW’S JEWELERS Snow’s is more than just the place to buy your diamond engagement ring. This 14K yellow gold sapphire and diamond ring is perfect for any occasion. Stop by Snow’s to see large collection of interesting fashion rings.

Voted “Best Jeweler in Coral Gables” by Coral Gables Magazine.

270 Miracle Mile 305.443.7448 snowsjewelerscg CITY POOCH Welcome to City Pooch Pet Grooming Salon, where we consider your best friend our top priority. We have been providing full-service grooming for Coral Gables’ pets since 2007, building a reputation for excellent pet care service. From breed standard styles to creative grooms for mixed breeds, our certified, professionally trained Pet Groomers will have your pooch looking and feeling its very best. Give your dog – and yourself – a holiday makeover as a special gift for both.

1686 Coral Way 305.859.7829 city-pooch.com 80

coralgablesmagazine.com

#1 Ranked CPDT Programs

Bespoke Stockings & Hanukkah Gi� Boxes

Exclusive “Holidog Training Packages” teach your pup to be on their best behavior for the holidays, and beyond. Reducing or eliminating unwanted behaviors, learning how to understand and obey commands, decreasing hyperactivity or destructive habits, and learning positive leash and in-house manners is just a phone call away! Save �100 on holiday bookings through January 4th, 2024.

www.ParadisePupResort.com Certified Trainers. Positive, loving environment. The results you need.

Send inquiries to PuppyLove@paradisepupresort.com 270-993-2521 or 954-589-4675

WATCH MOVIES IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN CORAL GABLES

Classic Pear Shaped Diamonds The most feminine of all the diamond shapes

Voted “BEST JEWELER IN CORAL GABLES” by the readers of Coral Gables Magazine

270 Miracle Mile • Coral Gables 33134 • 305.443.7448

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GIFT GUIDE ALL IN Understanding our past life experiences leads to healing insights, which empower our future freedom, purpose, and power. Events that have wounded us as children or adults carry powerful messages that affect who we become. While we may not even be aware of our unhealed wounds and the self-limiting message we’ve told ourselves about our wounds, it’s negatively impacting how we live our life today. We can recast those wounds as “superpowers” by becoming aware of the past events that are directing unwanted behaviors in our lives, and free ourselves to make new choices.

“All In: How To Risk Everything For Everything That Matters” by W. Allen Morris helps you explore this further. Available at Books & Books, Amazon, or wherever books are sold. It is a perfect holiday gift! Now available on Audible. allinbook.com.

MERCEDES BENZ OF CORAL GABLES Mercedes-Benz’s all-electric line is a testament to the company’s dedication to innovation, style, and environmental responsibility. It has raised the bar for electric vehicles, promising a brighter, more sustainable future for the automotive industry.

With Mercedes-Benz’s stunning allelectric lineup, the future of driving has never looked more amazing.

For the ultimate holiday gift, visit Mercedes-Benz of Coral Gables 300 Almeria Avenue, Suite A 305.445.8593 mbcoralgables.com

MONTICA Montica Jewelry invites you to elevate your style this holiday season with Fana. A name both feminine and luxurious, yet blissful. Each Fana jewel is designed and crafted with the belief that when jewelry touches a woman’s skin, it also touches the soul.

Chic and beautiful gifts: Classic Round Emerald and Diamond 14k White Gold Pendant $1,450; Classic Round Sapphire and Diamond 14k White Gold Pendant $1,550; Round Ruby and Diamond 14k White Gold Ring $3,300; Emerald and Diamond Interweaving 14k White Gold Ring $5,400; Sapphire and Diamond Twist 14k White.

Available at Montica Jewelry 500 S. Dixie Hwy #203 305.446.2957 montica.com 82

coralgablesmagazine.com

10% off

for the Christmas and Hanukkah Holidays

“Only the best for you” 305.444.0883 | Coral Gables, FL | bfleur.com

Now’s the Time to Design your Dream Ring!

Create the perfect Fana Ring for that special someone. The diamond experts at Montica will turn your vision into a one-of-a-kind creation. Call today to book your appointment.

500 SOUTH DIXIE HIGHWAY #203 CORAL GABLES, FL 33146 305-785-0523 | WWW.MONTICA.COM

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GIFT GUIDE

JAE’S JEWELERS Jae’s Jewelers is a third-generation, family-owned and operated, full-service jewelry store with a rich history spanning nearly eight decades. Jae’s Jewelers takes pride in offering exceptional craftsmanship, unparalleled expertise, friendly service, and a wide range of exquisite jewelry and watches. All three owners are GIA-educated graduate gemologists who place an emphasis on continuing education and a high standard of ethics, allowing the business to achieve exclusive American Gem Society membership.

Jae’s Jewelers curates the largest collection of estate jewelry in Coral Gables. Each piece is carefully restored to its original beauty by the store’s on-site goldsmith, ensuring enjoyment for decades to come. Whether it be Art Deco, Retro, Vintage, Modern, Art Nouveau, or Antique, Jae’s Jewelers offers a variety of rings, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and brooches.

Jae’s Jewelers is an authorized Roberto Coin retailer, offering both classic and new collections from the Italian designer. All jewelry is crafted in durable 18-carat white, rose, or yellow gold. The newest designs include the Navarra, Lozenge, Cialoma, and Oro Classic collections. The most popular options are the diamond initial necklaces, Diamonds by the Inch necklaces, and Tiny Treasures necklaces. Visit the store at 237 Miracle Mile from 11 am to 6 pm Tuesdays through Saturdays, or shop online at jaesjewelers.com

Discover the exquisite world of fine jewelry and memorable experiences at Jae’s Jewelers. As a thirdgeneration, family-owned and operated jeweler, we have been a trusted name in South Florida since 1945.

With a focus on GIA-graded diamonds, estate jewelry, custom engagement rings, and on-site jewelry repairs, we are your go-to destination for all your jewelry needs. Visit the store at 237 Miracle Mile from 11 am to 6 pm Tuesdays through Saturdays, or shop online at jaesjewelers.com.

Visit the store at 237 Miracle Mile from 11 am to 6 pm Tuesdays through Saturdays, or shop online at jaesjewelers.com.

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GIFT GUIDE

VICTORIA’S ARMOIRE If you are in search of something unique, whether for yourself or for friends and family, then Victoria’s Armoire Coral Gables showroom is your destination. Filled to the brim with beautiful home décor items, furniture, and gifts, the new 10,000-squarefoot Miami showroom is perfect for those looking to furnish a room or even a full house. Want it right away? Our warehouse bays are adjacent to the showroom for immediate gratification.

4077 Ponce de Leon Boulevard 305.445.3848 victoriasarmoire.net

SHOPS AT MERRICK PARK Shops at Merrick Park, Coral Gables’ premier destination for fine dining and shopping, provides Miami area residents and visitors with a distinctive collection of more than 100 stores and eateries anchored by flagship locations of Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom. The center features luxury brands such as Tory Burch, Louis Vuitton, CH Carolina Herrera, Gucci, Jimmy Choo, CAMILLA, and Tiffany & Co., alongside popular retailers such as Anthropologie, Banana Republic, J.Crew, Lilly Pulitzer, lululemon, Pottery Barn, and Sephora. The unmatched shopping experience is enhanced by delicious dining options such as SAWA, Mariposa at Neiman Marcus, Bazille at Nordstrom, Sea Grill, Ecléctico Restaurant & Agave Bar, Perry’s Steak House & Grille, Villagio Restaurant, and Yard House. Equinox Fitness Club and the Landmark Theatre complete the well-rounded retail mix.

The center is open Monday through Thursday from 11 am to 8 pm, Friday and Saturday from 11 am to 9 pm and Sunday, from 11 am to 6 pm.

358 San Lorenzo Ave 305.529.1215 shopsatmerrickpark.com

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N O R DST R O M / S E P H O R A / C R AT E & B A R R E L

stop searching

N O R DST R O M / S E P H O R A / C R AT E & B A R R E L

N O R DST R O M / S E P H O R A / C R AT E & B A R R E L

S TA R T G I F T I N G

FALLEN IN THE LINE OF DUTY

SGT. DICKINSON AT HIS AWARD CEREMONY

The names of fallen Coral Gables police and firefighters will be etched on a new memorial

BY MIKE CLARY

L

ast May, in a moving ceremony at City Hall, Sgt. Gordon Dickinson – a 28-year-veteran of the Coral Gables Police Department – received something called the Robert DeKorte Memorial Award. The award is named after Robert P. DeKorte, who was 45 when he was fatally shot in 1972. He was responding to an armed robbery call at a liquor store on South Dixie Highway, where two suspects opened fire, striking him in the neck. DeKorte actually grabbed onto the suspects, holding them long enough for officers to chase them down, killing one and arresting the other.

“I explain the circumstances of that tragic event as a reminder that evil people enter our city and commit horrible crimes,” said Officer Chris Challenger, president of the Fraternal Order of Police, who presented the award to Sgt. Dickinson. “In a split second, lives can change forever. Nothing is guaranteed.”

Challenger went on to describe how Sgt. Dickinson had responded to “an eerily similar call” in July of 2022, where two armed suspects had just killed an innocent 67-year-old man. Dickinson astutely led and coordinated the pursuit of the two suspects, resulting in their arrests. Upon receiving the award, Sgt. Dickinson – already twice named Office of the Year of the CGPD – accepted it with gracious humility, saying that the award should go to all his colleagues and co-workers.

The sergeant then went on to describe the travails of his career,

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which began after he attended the police academy. He was the only officer from the CGPD in a class of about 50 cadets. He recalled a running joke that “for the rest of my career, I was going to be helping get cats out of trees here in Coral Gables.” It didn’t exactly turn out that way, though cat removal was part of it. “During my career, I’ve managed to catch burglars, robbers, and murderers. I’ve been spit on, slapped, punched, kicked, and bitten…. I’ve had people twice my size throw haymakers. I’ve had people try to run me over with their cars. I’ve had people pull machetes and guns on me….

I’ve responded to rapes, suicides, homicides. I’ve been called every four-letter word imaginable.” But, he said, “I didn’t give what Robert DeKorte gave, because he made the ultimate sacrifice.”

Those who did give their lives while on the job in Coral Gables are now being memorialized with a new sculpture going up in front of the Public Safety Building. They include officers like Francis Cyril Guest, who died directing traffic on Christmas Day, 1928, when he was run down by a drunk driver. He was 41. Or Homer Collins Barton, 37, who was killed in 1938 by a shotgun blast as he stood on a front porch in Coconut Grove. Or Constable Luther T. Hardison, who was shot and killed in 1951 by a young man he was driving from Los Angeles to Coral Gables to face burglary and auto theft charges.

DeKorte, Guest, Barton, and Hardison are four of nine Coral Gables police officers who died in the line of duty since the city’s coralgablesmagazine.com

FRANCIS CYRIL GUEST, 1887-1928

“THE ONE THING THAT KEEPS ME UP AT NIGHT IS THE SAFETY OF MY OFFICERS...”

CORAL GABLES POLICE CHIEF ED HUDAK

founding in 1925. Their names, along with those of three Gables firefighters and a University of Miami detective who also died while on the job, will be inscribed on the granite base of a 10-foot memorial sculpture scheduled to be installed this year in the plaza at the entrance of the downtown Public Safety Building.

According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, 226 police officers were killed in the line of duty in the U.S. last year, including nine in Florida. While Coral Gables has not lost an officer while on the job since 1980, the dangers of the profession are ever-present. “The one thing that keeps me up at night is the safety of my officers,” says CGPD Chief Ed Hudak. “For anyone who has ever been a cop and heard that emergency tone, it’s always there. It’s the kinship of what doing this job is about.”

The stories of each of the Coral Gables officers who died on the job are singularly tragic and unique. Eight of those stories are recounted in “Forgotten Heroes: Police Officers Killed in Coral Gables and South Miami, 1928-1994,” by William Wilbanks and Alan Headley. Six of the officers died by gunfire; two were killed in traffic.

The following are brief summaries of how each of the officers died.

HOMER COLLINS BARTON, 1901-1938

FRANCIS CYRIL GUEST, 1887-1928

Sgt. Guest joined the fledgling Coral Gables Police Department in 1926, just a year after it and the city were established. He was a two-year veteran and recently promoted when he became the first Coral Gables officer to be killed in the line of duty. Guest was directing traffic at the intersection of Alhambra Circle and Douglas Road after firefighters had worked a blaze nearby and a firetruck was blocking part of the roadway. At about 7:15 pm on Dec. 25, a speeding car driven by Herman B. Dove, 23, struck Guest with such force that he was hurled over the hood of the fire truck. The Illinois native was killed instantly.

Dove, who admitted he had been drinking, later told police that he knew Guest and that the officer “was like a brother to me.”

He pleaded guilty to manslaughter, and, in 1929, was sentenced to two years in prison.

HOMER COLLINS BARTON, 1901-1938

Barton, 37, was attempting to serve a search warrant on June 6, 1938, when he was felled by a shotgun fired from a house across the street from the porch on which he was standing in Coconut Grove.

A partner rushed Barton to the hospital, where he died minutes later. Barton was a native of Alabama, where he played high school football. In 1933, he survived a stabbing inflicted by a prisoner he was transporting to jail. He was survived by his wife, Helen, and a

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ABOVE: LUTHER T. HARDISON, 1896-1951

three-year-old daughter. A 32-year-old man, Frizell McLaren, was arrested and found guilty of first-degree murder in Barton’s death in 1938. He was executed in the Florida’s electric chair three years later.

LUTHER T. HARDISON, 1896-1951

Hardison was an elected Florida constable in a district that included Coral Gables when, in 1951, he volunteered to drive to Los Angeles in his new Mercury sedan and take custody of a prisoner wanted here on burglary and auto theft charges. Hardison, 55, told colleagues that the trip would give him a chance to visit his son, serving in the military in Texas. Hardison picked up Harris Mullis, 22, in mid-February and the two set off for Florida. On Feb. 16, during what may have been a change of drivers on the highway west of Mobile, AL, Mullis grabbed Hardison’s .38 caliber revolver from under the seat and shot the constable in the head. Mullis dumped the body in a ditch and abandoned the car in New Orleans. The slaying sparked a nationwide manhunt and a deluge of tabloid publicity, and Mullis was captured five days later in New York City.

Convicted of first-degree murder, Mullis died in prison in 1988. Hardison was survived by his wife, Thelma, who was named to replace him as District 3 constable, and four children. The constable system was abolished in Florida in 1973.

BILLY HOWARD STEPHENS, 1931-1957

Stephens, a 26-year-old motorcycle officer, along with his partner and close friend Jack Harris, were escorting the Coral Gables High football team to a Friday night game in west Miami-Dade County on Nov. 22, 1957, when they approached the intersection of Southwest 77th Avenue and Waterway Drive. There, the driver of a 1953 Chevrolet station wagon made an illegal left turn and smashed head-on into the officers on their bikes. Stephens, suffering from extensive head injuries, was taken to Doctors’ Hospital, where he underwent hours of surgery, but died the next morning. He left his wife, Roberta, and an infant daughter.

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TOP: BILLY HOWARD STEPHENS, 1931-1957 ABOVE: WALTER FRANKLIN STATHERS, 1921-1967

Harris was treated for a fractured wrist and multiple cuts. Police recommended that the car’s driver, Edward L. Jones, 35, be charged with failure to yield the right-of-way and making an illegal left turn.

The disposition of the case is unknown.

WALTER FRANKLIN STATHERS, 1921-1967

Of the eight cases in which a Coral Gables police officer has been killed in the line of duty, only one remains an unsolved mystery.

Stathers, 46, was shot and killed, likely with his own gun, the week before Christmas 1967 after he responded to a prowler call coralgablesmagazine.com

ROBERT P. DEKORTE, 1926-1972

in a residential neighborhood east of US-1. Fellow officer James Harley – who would later become Coral Gables police chief – found Stathers’ squad car, engine running, driver’s door open, and wedged up against a house at 700 South Alhambra Circle. Stathers, a 14-year department veteran, was face-down on the lawn.

More than 55 years after his death, Stathers’ unsolved murder continues to haunt the Coral Gables Police Department. “I think about it all the time,” says Chief Hudak. Coral Gables Magazine wrote about the unsolved Stathers murder in the December 2018 issue. coralgablesmagazine.com/murder-mystery/

ROBERT P. DEKORTE, 1926-1972

DeKorte was working the day shift on Jan. 21, 1972, assigned to checking vacant houses of vacationers. He did not have to respond to the robbery alarm at the Happiness Boys Liquor Store, but he sped there in time to confront two men attempting to flee with $1,500 in cash. Both were armed, and both fired at the officer in the doorway. One slug hit DeKorte in the neck. Arriving officers pursued the robbers, shooting and killing one man hiding nearby.

The second, 17-year-old Raymond Bradley, was arrested by Miami police later that day. Now 69, Bradley is still behind bars at Dade Correctional Institution, serving a life sentence.

DeKorte, a popular and well-known 19-year veteran, left his wife Ruth, along with three children. The annual Police Benevolent Association award given to an officer exhibiting courage and dedication on the job bears DeKorte’s name.

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LOUIS PENA, 1936-1978

LOUIS PENA, 1936-1978

On patrol with his K-9 partner, a German Shepherd named Abe, Pena was shot and killed after making a routine traffic stop within blocks of the police station. With another officer parked nearby, Pena waited in his squad car for a radio response about the registration of a 1977 Chevrolet Camaro he had stopped on Almeria Avenue for a traffic violation. The car turned out to be stolen. One of the two men in the car, Manuel Valle, 27, walked up to Pena’s open window and fired one shot into his neck, and then turned the gun on Officer Gary Spell, sitting in his police car across the street. Spell survived his wounds, but Pena died 90 minutes later at Coral Gables Hospital.

Valle and his companion were arrested two days later in Deerfield Beach. Barely a month after the shooting, Valle was tried and convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. After 33 years on death row, he was executed by lethal injection in September 2011.

ALFRED WILLIAM TERRINONI, 1942-1980

Sgt. Terrinoni, 38, was working an off-duty job, picking up the night deposits from a restaurant at Dadeland Mall on Oct. 11, 1980, when he was approached by four armed robbers, all teenagers. When he refused to give up the pouch containing $4,800, the former Hialeah High School football star was shot three times, including once in the chest. He died at South Miami Hospital barely an hour later. A well-respected 16-year police veteran, Terrinoni was survived by his longtime partner, Emily, his parents, and two brothers.

Terrinoni’s four assailants were arrested within two days of the coralgablesmagazine.com

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ETERNAL VIGILANCE

A memorial to fallen first responders

ALFRED WILLIAM TERRINONI, 1942-1980

slaying. Two of the suspects were convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. Two others were freed after serving a little more than two years in prison.

ROBERT HARRY BONNET, 1944-1992

Bonnet, a 13-year veteran of the Gables Police Department, suffered a fatal heart attack on January 17, 1992, while taking part in the department’s prescribed fitness program. He was 47. Prior to joining the Coral Gables police, he served with the Dade County School Board Police for four years and the Homestead Police Department for five years. He was survived by his wife, a son, two daughters, his mother, sister, and grandmother.

MICHAEL D. “MAC” MCLANE, 1947-2000

McLane, 52, an 18-year veteran of the University of Miami (UM) police department, was killed in May 2000 as he drove home after completing his shift. According to a UM colleague, the detective’s car veered off State Road 878, the Snapper Creek Expressway, and he was ejected from the vehicle. McLane was survived by his wife and a son.

The memorial will also include the names of the following three Gables firefighters:

LT. THOMAS FAISON, 1896-1951

One of the original members of the Coral Gables Fire Department, appointed in 1927, Faison died of a heart attack while on duty. He was survived by his wife and two daughters.

LT. HERMAN “WOODY” BRICE, JR., 1960-2002

Brice, the son of a veteran firefighter in Palm Beach County, became a Coral Gables firefighter in 1980. He died on duty at the age of 41 due to a heart-related issue. He was survived by his wife and one son.

FIREFIGHTER TIMOTHY WALSH, 1961-2014

Walsh joined the Coral Gables Fire Department in 2001 and served for 13 years before dying of cancer. He was 52. He was survived by his wife and four children. ■

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The next piece of public art to be unveiled in Coral Gables is a 10-foot, aqua blue memorial to fallen first responders that city officials hope will serve as an invitation for quiet contemplation.

“For me, personally, it’s a very elegant and respectful piece,” says Catherine Cathers, speaking of “Eternal Vigilance,” the artwork to be installed in the plaza in front of the Public Safety Building. “In addition to being a memorial, it definitely marks a place of reflection and contemplation,” said Cathers, who administers the city’s Art in Public Places program. The work is scheduled for installation by the end of the year.

Norman Lee and Shane Allbritton of Houston’s RE:site Studio were commissioned to design the memorial after being chosen by the Arts Advisory Panel and other city representatives from more than 140 applicants. They collaborated with Police Chief Ed Hudak and Fire Chief Marcos De La Rosa to come up with a piece that combines interwoven planes of glass to represent flames within a vessel, as in the old lanterns once used by police and firefighters, said Lee. Water flows up underneath the sculpture, streaming into a thin veil over a granite base etched with the names of fallen responders. At night, LED lighting within the pool illuminates the interwoven flames inside the artwork to produce “a dynamic flickering effect,” according to the city’s website. In designing public artworks, says Lee, the aim is to come up with “art that is embraced right away and grows in meaning.” The cost of the memorial, including installation, was $525,000.

Lee and Allbritton have recently been acclaimed for their memorial on the campus of St. Mary’s College of Maryland, dedicated to 19 slaves who freed themselves during the War of 1812. Lee was also a finalist in the World Trade Center Site Memorial Competition.

coralgablesmagazine.com

HISTORIC PRESERVATION

A Site to Behold “ARCHITECTURE IS ABOUT TRYING TO MAKE THE WORLD A LITTLE MORE LIKE OUR DREAMS.” DANISH ARCHITECT BJARKE INGELS

On April 17, 1924, a dapper group of architects gathered under the latticework arches of the Coral Gables Inn (303 Minorca Avenue) to be memorialized in their suits and bowties and straw boaters by photographer William Arthur Fishbaugh (1873 - 1950).

Image courtesy of the State Archives of Florida.

BY BRUCE FITZGERALD AND KARELIA MARTINEZ CARBONELL

H

istoric preservation in the 21st century is no longer just a local agenda item. It’s an issue that has global repercussions, especially as we consider ways to decarbonize our contemporary built environment while simultaneously conserving vintage sites that have enduring societal, historical, or scientific significance. We’re at a flash point between yesterday, today, and tomorrow, where our architectural and cultural heritage is at risk. That could change as we approach Coral Gables’ centennial.

2019: A MEMORABLE YEAR FOR TENNIS & PRESERVATION TECHNOLOGY

In the world of tennis, 2019 saw Roger Federer win the Miami Open after the ATP (the Association of Tennis Professionals) made its move from Key Biscayne to the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. Tennis fans watched as Federer became the presumptive GOAT (Greatest of All Time).

In the same year, the APT (the Association for Preservation Technology) came to Miami for a conference held annually to identify heritage conservation efforts involving both place- and policy-makers. At that November 2019 event, a group of conference

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attendees – after observing the widespread Mediterranean Revival architectural composition of Coral Gables – indicated that the city might qualify as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

What is a UNESCO World Heritage site? Essentially, a World Heritage Site is a landmark or area that’s administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Sites can be ancient ruins, historical structures, buildings, cities, deserts, forests, islands, lakes, monuments, or even wilderness areas. After a rigorous nomination process, a potential site can be selected if it’s geographically and historically identifiable and has special cultural and/or physical significance. As of September 2023, there are 1,199 World Heritage Sites across 166 countries.

Of particular interest in the selection process is the requirement that nominated sites exhibit an “important interchange of human values” as evidenced in architecture, technology, monumental arts, town-planning, or landscape design. Here, Coral Gables appears to meet at least one of the ten selection criteria: “To be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble, or landscape which illustrates a significant stage in human history.” As an exemplar of the early 20th century City Beautiful movement, Coral Gables delivers – historically, architecturally, culturally, aesthetically, and, today, even technologically. coralgablesmagazine.com

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Mauricio enters every room with confidence and professional approachability. But more importantly he is prepared and precise, saving you time and effort. Clients rely on him to deliver and he takes the responsibility very seriously. “People trust me with their single largest asset. It’s a role that drives me to push for excellence every day. I give 110% because my success is their success.”

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HISTORIC PRESERVATION 1925 - 2025: A CENTURY OF HUMAN HISTORY FLASH BACK TO 1925 FOR SOME OF THAT YEAR’S HIGHLIGHTS: NEW YORK BECAME THE WORLD’S LARGEST CITY THE WORLD’S FAIR OPENED IN CHICAGO VIRGINIA WOOLF’S “MRS. DALLOWAY” AND F. SCOTT FITZGERALD’S “THE GREAT GATSBY” WERE PUBLISHED VINCENT YOUMANS’ AND IRVING CAESAR’S “TEA FOR TWO” TOPPED THE MUSIC CHARTS FOR 18 MONTHS THE ART DECO EXPOSITION OPENED IN PARIS KING VIDOR’S “THE BIG PARADE” OPENED TO BECOME THE HIGHEST GROSSING SILENT MOVIE OF ALL TIME THE SCOPES TRIAL BEGAN THE NEW YORKER MAGAZINE PUBLISHED ITS FIRST ISSUE THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES WAS INCORPORATED

Flash forward to 2025, when the city will celebrate the 100th anniversary of its founding and incorporation. While some things have changed in the intervening years, others have remained the same. Will Coral Gables one day be designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site? That’s a possibility as we look ahead and dream on.

Certainly there is already a large number of public sites and structures already on the national register of historic places.

NATIONALLY REGISTERED CORAL GABLES HISTORIC SITES CORAL GABLES CITY HALL. Designed in 1926 by Phineas Paist and Harold Steward; Denman Fink, artistic advisor.

CORAL GABLES CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. Designed in 1925 by

Richard Kiehnel and John Blair Elliott.

CORAL GABLES PREPARATORY ACADEMY (formerly the Coral Gables Elementary School). Designed in the early 1920s by Richard Kiehnel and John Blair Elliott.

CORAL GABLES MERRICK HOUSE. George Merrick family home,

completed in 1910.

CORAL GABLES MUSEUM (formerly the Old Police and Fire Station)

Designed in 1939 by Phineas Paist and Harold Steward.

COCO PLUM WOMEN’S CLUB. Designed in 1926 by R.G. Howard

and A.E. Early.

CORAL GABLES WOMEN’S CLUB. Constructed by the Works

Progress Administration,1936-1937.

DOUGLAS ENTRANCE. Designed by Walter De Garmo, Phineas

Paist, and Denman Fink. Completed in 1927.

MACFARLANE HOMESTEAD HISTORIC DISTRICT. The first houses

were built in 1926 in a wood frame vernacular unique in Coral Gables.

VENETIAN POOL. Designed by Denman Fink and Phineas Paist.

Completed in 1924.

BILTMORE HOTEL. Designed by Leonard Schultze and Fullerton

Weaver. Completed in 1926. ■

Karelia Martinez Carbonell is president of the Historic Preservation Association of Coral Gables. Bruce Fitzgerald is a Gables historic preservation advocate.

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TOP: COCOPLUM WOMEN’S CLUB MIDDLE: CORAL GABLES PREPARATORY ACADEMY (FORMERLY CORAL GABLES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL) BOTTOM: CORAL GABLES MUSEUM (FORMERLY THE OLD POLICE AND FIRE STATION)

coralgablesmagazine.com

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DON’S RAMBLES

Meandering About Town #5 IN WHICH A FORMER MAYOR CONTINUES TO SEEK THE SOUL OF THE CITY

BY DON SLESNICK

T

he Oxford English Dictionary defines “soul” as “the spiritual, immortal element” of the entity under examination – in this case Coral Gables. Thus, if we are searching for our community’s soul, where better to look than in a house of worship, especially the church founded by our city’s creator, George Merrick. Therefore, my ongoing ramble (note: several pairs of shoes have been expended) takes me to the Congregational United Church of Christ, which is located directly across the street from George’s other grand creation, the Biltmore Hotel. The church was our city’s first building in public use (providing a home for UM graduations and City Commission meetings) and, along with the neighboring hotel, was the center of Merrick’s biblically inspired vision of a “shining city on a hill.” (See: Isiah, Matthew, and, somewhat later, Ronald Reagan.)

The church is busy preparing to celebrate (with a festive dinner-dance gala) the 100th anniversary of its first gathering held down the street at the home of George Merrick. Michael Maxwell, a member of our city’s Historic Preservation Board and parishioner, relates that “the church had 61 charter members, including George and his mother, Althea. They continued to meet in the Columbus Boulevard house until the current building was dedicated in 1925 on land donated by the Merricks. Early on, the church began its community outreach by providing food and shelter for displaced families following the horrific hurricane of 1926.”

Now, nearly one hundred years later, the church is a bustling place of religious services, community events, social gatherings, and activities in support of societal causes (for example, organizing a march across town to Books & Books in opposition to the banning of books). The Senior Pastor, The Rev. Dr. Laurie Hafner, came to the entrance to welcome this weary traveler (having braved another tropical downpour).

Rev. Hafner has faithfully served the congregation here for the past 17 years. “There is something special about this place,” she commented during our interview. “It’s in the walls and in the hearts of its people. It’s a love for one another and the community which it serves. You will find the congregation not just in the pews but venturing beyond the confines of the building in an effort to bring justice, hope, and peace to all.”

Since 1949, the Congregational United Church has been the home of the “Early Childhood Center,” providing high-quality, play-based education for children aged 18 months through kindergarten. This top-rated program is under the direction of Brooke Bagnall-Koger, whose husband is a professor at the University of Miami. Additionally, the church houses Mark Hart’s “Community Arts Program” which provides youth participants with innovative musical experiences and presents an annual summer performance series of world-renowned artists.

Finally, residents can visit the church to shop at the “Miami Fair Trade Marketplace” which supports artisans in over 30 developing countries by purchasing indigenous products made under safe

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“THERE IS SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT THIS PLACE. IT’S IN THE WALLS AND IN THE HEARTS OF ITS PEOPLE. IT’S A LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER AND THE COMMUNITY WHICH IT SERVES... ” REV. LAURIE HAFNER, CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST ABOVE (LEFT TO RIGHT): MICHAEL MAXWELL, BROOKE BAGNALL-KOGER, REV. LAURIE HAFNER

working conditions.

As I bid a fond farewell, Rev. Laurie concludes our conversation with this observation: “One of the gifts of the church is its commitment to hospitality. As we say every time we meet, ‘No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.’ And the best part is we truly mean it.”

I have certainly meandered into a sacred place that truly exhibits a meaningful portion of our community’s soul.

This column appears monthly by Don Slesnick, who served as mayor of Coral Gables from 2001 to 2011. If you wish to reach him with suggestions on where he should next meander in search of the city’s soul, email donslesnick@scllp.com. ■ coralgablesmagazine.com

THE JOY OF RAISING FUNDS FOR THOSE IN NEED.

Give Local: Miami Day November 16, 2023

One donor advised fund.

Endless possibilities.

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The Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Foundation Donor Advised Fund, sponsored by the BNY Mellon Charitable Gift Fund, supports the mission of a leader in pediatric healthcare while giving the donor flexibility on their charitable plans.

ne of the nation’s biggest 24-hour annual giving events, Give Miami Day, is an online campaign where all locals can be philanthropists.

On Thursday, November 16, 2023, we invite everyone to explore the online profiles of hundreds of Miami-Dade community organizations that continuously provide the supplies, services, and support our residents need. We encourage you to find a cause or an organization you believe in and make a charitable donation. While we all count on Greater Miami’s organizations to serve our region day after day, this time, they are counting on us.

Since 2012, Give Miami Day has raised more than $100 million for 1,000+ community organizations.

Please go to www.givemiamiday.org to research the local charities that are near and dear to your heart. Many of your donations are matched dollar for dollar on November 16th so the time is now to support our local community.

When individuals choose the Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Foundation Donor Advised Fund, they agree to make a gift of cash or other non-cash assets to Nicklaus Children’s, with a portion of the gift allocated to a sub-fund that can be granted to other IRS approved charitable causes they care about.

Learn more by visiting nicklauschildrens.org/DonorAdvisedFund or contact Greg Romagnoli, CAP® at greg.romagnoli@nicklaushealth.org or (305) 582-0137.

Nicklaus Children’s advises individuals to first consult with their personal tax, financial or legal advisor prior to setting up a donor advised fund.

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DINING GUIDE

November

American, Steak 2023 Houses & Pubs NOVEMBER DINING GUIDE With our cover feature focusing on International Cuisine in the Gables, what follows is our list of the best of the tried and true in the non-global categories of American cuisine, steakhouses, and neighborhood pubs. We dine at all locations anonymously, and we list only the places where we love to eat.

$ ............ $$ .......... $$$ ........ $$$$ ......

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

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

AMERICAN Cheesecake Factory

We still don’t know how they can offer over 250 menu items, but there is something for everyone here, from Thai peanut lettuce

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wraps to chicken salad sandwiches on toasted white bread.

Their cheesecake is still a calorie overload, but now balanced by their “SkinnyLicious” menu. Still, our favorite: Godiva chocolate cheesecake. $$ 2418 Ponce de Leon Blvd.

305.529.0703

Grilled Cheese Gallery

The Gallery’s menu consists entirely of affordable grilled cheeses, salads, and poutine. The sandwiches range from $8 to $15 and feature a wide range of unexpected ingredients, from kimchi to truffle oil to fresh lobster. Some of the heartier op-

BACHOUR

tions are stuffed with macaroni and cheese and each can be ordered with a side of tomato basil soup, perfect for dipping.

1573 Sunset Dr. 786.953.4056

seeing anything on the menu that tingles your taste buds, there’s always the option to create your own salad, bowl, or wrap.

Ponce de Leon. 866.673.3757 $

Just Salad

Bachour

Despite the implications of its name, Just Salad features a wide variety of other healthy eats. In addition to popular salads like the Modern Greek (romaine, feta, pita chips, chickpeas, sliced grape tomatoes, pickled onions, and cucumbers), the fast-casual eatery also offers warm bowls, wraps, avocado toasts, soups, juices, and smoothies. And if you’re not

At first it was the allure of pastries by world-renowned pastry cheft Antonio Bachour, but this ariy, industrial chic spot have become the new power breakfast spot in town, with amazingly good eggs benedict and challah French toast Also open for lunch and an early dinner, with great Greek salad and roast chicken brearst. $$ 202 Salzedo St. 305.203.0552

coralgablesmagazine.com

Celebrate your your Celebrate Holiday events events Holiday

For reservations visit www.zuccamiami.com or call (786) 580-3731 For reservations visit www.zuccamiami.com or call (786) 580-3731 162 Alcazar Ave. Coral Gables FL 33134 162 Alcazar Ave. Coral Gables FL 33134

DINING GUIDE Beauty and the Butcher

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

Capital Burger

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

300 Miracle Mile. 786.437.3741. $$

Cascade Pool Café at the Biltmore

A more relaxing place to dine would be hard to find. This hidden secret at the Biltmore Hotel, with good seafood dishes and basic American food (grouper filet, fish tacos, turkey club sandwiches), is a refreshing break from the hustle and bustle of downtown.

All seating is waterside, next to the largest pool in Florida, with tables in the shade of a logia.

Easy parking at the vast Biltmore lot to the right of the main building. Open for breakfast, lunch or an early dinner (closes at 7 pm). 1200 Anastasia Ave. 855.311.6903. $$

Cebada Rooftop & Raw Bar

It’s hard to pigeonhole this new rooftop restaurant by Chef Jorge Ramos (fresh from his acclaimed Barley restaurant in Dadeland).

He calls it “contemporary American with a Latin overlay” which means roast bone marrow with salsa verde and baby back ribs with pimiento marmalade. A good raw bar, a great view. $$-$$$ 124 Giralda Ave. 786.409.2287

Clutch Burger

You may have to unhinge your jaw to take in some of their burgers, but they are the best. Most of the burgers hover close $20 because they’re made with quality Wagyu beef. The “Clutch” is the cheeseburger of the house, but our favorite is “My Boy Bleu.” They also specialize in craft beers brewed here in Miami. $$ 146 Giralda Ave. 305.400.8242

CRAFT

A classic take on American food with an emphasis on breakfast, CRAFT is one of the latest additions to Giralda Plaza, open early (8am everyday) and serving everything from picante pizza sprinkled with Doritos, jalapeños, and onions to their Post-Apocalyptic Brunch Plate (eggs, bacon, mini croissant, mini waffle, granola, prosciutto and melon bite, avo-toast, goat cheese croquette). Surprisingly, some of the best bacon we’ve ever had. $-$$ 127 Giralda Ave. 305.339.5981

Doc B’s Restaurant + Bar

Doc B’s Restaurant + Bar serves crave-able American fare dishes

made from scratch daily. Offering brunch, lunch, dinner, and a solid happy hour, signature dishes include the Wok Out Bowls. But our favorites are the candied bacon, the grilled artichokes and the Southern fried chicken. $$ 301 Miracle Mile 786.864.1220

Eating House

It’s back, it’s back, it’s finally back!

Chef Giorgio Rapicavoli’s maiden Coral Gables restaurant has returned with fanfare after closing in the summer of 2021. Now it’s back, this time on Giralda Plaza, serving brunch, dinner, and a new lunch menu. Plus, try their prix fixe tasting menus on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

128 Giralda Ave. 786.580.3745 $$-$$$

The Globe

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

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Your Lawyers Next Door

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coralgablesmagazine.com

Ring in 2024 at the Biltmore. Our DJ will have you dancing the night away. Enjoy an array of delicacies, extravagant desserts, and premium open bar.

As we count down to midnight, we will all raise a glass of bubbly as our spectacular fireworks display illuminates the sky above the golf course.

Reservations required Semi-formal attire Party Props included

DECEMBER 31, 2023 10 PM – 1 AM GRANADA BALLROOM $250 inclusive per guest Members Discount Applies Tickets available online at www.eventbrite.com ** Limited Unreserved Seating in the Granada Ballroom ** Adults Only, 21 or Older TICKETS ARE NOT REFUNDABLE AFTER DECEMBER 23, 2023

DINING GUIDE over the years. Best conch fritters.$$ 377 Alhambra Circle 305.445.3555

Hillstone

There are very few restaurants in the Gables where clients will wait in a line outside. Hillstone is one ofthem. A power lunch spot, a happy hour singles anchor, and a family restaurant at night, the food and service are consistently top notch, with an elegant interior that is both comfortable and sophisticated at the same time. $$$ 201 Miracle Mile 305.529.0141

John Martin’s

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

253 Miracle Mile. 305.209.0609 $$-$$$

Lion & The Rambler

At Lion and the Rambler, every-

thing is made from scratch, from the creme fraiche down to the finishing salts, which are extracted from Miami seawater and hand-delivered to the restaurant by a local fisherman.

The inventive restaurant serves up a nine-course tasting menu as much inspired by the three-Michelin-star Denmark restaurant Noma as the humble Cool Ranch Dorito. $$-$$$ 804 Ponce de Leon Blvd.

305.603.7612

Orno

Located in the same building as Mamey (Thesis Hotel), Orno is Chef Niven Patel’s latest creation, focusing on “New American” cuisine with a focus on farm-to-table local produce. An eclectic menu lets Patel stretch his culinary imagination, using a wood-burning oven and a wood-burning grill. Be prepared for new and fascinating flavors. $$$ 1350 S. Dixie Highway (THēsis Hotel) 305.667.6766

Seasons 52

The restaurant for healthy eaters who enjoy quality as well. The menu, changing four times a year with each season, is always full of inventive treatments for fresh veg-

gies, soups and salads. Their fish and meat dishes are great values, and the flatbread menu is a nice touch. It’s a chain, but we forgive them. $$ 321 Miracle Mile 305.442.8552

Tap 42

Tap 42 is big, noisy, and fun, with a huge island bar and lots of booths.

Reliably good ribs, steaks and burgers, plus shines in the sides (roasted Brussels sprouts with maple mustard, truffle mac & cheese with parmesan crust). Nice random Asian dishes (grilled salmon Zen bowl, Asian coleslaw). $$-$$$ 301 Giralda Ave. 786.391.1566

Vinya Table

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

266 Miracle Mile. 305.203.4229. $$-$$$

The finest northern Italian cuisine, specializing in Venetian seafood.

Welcoming, warm, elegant – and delicious. Visit with us today.

“Best New Restaurant 2023” - Coral Gables Magazine 106

Yard House

A cavernous space with huge screens for sports fans, oversized paintings, classic rock in the background and large booths, all making for a comfortable space in which to pick and choose from an immense and reliable menu of American classics with Asian dishes interspersed.

Literally something for everyone. $$ 320 San Lorenzo Ave. 305.447.9273

STEAK HOUSES Christy’s

Touted as Coral Gables oldest steakhouse, Christy’s was long the power lunch go-to – until it stopped serving lunch except on Fridays.

Still, its aged steaks are consistently excellent, as are the seafood entrees.

Their classic Caesar salad is still the best in town, and the jumbo shrimp cocktail is a house specialty. $$$ 3101 Ponce de Leon Blvd.

305.446.1400

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse

Fantastic, aged steaks, a seafood tower that won’t quit, and a wine cellar that appears to have no end of

160 Andalusia Ave. 786-707-8978 Tulliomiami.com Open Daily 12 pm to 10 pm coralgablesmagazine.com

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drweightlossmiami.com 9655 S. Dixie Hwy. #310, Miami, FL 33156 Five-Star Reviews

DINING GUIDE depth. A place for special celebrations. Recently redecorated, but the open kitchen with its copper “sash” across the top still gives the main dining room a warm glow. Good menu at the bar.$$$-$$$$ 2525 Ponce de Leon Blvd.

305.569.7995

Fogo de Chão

At Fogo de Chão, meat reigns supreme. Try the “churrasco experience” ($61) and let expert gaucho chefs keep the finely cut slabs coming, from beef ribeye to flank steak to lamb pincanha. If you’re a Wagyu fan, this is the place to be. The interior is as grand as the experience, which is a show in itself, Brazilian style. Great cocktails in the upstairs lounge for before or after. $$$-$$$$ 2801 Ponce de Leon Blvd.

786.297.8788

Morton’s The Steakhouse

Morton’s in the Gables is not just another Morton’s. Its setting in the Colonnades gives it a unique elegance, with outdoor seating under the arches. Dependable quality, prime-aged beef, and excellent salads. Good place to take that important client. Great bar food with

filet mignon sandwiches or short rib tacos. $$$ 2333 Ponce de Leon Blvd.

305.442.1662

Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille

The youngest entry among Coral Gables steak houses, Perry’s is a Texas chain that gets its beef from the heart of the Lone Star State.

Great outdoor space with fire pit and a huge interior with its own piano bar. The entrees are all carefully concocted, including excellent reduction sauces for the finer cuts and their famous five-finger giant pork chop that is carved at the table and can feed two. $$$$ 4251 Salzedo St. (Shops at Merrick Park) 786.703.9094

Ruth’s Chris Steak House

Some of the most expensive steaks in the Gables, but also some of the best. A chain with a surprisingly sweet backstory in Ruth Fertel, who bought the original steakhouse in New Orleans in 1965, their Gables location is both spacious and business-like. Almost all the beef is USDA Prime and the menu ranges far beyond steak, including menus for those on specialty diets (keto, gluten-friendly, vegetarian).

FOGO DE CHÃO

$$$-$$$$ 2320 Salzedo St. 305.461.8360

PUBS & CAFÉS Bagel Emporium

And you thought all the great Jewish delis had disappeared. Not this one. Rated the best bagels and deli sandwiches in Miami, it’s also a great breakfast spot (waffles, blintzes, French toast). But this is where you come for a real pastrami or corned beef sandwich on rye. Yes, $20 a pop, but a time machine to New York’s lower East Side. $$-$$$

1238 S. Dixie Highway.

305.666.9519

Bay 13 Brewery and Kitchen

The cuisine is largely Australian pub food – salmon Rangoon, chicken skewers, meat pies, fish & chips – the setting is spectacular, and the beer unbeatable at this newest hot spot. You can sit inside by the vast beer tankards, or outside with a fine view of the Alhambra fountain. $$ 65 Alhambra Plaza. 786.452.0935

Books & Books Café

A charming and somewhat bohe-

Miami’s Premier Steakhouse A Gables Tradition Since 1978

Still home to the finest in steaks, seafood, classic cocktails and our famous Caesar salad Open evenings Tues-Sat • 5:30-9:30 pm, until 10 pm Friday & Saturday www.christysrestaurant.com • 3101 Ponce de Leon Blvd. • 305.446.1400 108

coralgablesmagazine.com

Enjoy a plethora of stations including pasta, seafood, sushi, and dessert, in addition to traditional carving & breakfast stations. No brunch would be complete without bottomless bubbly.

RESERVATIONS ONLINE: WWW.OPENTABLE.COM

1200 Anastasia Avenue Coral Gables, Florida 33134

305-445-1926 www.biltmorehotel.com

mian place to have lunch, where you can eat among the bookshelves inside, or dine in the courtyard outside. A tidy little menu with a cluster of excellent salads, sandwiches & wraps. Our favorite is the curry chicken salad ($14) and the café grilled cheese ($12), with a mix of goat and cheddar cheese, greens on the side.

265 Aragon Ave. 305.446.9599. $

Cortadito Coffee House

inside is limited, but outside there are numerous tables in their space under the arches of the Colonnade Building or on the sidewalk under umbrellas. $$ 169 Miracle Mile. 796.360.4026.

MIAM Cafe

This casual bistro joint is the second of its kind in Miami – the original location in Wynwood opened back in 2014. The menu mostly consists of breakfast and brunch food, plus smoothies and sandwiches. But the real standouts here are the pastries, in particular the Nutella croissant ($4.50), which is large enough to count as a full meal, dusted with powdered sugar and drizzled with the hazelnut spread. $ 2300 Ponce de Leon. 305.200.3190.

Cortadito offers all the classics, like cafe con leche, espresso, and – of course – cortaditos, as well as signature drinks, like iced matcha latte and their Cafe Bon Bon (espresso and condensed milk). Also a full breakfast/lunch menu with items like the Cuban Breakfast (scrambled eggs, two ham croquetas, and a tostada with your choice of bacon or sausage), the Cuban Sampler (three Sports Grill traditional Cuban meats served with A go-to spot for any major sporting white rice and black beans. $ event, but also a popular destination 200 Miracle Mile. 786.410.0175 for any given night of the week. You don’t even need to look at the menu: Crema Gourmet the pub is home to the Special Principally a coffee shop (with won- Grilled wings, dipped in their sigderful coffee), Crema also has exnature sauce, then charbroiled and cellent breakfast dishes and reliably lightly covered in a secret sauce. $ good sandwiches for lunch. Seating 1559 Sunset Dr. 305.668.0396

BOOKS & BOOKS CAFÉ

Tinta y Café

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

305.285.0101

Threefold Café

You have to love a place that is dedicated to breakfast all day long.

But who needs dinner when you can get shrimp tacos for breakfast, along with salmon scrambled eggs, chicken parma, and that Millennial favorite, smashed avocado toast? The brainchild of Australian Nick Sharp, Threefold is also popular for Sunday brunch. And the coffee is some of the best around. $$ 141 Giralda Ave. 305.704.800 ■

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450gradipizzerias.com 130 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables | 1 786 391 1276 coralgablesmagazine.com

CITY LIFE

Remembering Grace On the last day of September, we lost one of our own, our beloved editor-at-large Grace Carricarte, who passed away at the age of 42 after a long and truly courageous struggle with liver disease. Gracie, as her friends called her, was an invaluable member of our team, the author of numerous articles about canines, wild animals, and gardens in the Gables, all things she loved. She was, of course, much more than that – a woman with an amazing heart who spent many years as a suicide prevention counselor for teenagers. She was also a tireless advocate for animal rights, and for human rights as well, single-handedly changing the laws in the State of Florida to out-

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law cyberstalking. She was also a dedicated member of the Coral Gables Garden Club, volunteering for projects that ranged from maintaining the community garden in the McFarlane District to planting thousands of mangrove bulbs in a project that attracted a story by National Geographic. Wherever someone was in need, Gracie was the first to help, including taking care of elderly neighbors near her Gables home on De Soto Boulevard. As Gracie used to say, if you cannot find some way to help others, you are not doing your job as a human being. Her spirit will live on in all who knew and loved her, and she will be deeply missed.

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