AQUA Pinecrest September 2024

AQUA SEPTEMBER 2024

PINECREST REDISCOVER Coconut Grove

DIVE INTO The AQUA Life

IMMERSE YOURSELF

In Art and Books

JOURNEY NORTH On an Arctic Expedition

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TIMELESS COLLECTION

Ornare Miami Miami Design District 4040 NE 2nd Avenue #103, Miami, FL 33137 @ornaremiami | (305) 438 0260

Ornare West Palm Beach Flamingo Park Market & Design Center 424 Park Place, Unit 109 West Palm Beach, FL 33401

Ornare Dallas Dallas Design District 1617 Hi Line Dr, Dallas, TX 75207 @ornaredallas | (214) 377 1212

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CONTENTS SEPTEMBER 2024

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F E AT UR E S

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The Oasis of Coconut Grove

An immersive journey into the iconic Mayfair House Hotel & Garden—renovated by ingenious designer Matthew Goodrich and revitalized by celebrity chef Giorgio Rapicavoli’s new food program.

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Don’t Throw Stones

Local socialite Asha Elias discusses the Miami sizzle, PTA moms, and her debut novel, Pink Glass Houses.

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CO LUM N S

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EDITOR’S NOTE The cultural season begins

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CONTRIBUTORS Meet our creatives

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THE AQUA LIFE Offshore racer Marc Granet’s new column

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CURIOUS MINDS Q&A with visual artist Anna Danilov

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FOODALISCIOUS Summon ancestral Mexican spirits

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ART SEEN Artist Charles Edward Soto’s Children of the Trap series

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WANDERLUST A perilous arctic expedition

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READING WITH ROCHELLE Books to get you through hurricane season

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EXPLORE ENDLESS OPPORTUNITIES JOIN US AT OUR UPCOMING OPEN HOUSE EVENTS PRIMARY & LOWER SCHOOL* PK-GRADE 4

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29 TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3

MIDDLE SCHOOL GRADES 5-8

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24

UPPER SCHOOL GRADES 9-12

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14 REGISTER AT

gulliver.life/learnmore PK-8 Admissions: 305.665.3593 | 9-12 Admissions: 305.666.7937 *Primary & Lower School Open Houses are for parents only.

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EDITOR’S NOTE

PHOTO BY NADIA SOMMEREYNS

I

the renovated Mayfair House Hotel & Garden (courtesy of forward-thinking designer Matthew Goodrich). Cap a day enjoying all the shopping and pampering the Grove has to offer with cocktails and dinner at the newly revamped Mayfair Grill (courtesy of local-boydone-good Chef Giorgio Rapicavoli; he shares a lovely recipe for a jalapeño pesto to add to your pasta, too).

Also, do you live to be on the water (or by the water, or just nearby enough)?

Powerboat champion and all-around bon vivant Marc Granet joins us to pen a new column called “The AQUA Life,” which centers on— you guessed it—all things aquatic.

Plus Jeffrey Delannoy joins us this issue as AQUA’s new Lead Photographer. He contributes several shots to this issue—with many, many more to come. You can read more about him on the Contributors page.

But there’s more, indeed. Say hello to Charles Edward Soto—a dissident visionary who offers you a peek into his way of seeing. I’m referring to our new “Art Seen” series. Feel free to carefully tear them out and put them on your wall. Just make sure to tell your friends: Soto made that.

And then, for our “Wanderlust” section, the publisher of Human Side Press—Peter Dahlstrand—sent us an excerpt of his translation of Greenlandic-Danish polar explorer Knud Rasmussen’s gripping account of a harrowing polar expedition from back in 1912. Oof. That’s something else. But I’ll let the words speak for themselves.

Cheers,

SEASON BEGINS IT’S SEPTEMBER, almost October, and that means a certain quelling of the summer doldrums is in order here in Miami.

Meanwhile, can you hear the peacocks cackling from Pinecrest to Coconut Grove? As much as that invasive species can be a nuisance—what with the noise and the droppings the birds so dismissively leave behind—the aesthetic of peacock feathers has become inextricably tied to many areas in south Miami-Dade— Coconut Grove, in particular.

Talking about the Grove, for this issue, AQUA beckons you to rediscover this beloved, greenery-draped, eternally hospitable area. Summon ancestral Mexican spirits with this installment of our “Foodaliscious” column, as you eat dishes inspired by ancient techniques and drink mezcal with us at Koko by Bakan.

Then, jettison all your worries and rest your soul in the Weeping Willow Suite at

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Omar Sommereyns Editor

PINECREST Group Publisher Randi B. Berger randi.berger@wainscotmedia.com Editor Omar Sommereyns omar.sommereyns@wainscotmedia.com Advertising Director Daisy Abreu daisy.abreu@wainscotmedia.com Creative Director Kijoo Kim Lead Photographer Jeffrey Delannoy Columnists Marc Granet (boating) Rochelle B. Weinstein (books) Creative Advisory Board Charles Edward Soto (visuals) Gestalt Brand Lab (AQUA logo) aquasouthflorida.com WAINSCOT MEDIA Chairman Carroll V. Dowden President and CEO Mark Dowden VP, Group Publisher, Regional Thomas Flannery VP, Content Strategy Maria Regan Associate Editor Sophia Carlisle Art Director Sue Park Advertising Services Director Jacquelynn Fischer Operations Director Catherine Rosario Production Designer Chris Ferrante Print Production Manager Fern Meshulam Advertising Production Associate Griff Dowden

AQUA Pinecrest Magazine is published

by Wainscot Media. Serving residents of Pinecrest and surrounding areas of South Florida, the magazine is distributed monthly via U.S. mail.

Articles and advertisements contained herein do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publishers. Copyright 2024 by Wainscot Media LLC. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent.

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CONTRIBUTORS

MARC GRANET Marc is an adventurer, 15-time offshore-racing world champion, pilot of the Miss GEICO powerboat, and an avid sportfishing enthusiast. After trying the California life, Marc moved to the Tampa/ St. Petersburg area in Florida to live and raise his young family. Now based in South Florida, he has spent the majority of his life on the water, in the water, or around the water. He’s been featured in numerous publications and TV shows centered around watersports, too. On weekends, he enjoys tournament billfishing, hydrofoiling, and relaxing on various sandbars. Naturally, we tapped Marc to write a column for AQUA focused on the abundance of aquatic activities in and around South Florida (see “The AQUA Life” on page 8).

ROCHELLE B. WEINSTEIN Rochelle is the USA Today and Amazon bestselling author of seven novels. Her most recent one is set in Surfside, FL (What You Do to Me). A native Floridian, Rochelle spent her early years with a book in hand, reading the likes of Sidney Sheldon and Judy Blume. A former entertainment industry executive, she splits her time between Miami and the mountains of North Carolina. When she’s not writing, she’s sharing book recommendations on NBC 6’s South Florida Live and the online literary magazine Women Writers, Women’s Books; teaching workshops at Nova Southeastern University; hiking; reading; and finding the world’s best nachos. Her eighth novel, We Are Made of Stars, releases on February 25, 2025. Check out her interview with novelist Asha Elias on page 18 and her books column for AQUA on page 32.

JEFFREY DELANNOY A talented lensman, Jeffrey Delannoy has shot for Rolling Stone, the Smoky Mountain News, Consequence.net, The Guardian UK, and The New York Times. His subjects have included Nobel Prize winners (Dario Fo and Günter Grass), filmmaker Wim Wenders, and bands like New Order, Buena Vista Social Club, and The Roots. He’s also worked in fashion with Armani, Trussardi, and Jean Paul Gaultier. These days, he spends time between Miami (where he runs an award-winning microbrewery called Epoca Brewing) and Asheville, North Carolina (where he owns the Grandview Lodge in nearby Waynesville). Jeffrey joins AQUA as our new Lead Photographer, with his photos included in both our new “Curious Minds” section (page 12) and the “Foodaliscious” column (page 22).

CHARLES EDWARD SOTO Soto is a visionary artist based in Miami, who captivates audiences with vibrant and dynamic works that reflect the rich cultural tapestry of the city. Renowned for his masterful use of color and intricate designs, Soto’s art delves into profound themes of identity, urban existence, and the universal human experience. His creations—inspired by his environment and personal journey— transcend traditional artistic boundaries, seamlessly blending abstraction, realism, and street art. His works do more than adorn gallery walls—they resonate deeply with viewers, provoking thoughtful reflection and dialogue on contemporary issues. As a leading figure in Miami’s thriving art scene, Soto continually redefines creative expression, challenging conventions and crafting compelling visual narratives that explore the complexities of modern life.

For AQUA, he contributes words and visuals for our first installment of “Art Seen” (a new section highlighting the work of local artists) on page 26.

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THE AQUA LIFE

A new column focuses on life on the water in South Florida. Isn’t access to yearround boating and aquatic activities the real reason we wouldn’t want to live anywhere else?

BY MARC GRANET

AQUA-HOLIC…the name is splayed on the transom of the streamlined, bright white day yacht as it idles by my sweet little spot on Lake Boca Raton, and then makes its way south through the Intracoastal. It’s just one boat in a long procession of beautiful big-boy toys out on a late summer Saturday. “Bailando” (Enrique!) drifts from the speakers as a beautiful couple laughs and dances on the back—shimmying with passion like it’s their first date. Welcome to South Florida, I say to myself.

The crystal-clear aquamarine water picks up speed as high tide spills through the inlet, and the color transfixes your brain to evoke a picture of some sort of paradise. Sometimes, it all seems so surreal. And you don’t have to have a boat or live on the water to enjoy the latter. It’s all around you.

Water-World Dreams

The South Florida water. At one point, we saw this unique megatropolis in the sun and said, “That’s me. That’s where I want to live.” We visualized spending the weekends on boats or beaches, eating at waterfront restaurants, sitting on a park bench with the breeze coming in from Biscayne Bay, and just generally enjoying the magical effect

that the life-aquatic in South Florida has on all of us: unlimited excitement and joy, but also peace and tranquility during every sunrise and sunset.

Stick with me here, as this is going to be a fun ride. This column will explore “The AQUA Life” in all its unadulterated glory—and I’m not just talking about the fluffy stuff. Life on the water here is a world inside of a world with many unopened doors (that I’ve yet to discover, too— and I’ve lived it for 30 years now).

I’ve always had a fascination with the ocean— from observing my father’s work on submarines to relentlessly watching French oceanographer Jacques Cousteau as a kid. But this love affair was truly solidified when I saw Don Johnson driving that Chris-Craft boat off the Miami coastline in Miami Vice. I listened to Jimmy Buffet and Bob Marley as I made my way from the suburbs of D.C. to the west coast of Florida, eventually setting down roots in St. Pete Beach to raise my family.

That’s where I bought my first jet ski, which led to my first offshore racer (i.e., cigarette boat). Soon enough, the boats got longer and faster—and by the end of it, I found myself behind the wheel of the fastest offshore boat in the world (the beautiful Miss GEICO).

ALL PHOTOS PROVIDED BY MARC GRANET

AQUA-HOLIC

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THE AQUA LIFE

I’ve always had a fascination with the ocean—from observing my father’s work on submarines to relentlessly watching French oceanographer Jacques Cousteau as a kid.”

I was getting paid to travel to exotic venues to race powerboats in front of thousands of fans every weekend. My dream had come true. And it couldn’t get any better, right? Well, as fate would have it, a friend invited me out for a day of practice fishing for a top bill-fishing team. He said it’d be like nothing I’d known about fishing (i.e., drinking beer and chilling until they bite). This was serious stuff with millions of dollars on the line to catch the right fish.

Needless to say, I was hooked, as this was another level of competition I didn’t know existed (and one that I will highlight in a future column).

Anyway, as my offshore racing career wound down, I stayed on the fishing circuit and slowed to a life of fishing with the family and spending time on boats just for the fun of it. But this column will explore everything from sport fishing for world-class billfish and

chasing lobsters on reefs to yacht life, islandrunning, sandbar parties, luxe waterfront restos, high-speed offshore racing, and everything in between. We will talk about really cool people and explore their journey within South Florida to live this special lifestyle we all cherish and love.

Boating and Floating

Located about 45 miles north of Miami, saltwater Lake Boca leads directly to the ocean. On any given day, there are 50 to 2,000 boats anchored and rafted up there, soaking in the spectacle of gorgeous water, beautiful bodies, and multimillion-dollar homes. You’ll find families spending quality time together on the sandbar, collecting shells and playing with their dogs. Feeling hungry? A small boat winds its way through the anchored and beached boats, and you can just call out your order—anything from

pizzas and burgers to incredible ceviche.

Yup. Welcome to South Florida, once again. The outskirts of the lake host the no-holds-barred younger crowd, with 20-plus boats rafted together and EDM on full blast—fluorescent thongs and shredded bodies dancing from end to end. My first mate not so gently reminds me of my age and says no, I’m not going over there to get their perspective on “The AQUA Life”— even if it might be critically important to this column, am I right? My brain’s thinking I’m 25 and still got it.

Most boaters like us relax on floats or 20-foot lily pads and ponder just how good we have it. When workdays get too tough, and we need an escape—we always have the water.

The ocean is vast; the waterways are aplenty. There’s room for all of us—and I look forward to our adventure together.

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CURIOUS MINDS

Dexterous Artistry: Anna Danilov INTERVIEW BY OMAR SOMMEREYNS PHOTO-PORTRAITS BY JEFFREY DELANNOY ANNA DANILOV UNDERSTANDS the art hustle—and, in that sense, she knows that a certain versatility is often key to success. The Russian-born, Miami-based artist can pretty much paint anything. But she shines most brightly (and, sometimes, most subversively) when she appropriates popculture imagery—from Scrooge McDuck to Harley Quinn and The Joker—and offers her own, idiosyncratic take on icons we’ve internalized in our collective unconscious.

Our new “Curious Minds” section in AQUA will have Q&As with a variegated collection of accomplished people we admire around town—with a first installment that opts for a questionnaire inspired by the Proustian approach: a sort of literary parlor game founded by French writer Marcel Proust that has evolved into a very loose personality quiz.

What are your favorite indulgences?

Coffee. I am a crazy coffee lover. Coffee does not give me energy like it does many other people. It is more of a routine that gives me a few minutes a day to drink a cup of coffee, enjoy the moment, and not rush anywhere.

What is your idea of true happiness?

For me, true happiness is living the life I want, while creating my own world. It’s like a new picture that I paint—creating a story and filling it with colors. Also, my family and my work are what give me this happiness and harmony. I’m sure that art is able to heal the hearts and souls of people, filling them with energy and giving them faith in themselves. That is why one of my collections is called: “Faith. Love. Freedom.” These words contain a very big meaning, which I try to follow. When you believe in yourself, love what you do—you will always be free. And when I see that what I create is able to get to the very heart of a person and make them happier—it makes me happier.

What is your greatest achievement?

My achievements are my realization in everything. In all the spheres that I start. My family, my work. All my projects. What I have become and what I will be.

How does the word “aqua” make you feel?

I’m inclined to say that this word is associated with life itself—with an attitude toward the boundless mind, of flowing toward whatever we want. Water, like time, never stands still. Water is the energy that gives us life.

What is your greatest fear?

I have no fears—except time. Sometimes, I miss having more hours in the day to spend time with my family or to realize all the ideas that are endlessly spinning in my head.

If you could meet one visual artist (dead or alive), who would it be and what would you ask them?

I don’t have one favorite artist, but I think I would like to meet Dalí and Van Gogh. I am interested in knowing their inner world, their thinking. What they felt when they painted this or that picture. Even now I like to learn about the paintings of artists—I like when paintings have a story, feelings, emotions.

What’s your favorite part of south Miami-Dade (from Key Biscayne down to Homestead) and why?

I love Miami very much. But when I want to feel other emotions and see another atmosphere, I like to visit cities like West Palm Beach, Boca Raton—and, yes, Coral Gables.

If you could summon any tool or weapon that would help you save something on the planet, what would it be and what would you save?

Love. Because love for yourself, love for others, love for the world—all this can create the most beautiful and safe world around us and fill people with faith that our world is a treasure that we should enjoy and admire. Follow your path. Life is a journey. Enjoy it.

For more information on Anna’s work, visit aniartmiami.com.

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Join us for an immersive journey into the iconic Mayfair House Hotel & Garden—renovated by ingenious designer Matthew Goodrich and revitalized by a new food program helmed by celebrity Chef Giorgio Rapicavoli.

Y

BY OMAR SOMMEREYNS

The Oasis of

Coconut Grove

YOU’RE ABOUT TO ENTER a very special place: a flourishing cocoon that will fully embrace your body and soul— and from which you’ll emerge quite rejuvenated. Are you ready?

Walk down Florida Avenue and soak in your environs. You’re in the center of Coconut Grove, a neighborhood in the southern portion of Miami that was known initially for its bohemian spirit and its status as a haven for artists. It still welcomes a cornucopia of residents— from old-school Grovites to University of Miami students on Thirsty-Thursday escapades and young professionals who dig the current cosmopolitan feel, with its convenient shopping streets, easy access to marinas and the waterfront, and a concentration of the some of the best dining destinations in the city.

All of this, of course, is accompanied by tree-lined streets and residential areas with houses overflowing with flora, vegetation, and pleasantly overgrown canopies.

And yet the Mayfair House Hotel & Garden still stands out. Keep walking toward the gilded entrance. It’s unmistakable—you can’t miss it. Walk right in.

“It’s completely one-of-a-kind— you could not build this hotel today,” says Matthew Goodrich, founder and principal at Goodrich, the New York-based, hospitality-focused firm

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responsible for the awe-inspiring design overhauls throughout the place.

“There was just so much craftsmanship in the original building. And we were really, really excited to bring some renewed love to it, as it had been sort of neglected over the years.”

As Goodrich will tell you, the medley of design elements originally envisioned by architect Kenneth Treister back when the Mayfair first opened in 1985 is nonpareil.

“He had poured so much loving attention to detail on all these surfaces,” he adds. “But today, the cost of labor and perhaps the loss of certain craftsmanship skills would make it impossible to build a property like this.

Treister was looking at so many different points of inspiration—from Asian gardens and Gaudí modernism in Spain to Frank Lloyd Wright and a little bit of Art Nouveau.”

Weeping Willow Suite. Open the door. The stained concrete ground is a nice touch, and the dark jade color saturation on all the walls and ceiling will soon completely envelop you. You’ll find yourself transported to what could be perceived as a luxurious treehouse somewhere on cloud nine, away from all the city noise, clutter, and malarkey.

And no one needs to know you’re here.

This will be your safe refuge—a staycation with no obligations. Want to disconnect?

There’s a typewriter on your desk, should you

feel inclined to whip up some notes-to-self without looking at a damn screen. Nothing wrong with that.

Attention to detail abounds in your wellappointed room. It may be raining outside, but inside here, you’ll put on a Chet Baker track and have a calming cup of tea, courtesy of an herbal infusion blend by Steven Smith Teamaker. Take a sip—you’ll taste the chamomile flowers, with boosts of lemon myrtle and rose petals, and now you’re feeling good, relaxed.

Welcome to Your Sanctuary

Once you check in, you’ll feel your body lifting—as quiet sounds of Caribbean rhythms emanate from somewhere—toward the glass elevator. Once you arrive, you’ll first enjoy the outdoor hallway with its view of leafy greenery on the edges of each floor surrounding the inside of the building, above and below you. Look up and down, left to right; take it all in.

This evening, you’re going into the

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The Mayfair’s full refurbishment took about two years, including the scenic rooftop area, which features the laidback calypso pool bar Sipsip for pre- or post-dinner drinks. The hotel also now has curated artwork from both local and international artists, and all 179 rooms have been fully renovated, too.

“For the rooms, we picked these very saturated colors, with color schemes ranging from a deep jade to a radiant orange,” says Goodrich. “Each room is one very, very strong color.

And we also designed a lot of custom furniture, seating, sofas, and headboards to make the rooms feel more like a guesthouse than a hotel.”

Goodrich pauses, before resuming.

“When you’re out in the atrium of the hotel or out around Coconut Grove—you’re in the bright sun,” he continues. “It’s so vibrant and so gorgeous. But we wanted to make the experience of going into your room like stepping into the shade. You’re in the heat or the rain, and you’re all hot and humid, but then, very easily, you can step into this cool, refreshing retreat.”

Discerning Taste

Time to mingle? Or at least get some food in your belly? We know you may have a proclivity toward the finer

Matthew Goodrich—founder and principal at Goodrich, the New York-based, hospitality-focused firm responsible for the Mayfair House Hotel & Garden renovation—shared these additional insights with AQUA.

things in life—good food and beverage, included. Lucky for you, the food at the Mayfair has been totally revamped by the creative hands of newly appointed Chef Giorgio Rapicavoli.

You may know his name. Rapicavoli is the highly praised, James-Beardnominated chef and owner of Eating House and Luca Osteria in Coral Gables, and he was also the first-ever Miami contestant to win Chopped on Food Network.

“The Mayfair has such a strong legacy here in Miami, but I really didn’t know much about its restaurant,” Rapicavoli tells AQUA. “When we did a walk-through of the space and I saw the Grillworks grill and was informed we could move forward with an openfire cooking concept—I was sold. I was excited not just to represent myself in

“Regular guests of the old Mayfair will be excited to see the courtyard and garden have been lavishly planted with a dazzling array of plants. In the courtyard, we transformed a fountain that hadn’t worked in years into a comfortable seating area. We remade an old elevator that was no longer used into a small cocktail bar that opens right onto the old fountain. Guests can now drink cocktails and dine surrounded by palms and orchids, seated on comfortable banquettes inside the fountain space.

The lobby has been completely refashioned, bringing back the curvilinear plans that defined the original arrival sequence. The new, sculpted-plaster ceiling and column were inspired by studying photos of Treister’s original design. We created a custom chandelier that wraps the column and lights the textured ceiling. Plus, a new custom metal screen designed by Miami native Michele Oka Doner for the hotel is a knockout, providing a layered transition between the interior and the courtyard beyond.”

PHOTO OF THE MAYFAIR ATRIUM BY KEVIN COHEN (OUTSMART LABS) / PHOTOS OF THE MAYFAIR’S EXTERIOR, THE ROOFTOP, AND THE MAYFAIR GRILL BY WILL PRYCE / PHOTO OF MATTHEW GOODRICH COURTESY OF GOODRICH / PHOTO OF THE WOOD-FIRE GRILL AND GIORGIO RAPICAVOLI, ALONG WITH THE PESTO, CHEESEBURGER, TIGER PRAWNS, AND SEBASTIAN INLET CLAMS BY CLEVELAND JENNINGS

DESIGN HIGHLIGHTS

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CHEF RAPICAVOLI’S JALAPEÑO PESTO Enjoy this tasty Miami take on a traditional Italian recipe.

“I wanted to take something that was very distinctly Italian and give it a Miami twist that represents the flavors I was inspired to create at Mayfair Grill,” says Chef Giorgio Rapicavoli.

“The cashews add a wonderful texture, and the remarkable flavor of the jalapeños pairs beautifully with the Florida basil—it gives it just enough kick to wake up the dish.”

such an iconic location, but to finally cook over live fire.”

Walk over to the bar and order a fittingly named “King of Miami” as your apéritif.

The mix of Espolòn Tequila Reposado, J.F. Haden’s Mango Liqueur, lime, and salt will readily whet your appetite. Start with a salad of little gem lettuce and roasted garlic croutons in a Parmigiano vinaigrette (which is a light, ethereal interpretation of a Caesar) or an American Wagyu steak tartare on grilled brioche (which will immediately melt in your mouth).

Cooking over wood fire is ancient, timeless, and difficult to master. But thanks to Grillworks’ wood-burning apparatus and Rapicavoli’s determination to tame and control the flame, the end result is a perfectly cooked (and beautifully charred) piece of protein, whether that’s Florida snapper with key lime/garlic butter, tiger prawns with

YOU’LL NEED: • 250g basil (cleaned) • 250g cashews (toasted) • 500g Parmigiano (ground) • 500g olive oil • 15g garlic (peeled) • 50g jalapeños (cleaned and seeded)

INSTRUCTIONS: Place the cashews in a food processor and process them to a fine powder. Add the garlic and jalapeños, and process those until smooth.

Add the basil leaves and process until combined.

Finally, add the ground Parmigiano and process again until somewhat smooth. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil to create an emulsion. Adjust the seasoning with salt to taste.

preserved lemon, pasture-raised chicken with a cilantro salsa verde, or a straight-up cheeseburger with grilled-pepper relish.

“Consider it like the Ferrari of grills,” he says. “This masterpiece is the main focal point of the restaurant from both a design and culinary perspective—churning out firekissed meats, seafood, and vegetables. This is not an easy piece of machinery to use, but the flavor it produces is unparalleled.”

“For the Mayfair,” he adds, “my goal was to offer simple yet flavorful dishes, primarily cooked over live fire, that people can enjoy any day of the week. My dad’s Argentinean and I grew up with open-fire cooking my whole life with him. With Luca, I paid homage to my Italian heritage and knew for my next concept I wanted to give a nod to my Argentinean roots.”

When asked about one dish that best encapsulates what he’s trying to accomplish

here, he points to the Sebastian Inlet clams made with chorizo and white beans: “It’s a personal favorite, as it captures the essence of Florida’s coastal flavors and it’s my take on a surf-and-turf. I like the smokiness and fattiness of the chorizo mixed with the brine of the clams, combining the sweet, tender littlenecks with a rich, umami-infused chorizo dashi.”

The next morning, go back to the Mayfair Grill for breakfast, where Rapicavoli has refined a selection of classics infused with Miami tropicality (e.g., coconut French toast with passion fruit and lime), and you’ll leave the property with a grin of true satiation.

The Mayfair House Hotel & Garden is located at 3000 Florida Ave. in Coconut Grove. For more information, visit www.mayfairhousemiami.com or call 305-441-0000.

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DON’T THROW

STONES

O

Local socialite Asha Elias discusses the Miami sizzle, PTA moms, and her debut novel, Pink Glass Houses.

BY ROCHELLE B. WEINSTEIN

ORIGINALLY HAILING FROM Boca Raton, Asha Elias has always been a Miami girl at heart. With a degree in journalism from the University of Miami (UM in Coral Gables) and a stint as an editor at Ocean Drive magazine, this “reluctant” socialite and mother of two is now tackling the role of a lifetime: being an author.

Her scintillating debut, Pink Glass Houses, is a can’t-look-away glimpse inside the world of wealthy PTA moms as they try to gain and maintain power. Social satire at its best, Elias is one to watch—find out more in this interview with AQUA.

You’re a Miami mom with close ties to the community. At one point, did you realize you had a book in you?

What was the inspiration for Pink Glass Houses?

PHOTO-PORTRAIT COURTESY OF ASHA ELIAS

.

I’d always wanted to write a book, but finding a topic I could explore and live with for years was another story. It wasn’t until I was deep in the trenches of motherhood—navigating room-parent and PTA duties, along with the bizarre politics of DIY school-party decorations—that I said, “Oh, this might be a book.” We were all just so caught up in the silly details of our kids’ lives (and I include myself in that statement), and I wondered why. We were all educated women. What about motherhood had changed us so much

that now we were fighting with other moms about whether the Halloween theme should be ghosts or pumpkins?

I devoured the novel in two days. Give our Miami readers a taste. Tell us what to expect and the big takeaway.

The book is a satire, so take it all with a grain of salt. It’s meant to be a fun, fast-paced ride—with short chapters and alternating points of view—that pokes a finger at themes like motherhood, image, privilege, and competition. The big takeaway (and I hope this comes through!) is a callback to the title itself— you know, “don’t throw stones” [if you live in a glass house]. We are all fighting our own quiet battles.

Writers often write what they know. Are there pieces of Asha Elias in the pages (e.g., the “reluctant socialite” you mention in your bio)?

Oh, absolutely! I think there are pieces of me in each character. I’ve been the wide-eyed newcomer, the over-eager fundraising tyrant, and the cynic. I am still all of those things! (Well, hopefully not a tyrant. But I do still fundraise.)

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WE ASKED ASHA ELIAS to tell us what makes Books & Books—her favorite bookstore— special.

“It just has the best energy. When I was growing up in Boca Raton, we had this great local bookstore called Liberties. It was the kind of place where you could spend the whole day reading, studying, and taking snack breaks. I had my first iced cappuccino there at 13 years old, and to this day it’s my favorite beverage. Of course, like so many independent bookstores at the time, they closed to make way for a big corporate brand.

When I moved to Miami and first discovered Books & Books, I was hit with the most wonderful nostalgia. Now, it’s become my Cheers.

I love walking in and seeing so many friendly faces behind the counter and at the café.”

Books & Books has locations in Coconut Grove and Coral Gables.

To learn more, visit booksandbooks.com.

Were you nervous about your depictions of the Miami social scene? What has been the reaction of your readers?

I probably should have been more worried!

Throughout the writing and publishing process, I trusted that no characters would be recognizable as real people in the community and that Miami socialites would be able to smile and nod at some things I tried to convey as local truths. So far, that has paid off.

Tell us your favorite line from the novel.

This is so silly, and I should give you a smarter or more interesting line, but my favorite is, “I might as well have been talking to a goddamn banana.” Honestly, I love it just because it makes me giggle. There are some lines you put in a book to see if an editor will take them out—kind of like a dare. This was one of those.

As a fellow Miami author, I’m thrilled to see our city having such a literary presence. What was your experience with the publishing world, and what advice would you give to an aspiring author?

Miami authors are on the rise, and I love it! I went the traditional route and blindly queried agents for representation, eventually landing with the great Helen Heller. Helen secured a deal with HarperCollins/William Morrow, and I’ve had a fantastic experience with them. However, the way the Miami literary community has uplifted me along the way— people like you, Mitchell Kaplan from Books & Books, the Miami Book Fair, the wonderful local booksellers, other authors—has made all

PHOTO COURTESY OF SETH BROWARNIK / WORLD RED EYE

THE CHEERS OF BOOK STORES

PHOTO COURTESY OF BOOKS & BOOKS

Author Asha Elias in the Coral Gables Books & Books

the difference. Miami is scrappy and fiercely loyal to its own. In a notoriously challenging industry, this is a great place to be an author.

My advice to aspiring writers is the same pep talk I had to give myself along the way: Keep going. You will probably be rejected over and over again, but all you need is one yes.

Share with our readers the typical day in the life of Asha Elias.

Where are your favorite go-to spots in Miami?

Well, there are definitely coffee shops involved if I’m lucky. After dropping my kids off at school or camp, I hit the gym, then it’s home to write. Balancing writing

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and chauffeuring my children takes up the bulk of my day. When I have variety in my schedule, though, you can probably find me at the Books & Books café (drinking coffee) or relaxing at Soho Beach House.

there about three to four times a week, shopping, grabbing dinner, or visiting friends.

The Gables will always be chic and beautiful, but I honestly think Coconut Grove might be the best place in Miami to live right now.

What’s your impression of the southern portion of Miami-Dade County (from Coconut Grove down to Pinecrest)? What draws you to that area in particular?

What books are on your nightstand?

Even though I’m a beach person, I spend a lot of time “down south.” Back at UM, I fell in love with the Grove and the Gables, and I certainly love how much the former has changed over the years. I’d say I’m down

I just finished Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe, which I adored, and am picking up The God of the Woods by Liz Moore next.

[Editor’s Note: See the latter reviewed in our books column on page 32.]

Are you working on anything new?

I’m excited to announce that my second

book, The Namaste Club, will be released in July 2025. It’s a Florida satire that takes on the wellness community, invasive species, book bans, and everything else we hold dear in the Sunshine State. All in good fun, of course! I also have a dating-and-relationships column with the Miami New Times called “Vice City Pillow Talk,” where I discuss life and love in our incredibly entertaining city.

Where can readers find you?

I’d love to hear from you on Instagram (@asha.sue.elias)! And readers can find me at the Miami Book Fair in November, too.

Visit miamibookfair.com to learn more.

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FOODALISCIOUS

Ancestral Spirits

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With Mexican eateries popping up everywhere in Miami, we zoned in on one that’s using timeless traditions within one of our favorite areas in the city: Koko by Bakan in Coconut Grove.

BY OMAR SOMMEREYNS PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFFREY DELANNOY IF CORN IS A FOUNDATIONAL staple in Mexican food, Lalo Durazo has made a point to pay homage to it at Koko by Bakan—a vast, warmly lit, indoor/outdoor resto and bar in Coconut Grove, with teal-and-wood accents and a cactus garden lining the outside area.

“Criollo is the Mexican-native corn that nobody buys anymore because it has never been altered in any way, shape, or form,” says Durazo, the famed restauranteur who launched the successful Jaguar and the much-missed Peacock Garden in the Grove (and whose Grupo Bakan currently owns two other Mexican concepts: Bakan in Wynwood and Talavera Cocina Mexicana in Coral Gables). “The GMO system produces 10 times more corn than criollo. But criollo is better quality and has the best flavor. There are more than 70 different varieties with various textures and colors, too.”

The reverence for corn at Koko—the name’s a playful, truncated take on the distinct neighborhood it’s located in—is real indeed. They cook that ancestral organic corn (imported from Mexico) at night through a nixtamalization process, soaking the dried kernels in water and a slaked-lime solution to transform the raw foodstuff into masa for tortillas.

“Then, every morning, we wash the corn and remove most of the skin, and then we grind it with a volcanic-rock grinder, and we make the dough,” Durazo continues. “Once we have the dough, we make the tortillas—and we never reheat a tortilla. That means that when you get that hot tortilla, it just came from the comal [an earthenware or cast-iron/metal griddle].”

A New Mexican Fixation

Miami used to have a dearth of Mexican food, but that’s not the case anymore.

You’ll now find anything from taquerias dishing out birria tacos—with meat deliciously slow-cooked in its own fat—to fun antojos (snacks you crave before a full meal) and more elaborate moles (a complex sauce with multiple incarnations, which may contain peppers, fruits, nuts, spices, and even chocolate).

But even if Durazo saw this proliferation—and consumer interest— as an opportunity to open another Mexican restaurant in addition to the two he already has in Wynwood and the Gables, his motivation ultimately stems from his own Mexican heritage and the desire to offer diners an authentic experience. As he points out, “We’re not trying to be fusion-Mexican. We’re not trying to be fine-dining-Mexican.

We’re Mexican as it is. So you’re getting the real stuff that you’ll find in the little pueblos and the markets but in an elevated environment.”

Their cherry-wood-fire grill is used to toast those purple tortilla chips but also to cook their fish and meat, and there’s a cherry-wood-fire rotisserie for cooking whole chickens. A fish like Chilean seabass gets a lovely crisp on the skin, and they place it atop a refreshing green mole—made with tomatillos, pistachios, serrano chiles, and herbs like fresh mint, parsley, epazote, hoja santa, and cilantro, and served with rice and string beans.

Or try the succulent (and massive) beef short rib—the entire bone of it—with an ancho-and-guajillo au jus for dipping, accompanied by a grilled poblano

Opposite page, food: short rib platter.

This page, cocktail: Mango Petacón.

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Food, clockwise from top: mini churros stuffed with Nutella; tetelas; mole verde with Chilean seabass.

INSECTS IN THE HOUSE

PERHAPS YOU’VE HEARD that insects are the sustainable protein of the future? Are you curious about eating them at all? Then you’re in luck—Koko has a full section on their menu, and Lalo Durazo wants to convince you that they’re delish, too.

“Many people really do enjoy the taste. For instance, it takes a very trained and specialized guy to go up in the hill and find the ants for an escamoles dish. They need to grab their eggs without destroying them.

Then, they pack them in a very clean environment and freeze them, and then we receive them. Our approach is to just plainly sauté the eggs with a little bit of butter and epazote.

It’s a very delicate taste—almost like you’re eating a very refined version of scrambled eggs.”

pepper filled with Oaxaca cheese, refried black beans, grilled veggies (corn and a knob onion), guacamole, and a drizzle of queso cotija.

And what goes well with all these smoky flavors? Mezcal, of course— typically made from agave plants cooked in earthen pits, which helps impart that smokiness. There are over 400 mezcals and tequilas you can choose to sip on at Koko or ask your server for a cocktail recommendation to go with your meal, such as the “Mango Petacón,” made with your choice of mezcal or tequila and mango purée, mint triple sec, simple syrup, and lime juice.

Also, don’t miss out on Koko’s selection of crave-able snacks to start off your meal—especially the tetelas (triangle-shaped masa treats). One’s filled with black truffle and cheese, while the other has huitlacoche (drolly referred to as “corn smut”—a wild mushroom that grows on corn) and cheese. And leave room for dessert: most notably, the delightful, Nutellafilled mini-churros.

An Ancient Order in the Grove

From the nixtamal to the wood-fire grill to the mezcal, Koko’s emphasis is on timelessness—ancient, pre-Columbian traditions that stand the test of time, and that’s a big part of what makes this place stand out among the many Mexican options we have in the Grove and all over Miami now. Sure, the ambiance is very welcoming and elegant, and the service is impeccable, but it’s the food and authenticity here that most invoke the ancestral spirits that inspired the place.

“Coconut Grove just has an amazing community,” Durazo says, “and the connection we have to it is what I like the best. I don’t like owning restaurants that are tourist traps, where you see people once and then you don’t see them again. Koko is meant for everyone, but it’s also very close to the community that we serve.”

Koko is located at 2856 Tigertail Ave. in Coconut Grove. For more information, visit kokobybakan. com or call 305-349-3909.

INSECT-DISH PHOTO COURTESY OF KOKO BY BAKAN

“Having this on our menu adds to our goal of providing the best possible Mexican experience outside of Mexico.

If you go to Mexico City, the locals love escamoles [edible ant eggs], and they love gusanos de maguey [edible caterpillars found on certain agave plants].”

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first surgeons in South Florida to offer the femtosecond laser for performing laser cataract surgery.

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PHOTO CREDIT COURTESY OF JOHNATHAN SCHULTZ GALLERY

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Escaping THE TRAP

ART SEEN

These four pages reveal tales of survival and the quiet strength of children, told through art.

TEXT AND ARTWORK BY CHARLES EDWARD SOTO MY CHILDREN OF THE TRAP series aims to reflect the struggles that underprivileged kids face every day—no matter where they come from. For AQUA readers, I’m presenting two works within this series, and the irony is not lost on me that these are running in the pages of a culture and lifestyle magazine that embraces elements of luxury (nor that they’re placed within luxurious interiors). I think the effect, hence, is even stronger.

Each piece in this collection shows a child wearing a ski-mask—a raw symbol of the harsh realities that force them to hide their pain and their true selves. This isn’t about any one race or culture; it’s about shining a light on the battles these young souls fight, as they grow up in a world that too often turns its back on them.

Hiding their faces, these masks reveal the deep stories of resilience, fear, and hope that these kids carry with them. Every painting in this collection speaks volumes, telling tales of survival and the quiet strength it takes to keep going. Children of the Trap isn’t just art—it’s a call to wake up and recognize the invisible chains that hold these kids down.

Through this collection, my hope is to give a voice to the voiceless and inspire change for those trapped by circumstances they didn’t choose.

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WANDERLUST

Explorers Peter Freuchen and Knud Rasmussen on the First Thule Expedition of 1912.

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The First

HUNT

Discovering a muskox saves a polar expedition from starvation.

My Travel Diary (Min Rejsedagbog, Denmark, 1915) is Greenlandic-Danish polar explorer Knud Rasmussen’s riveting account of the First Thule Expedition of 1912 . The 1,000-kilometer crossing of the inland ice has been called “the finest ever performed by dog sled.” This excerpt—provided exclusively to AQUA—is from the first English edition, translated by Peter Dahlstrand and published by Human Side Press.

THERE IS A SERIOUSNESS about these vast wastelands that weighs heavily on your spirit. You walk hour after hour in infinite loneliness, hearing no sound, seeing nothing alive. You are trying so desperately to feel, see, and hear anything, that the sound of your own footsteps is cause for excitement. Each rocky ridge reawakens hope. If you get up there and survey all that you cannot see from here, you may suddenly spot the game we are looking for. And you climb up, driven by zeal, to the place—only to be disappointed and to see another peak even further away, offering a new view and hope. The silent desolation closes in again, but you walk on, ignoring fatigue and pain, because defeat here is certain doom.

We proceeded in the direction of the glacial lake and streams, not far from the place we’d descended the day before. We had to climb a mountain and pass through a deep gorge a mile long to arrive at the main valley we wanted to reach. It would be hard work now to drive the dogs over hilly terrain and down through rocky, muddy ravines, entirely without snow.

Furthermore, the dogs had eaten little since leaving the glacier, as we have had to be sparing with what little food remains.

The dogs walked at a slow trot, and it seemed they had prepared themselves to face the inevitable. Toward evening, we reached a rocky riverbed where they strained to pull the sleds forward, when some of them transformed from draft animals into wolves. One slipped and fell;

the others tried to tear him apart. It was only with great effort that we snatched the poor animal away from those many greedy mouths, and the whipping we gave them mattered nothing at all.

A stiff eastern wind arose during the night and swept down from the inland ice through the valley with such force that small stones blew past our ears. The sand gusted off the riverbanks into gray clouds and the wind almost knocked us off our feet. Any pain was unimportant compared to the tension growing in us over the hunt. There were tracks, some of them quite fresh, which we followed until they disappeared between the rocks. On the third day we found hoof-prints of bulls and heifers almost everywhere in the clay, yet we saw nothing alive.

High in the sandstone mountains we reached a kind of plateau, consisting of many low barren mounds between small lakes and valleys. After clambering up a higher area, we were able to get an overview of the land with our binoculars.

It was then that Uvdloriaq was shaken with joy. He had caught sight of a muskox disappearing behind one of the small mounds.

Breathless with excitement, we ran downhill at such speed that the dog we had taken with us could hardly keep up. A half hour later we reached the hill behind which the animal had disappeared. We carefully crept to the top of the ridge and saw in the gully below a single bull unsuspectingly nibbling on small tufts of grass.

The way his long fur coat, bleached red by the sun, blew in the wind seemed unreal. His white-spotted legs were almost entirely hidden by his long hair, making his body appear gigantic. And the large, beautifully curved horns protruding from his bearded head with his black, inscrutable eyes gave him a strangely mystical appearance.

He seemed to embody the gloomy and mysterious wasteland into which we had descended. The majestic stillness of the mountains was background to his solitude. His mighty chest seemed to contain the roar of long winters, and his eyes the trembling melancholy of the short summer. And now this silent lord of these silent lands had become prey for us and our dogs.

Uvdloriaq hissed through his teeth at his dog, giving him the signal for “bear.”

The dog leaped up and sniffed the air and, catching sight of the muskox, charged at him barking. When he realized this longhaired beast before him was not a bear at all, the dog stopped and was silent. Then, as if understanding our laughter at his confusion, he flew at the muskox, circling him in place.

His mighty chest seemed to contain the roar of long winters, and his eyes the trembling melancholy of the short summer.

The bull faced danger and death with supreme tranquility. He did not budge and refused to defend himself. With contempt for those who had come to slay him, he watched our advance. His nostrils twitched and a shot rang out that struck his heart, and he slowly dropped to the ground. The dog was yapping at his throat as he followed us with his gaze, quietly resigning himself to death.

To inquire about the full book (and other handbound books), visit humansidepress.com.

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READING WITH ROCHELLE

Hurricane-Proof A selection of novels to curl up with when the thunderstorms hit.

BY ROCHELLE B. WEINSTEIN SUMMER’S WINDING DOWN, which means hurricane season in the MIA. But don’t fret. We’ve got you covered. As in books. Here’s a stack of recent favorites to carry you through to the fall season.

BEHIND EVERY GOOD MAN

By Sara Goodman Confino

THE GOD OF THE WOODS

By Liz Moore

THIS USED TO BE US

By Renée Carlino

Recommended by my favorite book reviewers—The Good Book Fairy and Beauty and The Book—I am now officially a Renée Carlino superfan, devouring her entire backlist.

This Used to Be Us is the one that got me hooked. The book begins with a broken marriage and alternates between husbandand-wife Alex and Danielle as they reflect on what went wrong.

Through moments of hilarity and heartbreak, the couple reconcile as a crisis arises, testing their ultimate commitment.

Grab the tissues and then read Wish You Were Here.

UNTIL NEXT SUMMER

By Ali Brady

I spent my sleepaway summers in the hills of North Carolina at Camp Mountain Lake. The memories are long: the smell of fresh air, the freezing-cold lake, and the first crush.

For anyone who wishes to return to that blissful time as an adult (me!), Until Next Summer delivers. Welcome to Camp Chickawah, where authors Alison Hammer and Bradeigh Godfrey (writing in tandem as Ali Brady) capture all the nostalgia and innocence of those golden summers. On the verge of shutting down, director Jessie hosts former campers at a last hurrah— an adults-only summer camp. Reunited with her former best friend, Hillary, the women work together to save the camp, finding love and forgiveness along the way. An ode to friendship and female grooming (the latter a laugh-out loud scene stealer).

Camp Emerson, Adirondacks, 1975. Thirteen-year-old Barbara Van Laar is missing from her bunk. Van Laar is the daughter of the camp owners, and she is the second Van Laar child to go missing—her brother disappeared 14 years ago. The God of The Woods is a brilliantly written mystery with layers of tension and a host of characters connected by secrets and lies.

With alternating timelines and points-of-view, Moore has created a fascinating puzzle set in the beautiful wilderness—a literary thriller with a stunning conclusion.

When Beverly Diamond surprises her husband at his office with fresh-baked cookies, the surprise is on her. Larry—who runs the senatorial campaign for the Maryland gubernatorial incumbent—is caught in a compromising position. This is 1962, so what’s this suburban housewife to do? She gets a job with Larry’s opponent. If you haven’t read Confino yet, you’re missing out. Her novels are pure joy—full of wit and sass and the right touch of romance. Readers will fall in love with Beverly (and the colorful cast of characters), as she goes head-to-head with her cheating husband while grooming Michael Landau to be the perfect candidate. This is The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel set in D.C. with some special cameos from Confino’s former novels.

Humorous, timely, and brimming with life lessons.

All these fabulous reads are available at Books & Books.

And if you love books as much as I do, mark your calendar for November 17-24 for the internationally celebrated Miami Book Fair. Join the street fair, author panels, book signings, and so much more! You can also meet Asha Elias (interviewed in this issue on page 18, too) and hear about her juicy new Miami-based novel, Pink Glass Houses.

To read more from Rochelle, visit www.rochelleweinstein.com.

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AUGUST 01ST - SEPTEMBER 30TH

R E S E R VAT I O N S 7 8 6 8 0 9 13 9 5 | W W W. Z E R U M I A M I . C O M

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R E S E R VAT I O N S 7 8 6 8 0 9 13 9 5 | W W W. Z E R U M I A M I . C O M

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| 13 9 5 B R I C K E L L AV E . M I A M I , F

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