As we enjoy the South Beach Wine and Food Festival, we'd like to pay homage to all the wonderful dishes that hail from the Sunshine State. If you haven't had a chance to visit and taste them firsthand, then we've got good news for you: you can make them in your own kitchen with these famous Florida recipes. Think seafood and Cuban dishes, and ready your taste buds for a whole lot of Southern savor.
We may have enjoyed foie gras ravioli and stone crab waffles during our weekend in Miami, but it was some of the simple fare at La Sandwicherie that impressed us the most.
This place first entered my radar when I passed it on an early morning run. I was drawn to the approachable nature of the open-air stand and the reasonable prices (fresh-pressed vegetable juice for $5 and change? Sign me up!). By the end of the trip, both Camilla and I were fighting La Sandwicherie cravings: we ate there twice, after longing for the watery crunch of fresh lettuce, the airy baguette, and the salty cornichons.
The Miami minichain's most popular sandwich, the Prosciutto and Fresh Mozzarella Combination, is one of my favorites, but the truth is, everything there is satisfying in a really elemental way. I chalk the comfort of these sandwiches up to a few things: La Sandwicherie's signature French vinaigrette — a perfect balance of Dijon tang, olive oil, and vinegar; the sandwich bar's sweet and hot peppers (more hot than sweet); and, naturally, the warm Miami air on your back as you finish the entire sandwich in a single sitting. With extra hot peppers on the side, of course.
Miami-based interior design and architecture firm Errez Design recently reached out to me to share its latest project, a 1910 cottage in Coconut Grove, FL, which belongs to a contemporary art collector. The client has an extensive collection of artwork, including pieces by Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons, Takashi Murakami, Banksy, Swoon, and David Bowie, as well as rare antique Biedermeier furniture, antique textiles, and crystal chandeliers. Designer Ruben Gutierrez says, "The project was more about curating a collection than interior design. The bones of this turn-of-the-century cottage were very charming, but not designed to house such a contemporary art collection or a modern family. However, we made it work by letting each room tell a story that related to its function."
Come along and take the tour, and hear more from Guiterrez about this wonderful home!
Architecture and interior design duo Ruben D. Gutierrez and Katie Gutierrez of Errez Design recently reached out to me with a bold, artistic, high-rise flat that they completed for a young couple in Miami, and I couldn't resist sharing it! The apartment features dramatic black walls, bold contemporary artwork, and an eclectic mix of vintage pieces, modern design, hand-me-downs, flea market finds, and bespoke pieces. The couple work from home but love to entertain, so Errez focused on creating a space that is both playful and professional — and succeeded! I wanted to hear more about this lively space, so I asked Ruben a few questions about how the apartment came together and how you can recreate the look in your own home.
If you're going to Miami, let's face it: you're booking bikini time. So reserve a stay at The Raleigh Hotel in Miami Beach and dip your pedicured toes into the most glamorous pool on the Atlantic coast. Built in 1940 by famed architect L. Murray Dixon, The Raleigh is a world-renowned Art Deco hotel that defines style and glamour.
The poolside "Oasis," as it's called, is dressed with chic, black and white striped, tasseled beach umbrellas; lushly cushioned outdoor sofas; hammocks hidden in the shade; and perfect, pink-striped lounge chairs. The interiors feature Floridian-style bamboo seating, midcentury modern-inspired furniture, and warm, inviting palettes of rich coral and sophisticated teal. Overall, the hotel's legendary Art Deco-era style has been tastefully and seamlessly modernized, offering a sense of history as well as contemporary style.
Sold yet? Well it's your lucky year. To celebrate its 70th anniversary, the Raleigh is offering a complimentary room upgrade and $70 in food and beverage credits per day through December 25, 2010. Be sure to check out more photos of the interiors below!
Acclaimed midcentury photographer Slim Aarons shot this photograph of a feline-shaped pool inspired by the Art Deco novelty Kit-Cat Clock at the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami in 1955. The retro swimming pool seems pretty evocative of the era and fitting for a place frequented by celebrities and socialites. And it's only natural that Aarons would photograph it . . . after all, he often referred to his career as "photographing attractive people doing attractive things in attractive places." What I'm wondering is: do you still think this kooky kitty pool is "an attractive place"? Or do you think it would be kitschy or dated were it still around today?
A post on ShelterPop reminded me about the hip and charming Alys Beach homes on the Florida Panhandle, which I wrote about last year. The enchanting collection of resort homes includes vacation rentals as well as permanent residences (for the lucky ones), and I immediately got to perusing the rental listings for a getaway. It's unlikely that I'll actually make it there, but a girl can dream, right? Instead I thought I'd just re-create this bedroom, which looks absolutely dreamy to me. I could move right into it today. Here are some products to help you get the look:
I recently took a trip to Jupiter Island, FL, for my cousin's wedding, which was the most sophisticated and breathtaking event I'll likely ever attend! As my mother incessantly referred to it, it was "the wedding of the century." With a 10,000-square-foot, air-conditioned, glass tent, the sheer scale and extravagance of the reception was astounding. But what really stunned me was that the day after the wedding, my aunt and uncle threw a sunset barbecue for all 400 of the guests that had come into town for the event. It was essentially a second wedding reception, and though less formal, it was equally stylish. Check out a few of my favorite elements of the glamorous BBQ décor!
In his Florida hometown, equestrian Darren Chiacchia went from celebrated Olympic medalist to charged alleged-criminal. How did he get here?
When preparing for the Beijing Olympics in 2008, Darren fell off his horse and went to the hospital with serious injuries. There, he found out that not only did he have a severe brain injury, but also that he is HIV positive. Darren went on with his life as a relatively healthy gay man managing his HIV. He later dated a man he met online, but after this partner came across medical records indicating Darren's HIV-positive status, he went to the local sheriff's office and filed a complaint. In Florida, it is a crime for an HIV-positive person to have sex without informing a partner of the positive status. Now Darren faces a possible 30 years in prison.
Records suggest that Darren's partner has not contracted HIV. But Florida's law doesn't care, and about 32 other states have similar criminal laws dealing with exposure to HIV. For more on this, read more
This Spring, strawberry eaters can rejoice: the price of the beloved berry has dropped to an unusual low. The same Florida freeze that caused Tropicana to raise orange juice prices is having the reverse effect for strawberries. The cold weather delayed the annual harvest, and now Florida's berries are set to hit the market at the same time as California's crop — meaning there's a surplus of strawberries. 
Last week, 80 million pounds of strawberries were picked — a new record for this time of year. In 2009, a pound of strawberries cost $3.49, but thanks to the extra berries customers can now pick up a pound for just $1.25. Since strawberries are one of my favorite fruits, I'm already brainstorming about what I'll make with the berries. How about you? Will you purchase more strawberries at a cheaper price?
