TresSugar

In Praise of the Cubano

Susannah Chen — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 14:30:15 PDT

I've had plenty of Cuban sandwiches in my lifetime, made by everyone from local San Francisco cafés to national chains like Quiznos. But until last week, I'd never had an authentic Cubano sandwich as it's served at a typical lonchería in Miami.

What makes a real Cuban sandwich? Why, it's not just the slow-cooked pork, but also the bread. An authentic version of a storied sandwich is made from heavily-buttered pan Cubano, an elusive long, rectangular bread that tends to be flaky and crisp on the outside, and tender and moist on the inside. In between goes sliced ham, roast pork, Swiss cheese, and dill pickles, and the whole thing is warmed on the press, or plancha, where it's heated until the exterior's toasty and the interior steamy.

The variation I tried was made to order at David's Café, and it was so many things all at once: crispy, juicy, creamy, soft. I'd never eaten anything quite like it and decided that my pairing of the meal with a Dominican Presidente beer couldn't have been more spot-on. Have you ever had a real Cuban sandwich?

Coveted Crib: An Art Collector's Cottage in Coconut Grove

Julia Walsh — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 11:15:00 PDT

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!

Coveted Crib: A Miami High-Rise by Errez Design and an Exclusive Interview!

CasaSugar — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 09:00:45 PDT

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.

Home Away From Home: The Raleigh

CasaSugar — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 11:00:00 PDT

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!

Continue reading for the full tour.

Love It or Hate It? Kit-Cat Pool

CasaSugar — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 07:00:00 PDT

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?

Get the Look: Alys Beach Bedroom

CasaSugar — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 08:30:24 PDT

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:

A Stylish Wedding Weekend Sunset BBQ

CasaSugar — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 06:00:00 PDT

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!

Olympian Might Face 30 Years For Not Telling Partner About HIV

TresSugar — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 10:30:47 PDT

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. In places like Pennsylvania and Louisiana, someone with HIV can face 10 years for biting or spitting, even though you can't pass HIV that way. In 2008, an HIV-positive Texas man was convicted of assault with a deadly weapon (his saliva), and he's now serving 35 years in prison. Opponents of these laws say they discourage people from getting tested and make everyone with HIV a possible criminal. They would prefer that people who recklessly expose another person to something harmful like HIV be prosecuted under generic criminal laws when it's called for. Considering HIV is no longer a guaranteed death sentence, do you think it should still be a crime for someone who knows they are HIV-positive to fail to inform a sexual partner? Does your opinion change if they use condoms? Or what if the other person never asks - should each person be responsible for his or her own health? And if we're going to criminalize passing diseases, should we go further? One woman, who sued her husband for giving her herpes, probably thinks so.

Strawberry Prices Expected to Drop Dramatically

partysugar — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 10:20:47 PDT

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?

Guess What Fashion Designer Lived Here?

CasaSugar — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 10:00:00 PST

My pal PartySugar just returned from Miami, where she attended the South Beach Wine and Food Festival. Sometime between mingling with celeb chefs at Rachael Ray's Burger Bash and seeing Emeril cook up Brazilian fish stew, she got the chance to visit Casa Casuarina, the former home of a very famous fashion designer. Party was sweet enough to take photos for me, and as you can see, it's a very ornate place. The pool alone must have taken ages to build! "Being there, it felt like a very historic place. I could just imagine Naomi and Kate lounging by the pool," she said. Can you name the designer who lived here?

DwellStudio Chinoiserie Bedding Duvet and Shams - $280.00	Calvin Klein "Cottonwood" Decorative Pillow Collection - Sold Out
Wallace Upholstered Bed - Sold Out	Byron Twig Table - $595.00
Christopher Marley Brookes Birdwing - $275.00	French Settee with Slipcover Options - Sold Out
Manor House Whitewashed Mirror - Sold Out	Horchow Viola Abstract Giclee - Sold Out
Caldwell Console - $695.00	Crystals Pillow Cover - Sold Out
DwellStudio Gate Sheeting in Azure - Sold Out	Silver-Leaf Chest - $2,229.00
DwellStudio Chinoiserie Throw Pillow - Sold Out	Christopher Marley African Blue Swallowtail Butterfly - Sold Out
Antique Butterfly Print - Sold Out	Martha Stewart with Bernhardt Mirror, Penobscot - Sold Out
Light Sisal Rug - Sold Out	Pin It Designers Eye Colore Pillows - $98.00
Benedetta 58" Console - Sold Out