Luis Rigual, Anne Owen, and Mimi Chacin
By: Mary Jo Almeida-Shore
Last Wednesday, Miami magazine hosted its 3rd Annual “To Live & Dine in Miami” event to celebrate its restaurant issue, which spotlights some of Miami’s top toques and restos. A hungry crowd of 400 maneuvered its way up and around the historic Moore Building’s windy floors and steep steps for an evening of mingling, cocktails and bites and to relax in the cozy lifestyle lounges created by local design showroom, Planet Lighting.
Participating chefs who thrilled our palates included: Paula DaSilva (1500° at Eden Roc), Dewey LoSasso (The Forge Restaurant | Wine Bar), Joel Huff (Azul), Douglas Rodriguez (De Rodriguez Cuba on Ocean), Philippe Ruiz (Palme d’Or), Jeffrey Hundelt (Truluck’s Seafood, Steak and Crab House) and Crumb on Parchment.
VIP guests included Miami magazine Publisher Anne Owen; the restaurant issue editorial team including Editor-in-Chief Luis Rigual; Senior Contributing Editor Riki Altman; dining critic Jen Karetnick; and Contributing Photographer Michael Pisarri. Several award-winning chefs also attended including Michael Schwartz and Heidi Goldsmith of Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink; Jeff McInnis of Yardbird Southern Table & Bar; and Todd Erickson of Haven Gastro-Lounge. Miami Beach Vice Mayor, Michael Gongora; Majestic Properties’ Jeff Morr; The Forge owner Shareef Malnik; and Cadillac Regional Marketing Manager Sam Homsy were also in attendance.
“To Live & Dine in Miami” benefited Common Threads, a national non-profit after-school program that teaches low-income children to cook wholesome and affordable meals. Guests had the opportunity to support Common Threads and purchase the organization’s cookbook, Eat the World: Good-for-You Food for Families by Allison Liefer and Katie Leahy.
