This Little Piggy Stays Up All Night

Posted by Maryanne Salvat On July - 3 - 2009

a-listers-at-pied-de-cochon-iran-issa-khannick-dannunzio-tara-solomonshareef-malnik-at-pied-de-cochon-opening1Francophiles rejoice! Au Pied de Cochon, the legendary Parisian brasserie, (and our version of Big Pink in the Latin Quarter) is finally open and ready to feed you the traditional French fare to which you are accustomed- 24 hours a day.  At the grand opening party on Thursday, the folks who have kept your belly full after long nights at Buddha Bar, Villa Barclay or Le Bain Douche (years ago) in Paris, G.M., Joaquim Braz, and chefs Joel Veyssiere and Bernard LePrince were on-hand to fete owner Carlo Bicaci and chef Didier Lailheugue at our very own Parisian “diner.”  The heavy rain did not stop Miami’s General Consulate of France, Philippe Vinogradoff, from joining in the celebration and assisting Bicaci in the red ribbon cutting ceremony, nor hundreds of A- listers from packing the south of fifth eatery. A beret-clad accordionist played traditional Parisian compositions including the restaurant’s theme song “Au Pied de Cochon,” while guests munched on specialty menu items and sipped French wine and champagne hand-picked by expert sommelier Kareem Zarwi.  Among the many notable guests partaking in the Parisian Bacchanal: philanthropist Sanford Ziff; news anchor, María Celeste Arrarás; real estate broker, Edie Lacquer; photographer, Iran Issa-Khan; Forge owner, Shareef Malnik; MTV Networks Latin America Vice President of Public Affairs, Mario Cáder-Frech; MTV DJ, Mauricio Parra, MTV News VJ, Ilana Sod and MTV former VJ Eglantina Zingg; Countess Claudine Smurfit; architect, Charles Benson; designer, Rene Ruiz; uber-realtor, Veronica Cervera; cookbook author, Linda Gassenheimer; Hip-e boutique owner, Daisy Casuso; designer, Glen Miller; Big Time Productions owner, Eugene Rodriguez; ACT productions owner, Bruce Oroz; Lady Monica Heftler; philanthropist, Marlene Berg, photographer, Iran Issa Khan; interior designers-to-the-stars, Todd Davis and Rob Brown; and Tara Solomon and Nick D’ Annunzio of Tara, Ink..  “We are proud to begin a new tradition in one of the most modern, trend-setting cities in the world,” said Bicaci.  “It was truly a nostalgic evening and we were honored to bestow a piece of Parisian history to South Florida.”

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