Dining

Item Description

DINING, FL- Spend an exceptional evening with famed chef, Mark Militello. Master Chef Militello, celebrated for his superb, five-star restaurants, Mark's on Las Olas in Fort Lauderdale, Mark's at the Park in Boca Raton, Mark's South Beach in the Hotel Nash, and Mark's City Place in West Palm Beach, was one of Jimmy's closest friends as well as one of his favorite chefs. Mark will create an out-of-this-world, multi-course feast as his way of toasting the memory of his very dear friend. The award-winning chef, will work his culinary magic for 20 guests at the exquisite, historic Coral Gables estate of renowned wine collectors, Dr. Sergio-Gonzalez-Arias and his wife Maria in Coral Gables.

Since opening his first restaurant, Mark's Place, in Miami in 1988, Mark has continually been hailed as the chef responsible for putting South Florida on the national culinary map with his innovative contemporary American cuisine. A steady stream of the nation's top awards have been bestowed upon Militello, including a James Beard Award for "Best Regional Chef," Food & Wine Magazine's "Ten Best Chefs in America" and a Distinguished Restaurant Award from Conde Nast Traveler, among many others. He has been profiled in virtually every major food, travel, and lifestyle magazine in the Country. Mark has cooked for numerous wineries in Napa and Sonoma at their most important dinners, and was the auction dinner chef at the Napa Valley Wine Auction.

Militello's cuisine is universally acclaimed and uniquely his own. Mark calls his cuisine "contemporary Florida" and uses fresh local seafood and meats with exotic vegetables and fruits, preparing a daily menu on ingredients available that day in the local marketplace.

The location of this fabulous evening will be as special as the dinner. The city of Coral Gables is one of most charming, prestigious and gorgeous cities in the country. The estate, owned by Cuban-born Sergio and Maria, built in 1925 is designated an historical landmark. The beautiful home, graceful and elegant, reflective of Italian Renaissance style is situated in the Italian village area of Coral Gables. In the early 1920s, Coral Gables was thoughtfully desgined to be a beautiful city. George Merrick, founding father of Coral Gables, together with a team of extraordinary designers, planned a Village Project intended to showcase the architectural styles of China, France, Italy, Mexico, Africa and many others. Of the 20 internationally themed villages planned, only seven were completed. The Italian village is the last village Merrick built before the devastating hurricane of 1925 and the Gonzalez-Arias estate is one of a few remaining treasures. Sergio and Maria have a renowned wine cellar housing an extensive collection that has been accumulated over 25 years. They both share a deep passion for wine and several years ago they started a small wine-producing venture with friends.

Item Special Note

The evening is to be scheduled anytime after February 1, 2008, subject to coordination with all parties involved.