A mix of foodies, home-design enthusiasts, architecture admirers and fans of the City Beautiful gathered on Saturday, Feb. 6, for the Coral Gables Community Foundation’s seventh annual Tour of Kitchens.
Nine of Coral Gables’ finest private home kitchens opened their doors to the public and offered mouthwatering food tastings, exclusive home and kitchen items for sale and table setting displays for dining room inspiration.
In addition to the homes, Astor Companies featured a sneak peek into the Merrick Manor luxury condominium development with a stop at the Merrick Manor Sales Gallery, which included Mediterranean-inspired bites and a gift bag for each guest.
Scavolini Store Miami also was a featured stop on the tour. The shop transported guests straight to Tuscany with its impressive showroom and authentic Italian fare prepared by a talented chef from Spuntino Catering.
Proceeds from the annual Tour of Kitchens benefitted the Coral Gables Community Foundation and its Culinary Arts Fund, which provides support and scholarships for the Culinary Arts Program at Coral Gables Senior High School.
“The success of this year’s Tour of Kitchens enables us to continue our support of the Coral Gables Senior High School Culinary Arts program and the mission of the Coral Gables Community Foundation, now celebrating its 25th year,” said Venny Torre, CEO of Torre Construction & Development and chair of the 2016 Tour of Kitchens.
The tour began with the opening event at the Snaidero Kitchens + Design showroom, where a lavish breakfast, coffee and mimosas were served. From there, guests began their self-guided tour.
Each home on the tour featured tasty bites from a popular eatery, including Whisk Gourmet, MesaMar Seafood & Table, Tarpon Bend Raw Bar & Grill, Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza, Bricktop’s and La Taberna Giralda. The beneficiaries of the tour, the Culinary Arts Program students from Coral Gables Senior High School, also showed off their culinary skills at one of the homes by preparing a delicious and refreshing ceviche dish.
The tour finished with a closing event at Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery featuring Martini Prosecco provided by Bacardi. At the closing event, guests indulged in the wide array of sugary confections provided by The Salty Donut, Vixi Gelateria, Oh My Gosh!!! Brigadeiros, Almotti Cookies, Misha’s Cupcakes, Mash Potatoes and local Girl Scout Troop #941. Also featured at Ferguson were kitchen talks by noted kitchen designer Julia Johnston and a specially curated silent auction including home, kitchen and foodie-related items.
“This signature event attracts nearly 500 guests and is a fabulous community gathering year after year,” said Mary Snow, executive director of the Coral Gables Community Foundation.
Led by community leaders, the Coral Gables Community Foundation provides the philanthropic conduit to connect individuals and corporations looking to positively impact the success of the community. For more information, visit www.gablesfoundation.org.
