Merrick Park – Fashion and Cuisine of Spain In Miami
Miami’s TOUR SPAIN office hosted a Spanish Fashion and Cocktails progressive event held at the Village of Merrick Park as part of a national promotion of Spain through its rich culture.
Village of Merrick Park is an upscale shopping mall, anchored by Neiman Marcus and Nordstroms, in Coral Gables, -a neighborhood southwest of downtown Miami known for its Mediterranean-styled tree-lined boulevards and fountains.
The elegant designer clothing store, ADOLFO DOMINGUEZ, was the first destination of the tour-like festivities at Merrick Park. The Spanish designer studied Art and Film in Paris during the Golden decade of the Beatles, and brought this light-heartedness to the rigid society back in Spain through his fashion designs.
Dominguez was already an established designer by the 70’s, when his introduced “wrinkles are beautiful” linen clothing line. For his Woman’s Fall/Winter 2015 collection, Adolfo Dominguez designs for “the woman who looks out of the window more than she looks in the mirror”. Silhouettes are straight, with a hint of vintage, in fabrics that include exclusive prints and washable “eco” leather.
While we browsed the beautiful store, we were offered PORK BELLY BOCADILLOS tapas. The sweet & tender confit pork belly & poached raisins snack size sandwiches, with a brandy glaze on a baguette roll, was served with GIRÓ RIBOT’s Cava Brut Reserva. This cheerful “Méthode Champenoise” sparkling wine, from Spain’s Penedes region, has a nose of candied fruits, yet balanced on the palate, and a fine fizzy finish.
Before leaving for our next stop, we were presented with a gift bag containing a beautiful printed Adolfo Dominguez scarf. It will function well as a fashion accessory, and even more so, while traveling on chilly airline flights.
We soon arrived at the luxury accessory store of PURIFICACION GARCIA. The designer of handbags and small leather accessories as well as ready-to-wear, considers herself a stylist “who knows her business and the needs of the street”. After perusing her fun and contemporary collection, we were gifted with an elegant leather bound journal. This will make a perfect dairy for end-to-day reflections of a newly traveled place.
Loaded up with shopping bags, we headed for a late night happy hour at the traditional yet sophisticated Spanish restaurant PIRIPI (Spanish for a happy tipsy state), the final destination of our Spanish Fashion and Cocktails tour in Merick Park.
Basque-born celebrity chef Najat Kaanache, a veteran of the world’s best restaurants, such as El Bulli and Alinea, originally opened PIRIPI, but the restaurant is now under the passionate helm of Executive Chef Angelina Bastidas.
Under the bar’s 20 foot blown glass chandelier, the mixologists made rounds of frothy Gin Sours. For this early prohibition-era cocktail, they combined FIFTY POUNDS gin with lemon juice, sugar and egg whites.
In Spain, many bars specialize in a selection of hot and cold appetizers, called tapas or pinchos. Tapas patrons often combine the small plates into a full meal while standing or moving about the bar area.
Tapas originated in the XVII century as a snack for field workers during the long hours between breakfast and lunchtime. Wine was served in a ceramic jug covered with a piece of bread and some Serrano ham or cheese to prevent flies diving straight into the wine (tapa literally means cover or lid). Incidentally, International Tapas Day is celebrated on October 22.
Our crowd followed this custom as we enjoyed traditions such as hearty EMPANADILLAS, stuffed with Mushrooms and Caramelized Onions and served with Herb Aioli, and savory PATATAS BRAVAS, -Fried Potatoes, Garlic Aioli, Brava Sauce & Smoked Maldon Salt.
An exceptional plate was a sumptuous SURTIDO, -a charcuterie of Cured Meats and Cheeses, such as Iberico Ham, acorn-fed for 36 Months, and 12-month-aged sheep’s milk Manchego Cheese.
The party ended late in the night with new and old friends leaving with the Spanish customary two-cheek kiss and a shopping bag full of Spanish specialty food products from TOUR SPAIN, such as LA ESPANOLA Extra Virgin Olive Oil, IBERICA Spanish Queen Olives, and both sweet and savory flavors of INES ROSALES Olive Oil Tortas.
King Felipe VI , and his fashionable wife, Queen Letizia of Spain, recently visited Miami. Thanks to TOUR SPAIN, I’m now inspired to return the kindness by setting my next travel adventure in Spain.
The Village of Merrick Park is located at 358 San Lorenzo Ave, Coral Gables, FL 33146. This sophisticated 2-story open-air mall offers a selection of high-fashion retail shops & chic eateries. Valet car service, which is complimentary for Lexus vehicles, is available at the the entrances of Neiman Marcus and Nordstroms.