Miami Living Magazine features the best Miami has to offer. Click on any magazine below and enjoy. You can download our free app on iTunes. Ideal for iPad and iPhone users.
Issue link: https://digital.miamilivingmagazine.com/i/280
74 MIAMI LIVING The Estefans are proud owners of Bongo's Cuban Kitchen in Miami, where the food is delectable and the mojitos are but one of the reasons that keep people coming back … plus the great dance floor! This dynamic duo also owns Larios on the Beach, where authentic cuisine will make your tastebuds sing as you soak up the South Beach ambiance. They happen to own seven Cuban-theme restaurants with locations in Downtown Miami, part of the American Airlines Arena; Disney World's Downtown Disney in Orlando; Mexico City; and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Additionally, their business sense—and flair for ingenuity—has led them to the hotel industry, where, of course, the restaurants are always a standout sensation. The Cardozo Hotel on Ocean Drive has been dubbed "The Jewel of South Beach." Oriente, its exclusive dining facility, blends flavors of Cuba and the Far East. And newly opened, as of June, 2008, is their Costa d'Este Beach Resort (see adjoining article in this issue) in Vero Beach, a two-hour drive north of Miami. But don't just take our word for it. Miami Living recently chatted with Gloria and Emilio Estefan, Jr., along with David Naranjo, Vice President of Media Relations of Estefan Enterprises: Miami Living (ML): Where did the most recent tour begin and end, and did Emilio accompany Gloria on the tour? David Naranjo (DN): The tour began in Rotterdam on September 5, and her final performance was on October 24th at the Hard Rock in Hollywood, Florida. And yes, Emilio accompanied Gloria on her tour. ML: This tour is the first one Gloria has had in four years. Why the absence and the return? DN: Well, Gloria did her last North American tour in 2004. She's not retiring from the music business but she'll no longer tour. She will do one-off shows like the concert at the Hard Rock. ML: I was in attendance at the recent 25th Miami International Film Festival when Emilio made his directorial debut of the magnificent 90 Miles: The Documentary. It was a pleasure to see the Estefans escort Israel 'Cachao' Lopez on stage, would you like to say a few words in his memory? Emilio Estefan, Jr. (EE): Cachao was an amazing musician and a one-of-a-kind friend. That night was very special to me … a night I will never forget. His bass will live on forever. ML: Emilio, do you have any plans to direct other films? EE: Right now I am still out promoting 90 Millas at many film festivals around the world. Later in the year I will be producing a Christmas special for Target and the Univision network. ML: Regarding your new venture, Costa d'Este, formerly known as the Palm Court Resort Hotel, what made you decide to invest in this property? EE: Vero Beach helped me decide to invest in the property. It's an amazing place where nature is very much preserved. That is very close to my heart. It still has the Old Florida charm. ML: Gloria, have you had any time to spend a night in one of Costa d'Este's suites? Gloria Estefan (GE): Not in one of the suites, but in a regular guest room, I love the big showers—they were my idea. Prior to the official opening, we hosted our friends and family for a weekend to let the staff practice with a full house. We were the guinea pigs. Everyone did a fabulous job. ML: What are the major differences and/or similarities between the Cardozo and Costa d'Este? GE: Similarities do exist in that both properties are very stylish. The Cardozo is Art Deco, of course, whereas Costa d'Este has the clean lines of Florida beach resorts of the 1970s. The food is great at both—they both have an Oriente restaurant. The service is attentive and not pushy at both. And both the Cardozo and Costa d'Este also have a cool vibe. They are places where people want to go and relax and hang out with their friends. ML: I've been informed that the food in the resort's restaurant, Oriente, inspired by Cuba's Oriente region, is fantastic. Why did you choose this region's cuisine to feature and how did you discover Executive Chef David Rodriguez? GE: Emilio is from Oriente, Cuba. He grew up with this cuisine. Chef David Rodriguez was born in Cuba, but not in the Oriente region. He really spent time learning the subtle differences in the flavors. He even came to our home to learn the secret flan recipe from our housekeeper. We worked with our management company, Benchmark Hospitality, to find just the right chef for this restaurant. Emilio and I are very pleased with Chef David and he is definitely one of the up-and-coming culinary stars in this country. ML: What is it that you love most about living in Miami? GE: Everything. The better question is whether there is anything about living in Miami that we don't like. If I had to answer that question, I'd have to say the traffic in Miami-Dade. I love to drive and prefer driving around Vero Beach, which, as you can imagine, is much less congested! Need more information on the Estefans' projects? Visit: www.gloriaestefan.com. ML EXCLUSIVE!