Southern migration
Ezio’s, Cotoa, Allison Island, Flamingo Estate truffle oil, caviar delivered, Nutcracker, MORE
WORK • Thursday Routine
Brooklyn transplant
BRANDON HOY • co-founder and co-owner • Roberta’s, R Slice, & Ezio’s
Neighborhood you work in: North Beach
Neighborhood you live in: South Williamsburg, Brooklyn
It’s Thursday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
Like most mornings, it starts with looking for the smoke so you can put out the fire before service starts. From 830-930a, I’m on the phone with our restaurant’s leaders trying to solve and get ahead of any issues from the night before. These are usually personal or facilities-related problems. I typically head to our restaurant Roberta’s, in Brooklyn’s Bushwick neighborhood, and take care of maintenance issues as well as check in with the porters.
What’s on the agenda for today?
Currently flying from Miami, where I was firming up details, finalizing the space, and reviewing marketing materials for Ezio’s, our new restaurant opening tomorrow [12/19] in North Beach. It’s an upscale Italian-inspired steak and seafood restaurant, built on the ageless charm of authentic Italian hospitality. My longtime business partner and chef Carlo Mirarchi is overseeing the kitchen. We’ve opened restaurants in places as far-flung as LA and Singapore, but this is our first Miami venture. Carlo is putting housemade pastas center stage on the menu, and there’s going to be a serious dry-aging program for both beef and lamb.
Any bar or restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
When we can find a free Friday night, my wife and I will go catch the sunset at Giando on the Water with a few friends and some Negronis. Last night, I hit The Flow Night Market in downtown Miami and then Pérez Art Museum for an Art Basel event featuring the Marley Brothers. While in Miami, I love heading to Tâm Tâm, Gramps Hideaway, Mandolin Aegean Bistro, and always love a night at Mac’s Club Deuce.
Any weekend getaways?
When in Miami, my family and I love to travel to the Florida Keys, especially Islamorada and Marathon. When in New York, we make frequent trips to Eastern Long Island for some beach fun.
What was your last great vacation?
Any and every vacation is great. It’s really nice to get some R&R, but our last vacation was to Tulum. It was fantastic. We stayed at Casa Malca, which was beautiful and had a great mezcal tasting.
What’s a recent big-ticket purchase you love?
A custom-built walnut wall with beautiful murano glass sconces.
Where are you donating your time or money?
To the Anne Saxelby Legacy Fund.
FOUND GIFT GUIDE: New World Symphony VIP Membership (Miami Beach), treat an arts lover to a membership that opens doors. VIP Members get near-unlimited access to New World Symphony concerts, plus invites to rooftop receptions with arts and business leaders and half-price guest tickets.
RESTAURANTS • First Word
Ecuadorian delight
The Skinny: Opened last spring on a deceptively unassuming corner in North Miami, Cotoa is Ecuadorian chef Alejandra Espinoza’s first endeavor in the US and a follow-up to Somos, her much-loved restaurant in Quito.
The Vibe: Bright, sun-drenched, and (with just 24 seats) cozy. There’s almost a Scandinavian minimalism at play in the whitewashed dining room with its broken tile floors and blonde wood furniture. Every table has a view of the tiny open kitchen.
The Food: If you’re here with a group, you can easily order the entire menu, starting with pillowy, gooey pan de yuca. Mahi mahi manicera, a ceviche with a peanut and coconut sauce, is gorgeously plated, bright, and flavorful. Among entrees, cangrejada con patacón — blue crab in a creamy tomato sauce over coconut rice with tostones — rocked my world. For dessert, the chocopop is an indulgent chocolate lava cake.
The Drinks: There’s a tightly edited list of wines from regions around the world, local and Ecuadorian beers, and a refreshing house-made dragon fruit tea.
The Verdict: Cotoa ranks as one of the most delightfully unexpected meals I’ve had all year: bright, fresh, flavorful cooking by a talented chef from a corner of South America underrepresented on the Miami dining scene. –Amber Love Bond
→ Cotoa (North Miami) • 12475 NE 6th Ct • Wed-Thu 530-930p, Fri-Sun 1230-330p & 530-930p • Reserve.
MIAMI RESTAURANT LINKS: Top-tier NYC steakhouse 4 Charles Prime Rib coming to Design District next year • Pop-up Gold Standard Omakase returns inside Sunset Harbour’s Le Basilic Miami • Vietnamese spot Phuc Yea opens Coconut Grove outpost • Why the price of your steak is going up • The Michelin Man is coming for wine.
REAL ESTATE • First Mover
Three for-sale properties in Miami Beach that came to market in the last 14 days.
→ 4740 Alton Rd (Nautilus) • 5BR/5.1BA, 3005 SF house • Ask: $4.19M • 2019 contemporary build backing North Bay Rd • Days on market: 14 • Annual tax: $48,031 • Agent: Sharon Beck, The Agency
→ 5181 La Gorce Dr (La Gorce, above) • 5BR/5.1BA, 4286 SF house • Ask: $4.99M • Mediterranean villa on corner lot with new pool deck • Days on market: 9 • Annual tax: $54,096 • Agent: Nancy Batchelor, Compass.
→ 6480 Allison Rd (Allison Island) • 7BR/9.2BA, 10,278 SF house • Ask: $36.9M • 110’ of water frontage, dual primary bathrooms • Days on market: 9 • Annual tax: $376,284 • Agent: Cyril Matz, Elliman.
MIAMI WORK AND PLAY LINKS: Sunny Isles Beach condo board election devolves into chaos, ripped ballots • Stephen Ross leads push for flying taxis over Miami • Katie Stout’s fantastical creatures crop up in Design District • Barnes & Noble plans Midtown Miami outpost • Is this the end of the billable hour? • The best way for CEOs to quit • Gift guides: Magasin • ACL • The Cut • Blackbird Spyplane • FT.
FOUND GIFT GUIDE • FOUND Larder
Real deal
Most white “truffle oil” is nasty stuff. Almost all of it’s entirely artificial — olive oil, spiked with lab-made “truffle aroma” or “natural truffle flavor” compounds that have nothing to do with actual truffles. It’s aggressively pungent, with notes of gasoline and flavor that fools the inexperienced chef into thinking they’re elevating a dish with a luxe touch. They are not.
So when California’s Flamingo Estate released a $150, 750ml bottle made from real white truffles macerated in the brand’s Ojai estate olive oil, I was skeptically curious, as their products tend to be high quality. I’m pleased to report: This stuff’s the real deal. It tastes like white truffles because it is truffles. It has a nutty, sweet white truffle aroma, more mellow than the fake stuff. The oil tastes like a mix of fresh white truffles and good quality peppery olive oil. The flavors are balanced, with no harsh synthetic notes. And the truffle taste doesn’t cling to your tongue; it fades the way real truffles do. And while $150 might feel like a lot, just remember that this year, fresh white truffles are selling for anywhere from $2000 to $5000 a pound. –Kat Odell
→ Shop: White Truffle Extra Virgin Olive Oil • $150 / 16-oz bottle.
CULTURE & LEISURE • Sugar Plum
Paul v Joshua • Kaseya Center (Downtown) • Fri @ 5p • sec 107, $367 per
The Nutcracker • Miami City Ballet • Arsht Center (Downtown) • Sat @ 7p • orch center, $264 per
Andrea Bocelli • Kaseya Center (Downtown) • Sun @ 730p • sec 107, $361 per
GETAWAYS LINKS: New hotel Maison Felix opens in North Beach • Shared charter outfit Tradewinds Aviation expanding Bahamas flights from FLL • Three more Jamaica resorts reopen… but Hyatt to keep its Jamaica resorts closed until late 2026 • Exploring bayous and beaches on Amtrak’s reborn Gulf Coast line.
ASK FOUND
Three PROMPTS for which we seek your immediate attention:
What’s your favorite Miami spa (and treatment)?
Who do you trust to do your eyebrows?
Where’s the best bar to dine alone in Miami?
Got answers or more questions? Hit reply or email found@itsfoundmiami.com.
FOUND GIFT GUIDE • The Nines
Caviar, delivered
The Nines are FOUND’s distilled lists of the best. Additions or subtractions? Hit reply or found@foundny.com.
The Caviar Co (above), Bay Area brand making caviar feel hip and accessible, $$$