Denise
Random tidbits:
I made a black sapote pudding. Take a coconut and make a cream with the water and meat. Mix with dates, vanilla, Himalayan sea salt, some raw cacao and the black sapote. It's insanely delicious! I've also planted your turmeric and ginger and now have a mini turmeric farm in my backyard.
Daniella
Random tidbits:
I was born in New York city and grew up in many places including overseas and South America. I was brought to town by Rob. Rob is a physician and had just finished his training. His dad was a physician in Miami for many years, and the idea was for Rob to let his dad have a one-year sabbatical. I had one year left of law school and was admitted for my last year to University of Miami with my degree from Columbia. It turned into forever because Rob’s father was diagnosed with cancer. We never ended up leaving. Rob took over his father’s practice, we got married, raised two children and love it here!
Patty And Mitch
Random tidbits:
Mitch moved here in the late 70’s and bought the property, where we live, to start his first company. His company sold dish gardens (miniature landscape scenes). That’s how we met! I was the buyer at a nursery in Kendall and he would come by with his truck and I would buy things.
Nando
Random tidbits:
I learned sushi through my dad. When we first came to the states, my dad would do kosher sushi catering on the weekend. Aside from his 40-hour job, he was always looking for opportunities to make extra income. My dad taught us to make our own money and not necessarily depend on him to provide. He would say, 'you work a full day' and then he would give you 150 bucks. And then say - 'those shoes that you've been asking me about, if they're $200, you only need to work two days and you'll have those shoes.' My dad taught himself how to make sushi. When he came to the states, he got a job as a busser in a restaurant that's still standing today, called Matsuri. It's one of the OG spots in Miami.
Laurie
Random tidbits:
My husband and I started the Miami Runners Club, 40 years ago, in our living room. It evolved into our nonprofit organization called Team FootWorks. We’re able to donate about $160,000 a year to charity.
Tora
Random tidbits:
My husband and I went and visited the recycling and sorting plant here - which doesn't actually recycle but ships our recycling to Vietnam and poorer countries. That was really a disturbing and eye-opening experience. We just throw things out and don't think about where it goes. We're creating a toxic mess. I think we need to be more aware of what we buy and not just live in a linear way from producing things to throwing them out. We have to think - 'what is the final resting place for this? '
Alina
Random tidbits:
What’s it like being on QVC? It’s my happy place. I go to Philadelphia every two weeks for between two and five days. It’s a group of like minded souls. They are very appreciative and provide endless opportunities. I have two roles there, as a designer and as on-screen talent. When I go as a designer, I get to work with a team of 24 people that are experts and can bring my designs to life. When on screen, I get to emotionally connect with my audience.
Diane
Random tidbits:
My husband and I had a fight at a party because I was trying to boss him around a dance floor. We left the dance floor because we couldn't agree on what to do, because neither of us knew anything. So, I got him a gift of a single dance lesson with me. That was 15 years ago. And that led to lesson after lesson, after lesson. The thing I didn't understand at the time was that in ballroom dancing, the man is in charge. It's sort of the last bastion of gender inequality. I didn't know anything about this.
Sam
Random tidbits:
I thought of getting a medal on the podium, but what are the odds - slim to none. Right? As you get closer and closer, it starts to fester in your head that it's a possibility and the numbers start adding up. The training starts making sense and it gets closer and closer and you're like, holy shit, I can do this. This is it. Here's my chance. But, somehow that train of thought must get erased and forgotten about. Then, you focus on what needs to be done at hand because if you continuously focus on big picture, nothing will get done. If you perfect your process every single day and do the right thing every single day and always make the right choices, then that goal in mind will come to reality.
Carlos
Random tidbits:
I met then Senator Obama, on May 20th 2008 at an event sponsored by the Cuban American National Foundation, of which I am a member of the Board. We had a conversation about Cuba and Latin America and about Radio and TV Marti. I thought it was a casual conversation. To my surprise, I received a call from the White House in February.