Spreading cheer and goodwill was nowhere more apparent than at the recent gathering at the historic home of Joseph and Nora Portuondo in the Country French Village. In keeping with the French theme, the Portuondo’s were the second homeowner on Hardee this year to host an HPACG event. Both events celebrated French cuisine and French inspired architecture.

                  Joe and Nora

Rural French architecture

One of George Merrick’s seven themed villages, the Country French Village sits on the 500 block of Hardee Road. These historic homes were inspired by rural French architecture. Both of the host homes, part of the original 11 homes built between 1925 and 1926, were designed by architect Edgar Albright.

The Portuondo home was carefully renovated by homeowner and attorney Joseph Portuondo to be sensitive to historic accuracy. He worked closely with the Coral Gables Historic Resources Department while he did extensive renovations and an addition.

This day, the home was beautifully decorated by the homeowners with colorful holiday flower arrangements. VIP patrons festively participated in a wine tasting in the intimate setting of the living room where the focal point of the room is the stunning copper hood above the fireplace mantel displaying the Portuondo family crest. Along with holiday music played on keyboard by Samuel Zilberstein, Coral Gables Museum wine expert Patrick Alexander gave an interesting talk on the difference between the fabled wines of Burgundy and Bordeaux. According to Alexander, the wines—Chateau Branaire Ducru and Louis Latour Pernand Vergelesses Ile des Vergelesses 2012 courtesy of HPACG member Lee Schrager—are “almost mythical wines and represent the two souls of French wine.”

As the sun set, guests, many with prosecco in hand, strolled outdoors to savor made-to-order crepes on the old Chicago brick patio. Back inside, guests enjoyed dessert followed by after-dinner sherry courtesy of Lustau. The finale of the evening was an exciting raffle featuring a Bang & Olafson headset valued at $400 as the top prize.

Cheers to French inspired architecture, themed villages, historic preservation, and great gatherings— “merci beaucoup mon ami”. Happy New Year 2016!

Media

Coral Gables News January 19, 2016

Enjoy the photo gallery!

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