AQUA Miami March 2026

AQUA MIAMI

A SACRED

SPACE AT TIFFANY

AROCHA’S

SOUL II SOUL

A CULINARY JOURNEY

KEENO’S QUEST

Calls

ALINA NUÑEZ AND A LIFE OF LAW

Nestled along the tree-lined streets of Coral Gables, Ponce Park presents an intimate collection of 58 residences, ranging from two to ve bedrooms. Each home is curated by the acclaimed Meyer Davis, blending contemporary luxury with classic charm to create a re ned sense of place.

Project Address: 3000 Ponce de Leon Blvd, Coral Gables, FL 33134

Sales Gallery: 203 University Drive, Coral Gables, FL 33134

A Record of Results in Today’s Market

A Record of Results in Today’s Market

This season, I reflect on the strong relationships and results built with families across South Florida. With $257 million in closed sales last year, I continue to deliver proven expertise and exceptional outcomes in our local market. If you have been considering selling, this is an ideal time to take advantage of

Gables and beyond. My marketing approach highlights both lifestyle and value, positioning properties to stand out. I would be honored to bring that same strategy to your home.

exceptional outcomes in our local market. If you have been considering selling, this is an ideal time to take advantage of continued buyer demand for homes in Pinecrest, Coral Gables and beyond. My marketing approach highlights both lifestyle and value, positioning properties to stand out. I would be honored to bring that same strategy to your home.

- Michael Martinez

- Michael Martinez

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Create Where

Alina Nuñez took the road less traveled to a career in law and community service. Her work has made all the difference in her own life and far beyond.

A Sacred Space

Soul II Soul founder Tiffany Arocha shares her life story— and three tips for how to manifest your most fulfilling life in 2026.

(Culinary)

Visionary Miami restauranter and entrepreneur Joaquin Ortiz aims to level up and subvert foodie influencer culture with Keeno’s Quest.

THE MOST EXQUISITE Expression of Home

Nestled along the tree-lined streets of Coral Gables, Ponce Park presents an intimate collection of 58 residences, ranging from two to five bedrooms. Each home is thoughtfully designed and curated by the renowned Meyer Davis, blending contemporary luxury with old world charm.

ISPRING FORWARD

IN LIKE A LION. Out like a lamb. After the record-breaking cold spell last month here, let’s certainly hope so!

I know, I know. The rest of the country had it worse! But A.) context is important, and B.) they didn’t have frozen iguanas falling out of their trees! Still, it’s not lost on me that as I write these words, we’re headed back toward the mid-70s and the north…is not. So, we must count our blessings and be a bit extra empathetic to those who are trudging through months rather than a couple weeks of Jack Frost nipping at their noses. “If we

had no winter,” the 17th century poet Anne Bradstreet wrote, “the spring would not be so pleasant.”

Spring isn’t solely defined by the weather, though. It’s a symbol of renewal—in a physical, seasonal sense as well as a metaphorical one. (I can’t imagine Bradstreet was only talking about the weather!) So, in that spirit, we’ve put together an issue that dives deep into new beginnings. We have an inspiring cover story on how the universe (with a nudge from her Cuban immigrant parents) pulled Alina Nuñez into embracing her destiny as an attorney—a decision that would reverberate through the lives of thousands of our neighbors in positive and healing ways. There is also actionable advice and stirring, uplifting tales of transition and triumph from life coach and author Jennifer Warren Medwin, spiritual boutique proprietor Tiffany Arocha, celebrity chef Shannon Bard, artist François Piacente, and more. Here’s hoping you enjoy it—and that your own spring renewal is a beautiful and affirming one.

Shawn Macomber Editor

Advertising Director

Daisy Abreu

daisy.abreu@wainscotmedia.com

Creative Director

Kijoo Kim

Editor

Shawn Macomber

shawn.macomber@wainscotmedia.com

Columnist

Gerry Barker

Photographer Carlos F. Mendez

WAINSCOT MEDIA

Chairman Carroll V. Dowden

President and CEO

Mark Dowden

SVP, Group Publisher

Thomas Flannery

VP, Content Strategy Maria Regan

Associate Editor

Sophia Carlisle

Art Director

Rosemary O’Connell

Advertising Services Director Jacquelynn Fischer

Operations Director Catherine Rosario

Production Designer Chris Ferrante

Print Production Manager Fern Meshulam

Advertising Production Associate Griff Dowden

AQUA Pinecrest magazine is published by Wainscot Media. Serving residents of Pinecrest and surrounding areas of South Florida, the magazine is distributed monthly via U.S. mail. Articles and advertisements contained herein do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publishers. Copyright 2026 by Wainscot Media LLC. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent.

www.sanctuaryofthearts.org

Undeterred by the challenges the arts community has been facing, our season unfolds across a spectrum of experiences ~ productions for all ages, groundbreaking dance, powerful music, thought-provoking conversations, and site-specific works that close the gap between art and audiences.

From global collaborations to intimate gatherings, our stages and spaces celebrate creativity in its many forms ~ led by artists, inspired by community, and driven by innovation.

Sanctuary of the Arts is your "go-to” place for the best in entertainment! Come and enjoy global, national, and local renowned and award-winning artists!

DOWNTOWN CAMPUS ST. MARY CAMPUS 410 ANDALUSIA AVENUE, CORAL GABLES, FL 33134 136 FROW AVENUE, CORAL GABLES, FL 33133 @sanctuaryofthearts

All the Little Things

Miniatures artist François Piacente finds the overlooked extraordinary in the ordinary by scaling down.

BY SHAWN MACOMBER

THOUGH ALWAYS AN artist at heart, François Piacente of Coral Gables spent years hopscotching through mediums— experimenting with everything from writing fiction around custom toys he invented to beat-making—before melding his childhood fascination with miniatures to his eclectic adult artistic skillset around eight years ago,

“Basically, I’m a storyteller who happens to use miniatures to express myself,” Piacente says. “I was finally able to merge my three passions: storytelling, crafting, and problem-solving. Paired with my adult life experience, interests, and work ethic, I was able to grow my art career and hone my craft.”

Piacente recently took a break from a busy schedule of commission work for collectors, brands, and television to speak with AQUA Miami about the value of seeing things at a smaller scale.

Do you remember the first time you realized something in a television show or movie was a miniature?

Yes, I noticed early on that a lot of movies set in New York City like Ghostbusters or Escape from New York were using miniatures. They had this very fun, authentic touch. Ironically, they were made to trick the eye and give the illusion of the real thing, but to me, that slight off feeling gave them so much character.

Do you find yourself noticing small details in your everyday life out and about in the world while doing this kind of work?

That is exactly what’s going on in my head all the time! My phone is full of reference pictures of random items. For me, it’s more about a theme or a mood, which is always realism with a touch of patina. I find beauty in things that have had some life in them. It can be a rusted AC unit, a patch of grass in the

middle of concrete…I always ask myself: Why is this here? How did it get there? What’s the story behind it? All those tiny details, often overlooked by most, help me add so much realism to my pieces.

What is your process like?

When I recreate something, it’s all about references and documentation. If I can physically go to a spot, I do. I take all my measurements then scale everything down to the desired ratio. When a building is far away or no longer exists, I rely on photographs or paused video frames to catch the best angles. And that aspect is actually my favorite part: the problemsolving. It’s all about logic, perspective, and geometry, with a good dose of intuition and decision-making. From there, I lock myself in my art studio, zero distractions, and go into a deep flow state. I come up with ideas and methods to figure out measurements,

choose materials, and keep the whole piece accurately scaled. Sometimes, I look at my finished pieces and wonder how I did it. It’s an extremely rewarding feeling that helps keep the motivation high for the next project.

Do you find people hungry for this sort of physical craftsmanship in an age of AI anxiety?

I’m glad you used the word hungry, because I’ve always said that at some point, people are going to crave something tangible, something real, made with a human touch. We’re already at that point, actually. You just can’t fake energy. To me, art is a transfer of energy, which is why you can feel emotion when you see certain pieces. I’m definitely not against AI, but it’s all about how it’s used and with what intentions. Art is human. End of story.

Have you learned anything about life from miniature work?

Absolutely. First, it taught me to slow down, observe, and appreciate those random moments in everyday life. It also taught me to trust my gut more often, using my intuition for decision-making and quickly knowing if something feels right or not, not just in my art but also in my life, with people or places. Actually, my intuition told me to move to Miami to take my art career to the next level. So far, it’s working really well!

Find Piacente on Instagram at @scaleton_

Sweet Perfection

Spend a scrumptious day at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Coral Gables.

BY SHAWN MACOMBER

WILLY WONKA eat your (candy) heart out. The 19th Annual A Festival of Chocolate at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Coral Gables held on the weekend of Jan. 24 and 25 set a new standard for gloriously kaleidoscopic gobs of innovative, mouthwatering sweets from artisanal chocolate vendors local and international alike—with the Garden’s lush, picturesque 83 acres as its stunning backdrop.

You like handcrafted truffles? Specialty bonbons? Chocolate fountain dipped strawberry kabobs? Enlivening cacao? Zesty surprises? Build-your-own candy bars? The Festival of Chocolate was all that and a bag of bonbons.

SOMETHING FOR EVERY TASTE

It was not only a smorgasbord for the tastebuds but the mind as well: There were fascinating seminars exploring “the complete bean-to-bar journey, delving into chocolate’s history, ethical sourcing practices, and the science behind its complex flavor profiles,” placing culture and sustainability front and center.

“The Festival of Chocolate reinforces Fairchild’s mission to explore, explain, and conserve the world of tropical plants through experiences that educate and inspire,” the Garden’s press release noted.

“By connecting visitors with chocolate’s rainforest origins and ecological context, the event demonstrates how everyday indulgences are linked to global conservation efforts.”

Living up to the all-ages hype, kids were invited to personalize their own confections at The Candy BAR. There was also a well-attended Chocolate Olympics for the pint-sized to work off some of that sugar-fueled energy, a crafting and science station, cake decorating contests, scavenger hunts, face painting, bubble dance parties, and—all aboard!—rides on “the worldfamous Choco-Choco Choo-Choo train.”

Adults were not left out: Cacao & Corks paired expert sommeliers and chocolatiers, Bourbon & Chocolate paired…well, bourbon and chocolate, and the Mini Chocolate Martini Flight offered a “chocolate-themed cocktail experience featuring curated flavor profiles.” For those seeking an oasis to recharge between tasty stops, the Resonance Flow: Yoga and Sound Bath—not to mention the numerous gardens and renowned butterfly exhibit—had their back.

How they top this edition at the twentieth anniversary party in 2027 is anyone’s guess, but one thing is certain: You won’t want to miss it.

Destiny

A CALLS

Alina Nuñez took the road less traveled to a career in law and community service. Her work has made all the difference in her own life and far beyond.

“ADAPT YOURSELF TO you the things among which your lot has been cast,” Marcus Aurelius wrote, “and love sincerely the fellow creatures with whom destiny has ordained that you shall live.”

This is sage advice. Destiny can be a persistent and at times confounding companion on our life’s journey—but those who embrace it with intentional love and conscientiousness can accrue awe-inspiring benefits not only for themselves but others.

Take Alina Nuñez. For more than two decades, the local real estate, estate planning, and probate attorney has guided thousands of clients through both the most beautiful and most challenging moments in their lives with a level of skill, insight, and compassion that is extraordinary if not outright peerless.

And yet, despite the persistent nudges, practicing law was not her first choice for a career.

“I know there are some people who say, ‘I knew since I was a child the law was my passion, and I watched all the movies and TV shows about law, and a lawyer is all I ever wanted to be,’” Nuñez tells AQUA Miami with a chuckle. “That definitely was not me.”

So how then, precisely, did Nuñez end up leading a team of lawyers, paralegals, and administrators at Nuñez Estate Law & Title to expertly guide ordinary, everyday citizens through wills, trusts, and advance directives as well as probate administrations, residential and commercial closings, contracts, title reviews, and more?

Nuñez recently shared her journey with us and provided some valuable tips for how our readers can economically and emotionally protect their families and plan for peace of mind in turbulent times.

BEGINNINGS

“This isn’t like Law & Order at all…” Nuñez thought to herself.

She was a sophomore in high school. A coworker of hers at the luxury bath and body store Crabtree & Evelyn interning at the public defender’s officer had invited Nuñez to visit the courthouse with her. Her interest was piqued, and the idea of becoming a criminal law attorney captured her imagination…but the shackled defendants making lewd comments amidst the brutal, dreary, and tedious routine of criminal justice quickly un-piqued it. “Oh, no, this is not for me,” Nuñez thought.

Instead, Nuñez chose to pursue her love for theater and dance as an actress. “Of course, my parents both nearly had heart attacks,” the first-generation Cuban American laughs. “Their daughter went from wanting to be an attorney to wanting to be an actress.”

And though she understood the concern then on some level, she understands it even more now: Her father had escaped Cuba alone as a stowaway on a Russian cargo ship with no idea where he would end up—an only son placed there by his mother after other close family had been put in front of the dictatorship’s firing squads. He landed in Nova Scotia and eventually made his

way down to Miami where he met Nuñez’ mother, who also left Cuba with her two younger sisters after her mother died, and he worked as an airline mechanic at Eastern Airlines for decades.

“My parents sacrificed everything to give my brother and I, their future children, a better life and a winning chance,” she says. “That has to be honored. I tell my children now: ‘Every generation needs to move the link forward.’”

And, so, despite an acceptance to the prestigious Tisch School of the Performing Arts at New York University, Nuñez obeyed her parents and kept searching for a more stable slice of the American dream. Her cousin, a paralegal, mentioned a position at her firm had just opened up. “My mother drove me to the interview,” Nuñez laughs. “I think she was worried I’d back out.” She got the gig and excelled in climbing the ranks from covering reception and gopher work to doing clerk work. When two partners left to open their own firm, they took a 21-year-old Nuñez along as an office manager.

Nuñez still loved acting. She had auditioned for some commercials; performed in several plays, but no matter how much she resisted, all trails continued to lead back to law. Case in point: In the

pre-internet days, she flipped through one of those books on discovering your perfect career and law kept coming up. “I said, ‘Okay, fine. I give in Universe. I’ll go to law school.’”

By day, Nuñez worked at the firm. Nights she attended Florida International University. Once she earned her bachelor’s degree, she did the same thing for law school at Nova Southeastern University in Broward. Weekends were a blur of studying. She had a good role model in this: her mother had also balanced her day job and raising children with night school to get her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education so she could teach—graduating at age 45 in the same month her son graduated from high school.

“My parents taught me what it’s like to hustle and work hard to achieve your dreams,” says Nuñez, who persevered and got her law degree, eventually sliding into transactional law focused on real estate and title. “I call it practicing happy law,” Nuñez says. “It made me proud, especially coming from an immigrant family, to sit at a closing table with a family who came here from another country and was now purchasing a home—their first part of the American dream. Sometimes when handing them those keys, they would literally cry tears of joy. It was very fulfilling.”

RISING UP

Nuñez continued in this lane for many years… until the 2007 market crash. “My career crashed with the market,” she says. The firm she was at essentially dissolved, but, ever the adapter, Nunez shifted to foreclosure defense. She found herself litigating in court daily. “It’s funny because sometimes during all those years of transactional work in an office I would say to my husband, ‘I don’t feel like a real attorney—I never go to court,’” Nuñez says. “Well, be careful what you wish for, because I got a lot of time in court. For five years, it was insane.” Not that she didn’t enjoy it. “I guess the acting side of me finally had a chance to come out,” she says, “putting on my case with a judge for an audience.” She even moonlighted as the real estate/foreclosure attorney on a live call-in television show from 11 p.m. to midnight for two years.

In 2014, Nuñez fulfilled a lifetime dream of opening her own private practice. “It was a scary leap to make,” she acknowledges. “If it weren’t for the market crash, I probably would’ve done it a little sooner. But I knew it was time because—especially as a woman and mother—I wanted the flexibility to be the homeroom mom to my kids, to chaperone field trips, to just generally be there for the younger years because you can never get that time back.” That doesn’t mean it was easy. There was a lot of juggling, but she worked to have the flexibility to be with her mom through her mom’s three-year cancer journey. And then, a mere forty-five days after her mother passed, Nuñez herself received a breast cancer diagnosis and went through her own treatment.

“I couldn’t have dealt with any of that without the support of my husband, family, and amazing team,” Nuñez says. “They kept the firm running for me during times of need. Yes, it’s my name on the door, but I do not do this alone. We’ve grown to a team of 12—and I cannot do this without every single one of them.” In 2024, her husband Walter joined the firm as CFO. “We always knew that one day he would be part of the firm, and our decision to make that transition was exactly what we needed. We met 26 years ago working at the same law firm, so why not do it again?” says Nuñez.

DIVERSIFY, DIVERSIFY, DIVERSIFY

When Nuñez launched her own firm, she promised herself she would never put all her legal eggs in one practice area basket.

The seeds of another line of business had already been planted: When her grandmother passed away from Alzheimer’s, Nuñez was already an attorney—though just barely. “My dad said, ‘Hey, I need you to help me figure this out,’” she recalls. “Well…I graduated law school, like, five minutes ago, but okay!” Because her grandmother didn’t have a will, Nuñez got a first-hand view of the complexity and expense of the probate process. It’s something she was familiar with from real estate law: Homes are typically the biggest asset people have. But the personal cost of lack of planning proved eye-opening. Later, when her father developed Alzheimer’s and needed resources for treatment and a caretaker, he and Nuñez had done all the planning, and everything went as smoothly as possible for his beloved wife.

This is, in broad strokes, how the estate planning segment of Nuñez’ firm was born. “Nobody wants to talk about illness, no one wants to talk about death,” Nunez says. “Understandably. It’s not fun. But guess what? It’s a reality. And, as I tell clients at the outset, it’s not like the Grim Reaper is going to walk through the door if you start talking about your estate. I promise you.”

Nuñez is on a mission to show people estate planning, contrary to all-too-popular opinion, is not the sole provenance of Rockefellers, Kennedys, and trust fund babies. “People don’t think they have an estate,” she says. “But if you own a house or a car or jewelry or any personal belongings or have a bank account—you have an estate.” And if how you want those assets distributed isn’t delineated in writing, it will be done in court based on the law, not your express wishes.

“If people think estate planning is expensive, wait until the court and attorneys get

involved,” Nuñez says. “It has a cost, but what value do you place on peace of mind? Or on saving your children from the stress and expense of a couple years of probate court?”

A BRIGHT FUTURE

Bolstered by word of mouth and referrals, Nuñez Estate Law & Title has grown exponentially over the last few years. The goal, however, is never mere revenue. “For us, it’s always also, ‘How many more families can we be there for? How many more people can we help?’” Nuñez says. “Whether it’s a home closing or an estate plan, I want to empower people to build and protect legacies.

“I didn’t start out wanting to be an attorney,” she adds. “But I am very glad that God led me onto this path. I really do love and enjoy what I do.”

For more information, visit www.willsattorneymiami.com.

A SACRED SPACE

Soul

II Soul founder

Tiffany Arocha

shares her life story—and three tips for how to manifest your most fulfilling life in 2026.

SSOUL II SOUL lived in the heart and soul of an incredibly special little girl who always felt different, out of place, and never seemed to fit in. This little girl was blessed with divine ancestral gifts, wisdom, and knowledge. It was her dream to someday create a sacred space where people would come together and feel safe, heard, and loved…

These words grace the website of the Soul II Soul spiritual boutique, but until you actually visit the physical manifestation of Tiffany Arocha’s childhood dream in Coral Way, it is difficult to fully comprehend the true weight and beauty of either the tale or this magical sacred space.

“I'm a Cancer, Rising Aquarius, right?”

Arocha says, seated not far from an elaborate, beguiling altar at the entrance serving as a gateway to a treasure trove of candles, incense, books, crystals. “I love community. I love helping people. I love being a part of that journey of finding themselves, of bringing their highest self forward. This is what I've always been meant to do.”

DEEP ROOTS

And when Arocha says “always,” she means always. Her connection to spirituality and things unseen began early. “I would freak my dad out all the time,” she says, laughing. “He'd say, ‘Wait, where are you getting this information?’ Because I just knew things. Like, I would tell him things before they would happen.” Not that there was no precedent: His own mother, Arocha’s grandmother, was very spiritual and would read fortunes from cards—a tradition her granddaughter continues to this very day.

Despite all of this, Arocha followed the traditional route, getting a degree in criminal justice before taking a job as an accountant at a large health care company, putting in long hours for many years. The magic remained close to her heart, however, and on weekends, she would rent a 10x10 tent at a market in Key Largo. There, with the help of her mom, she began to buildout the esoteric concepts and curated goods that would constitute Soul II Soul.

“Next year, we’re going to be in a brick-

and-mortar space,” Arocha told her mother one day about a year in. “I see it, I feel it, I know it. I’m done working for somebody else.”

“How are you planning on doing that?”

“I don’t know. But it’s going to align— and everything’s going to be fine.”

As the ancients used to say, So mote it be. A testimony to the power of intention, belief, and affirmation, Arocha has been conjuring the metaphysical in her physical space for nearly a decade now. “I think everybody thought I was crazy at first,” she says. “I didn’t have the money or the experience—I kind of stumbled into it blindly. But I wasn’t really nervous. It was more like, ‘If not now, when?’”

It’s called a leap of faith for a reason. And for those seeking to take their own, AQUA Miami asked Arocha for three tips on how to manifest their best life in 2026.

MANIFESTATION

• Take a Look, It’s in a Book — A (Magic) Reading Rainbow. “I’m an undercover

nerd,” Arocha says. “I love books. I love attaining knowledge and learning new things. Books are a great way to go deeper, to learn at your own pace, to slow down and absorb.” The Soul II Soul shelves are modest but very intentionally curated. “Spirituality is such a vast topic, but one core recommendation I always have is books on how to believe in yourself. Because that is such an important foundation to building everything else. We so often look outside ourselves. I tell people all the time: ‘You are what you need. It’s all inside of you—all the tools, all the power.’ From there, I might suggest a book on finding balance, on chakras, on grounding energy. But, really, just follow your muse.”

• Trust Your Intuition. But Ask Questions. “I know we’re living in an age of technology, and everyone wants to access everything online,” Arocha says. “But a conversation is different than scrolling—it’s more of an exchange and can take on a

life of its own. It’s beneficial to both of us. I'm not just selling a product. I'm actually a terrible salesperson. My mom tells me I'm the worst salesperson ever because she's a great salesperson. But, for me, it's not about a sale. I want whoever comes in here to feel good about themselves and have a better understanding about whatever it is that they want to know, whether they make a purchase or not.”

• Light a Candle. “There are a million ways to manifest,” Arocha says. “There’s no right way or wrong way. Like with manifestation, it’s just about what works for you. But I gravitate toward candles. I like a focal point. So, I’ll light the candle, put my focused intention there, and that for me is the easiest way to bring my dreams into reality.” There are candles and misting sprays for every need and desire at Soul II Soul, and Arocha can fill you in on the tiniest of details and nuances because she made most of them herself. “I don’t outsource,” she says. “I create 25 lines of

products myself. I’m always launching new candles and sprays, perfume oils. I do all the magic inside of them. I’m low on stock right now because everybody wants to manifest before eclipse season, so demand is high. I also make candles for cleansing, peace, other things…These are just tools to help you get in the vibe.” Having trouble with this choice or any other? Arocha has designed a clarity deck to help you decide, in English and Spanish.

LOOKING FORWARD

As for the future, Arocha plans to continue to expand her already extensive workshops, reading, and host special events such as family constellation explorations with facilitator Emily Lozano designed to create “space to witness, acknowledge, and lovingly bring harmony back into the system.” An online course— or courses —is a possibility. At the urging of her daughter, Arocha has been posting on TikTok and has had surprising success there.

“I feel like my heart smiles sometimes,” Arocha says. “When people message me, like, ‘Oh, your reading was amazing!’ or ‘That candle worked wonders!’ I love the community. I’m rooting for them all; everybody that comes in here, everybody I encounter, I want the best for them. I want to give them the tools they need and watch them flourish. That’s always been the dream, you know?”

For more information, visit www.soul-ii-soul.com.

THE (Culinary) REVOLUTION WILL BE TELEVISED

Visionary Miami restauranter/ entrepreneur Joaquin Ortiz aims to uplevel and subvert foodie influencer culture with Keeno’s Quest.

BY SHAWN MACOMBER

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A COUPLE YEARS BACK, Joaquin Ortiz—the man behind both the exquisite South Miami café, cultural hub, and talent incubator Tea & Poets as well as Jealous Fork, the Tamiami home of award-winning artisanal pancakes and gourmet burgers— began posting short, vlog-style reviews of local culinary gems and small, undiscovered restaurants on Instagram.

People seemed to enjoy it, but when a friend told him he should start a standalone YouTube channel and post longer videos, Ortiz demurred. “My first response was ‘No,’” Ortiz says. “I told him straight up: I’m not a foodie influencer, and I have no interest in becoming one.” His issue? An online foodie influencer culture that overcooks the sensationalism while undercooking what Ortiz calls “authentic, genuine, educational perspectives.”

Still, Ortiz couldn’t quite shake the idea. After all, isn’t it more important to offer an alternative than surrender? And what about the responsibility to pay it forward as he had with his innovative nonprofit Conscious Acts of Kindness? And then there was the effect his own mentors had on his life to consider. “I was fortunate to have incredible teachers and mentors along the way,” Ortiz says. “I don’t think I’d be honoring them and my love for learning and education if I didn’t pass that on.”

What if? What if he could create a

channel centered on “telling thoughtprovoking stories and inviting the audience into a life lived with curiosity, adventure, and an open heart?” What if he could explore “great food and culture, without losing integrity or curiosity along the way”?

And this, friends, is how Keeno’s Quest was born—a channel that is as informative and educational as it is authentic and fun, marrying Ortiz’ own effervescent personality

and big-hearted charisma to a wry realness reminiscent of Anthony Bourdain.

The late author, television documentary host, and anti-celebrity chef is, perhaps unsurprisingly, a massive influence on Ortiz. “When I was in culinary school at Johnson & Wales in North Miami, [Bourdain’s] Kitchen Confidential was required reading, and that book truly changed my life,” he says. “It opened the door to a whole world for me, one that led me to other influential books like The Devil in the Kitchen by Marco Pierre White and Heat by Bill Buford. Those stories weren’t polished or pretty; they were wild, gritty, honest, and raw. They gave me a glimpse into the world of restaurants I was stepping into.”

Ortiz is currently writing an autobiography with, he promises, “no shortage of crazy stories” from the kitchen trenches. “Those moments aren’t just shock value; they’re part of the real, unfiltered world behind hospitality,” he says. “And that raw honesty, that humanity, is something Anthony Bourdain gave us permission to explore. That spirit is very much alive in Keeno’s Quest.”

PULLING BACK THE VEIL

Ortiz sees demystifying food and cuisine as a huge part of his mission. “I genuinely believe that when people better understand what they’re eating, how it’s made, why it works, or why it doesn’t,” he says, “they’re empowered to make better choices.” A recent episode drove that home for him. “I tasted several of the top items from some of the most popular fast-food chains in the country,” he explains. “It was a difficult episode to film, especially considering I hadn’t eaten fast food in over 25 years. What surprised me most was the overall quality of the food was extremely poor across the board, yet the most successful fastfood chain in the country stood out—not because it was great, but because its quality and attention to detail were simply better than the rest. That contrast said a lot.”

“My hope is to help viewers become more aware, more discerning, and ultimately more intentional about what they eat,” Ortiz continues. “If Keeno’s Quest can encourage even small shifts toward

better dietary choices and healthier lives, then I’m doing exactly what I set out to do.”

As for the future, yes, Ortiz wants to grow his credibility as a host, a storyteller, an industry vet with a voice, along with the Keeno’s Quest viewership. But Ortiz is candid about his desire to build Keeno’s Quest to a point where it could serve as his primary source of income.

“The reality is, the restaurant industry is incredibly demanding,” Ortiz says. “You don’t see many happy, healthy 50-plusyear-old restaurant operators. I want to be intentional about building this channel in a way that can eventually replace the long, physically taxing hours I’m still putting in the restaurant.”

This reassessment of priorities and legacy is understandable considering Ortiz and his wife Karina last year welcomed a son, Keyenne, into the family fold.

“Becoming a parent has definitely

given Keeno’s Quest deeper meaning and greater purpose,” Ortiz says. “On some level, I know I’m creating something that will outlive me. Keeno’s Quest has become a kind of time capsule: a place where my son, and hopefully future generations, can login and learn about who their father or grandfather was, what he cared about, and how he lived life with an open heart full of curiosity and with an ambitious sense of adventure. No matter how successful the channel becomes, that aspect alone makes it worth doing.”

For more invormation, visit www.keenosquest.com

The Lady Bird Deed

A potential powerful shortcut around probate or a risky oversimplification?

BY ALINA F. NUÑEZ, ESQ., ESTATE PLANNING AND PROBATE ATTORNEY

FOR MANY SUCCESSFUL families, the home is more than a residence. It is one of the largest and most valuable assets they own, and often the one most likely to end up tied up in probate court.

Probate in Florida can mean delay, legal fees, court oversight, and public filings. For families accustomed to privacy and efficiency, that process can feel unnecessary and disruptive. Yet many homeowners unknowingly leave their property, and family, exposed. One strategic tool available under Florida law is the Enhanced Life Estate Deed, commonly known as a Lady Bird Deed.

A Lady Bird Deed? Yes, you read that correctly. The name Lady Bird is commonly traced back to hypothetical examples used in legal seminars decades ago. This type of deed got its nickname when former President Lyndon B. Johnson used it to convey the property to his wife, Claudia Alta “Lady Bird” Johnson, after which the attorney who first created the concept used Johnson’s name in an example to explain how such deeds work and frequently used the name Lady Bird Johnson, as the fictional life tenant in their example.

Over time the example stuck. Lawyers began casually referring to this type of enhanced life estate deed as a “Lady Bird Deed,” and the name became widely adopted, particularly in Florida and a handful of other states that recognize this planning technique.

A Lady Bird Deed allows you to name beneficiaries who will automatically receive your property upon your death, while you retain complete control during your lifetime. You maintain the

right to live in the home, sell it, refinance it, or even change the beneficiaries without their consent. Upon your passing, the property transfers directly to the named beneficiaries, avoiding probate.

For many families, the advantages are compelling:

THE PROS

• Probate Avoidance. The property transfers automatically, saving time and court involvement.

• Full Control During Life. Unlike a traditional life estate, you do not give up decision-making authority.

• Revocability. You may change or revoke the deed at any time.

• Potential Medicaid Planning Benefits. In certain situations, it can offer planning flexibility. However, this strategy is not one-sizefits-all.

THE CONS

• Limited Coverage. A Lady Bird Deed only addresses the specific property named in the deed. It does not substitute for a comprehensive estate plan.

• Complex Family Structures. Blended families, minor children, or special planning concerns may require trustbased solutions.

• Creditor and Tax Considerations. Improper drafting or coordination with the rest of your estate plan can create unintended consequences.

• False Confidence. Avoiding probate for your home does not mean the rest of your estate is protected.

An Enhanced Life Estate Deed can

be a powerful and elegant tool when thoughtfully implemented, but it is just that: a tool. The real value lies in having a coordinated strategy that aligns with your goals, protects your privacy, and preserves family harmony.

In short: the name may be charming—but the planning implications are serious.

The urgency is not in signing a particular document. The urgency is in making sure your plan exists and works. Your home represents years of success and sacrifice. Make sure it transfers with intention, not complication.

Alina F. Nuñez, Esq. is the principal attorney at Nunez Estate Law & Title, a Miami-based law firm devoted to helping families safeguard their wealth and smoothly transfer it to the next generation.

Schedule Your Consultation – “Protect your family today—your legacy depends on it” 305-962-5929 | www.nunezlawfl.com

Travel BEGINS WITH Taste

Celebrity chef Shannon Bard talks to AQUA Miami about her upcoming “Flavors and Frontiers” culinary tours.

BY GERRY BARKER

HERE’S ONE THING celebrity chef, Food Network champion, and author Shannon Bard wants you to know about her “Flavors and Frontiers” initiative straight out of the gate: It’s definitely not your typical food tour. Instead, think an immersive, luxury culinary travel experience.

Guided by the ethos “Travel begins with taste. Everything else is sightseeing,” Bard’s inaugural journey, “The Fire, Flavor and Spirit of the Yucatan,” is set to take place March 24 to 29 and includes five nights at The Diplomat Boutique Hotel in Mérida, private cooking classes and hands-on workshops, curated meals, market tours and artisan workshops. Bard will lead 12 participants on an in-depth exploration of Yucatan cuisine, including cooking over an open fire in the jungle, watching an abuela make tortillas in her kitchen, and enjoying a chef-prepared picnic on the shores of a cenote. The cost is $5,500.

ROOTS

“For most of my life, food was the center of everything I built,” the Oklahoma-born mother of four, who has helmed awardwinning restaurants in Maine and New Hampshire, tells us. “I spent years deep in the restaurant world, where the pace is so relentless you can’t always see what you’re inside of. It’s like living in a storm. You’re producing, pushing, surviving, leading, repeating. And in that intensity, it’s easy to confuse motion with meaning.

“When I finally stepped away, I thought I was leaving food behind,” she continues. “I moved into startups, tried other lanes, and then I made a decision that changed everything. I chose to travel for a year. Near the end of that first year, something clicked. I didn’t want to run from food anymore. I wanted to rebuild my relationship with it, and more than that, I wanted to change the way people travel through it.”

The choice of starting in Mexico was based on her own training and the deep historical role that food plays in the region. “Mexico is one of the great food civilizations of the world, and I trained

specifically in Mexican cuisine,” Bard, who authored The Gourmet Mexican Kitchen, says. “I understand the architecture of it: the nixtamal, the chiles, the smoke, the acid, the patience. I respect it. And the Yucatán, in particular, has an identity you can feel immediately.

“Mayan cuisine isn’t a trend,” she adds. “It’s a lineage. The ingredients are rooted. The techniques are ancient. The food carries history in it. In the Yucatán, fire and history aren’t background details. They’re not bystanders. They are the story. That’s the kind of place “Flavors and Frontiers” has to begin. Somewhere the food isn’t performative. It’s cultural truth.”

This is perhaps why Bard is keen to differentiate “Flavors and Frontiers” from standard food tours: “Food tours often mean lanyards, large groups, quick stops, and restaurants that can accommodate a herd,” she says. “You’re consuming and moving on. You’re not in an environment where you can hear—or be heard. That format isn’t intimacy. It’s logistics.”

“Flavors and Frontiers” is built differently. “It’s chef-led, relationship-

based, and immersive,” Bard explains. “We go beyond tourist maps. We cook inside people’s worlds. We enter through markets, through fire, through hands-on work. You’re not observing culture from the outside. You’re inside it. Participating in it. Being changed by it.”

Bard also strongly believes in limiting the size of her group. “At 12 [people], you can hear. At 12, you move as a single table. At 12, you can cook together, ask questions, have real conversations, and build trust. At 13, it becomes a tour. And I’m not building tours. I’m building proximity.”

So far, the concept has received an enthusiastic reception from not only enthusiasts and people inside the industry, but also locals. “Everyone is tired of dumbeddown travel,” she says. “They’re tired of people coming through, extracting content, and leaving unchanged. They’re tired of culture being reduced to a photo and a caption. When locals hear how I’m framing this, that food is the way in, that technique and tradition matter, that access should be earned, there’s relief. It’s a different kind of respect. It’s not tourism. It’s relationship.”

NEW HORIZONS

Looking ahead to future “Flavors and Frontiers” locations, she stresses selectivity as a hallmark. “I only go into places with two things: A strong food culture with a real identity and relationships,” Bard says. “Because access without relationship becomes extraction. Locations are chosen because the cuisine has something to teach about history, technique, fire, seasonality, and how people live. Our upcoming journeys reflect that approach. In 2026, we return to Mérida for a second enthusiast journey in September, followed by our first chef-intensive journey later that same month. Oaxaca follows in October, and Morocco in December. Looking ahead, 2027 expands into Thailand, Bali, and San Sebastián, among others, all places where relationships are already established.”

Bard sums it up this way: “Flavor is the only language that tells the truth about a place. Markets are the museums that matter. Street stalls are archives of memory. Dishes are stories. Heat is history. Smoke is culture. Salt is truth. If you didn’t taste it, you didn’t really travel it.”

For more information, visit www.flavorsandfrontiers.com or follow @shannonbard on Instagram

From Setback to Comeback

Rising holistic empowerment coach Jennifer Warren Medwin is on a mission to help us build more beautiful, aligned lives—individually and collectively.

BY SHAWN MACOMBER

IF YOU’RE IN a season of transition or challenge, here’s the good news: There is a light at the end of the tunnel. And, no, it is not a train.

“Whenever I meet with a new client, I look at them and say, ‘Congratulations, you have made it through 100% of your challenges,’” Jennifer Warren Medwin—a Miami-based Empowerment Strategist, Certified Divorce Coach, Family and Marital Mediator, Family Transition Facilitator, and Somatic Trauma-Informed Practitioner—says.

“How do I know that? Because that person is there with me in that moment. They may have scars. They may have things to work out. We all do—that’s part of being a human being. But if you’re still here, the potential is limitless. Because I truly believe there are messages in every mess.”

A CHAOTIC START

And when Medwin speaks of scars and doing the work, she is speaking from firsthand knowledge. A little over a decade ago, Medwin found herself adrift after the loss of her parents and a divorce. A tumultuous season of life and parenthood had forced her into contemplation of some of life’s bigger questions—as the teetering tower of personal development books on her

bedside would attest to. Yet she held a core belief that, as she puts it, “setbacks are opportunities for comebacks.” Could her comeback be one of more direct service? Though Medwin had run her own nanny placement agency for 15 years, she began to think about where alternate personal and professional pathways might lead. “I wasn’t sure what the next chapter of my life would look like,” she says, “but I was definitely looking ahead.”

A chance encounter between Medwin’s sister and an old mutual friend brought things into focus. The friend had become a certified divorce coach. “I had no idea what that was,” she says. But the occupation seemed to weave together many strands of her own life and interests: She was in therapy. She had graduated top of her class while pursuing her Master of Science at Nova Southeastern University. She was in the process of navigating her own divorce and the ripples it sent through the rest of her life and dreams. “The more I looked into this coaching program, the more it was like this increasingly powerful magnetic force was drawing me towards it,” Medwin says. “That was the beginning of my trajectory.”

The signs that she was on the right path were not subtle: “I remember walking

outside after the first time I had a session with my own client,” Medwin says. “The rays of sunlight hit me just so, and the world felt aligned and, in that moment, I just knew that I was on the path that would inherently fill my soul.” Slowly, she expanded her practice to include family and marital mediation, co-parenting, and family dynamics. She wrote the 2021 book Strategies and Tips from a Divorce Coach: A Roadmap to Move Forward and began moving into the empowerment coaching space, further grounding her work in both two major systems that imbue practice action with philosophical power: First, her “five steppingstones:” Intentional Awareness, Mindset, Personal Power, Adaptability, and Community that leads to Transformation. And, second, the Brave Bites Method, which explores how “resilience is built on one intentional choice

at a time.” (A new book on the latter is forthcoming.)

“You know, sometimes we’re so busy being human doers we forget to be human beings,” Medwin says. “If we stop long enough to focus on intentional living and mindfulness, we can grow and evolve into much happier individuals who can stand on our own convictions and have real selfcompassion. It’s about reconnecting with your inner wisdom and creating a life that feels aligned and sustainable for you.”

FLIPPING THE SCRIPT

So where is a bite-sized place to begin? Medwin suggests taking stock of your “private huddle,” which encompasses our inner conversation. “How we talk to ourselves is so important,” she says. “It either empowers or disempowers us. It’s about taking a pause to ask ourselves: ‘Is what I’m saying helpful or hurtful.’”

Medwin, for example, had a client who said to her, “I just can’t get out of bed.”

Medwin wasn’t having it. “The word can’t is very disempowering. In no small part because in her case it’s not true. She has a choice. How do we flip the script? We say, ‘I won’t get out of bed.’ That’s the choice you’re making. And people are not aware of how their own dialogue can’t recognize the role they’re playing in their own issues.”

That’s the first two of the traditional “three As of change”—Awareness and Acceptance—and those are a prerequisite for perhaps to most essential step: Action. “Awareness is, like, ‘What’s really going on?’” Medwin says. “Acceptance is taking accountability—acknowledging everybody has a part in whatever happens in their lives, whether it’s 1% or 99%. But then we have to ask, ‘What would I like to work on? What’s the Brave Bite I need to take the real momentum necessary to move forward?’ Confidence and clarity stem from action.”

One fun, innovative way Medwin has begun getting people to action is through interactive workshops, corporate coaching, and coaching in casual, non-tradition groups. “When people—particularly women—want to get together but not necessarily do another dinner, book club, or Mahjong tournament, they can pick a topic, invite me, and over brunch or c ocktails we have an intimate 60- or 90-minute workshop tailored to their interests,” Medwin says. “So, it might be love languages or conflict management or work burnout or emotional intelligence— whatever. And we have a conversation.”

The best part for Medwin? It helps her further her mission of creating a true

community of learners.

“Knowledge is power, and it should be shared,” she says. “It’s amazing how whenever I do one of these workshops, people are calling me to say, ‘That was so invigorating! I learned so much! I taught this part of your method to my husband. I taught it to my children. I taught it to my coworkers.’ It’s eye-opening. You realize, together, that life is full of change. And, also, that it’s not necessarily about fixing this or that aspect of life, but learning to communicate and adapt in better, more productive ways.”

LOOKING FORWARD

It’s as much an ongoing process for Medwin as it is for her clients. “I like to say I’m in the seventh paragraph of the fifty-sixth chapter of my life,” she explains. “Which is to say, I’m 56 years old and I’ve been that old for seven months. I get to write the pages day, every month, every year. And I can slip in a plot twist whenever I like. I’m the sum of everything I’ve been through, every story that has led to this point. I just try to be as honest and true to myself as I can be in everything I write.” Her own trials, in a weirdly serendipitous way, have allowed her to deliver that message more effectively. “I think people can really want help from you, but it’s a natural inclination to be skeptical and judge unless they know you have walked the walk and had your own challenges.

“Life is difficult, life is beautiful,” she continues. “And no matter what situation we’re in—whether it’s bankruptcy, disease, a conflict, divorce—we will find ourselves at what is called the choice point where you either become the victim or creator of a situation. Now, when I arrive at my own crossroads, I make a concerted effort to be a creator—to make messages from the mess. Transformation is possible for all of us. We just need to understand and believe that there is a framework that we can use to help us move forward. And that is my path and it’s the one I am working very hard to help others walk every day. Which is more rewarding than I can even say.”

For coaching or to book workshop, visit www.jwmcoaching.com.

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Cursed Jewels & Magical Journeys

Pinecrest author Diana Jaramillo sets her coming-of-age young adult novel in a high-stakes, fantastical world that will pull adults in too.

THE CURSED JEWELS bequeathed to young teenager Cristina by her dying Colombian grandfather—amidst a summer when she’s stressing out about starting high school and losing her two best friends—in Diana Jaramillo’s young adult novel Of Blood Jewels and Crowns is enough to pique any interest. But the cross-continent adventure Cristina goes on to break the curse by returning the Peruvian tribal jewels to the rightful owner is as transformational and inspiring for the main character as it will be for any reader.

“Reading has always been a meaningful part of my life, and because of that, writing came to me naturally,” Jaramillo says. “My daydreams slowly turned into stories— ones I felt compelled to put down on paper.” For years, Jaramillo honed her skills by concocting tales for her young children while sitting in the car commuting to and from school or waiting for the next karate class to start. “The stories would start off as being rather ordinary,” Jaramillo says, “but my characters would take a life of their own.”

THE JOURNEY OF WRITING

When it came time to write Of Blood Jewels and Crowns, Jaramillo tapped memories from her own youth vacationing in the Medellin, Colombia countryside and riding horses with her cousins, aunts, and uncles as a foundation—as well as her own experiences as an immigrant to the United States. “My family moved from Medellin, Colombia when I was three,” she says. “Although I looked similar to the rest of the kids at my school, they still saw me as a foreigner. And even though no one really knew that Colombia was in South America, my peers still made me feel like an outsider. It was not always easy to fit in. It wasn’t until I was in high school that I embraced my difference and gained a newfound confidence. After that, I had no problem finding friends and keeping them. I still count some of my high school friends as some of my dearest.”

A fun footnote: During the long process of writing and editing the novel— around a decade—Jaramillo learned the treasure upon which her story was

based on had recently been discovered off the coast of Portugal by a Floridian treasure hunting company Odyssey Marine Exploration. “Silly as it maybe was, I took that as a sign that I needed to finish my book,” she says. More than signs, however, Jaramillo—a passionate cook as well as writer—credits the support of her husband and two young adult children as well as her community for her productivity and success. “Living in our neighborhood of Pinecrest/the Falls is a blessing,” Jaramillo says. “We have all the amenities of a big city while living like we are in a small town, often bumping into friends and teachers at the grocery store, the library, or the weekend markets that pop up around town. I feel fortunate.”

And here’s some good news for those who loved the first volume: The second book in the trilogy is finished, and the third is already gestating.

Follow Diana Jaramillo’s own adventures on Instagram at @dsjaramillo17