Driven to Dine
Florida Heart Research Institute’s 8th annual Driven to Dine cocktail reception was hosted by Beth Ann and Tony Morgenthau in their lovely Gables Estate home amid beautiful and lush foliage. The guests arrived to enjoy hors d‘oeuvres, prepared and served by Le Cordon Bleu, as they viewed and purchased jewelry designed by Jimmy Quiroga who donated 60% of sales to Florida Heart. During cocktails a live auction was also held that featured one-of-a-kind trips like an “Escape to the Resort at Little Palm Island,” as well as high end trips to Tuscany and China.
Chairs Remedios Diaz-Oliver and Bunny Bastian, who received their own personalized chef jackets, welcomed the guests and thanked everyone who helped make Driven to Dine a success, including the Morgenthaus, Jimmy Quiroga Designs, Rock Garden Herbs, Le Cordon Bleu, Miami magazine and Whole Foods Market. Dorothy St. Jean, an April birthday girl lead the group in song for the many April birthdays including chair, Bunny Bastian, Deborah Wolf, Lilliam Machado and Kirk Landon to name a few.
Florida Heart Research Institute especially appreciates the restaurants and chefs who give so generously on a Saturday evening for making this event one of the most popular of the season.
Chef Adrianne’s Vineyard Restaurant & Wine Bar
Chef Adrianne Calvo
db Bistro Moderne
Chef Jason Pringle
Macchialina
Chef Michael Pirolo
Meat Market
Chef Sean Brasel
Michael Mina 74 at Fontainebleau
Chef Thomas Griese
Ortanique on the Mile
Chef Cindy Hutson and Ilde Ferrer
Palme D’Or at the Biltmore
Chef Gregory Pugin
Smith & Wollensky
Chef Dana Brizee
Rioja Grille
Chef Michael Meuse
The Oceanaire Seafood Room
Chef Kareem Anguin
Toro Toro
Chef Eric Do
Red, the Steakhouse
Chef Peter Vauthy
Driven to Dine’s guests and supporters make it possible for Florida Heart Research Institute to continue its mission to stop heart disease through research, education and prevention. FHRI has been a leader in cardiovascular research for over 60 years and while they are making great strides in treatment, prevention and understanding the causes of cardiovascular disease, heart disease is still the leading cause of death and disability in the United States and Florida. Florida Heart Research Institute is the official “stop heart disease” license plate for the state of Florida, and funds raised go toward helping Florida become State of the Heart.
