| TASTE TEST | ▼ Café ▼ CORAL GABLES CAFFE ABBRACCI OWNER NINO PERNETTI, 76, HAS DIED For more than three decades, Caffe Ab- bracci has been a beloved fixture on Coral Gable’s fine-dining scene, thanks to its founder and owner, Nino Pernetti. Pernetti relished each day at his restaurant until he contracted COVID in 2020. The restaurateur never recovered from the aftereffects. The restaurant announced last week on Facebook that Pernetti has died: “It is with great sadness that we share that Caffe Ab- bracci’s owner and founder, Nino Pernetti, has passed away, after a 17-month battle with complications from COVID-19. He was seemed to have taken a turn for the better and his family was looking forward to his homecoming. Sadly, the 76-year-old restaurateur died yesterday. Dozens of friends and family posted condolences on social media. Pernetti leaves behind two daughters, Tatiana and Katerina and his ex-wife, Marlen. Caffe Abbracci. 318 Aragon Ave., Coral Gables; 305-441-0700; cafeabbracci.com. LAINE DOSS ▼WYNWOOD BALAGAN BRINGS CULINARY CHAOS TO WYNWOOD In keeping with one of Miami’s more prominent trends, not to mention its climate, Balagan will bring high-end, creative Nikkei cuisine to Wynwood this month. Nikkei cuisine, born of the Japanese immigrant diaspora in Peru, combines traditional Japanese flavors, ingredients, Photo by Lynn Parks a true leader, a mentor and, most of all, a friend, to all who worked here. He offered a sincere smile and a warm hug, to all who dined here, over the past three-plus decades. Please, keep his daughters, Tatiana and Kat- erina, and his ex-wife, Marlen, in your prayers.” Pernetti grew up in the Lombardy region of Italy and started his lifelong culinary career at the tender age of 13 when he worked as a barista in his hometown of Lake Garda. As a young adult, he worked at several hotels around the world. When his travels landed him in Miami, he borrowed money from a friend and planted roots in the Magic City. In 1989, Pernetti opened Caffe Abbracci. For over 30 years, he spent nearly every day at the restaurant, greeting customers like family — even famous ones like Al Pacino and Emilio and Gloria Estefan. In December 2020, Pernetti contracted 12 12 COVID. Complications from the virus led to a long hospitalization while Pernetti fought off infections and lung damage. In an interview with NBC Miami this past January, Pernetti Caffe Abbracci owner Nino Pernetti and techniques with those found in the South American country. Balagan is a Hebrew word with Yiddish- Slavic-Persian origins that means “pulsating, wild chaos” — often used to describe the hec- tic moments of preparation before the sun sets on the Sabbath — out of which rises com- munity and serenity. At Balagan, restaurateur Ilan Sitt, founder and CEO of Sherpa Consultancy (Wayku, Pa- perfish, Jattö, and Piegari Ristorante, coming to Miami at the end of 2022), and chef Henry Hané (B Bistro + Bakery and Jattö) aren’t ex- ploring theology, though. Instead, they’re pursuing a serious doctrine of food and drink. The restaurant presents a study of artisanal appetizers, ceviches, and tiraditos. Appetizers range from a spicy tuna to- stada with rocoto aioli to a corvina plantain ceviche with dashi leche, sweet plantain, and plantain chip. In addition to the artfully plated Nikkei, there will be plenty of sushi — maki, nigiri, and aburi — with micro-herbs and beads of JUNE 9-JUNE 15, 2022 MONTH XX–MONTH XX, 2008 NEW TIMES | MUSIC | CAFE | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | NEWS | LETTERS | CONTENTS | MIAMI NEW TIMES | MUSIC | CAFE | FILM | ART | STAGE | NIGHT+DAY | METRO | RIPTIDE | LETTERS | CONTENTS | miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com miaminewtimes.com
