On Feb. 8, the Coral Gables Community Foundation held the annual Tour of Kitchens for their 16th consecutive year, continuing to support the community. The Tour of Kitchens hosted residents throughout Miami and granted participants access to 11 homes and three showrooms in the Gables where they were able to enjoy the uniqueness of Gables architecture and kitchens. The funds raised for the event were granted to the Coral Gables Community Foundation and the Culinary Arts Program at Gables high school.
At 9 a.m. the event commenced at the opening ceremony held at Merrick Park. Ticket holders gathered, admiring surrounding shops as they waited to tour extravagant kitchens and houses. After previously paying the fundraising $150, participants received their blue wristbands required for entering each destination.
“I think Tour of Kitchens is a great way for the Gables community to raise money for the city as well as host an entertaining event. I volunteered with Student Activities to assist other volunteers with prepping the house for guests to arrive. It was a wonderful experience with a lot of the community showing up to create a thriving event that looks to continue for many years,” junior Adrian Perez said.
Tours of Kitchens possesses a rich history in the city of Coral Gables setting its roots on Oct. 10, 2010, where it first opened its doors to the public. Proceeds for the fundraiser have gone towards multiple college scholarships granted by the Coral Gables Community Foundation. The traditional event creates a sense of community within the Gables while also benefiting individuals within the city.
Student Activities members from Gables High School partnered with the CGCF to help raise funds for the organization’s scholarship and aid with the touring process. Alongside them were public employees and community volunteers who split up into groups to manage the various different houses. Before 10 a.m., when the doors opened, touring areas were designated and the layout was organized by the volunteers as they assumed different tasks.
“When I arrived at my house, I met up with my assigned people from student activities and we introduced ourselves to the other volunteers. We met with the homeowner and discussed what we needed to do to prepare for when the tour began. I helped set up the business’s equipment and during the event I stayed in the kitchen to make sure everything ran smoothly,” sophomore Alessandro Vendrame said.
The houses began flooding with attendees at 10:15 a.m. as the houses opened to all ticket holders. Certain houses required booties to enter due to easily damaged tiles placed around the house. Many local restaurants took the opportunity to publicize their businesses by handing out free samples and business cards as participants toured the house. Each house hosted their own business and set up an area for employees to advertise what makes their food unique. Some houses hosted other local owned stores from around Miami to promote different products like dresses with unique designs.
“The architecture in my house was extremely unique with an impressive structure upon entering the house. The columns, tiles and roof designs were actually very intriguing and I was staring at them most of the time. I had a fun experience with my friends and helping the with the tour was easy,” junior Cooper Piedra said.
After the sightseeing came to an end, all attendees gathered together at the final stop of the tour which hosted the closing party. Participants enjoyed food and music as they were thanked for making Tour of Kitchens successful for another year. Tour of Kitchens was not only a fundraising event but an overall sensation of the Miami culture, continuing to support and unite the community through its entertaining experience.
“Tour of Kitchens was an interesting way to spend a Saturday. The atmosphere of joy people had as they toured the house was exciting and the local businesses was a nice addition to make the event more enjoyable. I would help volunteer again especially if my friends were there with me,” sophomore Hennley Michel said.
