How to Spend It - The Related Group

 THE CAPTAIN’S TABLE
Jorge Pérez
The chairman and CEO of Miami-based property developer Related Group currently
has over 77 projects in the pipeline, worth over $15bn
I
am a foodie at heart – and love good
wine too. I’m Cuban by descent, was
born in Argentina and brought up in
Colombia, and eating plays a big part
in the way Latin American people
traditionally do business. Whether I’m
negotiating a deal or attending art fair
events, food figures prominently in the
way I operate outside the office.
I’m not much of a breakfast meeting
person; it’s over lunch that I get business
done. In Miami, our bankers and lawyers
love Wolfgang’s for the thick ribeye steaks
and simple seafood – plus its clubby feel
and well-spaced tables make it ideal for
having private conversations. I’ve also had
many memorable working meals at Il
Gabbiano on Biscayne Bay. We met here
recently with some of our partners when
we were trying, with dificulty, to close a
deal on our latest project in Mexico City.
After a leisurely three-hour lunch of
Dover sole and fettuccine with garlic –
along with a few bottles of New Zealand
Sauvignon Blanc and plenty of tequila –
we managed to reach a resolution.
But things don’t always go to plan – no
matter how good the food – and one
misfire early in my career will always stick
with me. We were trying to negotiate a
deal to buy a piece of land in Israel at the
iconic – now defunct – Rascal House deli
with an established Miami developer. On
hearing our low-ball offer, he stood up and
bellowed, “When they spit in my face, I
don’t call it rain!” I never did get a deal
done with that group.
Working meals also allow me to
successfully combine business with my
role as an art collector and lots of creative
collaborations have been forged at the
dining table. In New York, for example, I
recently had an exciting brunch meeting
with installation artist Teresita Fernández
at The NoMad Hotel, talking about
possible future projects.
While lunch is about business, dinners
are always a more social affair. It was at
Les Bouquinistes – the lively Guy Savoy
restaurant in Paris – that I met Philippe
Starck and we’ve since worked together
many times. We are both crazy and
creative – and we go to Miami Heat
basketball games when he’s in town. I
was also introduced to Piero Lissoni over
dinner, this time at the Ciragan Palace in
Istanbul; he is now doing several designs
for us. In Miami, dinner at José Andrés’
The Bazaar [pictured] always has a
festive atmosphere, with a unique mix
of South Floridian, Spanish and Cuban
cuisine. I particularly love the grilled
octopus – and the mojitos are excellent.
These days I only go to places where I
know we’ll be well looked after.
When I’m travelling, however, I love to
experiment, especially in Buenos Aires,
where we recently completed a real estate
project. This deal was literally started over
lunch at Rio Alba – eating the world’s best
steaks – and completed over dinner the
same day at Italian reataurant Piegari.
Perhaps it was the delicious mushroom
risotto that clinched it.
For special occasions I sometimes host
dinners in my own home, including
fundraisers for President Obama. I’ve
been politically active for a long time and
first met the Clintons at a little hole in
the wall in Little Rock, Arkansas, before
he ran for president. We later cemented
our decades-long friendship over penne
alla vodka and grilled fish at La Piaggia,
a lively Mediterranean spot in South
Beach; Julio Iglesias joined us on that
particular night. I’ve even shared
memorable meals with Donald Trump at
Mar-a-Lago, his private club in Palm
Beach. I had no idea he was ever going to
run for president. But then, I’m just not
a Republican. CHRISTINA OHLY EVANS
The Clintons and
I cemented our long
friendship over
penne alla vodka
and grilled fish
at La Piaggia
PHOTOGRAPH BY JEFFERY SALTER. ADDRESS BOOK THE BAZAAR BY JOSE ANDRES, 1701 COLLINS AVE, MIAMI BEACH, FL 33139 (+1305-455 2999; WWW.SBE.COM). LES BOUQUINISTES, 53 QUAI DES GRANDS AUGUSTINS, 75006 PARIS
(+331-4325 4594; WWW.LESBOUQUINISTES.COM). CIRAGAN PALACE KEMPINSKI, CIRAGAN CAD 32, 34349 ISTANBUL (+90212-326 4646; WWW.KEMPINSKI.COM). IL GABBIANO, 335 S BISCAYNE BLVD, MIAMI, FL 33131 (+1305-373 0063; WWW.
ILGABBIANOMIA.COM). LA PIAGGIA, 1000 SOUTH POINTE DR, MIAMI BEACH, FL 33139 (+1305-674 0647; WWW.LAPIAGGIABEACH.COM). MAR-A LAGO, 1100 S OCEAN BLVD, PALM BEACH, FL 33480 (+1561-832-2600; WWW.MARALAGOCLUB.COM).
THE NOMAD HOTEL, 1170 BROADWAY, NEW YORK, NY 10001 (+1212-796 1500; WWW.THENOMADHOTEL.COM). PIEGARI, POSADAS 1042, LA RECOVA, BUENOS AIRES (+5411-4326 9430; WWW.PIEGARI.COM.AR). RIO ALBA, AVE CERVIÑO 4499,
BUENOS AIRES (+5411-4773 9508). WOLFGANG’S STEAKHOUSE, 315 S BISCAYNE BOULEVARD, MIAMI, FL 33131 (+1305-487-7130; WWW.WOLFGANGSSTEAKHOUSE.NET).
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