Miky and Leticia Grendene are the power couple behind Casa Tua, a beloved titan within Miami’s culinary landscape which has occupied the same space in South Beach for over twenty years. The restaurant has other locations in Aspen, Paris, and most recently, New York: Casa Tua arrived on the Upper East Side this fall, finding itself within The Surrey, a Corinthia Hotel. To commemorate the recent opening, Whitewall asked the Grendenes what exhibitions are on their must-see list and where they dine between fairs.
WHITEWALL: What are you looking forward to in New York in September during the fairs?
MIKY GRENDENE: I enjoy having all the galleries, friends, and partners we made over the years from around the world in one place so we always spend a lot of time at the Armory Show. It’s great to see everyone, discover the new artists they’re working with, and grow our collection.
WW: What do you have your eye on at the fairs?
MG: We’re actually looking for work to complete our upcoming exhibitions at Casa Tua. Particularly, our inaugural exhibition at Casa Tua New York where we plan to celebrate 25 years of Casa Tua Art and Leti and I’s journey in collecting.
WW: What are the exhibitions on your must-see list?
MG: My collection and our exhibitions are predominantly centered in photography so we’re always excited to see what our friends at Edwynn Houk, Howard Greenberg, Staley Wise, Kasmin, and Ben Brown put together. We collect Nan Goldin’s work so we won’t miss Gagosian’s show.
“We’re always excited to see what our friends at Edwynn Houk, Howard Greenberg, Staley Wise, Kasmin, and Ben Brown put together.”
Miky Grendene
WW: Where are you go-to places to grab a bite or drink after the fairs?
LETICIA GRENDENE: We love classic New York City institutions like Indochine, Cipriani, and Kappo Masa. Soon, we will be able to add our very own Casa Tua to the list—we’ll be opening on the Upper East Side, it’s a dream come true!
“Soon, we will be able to add our very own Casa Tua to the list—we’ll be opening on the Upper East Side, it’s a dream come true!”
Leticia Grendene
New York Insiders Miky and Leticia Grendene’s List of Favorites:
1. The Armory Show
Installation view of The Armory Show 2023, courtesy of The Armory Show.
Kicking off New York’s fall art season, The Armory Show continues its legacy as a gateway to New York’s art scene, linking visitors to exhibitors at the fair as well as New York City galleries, museums, arts organizations, artists, and collectors. The fair’s location near the Chelsea gallery district, the scenic High Line, and the lively Tribeca neighborhood makes a visit to The Armory Show a dynamic launch into the fall art season. – The Armory Show
2. Casa Tua
Casa Tua Miami, courtesy of Casa Tua.
In 2001, Casa Tua Miami Beach was created as a welcoming place for friends, family, and guests from around the world, where simplicity would meet sophistication, and individuals with a zest for life would come together. Casa Tua has since expanded with locations in Aspen, Paris, and New York as well as their Italian kitchen, Casa Tua Cucina. – Casa Tua
3. Gagosian
Installation view of “Iconic Avedon: A Centennial Celebration of Richard Avedon,” © The Richard Avedon Foundation, courtesy of Gagosian.
Established by Larry Gagosian in Los Angeles in 1980, Gagosian is a global gallery specializing in modern and contemporary art that employs more than three hundred people at nineteen exhibition spaces across the United States, Europe, and Asia. In addition to its galleries, Gagosian is at the forefront of the digital marketplace with innovative online viewing rooms, timed to coincide with major art fairs, that include highly desirable works by today’s leading artists, transparent pricing, historical scholarship, and insightful market analysis. – Gagosian
4. Indochine
Courtesy of Indochine.
For more than three decades, Indochine has been an incomparable meeting and dining spot in New York City for the art and fashion worlds. Welcoming guests to its exotic interior and widely known in culinary and nightlife circles, the restaurant serves an inventive French-Vietnamese menu full of flavor.
5. Kappo Masa
Courtesy of Kappo Masa.
Legendary chef Masayoshi Takayama, known as Masa, and art dealer Larry Gagosian developed a friendship more than 30 years ago in Los Angeles when Gagosian frequented Masa’s renowned restaurant, Ginza Sushi-ko. Kappo Masa is a realization of their desire to collaborate creatively and to offer a sophisticated dining experience with a contemporary perspective on traditional Japanese ingredients and materials. – Kappo Masa
