Tequila Pop-Up Ties to Caviar Dinner Series

Victoria Shahbaz and Raameel Anwaar have linked two distinct corners of Miami’s food-and-events scene: a new Common Ground dinner series at IRL Miami in Coral Gables and Anwaar’s current pop-up presence inside Tequila Town in Hialeah. Coral Gables Magazine reported on May 20 that Shahbaz, the owner of IRL Miami, and Anwaar, the owner of The Bakery and 1-800-VintageNow, created Common Ground as a recurring dining series built around conversation and networking over a multi-course meal. Common Ground’s format is a 12-course dinner with rotating chefs and changing themes, according to Coral Gables Magazine. The publication said the pair inaugurated the series in April with an omakase-style sushi dinner at IRL Miami, a venue on U.S. 1 that Shahbaz built around in-person classes, events and professional gatherings. ### How does the Hialeah tequila attraction connect to the Coral Gables dinner series? (coralgablesmagazine.com) Raameel Anwaar is the bridge between the two projects. Coral Gables Magazine said Anwaar has moved his operation from Miracle Mile to a pop-up shop inside Tequila Town, an immersive tequila-focused event space in Hialeah, while continuing to co-organize Common Ground in Coral Gables. Tequila Town lists its address as 4710 Northwest 37th Avenue in Miami, near Hialeah, and describes itself as an immersive tequila experience. (coralgablesmagazine.com) Time Out reported the attraction spans 25,000 square feet at Toledo Studios in Hialeah and opened April 2, with more than 10 themed environments tracing agave from seed to spirit. ### What exactly is Common Ground serving? Common Ground is selling themed 12-course dinners with rotating chefs, and prices start at $110 per person, Coral Gables Magazine reported. (coralgablesmagazine.com) The publication said the first installment used an omakase-style format and seated diners around a marble counter for an eight-person experience inside IRL Miami. Chef Marco Levy, identified by Coral Gables Magazine as the owner of Miami-based Yubi Box Sushi, led the featured dinner described in the magazine’s May 20 article. (tequilatownmiami.com) The menu included Bluefin tartare, stone crab elote and repeated caviar courses, paired in one case with a Mexican Paloma made with Don Londres Tequila. ### Who are the main players behind these events? Victoria Shahbaz is the owner of IRL Miami, which Coral Gables Magazine described as a hybrid social club, yoga studio, indoor basketball court, classroom and co-working space in Coral Gables. (coralgablesmagazine.com) The article said Shahbaz built the venue around face-to-face interaction and community programming. Raameel Anwaar is the owner of The Bakery and 1-800-VintageNow. (coralgablesmagazine.com) Coral Gables Magazine previously described The Bakery as a Miracle Mile concept store that expanded from smoke-shop roots into imported snacks, collectibles and vintage clothing before Anwaar shifted operations to Tequila Town. ### Why does Tequila Town matter in this story? Tequila Town gives Anwaar a new operating base while keeping him tied to Miami’s event circuit. (coralgablesmagazine.com) Time Out reported the project is backed by the Beckmann family, known for Jose Cuervo, 1800, Reserva de la Familia and Centenario, and includes tastings, live performances and a mercado. Local 10 described Tequila Town in April as a new Miami experience built as more than a conventional bar stop, and ticketing and venue pages show it is being marketed as a bookable destination rather than a one-night pop-up. (coralgablesmagazine.com) That helps explain how Anwaar can run retail and event collaborations there while still appearing in Coral Gables programming. That connection is an inference based on the venue’s format and Anwaar’s role described by Coral Gables Magazine. (timeout.com) ### What comes next for diners interested in the series? Coral Gables Magazine said Common Ground plans to offer two seating times for future dinners, with prices starting at $110 depending on the night’s theme. The publication said details for volume two had not been announced as of May 20. Updates on the next Common Ground dinner are being posted through IRL Miami and The Bakery’s Instagram accounts, according to Coral Gables Magazine. (local10.com) Tequila Town, meanwhile, continues to sell admission for its Hialeah experience through its official site and ticketing partners. (coralgablesmagazine.com)