Slice of Life — Chef Kal with his Pecan Crusted Key Lime Pie – Photo Credit: Brett Hufziger

Artist Gianna DiBartolomeo created the piece as part of the City of Miami Beach’s No Vacancy program

A five-foot sculpture of a slice of Chef Kal Abdalla’s award-winning Pecan Crusted Key Lime Pie takes center stage in the dining room of A Fish Called Avalon, 700 Ocean Drive on Miami Beach. Created by Miami artist Gianna DiBartolomeo, the piece pays homage to a culinary delight that is quintessential Florida. Responding to a call for artists from the City of Miami Beach’s No Vacancy program, which paired artists with local hotels, Gianna submitted a proposal. She was subsequently assigned to have her work on display at the Avalon Hotel, home to the famed restaurant A Fish Called Avalon. Her original proposal was entitled “Slice of Life,” with a sculpture of a cake to celebrate life as we emerge from the turbulent times of the pandemic. She was thrilled to shift her vision from cake to pie when she learned of the restaurant’s award-winning key lime pie.

“If the pandemic showed me anything, it is to appreciate the privilege of experiencing every day,” said Gianna. “We shouldn’t wait for only the major milestones to celebrate, as tomorrow is promised to no one. Sometimes, you’ve just got to stop, smell the roses, and eat the pie.”

A Fish Called Avalon Key Lime Pie — Pecan Crusted Key Lime Pie – Photo Courtesy of A Fish Called Avalon

The sculpture will be on display through New Year’s Day

It was indeed Kismet that the city matched Gianna with the Avalon. “When we learned that her theme was Slice of Life, it was natural for her to create an artistic vision of our key lime pie,” said Tom Glassie, proprietor of the Avalon Hotel and A Fish Called Avalon. Before the pandemic, Chef Kal’s Pecan Crusted Key Lime Pie bested 470 entries from throughout the U.S. and Canada to be awarded a 1st Place Blue Ribbon at the 25th Annual National Pie Championships in Orlando.

The pie is bejeweled with more than 10,000 multi-colored sequins, beads, and pins illuminated by LED lights as the pie rotates on a six-foot plate. “While boldly and playfully reflecting light, the sequins also serve as a symbol of the ephemerality and delicacy of life,” added Gianna.

The sculpture will be displayed in the dining room center at A Fish Called Avalon through New Year’s Day, providing a centerpiece for diners. In addition to the sculpture, Gianna’s sequin-adorned artwork graces the walls of the restaurant. Although the restaurant is closed on Sundays and Mondays, the public is invited to view the sculpture seven days a week. A reception with the artist will take place on Thursday, December 1st, at 5:30 pm. A Fish Called Avalon is located at 700 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach. For further information, call (305) 532-1727 or go to www.afishcalledavalon.com.