Leonardo Valencia used to cook brunch for his broke friends in Brooklyn with his ex-wife Didi.
She's a pastry chef and he's a former culinary school attendee whose favorite thing to make is breakfast. And one day, these two cooks realized that the most delicious garnish for eggs is Motown.
"It caught on and people loved it," he says of the musical meal. So many hungry Motown lovers came out that the affair had to move to a small cafe.
Since he moved back to Miami, Valencia's wanted to recreate the energy and enjoyment of these brunches. As far as what they're playing: "We're pretty much sticking to '60s Motown, maybe touching into early '70s." He says you'll hear "everything from Martha Reeves, The Supremes, The Four Tops, The Temptations, Gladys Knight and the Pips." And, "We'll definitely throw in some Marvin Gaye."
A musician himself, Valencia believes that "Motown is one of those things anyone can relate to no matter what you listen to. It's soulful." All that emotion and gospel sound, he thinks "feels good on a Sunday morning."
He's been looking for a permanent host for the event, perhaps a restaurant or cafe. But for the next couple of weeks, the end/SPRING BREAK will house the Motown munching. As part of the nomadic art collective's project on Sound, Ear Conditioning, Valencia is adding an educational component. He'll be showing a short documentary by Joe Warwick, The Motown Effect.
For only $5, you'll get a meal made by Valencia's skilled hands while Bloody Marys and mimosas are only one dollar. The first brunch takes place on July 17 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Design District at 155 NE 38th Street. Make sure to RSVP to [email protected], and don't flake out, because he's paying out of pocket for the chow.
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