Chef Alfredo Alvarez was appointed as Executive Chef at The Deck at Island Gardens, just before its November grand opening in time for Art Basel as Miami's exclusive restaurant overlooking the superyacht marina and the downtown Miami skyline. Chairman and CEO of Flagstone Group, Mehmet Bayraktar, assembled a dream team for The Deck at Island Gardens, starting with nightlife entrepreneurs Michael Capponi and Eric Milon; Bayraktar now adds Chef Alvarez, who will bring his international flair and pedigree of culinary experience to Miami's newest exquisite waterfront eatery. The Deck at Island Gardens will be the only restaurant in Miami where superyacht owners can moor at Deep Harbour and dine with the world's largest yachts as the backdrop.

With Alvarez at the helm, The Deck at Island Gardens will feature an all-new culinary concept, fusing Mediterranean flavors and quintessential European dishes that draw from the yachting circuit's various destinations from Ibiza to Bodrum. Alvarez brings multi-faceted expertise to the Miami dining scene and a penchant for using the finest European delicacies paired with the freshest locally sourced produce, seafood and meats.

"Armed with decades of experience at some of the world's top restaurants, Chef Alfredo Alvarez has a passion to create an entirely new dining concept," says Mehmet Bayraktar, chairman and CEO, Flagstone Group. "I know that his enthusiasm and extensive expertise will push The Deck at Island Gardens to the forefront of Miami's world-class dining scene and provide a sneak peek at the grandeur of Island Gardens once completed."

A few highlights from Alvarez's new menu that draw from yachting influences will include The Deck Seafood Casserole: a mix of fresh shellfish, sea bass and red fish in a tomato saffron broth, served in a Vulcan clay casserole cooked in the new wood brick oven; Octopus a la Plancha: fresh octopus topped with mint foam; Pear Ravioli with gorgonzola cheese, finished with a black truffle sauce; and Island Gardens Seared Tuna: seared tuna dressed with an assortment of fruit caviars.

"With influences from Monaco, St. Tropez, Mykonos and Sardinia, we've curated a yachting-infused dining experience never before seen in Miami," said Alvarez. "To bring this to life, I'm focusing on using ingredients from local farms in South Florida and the freshest fish and seafood available, including seasonal varieties flown in daily from the Mediterranean, while enhancing the superyacht lifestyle that is now available in our city at Island Gardens."

Prior to joining the team at The Deck, Alvarez was the Executive Chef at Seasalt and Pepper. Before that, Alvarez worked as a consulting chef for Renaissance Cruise Lines and Celebrity Cruise, where he created menus alongside renowned Chef Alain Ducasse. Chef Alvarez's list of celebrity clients includes Beyoncé, Jay Z, Sofia Vergara, Robert De Niro, Antonio Banderas, Billy Crystal, Michael Douglas and Robin Williams. Alvarez was ranked the 17th top chef in the U.S. by the National Chefs Association in Washington D.C.

Originally from Venezuela, Alvarez graduated from Luzon and Ecoli Hotelier Lucerene in Switzerland and interned for Italy's top chefs, Gualtiero Marchesi and Gianfranco Vissani. Since then, his career has taken him to destinations including Miami, New York, Rome, Cancun and the Dominican Republic.

About The Deck at Island Gardens

Miami's most exquisite superyacht marina lounge, The Deck at Island Gardens will celebrate its grand opening as a restaurant lounge in November in time for Art Basel for Miami's elite yachting crowd and visitors to wine, dine and dance outdoors. Guests can arrive by land or by superyacht to enjoy acclaimed Chef Alfredo Alvarez'sall-new culinary concept, fusing Mediterranean flavors and quintessential European dishes that draw from the yachting circuit's various ports of call from Ibiza to Bodrum. Open six days a week for lunch and dinner, The Deck at Island Gardens will feature a globally sourced menu with delicacies including mezzes inspired from Chef Alvarez's visits to Greece, the finest fish, prosciutto, risotto and pasta imported from Italy, all brought to life with locally sourced produce and meats. The Deck at Island Gardens is renowned for its panoramic views of Downtown Miami and Biscayne Bay – the most signature sunset views Miami has to offer. For reservations, please contact (786) 479-3443 or thedeck@islandgardens.com; for event inquiries, please contact events@islandgardens.com.

About Island Gardens

Island Gardens is a next generation mixed-use development, home to a superyacht marina that today accommodates up to 50 of the world's largest yachts. Upon future completion, Island Gardens will feature two luxury hotels, magnificent residences with five-star amenities and hotel-serviced living. The waterfront property at the heart of Miami will be a premier dining destination, calling hotel guests and visitors alike to enjoy an array of exclusive eateries featuring world-class cuisine from all corners of the globe. For discerning shoppers, the development will feature a curated collection of designer and boutique retail. Located on Watson Island, the development is centrally located between Miami Beach and Downtown Miami with a short commute to MiamiInternational Airport, and access to a water taxi transportation system servicing Miami and the beaches. www.islandgardens.com

About Flagstone Group

Mehmet Bayraktar founded Flagstone Group in 2001 to expand his real estate development activities, previously in Europe, to the U.S. and other international locations. Flagstone is committed to creating landmark properties that accentuate the authenticity of an environment to become community hallmarks. Flagstone focuses on developing mixed-use and commercial, urban properties.