Hungry Like the Wolf

A California sensation brings its Italian creations to Miami's Design District

- STORY BY TERRY ZARIKIAN

I WAS thrilled to finally visit Miami’s recently opened Mother Wolf, the third location (after Los Angeles and Las Vegas) of a restaurant showcasing the acclaimed dishes of pasta master Evan Funke. He is a true artist of dough, which he makes for his pasta and pizza and amazingly light but crusty focaccias. His talent is one of a kind, mostly because he focuses on true ancient culinary Roman traditions. Miami’s Mother Wolf rivals the Los Angeles location for grandeur, with the signature pasta lab, enclosed in glass, in open view. The decor was conceptualized by the London- based Martin Brudnizki Design Studio with styling by Bernadette Blanc. Its luxurious Roman craftsmanship gives Miamians a respite from the faux art deco interiors and splashy over- the-top visuals found elsewhere. At Mother Wolf Miami, service, food and wine shine equally.

A bar stretches across the space, serving inventive, refreshing cocktails like the Campo de Fiori (ritual aperitif mixed with