FEBRUARY 2024 ROYAL TREATMENT BAKERS PUT THEIR OWN TWISTS ON KING CAKE Festive flair CREATIVE MINDS COME TOGETHER FOR MARDI GRAS FEBRUARY 2024 $10.99 COASTMONTHLY.COM 645485005999 GIVE IT A SPIN BENEFITS OF INDOOR CYCLING TOUTING TROUT IN PURSUIT OF TROPHY SPECKS PALM PARADISE TROPICAL GARDEN A STUDY OF BEAUTY AND SURVIVAL55 Adler Circle Westwood 16715 Cabeza De Vaca Jamaica Beach 3927 Curlew Drive Sunset Cove 23130 Buena Street Terramar (281) 794-9463 Kelly@KellyKelley.com www.KellyKelley.com Galveston is my Home. Galveston is my Business. Kelly Kelley Broker Associate Re/Max Leading Edge Featured Listing 12714 Maria Court | Spanish Grant 3801 Las Palmas Street Palm Beach 3819 Conch Beachside Village 7109 Broadway Street Palm Cove 4303 S. Sunset Bay Drive Sunset Cove 16534 Henry Morgan Jamaica Beach COASTMONTHLY.COM | FebruArY 2024 3 1510 Marina Bay Dr., Bldg 124, Clear Lake Shores, Texas 77565 281.334.00064 COASTMONTHLY.COM | FebruArY 2024 FebruArY 2024 | VOLuMe 17 | ISSue 2 7626 42 FEATURES 14 ‘MARDI GRAS MAXIMALISTS’ Muffulettas, mimosas and merriment rule at this island family’s popular party 20 MEET GABY ZATARAIN From parades and parties to the best bites, our cover model shares her Mardi Gras picks 26 TUTU MUCH FUN All-women Mardi Gras krewe offers members an empowering sisterhood 42 ROYAL TREATMENT Whether it’s frosting or flavor, bakers put their own twists on king cake 70 HAVE A HEART The hoya is a perfect Valentine’s Day gift for plant lovers 76 GIVE IT A SPIN Indoor cycling classes can scorch calories, improve cardio 32 MOSAIC MAGIC Creative couple recycles Mardi Gras beads into colorful works of art 36 ‘QUITE A SPECTACLE’ These revelers keep the good times rolling down island streets 40 LONG LIVE THE KING CAKE! This colorful confection reigns at Mardi Gras gatherings around the upper coast“My exceptional Galveston team is marketing premier properties from the beaches to the bay — from historic treasures to high-rise condos!” NOTHING COMPARES to WHAT’S NEXT. THE DUNES OF WEST BEACH | 19323 Shores Drive 4+ BR | 4.5 BA | +/- 3,070 SF Last list price $1.7+M EVIA, THE PRESERVE AT GRAND BEACH, LAFFITE’S COVE Stellar new construction. Mesmerizing lake, golf course and West Bay vista sites. Gourmet island kitchens. Grand downstairs primary suites. Colossal screened porches. 1, 2 and 3 story plans. Priced from the $650’s Proudly marketing for over 15 years! SOLD SOLDSOLD SOLDSOLD 745SHIRAZPASSAGEGALVESTON.COM BEACHTOWN | 745 Shiraz Passage Beachside villa. Outstanding ocean and harbor vistas. Exceptional chef’s kitchen. Impressive primary suite offers private veranda. Short term rental income potential. 3 BR | 2.5+ BA | +/- 2,350 SF Last list price $999,880 MLS 39598390 INDIAN BEACH | 18407 East De Vaca Lane 4-5 BR | 4.5 BA | +/- 4,700 SF Last list price $2.6+M OFFATS BAY | 6802 Driftwood Lane 4-5 BR | 3.5+ BA | +/- 5,331 sF Last list price $1.9+M EVIA | 8 Broad Street 4 BR | 2.5 BA | +/- 2,136 SF | MLS 60450536 Last list price $750,000 by Jenny Overstreet LAFFITE’S COVE | 3523 Cove Lane 6 BR | 6.5+ BA | +/- 5,406 SF Last list price $3.2+M Contact me with all your Real Estate needs. Jim Rosenfeld BROKER ASSOCIATE MTSIR Circle of Excellence Award Winner MTSIR Hall of Fame Member Texas Monthly Magazine Five Star Realtor 2012-2024 Galveston Historic Home Tour Major Underwriter 2011-2023 HomeLight Top 1% Producer 2018 Houstonia Magazine Best Of Houston Realtor 2016 Trulia and Zillow Five Star Rating 713.854.1303 Jim.Rosenfeld@sir.com At Sotheby’s International Realty, our incomparable global partnerships lead to maximum visibility for your treasured property. We partner with premier media powerhouses to introduce your home to local, national and international markets. High quality, richly illustrated and engaging content is delivered across numerous platforms to discerning and sophisticated audiences worldwide. Nothing compares. DOWNTOWN HISTORIC DIST. | 2208 Post Office, #403 3 BR | 2.5+ BA | +/- 1,993 SF | MLS 27393793 Offered at $785,000 by Debbie Ashley SOLD SOLD6 COASTMONTHLY.COM | FebruArY 2024 72 ON THE COVER Galvestonian Gaby Zatarain, owner of jewelry and accessories company Gaby & Grace, at The Bryan Museum’s La Sirena Cantina. Read more about Zatarain on Page 20. Hair and makeup by Olga Manor of Makeup by Olga. Photo by Jennifer Reynolds DEPARTMENTS 46 DOWN THE HATCH This classic Mardi Gras cocktail is simple but potent 48 DOWN HOME Galveston Chef Leila Ortiz knows the secret ingredients of a really good meal 50 TASTE OF TEXAS birria is having a moment on the upper Texas coast 52 GAME ON These pan-seared breasts will change your mind about waterfowl 54 DESSERT ISLAND These cheesecake bars are high on style but low on maintenance 56 COUNTER CULTURE Island couple loves to cook and entertain in midtown kitchen 60 HOMEPORT Islanders pay homage to a man who forever changed the dairy industry 66 GARDEN VARIETY Islander’s tropical garden is a study of beauty and survival 72 HOOKED Winter is the best time to pursue trophy-sized specks 80 PARTY PICS Find out who made the local party scene 88 SAVE THE DATE Area events to keep your calendar booked 96 SHUTTERBUGS readers share their coastal photos 48 66 The article “Steeped in History” in the January issue should have said Amanda Vermillion is a certified International Tea Masters Association tea master and owner of the Tea Mistress LLC. Vermillion can be reached at theteamistress.com. CORRECTION 568 COASTMONTHLY.COM | FebruArY 2024 YOUR FRESH FISH HEADQUARTERS 21706 Burnet • Galveston (409) 497-4152 • Reservations Accepted Saturday & Sunday 10am-1pm Join us for BRUNCH © Copyright: Coast Monthly is published by The Daily News. No portion may be reproduced in whole or in part by any means, including electronic retrieval systems, without written permission of the publisher. editorial content does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher of this magazine. editorial and advertising does not constitute advice but is considered informative. WEBSITE & SOCIAL MEDIA coastmonthly.com EDITOR Laura elder PUBLISHER Leonard Woolsey CREATIVE DIRECTOR/ DESIGN EDITOR Melissa rivera PHOTOGRAPHER Jennifer reynolds CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Leslie Plaza Johnson Carla Peoples Joey Quiroga Capt. Nate Skinner CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Katherine Adams Shannon Caldwell barbara Canetti Christina Mattison ebert Phil Newton Laura Pennino Capt. Nate Skinner CHIEF REVENUE DIRECTOR Michelle robinson ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Maureen beans Catherine boudoin Jana Knoell John Nagy Kristi Quigley Donna rhoades MAILING ADDRESS P.O. box 1838 Texas City, TX 77592 EDITORIAL 409.683.5248 ADVERTISING INQUIRIES 409.683.5202 STORY IDEAS editor@coastmonthly.com LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Send letters to editor@coast monthly.com. be sure to include your full name, city, state and phone number. Coast Monthly reserves the right to edit letters for clarity and length. SUBSCRIPTIONS 409.683.5201Galveston College 4015 Avenue Q, Galveston, TX 77550 GC.EDU 409-944-GCGC SCAN FOR MORE INFORMATION UNIVERSAL ACCESS SCHOLARSHIP FOR ISLAND GRADS It is the policy of Galveston College to provide equal opportunities without regard to age, race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, genetic information or veteran status. Eligible local high school graduates – who received a diploma recently or over a decade ago - and attend Galveston College can receive Universal Access assistance for tuition and fees. Universal Access Scholarships ensure every eligible high school graduate, or equivalent in the Galveston College taxing district, has the opportunity to attend college. For more information about UA scholarships, contact the GC Financial Aid office at 409-944- 1235, finaid@gc.edu or scan the QR code below.Next >