A Heli-Ski Themed Arepa Bar Is Lurking On Coral Way. And It's Healthy.

No one skis like Gaston, sources cheese like Gaston

All photos by Carlos Miller

One of my favorite things about Miami is that everyone has a side hustle. Your stripper does real estate. Your tax accountant has a mixtape. If you only have one job in Miami, go ahead and ink over that 305 face tattoo. One side hustle I hadn’t seen, though, was Arepa maker and professional heli-ski coach.

Until I wandered into Dale Arepa Bar and Healthy Bistro, which if you think about it kind of a side hustle too. Because while everyone loves the cornmeal-and-cheese heaven that is an arepa, nobody’s confusing it with “healthy.” But Gaston Ortiz de Rozas, heli-ski coach extraordinaire, is bringing his sports nutrition background to the arepa world on Coral Way and SW 17th Ave., and it might be my favorite new lunch spot.

How’s he making arepas healthy?

Ok, look, a shredded beef and cheese arepa isn’t going to replace your lunchtime kale salad. But Dale’s arepas – cornmeal shells, if you’re not up on Venezuelan cuisine – are baked, not fried. Ditto for the teq…