♪ ♪ KATE SULLIVAN: She is the queen of Latin pop, a singer, song writer, and seven-time Grammy award winner, who has sold more than a hundred million records.

GLORIA ESTEFAN: Every word that I've put into a song, I think about the listener and how they're going to feel.

KATE: Gloria Estefan is a proud Cuban American, who has become one of the most famous names in Latin music history.

KATE: Gloria how are you?

And today, she is taking me to her favorite restaurant to share her incredible journey to stardom and her love for Cuban cuisine and culture.

KATE: Ooh hoo hoo.

Wow!

GLORIA: Oh yes.

KATE: She's experienced the highest of highs and fought through the lowest of lows.

And now, she's on a new path to focus on what matters most to her.

GLORIA: If you can leave love in people's hearts, then I can't imagine a better thing.

♪ KATE: What's better in life than a bottle of wine, great food and an amazing conversation?

My name is Kate Sullivan and I am the host of To Dine For .

I'm a journalist, a foodie, a traveler, with an appetite for the stories of people who are hungry for more.

Dreamers.

Visionaries.

Artists.

Those who hustle hard in the direction they love.

I travel with them to their favorite restaurant, to hear how they did it.

This show is a toast to them and their American dream.

KATE: To Dine For with Kate Sullivan is made possible by... ♪ ANNOUNCER: There are people in your life who count on you for what matters most.

American National agents are close to home and committed to our communities.

They'll help you find the right coverage for you, your family, even your farm and business.

You can learn more at americannational.com.

KATE SULLIVAN: Today, I'm at Vero Beach, Florida on my way into a restaurant known for delicious Cuban cuisine.

I'm meeting a living legend and one of the most famous names in Latin pop music.

KATE: Gloria, how are you?

GLORIA ESTEFAN: It is such a pleasure to have you here!

KATE: It is so wonderful to meet you!

Thank you so much for doing this.

GLORIA: I'm happy that we were able to finally get this to happen.

KATE: Oh, I know!

I agree.

GLORIA: Welcome!

KATE: If you haven't been to the Hamptons of Florida, let me introduce you to Vero Beach.

This small city of less than twenty thousand is located on the Atlantic coast of Florida about halfway up the state.

Locals love it because it's out of the spotlight of Palm Beach and Miami.

The ultimate luxurious spot to hide out.

It is the place for water sports, fishing, and golf.

The beaches are beautiful.

The upmarket boutiques and spas are first class.

Vero Beach isn't just home to Gloria Estefan, it's also where she and her husband, Emilio, opened their latest restaurant: The Wave Kitchen & Bar.

CHEF ARMANDO GALEA: Well, it's a little bit of taste of Latin culture, and at the same time, we try to cater what we have to offer, which is: food, ocean, sea food, local ingredients.

KATE: The Wave features new American food with a Cuban twist.

There are classic dishes, like filet mignon and pork tenderloin, and then there are dishes that bring in the Cuban culture, like Pollo Asado and Ropa Vieja.

CHEF GALEA: Well it's very simple in a way that is uh, not too many ingredients.

That's what I love about it.

You know, to have the sofrito, which is your onions, and your peppers, and your garlic, and olive oil.

And then comes just a few spices you know the cumin, your oregano, your salt, little bit of pepper.

And you have Cuban.

KATE: The restaurant is designed to make you feel like you are at an intimate dinner party with one heck of a view.

CHEF GALEA: The Latin culture is known for being very...

I don't want to say loud, but maybe a little bit- but very happy, very happening.

So we want to express that through our food and through the location, the ocean.

KATE: Cuban culture and food is near and dear to Gloria's heart, which is why I'm excited to dine on her favorites and find out more about her illustrious career.

You literally could have chosen any restaurant as one of your favorites.

Tell me why you chose this spot?

GLORIA ESTEFAN: I chose this spot because first of all it's on what I call my favorite place on earth.

So we found this house, ten miles north of here, and I fell in love so much with the place that I wanted to be a part of the business community here, make an investment.

KATE: Let's start with the food here.

What are we eating?

Is this the ceviche?

GLORIA: Ok.

Yes.

This is ceviche.

KATE: I love ceviche!

GLORIA: Ceviche will be traditionally a Cuban dish, and it isn't just a Cuban restaurant although we do have our Cuban specialties because there's nowhere in town where you can find it.

KATE: I never had ceviche on this show before, and it's one of my favorite things to eat.

GLORIA: You're kidding me!

KATE: So I am so excited!

KATE: I'm not kidding.

Ceviche is one of my favorites, and it turns out it's also one of Emilio Estefan's favorites too, which is why it's on today's menu.

Local corvina is tossed in lime juice, cilantro, red onion, jalapeno, and peppers.

The freshness of the fish paired with a crispy plantain.

The perfect combination.

Food is especially important to you.

GLORIA: It is very much.

KATE: Tell me a little bit about the roots of that because you- you have family on both sides who were in the food business.

GLORIA: Yes.

My grandmother, who raised me pretty much because my mom was working in Cuba and then she kind of took over.

I was her favorite.

I was her first.

When she got to the United States at fifty-seven years old, didn't speak English, she rented a house that abutted a public park, and there was a bunch of Cuban families, men with their sons at little league, and she went and realized there were no concessions.

And headed over there with tamales, croquettes, the pulled pork Cuban style lechon sandwiches, and she sold everything out within thirty minutes.

She did that for 2-3 weeks, and then she said, "look my house is literally a couple of steps away, why don't you bring your boys?"

Eventually, she rented a pitching machine for the kids.

She created a business in her home that was... grossing five grand a week.

KATE: Wow!

GLORIA: ...in 1968.

KATE: What a businesswoman.

What an entrepreneur.

GLORIA: She was brilliant, brilliant and of course I was in the kitchen helping her every step of the way.

And then she would have me perform with my guitar.

She goes "sing me a song."

KATE: We need music... Gloria, where are you?

GLORIA: And since she had people that would come that were in the music industry, she would have me sing for them, and I go "Grandma you know I don't like to be the center of attention.

This isn't going to happen.

I'm going to study psychology."

And she goes "I hope you realize that you have a gift, and if you don't share it, you're not going to be happy."

KATE: This was your grandmother?

She knew?

GLORIA: She did.

And she goes "I hope you realize when it lands in your lap, because it will, that this is what you have to do."

And that's exactly what happened.

KATE: It really surprised me that you just said that being the center of attention is not what you wanted.

GLORIA: I know, right?

KATE: Is that true?

GLORIA: Yes!

KATE: You hate to be the center of attention?

GLORIA: I don't like it.

I mean it's not part of my nature.

At this point, I'm used to it.

My mom was the diva of the family.

I think she also felt that I wouldn't do a good job at it because even though she loved how I sang and would make me sing for all of her friends.

KATE: Yes.

GLORIA: I think she feared for me in that world because she thought that I wasn't going to be able to you know... to do it.

DREW: May I serve one for you?

KATE: That would be wonderful.

Please, what are we eating?

Waiter: These are the ropa cups.

KATE: Ropa cups are yet another menu item that goes right back to Gloria's connection to Cuba.

In this delicious appetizer, a plantain green is hollowed out and smashed down into a cup form.

The cup is filled with Ropa Vieja, a combination of shredded beef, peppers, onions, tomatoes, and spices.

It's baked and topped with cheese.

KATE: This is a taste of- of really how you grew up, your family, your culture, and really what you love the most.

Isn't it true that there is a direct parallel between music and hospitality in that you in a way are creating a show and you're creating an experience and you're transporting people?

GLORIA: Absolutely.

And people's most memorable experiences in life are usually around food and family.

KATE: And music.

GLORIA: Yes!

And music, especially for Latinos.

I mean there's no party in a Latino household where there isn't music, and somebody is going to dance whether it's in the kitchen with my dogs or... but we will dance everywhere.

So for us it's very important to make that a wonderful experience and make sure that people feel like they're being pampered... KATE: Yes and cared for.

GLORIA: Exactly.

KATE: I thought it was really interesting that you were originally going to become a lawyer, and you were studying international studies.

And that your goal really had- your future goals had nothing to do with music.

GLORIA: I'm an immigrant.

You need a job.

And music always been a very risky business, so when we came here, my original idea was psychology.

I graduated with double majors in psychology and communications and got accepted to the clinical psychology of school, only twelve chairs at the UM.

But at that point, I had joined the band for fun.

At that point, I had fallen in love with Emilio.

KATE: You could say Gloria's husband, Emilio Estefan, is also in the family business.

He's an entrepreneur, a bestselling author, and a legendary music producer with nineteen Grammys on his shelf.

This power couple met back in 1975, married in 1978, and have built quite the musical legacy and life together.

It all started when Emilio asked Gloria to be in his band.

KATE: Take me back to the very beginning of the Miami Sound Machine.

How did that come to be?

GLORIA: You know what.

Like my grandma said, it fell in my lap.

I went to an all-girl catholic high school, so we had two brother schools: Belling and Columbus.

And there was a boy in one of the brother schools that was a friend and that when we would get together at somebody's house, we played guitar.

He called me right when I was about to graduate, and he said "look, I'm doing this one-night thing.

I'm putting a band together."

I go "alright, why not?"

He goes "come to my house, we are going to rehearse."

Sitting on the floor next to my friend, he was playing the keyboard, we're running through some numbers, and there is a knock at the door.

And I look.

And when they open the door, all I see is legs and an accordion, and I'm going [no sound] and this guy walks in and he looks naked because he was wearing really short shorts.

KATE: He just had an accordion with no pants on.

GLORIA: Well exactly because you couldn't see the shorts, so he comes in.

He did his thing.

You know, he had us sing for him.

He played his accordion, so I was watching his hands and his legs, which were great legs.

KATE: Was this Emilio?

GLORIA: Yes.

[laughs] So he leaves, and that was it.

We did our gig that one night.

And I got two jobs and going to school.

KATE: And you're on a path going this way.

GLORIA: Exactly.

I go "I...I can't work this day and night.

I don't want to take time away from you, but thank you.

You know, it's really impressive that you would-" oh, this is good stuff.

KATE: Oooh hoo hoo.

Wow!

Paella is traditionally a Spanish dish, but the Wave's paella takes it to a whole new level with a Cuban twist.

The chef uses Sazón in the sauce, a spice that's popular in Cuban cooking.

The scallops, shrimp, chicken, Spanish chorizo, and rice are all simmered together in a seafood broth.

Finished on top of the stove, not in the oven.

DREW: May I serve you?

KATE: Please Drew.

Thank you.

GLORIA: Two weeks later, the phone rings that my sister picks up, and she starts jumping all over... "it's a boy.

That boy's calling you."

Like making fun.

You know, like sisters do.

KATE: Yes.

GLORIA: I go "that boy.

What boy?"

He goes "why don't you come out to rehearsal?

Let's try it out.

I think you-" and now at this point, I'm going like- my heart was beating... and I'm going "oh my gosh."

And I go "Ok." He goes "come on Tuesday, we're going to rehearse."

KATE: When you start to really get going and start to develop a fan base and start to get more successful, what was that experience like and what did it teach you?

Those early years of fame.

GLORIA: Well the early years for me were brutal because I was literally learning how to be a front man.

It was a baptism of fire for me.

KATE: Was it?

GLORIA: I loved, absolutely loved the rehearsals because I could get in there and do the arrangements with everybody and I had all these ideas.

And I remember one specific gig that we were going to play in, somewhere in Central America.

It's a big fashion show, and you know how fashion shows there's no stage- KATE: Right.

GLORIA: Then there was this long fifty-foot walk.

KATE: Catwalk.

GLORIA: You know, the catwalk.

And then a circle in the front, so there was no room for me, physically.

The band had to be really in the back, and I had to be... all the way over there in the center of the room all alone with my band mates back there.

But then, like I do, I throw myself into it because I like to do things well.

And if I'm going do something, then I go "ok you know what... let it be what it is."

KATE: Hmm.

GLORIA: And I started just really connecting with the people around that were right there.

Literally, the stage was slightly larger than this.

KATE: Yes.

GLORIA: And everybody was all around.

KATE: Yes.

And what do you think in that moment that experience taught you that got you over your fear really of being the center of attention and allowed you to feel comfortable with it?

GLORIA: I mean it didn't just happen in one fell swoop.

I had a good ten years before we hit it big, worldwide.

What it taught me was that the only thing that I needed to do, was relax and be myself... and connect with the people that were in the audience.

Really connect and let them see what music made me feel... how... how happy it made me and that it was going to be infectious.

And we came off that my knees were knocking.

I remember two times in my life when my knees were knocking.

That was one of them, and the second time was on the American Music Awards after my accident when I got back on that stage.

KATE: In 1990, Gloria was resting on her tour bus when an eighteen-wheeler collided with the bus, tossing her onto the floor.

Gloria broke her back in the crash and was unable to walk.

The accident left her with two titanium rods inserted into her back and the fear of what would happen next.

KATE: Was there a moment, specifically on stage, that you will remember for the rest of your life, of all your performances was there a- GLORIA: Absolutely.

KATE: Can you share it?

GLORIA: March 1st of 1991, when I stepped back on stage after I broke my back in 1990 and was paralyzed and... but that show in Miami.

The energy in that room is indescribable.

The euphoria that I felt is otherworldly.

KATE: Really?

GLORIA: In that show, we were all wearing fencing masks, and I purposefully did a very complex routine.

And we were all, the dancers and me.

Nobody knew it was me in there.

They thought "oh, here is the opening of the show."

And then right when we do all of this stuff, they picked me up, and when I pulled off that fencing mask.

That place went ballistic because they thought "Is she coming out in a wheelchair?

Is she going to sit for the whole show?

Is she going to stand there and not..." and I wanted them to relax even though it took me another two years to really be... KATE: A hundred percent.

GLORIA: Yeah... as hundred I was going to be, with the hardware and everything.

KATE: What do you think that experience gave you?

Which is a hard question when it took so much from you.

GLORIA: I tell people.

I go "I wouldn't want to go through it again, but I wouldn't change it."

KATE: Mm.

GLORIA: It showed me a discipline that I never knew, I could have.

Patience that I never knew I could be capable of.

Determination and the power of prayer because I grew up in Catholic school, and I always- you know, you pray "the Our Father."

I couldn't understand until I was the recipient of people's prayers from all over the world.

It was... it was a physical energy that I felt like I was plugged into a wall socket.

KATE: You could feel it throughout your recovery?

GLORIA: I could feel it from the moment I had that accident.

It was the collective focus of good because everybody was only wishing me well and that is so powerful.

KATE: Yeah, I can't imagine.

GLORIA: It was incredible.

That I'll never forget it.

For the rest of my life, it's... it's something that I will always use and focus on, and I share as much as I can.

KATE: Gloria has shared so much of herself with the world through her music.

She's churned out thirty-eight number one hits on the billboard charts.

She's sold more than one hundred million records, authored two New York Times best sellers, and a smash Broadway musical, On Your Feet was based on her life.

But arenas and music venues are just part of it for Gloria.

I was just amazed at the variety of experiences.

The businesses that you've had.

I mean you now started on the Red Table, interviewing in a completely different arena.

GLORIA: The funny thing about Red Table Talk is that it's given me the opportunity to kind of do my psychology thing- KATE: Yes.

It is, full circle moment.

GLORIA: I've been offered a lot of talk shows through the years, but none of them fit what I wanted to do with Red Table Talk, which is really have in-depth conversations, unscripted and unrehearsed.

KATE: The Red Table Talk is an intimate talk show.

A chance for Gloria Estefan, and her daughter Emily, and niece, Lily to delve into subjects that people don't talk about, especially in the Latin community.

It is here that Gloria revealed she was sexually abused as a child, and it is here that her daughter shares her story of coming out.

You revealed the story of your daughter coming out.

GLORIA: Yes.

KATE: You revealed sexual abuse that you experienced as a child.

GLORIA: Yes.

I did.

KATE: And- and what was the impact when you read all of the comments and when you saw the impact of really just sharing your truth and just what that can do for people?

GLORIA: That was the point for me and the only reason that I didn't do it before was because my mom was alive.

Because whenever I would try to talk to her about what happened, she would get very upset and then physically ill.

So I didn't go there, knowing that I wanted to and one day I would share this- KATE: Right GLORIA: -when the right moment arose.

Nobody knew, not even the producers.

KATE: Really?

GLORIA: -that I was going to say what I said.

I didn't even know until that moment.

I had...

I talked it over with Emily and Lilly and they had said "we can't tell you what to do.

It has to be your decision."

KATE: And-and was it cathartic or did you feel exposed and vulnerable?

GLORIA: Well of course you feel exposed and vulnerable.

That's what happens when you share something like this.

But I was sure that I wanted to do it for that reason.

And from that happening, I've already been a part of a webinar, and there is actually a big study going on that abuse in children is at a pandemic level.

So I'm getting much more involved and I have time also.

I wanted to dedicate my- my later years in life to the things that really matter.

To the things that can be helpful to other people and their lives, which is the point of doing Red Table.

I've done that through music.

I've tried anyway.

It's a big responsibility and privilege to have people's ears- KATE: It- it is a privilege, and it also the impact you can make is really great, but it does take courage and it takes you kind of digging deep and saying, "Am I ready to share this with the world?"

GLORIA: Yeah.

KATE: And you obviously... something you thought about for quite some time.

GLORIA: Oh, absolutely.

But it was something that I knew that one day I needed to share because I got so many messages from young girls and boys, fans of mine that have DM'd me.

Oh my gosh, I can't believe it, and then they pour out their hearts and souls to me.

KATE: So when you think about feeling vulnerable and feeling exposed that pales in comparison to the fact that you could truly change someone's life.

GLORIA: Absolutely...absolutely because you know what there's a saying in Spanish that says "of cowards, nothing has been written."

KATE: Mmm.

GLORIA: So the things that are the most difficult to do are the ones that are going to have the most impact and hopefully make someone feel less alone even if it's just that.

Like and see that I've had a successful life, I've had my family, I've had my career, and nothing could stop me.

KATE: Do you think that when you really got famous... do you think that affected your creativity?

Some people say that, you know, at the beginning you have nothing to lose, so you write the poem you want to write.

But when you have a lot of notoriety and people really know you, then creativity sometimes becomes harder.

What was it like for you?

GLORIA: It was the opposite because... KATE: It was the opposite?

GLORIA: It was the opposite because I had a platform and what music- music did for me that got me through, other people's music, got me through some of the toughest moments of my life.

I now knew that there were people listening, so every word that I put into a song, I think about the listener and how they're going to feel.

KATE: At some point you realized it wasn't about you.

It was about the audience.

GLORIA: Maybe because, like, my number one persona is motherhood.

KATE: Yeah.

GLORIA: This is what I wanted to do since I was a baby, and I had my son the day after I turned twenty three.

He was very planned.

And in a way, I'm very maternal towards everyone, towards my fans, towards my mom, towards everyone in my sphere, and with my fans.

You know, at the beginning they fall in love with you, but as time has gone, our relationship with my, with my fans has deepened.

And they reach out to me, and I write them back.

You know, there's fans that I've known since they were eleven.

They now have kids that they indoctrinated all my music.

[laughing] It's like...

It's also a business thing, like keep it going.

KATE: Through the generations.

GLORIA: Exactly.

KATE: When you look back, what would you tell your 23 year old, 25 year old self um, that you now know that you didn't know?

GLORIA: Oh my gosh.

I would say nothing is as important as it seems to you at this moment.

KATE: Ain't that the truth.

GLORIA: And be in the moment because I got through a lot of the moments, and I didn't focus.

And I don't remember a lot of things, because they were so daunting and they came so quick at me- KATE: Yes.

GLORIA: -that I had to get through them.

Get on the other side of them.

KATE: You mentioned that you're very intentional about almost every aspect of your life.

What would you like your legacy to be?

GLORIA: You know what, I wrote a song called Remember Me with Love and that is about all we can hope.

I hope to have contributed to kindness, to... music, to culture, to elevating the place that I came from, Cuba.

So that love, leave love behind.

If you can leave love in people's hearts, then I can't imagine a better thing.

KATE: This has been such an amazing conversation.

Thank you for your transparency, your energy, and your love.

GLORIA: Thank you so much.

KATE: Really, I feel it.

GLORIA: And thank you.

And the food!

KATE: And the food!

GLORIA: Yay, hello.

What an amazing afternoon with Gloria Estefan.

It is incredible to look back on all that this tremendously talented woman has accomplished from her singing career to her business ventures, to her new talk show.

She doesn't stop.

Her hard work and her commitment to excellence is what stands out.

But what I'll remember most from our lunch is her open heart, and her desire to connect with her audience and say something and sing something that matters to her and to you.

To leave you feeling something you will remember forever.

♪ ♪ KATE: If you would like to know more about the guests, the restaurants, and the inspiring stories of success, please visit todinefortv.com or follow us on Facebook and Instagram at To Dine For TV.

We also have a podcast, To Dine For the podcast is available on Apple podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts.

To Dine For with Kate Sullivan is made possible by... ANNOUNCER: There are people in your life who count on you for what matters most.

American National agents are close to home and committed to our communities.

They'll help you find the right coverage for you, your family, even your farm and business.

You can learn more at americannational.com.

♪