S5 E72 The Fire Behind Apocalypse Miami: Smoke, Setbacks, and Success

From Cancer Survivor to Pitmaster: The Story Behind Apocalypse Barbecue Miami may be known for cafecito and croquetas, but in this episode we’re talking about another side of the city’s food story: barbecue. In this episode, I sit down with Jeff Budnechky, the brawn behind Apocalypse BBQ,  to discuss: This episode is about much more than smoked meat. If love […]

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You Are Invited: From Roots to Rise DINNER

A Celebration of Florida’s Culinary Lineage An intimate, one-night-only dinner, celebrating the depth of Florida’s culinary roots and the vision shaping its future. To see a chef redefining Florida dining today, cooking alongside the pioneer who helped establish its culinary identity, is exceptionally rare. This exclusive one-of-a-kind evening brings together Chef Norman Van Aken, multiple-time James […]

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North America’s 50 Best Restaurants 2026 Announces New Orleans Ceremony After Las Vegas Debut

Hold onto your crawfish boils, because North America’s tastiest party on the planet is about to hit the Big Easy! After a debut that lit up the glitter of Las Vegas like a neon jambalaya bowl, North America’s 50 Best Restaurants is back for round two. This time, they’re bringing the heat Southern-style. Last year’s inaugural ceremony at […]

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COURANT MIAMI MAGAZINE: Into the Woods

“It usually starts in an elegant dining room. A server leans in and whispers: Fresh Alba truffles have arrived.” But what is a truffle, really? Why is it so in demand… and so expensive? For Courant Miami Magazine’s latest issue, I traveled to Piedmont to trace one of Italy’s most elusive ingredients from forest to […]

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MICHELIN Guide Florida 2026 Will Be Revealed Digitally on April 14th: No Ceremony, Statewide Expansion Confirmed

UPDATE (March 18th) According to the MICHELIN Guide, “the announcement, originally scheduled for April 14, will now be issued on Thursday, May 28 (still) via official press release and on the MICHELIN Guide channels.  As previously shared, this year marks the first time the Florida selection will expand to cover the entire state. On this date, chefs will […]

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The World’s 50 Best Restaurants Awards Heads to Abu Dhabi for the First Time

The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2026 awards, sponsored by S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna, will take place in November 2026, marking a new chapter for one of the most influential platforms in global gastronomy. Set against Abu Dhabi’s rapidly evolving dining scene, the week-long program will culminate in the highly anticipated awards ceremony, revealing the 2026 ranking. Supported […]

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Wayan’s Wynwood Residency

Attending a small industry preview dinner by Cross Cultures made one thing immediately clear: it’s not just another opening, and it’s not trying to be. This restaurant stands out by offering something genuinely different for the neighborhood and for Miami as a whole. Wayan, from chef Cédric Vongerichten and partner Ochi Vongerichten, is now open in Wynwood for […]

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S5 E71 Chef Jonathan Kaiser on Calusso, Pier Sixty-Six, and Raising the Bar in Fort Lauderdale

I am taking it to the 954, where “Michelin-level dining” used to feel like a Miami-only sport. Not anymore. In this episode, I’m joined by Chef Jonathan Kaiser, a South Florida native quietly helping rewrite Fort Lauderdale’s dining reputation from the inside out. We talk about his path from early kitchen curiosity to big-league fine dining, including […]

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12 Seats. One Night.

Priority access for subscribers only

Hello friends,

This invitation is going to my The Whet Palette VIP subscribers.

Before tickets are released publicly, I wanted you to be the first to know about an intimate, one-night-only dinner I’m hosting on March 11:

DINNER: From Roots to Rise: A Celebration of Florida’s Culinary Lineage

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Meet Chef Wei Chen: A New Voice in Miami’s Omakase Conversation

“Cooking is a way of life. There’s no glitz and glamour. It’s long hours and thousands of repetitions, and constant refinement. It’s a lifelong commitment to learning and mastery. “ Chef Wei Chen

Stepping inside The Bath Club felt like stepping into old Miami glamour: less like entering a restaurant and more like being let in on a well-kept secret.

The intimate omakase counter revealed itself quietly within the darkly lit venue. And it’s quite the stunner. The room hums with a sultry, vintage energy. Sinatra-era tunes drift through the space. They set a mood that was unmistakably sexy and indulgent. It made me slow down and wish the night would linger a little longer.

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