Miami knows Chef Katherine Mederos through the lens of Kojin.

The pastry chef. The co-founder. The calm-ish presence behind the pass while Chef Pedro Mederos commands the room. The woman helping shape one of Miami’s most exciting and deeply personal dining experiences.

But in this newest episode, listeners finally get a much deeper look at the person behind the restaurant.

The result It is one of the most human (and favorite) conversations we have had yet.

In this episode, she opens up about everything from culinary school and long-distance love stories… to motherhood, sustainability, burnout, Michelin Guide recognition, and what it actually takes to build an independent restaurant in Miami right now.

The conversation traces the evolution of Kojin from its early pop-up days operating out of a tiny space with no true kitchen, all the way to its current Coral Gables home and Michelin Guide Recommended status. But beyond the accolades, this episode dives into the emotional reality behind hospitality life.

Listeners will hear Katherine speak candidly about balancing restaurant ownership with raising a young son, the pressure of expectations after Michelin recognition, and the constant tension between creativity and survival in today’s dining landscape.

There is also an incredibly fascinating look into the sustainability initiatives quietly becoming part of Kojin’s DNA. Composting systems. Local farm projects. Zero-waste concepts. Retail products developed from excess ingredients. Even turning used cooking oil into soap.

And somehow, amid all of that, there is still room for laughter, stories about culinary school chaos, Florida “fall,” family dynamics, and the now-infamous Taco Bell memory that longtime listeners may recognize from Chef Pedro Mederos’ previous appearance on the podcast.

This episode feels less like an interview and more like sitting inside the living room Katherine describes when talking about Kojin itself: warm, honest, personal, slightly chaotic, deeply intentional, and unmistakably Miami.

LISTEN HERE or find it on your favorite Podcast platform

• Apple
• Spotify
• iHeartradio
• Amazon Music
• Audible

WATCH HERE

From my palette to yours, 

Cheers! 

Brenda