For more than thirteen years, The Whet Palette has taken readers and listeners inside South Florida’s dining scene through restaurant stories, chef interviews, industry coverage, and more meals than I could ever begin to count.

Now, you can join me at the table.

My Airbnb Experiences turn two of Miami’s acclaimed Michelin-starred restaurants into something more personal than a traditional dinner reservation. These are intimate, fully hosted communal evenings at Ariete in Coconut Grove and Le Jardinier in the Miami Design District, created for travelers and locals who want to experience fine dining with context, connection, and a few special touches along the way.

I select the menu with each restaurant, host the evening, introduce the stories behind the food, and help guests understand the people, influences, and details shaping the experience. You will enjoy exceptional food, but you will also leave knowing more about the restaurant and Miami’s evolving culinary identity.

Think of it as dining with a very food-obsessed local friend who has spent more than a decade getting to know the city’s chefs, restaurants, and hospitality community.

Why I Created These Dinners

People often ask me where they should dine in Miami. But choosing a restaurant is only the beginning.

I wanted to create an experience that allowed guests to go deeper. What inspired the chef? What does a particular dish say about Miami? How does a restaurant earn and maintain recognition at this level? What should someone notice beyond what is written on the menu? Those are the conversations we have over dinner.

There is no lecture and certainly no test at the end. Phew! This is meant to be an engaging, relaxed, and fun communal experience. I share what I know, answer questions, tell a few stories, and let the evening unfold naturally around the table. The result is part dinner, part culinary discovery, and part Miami introduction.

Who Are These Experiences For?

You do not need to be a food expert, understand wine, or have dined at a MICHELIN-recognized restaurant before. Curiosity is enough.

These dinners are especially well suited for:

• Travelers who want to experience Miami beyond the usual recommendations
• Locals interested in rediscovering their own city
• Solo diners who would rather join a hosted table than dine alone
• Couples and groups celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, or other milestones
• Food lovers interested in Miami’s restaurant culture
• First-time fine-dining guests who want the experience to feel welcoming rather than intimidating

They are also for seasoned diners who already love this world and want someone at the table who will happily talk about food, restaurants, wine, and hospitality all evening. In other words, I have found my people.

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Dine With a Food Writer at Ariete

Ariete is one of the restaurants that best expresses what Miami dining can be.

Located in Coconut Grove, the one-MICHELIN-starred restaurant explores Chef Michael Beltran’s Cuban-American identity through technique, memory, and a distinctly Miami point of view. The food is personal, ambitious, and grounded in a culture that is deeply familiar to me as a Cuban-born Miami food writer.

The Airbnb Experience begins with a welcome drink and an introduction to Ariete and Coconut Grove. From there, guests enjoy a four-course dinner featuring the restaurant’s elevated Cuban-American cuisine, accompanied by the stories and context that bring each part of the experience to life.

Depending on the evening and the rhythms of the restaurant, guests may also have an opportunity to meet the chefs and glimpse what happens behind the scenes. We end with dessert, a take-home keepsake, and, if history is any indication, a much longer list of Miami restaurants everyone suddenly wants to visit.

The experience lasts approximately two hours and may be hosted in English or Spanish. Available for 2 to 30 guests.

View available dates and book the Ariete experience through Airbnb

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Fine Dining and Wine Pairings at Le Jardinier

At Le Jardinier, the experience moves to the Miami Design District for a polished evening of modern French cuisine, beautiful seasonal ingredients, and thoughtfully selected wines. We begin at the bar with a welcome cocktail before settling in for a three-course dinner with wine pairings, followed by dessert. Throughout the evening, I share insights into the restaurant, the menu, the wines, and Miami’s larger dining landscape.

Le Jardinier offers a different expression of fine dining from Ariete. Its atmosphere is elegant and contemporary. The cuisine is produce-forward, and its location places guests at the center of one of Miami’s most internationally recognized neighborhoods for art, design, fashion, and food.

The evening may also include a chef interaction or a closer look behind the scenes, depending on the restaurant’s service that night. Guests finish with dessert and a special treat to take home.

The experience lasts approximately ninety minutes and may be hosted in English or Spanish. Available for 2-10 diners.

View available dates and book the Le Jardinier experience through Airbnb.

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What Is Included?

Both experiences are designed to remove the guesswork from booking a special dinner. Your meal, drinks specified in the experience, and keepsake are included in the Airbnb price.

Menus and individual dishes may change based on seasonality, restaurant availability, and the chef’s selections. That flexibility is part of what keeps each evening distinctive. Guests should share dietary restrictions or allergies before booking so I can confirm whether the restaurant can accommodate them.

Come for Dinner. Leave With a Story.

The Whet Palette has always been about more than what is on the plate. It is about the people who create the food, the culture that informs it, the hospitality surrounding it, and the memories we carry away. These Airbnb Experiences bring that philosophy into the dining room.

You can certainly make a reservation at a wonderful restaurant on your own. This is for those who want someone to open the door a little wider, make the introductions, explain the details, and help turn dinner into a story worth retelling.

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Come hungry. Bring your questions. I will meet you at the table.

Availability varies, and advance booking is recommended.

Private dates and celebrations may be considered based on restaurant and host availability. For questions, contact thewhetpalette@gmail.com.