The Whet Palette Productions James Beard Awards

by The Whet Palette Productions: Blog & Podcast

S5 E76 Fireproof: A Candid Conversation with Chef Curtis Duffy

Chef Curtis Duffy has spent decades pursuing excellence at the highest levels of American fine dining. In this episode of The Whet Palette Podcast, the acclaimed chef behind two-Michelin-starred Ever discusses the lessons learned from Charlie Trotter, Trio, Alinea, Grace, and the ongoing evolution of one of Chicago’s most celebrated restaurants. We explore the culture of modern kitchens, the pursuit […]

by Brenda Popritkin

An Itinerary of Stars: From Chicago’s James Beard Awards to Turin’s World’s 50 Best Restaurants

In June 2025, I journeyed from Chicago to Northern Italy, celebrating food culture. Starting with the James Beard Awards, enjoying three Michelin-starred dining, and culminating at the World’s 50 Best Ceremony. The experience deeply transformed me. Witnessing culinary excellence further enriched my travels and understanding of gastronomy.

S4 E58 Florida Chef Spotlight: Ryan Ratino of MAASS, Bresca, Jônt and Ômo by Jônt

Chef Ryan Ratino began his culinary journey in Florida while attending Orlando’s Le Cordon Bleu in 2009.

Life has come full circle. Not only does he own D.C.’s One Michelin-starred Bresca and Two Michelin-starred JÔN, but he is now back in Florida. MAASS (Fort Lauderdale) and Ômo by Jônt (Orlando) join the Hive Hospitality portfolio.

We discuss it all in this episode.

Celebrating South Florida’s 2025 James Beard Restaurant and Chef Award semifinalists

This morning, the James Beard Foundation announced the semifinalists for the 2025 awards season. As always, we hope to see our city proudly represented. While the list did not include nearly as many nominations as Miamians collectively hoped, here are the nods that are South Florida-related this year: