The Whet Palette Productions Food. Wine. Travel. Life.

by The Whet Palette Productions: Blog & Podcast

Scrapbook: COI at Alter for Michelin On the Road (Miami)

Scrapbook: COI at Alter Collaboration Dinner for Michelin On the Road (Miami)

Buyer’s Remorse at The Den (Azabu)

“Did you hear about Azabu? It’s a Michelin-starred restaurant that just opened in Miami!” Or so I misleadingly heard and read over and over. Except that’s not factually accurate and there’s so much wrong with that statement. This rumor has become a terrible game of telephone throughout our city. Sushi Azabu is actually not currently ranked on New York City’s Michelin Guide. As per my research, the last time it received a one-star rating was on October 2015 (when the 2016 recipients were awarded) and has not yet regained its star (the 2019 list was announced today).

SOBEWFF 2018 Reflections

Another South Beach Wine and Food Festival (SOBEWFF) in the books. My eighth, to be exact. By now, I’ve figured out a game plan that usually works for me: where to stay, how many days to attend, and which type of events to choose. I know I don’t prefer the larger functions (there and anywhere […]

Miami Spice Photo Diaries 2018

Find all of my past Miami Spice coverage HERE.

This Photo Diaries page is a quick-reference guide to my Miami Spice dinners, updated as they happen, and consolidated into one post.

by Brenda Popritkin

The Surf Club Restaurant by Thomas Keller

The Surf Club Restaurant brings classic dishes and stellar service to South Florida. It’s not a void that needed to be filled, but rather an addition to our growing collection of brilliant chef-driven concepts. Already sailing smoothly and only in its first week, the forecast looks promising.

Top 5 Miami Flans You Need To Try Right Now

There’s nothing quite like abuelita’s tried and true homemade flan, but the following non-traditional versions are worth a mention, a visit, and the added calories RIGHT NOW.

Etaru Japanese Grill + Bar

Located in Hallandale, behind the shiny and new Hyde Resort & Residences, the restaurant offers contemporary Japanese Robatayaki cuisine mere steps from the ocean. A second location, also by the same restaurateurs behind Zuma, recently debuted on Las Olas. Things are looking up in the good ole 9 5 4.

by Brenda Popritkin

El Cielo Miami

Occupying the ground level of a Brickell high-rise, El Cielo is currently celebrating a three-year anniversary. Three. Years. In Miami? Bravo! Needless to say, it took me a while to visit this Colombian restaurant chain by chef Juan Manuel Barrientos Valencia.

Unless we are talking about Chicago’s Alinea (and the reason you won’t find me at Barton G. or Nusr-Et), I’m not really into overly gimmicky dinners. From all the advertising and social media posts (and there are many), I figured I’d have to navigate through smoke and fluff just to get to the food. By the time dinner ended, with a full-on smoke show, of course, I pondered just how many times I would want to relive that experience now that I knew what it entailed.

Michelin-Starred Restaurants in Miami

Hear this well: As of May 2018, Miami still does not have a Michelin Guide. A restaurant cannot have a Michelin star, or two, or three without a guide to award them.

Do we need a guide? Of course not. We dance to the beat of our own drum. However, like it or not, having our own guide and/or placing on this list would put an official and prestigious stamp on what we already know: we rock.

by Brenda Popritkin

¿Que Pasa U.S.A.? Today…40 Years Later

¿Que Pasa U.S.A.? Today…40 Years Later. Se formó tremendo show Cubano, but the good kind.

I laughed, cried, and sang on and off throughout the entire performance. What an emotional roller coaster!