The Whet Palette Productions fine dining

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

DAY 2: From Red Carpet to After-Party at North America’s 50 Best Restaurants in Las Vegas

Last week, North America’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025 was unveiled in Las Vegas, highlighting the culinary scene’s brilliance. Atomix NYC claimed the top spot, while other awards celebrated diverse talent across the continent. The event featured a glamorous ceremony complete with a red carpet, honoring both U.S. and Canadian dining excellence.

by Brenda Popritkin

S4 E65 The Secret Star Life: A Former MICHELIN Guide Inspector Reflects

For 20 years, “P”, a Sicilian-born, Bronx-raised former MICHELIN Guide inspector lived a secret life, dining in the world’s top restaurants and deciding who earned (and lost) the Guide’s coveted stars. In this rare interview, she reveals insider stories, surprising truths, and answers your burning questions about the most mysterious job in food.

Gourmand Getaway: A Food Lover’s Detour to Miramonti l’Altro

Miramonti l’Altro, a two-Michelin-star restaurant in Concesio, Italy, offers a culinary journey with chef Philippe Léveillé at the forefront. Renowned for innovative dishes like “I wanted to be a tomato!” and classic risotto, it’s an unforgettable experience celebrating tradition and modernity. A must-visit destination for food enthusiasts.

EXCLUSIVE: 2024 MICHELIN Guide Ceremony for New York, Chicago, and Washington, D.C.

Who: The MICHELIN Guide What: Ceremony for New York, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. When: December 9th, 2024 Where: The Glasshouse, New York, N.Y. For the second consecutive year, The MICHELIN Guide brought culinary cachet to the Big Apple in an exclusive combined ceremony spanning three cities —New York, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. As a dedicated MICHELIN dining enthusiast, I packed my heaviest coats and […]

S3 E45 MICHELIN Guide Florida Ceremony: Behind the Scenes

Welcome to the behind-the-scenes episode of the MICHELIN Guide Florida Ceremony: Miami, Orlando & Tampa.

If this is your first time tuning in, here’s the scoop. I’ve been writing about the MICHELIN Guide’s Florida potential and eventual guide since 2014—initially on the blog and now also on the podcast. In this episode, I’ll be your guide through the latest ceremony. I’ll pull back the curtain, revealing how things unfolded, and offer you a sneak peek of the actual event (since I always receive questions about it). I’ll also share my personal take on the results and begin a first look ahead as to what 2025 could hold.

PODCAST Miami Restaurant Reviews: 1-7

Episode 4 takes a quick, honest, and candid look at some of the Miami restaurants I visited this January. Also, meet the hubs and dining partner-in-crime, Lawrence. He debuted as my co-host for this new and developing Miami restaurant review segment and did not hold back.

Top 21 Miami Restaurants of 2021: Palette Awards

I reserved, ordered, photographed, and ate at all of these restaurants. No one asked nor paid me to do so. Supporting our local restaurants brings me joy, and I am passionate about Miami’s food scene. A lot of careful thought went into the naming and placement of each honoree. Last year, I placed the awards […]

Top Michelin-Starred Bites of 2019

Love or love to hate the Michelin Guide? I, for one, continue to find their star system valuable. It doesn’t necessarily mean I agree with all the ratings, but I’ve experienced more hits than misses while following its star system.

My travels this year brought me to many new and tried and true starred restaurants. I’ve continued to think and talk about these bites long after I returned home.

This is not a list of how these experiences ranked overall, although I will talk about that briefly toward the end. These are the dishes at each spot that captured my full attention. The ones I OMGd through. The unforgettable ones.

by Brenda Popritkin

Gourmand Getaway: Journey to SingleThread

October 2019 Three Michelin Stars #51 The World’s Best Restaurant list # 2 Opinionated About Dining Opening at the end of 2016 and focusing on sustainable sourcing, chef Kyle Connaughton and his wife, Katina, took on quite the project in Sonoma: a nearby farm, boutique inn, and restaurant. Just seven miles away, their farm supplies […]