The Whet Palette Productions Miami Podcast

by The Whet Palette Productions: Blog & Podcast

Starstruck in the Sunshine State: MICHELIN Guide Florida Ceremony 2025 Returns to Orlando

Orlando hosted the 2025 MICHELIN Guide Florida Ceremony, awarding 31 stars, including one new Two MICHELIN Star and four One MICHELIN Stars. The event celebrated Florida’s culinary expansion, highlighting its growing status as a culinary destination. Noteworthy achievements included the new Green Stars for sustainability, totaling 172 recognized eateries.

S4 E60 MICHELIN Guide Florida 2025: Perspective and Predictions

Florida’s restaurant scene awaits the Michelin Guide’s verdict on April 17th, with new cities like Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach included. The exploration examines the intricacies of fine dining, evaluating standout restaurants from Itamae to Ômo in Orlando. The analysis uncovers standards, innovations, and the culinary evolution within the state’s gastronomic landscape.

Florida’s Culinary Scene Shines with 2025 MICHELIN Guide Expansion

In a short press release this morning, the MICHELIN Guide announced it will finally begin an expansion this year by including restaurants in Greater Fort Lauderdale (say hellooooo MAASS), The Palm Beaches (perhaps KONRO?), and St. Pete-Clearwater.

The more significant, unexpected, and thrilling news is that beginning in 2026, the Guide will become statewide. That’s right, from the Florida Keys and way north to where the sun still shines in Pensacola and Jacksonville, the star Gods might favor you too.

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.

by Brenda Popritkin

Top 24 Miami Restaurants of 2024: Palette Awards

The list highlights diverse Miami restaurants celebrated with Palette Awards, reflecting their exceptional food, service, and ambiance. This year’s changes discussed notable spots from Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and Orlando. The comprehensive criteria included consistency, creativity, and attention to detail, ensuring a memorable dining experience for patrons seeking high-quality cuisine.

S3 E57 Miami Restaurant Reviews 112-123 PART 2

Picking up where we left off, the hubs and I review our personal experiences from the last 16 (new to us) Miami restaurants we visited. This is OUR opinion on OUR experience dining at each. We chose and paid for every restaurant featured. Receipts? Got ’em! There’s much to tell, so this will be a two-part episode. PART 2 […]

S3 E56 Miami Restaurant Reviews 104-111 PART 1

It’s a tough job, but someone has to do it. The hubs and I discuss our personal experiences from the last 16 (new to us) Miami restaurants we visited. This is OUR opinion on OUR experience dining at each. We chose and paid for every restaurant featured. Receipts? Got ’em! There’s much to tell, so this will be a […]

S3 E55 MIAMI CHEF SPOTLIGHT: Elastika’s Joe Anthony

South Florida Chef Joe Anthony left his home in Delray Beach to pursue his culinary dreams in New York City. Over a decade later, he finally returned home to open Elastika, a modern American restaurant at the stunning Moore Building in the Design District. An alum of two Michelin-starred Restaurant Daniel, The Modern and Gabriel […]

S3 E54 CHEF SPOTLIGHT: Featuring La Mar Miami’s Diego Oka

Born and raised in Lima, Peru, Chef Diego Oka decided to attend culinary school on a whim. A chance encounter in a supermarket with chef extraordinaire Gastón Acurio sparked the start of an incredible career. As South Floridians, we are fortunate to have Chef Diego Oka as one of our top talents. His passion for […]

S3 E53 Culinary Insights from Jhonatan Cano: A Global Perspective

Allow me to introduce Jhonatan Cano, a seasoned professional in the culinary world. AKA: @memoriesofagourmand As the Director of Operations for Hive Hospitality (one Michelin-starred Bresca D.C., two Michelin-starred JONT D.C., MAASS Fort Lauderdale, and OMO Orlando), Jhonatan’s leadership has set the bar high. With a passport stamped from 39 countries, he has savored the finest cuisines and accumulated over one thousand Michelin stars, making him a […]