The Whet Palette Productions Michelin Starred

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 […]

You Are Invited: From Roots to Rise DINNER

A Celebration of Florida’s Culinary Lineage An intimate, one-night-only dinner, celebrating the depth of Florida’s culinary roots and the vision shaping its future. To see a chef redefining Florida dining today, cooking alongside the pioneer who helped establish its culinary identity, is exceptionally rare. This exclusive one-of-a-kind evening brings together Chef Norman Van Aken, multiple-time James […]

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.

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: Atelier Crenn 2019

Driven by childhood memories, San Francisco’s chef Crenn created an elegant dining experience for the guest, inspired by the past and presented ahead of its time. The care, thought, and detail behind every unbelievable bite shows why she continues to soar.