Many years ago it was my great luck to see Tom Waits perform in a very small venue in Chicago. He was really just becoming the star he eventually would. But back then it was an insiders group that braved a nasty Midwestern storm to see his show. A single spotlight shone…
Category: Postcard
“Dear Miami”; An Open Letter from Norman Van Aken
The Editors of the New York City based company, “Star Chefs” asked me to write a letter to our city to coincide with their publication of the new issue of the Star Chefs Magazine, “Rising Stars”. It is about the emerging and vital talents of our Miami culinary community. The ceremony recognizes…
INDULGE MAGAZINE
Check out this fine article written by Tara Solomon for Indulge Magazine. Thanks to her as well as Jenny Starr Perez!…
Cigar Snob Magazine: “If Hemingway Were a Chef”
“Between the cable networks and the blogs, the Instagram accounts and the YouTube channels, the cookbooks and the magazines, food is everywhere, and there doesn’t seem to be any shortage of opportunity to become a food celebrity. All it takes is a bit of personality, a cell phone camera, access to melty…
FOOD & WINE MAGAZINE ON THE STATE OF THINGS
The link here will take you to an article that appears in the current issue of ‘Food & Wine’ Magazine. It was written by my friend and colleague Greg Baker. He is a long time veteran of the restaurant world. Here he takes his pen to paper to assess the landscape of…
“Forward to the Future” by Joseph Hayes
The highly talented and ever curious journalist Joseph Hayes writing for @edibleorlando peers into what is possibly coming our way as we make ourselves bravely (like it or not) into 2021. Please hit the link to read his words and see the fine photography. Wishing you all a safe, healthy and sane…
“CHAIR THE LOVE”. Orlando Sentinel Feature
Orlando based journalist Amy Drew Thompson and I were talking about life in these challenging times. She asked me if I was doing much cooking. I had to laugh because our home kitchen looks like it would be the test kitchen for a cooking school meets a TV production studio these days….
The Ment’or Culinary Council
I am proud to be a member of The Ment’or Culinary Council a network of prestigious industry leaders who provide their culinary expertise and knowledge to the Foundation in a variety of significant ways. I am very appreciative of their commitment to inspiring Culinary Excellence in America. As you can see from…
Cigar Aficionado: A Look Back Essay
NEW WORLD CHEF For Florida “fusion cuisine” pioneer Norman Van Aken, co-owner of NORMAN’S in Coral Gables, the kitchen is his classroom. By Mervyn Rothstein January/February 2000 ~~~~~~ On West Flagler Street in Miami, not far from Calle Ocho, the long street that’s the heartbeat of…
City & Shore Feature and Interview
Journalist Greg Carannante of City & Shore Magazine asked some fun questions to me for City & Shore Magazine. I appreciate the fun he injected into the interview format! Have a read. “Let’s not allow the huffing and puffing of the current celebrity chef trend drown out the bellwether contributions of Florida’s…
FLAMINGO MAGAZINE PONDERS THE BEARD AWARDS
Journalist Eric Barton writing for Flaming Magazine asked some questions about if those of us in Florida should still care about the annual James Beard Awards. It is a lengthy piece with an examination of the highly esteemed awards now coming under fire from some quarters. You can and should form your own…
The Orlando Sentinel and Florida Foods
“When you’re the Eagles…” Chef Norman Van Aken begins, “you’ll have one fan yelling for ‘Desperado’ and another for ‘Tequila Sunrise’ and the band has to deal with that, of course, but they’re also artistic in nature. And they have to evolve so they don’t feel like a lounge act.” I smile….
FLAMINGO MAGAZINE ON NORMAN VAN AKEN
NORMAN VAN AKEN The founding father of New World Cuisine has been busy tackling several new projects during quarantine. Photography courtesy of Norman Van Aken Chef Norman Van Aken has no shortage of accolades. You can find his name in the list of Who’s Who in American Food and Beverage from the James Beard…
The New York Times Visits Miami
The article provided in the link was written by award winning journalist Brett Anderson (@BrettEats) in for The New York Times. (@nytimes). It is a feature on local rising star chef Niven Patel who is moving forward despite the challenging times for which I say, ‘Bravo!’. Each generation in every cultural center…
Flamingo Magazine; “A Sunshine State of Mind”
By Journalist Jessica Giles “We wanted to know how some of our state’s most notable and noteworthy citizens have been coping, creating and adapting during this time. Our Sunshine State of Mind series comprises virtual fireside chats with everyone from famous chefs to Grammy Award-winning musicians to iconic authors to extraordinary athletes…
Cigar Snob Magazine Feature: “If Hemingway Were a Chef”
Norman Van Aken is widely known as the father of New World Cuisine. The Midwestern chef found his voice in a Key West kitchen and went on to bring the flavors and sensibilities of the Caribbean to diners and cooks all over America. Now he’s focused on cementing his legacy and making…