Category: Posts

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…

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…

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…

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…

My cell phone rang. It was our daughter-in-law Lourdes. It was about 8:15 at night. She was driving in Key West with our granddaughter Audrey. They don’t usually call this late. It was quite late for Audrey as she is just 7 ½ years old and would need to be…

A week ago the world was almost normal. Not so anymore. “Ball of Confusion” is the song on the turntable now. It is streaming in our blood too. People are actually considering a world without neighborhood restaurants in our collective future. I say that is impossible. The carnage will be…

COMMUNITY LEADERS JOIN FORCES TO SUPPORT THE ARTS Two legends in South Florida’s restaurant scene have joined forces to announce a new partnership that will showcase the culinary talents of three nationally known celebrity chefs at the 57th edition of the Coconut Grove Arts Festival next February. Monty Trainer, president…

“Robbin Haas has passed away”. Those were the words that woke me yesterday. They woke me with sadness. Especially for his family. But also for the South Florida food and restaurant community that Robbin joined us in and helped propel forward ever since his arrival here. When I met Robbin…