The Whet Palette Productions: Miami Food Blog & Podcast

The 2026 MICHELIN Guide Florida results have arrived, and as expected, the reactions were immediate.

In this episode, I break down the winners, the surprises, and the predictions that came true. From Emelinaand Mutraearning their first stars to notable Bib Gourmand additions and some glaring omissions, we'll dive deep into what the results mean for Florida's evolving dining scene.

But this episode goes far beyond the list itself.

I ta...

What does it really take to build a restaurant in Miami right now?

In this deeply personal episode of The Whet Palette Podcast, Chef Katherine Mederos of Kojin opens up about the reality behind the restaurant world: motherhood, Michelin pressure, burnout, sustainability, creativity, and surviving the chaos of hospitality while trying to build something meaningful.

From Kojin’s early pop-up days with no true kitchen… to b...

The MICHELIN Guide Florida 2026 announcement is set for May 28, and this year, everything feels different.

With the guide going fully statewide and the ceremony officially gone, the rules, the rhythm, and the expectations are all shifting. But what does that actually mean for Miami and for Florida as a whole?

In this episode, dropping just ahead of the reveal, I break down the context you need before the results go live. 

It&rsqu...

From Cancer Survivor to Pitmaster: The Story Behind Apocalypse Barbecue

Miami may be known for cafecito and croquetas, but in this episode we’re talking about another side of the city’s food story: barbecue.

In this episode, I sit down with Jeff Budnechky, the brawn behind Apocalypse BBQ,  to discuss:

• his childhood growing up in Miami and the early hustle mentality that shaped him
• his experience as a two-time cance...

Fort Lauderdale is having a moment, and Chef Jonathan Kaiser is part of the reason why.

In this episode, I sit down with the South Florida native and the chef leading Calusso at Pier Sixty-Six Resort to talk about his journey from early kitchen obsession to high-level fine dining. We dig into what he learned cooking under Joël Robuchon in Las Vegas, why sauce is everything, the tiny details that make a restaurant feel truly luxuriou...

Miami y Hialeah, this one is for you.

I’m joined by someone who feels like an extension of every 305 childhood: Amy Cao of Vicky Bakery. She embodies everything that makes this brand so beloved: warmth, family, community, and that unmistakable sense of Cuban hospitality that hits you the second you walk through the door. 

We chat about:

• The original Southeast 8th Street bakery and how Cuban immigrants created a communit...

On this episode of The Whet Palette Podcast, host Brenda Popritkin sits down with David Whitaker, President and CEO of the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, to discuss Miami’s ever-evolving culinary identity.

The last time Whitaker joined the show, Miami had just been named Bon Appétit’s Food City of the Year and was taking its first steps into the Michelin Guide Florida partnership. Fast-forward to today, ...

How does a CPA from New York end up co-running one of South Florida’s fastest-growing bagel brands? Meet Adam Shidlofsky, co-owner of Mitch’s Bagels, the family-built business redefining what a “New York-style” bagel means in Florida.

Adam joins host Brenda Popritkin to talk about building a legacy with his father — from Mitch’s original old-school diner concept to today’s sleek, tech-driven...

From Colombia to the Grove

In this episode of The Whet Palette Podcast, host Brenda Popritkin sits down with Mimi Puche, owner of Happy Wine Miami in the Grove — a must-visit Miami destination for wine lovers, tapas enthusiasts, and live-music fans.

A proud Colombian-born entrepreneur and member of the VinFemme Society, Mimi shares her inspiring journey: from her roots in Colombia to achieving U.S. citizenship and becoming the ...

Patty Lopez’s journey begins in Hialeah. Her love for food and curiosity led her to New York, where she launched her culinary career. Eventually, she made her way to Italy, where fate intervened at a two-Michelin-starred restaurant, introducing her to her husband and business partner, Nunzio Fuschillo. 

Back in South Florida, Patty worked alongside some of our city’s great culinary talents, including at Fort Lauderd...

For 20 years, she lived a life shrouded in mystery: dining anonymously at some of the world’s most celebrated restaurants, and deciding which ones would earn (or lose) the coveted MICHELIN stars. In this rare and candid interview, “P” — a Sicilian-born, Bronx-raised former MICHELIN Guide inspector — shares her fascinating journey from anthropology and food studies to becoming one of the most elusive fi...

In this exceptional episode, I welcome Yves de Launay, Executive Vice President of the Americas for Château Angélus, one of the most prestigious wine estates in Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux. With a resume that includes Cheval Blanc, Krug, Dom Pérignon, and Cartier, Yves brings a wealth of luxury industry expertise to this deep-dive into Bordeaux’s Right Bank.

We explore the fascinating multi-generational legacy of Château Angélus, ...

Miami OG alert! Chef Daniel Serfer of Blue Collar and Mignonette joins me for a convo that’s been way overdue. Trust me, it was worth the wait.

He didn’t exactly dream of becoming a chef, much less running a beloved South Florida restaurant inside a hooker motel... but here we are, thriving.

In this special one-on-one, we get into everything. And I mean everything: from law school aspirations to battling addiction, buildi...

The 2025 MICHELIN Guide Florida Ceremony went full throttle.
 
In this juicy, no-holds-barred breakdown, I share what really happened behind the scenes at the glamorous Four Seasons Resort in Orlando.

Hear about the surprising wins, the missed invite, green star revelations, and what these results mean for South Florida’s evolving fine dining scene.

Expect insider commentary, personal moments from t...

Recoveco Miami isn’t just a new restaurant—it’s a story of focus, flavor, and corazón. Chefs Maria Teresa Gallina and Nico Martinez join us to dish on their exciting new opening, the serendipitous journey that led them there, and how they’re carving a fresh space in Miami’s ever-evolving culinary scene. From hidden inspirations to bold flavors, this episode is your all-access pass behind the kitchen do...

Delving into the world of the MICHELIN Guide ahead of the April 17th ceremony in Orlando, Florida, this episode offers expert predictions based on my perspective after accumulating 317 Michelin stars from dining at restaurants worldwide.

• Breaking down Michelin's rating system and what "very good in its category" truly means
• Analyzing differences between US and European Michelin standards
• Predicting potential star...

This Miami pop-up, EntreNos, quickly captured the hearts of Miami food enthusiasts with its unwavering commitment to sourcing all things Florida. Chefs Osmel Gonzalez, and Evan Burgess stopped in to share their journey. 

How did they connect with Tinta y Cafe?

What are the short and long-term goals for EntreNos? 

How was their first year as a one MICHELIN-starred restaurant?

What did they learn from their collective experienc...

Chef Ryan Ratino attended Orlando’s Le Cordon Bleu in 2009. He launched his culinary career as a Junior Sous Chef at Shula’s Steak House (Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin resort) and spent three years working under Todd English at Bluezoo.

Life has come full circle. Although he owns D.C.'s One Michelin-starred Bresca and Two Michelin-starred JÔNT, Ratino is finally back in Florida. MAASS (Fort Lauder...

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

112 Kojin

113 Torno Subito

114 Konro

115 Paya

116 Daniel's Florida Steak...