The Whet Palette Podcast: Miami Restaurants, Wine, and Travel
I’m a Cuban-American writer and podcaster passionate about food, wine, and travel. Follow my colorful South Florida adventures as I review Miami restaurants, and spotlight local chefs and somms. I am a Michelin dining enthusiast, but nothing is off-limits. After all, I was raised on pan Cubano, cafecito, and pastelitos. Never a dull moment around here. From my "palette" to yours...Cheers! Brenda
Episodes
Our dishing and dining means you get the real unfiltered scoop as we experience it. The hubs, Lawrence, returns once again and joins me to review every visit and offer his perspective. We have spent the last several months returning to many Miami favorite restaurants. In this episode, we will highlight which ones continued to impress, and also discuss the few who greatly disappointed.
DRINKING GAME: Take a shot every tim...
Natural wine enthusiast Karina Iglesias talks all things vino and Miami in this special addition to my SOMM LIKE IT HOT series.
Listen at the links below and on all major platforms
Supporting the podcast is simple. Like what you hear? Please share, review, and/or rate to help the episodes receive more exposure. It takes seconds!
Thank you for listening.
For more...
Chef.
Author.
Mentor.
Pioneer.
All around Florida badass.
Chef Norman Van Aken needs no introduction, really. His contributions to the Florida culinary community have been and continue to be endless. As the founding father of New World Cuisine, he once upon a time created an identity for Florida from which to launch and never looked back.
Listen in as I chat with Norman about his upcoming TV project, Norman...
Owner of the OG Miami food blog, Food for Thought, FRODNESOR on all things social media, cofounder of the Cobaya Miami underground supper club, and an occasional food writer for publications around town, attorney David Rosendorf stops in to discuss his long-lived love for Miami food.
What prompted him to launch the blog and Cobaya Miami? How does he summarize the change in the Miami food scene since he began writing abou...
A candid look at some of the Miami restaurants we recently visited.
68. Mosaico by Maurizio Farinelli
69. Le Jardinier
70. Tam Tam
71. Queen Omakase
72. Mamey
73. La Mar Miami
74. Casa Mariano
75. La Cosecha Argentinian Steakhouse
Most of the Miami restaurants discussed in this episode are small operations that, for better or worse, left a big impression.
Listen at the Buzzsprout lin...
Why are Broward residents making lines to score Italian Chef Nunzio Fuschillo's baked goods? I won't gatekeep any longer. The secret is officially out and these are the magic words: Cooper City. Gas Station. Effe Cafe.
In this episode, we discuss Nunzio's journey to South Florida, his deep ties to Miami culinary royalty (and Hialeah), the Michelin Guide Florida and beyond, plus his ongoing quest for qualit...
Restaurateur, Content Creator, and Social Curator Gina Pelaez stopped in to chat, and chat we did.
We explore her food journey and the creation of the Miami Food Family brand. Naturally, we Hialeah gals also discuss its history and ongoing growth, Miami's food influencers, the hot South Florida restaurant scene, the flighty nature of food hall concepts, Broward's need for more y mucho más. Somehow, we even mana...
An up close and personal look at some of the Miami restaurants we recently visited. Buckle up, butter cup! We discuss it ALL.
61. Queen
62. Zeru
63. MaryGold's Florida Brasserie
64. Walrus Rodeo
65. Avra
66. Calle Dragones
67. Maty's
As usual, we candidly review each restaurant without holding back. Which new restaurant captivated "the hubs" enough to name it the best o...
I am pleased to introduce you to Laura DePasquale, a Master Sommelier, wine educator, and Senior Vice President of the Artisanal Wine Division at Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits.
Laura's inspiring journey in the wine industry is nothing short of captivating. From her beginnings as an artist to becoming a trailblazer in the wine world, Laura has truly led the way for others.
In this episode, she ca...
The MICHELIN Guide came to town to unveil Florida's new BIB Gourmand and One Star recipients at LoanDepot Park. I was fortunate to attend and witness all the action from beginning to end. Listen in as I give you an exclusive behind-the-scenes glimpse of the ceremony and share which restaurants made the cut and which ones didn't retain their spots.
Listen on all major platforms:
Guest Chef Ashley Moncada of the new Brasserie Laurel shares some insight into the restaurant's concept with the Ariete Hospitality Group, her quest for heat, love of butter, and her "Mini Mike" monicker. But, don't fall for her coy demeanor. Moncada is a confident beast in the kitchen, ready to capture your full attention and, hopefully, shine bright under a new Michelin star soon.
Listen on all major...
Guest Chef Danny Ganem of Miami's Fiola dishes it all. His quest to be the best he can be, as a father, chef, and mentor, leaves no stone unturned. Focused and methodical, Ganem is slowly paving the way to a brighter future.
Listen at the link above and on all major platforms
Visit me on my other media:
Instagram
Twitter
YouTube
TikTok
Su...
This episode tackles all things MICHELIN Guide Miami, as I see it, based on my dining experience: 82 restaurants, 219 stars, and counting.
- What is the meaning of the MICHELIN Guide stars?
- How does South Florida compare to other cities and Europe?
- Should any restaurant be removed from the list?
- Who should be ranked up from a Bib Gourmand to a star or two?
- What is the scoop on the new additions already posted by the Guide?
- Wh...
Tune in as I candidly chat with the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) president and CEO, David Whitaker, about Miami's current culinary spotlight.
- Bon Appétit’s April issue naming Miami their “2023 Food City of the Year” – the first time they recognize an entire city.
- The upcoming MICHELIN Guide Florida selections in May.
- How do these accolades directly impact our community economically?
- What is Miami’s o...
Meet Sarah Phillips of the Wines by Sarah: wine educator, writer, and event producer.
Listen in as we candidly discuss all things W...
Kicking off the podcast's Season 2 with a close look at some of the Miami restaurants we recently visited and you, the listener, wanted to hear about the most.
55. Brasserie Laurel
56. Beauty and the Butcher
57. QP Tapas
58. Rancho Patel
59. Eating House
60. Tambourine Room
As usual, we candidly review each restaurant without holding back. Which one will earn a Michelin star? Which one ca...
The PALETTE AWARDS are for the TOP 22 MIAMI RESTAURANTS I feel offer the most well-rounded and top experiences. I reserved, ordered, photographed, ate, and paid at these restaurants. No one asked nor paid me to do so. Supporting our local restaurants brings me joy, and I am passionate about Miami’s food scene. Did your favorite make my list?
Use this as a reference when making your next reservation, and as a springboard t...
Listen in as I chat with Miami chef Pedro Mederos of Kojin (now rebranded as The Chef's Counter at Hachidori Ramen). From South Florida to California's wine country and everything in between (culinary school, Taco Bell, love, Singlethread, Alter, dumplings, Miami diners, omakase, Michelin, D&D, Pokemon, and babies), we discuss it all. Phew! Got that?
Want more Miami food content? Visit me on my other platfo...
This episode is brought to you by WINE ACCESS and its MICHELIN GUIDE Wine Club.
A candid look at some of the restaurants we recently visited.
Once again, the hubs and dining partner-in-crime, Lawrence, joins me as co-host for this developing Miami restaurant review series.
Dale! Click play to listen!
47. Zitz Sum
48. Leku Miami
49. Forte dei Marmi
50. Cafe La Trova
51. The Gibs...
Up close and personal with Miami Chef Timon Balloo. Listen in as we take a deep dive into all things Balloo. How did food shape his life, and guide his journey to where it is today? Take a look behind the curtains as he bares all during this candid, heartfelt, and spirited interview.
What exactly is lunchbox culture? Does he eat to live or live to eat? What is it about black coffee? Who killed Ling Ling? What does he lov...
Popular Podcasts
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations.
If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people.
He’s a former Secret Service Agent, former NYPD officer, and New York Times best-selling author. Join Dan Bongino each weekday as he tackles the hottest political issues, debunking both liberal and Republican establishment rhetoric.
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.