The Whet Palette Productions: Miami Food Blog & Podcast
I’m a Cuban-American writer and podcaster who’s been telling Spanglish food, life, and travel stories since 2013. What started as a passion project has become a trusted, recognizable brand in South Florida’s culinary scene. By keeping it authentic and always showing up with curiosity (and probably a wine or cafecito on hand), I’ve built real relationships with chefs, restaurateurs, and a dedicated following of fellow flavor-hunters. My coverage ranges from white-tablecloth fine dining to the no- frills neighborhood spots. I was raised on pan con mantequilla, but my appetite spans the globe. Beyond the plate, I bring a background in interior design and dance, giving me a flair for aesthetics, rhythm, and storytelling that resonates with our vibrant audience. Think of me as your go-to guide for all things delicious, beautiful, and culture-soaked. Listen in as I tap into a hyperlocal community that’s vibrant, loyal, and always ready for the next bite (or adventure). Just don’t ask me to choose between a Michelin tasting menu and medianoche. I’ll take both, thanks. Brenda
Episodes
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 delis in Flagler Village, H...
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 becom...
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 Lauderdale...
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 figures in the cul...
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 A...
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, buil...
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 momen...
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 doors of one of th...
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 standard...
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 exper...
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 Lauderd...
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
It's a tough job, but someone has to do it. 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 1
104 Amazonia
105 Elastika
106 Edan Bistro
107 Livello
108 Itamae AO
109 Ser...
South Florida Chef Joe Anthony left his home in Delray Beach to pursue his culinary dreams in New York City. Over a decade later, he finally returned home to open Elastika, a modern American restaurant at the stunning Moore Building in the Design District.
An alum of two Michelin-starred Restaurant Daniel, The Modern and Gabriel Kreuther, with a certification in functional nutrition, means the direction of th...
Born and raised in Lima, Peru, Chef Diego Oka decided to attend culinary school on a whim. A chance encounter in a supermarket with chef extraordinaire Gaston Acurio sparked the start of an incredible career.
As South Floridians, we are fortunate to have Chef Diego Oka as one of our top talents. His passion for Miami knows no bounds. With a decade of experience as the Executive Chef at the Mandarin Oriental’s La Mar r...
Allow me to introduce Jhonatan Cano, a seasoned professional in the culinary world. AKA: @memoriesofagourmand
As the Director of Operations for Hive Hospitality (one Michelin-starred Bresca D.C., two Michelin-starred JONT D.C., MAASS Fort Lauderdale, and OMO Orlando), Jhonatan's leadership has set the bar high.
With a passport stamped from 39 countries, he has savored the finest cuisines and accumulated over one th...
Miami-born, Argentine-Italian, two-time James Beard Award semifinalist, Forbes’ “30 Under 30 List," and first-ever Miami contestant to win Chopped...twice. No big deal. Giorgio Rapicavoli reflects on his culinary journey. From the early days of the wild startup pop-up days of Eating House, he has matured into the chef and owner of Eating House 2.0 and Luca Osteria in Coral Gables. We discuss his new project, Mayf...
Daniel Figueredo and his wife, Rosa Romero, founded Sanguich de Miami in 2015. But life wasn’t always mojo pork and croquetas. The road to launch and reach success took many colorful detours. A background in marketing, architecture, and design within the fashion industry shaped Daniel's business approach and steered his vision when he decided to take a chance on this sandwich concept with Rosa. Almost ten years l...
Brenda Popritkin engages in a deep conversation with acclaimed Miami chef Pablo Zitzmann, known for his Coral Gables restaurants No Name Chinese and Zitz Sum.
Explore Chef Zitzmann's fascinating journey from his German-Mexican roots in Bogotá, Colombia, through his culinary adventures across Asia, to reaching his goals within the Miami food scene.
Discussing his vision, achievements, and the i...
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