Ask the Chef

Six Must-Try Dishes From 3030 Ocean Executive Chef Adrienne Grenier

By Nicole Danna
Dec 21, 2016

It was a big year for 3030 Ocean in Fort Lauderdale. Last October marked not just an all-new look compliments of a complete renovation transformation of the Marriott's iconic flagship restaurant; it also marks the first year since Chopped champion Adrienne Grenier took over the kitchen as executive chef. In...
Jonathan Capó is the New Executive Chef of Steak 954 in Fort Lauderdale

By Nicole Danna
Nov 10, 2016

Steak 954 in Fort Lauderdale is under the leadership of a new executive chef. Since losing former longtime executive chef Nicolay Adinaguev in July, Fort Lauderdale's beloved beachside steakhouse has found new inspiration with Jonathan Capó. Capó first joined Starr Restaurants, the group behind Buddakan in New York City and Atlantic City, in the summer of...
Chef vs. Chef 2016 Week Ten: Offal-ly Good Eats and Fruity Treats

By Claudia Dawson
Aug 26, 2016

Chef vs. Chef is a 16-week competition at Max's Harvest hosted by chef Eric Baker that pits local chefs against one another, cooking up surprise ingredients for a panel of judges — and our tasting pleasure. What do Hannibal Lecter, zombies, and Sicilian grandmothers all have in common (other than...
3800 Ocean Appoints New Executive Chef Gustavo Calderon, Plans Menu Revamp

By Nicole Danna
Aug 22, 2016

Diners visiting 3800 Ocean at the Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island Resort & Spa can expect to see some changes at the hotel's signature restaurant offering American regional cuisine. The menu — inspired by the cultural backgrounds of each of its chefs ranging from New England and Long Island to...
After 17 Years, Nick Morfogen Will Step Down as Executive Chef at Delray's 32 East

By Nicole Danna
Aug 5, 2016

A popular Delray Beach establishment will part ways with its longtime chef later this year. Nick Morfogen has been helming the kitchen at 32 East for the past 17 years, where he currently stands as a managing partner and executive chef. Over the years, the establishment has received praise for...
Where to Find Tri-Tip Beef in Palm Beach and Broward Counties

By David Minsky
Jul 13, 2016

Tri-tip is a lean cut of beef that's taken from the bottom sirloin, or the large slab of muscle situated in between the top sirloin and the flank. It's a West Coast delicacy with which most South Floridians are not familiar, unless you're a true meat connoisseur. Although uncommon, tri-tip can...
PB Catch's Aaron Black Was a Mechanical Engineer Before the Entering the Kitchen

By Nicole Danna
Jul 5, 2016

Not many people know PB Catch chef de cuisine Aaron Black was — at one time — a mechanical engineer. A few years into his career, lacking that creative "push," Black decided to enroll at the Florida Culinary Institute to follow his real passion: cooking. Today, the chef is best...
How to Grill the Perfect Steak at Home in Six Steps

By Nicole Danna
Jul 4, 2016

Matthew Zappoli knows a thing or two about cooking steak. As one of two executive chefs at NYY Steak at the Seminole Casino at Coconut Creek, the former Food Network Chopped competitor is tasked with grilling and broiling some of the finest cuts of meat in South Florida. Prior to his...
Pizzacraft Executive Chef Danny Hernandez Once Cooked for Celebrity Chef Bobby Flay

By Nicole Danna
May 26, 2016

Mexican-born Danny Hernandez didn't grow up dreaming of being a chef. Instead, he stumbled into the career by accident. Now, with nearly two decades of experience behind him, the former New Yorker can say he's cooked a five-course tasting menu for celebrity chef Bobby Flay — no easy task. Born in...
Jamie Steinbrecher Keeps Tradition Alive at Okeechobee Steakhouse in West Palm Beach

By Nicole Danna
May 19, 2016

When you ask Okeechobee Steakhouse executive chef Jamie Steinbrecher what his favorite piece of kitchen equipment is, you'll learn it's not his chef's knife, sauté pan, or even that fancy broiler. Instead, it's his Robot Coupe — a commercial food processor that can literally chop, dice, and slice food into...
Celebrity Chef Curtis Stone Stops in Winn-Dixie to Talk Family Meal Times and Cooking for Celebs

By Wendy Rhodes
May 9, 2016

If you enter a nondescript building, beyond a dark wooden door marked only with an “M,” and hear the Sex Pistols blaring from the kitchen, you will know you are in the right place. But unless you find yourself in Beverly Hills with a fist full of cash, that is...
Mixologist Paul Ivan Ramirez Will Make You a "Here Is Your Carrot Cake, Ms. High Maintenance" Cocktail

By Nicole Danna
Apr 26, 2016

For just over a year, mixologist Paul Ramirez has been mixing up the scene at Palm Beach resort restaurant, Brandon's. A talented chef behind the bar, Ramirez has been mentored by some of the world's best flair mixologists, and made cocktails for a few of the country's most respected restaurants...
Chef Isaac Cerny: Create Your Own Pommes Frites at Pistache French Bistro's New Bar

By Nicole Danna
Apr 5, 2016

While West Palm Beach's Pistache French Bistro is best known for its classic Parisian cuisine, not many people are familiar with the longstanding restaurant's chef de cuisine, Isaac Cerny. Along with the newly renovated bar and refreshed look, the restaurant has also rolled out a new cocktail menu and bar...
Casa D'Angelo Expands Its Italian Empire South, With Several New Establishments Planned for Aventura and Miami

By Nicole Danna
Mar 23, 2016

There are few South Florida chefs with the reputation and resume of Angelo Elia. A sort of local legend, Elia’s culinary acumen and inviting attitude has earned him establishments tremendous praise and recognition over the years — along with a number of awards including Zagat’s "America’s Top Restaurants" and Wine...
Green Bar and Kitchen Chef Charles Grippo Does Vegan Street Food

By Nicole Danna
Mar 9, 2016

It's a good time to be green. Especially if you're a fan of Green Bar & Kitchen located in Fort Lauderdale. Recently, the local vegetarian- and vegan-based restaurant did something exciting; owners Elena Pezzo and chef Charles Grippo launched a test kitchen and experimental menu at a new, smaller fast-casual...
Celebrate Meat-Free Monday at TacoCraft With Vegan-Loving Chef Jaime Diaz

By Nicole Danna
Feb 22, 2016

If you love tacos, you might just love Jaime Diaz. He's the man behind the tacos and Mexican-inspired fare at one-year-old TacoCraft in Himmarhsee Village. (New Times named them "best taco" in 2015.) Diaz grew up in Mexico, but spent a lot of time in Southern California during his formative...
SuViche Executive Chef Jaime Pesaque Thinks Scandinavian Food Could Be the Next Trend

By Nicole Danna
Feb 9, 2016

In case you've been living under a rock for the past year, we're here to tell you that Peruvian food has made officially arrived in South Florida. Right now, one of the best examples of this new dining trend is SuViche, the Miami-based Peruvian fusion restaurant with several locations across...
Tap 42 Beverage Director Paige Nast: "My Favorite Bar Tool Is My Juicer"

By Nicole Danna
Feb 3, 2016

According to Tap 42 mixologist Paige Nast, making the perfect cocktail is simple: use only fresh ingredients mixed with high-quality liquor, and a good dose of hospitality. At just 25 years old, Nast isn't your average bartender. A former mixologist for establishments including Miami's Yardbird and Rok:Brgr in Fort Lauderdale,...
Paula Deen in Fort Lauderdale for Book Signing Today

By Laine Doss
Feb 1, 2016

Paula Deen, the smoothie queen? Maybe it doesn't have quite the same ring as her Butter Queen moniker, but these days the chef is seeking to live a healthier life. The celebrity chef, who hit a rocky road after Food Network refused to renew her contract in 2013, has since...
Agave Taco Bar's Chef Ivan Alarcon Wants to "Re-Create the Memories I Have Growing Up"

By Nicole Danna
Jan 26, 2016

Born and raised in Monterrey, Mexico, South Florida chef and restaurateur Ivan Alarcon says he grew up learning family recipes in his grandmother’s kitchen. Today, a self-proclaimed self-taught chef, Alarcon has cooked in just two kitchens: his own home, and that of his established Davie restaurants El Agave Azul. He...

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