Robyn Almodovar

Steve Martorano Wants More Great Italian-American Places

A little over 20 years ago, Steve Martorano -- number seven on our Tastemaker countdown -- was on his way back up north. His dreams of opening a restaurant in Fort Lauderdale didn't work out and the cook (he doesn't like the word chef) was at the airport, waiting for a flight to Philadelphia. Then, ... More >>

Tom Moynihan of d.b.a./cafe Follows in His Father's Footsteps

d.b.a./café breaks the notion that good food and drink must be accompanied by a fancy setting and fancy prices. Cut up wine boxes line the kickspace under the bar. More of them form a New York City skyline at the far end of the restaurant, past the multicolored string of Christmas lights. Yes, Ch ... More >>

Lindsay Autry of Sundy House is South Florida's Top Chef

Being a finalist on season nine of Bravo's Top Chef, may have brought Tastemaker number 9, Lindsay Autry into our living rooms, but the chef had been working on her culinary career long before that. The Johnson & Wales University graduate's career started as a kid in North Carolina, trying to figur ... More >>

David Sabin of Brickhouse PR Wants to See More Celebrity Chef-Driven Restaurants

Not long ago the Palm Beach Wine and Food Festival was just a one-night affair taking over Palm Beach's very exclusive Worth Avenue. That is, of course, until our Tastemaker number 10, David Sabin brought it to another level. He's brought the festival from a one night event into a five day celebrati ... More >>

Jodi Swank of Swank Farms Would Vote Nutella Off the Island

Things are growing in Loxahatchee. That's where Jodi and Darrin Swank of Swank Specialty Produce grow some of the most beautiful and desired vegetables and herbs on their hydroponic farm. Though farming isn't easy in South Florida, the work pays off. The produce from the farm, which includes 200 v ... More >>

Cleve Mash of Dirty Martini Brings a Taste of Country to Palm Beach County

Before Cleve Mash became one of Palm Beach County's nightclub and restaurant owners, he was just an 18-year-old boy manning the door at his favorite South Florida nightclub. Sure, he wasn't old enough to be a bouncer -- but no one else knew it. Back then, he imagined opening his own club in that ver ... More >>

Lauren DeShields of Market 17 Is Done With Overrated Steakhouses

Lauren De Shields is a lifelong Florida native. She grew up in a Florida, food-centric family and even began her formal culinary education at Johnson & Wales University in North Miami. She cooked under Dean Max at 3030 Ocean for three years before heading out to California where she cooked at severa ... More >>

Tim Lipman of Coolinary Cafe: Serve Food That Is Honest, Fresh, Simple, and Refined

Tastemaker #14, Tim Lipman, and his wife Jenny, are the cool kids behind Coolinary Cafe, Jupiter's 47-seat eatery that is so often so packed, reservations are recommended for the nightly seatings. What's most impressive, however, is that Lipman changes his specials menu twice daily. Such frequent ... More >>

Iliya Dimitrov of Valentino's Cucina Italiana Has a Secret Weakness For Ben & Jerry's

Not to sound pretentious, but there are bartenders and then there are mixologists. Bartenders are perfectly happy pouring a beer or mixing together a vodka and soda. Mixologists, on the other hand, are like mad--drunken--scientists: mixing up concoctions that have never been seen before. Iliya Dimi ... More >>

Frank Coniglio of E.R. Bradley's Saloon: Tells Us About the Harvey Wallbanger and His Love of Horse Racing

The Palm Beach food scene wouldn't be what it is today without the Coniglio family and its most notable family member - number 16 on our Tastemakers list - Frank Coniglio, co-owner for a string of Florida establishments that includes Palm Beach Island's Cucina dell'Arte, Nick & Johnnie's and Cha Cha ... More >>

Marc Falsetto of Rok:Brgr Hopes to See More Chefs Taking Culinary Leaps

Tastemaker 17 is Marc Falsetto, founder and CEO of ROK:BRGR Burger Bar and Gastropub in downtown Fort Lauderdale. You've probably noticed that gastropubs serving up craft beers and hand-crafted burgers are pretty popular these days. And for good reason - craft burgers and craft beers are two of th ... More >>

Julieta Bocos of Casa Frida is South Florida's Mexican Ambassador of Food

At Casa Frida Number 18 on our Tastemakers list, Julieta Bocos wants you to taste Mexico. Not the Mexico fast food chains try to sell, and not the Tex-Mex most Americans mistake as Mexican food. Slow-cooked moles - a Mexican sauce made with chocolate and chilis - and fall-apart pork called cochinit ... More >>

Susan Kim of Gabose Would Vote Meatballs Off the Island

Thanks to Susan Kim, you wouldn't be out of line if you called Lauderhill, Florida's Little Korea. Though the west Broward enclave isn't quite as dense with Korean business as Little Korea in Los Angeles, Kim and her Korean (barbecue) restaurant Gabose have paved the way for the slew of Korean eater ... More >>

Eric Guerro, Mark Fee, and Jeff Evans of Angry Union Brewing: See Which One Chose Chocolate Chip Cookies Over Beer

About two years, Mark Fee started brewing beer on his stove at home. The firefighter paramedic took up brewing as a hobby to let off steam. It didn't take long for some of his friends and fellow firefighters to join in on the brew making. It took only a few tries for the guys to figure out that th ... More >>

Vaughan Lazar of Kapow! Says the Local Scene Needs More Locally Sourced Food and Zombie Killers

The exclamation point is an official part of the name Kapow! Noodle Bar in Mizner Park. That enthusiasm is brought in no small part by the CEO and co-founder, Vaughan Lazar. Although Lazar was once known for his skills as a DJ spinning house music at club parties across South Florida, today he's be ... More >>

24. Dean Max of DJM Restaurants

New Times' Best Of Broward-Palm Beach 2013 issue arrives June 13. To celebrate, Clean Plate Charlie is serving up 30 of our favorite tastemakers -- restaurateurs, chefs, bartenders, and other foodies who make the South Florida food scene what it is. We'll start with number 30 and lead up to South Fl ... More >>

25. Chrissy Benoit of the Little House Boynton Beach

New Times' Best Of Broward-Palm Beach 2013 issue arrives June 13. To celebrate, Clean Plate Charlie is serving up 30 of our favorite tastemakers -- restaurateurs, chefs, bartenders, and other foodies who make the South Florida food scene what it is. We'll start with number 30 and lead up to South Fl ... More >>

26. Mike Halker of Due South Brewing

New Times' Best of Broward-Palm Beach 2013 issue arrives June 13. To celebrate, Clean Plate Charlie is serving up 30 of our favorite tastemakers -- restaurateurs, chefs, bartenders, and other foodies who make the South Florida food scene what it is. We'll start with number 30 and lead up to South Fl ... More >>

27. Brett Chiavari of BC Tacos

New Times' Best Of Broward-Palm Beach 2013 issue arrives June 13. To celebrate, Clean Plate Charlie is serving up 30 of our favorite tastemakers -- restaurateurs, chefs, bartenders, and other foodies who make the South Florida food scene what it is. We'll start with number 30 and lead up to South Fl ... More >>

28. Fulvio Sardelli of Sardelli's Italian Steakhouse

New Times' Best Of Broward-Palm Beach 2013 issue arrives June 13. To celebrate, Clean Plate Charlie is serving up 30 of our favorite tastemakers -- restaurateurs, chefs, bartenders, and other foodies who make the South Florida food scene what it is. We'll start with number 30 and lead up to South Fl ... More >>

30. Robyn Almodovar of Palate Party Food Truck

New Times' Best of Broward - Palm Beach 2013 issue arrives June 13. To celebrate, Clean Plate Charlie is serving up 30 of our favorite tastemakers -- restauranteurs, chefs, bartenders, and other foodies -- that make the South Florida food scene what it is. We'll start with number 30 and lead up to t ... More >>

Today is International Women's Day: South Florida's Best Female Chefs

Just like many other career paths the culinary industry tends to be a male dominated field. For years, women wanting to make it big had to fight their way to the top. Lately, it seems to be getting better. It's become more and more common to see women running the show in their own kitchens and ... More >>

Event Coverage: The Fourth Annual Burgie Awards (Photos)

If you haven't noticed, comfort food is kind of "in" right now. And while most people go on and on about their favorite local places to pick up a burger or some other gratifying delicacy, few South Floridians know more about the subject than Miami-based food-blogger Burger Beast.On Saturday night, t ... More >>

Hell's Kitchen Contestant Robyn Almodovar Launches Kickstarter Campaign to Mass-Produce Her Goods

Kickstart South Florida is a new feature highlighting local food-related crowd-funded projects on Kickstarter.You may have met Robyn Almovodar on the streets of Miami, serving food from her food truck dubbed The Palate Party Fresh Mobile Cafe, where she serves up her famous soft-shell crab sandwiche ... More >>

Don’t Put a Cork in It

The First Annual Flavors of Fort Lauderdale (Photos)

If you missed last weekend's Flavors of Fort Lauderdale, you missed out on heaps of delicious food and drinks. With cooking demonstrations, tons of food, and multiple options for inebriation, the festival was a definite success. Headed by Chef Allen Susser, with a focus on sustainable seafood, the f ... More >>

Win A Pair of Tickets to Iron Fork

Iron Fork is one food event worth driving down to Miami for. On October 18 from 7 - 10 p.m., Grand Central will turn into a food lover's dream, with nearly 40 of Miami's best restaurants serving up good food. Thirsty? Have your fill of refreshing libations from the open bar while enjoying live music ... More >>

Palate Party's Robyn Almodovar Hosts Hell's Kitchen Watch Party Tonight

There's only one thought that comes to mind when we watch Hell's Kitchen, the combination cooking show/fraternity hazing hosted by foul-mouthed chef Gordon Ramsay on Fox television -- "is it worth it?"For local chef Robyn Almodovar, the answer is yes. The Le Cordon Bleu graduate's food truck, Palate ... More >>

Monday: Hell's Kitchen Food Truck Invasion With Chef Robyn Almodovar

Local chef Robyn Almodovar always had a love for food and proved it while working at The Forge, Devito South Beach, and the Royal Palm Hotel. Now she's showing off her culinary skills to a national audience as one of the 18 contestants on Season 10 of FOX's Hell's Kitchen, premiering Monday, June 4, ... More >>