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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 culinary world.

From the rigorous inspector training in France, to her most unforgettable meals, to the pressure of evaluating a potential three-star dining experience, “P” takes us behind the curtain of MICHELIN’s closely guarded process. She answers YOUR listener and viewer questions revealing how restaurants are chosen, what really sets a 3-star apart from a 2-star, the truth about “pay-to-play” rumors, why certain stars shocked her, and yes… whether inspectors get a discount on tires.

In This Episode:

• How she became a MICHELIN inspector
• The truth about inspector training & assignments
• What inspectors really look for (and what they don’t)
• How stars are decided and why some ratings surprise even insiders
• Behind-the-scenes challenges, controversies, and unforgettable dining moments
• Advice for young chefs chasing their first star
• Her thoughts on the guide’s evolving global presence and credibility

If you’ve ever wondered how the MICHELIN Guide really works or dreamed of what it’s like to live the “secret star life”  this episode is a must-listen.

LISTEN HERE or on your favorite podcast platform: 

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Thank you for listening. As always, from my “palette”  to yours,
 
Cheers!
 
Brenda

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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, led today by Stéphanie de Boüard-Rivoal, only the third woman to run the estate in 250 years. Yves shares insights into the château’s visionary expansion into hospitality—including Michelin-recognized restaurants—and discusses how sustainability, Cabernet Franc-forward winemaking, and the limestone-clay terroir of Saint-Émilion shape the estate’s elegant and age-worthy wines.

Other standout moments:

• Why Château Angélus withdrew from the Grand Cru Classé A classification in 2022
• The story behind the iconic three-bell logo and its spiritual origins
• How Château Angélus is marketing fine Bordeaux to new generations
• Tackling wine counterfeits and navigating U.S. allocations
• Personal favorites from South Florida’s fine dining scene

Whether you're a Bordeaux collector, fine wine investor, or simply love a Right Bank masterpiece, this episode uncorks insider access to one of the world’s most revered estates.

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Thank you for listening. As always, from my “palette”  to yours,
 
Cheers!
 
Brenda

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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, building two of Miami’s most respected spots, and redefining success on his own terms.

Oh, and we definitely make time for a full-on Taco Bell deep dive (judge us if you want) and some serious guilty food confessions. Crunchy Cheez Doodles, anyone?

It's raw, funny, inspiring, and so, so Miami.

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Thank you for listening. As always, from my “palette”  to yours,
 
Cheers!
 
Brenda

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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 the night, and the predictions that (almost) all came true.

If you’re a Miami-Michelin enthusiast, buckle up. This episode is the raw recap you didn’t know you needed.

**Covered in this episode:**

* A full ceremony breakdown
* All new stars, Bibs, and recommended restaurants
* Personal highlights and travel notes
* Michelin’s surprising oversights
* Upcoming EXCLUSIVE  interview with a former Michelin inspector

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Like what you hear? Supporting my podcast is simple. Please share, review, and/or rate to help the episodes receive more exposure. It takes seconds, and it’s incredibly helpful.

Want to advertise your business or event in an episode or two?
Message me at [email protected].
 
Thank you for listening. As always, from my “palette”  to yours,
 
Cheers!
 
Brenda

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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 the city’s most celebrated and anticipated new spots.

The Recoveco team also just became a much-coveted addition to the 2025 Michelin Guide Florida. Cheers to them! 

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Who am I? 

I’m a Cuban-American writer and podcaster who’s been telling Spanglish food, life, and travel stories since 2013—long enough to remember when “influencer” was just what your mom called you when you got your abuela hooked on PB&J.

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 cafecito in 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. Just don’t ask me to choose between a Michelin tasting menu and medianoche. I’ll take both, thanks.

Like what you hear? Supporting my podcast is simple. Please share, review, and/or rate to help the episodes receive more exposure. It takes seconds, and it’s incredibly helpful.

Want to advertise your business or event in an episode or two?
Message me at [email protected].
 
Thank you for listening. As always, from my “palette”  to yours,
 
Cheers!
 
Brenda

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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 stars for newcomers Itamae, Kojin, and Recoveco
• Spotlighting Ômo by Jônt in Orlando as Florida's best tasting menu and worthy of two stars
• Discussing how Fort Lauderdale, St. Pete, and Palm Beach will fare in their Michelin debut
• Examining common Michelin misconceptions, including why "Michelin-starred chef" isn't a real term
• Evaluating which current stars might lose their status and which Bib Gourmands could be promoted
• Highlighting notable omissions from this year's additions list

Tune in for the follow-up episode after the April 17th ceremony for reaction and analysis of the results.

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Like what you hear? Supporting my podcast is simple. Please share, review, and/or rate to help the episodes receive more exposure. It takes seconds, and it’s incredibly helpful.

Want to advertise your business or event in an episode or two?
Message me at [email protected].
 
Thank you for listening. As always, from my “palette”  to yours,
 
Cheers!
 
Brenda

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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 experience in other kitchens?

What led them to cooking?

What are some facts guests need to know when dining in at EntreNos?

What motivates them?

The sky’s the limit when it comes to their drive and vision. EntreNos is one to continue watching as it evolves and defines itself. 

Listen here:

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Like what you hear? Supporting my podcast is simple. Please share, review, and/or rate to help the episodes receive more exposure. It takes seconds, and it’s incredibly helpful.

Want to advertise your business or event in an episode or two?
Message me at [email protected].
 
Thank you for listening. As always, from my “palette”  to yours,
 
Cheers!
 
Brenda

#entrenosmiami #michelinguidefl #michelinchef #michelinfood #michelinmiami #miamifinedining #miamidining #miamieats #miamifoodblog #miamishores #entrenosseries 

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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 Lauderdale) and Ômo by Jônt (Orlando) have joined the Hive Hospitality portfolio—two of the most exciting and successful openings within the Florida fine dining scene. 

In this episode, we discuss:

• Culinary school
• Opening a restaurant
• Creating the hospitality group
• Receiving Michelin Star recognition
• Defining the Bresca, MAASS, JÔNT, and ÔMO concepts 
• Hope for a MICHELIN Guide Florida expansion to Fort Lauderdale
• Finding daily motivation
• South Florida favorite eats
• Upcoming projects

Listen here:

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Like what you hear? Supporting my podcast is simple. Please share, review, and/or rate to help the episodes receive more exposure. It takes seconds, and it’s incredibly helpful.

Want to advertise your business or event in an episode or two?
Message me at [email protected].
 
Thank you for listening. As always, from my “palette”  to yours,
 
Cheers!
 
Brenda

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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 Steakhouse

117 Sparrow

118 Amano by Oka

119 Sunny's Steakhouse

BONUS:

120 Victoria & Albert's
121 OMO by Jont
122 Sushi Saint
123 Bombay Street Kitchen 

Featured in this episode: A couple of new and exciting "very Florida" steakhouses, a couple of Italian restaurants with very different offerings, the return of an improved beloved Miami concept, a trip to Palm Beach for a stellar tasting menu, back south to Brickell Key for something special, and a tropical feast in South Beach by one of our city's best restauranteur groups. Hungry? Dale!

Listen here:

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Like what you hear? Supporting my podcast is simple. Please share, review, and/or rate to help the episodes receive more exposure. It takes seconds, and it’s incredibly helpful.

Want to advertise your business or event in an episode or two?
Message me at [email protected].
 
Thank you for listening. As always, from my “palette”  to yours,
 
Cheers!
 
Brenda

#TWPmiamiPODCAST #miamipodcast #miamieats #restaurantreview #miamidining #miamichef #miamifood #miamifinedining #kojin #tornosubito #konro #payamiami #danielssteakhouse #amanobyoka #sparrow #omobyjont #sushisaint #bombaystreetkitchen #victoriaandalberts #floridafinedining #miamifinedining #finedin

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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 Sereia

110 Gran Central

111 Krus

Featured in this episode: An exciting Miami Lakes nikkei spot, two very different Coconut Grove restaurants, a North Miami restaurant where we sampled an entire menu, a fancy new hotspot in the Design District, a notable Midtown counter experience, a tiny Biscayne Blvd gem with much potential, and our drive north to Coral Springs for some significant comfort eats. Hungry yet?

Listen here:

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• iHeartradio
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• Audible

Visit me on my other platforms:

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Like what you hear? Supporting my podcast is simple. Please share, review, and/or rate to help the episodes receive more exposure. It takes seconds, and it’s incredibly helpful.

Want to advertise your business or event in an episode or two?
Want to sponsor the 2024 Palette Awards?

Message me at [email protected].
 
Thank you for listening. As always, from my “palette”  to yours,
 
Cheers!
 
Brenda

#TWPmiamiPODCAST #miamipodcast #miamieats #restaurantreview #miamidining #miamichef #miamifood #miamifinedining 

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