Chat Chow by Gio

coffeeSimply said… we love food, video and a great story. So on April 13th, 2011, we launched Chat Chow TV™, a mouth-watering video podcast where we go behind the scenes with the chefs, owners and mixologists of Florida’s celebrated food industry. Hosted by Lauren Bernat, the viral Wii Fit Girl sensation, the show consists of 6-10 minute episodes each individually highlighting some of our favorite food personalities. We hope you enjoy our content and the many more episodes to come. With that said, feel free to email us if you want to suggest someone, tell us about your restaurant or simply to say hello.
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  • Prohibition Style Dining Destination Trust & Co. Debuts in the Gables

    For VIXI owner Melissa Stam, gelato is in her roots. Stam’s great grandfather, Giovanni Rattazzi, opened a gelato parlor in his home city of Genoa in 1865 and her shared passion for gelato inspired her to open Coral Gables’ gelateria VIXI more than a century later. VIXI proudly boasts a large selection of authentic and healthy Italian gelato made without any artificial flavorings, colorings or additives, using only fresh natural ingredients. Flavors run the gamut from traditional varieties like chocolate, vanilla and hazelnut, to the more funky like parmesan cheese and pesto with basil sauce flavored gelato. Lactose-free sorbets are also ...

  • Good For You Gelato at VIXI in Coral Gables

    For VIXI owner Melissa Stam, gelato is in her roots. Stam’s great grandfather, Giovanni Rattazzi, opened a gelato parlor in his home city of Genoa in 1865 and her shared passion for gelato inspired her to open Coral Gables’ gelateria VIXI more than a century later. VIXI proudly boasts a large selection of authentic and healthy Italian gelato made without any artificial flavorings, colorings or additives, using only fresh natural ingredients. Flavors run the gamut from traditional varieties like chocolate, vanilla and hazelnut, to the more funky like parmesan cheese and pesto with basil sauce flavored gelato. Lactose-free sorbets are also ...

  • Dominique Ansel / Art Basel

    During the craziness that was Art Basel 2015, pastry chef extraordinaire Dominique Ansel hosted a “surprise” pop-up soft serve window at The Setai Miami Beach serving two frozen yogurt creations. The first was a Caramel Stout Soft Serve with Chocolate “Caviar” and Sea Salt Brownie and the second was his cult-favorite Burrata Soft Serve, Balsamic Caramel, Confit Strawberry and Microbasil, both served in hand-rolled honey tuile cones. Ansel sat with Chat Chow TV during the Basel madness to tell us more about the pop-up and some of his favorite sweet creations. Via Chat Chow

  • Michael Pirolo Makes Tortellini

    This past summer, Italian cuisine master and all around bad-ass chef, Michael Pirolo, prepared a private Italian feast filled with Prosciutto di Parma for some very lucky guests. The ham is almost as old as Italian cuisine itself with the earliest references to Prosciutto di Parma dating back all the way to Roman times around 100 BC. The ham has a very strict certification. By law it can only be produced in the gently rolling countryside surrounding the city of Parma in north central Italy. The ham must use Italian-born and bred pigs raised according to the highest standards on ...

  • Nina Compton / Compère Lapin

    Prior to filming Top Chef: New Orleans, Nina Compton, the Saint Lucia native and former Chef de Cuisine of Scarpetta had never been (but always wanted to go) to NOLA. While her original honeymoon plan to visit the French Quarter fell through, a different kind of passion landed her as runner up on Top Chef Season 11 and in the city she’d always yearned for. Obviously the rest is history as it’s no secret that Compton packed her knives in February in search of a Creole cooking future, which brings us to her new venture and little unknown secret: Compère ...

  • Dena Marino / MC Kitchen

    Veritage Miami 2015 is just a few days away and Chat Chow TV got to sit down with one of the event’s marquee cooks, Dena Marino of Design District’s MC Kitchen to find out more about her restaurant, its popular dishes and what to expect at this year’s Interactive Dinner. Marino got her training with acclaimed chef and restauranteur Michael C out in Napa Valley after a chance meeting with him. After working in his kitchen California kitchen for 6 years, he asked her to run his concept in Aspen where she stayed for the 13 years before coming to ...

  • Fabio Viviani / Siena Tavern Miami

    Last Fall, Chicago’s popular Siena Tavern opened its doors on Miami Beach in the iconic China Grill building. At the helm of the restaurant is the ever-charming Top Chef alum Fabio Viviani, who sat down with Chat Chow TV to talk all about Siena Tavern Miami location and its menu. Viviani has been working in kitchens since he was 11 years old in his native Italy. By the time he was 28 he was the owner of five different restaurants when he decided to sell them all and come to America. Since then he has opened several successful restaurants throughout the ...

  • Steve Santana / Taquiza

    Taquiza has become the go-to spot for authentic tacos and late night eats on Miami Beach. Started by Eating House and Freehand Miami alum Steve Santana, it serves up tacos on house-made masa that has everyone buzzing. Chat Chow TV sat down with Santana to find out more about them and the concept behind them. The fast casual restaurant, located on the first floor of the Eva Hotel, is a no-frills taqueria serving up seven different types of tacos to a standing-room only crowd. Santana emphasizes that everything in Taquiza is homemade right down to its masa corn tortillas, which uses ...

  • Corsair / Scott Conant

    Chopped judge, TV personality and the man behind plenty of the country’s top restaurants, Scott Conant, is back in South Florida with his newest concept, Corsair, inside Aventura’s Turnberry Isle Hotel. Chat Chow TV sat down with the charming chef to learn more about Corsair, its inspiration and what rituals he has for his restaurants. The welcoming restaurant located close to the property’s massive golf course plays off its maritime-inspired name with a warm palate and interior tones designed by popular designer Meyer Davis. “It’s a celebration of sorts of this area,” Conant adds about the design. The restaurant serves ...

  • Threefold Cafe / Teresa Sharp

    Threefold Cafe, Coral Gables’ newest all-day breakfast spot, serves up a unique combination of Australian dishes with a Florida twist. Opened this Summer by two Melbourne transplants, Teresa and Nick Sharp, they offers diners a taste of their native Australia dining philosophy with fresh local food. Chat Chow TV sat down Teresa to find out more about the restaurant, its extensive coffee offerings and some of the restaurant’s top dishes. The pair relocated to Coral Gables after Nick was transferred for work. Missing Melbourne’s “off the charts” coffee the duo decided to open Threefold Cafe. All the coffee is sourced ...

  • Ashley Danella / L’echon Brasserie / Provencal Sour

    Provencal Sour Contributed by Ashley Danella • 2 oz Bulleit® Bourbon • 1 oz Lavender Infused Honey Syrup • ¾ oz of Fresh Lemon Juice Add all ingredients, give it a good shake, strain over an old fashioned glass with ice and garnish with a fresh piece of lavender. Via Chat Chow

  • Product / Neat Ice Kit

    Do you have ice envy? Do you walk into your favorite watering hole and think, “wow, why doesn’t my ice at home look that clear and perfect?” We certainly do. Along with 2,274 other backers on Kickstarter. Luckily for us, we’ve found a solution to that problem with the Neat Ice Kit. The guys that created this kit figured out a way to freeze the ice in a special insulated silicon cube that allows the air and impurities to sink to the bottom and the clear water rise to the top. This way when the cube is made the upper ...

  • Ben Potts / Blackbird Ordinary / Barn Swallow

    Barn Swallow Contributed by Ben Potts • 1.5 oz Bulleit® Bourbon • 3/4 oz Byrrh Grand Quinquina • Dash of Lemongrass Tincture • Dash of Cherry Bark Vanilla Bitters Add all ingredients, stir over ice, strain over a rocks glass with a big ice cube and garnish with a lemon zest. Via Chat Chow

  • Pub-Shaker / Miami Spice Pop-Up Dinner

    Miami Spice Pop Up series are nothing new for the Pubbelly Boys. In years past, they have teamed up with guest chefs such as Giorgio Rapicavoli and Makoto Okuwa. These one night only events have been overwhelmingly successful with guests lining out the door. This year, the PB crew decided to take a different approach, one that will surely satisfy your cocktail craving. Without further ado – Pub-Shaker. That’s right… A sharing style menu created by Jose Mendin and James Seyba The Broken Shaker along with a cocktail menu pairing flight created by Elad Zvi & Gabe Orta. Mark your ...

  • Recap / June’s Miami Spice Mash-Up

    The 13th Annual Miami Spice Restaurant program kicks off in just a few weeks on August 1. This year to celebrate, the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) launched a series of special of monthly Miami Spice Mash-Ups, where chefs collaborate for a one-night only dinner and prepare dishes from their upcoming Spice menus. On Wednesday, June 25, J&G Grill at St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort kicked off the series with its Chef de Cusine Brad Kilgore and pastry chef Antonio Bachour creating a six-course menu with visiting Chef Jose Mendin of the Pubbelly family of restaurants. The intimate ...

  • Philip McDaniel / St. Augustine Distiller

    Florida is having a spirits renaissance thanks in part to the St. Augustine Distillery. Chat Chow TV sat down the distillery’s president and founding partner Philip McDaniel to found out more about the new craft distillery, its historic location and how it is stepping up St. Augustine’s “cool” factor. The distillery is the brain child of McDaniel and his fellow founding partner Ryan Dettra who were looking for new projects to take on in their adopted hometown of St. Augustine. They were intrigued by the idea of bringing a distillery to the area and went around the country researching and discovering ...

  • Josh Capon / Lure Fishbar

    With ocean views, a celebrity chef and the freshest seafood available, Lure Fishbar inside the Loews Miami Beach Hotel has quickly gained a large following since its opening in December 2013. Chat Chow TV sat down with Josh Capon, the Executive Chef and partner, to learn more about Lure, how it stacks up to the NYC outpost and what he has in store for Miami. Lure Fishbar has been an institution in NYC for more than 10 years — it’s so popular in fact that their was a social media outcry when rumors circulated that it may be closing. While ...

  • Father’s Day “Man’s Man” Giveaway

    Father’s Day is right around the corner and we want to celebrate the Man’s Man. So Chat Chow teamed up with Mandarine Napoléon for an Old Fashioned Gift Pack which includes a bottle of Mandarine Napoléon (750ml), a bottle of Wild Turkey Rye (750 ml), Stirrings Simple Syrup (12 oz), Angostura Bitters (4 oz), Cocktail Stirrer, Boston Shaker Set, Two Rocks Glasses and yes, even the citrus. And if that wasn’t enough, we are also throwing in a “Hot Shave Service” from our favorite barbershop, Junior & Hatter. All you have to do is follow/like us and our awesome buddies ...

  • #NegroniWeek 2014

    At Chat Chow TV, we are big fans of the Negroni. We are even bigger fans of giving back to the community while drinking a Negroni — and during Negroni Week (June 2 – 8, 2014) everyone will have the opportunity to do both. For Negroni Week, more than ten different restaurants and bars around Miami, and hundreds more around the country, will feature a Negroni Week special. A portion of the proceeds from each sale of the Negroni during that week will go to the charity of the venue’s choosing. But the it doesn’t stop there. If you check ...

  • Heath Porter / Uvaggio

    Tucked away on Coral Gables’ Miracle Mile is the new wine bar and restaurant Uvaggio. The cozy spot has garnered a lot of buzz because of its unique approach to wine and dining. Chat Chow TV sat down with Uvaggio’s Head Wine-O Heath Porter to learn more about the restaurant and its interesting take on the wine scene. Uvaggio is part dining experience and part wine bar, carrying around 700 different bottles of wine, by 120 different labels, and prides itself on carrying uncommon wine varieties. “Seems like everybody else wants to carry a lot of the same things, and that’s awesome ...

  • Erica Guzman / Aragon 101

    Aragon 101 is the home decor boutique and cooking school located in the heart of Coral Gables. Chat Chow TV sat down with owner Erica Guzman to learn more about the store and its popular cooking classes. “The idea behind the store is merging the idea cuisine and home decor,” Guzman notes. “We focus a lot on table top and how you can have a great meal with the perfect ambiance.” The cooking classes are held once a week for a group of 14 “students” of all varying levels. The classes are as interactive as attendees want them, with some people ...

  • Kevin D’Antonio / Dolce Italian

    Dolce Italian offers a contemporary take on Italian classics in the heart of Miami Beach. Located on Collins Avenue inside the Gale Hotel, the restaurant appeals to locals and visitors alike with its refined cuisine and approachable atmosphere. Chat Chow TV sat down with Dolce’s Director of Food and Beverage, Kevin D’Antonio, to learn more about the restaurant and its recent anniversary. Dolce prides itself on preparing its cuisine in true Italian fashion complete with pastas made in-house, mozzarella that’s pulled to order and pizzas prepared in a wood burning oven. “One of the best things about this restaurant is the moment ...

  • Daniel Boulud / db Bistro Moderne

    Daniel Boulud needs little introduction. The legendary French chef has won every culinary accolade known to man and owns and operates some of the best restaurants in the world. Chat Chow TV recently had the opportunity to sit down with Boulud to learn more about his delicious cuisine and newly released cookbook. For his Miami outpost, db Bistro Moderne, Boulud envisioned a classic French bistro that guests could frequent often with light, approachable fare. Along with the delectable food, Boulud notes that service is a very important element at all his restaurants and he and his team spend a lot ...

  • Jim Heins / Latin Burger And Taco

    The food truck that started the craze in Miami, Latin Burger and Taco, recently opened the doors on its first ever brick and mortar location in the heart of Coral Gables. Chat Chow TV sat down with owner Jim Heins to find out more about his new restaurant, its menu and its famous burgers. Guests can find the iconic look of the truck throughout the restaurant with the bright pink walls and black detailing. Decorating the walls is custom pop art of Heins’ favorite artists eating burgers, which is a nod to the restaurant and to Heins love of art. The restaurant’s ...

  • Carlos Miranda / Seasalt And Pepper

    Seasalt and Pepper is the hot new Mediterranean seafood restaurant garnering buzz around Miami for its delicious cuisine and star clientele. Chat Chow TV sat down with co-owner Carlos Miranda to learn more about the inspiration for the space and its unique vibe. The restaurant is prominently located on the Miami River inside of Howard Hughes’ former seaplane hanger. Miranda explains that it’s actually two concepts in one with Seasalt Brasserie serving as the restaurant and soon-to-be opened Pepper that will house a bar, lounge and members club. Throughout the elegant industrial space, patrons can not only soak up beautiful ...

  • Jeffrey Wolfe / Wolfe’s Wine Shoppe

    Wolfe’s Wine Shoppe, located in the heart of Coral Gables on Miracle Mile, has made a name for itself by carrying hard-to-find, hand selected wines chosen by owner Jeffery Wolfe. Chat Chow TV sat down with Wolfe to find out more about the store, its selections and the great promotions the store offers locals. When people arrive at Wolfe’s Wine Shoppe, the first conversation they have with Wolfe is paramount. Since the store only carries small batch wines that you can’t find everywhere, Wolfe makes it a point to find out what the customer likes so he can guide them in ...

  • Julian Baker / Toscana Divino

    Located in the middle square of Mary Brickell Village, Toscana Divino unites all things Tuscan. The gorgeous restaurant features classic dishes found throughout Tuscany along with seasonal ingredients and items directly imported from the region. Chat Chow TV sat down with Executive Chef Julian Baker to learn more about the menu and the restaurant’s unique Italian heritage. Toscana Divino was built from the ground up in partnership with the Italian consortium of leading Italian businesses of Wine and Fashion in Florence. Because of this partnership, the restaurant showcases Italian producers throughout the space with the art work, leather handbags, olive ...

  • Julio Cabrera / Regent Cocktail Club / Pilar Alexander

    Pilar Alexander Contributed by Julio Cabrera • 2oz Papa’s Pilar dark rum • 1oz White crème de cacao • 1oz Heavy cream • Fresh nutmeg Combine ingredients into shaker with ice, then strain into a coupe glass. Grate fresh nutmeg on top.

  • Fernanda Salinas / Pasion del Cielo

    Pasion del Cielo, located in the heart of Coral Gables, is on a mission to provide its customers with a completely unique coffee experience. Chat Chow TV met with the Pasion del Cielo’s operations director Fernanada Salinas to learn about the shop and its interesting selections. What sets this four-year-old coffee shop apart from others is its diverse amount of coffee choices. Pasion del Cielo carries 11 different varieties of organic coffee beans, which are carefully selected from some of the world’s most exotic countries. When ordering guests can also see a comparative chart that describes the levels of aroma, flavor, ...

  • Nedal Ahmad / Pincho Factory

    Local favorite Pincho Factory recently opened its second location in the heart of Coral Gables. With chalkboard painted walls, reclaimed wood tables and an inviting atmosphere, the restaurant has quickly been embraced by its new neighborhood. Chat Chow TV sat down with Pincho Factory owner Nedal Ahmad and learned more about the restaurant specialities and the inspirations for the menu. The restaurant gets its name from the skewers – or “pinchos” – that are prominently featured on the menu. Guests can customize them to their liking opting for steak, chicken or shrimp, served in either a salad, rice bowl or ...

  • Ryan Goodspeed / Michael’s Genuine / Makers Heart

    Makers Heart Contributed by Ryan Goodspeed • 3 Blackberries • 1 oz POM 100% Pomegranate Juice • ¼ oz Lemon Juice • 2 oz Bulleit Rye • ¾ oz Sweet Vermouth (preferably Carpano Antica) • 1 oz Simple Syrup • Dash of Orange Bitters In a mixing glass, combine first 3 ingredients. Muddle the ingredients, then fill mixing glass with ice. Add next three ingredients. Shake vigorously and strain into a sugar rimmed cocktail glass. Garnish with dash of orange bitters, orange peel and a blackberry.

  • Theo Von Ungern-Sternberg / Zuma

    Located inside the EPIC Hotel in the heart of Downtown Miami, Zuma is one of the most celebrated restaurants in the city. Known for its innovative Japanese cuisine, the restaurant also has one of the best bar programs in town. In this week’s episode, Chat Chow TV sat down with the man behind the bar, Beverage Manager Theo Von Ungern-Sternberg. The bar program at Zuma, notes Von Ungern-Sternberg, not only utilizes authentic Japanese equipment to prepare the drinks, but also uses influences from the restaurant’s kitchen to come up with their creative cocktails. “A lot of the techniques were perfected ...

  • Bulleit Bourbon Dinner at Swine Southern Table & Bar 9/23/13
    Bulleit Bourbon Dinner at Swine Southern Table & Bar 9/23/13

    Monday, September 23rd at 7pm Swine Southern Table & Bar 2415 Ponce De Leon Blvd Coral Gables, FL 33134 4 Courses and Bourbon Pairing $100 Person

  • Robert Ferrara / Swine Southern Table & Bar / Vieux Carre

    Vieux Carre Contributed by Robert Ferrara • 1 oz Bulleit Rye • 1 oz Sweet Vermouth • 1 oz VSOP Cognac • 1/4 oz Benedictine • Dash of Angostura Bitters • Dash of Peychaud Bitters Add all ingredients to a mixing glass and stir for 20-25 seconds. Strain it into a glass and top with ice. Garnish with a lemon twist to make it pop.

  • Thomas Merolla / The Hoxton / Honey Ryder

    Honey Ryder Contributed by Thomas Merolla • 2 oz Bulleit Rye • 3/4 oz Lemon Juice • 3/4 oz Cinnamon Honey Syrup • 1 Rosemary Sprig • 3 Blackberries • 3 dashes of Angostura Bitters Muddle blackberries in the bottom of a mixing glass, add remaining ingredients, add ice and shake for 10-seconds, double strain into a double rocks glass over one large 2X2 inch ice cube. Garnish with 1 skewered blackberry and rest a few small pieces of rosemary on top of the ice cube.

  • Isaac Grillo / HaVen / AdVise

    AdVise Contributed by Isaac Grillo • 1.25 oz Bulleit Bourbon • 3/4 oz Lemon Juice • 3/4 oz Simple Syrup • 1.25 oz Fresh Apricot Purée Add all ingredients, shake, strain over crushed ice and garnish with pink peppercorns.

  • Chat Chow Celebrates Bourbon Month

    It’s no secret that at Chat Chow TV we like our bourbon. A lot. So much so that we have decided to dedicate the entire month of September, which also happens to be national bourbon month, to our favorite beverage. We have teamed up with the fine folks over at Bulleit® Bourbon to bring you month filled with bourbon. We are rounding up the tastiest cocktails in the city, finding you the best happy hours around, featuring some of the top mixologists in Miami making their favorite bourbon concoction, partnering up with Swine Southern for a bourbon themed dinner, and ...

  • Todd Erickson / Huahua’s Taqueria

    From the creative minds that brought us Haven Lounge, comes South Beach’s new must-go-to taco restaurant, Huahua’s Taqueria. Located a few doors down from Haven, the taqueria boasts a menu filled with traditional and contemporary tacos, unique sides and enough hot sauce choices to make your head spin. Chat Chow TV sat down with Huahua’s Executive Chef Todd Erickson to learn more about the new concept and some of the exciting dishes guests can find on the menu. The idea for a taqueria was inspired by the concept of a ‘stationary’ food truck from one of the restaurant’s partners Mike ...

  • Mark Iacono / Lucali

    Located in the hip new South Beach neighborhood, Sunset Harbor, the Brooklyn import Lucali is serving up delicious, classic, paper-thin-crust pizzas that have quickly gained a cult following throughout the city. Sitting down with owner Marc Iacono, Chat Chow TV learned the some of the secrets to his famous pies, why he started in the pizza making business, and some of the challenges he faced bringing the popular restaurant to South Florida. “Everybody was talking the water, the water, the water, and you know, I’ve had some good pizzas down here,” says Iacono, addressing some of the hesitations he faced. ...

  • Antonio Bachour / St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort

    Antonio Bachour grew up in Puerto Rico and was hooked on pastry from a young age, thanks to a childhood spent in his family’s bakery. He went on to graduate from Johnson & Wales, and then spent his first few years honing his trade in Puerto Rico as a pastry cook at Sand Hotel and Casino and Westin Rio Mar before moving on to the Ritz-Carlton in San Juan, where he was pastry sous chef for two years. 2001 found Bachour States-bound, in Miami Beach, as pastry chef at Talula. And soon he was trying his hand at Italian delicacies ...

  • Jamie DeRosa / Tongue & Cheek

    South Beach just got even cheekier. Over in the South of Fifth neighborhood, collaborators Jamie DeRosa and Michael Reginbogin are reconstructing our notions of what constitutes a contemporary American dish. “Tongue & Cheek to me is whimsical, it’s fun,” explains DeRosa. “We have a play on words on a lot of things. We have a pudding pop on the menu that’s a popsicle. It started out as a chocolate popsicle and someone said, ‘This is better than a Bill Cosby pudding pop.’ And that became the name.” Other mouthfuls on the menu include a Beef Cheek burger that arrives sans the usual ...

  • Hung Huynh / Catch Miami

    Here in Miami, we get a lot of spillover from New York. Catch Miami, a new addition to Collins Avenue located in The James Royal Palm, can be included in that category—the restaurant’s flagship is in Manhattan. One meal, however, and it’s hard not to get a taste for this location’s noticeably distinct South Floridian flair. Chat Chow TV sat down with Hung Huynh, Top Chef Season Three winner and executive chef of Catch Miami, to discuss what, exactly, makes this version uniquely Miami. “Catch Miami is located in an Art Deco building which is landmarked in the Shorecrest building,” ...

  • Robert Ferrara / Swine Southern Table & Bar

    It seems 50 Eggs Restaurant Group can do no wrong. The gustatory geniuses behind South Beach successes Yardbird and Khong River House have taken their winning recipe to Coral Gables. Enter Swine Southern Table & Bar, your next downhome dining favorite. Chat Chow TV talked bacon and bourbon with Swine bar manager, Robert Ferrera. Swine’s cocktail program focuses heavily on its own on-site barrel-aged rums and ryes. “We’re actually creating our own original cocktails here,” explains Ferrera. “We have a full-sized Buffalo Trace barrel and right now we’ve got Cabajisco, a nice, beautiful, white spirit; Dolin Blanc Vermouth, so as that changes, it’s ...

  • Joshua Wagner / Regent Cocktail Club

    Newest to sprout in South Beach is the Regent Cocktail Club, a classic cocktail bar located at the back of the revamped Gale Hotel. Interested to hear about this new concept, Chat Chow TV schmoozed with Joshua Wagner, Miami’s after-hours aficionado and managing partner of Regent Cocktail Club, over Manhattans and Mint Juleps. “Everyone is jazzed up about new trends, food and beverage, everything along those lines,” Wagner observes. “But I think we also need to make the standards of what our basics are, what our pars are, what our standards are as a city. So classics, back to the ...

  • Albert Cabrera / Bread + Butter

    Yes, South Florida does need another Cuban joint. That is, if it’s delivered by chef and owner Albert Cabrera. Luckily, Cabrera is cooking up a new twist on Miami’s most ubiquitous recipes at Bread & Butter in Coral Gables. Chat Chow TV saddled up to Bread & Butter’s counter with the culinary genius for a second time (because he’s just that good) to discuss what he’s up to. Having coined the phrase “gastro counter” (a homey hybrid of a gastro pub and a Cuban cafeteria), Cabrera thinks Miami’s ready for a new take on Cuban food. “Cubans, you know, we’re very traditional ...

  • Thomas Connell / Fontainebleau Executive Chef / SOBEWFF

    Each year come February, the food and beverage industry’s best and brightest convene in Miami Beach for The Food Network’s South Beach Wine & Food Festival. Foodies from every corner flock to join them for four days of guzzling, gastronomy and pants-loosening. One of the weekend’s, well, best event, is the SOBEWFF’s Best of the Best held at the iconic Fontainebleau hotel, where 47 of the nation’s best restaurants serve up samples of their signature dishes. Fontainebleau Executive Chef Thomas Connell let Chat Chow TV in on his managerial style, and explained just how major this mouthwatering SOBEWFF experience is ...

  • Yannis Janssens / Lee & Marie’s Cakery Company

    This Valentine’s Day, trade in the box of chocolates for chocolate paint. Pastry chef Yannis Janssens at Lee & Marie’s Cakery Company highly recommends it with strawberries. Named for owner Andy Travaglia’s daughter’s grandmothers, Lee & Marie’s Cakery is a bakery-café hybrid that’s serving up a sweeter side in South Beach. Chat Chow TV shared an éclair with chef Janssens and talked sugar and spice, and everything nice. “Lee & Marie, both of them were famous for baking, of course,” explains Janssens. “Lee is famous for cheesecake and Marie is famous for the German chocolate cake. We still sell those. They’re actually ...

  • Carlos Larcada / Pao Town

    Carlos Larcada of Pao Town, an increasingly popular Asian fusion joint in Coral Gables, has some solid suggestions about how to scrumptiously wok-toss Brussels sprouts and why dry chicken wings are just better. And who doesn’t take the advice of a gentleman in a bowtie? Chat Chow TV pulled up a seat next to Larcada to discuss. “Pao Town really came out of food that everyone loves to eat,” Larcada explains. “We like to joke here that it’s the kind of food that you need to take into a corner, take your shirt off and eat every privately.” And yet, there’s nothing ...

  • Jose Mendin / PB Steak

    The Pubbelly boys are back at it again. In this episode of Chat Chow, we sit with PB Steak Executive Chef, Jose Mendin. This time they are branching out to include beef to their empire. A steakhouse with a difference. “PB Steak is a small-plate joint where you come in with your friends and have a variety of dishes. It’s not going be your steakhouse with bibb lettuce, new york strip and Creme brûlée. Steaks are meant to be shared. And we have extensive raw bar w/ different oysters, crudos, lobster, king crab, stone crab and more. We want you go ...

  • Chef Bee / Khong River House

    Chef Bee / Khong River House from Chat Chow TV on Vimeo. From the owners of Miami Beach’s southern-style eatery Yardbird comes Khong River House in Miami Beach. The inspiration for Khong River House emanates from founder John Kunkel’s passion for the celebrated foods prepared in the rural villages and city markets of Thailand, which he became enamored with while living and traveling extensively through its northern provinces. Chat Chow talks to Executive Chef Piyarat Potha Arreeratn (known as Chef Bee) who hails from the small town of Ban Sankhohiang in the Chiang Rai region. The cultures from Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia ...

  • Alejandro Ortiz / Acme Bakery Coffee

    Combining a Rockwellian aesthetic and a “Leave it to Beaver” charm and sensibility, Acme Bakery & Coffee’s “farmstead Americana” essence hearkens back to a wholesome era with an irresistible homey charm that is at once inviting and comfortable. Acme Bakery & Coffee is an artisanal bakery and café catering to Miami’s Biscayne/Mid-town/Design-District residents with a selection of fresh, artisan breads, handmade pastries, cakes, tarts and home-made candies combined with a limited-menu served in a casual sit-down environment.

  • Andrew Carmellini / The Dutch

    Andrew Carmellini is a two-time James Beard Award winner from New York City with a string of roaring hit restaurants including Locanda Verde inside Robert DeNiro’s Greenwich Hotel. You might even remember his Grandpa Carmellini if you were hanging out at Miami Beach’s Surf Club in the 40′s and 50′s. Andrew is also the author of two cookbooks, Urban Italian and American Flavor. About The Dutch The Dutch is an American restaurant that serves nice food, wine and spirits. We cook things that make us happy, like a seasonal green market salad; a deluxe steak with a tower of shellfish; tasty sandwiches; ...

  • The Grinder 02 / Lee Schrager

    The Grinder originally started as a written Q&A with folks who were involved with Burgers. This new version is produced by Chat Chow TV and is part interview, part roast and 100% fun. All guests do not know what exactly they are going be asked or be put through. But, hey those are the breaks if you’re gonna be on The Grinder. About Lee Shrager Lee Brian Schrager, one of the nation’s preeminent event planners and media relations experts, serves as the Vice President of Corporate Communications & National Events at Southern Wine & Spirits of America, Inc. He joined the company ...

  • Hedy Goldsmith / Baking Out Loud

    When speaking about can’t miss desserts, no other name in the region elicits a more passionate response than that of Hedy Goldsmith. Recently awarded a James Beard nomination (Outstanding Pastry Chef 2012), the Executive Pastry Chef of The Genuine Hospitality Group of restaurants (Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink in Miami and Grand Cayman, Harry’s Pizzeria in Miami) remains one of the most respected professionals in the country. With the October 2, 2012 release of her debut cookbook, BAKING OUT LOUD: Fun Desserts with Big Flavors (Clarkson Potter), Goldsmith is busier than ever. Now in her 3rd season of Cooking Channel’s Unique Sweets, she has ...

  • Daniel Serfer / Blue Collar

    Daniel Serfer, chef and owner made Blue Collar the type of restaurant that you always want to go to with friends and family. Blue Collar is a casual place that has a warm and inviting team whose only goal is to make sure you have a good time while you are there. The food offerings are plenty diverse and super tasty. Some of the favorites are the homemade pastas, shrimp and grits, and the pork and beans. The menu will surely have something that you will enjoy even if you are a vegetarian. It’s the kind of spot you would ...

  • The Grinder 01 / Nedal Ahmed

    The Grinder originally started as a written Q&A with folks who were involved with Burgers. This new version is produced by Chat Chow TV and is part interview, part roast and 100% fun. All guests do not know what exactly they are going be asked or be put through. But, hey those are the breaks if you’re gonna be on The Grinder. About Pincho Factory Cuts, Quality and Freshness are three things we take VERY seriously. Steak – Gorgeous Rib Eye aged for 25 days, marinated 24 hours before its served to you. Freedom of Choice is what Pincho Factory is all about. Choose ...

  • Joel Pollock / Panther Coffee

    If the aroma doesn’t convince you, the gentle roar of the pre-WWII Probat Perfekt Roaster will — Panther stands for Coffee. Period. And its mission is evident in everything husband-and-wife team Joel Pollock and Leticia Ramos Pollock put into their place. To begin with, every cup of coffee Panther serves is roasted on site, in small batches, each of which have their origin in farms personally-selected by the Pollocks for taste as well as and individuality. Both Joel and Leticia benefit from longstanding relationships with coffee producers throughout the world, and these friends and colleagues not only possess generations of knowledge ...

  • Matthew Sherman / Jugo Fresh

    JugoFresh is bringing a fresh and authentic new concept to Miami Beach that will get locals thinking outside the “juice box”. The new 870 sqft. juice bar, located at 1935 West Avenue (20th Street between West Avenue and Alton Road), in the emerging Sunset Harbour neighborhood, features more than 28 cold-pressed, alive juices pressed from organic fruits and vegetables. Creative concoctions for conscious consumption are broken down into several categories including green juice and pura vida (cold-pressed, innovative juice blends), detoxers ( citrus based mixes designed to rid the body of toxins) agua tuya (all alkaline water drinks) and dame leche ...

  • OLA / Horacio Rivadero

    Nationally acclaimed Latin Chef, Horacio Rivadero, has brought the essential flavors of Latin America to OLA Restaurant in Miami Beach.Begin your gastronomic adventure with a specialty mojito then be prepare to be blown away by Chef Rivadero’s’ world renown ceviches. Entrees are prepared with a creative combination of Pan Latin, Spanish and Caribbean flavors. Indulge in Crispy Pork with mustard Mojo, Beef Tenderloin Churrasco or Florida Sweet Corn Empanada. A culinary journey unlike anything you have ever experienced. Chef Horacio Rivadero was named recently by Food and Wine Magazine as” Best New Chef for the Gulf Region 2012″ and the ...

  • Aaron Brooks / EDGE Steak & Bar

    Brooks is excited to open EDGE, a modern take on the steakhouse in Miami on Brickell Avenue. His focus is on farm-to-table prime products, all-natural ingredients and perfect techniques. The better-tasting natural grass-fed beef – from family-owned Creekstone Farms in Arkansas – comes in smaller cuts; the intense heat of the special Infra-red grill it’s cooked on seals in juices and tenderness and creates a fabulous crust on the outside. There’s more meat and less fat to the slow-cooked Berkshire Pork belly from Iowa. As for the seafood, “We go local with mahi, Corvina, wahoo, stone crabs – they’re awesome, ...

  • Suzy Batlle / Azucar Ice Cream

    Suzy Batlle is a creative force to be reckoned with, in and out of the kitchen. She can whip up ice cream out of just about anything, make crafty seats out of old guayaberas and even lay down tiles. Most recently, she’s gaining fans with her new shop, Azucar Ice Cream Company, right in the heart of Little Havana.

  • Lyn Farmer / Wine Writer & United Way Miami Wine & Food Director

    Lyn Farmer is a widely published writer on wine and food and is Senior Editor of The Wine News magazine. His articles have been honored with the James Beard Foundation Award for best writing on wine and spirits, the most prestigious award in the wine and food. He has written widely on the wines of France and Italy and led many tastings and seminars on Italian wine in particular. Since 1999, he has been director of the Miami Wine and Food Festival, an annual event that has raised more than $10 million for charity. For a decade he was restaurant ...

  • Matthew Kush / LoKal Burgers & Beer

    LoKal, pronounced , debuts in Coconut Grove in mid-December 2011. Stemming from the German word for restaurant and meeting place, LoKal will live up to its definition of being a meeting place but will exceed all of its guests’ expectations by bringing sustainably and locally sourced ingredients paired with an industrial, raw edginess. Particularly suited to the Grove’s personality and bohemian reputation, Grovites will now have a place where they can satiate their comfort food cravings as well as their ideological inclinations.

  • The Meatball Joint Review

    The Meatball Joint is opening tomorrow (5/21/12) at the old King Kone on Alton and 15th. We had the opportunity to sample the whole menu tonight. The menu is pretty much laid out in a build-your-balls way. Get a pen and pick your meatball type (beef, turkey, veggie or a daily special), pick your sauce, and either go naked or choose a vessel from a sammy, slider or a sandwich. You can also add some good stuff on the side like roasted corn polenta, watercress pear salad, garlic bread, grilled veggies, pasta, etc….. Everything is under $10 with the exception ...

  • Giorgio Rapicavoli / Eating House

    Chef Giorgio Rapicavoli has accomplised an impressive lot for his young age (26). The passionate Miamian has led at a handful of respected restaurants, rubbed elbows with world-famous chefs, developed fairly profitable hobby at music and art, won a Food Network cooking contest and, most recentrly, is fulfilling his life-long dream of opening his very own dining establishment, eating house.

  • Michael Pirolo / Macchialina Taverna Rustica

    Macchialina Taverna Rustica is the culmination of Chef Michael Pirolo’s long culinary journey. His vision and inspiration have been shaped by everything from the Michelin honored kitchen he’s toiled in, to the late night street food he’s sampled along the way. The recipe is simple; clean flavors, fresh ingredients and rustic accents. The evening should start with samplings of “affetatti” (selections of salumi such as prosciutto, culatello, finocchiona, house made terrines, pâtés and sausages) and antipastos such as polenta board with cippolinis, sweetbreads & sausage or broccoli rabe al Cesare ( a fun take on a classic Caesar ) . ...

  • Macchialina Taverna Rustica Review

    Michael Pirolo (from Scarpetta) has teamed up w/ The Pubbelly Boys to create this amazing Italian Gastropub. We were fortunate enough to be their first guests at the new location (old Silvano’s on Alton and 8th) and try some of the dishes from the Pirolo. Needless to say, it is everything you expect… phenomenal Italian cuisine in its simplest form w/ an awesome and unpretentious twist – just like the rest of the Pubbelly cuisine. For example, the “Braised Short Rib Lasagna” sans tomato sauce. A take on a favorite salad,”Broccoli Rabe al Caesar” w/ hard boiled eggs and freshly ...

  • Sef Gonzalez / Burger Beast

    Sef Gonzalez, better known as Burger Beast, is a respected South Florida Food Blogger, with national reach, who writes about unique food experiences. Although his blog was originally created to find the best burger in Miami, it now represents a publication with the aim to shine light on the often overlooked, undiscovered, and unappreciated culinary gems of South Florida and other noteworthy destinations.

  • Grace Della / Miami Culinary Tours

    Miami Culinary Tours offers various Miami food tours including the Little Havana Food Tour, the South Beach Food Tour and the soon-to-be launched Miami City Food Tours. Almost unknown until recently, food tours in Miami are steadily conquering the palates of the most adventurous foodies worldwide. It is truly one of Miami’s most unique and delicious experiences. The food tours are conducted by passionate, food-obsessed personalities with vast knowledge of the Art Deco district and the efforts that MDPL continuously does to preserve the magnificent properties in the area. Miami Culinary Tours’ intends to provide attendees with a “one of ...

  • Eating House Brunch

    Pop-up sensation Eating House launched its new brunch “Wakin’ & Bacon” this past Sunday. Dishes were phenomenal: Carbonara eggs Benedict; Heirloom Homestead tomatoes with lime, ginger, peanuts, frozen coconut milk, herbs, and flowers; Cheech’s mexican chilaquiles; Cuban bread French toast; and Cap’n Crunch pancakes – all perfectly paired w/ $5 Tang mimosas.

  • 1 Year Anniversary / #ChatChowCheers

    In honor of our one-year anniversary, we decided to cook up something for all of our fellow foodies, both new and old. We’re calling it #ChatChowCheers and it begins April 1st (not a joke) and ends on April 30th. We’ll be randomly scouring the TwitterSphere for people thinking of, heading to or eating at any of the restaurants that have been featured on Chat Chow TV in the past year and we’ll send you money for a drink (courtesy of Chirpify) because the virtual transportation of alcoholic beverages is still only found in science fiction. All you need is a ...

  • Rachel Dominguez / The Dome Restaurant Bar Lounge

    Inspired by her Cuban-Russian heritage, Rachel Dominguez’s passions for the flavors of Latin America and the delicacy of caviar have led to the development of Coral Gables’ The Dome Restaurant · Bar · Lounge. Between Rachel’s time in South Florida and her world travels throughout Europe and the Orient, she has immersed herself in an abundance of different cultures which have inspired her to draw in the spirit of Miami swank, European industrial, and New York flair to The Dome, while bringing the tastes of Latin America to the table. About The Dome The Dome. Fresh ingredients. Florida farms. Unique combinations. Think ...

  • Gabriele Marewski / Dinner In Paradise

    In 1999 Gabriele Marewski purchased an abandoned five-acre avocado grove next door to her home, filled with a dream and the drive, founded Paradise Farms. About Dinner In Paradise Dinner in Paradise at Paradise Farms features the finest chefs in Miami preparing a delicious five course meal made with local organic products and paired with fine wines. The magic and charm of our lush edible landscape coupled with the finest chefs in Miami creates a uniquely intimate dining experience under the stars. Each year, we donate proceeds to a local charity or organization philosophically in line with our vision of sustainable, healing, ...

  • Sunny Oh / Laurent Cantineaux / Juvia

    Laurent Cantineaux, a protege of Daniel Boulud and Sunny Oh, formerly of Nobu South Beach serve a harmonious blend of the regional cuisines of Asia, the vibrant flavors of South America and classic French techniques in the form of ceviches, tiraditos, fresh seafood and prime meats. About Juvia Juvia is a 10,000 square foot indoor/ outdoor restaurant and lounge on the penthouse level of the parking garage by Herzog & de Meuron at 1111 Lincoln Road. Owned and operated by Jonas and Alexandra Millan of Bonito St. Barth, Juvia”s dining room features a vertical garden, designed by internationally acclaimed botanist Patrick Blanc, ...

  • Eleanor Hoh / Wok Star

    Eleanor is giving away 2 Free Tickets (valued at $130) to her next class on Tuesday, March 20th. We’ve heard stories that guys “score” with the ladies after taking her classes so comment below and tell us “Why YOU want to master the wok”! Learn more about the cooking classes. About Wok Star Wok Star Eleanor Hoh, cooking teacher, blogger and presenter. What I enjoy most is sharing my knowledge and love of wok cooking! My NO-RECIPE, NO-MEASURING, NO-CALORIE COUNTING technique for one-dish dinners uses a few fresh ingredients and only 4 seasonings! I’ll show you how with the right wok, the ...

  • Timon Balloo / Sugarcane Raw Bar Grill

    Executive Chef Timon Balloo: Executive Chef Timon Balloo brings to Sugarcane Raw Bar Grill a creative talent honed at such heavy-hitters at Domo Japones (Miami), SushiSamba (New York City), La Broche (Miami), Azul (under Miami’s own Michelle Bernstein), and the four-star Chef Allen’s in Miami. Balloo both embodies and imparts vivacity into the menu at Sugarcane, utilizing the three-kitchen approach to his culinary advantage. His signature creations such as the Bacon Wrapped Dates and Kobe Beef Sliders with tonkatsu and quail egg have garnered citywide acclaim. Under Balloo, Sugarcane has been named Restaurant of the Year Miami 2010 by Eater.com ...

  • Norman Van Aken / Tuyo

    Legendary chef Norman Van Aken is known internationally as “the founding father of New World Cuisine” for his celebration of Latin, Caribbean, Asian, African and American flavors. He is also known for introducing the concept of “fusion” to the culinary world. He is the chef and director of restaurants at the Miami Culinary Institute, and chef-owner of the fine dining restaurant NORMAN’S, at the Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes, Florida. The New York Times described NORMAN’S as Florida’s best restaurant, “and Norman Van Aken its best chef.” He is the only Floridian to have been inducted into the prestigious James Beard ...

  • Juvia Review
    Juvia Review

    Juvia, named after a brazilian nut is Asian / Peruvian fusion on top of the beautiful 1111 Building at the end (or the beginning? lol) of Lincoln Road. The chefs are all top notch and include a Daniel Boulud prodigy, to Sunny Oh from Nobu. We were greeted by a GM named Jaime  who sat us down and were immediately blown away by the atmosphere. Gorgeous rooftop, 20-25 foot tall organic vertical garden (created by a man from Taiwan that has apparently done wall gardens for Oprah and the Queen). The music was fantastic and we caught ourselves shazaming and purchasing ...

  • New Soul Of Miami Contributor: Gio Gutierrez
    New Soul Of Miami Contributor: Gio Gutierrez

    Welcome to new contributor: Gio Gutierrez Simply said… we love food, video and a great story. So on April 13th, 2011, we launched Chat Chow TV™, a mouth-watering video podcast where we go behind the scenes with the chefs, owners and mixologists of Florida’s celebrated food industry. Hosted by Lauren Bernat, the viral Wii Fit Girl sensation, the show consists of 6-10 minute episodes each individually highlighting some of our favorite food personalities. We hope you enjoy our content and the many more episodes to come. With that said, feel free to email us if you want to suggest someone, tell ...