Chef Brandon McGlamery, Orlando, FL, Florida, Luma On Park, Prato, Where to eat, Where to drink, Where to shop, Best restaurants in Orlando, Seafood, Cheeseburgers, Winter Park, FL, Florida, Orlandol Hollywood, New Smyrna Beach, Sanford, St. Pete, St. Petersburg Beach, Cabbage Key, Boca Grande, Spices, Salt, Pepper, Fennel Pollen
Photographs courtesy of Brandon McGlamery & Prato
Who
Brandon McGlamery is the executive chef of Prato and Luma On Park in Winter Park, Florida.
Why
Chef McGlamery honed his craft in the kitchens of Delfina in San Francisco, French Laundry in Napa, and Chez Panisse in Berkeley before joining Luma on Park in 2006.
Chef Brandon McGlamery | Luma On Park & Prato
March 19, 2012
Winter Park, FL
Q & A with Chef Brandon McGlamery
Q. For people who have never been to your restaurants, can we get a brief description and dishes to try?
A. We really try to stick to seasonally-directed and ingredient-driven as our motto, and it’s in all that we do at both restaurants.
Luma on Park
It’s more of our version of new American cuisine with a strong respect for technique and innovation with common (and sometimes not so common) foods. For example, these are some recent menu dishes -- Ocala rabbit Bratwurst with Turnip Sauerkraut and Chestnuts, and 48 Hour Waygu Beef Short Rib with Black Truffle Cavatelli, Apples and Brussels Sprout Leaves.
Prato
We cook with a strong reference that is Italian-inspired, with dishes cooked in our two Acunto ovens which we imported from Naples, Italy. All of our pasta is either rolled or extruded here. The menu is a lot simpler at Prato than Luma, which is harder to pull off because you have less to hide behind, so it’s important that all of our ingredients are top notch. Menu examples are -- Pea Shoot Spaghettini with Porcini Mushroom Carbonara and Fennel, and Florida Red Snapper Crudo with Avocado, Radish and Blood Orange.
Luma On Park
Winter Park
Contemporary American
290 S. Park Avenue
Winter Park, FL 32789
T: 407.599.4111 (make a reservation)
Website:
Hours:
Bar
Mon - Sun: 4pm - close
Dinner
Mon - Sun: 5:30pm - close
Prato
Winter Park
Italian
124 North Park Avenue
Winter Park, FL 32789
T: 407.262.0050 (make a reservation)
Website:
Hours:
Wed- Sun: 11:30am - 3pm
Mon - Sat: 5:30pm - 12:30am
Sun : 5:30pm - 11:30pm
Q & A
Cooking Advice & Tips
Spices
Cooking With Spices | Layer
I’m a huge believer in seasoning in layers, so when you’re cooking onions first for a tomato soup, it’s important to season the onions as you’re first cooking them to pull and extract as much of the flavors as possible, and seasoning the tomatoes when you add them, and so on. And seasoning at the last minute is very minimal, because you seasoned as you added layers in the cooking process.
Storing Them
I recommend that you store all spices in airtight containers and buy them in small quantities, so that you can easily replenish them as you use them and keep a fresh rotating stock.
Chef’s Recs
Pimenton D’Espelette | Fennel Pollen | Maldon Sea Salt
Find | Ingredients
Piment D’Espelette A.O.C.
We have a love affair with Espellete pepper for its ability to add sweetness at the same time as a hit of spice.
Fennel Pollen
For its pure flavor pop on certain items like fish or soups.
Kosher Salt
I love kosher salt to season all food. I find it easy to gauge in your fingertips as to the exact amount that is desired, where as fine sea salt you could easily over season.
Maldon Salt
I love Maldon Salt for its flaky texture and how it feels on the tongue. It’s funny that salt is the only rock we eat, or so I’ve been told.
[See details.]
Chef’s Recs | Florida
Winter Park Farmers Market | Meat House Butchers Shop
Photographs courtesy of Winter Park Farmers Market | Meat House Butcher Shop
Find | Food Markets & Stores
Winter Park Farmers Market
It’s great on Saturday mornings.
Meat House Butcher Shop
They have killer meats, great beers and cheeses. They are a very welcomed addition to our wonderful and growing food scene down here in Central Florida.
[See details.]
Eat | Restaurants
The Garden at Primo | Sushi at Shin | Mussels at Ravenous Pig
Photographs courtesy of Primo | Shin | Ravenous Pig
Restaurants I’d Take A Visiting Chef
Orlando | Primo
I love Melissa Kelly’s place in the JW Marriott, plus they have a creek behind the hotel where you can canoe! It is actually the headwaters to the Florida everglades.
Orlando | Shin
I love Ken, my sushi guru at Shin. He is also a great fisherman and has extensive knowledge on all types of fish.
Winter Park | Ravenous Pig
I have a lot of admiration and respect for my friends at the Ravenous Pig. They are putting their stamp on our food scene.
[See details.]
German Food at The Willow Tree
Photographs courtesy of The Willow Tree
Off The Beaten Track
Sanford | The Willow Tree
Awesome German food.
[See details.]
JB’s Fish Camp
Photographs courtesy of JB’s Fish Camp
New Smyrna Beach | JB’s Fish Camp
I love the clams and they actually have the clam farm behind the restaurant. They are also the only clams I purchase for my restaurants. Anyone can buy them onsite to take home.
[See details.]
Cabbage Key Inn & Restaurant | The Pink Elephant | Camelia Street Grill
Photographs courtesy of Cabbage Key Inn & Restaurant | The Pink Elephant | Camelia Street Grill
Old School Classic Florida
St. Petersburg Beach | The Hurricane
For smoked mullet and saltine crackers.
[See details.]
Cabbage Key | Cabbage Key Inn & Restaurant
For cheeseburgers.
[See details.]
Boca Grande | The Pink Elephant
Gasparilla Island becomes my home during the tarpon season. It has amazing conch fritters, as well as great fish sandwiches. You can pull your boat up and then hit the tarpon again in the evening or call it a day after a couple strong salty margaritas, backed up by some beers.
Boca Grande | Temptations
For the crab dip.
Boca Grande | Loose Caboose
For the island grouper wrap.
[See details.]
Everglades City | Camelia Street Grill
For swamp cabbage (hearts of palm) salad with stone crabs.
[See details.]
Hollywood | Le Tub
The best burgers in the country.
[See details.]
Recipes
Recommendations
Details of Brandon McGlamery’s recommendations for where to eat, drink and shop in Florida.
City Guides
- Tampa Bay Area: Download
- Florida Keys: Download | Online
- Miami / Homestead: Download