Chef Norman Van Aken - Recommendations - Find. Eat. Drink.
Chef Norman Van Aken, Recommendations, Florida, Orlando, FL, Miami, Miami Beach, Downtown, North Miami Beach, Little Havana, Key West, Asian, American, Where to eat in Miami, Where to eat in the Florida Keys, Southern, South, Marathon, Stock Island, Bars, Restaurants, Books, Drinks
Chef Norman Van Aken, Norman’s, Norman’s 180, Coral Gables, Orlando, Florida, FL, Fusion Cooking, New World Cuisine, Cookbooks, Where to eat in Florida, Norman’s Recommendations, Chef Recommendations
GRAZIANO’S
Coral Gables
394 Giralda Avenue, Coral Gables, FL 33134 (view map)
T: 305 774 3599 (make a reservation)
Bird Road Location
3922 SW 92nd Ave, Miami, FL 33165 (view map)
T: 305 221 6818
Excellent grilled and Asador cooked Argentine meats, pastas. Good wines.
Coral Gables
Argentinean / Steakhouse / Italian
COPAS Y TAPAS
98 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables, FL 33134 (view map)
T: 305.774.0927
Spanish sandwiches plus tapas and wine.
Coral Gables
Spanish
Restaurants - Miami - Florida
4000 NE 2nd Avenue, Miami, Florida 33137 (view map)
T: 305.573.5474 (make a reservation)
Nice setting for Michelle’s take on tapas.
Design District
Tapas / Small Plates
130 Northeast 40th Street, Miami, FL 33137 (view map)
T: 305.573.5550 (make a reservation)
Brunch spot we enjoy.
Design District
Contemporary American
DB BISTRO
www.danielnyc.com/dbbistromiami.html
255 Biscayne Boulevard Way, Miami, FL 33131 (view map)
T: 305.421.8800
Downtown
French Bistro / Contemporary American
Fish sandwiches/fried shrimp place.
Little Havana
Seafood
NOBU
1901 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33139 (view map)
T: .305.695.3232 (make a reservation)
Chef Thomas Buckley is still doing great quality food. Expensive.
Miami Beach
Japanese
JOE’S STONE CRAB
Historic.
Miami Beach
Seafood
HIRO’S YAKKO SAN
Chef late night hang out.
North Miami Beach
Japanese
TED’S HIDEAWAY
124 2nd Street, Miami Beach, FL 33139 (view map)
T: 305.532.9869
Hip dive bar on Miami Beach.
Miami Beach
Bar
Bars - Miami Beach - Florida
MAC’S CLUB DEUCE
222 14th Street, Miami Beach, FL 33139 (view map)
T: 305.531.6200
Classic dive bar. You never know who is gonna be there, but it’s likely to be good. Tony Bourdain and I love this place.
Miami Beach
Bar
Coral Gables
Design District
Downtown
MINT LEAF
276 Alhambra Circle, Coral Gables, FL 33134 (view map)
T: 305.443.3739 (make a reservation)
For Indian food. I love the breads.
Coral Gables
Indian
GREEN GABLES CAFE
The place I call “The Hippie Café” with salads, etc.
Coral Gables
Organic
HY VONG
Long time Locals Favorite for Vietnamese food.
Vietnamese
Little Havana
Little Havana
L.C. ROTI SHOP
19505 NW 2nd Avenue, Miami, FL 33169 (view map)
T: 305.651.8924
The place is a hoot!
Miami Gardens
Caribbean
SAKAYA KITCHEN
Kind of fast food set up, Asian food.
Midtown
Asian Fusion
Midtown
Miami Gardens
HAKKASAN
Fontainebleau Hotel
4441 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33140 (view map)
T: 877.326.7412 (make a reservation)
Expensive, but if you are in the mood.
Miami Beach
Chinese / Dim Sum
Miami Beach
Miami Beach
EL PALACIO DE LOS JUGOS
5721 West Flagler, Miami, FL 33144 (view map)
T: 305.264.4557
Latin produce market with simple foods. Great vibe.
Flagami
Latin American / Fruits / Vegetables
Markets / Produce - Miami - Florida
JAPANESE VILLAGE MARKET
1412 79th Street Causeway, North Bay Village, FL 33141 (view map)
T: 305.861.0143
Best days are Thursday through Sunday, he has fish flown in from Japan.
North Bay Village
Market
ANTOJITOS MEXICANOS
436 N. Krome Avenue, Homestead, FL 33030
T: 305.242.1226
It’s a tiny restaurant in Homestead. Go for anything. Soups are amazing. So are Pupusas.
Homestead
Mexican / El Salvadoran
Restaurants - Homestead - Florida
MORENO’S
439 W Palm Drive, Homestead, FL 33034
T: 305.248.8100
If you want fresh corn tortillas stop, at Moreno's. Tiny bodega.
Homestead
Tortillas / Spices / Market
Markets / Produce - Homestead - Florida
ROBERT IS HERE
Robert’s been doing it for a long time and I really like the place.
Homestead
Fruit & Farm Stand
EL SIBONEY
Cuban family place with authentic Cuban/Key West fare. Lunch.
Marathon
Cuban
Restaurants - The Florida Keys - Florida
Marathon
HOGFISH BAR AND GRILL
Hard to find place, but it is like the original classic joints of Key West back in the day. Their “specials” are a good bet. You might enjoy its raffish charms.
Stock Island
Seafood
Stock Island
5 Brothers Grocery and Sandwich Shop
I’ve been going forever. Besides excellent Cafe con Leche they make a kind of Black Eye Pea Fritter called (in Key West) "Bollos." Warning: that word is a euphemism for a woman's most personal area in Spanish. I have been taken to task on that one!
Key West
Cuban
Restaurants - Key West - Florida
Casual
BAD BOY BURRITO
Chris Otten’s little spot on Simonton. Chris is a bright light on this island!
Key West
Mexican
B.O.'S FISH WAGON
Key West
American
EL SIBONEY
Cuban family place with authentic Cuban/Key West fare. Lunch.
Key West
Cuban
LE CREPERIE
Charming place run by 2 French women. (Across from Blue Heaven). Go.
Key West
French
NINE ONE FIVE
Dinner. There is an upstairs lounge now called Point 5.
Key West
New American
PANINI PANINI
1075 Duval Street, #C10, Key West, FL 33040
T: 305.296.2002
Sandwiches and salads by a chef.
Key West
Sandwiches
PEPE’S CAFE
Tiny and laid back local hangout.
Key West
American
THE BANANA CAFE
On the “upper end” of Duval. Breakfast. Charming ambience.
Key West
French
THE HALF SHELL RAW BAR
Fried seafood and beer joint.
Key West
Seafood
SANTIAGO’S BODEGA
Tapas in Old Town. I think they might have just expanded.
Key West
Spanish / Tapas
TURTLE KRAALS
Great view from the rooftop bar.
Key West
Seafood
ANTONIA’S
It has an Italian/American style and has been there 20 years.
Key West
Italian
More Upscale
AZUR
Has some promise. In the Eden House Hotel.
Key West
Mediterranean
CAFE MARQUESA
Chef Susan Ferry. In a great small/historic hotel.
Key West
New American
LA TRATTORIA / VIRGILIO’S
It gets tourists in that location. There is a bar attached called Virgilio’s which can have good music at times.
Key West
Italian
SALUTÉ
It is a nice setting. Food is uneven.
Key West
Italian
THE PORCH
429 Caroline Street, Ste 2, Key West, FL 33040
T: 305.517.6358
Craft Beers in a nice setting.
Key West
Bar
Bars - Key West - Florida
THE GREEN PARROT BAR
The Green Parrot is the best bar. No food but a pizza thing next door. Great live music scene.
Key West
Bar
VINOS
It has about 30 seats and a little balcony on the street, so you can sit out there and watch people walk up and down Duval Street. It’s kind of on the quieter side of Duval Street, so it’s very relaxing.
Key West
Wine Bar
ANIMAL, VEGETABLE, MIRACLE
This book was one that my son, Justin put in my hands and told me to read. It has been instrumental to our renewed vision for our company.
Purchase on Amazon.com
Author: Barbara Kingsolver
BOOKS
WHY WE EAT WHAT WE EAT: How Columbus Changed the Way the World Eats
It’s a book about the transitions that occurred right after Columbus discovered American and everything that came about in a huge hurry after the Columbian exchange across the entirety of the planet.
Purchase on Amazon.com
Author: Raymond Sokolov
CULTURE AND CUISINE
It sparked me to write Fusion Cuisine and it’s the book that I would take to the desert island.
Purchase on Amazon.com
Author: Jean-Francois Revel
THE CRACKED CONCH CAFE
Everyone should experience the joys of "cracked conch" in the Keys and this place has been doing it a long time.
Marathon
Seafood
The Islamorada Fish Company
Fantastic views with the seating being right on the water. Very good "peel and eat shrimp" and a "famous" fish sandwich.
Islamorada
Seafood
Islamorada
BLUE HEAVEN
Drinks or breakfast is my preference.
Key West
Floribbean
Chef Norman Van Aken | Recommendations
Recipe for Conch Salad with Watermelon from chef Norman Van Aken.
March 17, 2011
Norman’s - Orlando, FL | Tuyo - Miami, FL
Who
Chef Norman Van Aken is the author of five cookbooks, executive chef of Norman’s in Orlando and consulting chef for Norman’s 180 in Coral Gables.
Why
He’s credited with coining the term “Fusion Cooking” and is known as “the founding father of New World Cuisine” -- a mixture of Latin, Caribbean, Asian, African and American flavors.
Cookbooks
- My Key West Kitchen: Recipes and Stories [buy it]
- New World Kitchen : Latin American and Caribbean Cuisine [buy it]
- Norman's New World Cuisine [buy it]
- Norman Van Aken's Feast of Sunlight [buy it]
- The Great Exotic Fruit Book: A Handbook with Recipes [buy it]
Photo courtesy of Norman Van Aken
Recommendations
