Since 2009 David Rosendorf -- better known as Frodnesor on Twitter or by his blog, Food For Thought -- has offered even-keeled commentary on Miami's ever-changing scene. As a co-founder of Cobaya, Miami's not-so-underground underground-dining group, he and co-conspirators have helped set the city's gastronomic agenda while offering a one-of-a-kind platform for rising and established chefs.
Sakaya Kitchen's Richard Hales was one Cobaya's first guest chefs. Alex Talbot, of the popular Ideas in Food website cooked for the group in 2011. Rosendorf was a staunch supporter of Sustain, the now-closed Midtown restaurant with a hyperlocal focus. The Dutch's Andrew Carmellini cooked for Cobaya and shortly after opening his Miami Beach restaurant, and later played host to a $250-per-plate fundraiser that started with a tweet.
More than anything, where Frodnesor goes, the masses (and many of his fellow bloggers) follow.
The most influential person in my career has been...
Norman Van Aken. A 25th birthday dinner at his restaurant A Mano on South Beach -- which was a long time ago -- still stands out in my mind as a meal that kindled my interest in food and cooking. But it's not just that -- it was that he read, not just the food writers but "real" literature, and found ways of connecting food and writing and music and travel that really resonated with and inspired me.
When I'm alone and in need of comfort, (and no one is there to watch or judge) the one food or drink I turn to is...
Spaghetti with canned anchovies. I can only make it when there's no one else in the house. [It's] garlic, olive oil, a can of nice jarred anchovies, a little onion if you want, capers if you got 'em and bread crumbs on top. It's like a hurricane dish because everything can come out of the pantry."
What does Miami need more of?
Specialty shops. Fishmongers, butchers, or consistently good produce vendors. More of the kind of specialists like Momi Ramen or Lucali Pizza. Places that just try to do one thing well instead of trying to do everything.
You get to vote one food or beverage trend off the island forever - what is it?
Asian tacos. Enough is enough.
You have unlimited funds to open a restaurant or bar -- what's the name and what do you serve?
It'd be the Cobaya Kitchen and we'd have a rotating chef every couple of weeks.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
I hope to be doing largely the same thing with more and better places here in Miami to write about, and hopefully even more travels to go visit those places I've always wanted to and eat.
Dream dinner party for six: Who (living or dead) are you inviting?
Jonathan Gold, Martin Picard from Au Pied du Cochon, Benjamin Franklin, I think he'd be a good eater, Sean Brock because he'll bring some pappy, Jay Rayner for smart alec commentary, and why not Ferran Adrià, though I don't know that anybody will understand what he's saying.
New Times' Best of Miami 2013 issue arrives June 13. To celebrate, Short Order is serving up the top 30 tastemakers in the 305. These people have helped shape the Miami food scene into what it is today. We began with number 30 and will lead up to the county's number one.
2013 Tastemakers
26. Todd Erickson of Haven Gastro-Lounge
25. Keith Kalmanowicz of Earth N' Us Farm
24. Victoria Nodarse and Aimee Ortega of Spice Galore
23. Tom Wilfong and Vanessa Safie of Copperpots
22. Robert Montero of the Cypress Room
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