Giorgio Rapicavoli was the first Miami winner of Food Network's Chopped. He used the momentum of his win to open a pop-up restaurant on Ponce named Eating House. The concept was so successful that Rapicavoli ended up taking over the space and turning Eating House into a permanent fixture. Recently named on of Forbes' Top 30 under 30 for Food & Wine, the mouthy chef known for his spot-on flavors, snark, and swagger shows no signs of slowing down.
The most influential person in my career has been:
My mother. She was always pushing me to believe in myself and do what I loved. She's the reason I got in the kitchen to begin with.
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:
A spoonful of Nutella with salt on it or with Cheetos puffs if I'm really feeling the munchies.
What does Miami need more of?
Smaller chef-driven restaurants like Blue Collar, Sakaya, Macchialina, Pubbelly
and Bread & Butter. Places like these are what help define and build a culinary "scene."
You get to vote one food or beverage trend off the island forever -- what is it?
Truffle mac & cheese or balsamic reductions.
You have unlimited funds to open a restaurant or bar -- what's the name and what do you serve?
The name would probably be Piana. It would be a small 8-12 seat restaurant serving one tasting menu a night that changes daily.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
Hopefully in a restaurant group with Alex and Henry owning a couple places north of Ponce.
Dream dinner party for six: Who (living or dead) are you inviting?
This is like the culinary version of fuck/marry/kill. 1. My grandfather 2. Notorious BIG 3. Thomas Keller 4. Gina Gershon 5. John Vanbeisbrouck 6. Shoshana from HBO's Girls.
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. A Q&A session is included in each post.
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
21. Frodnesor of Food For Thought
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