The MICHELIN Guide Florida 2026 announcement is set for May 28, and this year, everything feels different.

With the guide going fully statewide and the ceremony officially gone, the rules, the rhythm, and the expectations are all shifting. But what does that actually mean for Miami and for Florida as a whole?

In this episode, dropping just ahead of the reveal, I break down the context you need before the results go live.

It’s not about spoiling predictions, it’s really about understanding the framework behind them. If last year taught us anything, it’s that most people react to the guide without fully understanding how it behaves and what it values.

You’ll hear:

• Which current starred restaurants I believe are secure and which ones are quietly vulnerable
• Where I see potential star losses (yes, we’re going there)
• The strongest contenders for new stars, including the ones that feel inevitable vs. the true wild cards
• The only restaurant I believe is pressing toward two-star territory and whether Michelin will actually make that move
• Which long-overlooked spots deserve to finally break through
• My take on Bib Gourmand shifts, new additions, and where Michelin may expand its footprint across the state
• The wildcard regions (including areas outside Miami) that could reshape the conversation entirely

It’s all about perspective from years of dining across Michelin-starred restaurants in the U.S. and abroad. I break down the patterns, the blind spots, and the signals some keep missing. Listen in, and decide for yourself where Florida really stands before the guide makes it official.

Michelin Guide Florida announcement: May 28

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From Cancer Survivor to Pitmaster: The Story Behind Apocalypse Barbecue

Miami may be known for cafecito and croquetas, but in this episode we’re talking about another side of the city’s food story: barbecue.

In this episode, I sit down with Jeff Budnechky, the brawn behind Apocalypse BBQ, to discuss:

• his childhood growing up in Miami and the early hustle mentality that shaped him
• his experience as a two-time cancer survivor and how those battles changed his outlook on life
• how cooking at home became both comfort and creative outlet during an incredibly difficult chapter
• how Apocalypse Barbecue began
• what it meant to build a barbecue concept in a city not traditionally known for barbecue
• how Apocalypse created a distinctly Miami identity through flavors like cafecito, Cuban bread, mojo, and more
• the role of branding, music, vinyl, and atmosphere in shaping the guest experience
• how community support helped turn Apocalypse from a pop-up into a movement
• the realities of balancing marriage, business, growth, and high standards
• the new concepts and future projects currently in the works
• what a Michelin star would represent for a barbecue concept like this

This episode is about much more than smoked meat.

If love food stories with heart, hustle, and a strong sense of 305 pride, this one is worth a listen.

Listen now, share the episode, and tag us on social media with your favorite takeaway. Every listen, share, save, and comment helps support my work and keeps The Whet Palette going.

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Cheers!

Brenda

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Fort Lauderdale is having a moment, and Chef Jonathan Kaiser is part of the reason why.

In this episode, I sit down with the South Florida native and the chef leading Calusso at Pier Sixty-Six Resort to talk about his journey from early kitchen obsession to high-level fine dining. We dig into what he learned cooking under Joël Robuchon in Las Vegas, why sauce is everything, the tiny details that make a restaurant feel truly luxurious, and what it takes to keep standards sky-high when you’re pushing serious covers.

Also: the origin story behind his Instagram name, his obsession with consistency, the cheese dessert I’m obsessed with, and the restaurants he actually sneaks off to when he’s not running a kitchen. Hint: it has the word PANDA in the name. Yup, that one.

If you’re curious about Fort Lauderdale’s culinary glow-up, what Michelin standards look like behind the pass, or why “luxury” is really just a thousand tiny decisions done correctly, this one’s for you.

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or on any major podcast platform.

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Cheers!

Brenda

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