This Is The Best Florida Restaurant In 2024

That's right, This is the best Florida restaurant in 2024! Are you a foodie like myself, and always looking for the best places to eat in Florida? Well, you have come to the right article. The restaurant which received one of the highest culinary honors is located in Miami which is about 4 hours form where I live in St. Petersburg. Have any idea what that restaurant is? It received 2 Michelin Stars which means it's the best Florida restaurant in 2024.

According to the Fine Dinning Lovers website, "A Michelin star is the ultimate hallmark of culinary excellence. Michelin stars are awarded to restaurants judged to be of a particularly high standard. Eateries that make the grade can be awarded one, two, or three stars, and the accolade is much-coveted by chefs around the world." How are these awarded? The stars are awarded by anonymous food experts known as the Michelin Inspectors. Inspectors are passionate and have a lot of knowledge about food. They must pay good attention to detail and the ability to blend in with ordinary customers. Most are veterans in the hospitality industry.

The highest amount of Michelin stars you can receive is 3! One star means the restaurant has high quality cooking and it's worth eating there. Only a tiny portion of restaurants worldwide holds one star. Two stars means the restaurant has excellent cooking and it's worth taking a detour. Three stars means the place has exceptional cuisine and worth traveling there. There has not been a restaurant to receive 3 stars yet, but there is one the received 2.

According to bonappatit.com, L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon is the only Florida restaurant to receive 2 Michelin stars in 2024! As stated above that means the restaurant has excellent cooking and it's worth taking a detour. This restaurant is located in Miami and according to their website "L'Atelier is the visionary creation of Joël Robuchon, combining gastronomic cuisine with a unique atmosphere of relaxed conviviality and interaction with an open kitchen."

This seems like a great restaurant. Ever been? How was was it? Feel free to email me Babs@wild941.com.

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Some say Tampa isn't a foodie city, but I'd respectfully disagree. Tampa is a melting pot of different cultures and cuisines, making it a foodie paradise. Some Tampa chefs have even made one (or multiple) appearances on The Food Network and its most popular shows like Chopped, Guys Grocery Games, and more.

Shows on The Food Network have become some of my favorite programs to watch. And it's even more exciting to watch when I have a local Tampa chef to root for. The Food Network has brought many shows to the Tampa Bay area like Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, Man vs. Food Nation, FoodNation with Bobby Flay, and more. Currently I'm binging all the new episodes of Wildcard Kitchen and 24 in 24: Last Chef Standing.

Not only have professional chefs competed against some of the best in the country. But even a Tampa Bay teen competed on Chopped Jr. just a few years ago. Virann Welbourn competed in 2019 on the popular Food Network show. She took home the grand prize of $10,000. Virann was only 13 at the time of her win. I hope she's still killing it in the kitchen and looking into starting her own restaurant one day.

Tampa has been making some splashes in the culinary world recently. 6 Tampa restaurants were added to the Michelin Guide in 2024. Supernatural Food & Wine, Predalina, Streetlight Taco, The Pearl, Ebbe, and Kōsen were all added to the guide. In 2022, Tampa's first-ever Michelin stars were awarded to Rocca, Koya and Lilac.

Are you a Food Network fanatic? Know any Tampa chefs that competed on any shows we missed? Feel free to shout them out on social media!

Chef Johnathan Rodriguez is the most recent Tampa chef to compete on the Food Network. He recently competed on Season 6 (Episode 5) of Supermarket Stakeout. Host Alex Guarnaschelli gives 3 chefs $500 to spend on groceries, but needs to last 3 stake outs and dish up a continental breakfast. This episode airs May 15 at 9pm.

Chef Jada Vidal is not only a Chopped champion, but she's appeared on "Guy’s Grocery Games" (and won $20,000) and "Beach Brawl." You can try her delicious meals at Noble Rice. You can stream Jada's Chopped episode (season 56 episode 721) on Max.

Ronicca is the owner of the Shiso Crispy food truck and restaurant. She's competed multiple times on the fan favorite Guys Grocery Games. She won her first competition and came back and competed against other champions in the Summer Games. I just recently watched her episode and it's hilarious watching her run around the set compared to her other competitors. She recently opened up the Shiso Crispy restaurant in Downtown St. Pete, more info on that location here.

Chef Brenda Villacorta is a Tampa local who was professionally trained in New York. She competed on season 4 of Halloween Baking Championship, and on Cake Wars Christmas. She's even taken home top prizes from these competitions. Brenda opened up Sucré Table in 2020, you can see her at 4048 W Kennedy Blvd.

Chef David Benstock appeared on the popular cable network show “Beat Bobby Flay,” in 2019 and did just that. His episode ended up airing way later thanks to the pandemic. You can try his delicious Italian cuisine at Il Ritorno in St. Pete.

Another Tampa chef to compete (and win) on Beat Bobby Flay is Michael Buttacavolli (Chef at Cena). He beat Bobby Flay with his famous meatball recipe, which you can still try at Cena in Downtown Tampa.

Chef Rosana Rivera made history by being the first Latina chef to win Beat Bobby Flay. She competed with her husband Chef Ricardo Castro back in 2019 and the episode aired back on December 26.