Is this the most-Miami cookbook? These top chefs share their favorite secret recipes
Make those Coyo Taco carnitas tacos at home. Or that “sexy salad” from Nikki Beach.
Just when Miami is looking for new things to cook during its extended break from restaurants, a local writer has put together a new cookbook with recipes from some of Miami’s best chefs and restaurants.
Titled simply, “Miami Cooks,” (Figure 1, $33) the new book includes 35 recipes — beautifully photographed —ranging from the accessible to ambitious for those of us who have cooked our way through family recipes.
“You can go full-on ambitious with these dishes, now that we’re all entertaining at home. But maybe also you don’t want to make your own yuzu foam,” said writer Sara Liss, who culled the recipes.
The book is a who’s who of Miami’s buzziest restaurants and cooks: Kyu, the notable high-end Asian barbecue spot. Ariete, the Cuban-American cuisine in Coconut Grove. James Beard finalist Brad Kilgore’s Ember, for an inspired take on classic Midwestern dishes. Bodega Taqueria’s fish tacos and ceviche. The Golden Geisha cocktail from nightlife tastemaker David Grutman’s Komodo.
“I wanted a good mix,” Liss said.
Plus, you get the story of how each of these restaurants and chefs came to make their mark on Miami. It is photographed luxuriously by Michael Pisarri, who shot a series of haunting chef photos during the pandemic.
Notably absent from the list are Miami’s old guard, the chefs who have already made their names and have gone on to wider acclaim: Michelle Bernstein, Norman Van Aken, Allen Susser, Doug Rodriguez.
Liss said this was by design to highlight the new Miami cuisine that has again brought the attention of the food world to Miami.
“I was trying to give this next generation its due, so we were excited to highlight them,” Liss said.
The book is available at all major booksellers, including Books & Books and at each of the restaurants, which receive a portion of the proceeds. A full list of the chefs is available at Figure1Publishing.com.
