From Jacksonville to Miami, Honduras, Haiti, and Jamaica, this dynamic group of culinary artists add spice to South Florida’s vibrant and rich food scene. Their skills and passion will set the table for this year’s South Beach Wine & Food Festival.
Chef Alain Lemaire, an award-winning chef and Food Network contestant, brought his culinary gifts from his native Port-au-Prince, Haiti to Miami and hasn’t looked back. He says the city’s large and tight-knit Haitian community made the transition easy. Aside from working diligently to elevate Haitian cuisine, his approach to cooking is simple:
“Never serve what you wouldn’t enjoy. Period. I love tradition, and I’m also a big geek for new age cuisine,” says the Johnson & Wales University graduate and host chef of the “Luda Can’t Cook” series on Discovery Plus with award-winning rapper and restauranteur, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges.
In addition, Lemaire has cooked for Haitian dignitaries, athletes, entertainers and numerous organizations.
“I believe that you pour your heart out in every dish,” says the co-owner and executive chef of Sensory Delights, a full-service catering company based in Pembroke Pines.
Chef Vernetta Stewart is owner of Palate in Jacksonville, which offers Asian, Cajun and Mexican dishes for a la carte takeout, as well as luxury private dinners and cooking classes for all ages. Chef Vernetta learned her craft from her mother, who worked as a cook for 43 years at the dietary department of a Jewish assisted living facility. Yet, she never earned “the title of chef.” Witnessing the long hours and holidays her mother worked, Stewart didn’t want to follow in her mother’s footsteps. But, her passion for cooking couldn’t be denied, so she went to culinary school at Florida State College in Jacksonville where today she’s teaching the next generation of chefs to cook with the same recipe she inherited from her mom, a potent mix of skill and heart.
“My mom loved what she did. She genuinely cared about the people and the food she put out,” says Stewart. “To me, she is, and will always be, ‘The Chef.’”
For Chef Travis Reece, cooking blends science, art, and culture in ways that allow him to express himself and bring people together. Reece was born in Kingston, Jamaica, but was raised in St. Elizabeth, southwest of the island. There, he worked on his grandmother’s farm, tending to pigs, cows and chickens, harvesting yams, potatoes, bananas, and other crops. He inherited a passion for cooking.
Today, he oversees Chef Reece Kitchen, a relaxed restaurant in Davie known for its bold spices, fresh ingredients, and techniques that have been passed down through generations.
“Infusing Jamaican culture, food is about approaching it from a standpoint of love, embracing the island’s vibrant flavors, history and tradition,” says Reece, who has served his recipes to numerous celebrities, entertainers and athletes.
Born and raised in Miami in a large family with a love for food, Chef Maria Ealey began cooking for loved ones as a youngster and realized the power of food to bring people together and make them smile.
Years later, friends and family persuaded Ealey to transform popular Taco Tuesdays at her home into a business. That’s how Bang’N Tacos food truck was born.
“Tacos are incredibly versatile and bring people together,” says Chef Ealey. “They allow me to be creative, layering flavors, textures, and cultural influences in every bite. Plus, they’re approachable and loved by almost everyone—perfect for sharing good vibes.”
Those good vibes have been enjoyed by local leaders, schools, religious groups, international recording artists and many others. Chef Ealey is also very active with causes near and dear to her heart. She participates in a monthly
meal giveback program in South Florida, for example.
Fresh local ingredients and spices are the hallmark of Chef Rita Tennyson cuisine. The Miami-born owner of Birdie Bistro, a beloved Coral Gables institution, and R Catering & Events LLC started working in restaurants at the age of 16 and has worked in the restaurant and catering industry for almost 30 years.
She says her career has allowed her to discover her strengths, weaknesses and passions while evolving both personally and professionally.
Tennyson spent her summers on the island of Roatan, Honduras, where she developed her passion for cooking using robust flavors to bring her dishes to life.
“Food is the raw material, the ingredients that nourish and sustain us,” says Tennyson. “Culinary is the art and science of transforming those ingredients into something amazing.”
Tennyson’s inventive creations have won her numerous awards and recognitions including The Very Best Burger Award at the 2022 South Beach Wine and Food Festival Burger Bash.