Take A Bite Out Of South Florida

Ep. 15 - Celebrating Miami Culinary Diversity: Chef Michael Schwartz on Waterfront Dining, Local Ingredients, and the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix

Shaina Wizov

Travel with me down to the beautiful Amara at Paraiso to chat with James Beard award-winning Chef Michael Schwartz about his iconic Miami restaurants (Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink, Amara, and Harry’s Pizzeria) and involvement as one of the featured chefs at the Formula 1 Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix, happening May 3rd-5th at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.

The location for this episode couldn’t be more perfect: inside Amara’s event space with stunning views of the Biscayne Bay. Chef Schwartz talks about the early days of his career in Miami, the inspiration behind the menu at Amara at Paraiso, and celebrating the 17-year anniversary of Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink, which has been recognized with the MICHELIN Bib Gourmand Award.

Chef Schwartz shares insights into creating dishes with varying temperatures, sourcing sustainable local seafood, and being at the helm of the farm-to-table movement. He tells me about Amara’s new executive chef, Ivan Barros, and the exciting talent he’s brought to the restaurant and its new menu.

We also discuss the thrill of cooking for the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix, plus he shares his top tips for maximizing your Grand Prix experience. There are over 65 restaurants that will be on site for this huge weekend-long event, one of them being Harry’s Pizzeria, which has locations in Miami Beach and Coconut Grove. Event-goers can grab slices from Harry’s, and those with access to certain VIP areas will be treated to extra special delights from Chef Schwartz and his team.

This episode is bound leave you hungry, so get ready to make your reservations for Amara, Michael’s Genuine, and Harry’s — and purchase tickets for Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix! Even if you’re not a racing fan, you will still enjoy all of the enticing food selections and entertaining activations throughout the weekend.


Contact Chef Michael Schwartz:
Website: https://chefmichaelschwartz.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefmschwartz/

Contact Amara At Paraiso:
Website: https://amaraatparaiso.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amaraatparaiso/

Contact Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink:
Website: https://michaelsgenuine.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelsgenuine/

Contact Harry's Pizzeria:
Website: https://harryspizzeria.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harryspizzeria/

Contact Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix:
Website: https://f1miamigp.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/f1mia/



Contact Shaina Wizov:
Email: takeabiteoutofboca@gmail.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/takeabiteoutofboca/
Website: https://takeabiteoutofboca.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/swizov/
YouTube: https://youtube.com/swizov