Meet Your Beard Nominees: Douglas Rodriguez
The James Beard Awards, the biggest awards in the food world, will be announced on Monday and three South Florida chefs are nominated in the "Best Chef, South" category: Zach Bell of Cafe Boulud, Douglas Rodriguez of Ola, and Michael Schwartz of Michael's Genuine Food & Drink. We'll be catching up with the three nominees over the next few days before the awards ceremony. Next: Douglas Rodriguez.
Congratulations on your nomination! What does the nomination mean to you?
Thank you. It’s a great honor to be nominated.
Who do you think is your biggest competition in the category?
Everybody’s big competition, but I think the favorite is Michael Schwartz. He’s had a good year, come out in a lot of major magazines and his name is a big name this year. It’s a good way to get nominated and a good way to win.
If you win, how do you plan to celebrate?
I’d like to do it back home in Miami. Maybe I’ll have a double celebration, one in New York and one in Miami. I’m going to be alone on Monday; no one in my family could come this year.
Which restaurants will you be checking out while in New York?
I haven’t made any plans yet, but a lot of people want to take me to different places, but I don’t have any set plans yet. Every time I’m in New York, I eat some Korean food. Korean food is high on the list. There’s a particular one on 36th Street. I don’t know the name of it, but it’s much higher end than 32nd Street. They serve this frozen beef tartare with a raw quail egg yolk, sesame oil, diced Asian pear, and fried shallots. It’s very unusual, because the beef tenderloin melts in your mouth. After it defrosts in your mouth, you start chewing it. I love that dish.
Where are you eating out in South Florida these days?
Besides Michael's Genuine? I love that place. I’ve been to Sra Martinez, and all the new places at the Fontainebleau. I was at Prime Italian last week, and tonight I’m going to the W Hotel in Fort Lauderdale for the grand opening. But my favorites are Michael's Genuine and Pacific Time. I like Fratelli Lyon. I think the Design District has my favorite restaurants in Miami.
Photo: James Beard Foundation
