Forking Around with Flavor South Florida is a podcast hosted by Kerri Paizzi, CEO of Flavor South Florida. It was created to give restaurant owners and industry professionals a space to talk openly about the behind the scenes of South Florida’s dining industry.
These conversations are with the people who live in this industry daily - from owner-operators and chefs to hospitality partners, local collaborators, and more.
Episodes are released in the lead-up to Flavor South Florida, the largest restaurant month in the region, running September 1 - September 30 across Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast. The podcast features owners and operators from participating restaurants as they prepare for the event.
Others bring perspective from marketing, sponsorship, and small business leadership. Collectively, their insights reveal how a dining community is built with intention and supported for the long term.
The throughline of this podcast is sustainability in hospitality. It examines how strategic, community-driven initiatives such as Flavor South Florida can create opportunity during the most challenging time of year for local restaurants.
Forking Around with Flavor South Florida is for operators, peers, and anyone serious about strengthening the restaurant industry from the inside out.
Listen if you’re:
A restaurant owner preparing for slow season and looking for smarter ways to stay visible
A chef or operator who wants to think more strategically about marketing and protecting margins
An entrepreneur interested in economical development
A hospitality professional navigating staffing challenges, rising costs, and daily leadership decisions
A small business owner interested in how community-driven initiatives support local economies
Simply curious about how the restaurant industry actually works behind the scenes
Connect:
Flavor South Florida Website: https://www.flavorsouthflorida.com/ (https://www.flavorsouthflorida.com/)
Flavor South Florida Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/FlavorSouthFlorida (https://www.instagram.com/FlavorSouthFlorida)
Forking Around Website: http://Www.FlavorSouthFlorida.com/podcast (http://Www.FlavorSouthFlorida.com/podcast)
Kerri Paizzi Website: https://www.kerripaizzi.com/ (https://www.kerripaizzi.com/)
Kerri Paizzi Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/KerriP316 (https://www.instagram.com/KerriP316)
Forking Around with Flavor South Florida is recorded at PodPlus Studios in Jupiter, Florida and produced by Hype Boss.
To learn more visit https://podplusstudios.com (https://podplusstudios.com).
Chef Pushkar Marathe: Michelin Recognition and The Butter Chicken That Pays The Bills
Kerri Paizzi sits down with Chef Pushkar Marathe, chef and co-owner of Stage Kitchen & Bar, Ela Curry & Cocktails, Mango Mercado and Boca Brasserie, to get the stories behind his Palm Beach County restaurants.
Kerri and Pushkar discuss Stage’s famous butter chicken, a dish with enough of a following that guests started calling when it disappeared from the menu. Pushkar brought it back, and these days, he says, it helps pay the rent.
Pushkar also shares how growing up on Air Force bases across India introduced him to different regional cuisines and sparked his curiosity about food around the world. He reflects on his training in Switzerland, where he honed his French cooking skills alongside chefs from across Europe.
The conversation heads back to the 3030 Ocean kitchen in Fort Lauderdale, where Pushkar worked alongside Jeremy Ford and Niven Patel under Paula DaSilva. Kerri has questions about how so much talent came out of one restaurant, and Pushkar has stories, including his recollection of dodging steaks during dinner service.
They also discuss Michelin Guide recognition for Stage and Ela, along with why listening to guests led Pushkar to reimagine his Boca Raton restaurant as Boca Brasserie.
Kerri gets the details on Mango Mercado’s breakfast and lunch offerings, including the take-home meals, before asking what anyone considering opening a restaurant should know. Pushkar has plenty of advice. Kerri is happy to keep supporting them from the dining room.
Connect:
Stage: https://www.stagekitchenandbar.com/ (https://www.stagekitchenandbar.com/)
Ela Curry and Cocktails: https://www.elacurryandcocktails.com/ (https://www.elacurryandcocktails.com/)
Mango Mercado: https://www.mangomercado.com/ (https://www.mangomercado.com/)
Boca Brasserie: https://www.bocabrasserie.com/ (https://www.bocabrasserie.com/)
Pushkar IG: https://www.instagram.com/pushkarry (https://www.instagram.com/pushkarry)
Forking Around with Flavor South Florida Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forkingaroundpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/forkingaroundpodcast)
Flavor South Florida Website: https://www.flavorsouthflorida.com/ (https://www.flavorsouthflorida.com/)
Flavor South Florida Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/FlavorSouthFlorida (https://www.instagram.com/FlavorSouthFlorida)
Kerri Paizzi Website: https://www.kerripaizzi.com/ (https://www.kerripaizzi.com/)
Kerri Paizzi Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/KerriP316 (https://www.instagram.com/KerriP316)
This episode is sponsored by Altima Caviar. Visit https://altimacaviar.com (https://altimacaviar.com)
Forking Around with Flavor South Florida is recorded at PodPlus Studios in Jupiter, Florida and produced by Hype Boss. (https://www.hypeboss.com/) To learn more visit https://podplusstudios.com (https://podplusstudios.com).
8 Oct 2026
From Top Chef and Michelin Stars to Ford’s Farm with Chef Jeremy Ford
What makes a Michelin-starred chef put his life savings into a farm? Host Kerri is asking Jeremy Ford, the Top Chef winner behind Stubborn Seed and The Butcher’s Club, and getting a look at the work going into Ford’s Farm. She’s even volunteering to get her hands dirty.
They get into the practices behind Stubborn Seed’s Michelin Green Star, including turning kitchen scraps into compost, and how growing his own ingredients shapes what ends up on the menu. Jeremy also shares plans for a test kitchen where guests can watch the chefs cook. Kerri’s already picturing her next birthday on the farm.
Jeremy’s story about using a fake ID to get his first restaurant job has Kerri sharing a few confessions of her own. They also talk about the family time that restaurant life can cost, with Jeremy reflecting on raising his daughter while building his career.
And their shared love of ’80s rock comes with some disagreement about Bon Jovi. Kerri has a few things to say about that.
Connect:
Jeremy IG: https://www.instagram.com/chefjeremyford/?hl=en (https://www.instagram.com/chefjeremyford/?hl=en)
Ford’s Farm: https://www.fordsfarmmiami.com/ (https://www.fordsfarmmiami.com/)
Stubborn Seed: https://www.stubbornseed.com/ (https://www.stubbornseed.com/)
The Butcher’s Club: https://www.pgaresort.com/dining/the-butchers-club/ (https://www.pgaresort.com/dining/the-butchers-club/)
Forking Around with Flavor South Florida Podcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/forkingaroundpodcast
Flavor South Florida Website: https://www.flavorsouthflorida.com/ (https://www.flavorsouthflorida.com/)Flavor South Florida Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/FlavorSouthFlorida (https://www.instagram.com/FlavorSouthFlorida)Kerri Paizzi Website: https://www.kerripaizzi.com/ (https://www.kerripaizzi.com/)Kerri Paizzi Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/KerriP316 (https://www.instagram.com/KerriP316)
This episode is sponsored by Altima Caviar. Visit https://altimacaviar.com (https://altimacaviar.com)
Forking Around with Flavor South Florida is recorded at PodPlus Studios in Jupiter, Florida and produced by Hype Boss. (https://www.hypeboss.com/) To learn more visit https://podplusstudios.com (https://podplusstudios.com).
1 Oct 2026
Dishing Out Restaurant Secrets: Tipping, Service Charges & Staying in Business with Frank Eucalitto and Jodi Cross
What’s behind the service charge on your restaurant bill? Kerri gets into the tipping debate with Café Chardonnay’s Frank Eucalitto and Jodi Cross of the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association (FRLA). They discuss why some restaurants are changing the way servers are paid and how rising operating costs affect the decisions owners make.
As Café Chardonnay approaches its 40th anniversary, Frank shares the dishes regulars won’t let him take off the menu and why he’s turned down opportunities to move the restaurant. Kerri remembers her first Flavor dinner there, and the conversation turns to the relationships that keep generations of guests coming back.
Frank also explains how he’s using AI to organize sales data, and Jodi shares how FRLA helps local students pursue careers in hospitality. They make time for a few dining recommendations, too, including the places these longtime industry insiders choose on their nights off.
Listen if you’re:
Curious about tipping, service charges and what goes into your restaurant bill.
Working in hospitality or considering a career in the industry.
A Café Chardonnay regular looking for the stories behind a favorite restaurant.
A foodie who loves discovering the stories behind your favorite restaurants.
Connect:
Cafe Chardonnay: https://www.cafechardonnay.com/ (https://www.cafechardonnay.com/)
FRLA: https://frla.org/ (https://frla.org/)
Forking Around with Flavor South Florida Podcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/forkingaroundpodcast
Flavor South Florida Website: https://www.flavorsouthflorida.com/ (https://www.flavorsouthflorida.com/)Flavor South Florida Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/FlavorSouthFlorida (https://www.instagram.com/FlavorSouthFlorida)Kerri Paizzi Website: https://www.kerripaizzi.com/ (https://www.kerripaizzi.com/)Kerri Paizzi Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/KerriP316 (https://www.instagram.com/KerriP316)
This episode is sponsored by Altima Caviar. Visit https://altimacaviar.com (https://altimacaviar.com)
Forking Around with Flavor South Florida is recorded at PodPlus Studios in Jupiter, Florida and produced by Hype Boss. (https://www.hypeboss.com/) To learn more visit https://podplusstudios.com (https://podplusstudios.com).
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
4.0 / 5
4 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Contact Forking Around with Flavor South Florida
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Host of Forking Around with Flavor South Florida?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
