Michael Reidt is the executive chef of Area 31 located on the 16th floor of the EPIC hotel in downtown Miami. He was named one of the country’s Best New Chefs in 2001 by Food & Wine magazine. Last year, he was declared Chef of the Year by Eater Miami.
1. One thing you don’t know about me is that I’m diabetic.
2. If I could trade places with one chef I wouldn’t . . . really. I am the luckiest guy on the planet who hasn’t won the lottery yet. But it’s coming. I play every Friday.
3. One of my most memorable meals was at Saison in San Francisco.
4. If there were no cupcakes I’d have no reason to live. Yes, ironic, since I’m diabetic.
5. My go-to drink is any Southern California Syrah or anything from the Priorat wine region of Spain.
6. If I were on death row my last meal would be bone-in sirloin with bone marrow butter.
7. My worst culinary creation was a junk food tempura. I used things like Twinkies and Snickers. It was disgusting, but guests loved it.
8. If I could change one thing about me it would be my perfectionist’s approach to everything.
9. My favorite junk food is Doritos.
10. If I wasn’t a chef I’d be an architect or a landscaper.
