MIAMI, FL – MARCH 02: Chef Allen Susser attends Books & Books at the Arsht Center Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting Ceremony And Party on Thursday, March 02, 2015 in Miami, Florida. ( Photo by Johnny Louis / jlnphotography.com )

 

Chef Allen Susser is the kind of chef that makes Miami proud.  Celebrated as one of the original Mango Gang, Chef Allen has authored numerous books, received countless awards including from Food & Wine Magazine and a coveted James Beard Award, Best Chef Southeast and even has an honorary doctorate from Johnson & Wales. His philanthropic work as Ambassador for Taste Of The Nation event benefitting No Kid Hungry is just one of the many local charities he works with.

But he is a humble and not at all showy a chef. A perennial student, I found him at a table at the Cafe at Books & Books at the Arsht Center leafing thru a cookbook. He looked up, smiled and admitted that this is his favorite reading and that he is always on the search for new dishes or recipes he can put his own twist on.

As a guest at his popular Market Mondays Farm to Table Dinners at the Arsht Center, I was there early to talk to Chef Allen about his thoughts on the Miami food scene and even the late Anthony Bourdain, who he knew and had cooked alongside.

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