NORMAN VAN AKEN

"Make no little plans, for they
have no magic to stir men’s blood."
~ Daniel H. Burnham


Favorite Recipes | Books & Posters | Charities
Critical Recognition | Awards | Television

Norman's New World Cuisine

"Norman Van Aken is one of America's greatest and most innovative chefs, whose fusion of flavors and cultures explodes in your palate. Norman's New World Cuisine celebrates one of the most exciting regional cuisines in America."  -- Emeril Lagasse

Norman Van Aken's Feast of Sunlight

With 200 recipes, Van Akens cookbook gives the reader and the chef a whole new and imaginative perspective on cooking.

Norman Van Aken is internationally reputed for his innovative New World Cuisine. He has been recognized by the New York Times as "South Florida's Most Gifted Chef" and NORMAN'S as "South Florida's Best Restaurant".

NORMAN'S is featured and acclaimed in TIME magazine, The Wine Spectator, Newsweek, CNN, Good Morning America, TVFN, Emeril Live and Discovery Channel among many others. NORMAN'S has recently been inducted into The Nation's Restaurant News "Fine Dining Hall of Fame". The Zagat Guide has named NORMAN'S "the best restaurant in Miami and the Beaches: #1 Food, #1 Service, #1 Popularity". Condé Nast Traveler describes NORMAN'S as "one of the Top Ten Restaurants in the US". 

Chef Van Aken has received the James Beard Award, the Robert Mondavi Award and the Food Arts Silver Spoon Award for lifetime achievements.

Chef Van Aken has also been selected to serve amongst Food Arts notable brain trust as contributing authority. He has been named one of the top 25 people who mattered the most in the history of South Florida by the St. Petersburg Times.

In addition in being one of America's Top Chefs, Norman Van Aken is highly regarded as an author. His work includes articles for magazines, websites and he has authored three cookbooks: "Feast of Sunlight" 1988, "Exotic Fruit Book" 1995, "Norman's New World Cuisine" 1997. His fourth cookbook to be published in 2001 will be titled: "New World Cuisine-Latin America".

• Key Lime Cheesecake
• Mongolian Barbeque Breast of Chicken
• Pan Cooked Filet of Key West Yellowtail
• Sweet Plantain Stuffed & Spiced Pork Tenderloin with a Sour Orange Marinade
• The Rhum & Pepper Painted Fish with a Habanero-Mango Mojo
• Yuca Stuffed Crispy Shrimp With Norman’s “Mo J”, and Costa Rican Hearts of Palm Slaw
  
  

CRITICAL RECOGNITION

• The New York Times: "The best restaurant in South Florida and Norman Van Aken is its best chef.
• Zagat 2000 & 2001: "NORMAN’S #1 Food, Service, and Popularity . "
• Fodor's 2000: "NORMAN’S has captured the essence of Miami dining."
• Food Arts: National Contributing Authority
• Food & Wine: "The Best Restaurant in Miami." "The Best Service in Miami."
• Travel & Leisure: "NORMAN’S is one of America's top restaurants. "
• Miami Herald: "NORMAN’S is extraordinary! There is no other place like it in Miami!"
• The London Sunday Telegraph: "The best restaurant in Miami."
• The New York Daily News: "Best restaurant south of Paris!"
• 1999 St. Petersburg Times: Selected as "One of the 25 people who mattered the most in Florida's history."
• Bon Appétit Magazine: "One of the Best New Restaurants in the Country, 1995."
• Condé Nast Traveler: "Top 10 restaurants in America."
• Condé Nast Internet site, Epicurious: "Best. Period."
• Playboy Magazine: The Critics' Choice: "One of the 25 Best Restaurants in America."
• Culinary Institute of America Graduation Commencement Ceremony Speaker

• Winner of the James Beard Foundation’s, "Best Chef: Southeast"
• The "Robert Mondavi Culinary Award of Excellence"
• Food Arts Silver Spoon for Lifetime Achievement
• 2000 & 2001 Mobil Travel Guide Award ****
• Nations Restaurant News: "Fine Dining Hall of Fame."
• Wine Spectator: "Award of Excellence"
• Winner of "The Five Diamond Award", The American Academy of Hospitality Sciences
• Florida Trend Magazine: Winner of the "Golden Spoon Award" for four consecutive years.
• The James Beard Foundation Nominated "Best New Restaurant in America, 1995."
• 1997 Nominee: "Julia Child/IACP Awards of Excellence, Chef Category"
• Johnson & Wales University Honorary Doctorate in Culinary Arts, 1993
• Cooking Light Magazine: "10th Anniversary Enlightened Chef Award"
• Santé Magazine 2000 Best Wine and Spirits Dinner and Program for Fine Dining, Southeast
• GQ Magazine: "Golden Dish 1998 Winner"
• Gourmet Magazine: "America’s Top Tables" for four consecutive years.
• 1996 Chef for "The First International James Beard Dinner, Mexico City."

• CNN
• Good Morning America
• The Today Show
• CBS This Morning
• Emeril Live
• TVFN Dining Around
• Good Morning Texas
• Good Morning Boston
• Discovery Channel

• American Cancer Society
• Diabetes Research Institute
• Camillus House
• James Beard Foundation
• Kristi House
• Project New Born
• Nat'l Foundation for the Advancement of the Arts
• American Institute of Wine and Food
• March of Dimes