In the Studio: Meet Some of the Forking Around Podcast’s Very First Guests!

In just a couple of weeks, we will be revealing the full list of restaurants participating in Restaurant Month this September. Right now, we’re going behind the scenes at Forking Around with Flavor South Florida to introduce you to a few of the industry leaders who were the first to sit down with podcast host Kerri Paizzi.

We are just a couple of weeks away from the big announcement: Which local restaurants are participating in Flavor South Florida’s Restaurant Month this year? All will be revealed the first week of August so you’ll have plenty of time to start salivating over the prix fixe deals awaiting you in September. For now, we can tell you that many of your favorites have returned—and lots of new restaurants have joined for the very first time. We’re super excited about all of this year’s partners and can’t wait to share the news with you soon!

In the meantime, if you haven’t yet checkout out our new podcast, Forking Around with Flavor South Florida, hop on over to YouTube and watch the first five episodes. (You can also listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon, among other outlets—click here for all the deets.) To whet your palate, here’s a quick breakdown of the guests featured in the first drop:

BRIANA BEATY

Who she is: Briana was the original founder of Flavor, when it was called Flavor Palm Beach, in 2007.

What you’ll learn: Briana and Kerri talk about what inspired Briana to launch Flavor in the first place (hint: she’s a foodie who literally used to plan trips to New York City around their Restaurant Week). Find out which restaurants are the true OGs of Flavor, how she and Kerri met, what she’s up to now, and more.

Fun fact: She started with just 17 restaurants on board and continued to expand over the years before selling the brand to Kerri in 2021. Today, Briana runs Palm Beach Moms, a group that started 14 years ago as a Facebook Group and now helps more than 10,000 local moms connect and find support through events, newsletters, advice sharing, and more.

DAVID BURKE

Who he is: I mean, if you’re a Flavor foodie then you probably already know he’s a world-renowned chef who has appeared on Top Chef and Iron Chef America and built an empire in the food industry. He owns a total of 10 restaurants nationwide, including Seahawk Prime by David Burke and The Birdie here in Palm Beach County.

What you’ll learn: In the episode, Chef David talks about the importance of remaining creative and innovative as a chef while making sure his dishes are unforgettable. He also shares a few fun stories about his time on Iron Chef and his celebrity connections.

Fun fact: During the taping, Chef David cold calls one of his famous actor friends live on air! Watch the episode to find out who it is.

SCOTT FRIELICH, CLEVE MASH & ANGELO ABBENANTE

Who they are: The trio of Three Amigos Hospitality are the driving force behind some of our area’s top restaurants, including Dada, Blackbird Modern Asian, Papichulo, Lynora's, Clematis Social, and more. They also just bought Ralph’s Stand Up Bar (in case you haven’t heard).

What you’ll learn: The episode delves into the challenges they face when building a new concept and keeping it afloat during tough times (like the COVID mania). They also chat a bit about how they uncover the “next big hot spot” community to open a new restaurant or bar.

Fun fact: These guys are good buddies, and it shows. Their playful banter will keep you laughing for sure. They’ve all known each other for 30+ years, and Angelo and Cleve play soccer together.

PAULA DASILVA

Who she is: Chef Paula is director of food & beverage at PGA National. She also appeared on season 5 of Hell’s Kitchen.

What you’ll learn: She opens up about her Brazilian upbringing, her mentors and friends in the food industry (including local chefs Lindsay Autry, Dean Max, and Jeremy Ford), “crushing Bloody Marys” in the morning at Birdie’s Diner, and what it actually means to be a director of food & beverage.

Fun fact: Paula tells a funny story about witnessing a young, 21-year-old Chef Jeremy Ford having a temper tantrum in the kitchen at 3030 Ocean back in the day. . . .

GISELLE “GG” CHUSAN

Who she is: GG is a social media food & travel influencer with nearly 500,000 followers combined on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube (her handle is @explorewithgg if you want to giver her a follow).

What you’ll learn: How she went from studying pre-med, to working at Lululemon, to building a social media empire. GG goes deep into the world of influencer marketing, dispelling myths and revealing the hard work that goes into what many people mistakenly think is a “cush gig.”

Fun fact: She’s traveled to more than 30 countries and says her favorites so far have been Finland, Egypt, Italy, and Spain.