Miami Restaurateur David Foulquier on Building Iconic Restaurant Concepts
What does it really take to build restaurants that last — across pizza, sushi, fine dining, and neighborhood favorites?
In this episode of Just the Tip, we sit down with David Foulquier, one of Miami’s most influential restaurateurs and the creative force behind Fooq’s, 11 Street Pizza, Sushi Noz, and the highly anticipated Fooq’s Little River.
With roots shaped by New York City and a multicultural French-Persian background, David shares how obsession with greatness — not cuisine type — is his true competitive advantage.This conversation goes deep into the real decisions behind successful restaurant concepts, from choosing the right neighborhood and building aligned investor relationships to navigating COVID, the Michelin Guide’s arrival in Miami, and the evolving expectations of today’s diners.
Whether you’re a restaurant owner, hospitality investor, chef, or Miami food lover, this episode offers rare insight into how iconic dining brands are built — and rebuilt — over time.
🎙️ In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
Why core competency matters more than cuisine
How David scales excellence from New York style pizza to high-end sushi
The truth about opening restaurants in emerging Miami neighborhoods
What COVID permanently changed about restaurant operations
How Michelin recognition impacts Miami’s dining scene
Why team alignment and obsession with quality drive long-term success
How community demand shapes winning restaurant concepts
🔥 Key Quotes:
“My core competency is being great. It doesn’t discriminate from pizza to sushi.”
“Greatness begins with passion, obsession, and love for the game.”
“Miami is no longer just a food scene — it’s a culinary capital.”
📍 About the Guest:David Foulquier is a Miami-based restaurateur known for trend-defining concepts that balance innovation, consistency, and cultural depth. His restaurants have helped shape Miami’s rise as a global food destination while maintaining strong local followings.
🎧 Subscribe to Just the Tip for unfiltered conversations with the people shaping Miami real estate, restaurants, and hospitality.
👍 Like, comment, and share if you’re building — or dreaming of building — something great.
In this can’t-miss episode of Just the Tip, Felix sits down with Jose Mendin, the award-winning chef and creator behind Miami staples like Pubbelly Sushi, Casa Sola, and Pubbelly Steak.
For nearly 30 years, Mendin has shaped the evolution of Miami’s dining scene — blending Puerto Rican heritage, global technique, and bold entrepreneurial instincts to build some of the city’s most recognizable restaurant brands.
Jose opens up about his unexpected journey from a volleyball scholarship to cooking in legendary kitchens like Nobu and Sushi Samba, where he developed the discipline, speed, and creativity that later fueled his expansion across Miami.
He breaks down the real lessons behind rapid growth, how to choose locations in emerging neighborhoods like Little River and North Miami, and the importance of partnerships, brand consistency, and operational excellence.
Whether you’re a chef, restaurateur, or a fan of Miami’s dining culture, this episode delivers rare insider knowledge on what it actually takes to build a long-lasting restaurant brand — and the mindset required to stay relevant in one of the country’s most competitive food cities.
⭐ What You’ll Learn
* How Jose Mendin built Pubbelly Sushi into a Miami staple
* Why kitchens like Nobu and Sushi Samba shaped his leadership and technique
* How Puerto Rican heritage influences his culinary style and storytelling
* The realities of rapid restaurant expansion — what worked and what didn’t
* How to choose winning restaurant locations in Miami’s evolving neighborhoods
* The business foundations young chefs must understand: partnerships, leases, and brand development
* What’s next for Miami dining and why Mendin is betting on new culinary movements
Notable Quotes
* “Playing volleyball taught me everything about teamwork — and I brought that into the kitchen.”
* “Mofongo is close to my heart… it’s my culture, my story.”
* “I left Nobu because I was too comfortable — I needed new challenges.”
* “COTE nailed the Miami vibe, even though they came from out of town.”
🎧 Perfect For:Chefs • restaurateurs • hospitality operators • culinary students • Miami food lovers • entrepreneurs building restaurant brands • anyone studying the business side of dining.
In this episode of Just the Tip, Felix Bendersky from F+B Hospitality Brokerage sits down with Derek Stilmann — one of Miami’s most respected bartenders and the creative mind behind Kaiju, recently recognized by 50 Best as one of the top bars in the world.
Derek has worked everywhere from Hillstone in Coral Gables to the legendary Broken Shaker, shaping Miami’s cocktail scene with his mix of precision, creativity, and unpretentious hospitality. Now, he’s gearing up to open his newest concept, Time and Place, a coffee-shop-meets-cocktail-bar in Miami’s booming Little River neighborhood.
This episode goes deep into what it actually takes to build a successful bar in Miami — from rent spikes and permitting nightmares to creating a brand that locals want to come back to again and again.
Whether you’re in hospitality, a cocktail nerd, or just someone who wants to understand how Miami bars really work, this conversation is loaded with insights.
🔥 In This Episode:
Derek’s journey from the culinary world to award-winning bartender
The creative philosophy behind Kaiju and how it became a Miami favorite
Why consistency is the real secret behind great cocktails
The challenges bartenders face opening a bar in Miami (that no one talks about)
What to expect from Time and Place in Little River
The future of Miami’s bar scene — and why it’s more exciting than ever
🗣️ Notable Quotes:
“Kaiju was the accumulation of everywhere I’ve worked — high execution, unpretentious, but with a Derek twist.”
“Miami is a small place. There are only so many spaces you can grow into.”
“Consistency is key. Doesn’t matter how creative you get — you have to repeat it.”
🎧 Tap in for a real behind-the-scenes look at the bar world from one of Miami’s best.
Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and drop a comment if you want more episodes with Miami’s top chefs, bartenders, and hospitality leaders.
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Inside Miami’s Mayoral Race: Corruption, Permits, Taxes & the Future of the City
In this powerful episode of Just the Tip, Felix sits down with Emilio Gonzalez — former CEO of Miami International Airport, ex–City Manager, U.S. Army Colonel, White House official, and now a candidate in Miami’s upcoming mayoral runoff.
With decades of experience in military intelligence, federal leadership, and local government, Emilio breaks down what’s really happening behind the scenes in Miami’s politics, infrastructure, and hospitality ecosystem.
As Miami faces widespread restaurant closures, broken permitting systems, out-of-control property taxes, and growing civic frustration, Emilio shares why the city is struggling — and what needs to happen now to turn it around.
From infrastructure that hasn’t kept up with explosive growth to bureaucratic inefficiencies hurting small businesses, this episode exposes the operational cracks impacting everyone from residents to restaurateurs.
Whether you’re in hospitality, real estate, development, or Miami politics, this conversation offers a rare, unfiltered look at the city’s biggest challenges — and the bold reforms Emilio believes are necessary to restore accountability, safety, and economic opportunity.
⭐ What You’ll Learn
Why Miami’s permitting, procurement, and bureaucracy are crippling small businesses and restaurants
The root causes behind restaurant closures and hospitality struggles in Miami
How outdated infrastructure is failing a rapidly growing city
Emilio’s plan for property tax reform and easing financial pressure on families
What Miami must fix to become a true world-class city that supports residents, not just tourists
💬 Notable Quotes From Emilio Gonzalez
“We need to do it in a much smarter way… Miami has ballooned, but we still have the same infrastructure.”
“You can’t get a permit. Procurement is awful. The things business needs to be in business — they’re not there.”
“I don’t want to just be the next mayor. I want to be the guy that leaves lasting marks.”
“People do these things when there’s no cost to it — and they end up terrorizing neighborhoods.”
“Corruption is in your face. We need an administration that puts a marker down on day one.”
🎧 Perfect For: Miami residents • restaurateurs • real estate pros • hospitality operators • developers • policy watchers • chefs • small business owners • anyone trying to understand Miami’s political and economic future.
“The Brutal Truth About Running a Restaurant in Miami”
Running a restaurant in Miami isn’t for the weak — and in this episode, Felix sits down with Andrew Platt, a chef, operator, and hospitality consultant with 25+ years in the game, to break down exactly why.
As the head of Aha Hospitality Group and co-founder of Ernie’s Açaí, Andrew has helped build and fix some of South Florida’s most popular spots. Today, he’s pulling back the curtain on what actually makes or breaks a restaurant in Miami’s hyper-competitive market.
From Wynwood to Brickell, permitting nightmares to landlord battles, Andrew and Felix get into the decisions that kill restaurants — and the ones that save them. They cover how major events like the 2026 World Cup will reshape Miami’s dining scene, why operators need neighborhood-specific strategies, and the harsh truth behind the phrase: “Hope is not a strategy.”
Whether you’re opening your first restaurant or scaling your tenth, this episode is a must-watch for anyone who wants to survive (and actually make money) in the hospitality business.
⭐ What You’ll Learn
How to open a restaurant in Miami without getting crushed by permits, delays, and buildouts
Why bad decisions — not bad consultants — sink most restaurants
The real cost of operating in Wynwood, Brickell, and South Beach
How the World Cup 2026 will impact Miami restaurants, staffing, and rent
Why second-generation spaces aren’t always cheaper (and when they're a trap)
How operators should actually use consultants — and when to run the other way
What restaurants MUST do now to survive Miami’s rising costs
🎧 Perfect For:
Restaurant owners • hospitality operators • chefs • Miami restaurateurs • food & beverage entrepreneurs • anyone opening a bar, café, or fast-casual concept.
Eileen Andrade, the powerhouse chef behind Finka Table & Tap and Amelia’s 1931, joins Felix Bendersky of F+B Hospitality Brokerage to talk all things Miami food, family legacy, and the business behind running successful restaurants.
Born into one of Miami’s most iconic culinary families, Eileen grew up inside the kitchen of Isla Canarias, where her parents’ Cuban recipes became legendary. From her early days in the family restaurant to launching a food truck that became her “culinary school,” Eileen shares her path to building two of South Florida’s most beloved dining destinations — blending Cuban, Peruvian, and Korean influences into every dish.
This episode dives deep into:
🍽️ What it takes to open and operate a restaurant in Miami’s competitive scene
🔥 How Eileen balances creativity, culture, and community in her cuisine
🏡 The power of owning your restaurant real estate to stay profitable
🙌 Why authenticity beats influencer marketing every time
💡 Her advice for chefs chasing their culinary dreams
If you love stories of grit, growth, and good food — this one’s for you.
Building restaurants rooted in family, flavor, and authenticity
Lessons from running a food truck as a crash course in entrepreneurship
Why community support and property ownership matter more than hype
Behind the scenes of Miami’s evolving restaurant and hospitality landscape
“I’ve never paid one influencer. If they’ve come, it’s because they wanted to come.”
“The real Miami cares about value — was this place memorable, and did it break my bank?”
Miami Beach icons Bernie Matz (Café Bernie’s, Bodega) and Diego Caiola (Weekends Miami Beach) join host Felix Bendersky (F+B Hospitality Brokerage) live at the South Beach Seafood Festival to unpack how the 305 became a culinary and nightlife powerhouse.
Hear the real story behind Lincoln Road’s rise, how Miami Vice and Versace flipped the city’s image, and the Bodega formula—taco stand up front, speakeasy in back—that sparked lines around the block.
Diego drops wild ’90s celebrity stories (think De Niro, David Lee Roth) while Bernie breaks down building hits that last in a changing market.
If you love Miami food culture, hospitality playbooks, and nightlife history, this one’s a must-watch.
Enjoy the episode? Like, comment your favorite Miami memory, and subscribe for more insider interviews from the 305.
Miami Beach, Lincoln Road, Bernie Matz, Bodega Taqueria, South Beach Seafood Festival, Miami nightlife, Miami Vice, Versace, Diego Weekends Miami Beach, Felix Bendersky, F+B Hospitality, speakeasy, tacos, restaurant stories, celebrity stories, Miami history
In this episode of Just the Tip, host Felix Bendersky, founder of F+B Hospitality Brokerage, sits down with Valerie Roy, co-founder of the iconic South Beach Seafood Festival — one of Miami’s most anticipated annual events now celebrating its 13th year.
Recorded right from the heart of the festival, this conversation gives listeners an inside look at how Valerie and her team transformed a local idea into a citywide culinary institution that officially kicks off Miami’s tourism and stone crab season. From navigating large-scale logistics and sponsor partnerships to championing local restaurants and community culture, Valerie reveals what it really takes to keep such a massive event thriving year after year.
You’ll also hear her personal reflections on growing up in Miami Beach, how the city has evolved, and the importance of preserving its culinary soul and community roots amid all the change.If you love Miami culture, event entrepreneurship, and behind-the-scenes stories from the people shaping the city — this one’s for you.
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In this solo episode of Just the Tip, Felix Bendersky, principal and broker of F+B Hospitality Brokerage, pulls back the curtain on Miami’s restaurant real estate market. Known for his unfiltered takes and deep industry connections, Felix breaks down what’s really going on behind the scenes — from rent stabilization and lease negotiation strategies to the rise (and fall) of Miami’s hottest dining neighborhoods.Whether you’re a restaurant owner, developer, investor, or aspiring operator, this episode is packed with raw insights and actionable advice. Felix shares the lessons he’s learned from years of deals, explains why some restaurants succeed while others don’t, and reveals the next neighborhoods primed for growth in Miami’s ever-evolving food and beverage scene.Expect straight talk, insider perspective, and real numbers from the broker who’s helping shape the city’s hospitality future.What You’ll Learn:* Why Miami’s restaurant market is stabilizing — and what that means for operators* How to identify emerging neighborhoods beyond Brickell for new concepts* The importance of authenticity and local culture in building lasting restaurants* Common leasing mistakes and how to avoid costly pitfalls* Why experience-driven dining is replacing the “one-and-done” mentalityMemorable Quotes: “I just want my community to get better. And selfishly, I want really good restaurants next to where I live.” “Moving forward, restaurants really do need to realize to make it in this industry right now, it can’t be a one-and-done.”🎧 Tune in for Felix’s no-BS insights into Miami’s restaurant and real estate world where deals get made, trends shift fast, and authenticity always wins.👉 Subscribe to Just the Tip for more unfiltered conversations shaping Miami’s hospitality scene.Miami restaurant real estate, Felix Bendersky, F+B Hospitality Brokerage, Miami restaurants, hospitality trends, restaurant leasing Miami, restaurant business tips, restaurant broker Miami, Miami food scene, restaurant success stories, restaurant real estate investing, Miami hospitality industry
What does it really take to turn a garage hobby into one of the most beloved bakeries in America? In this episode of Just the Tip, Felix from F+B Miami sits down with Zak Stern — better known as Zak the Baker — to uncover the raw, authentic story behind Miami’s most famous sourdough.
From his early days hand-shaping loaves in a garage to building a Wynwood landmark now featured in Whole Foods, Zak shares the mindset, mistakes, and mission that shaped his rise. This isn’t your typical success story — it’s about craftsmanship over clout, community over cash grabs, and staying true in a city obsessed with trends.
You’ll hear how Zak:
Built a devoted following through authenticity and consistency
Grew from farmers markets to a national retail presence
Balances art, business, and community impact
Keeps Miami’s soul alive through food, sustainability, and culture
If you’re a restaurant owner, food entrepreneur, or creative trying to build something real in a noisy world — this one’s for you.
🎧 Listen now to learn how Zak’s philosophy of “getting better before getting bigger” can reshape the way you grow your business.
What does it really take to build a nightlife empire in Miami?In this episode of Just the Tip, host Felix Bendersky sits down with Emi Guerra — the mastermind behind some of Miami’s most iconic venues, including Club Space, The Wharf, John Martin’s, Regatta Grove, PR5, and Carousel Club.From starting out as a 22-year-old promoter to shaping the city’s social landscape, Emi’s fingerprints are everywhere. But behind every sold-out party and overpriced vodka soda is a story of strategy, resilience, and risk.In this episode, you’ll hear:How Emi went from passing out flyers to running Miami’s most legendary nightlife brandsThe behind-the-scenes chaos, challenges, and business moves most people never seeHow creative developer partnerships and smart real estate plays fuel nightlife successWhat it’s like to operate in high-demand areas while navigating tough local regulationsThe highest highs and lowest lows of a nightlife career spanning two decadesWhether you’re an entrepreneur, investor, or just obsessed with Miami’s club scene, this is a masterclass in turning nightlife into a business empire.🎧 Tune in now for an unfiltered conversation about ambition, failure, partnerships, and the real economics of nightlife in one of the most competitive markets in the world.
In this episode of Just the Tip — the podcast where we talk about the sh*t everyone’s thinking but nobody wants to say — we sit down with Adam Gersten, the founder of Gramps, one of Wynwood’s most iconic nightlife spots. For over a decade, Gramps has been more than a bar — it’s been a cultural hub, concert venue, drag stage, comedy club, and the heart of the Wynwood community.
Now, Adam is doing something almost unheard of in Miami’s nightlife scene: closing on his own terms. No eviction. No drama. Just a calculated decision to wrap up an era and look toward what’s next.
We dive deep into:
🔑 Why the Miami mayoral election actually matters for your business
🏙️ How Wynwood has evolved — and where it’s headed next
📉 What the real off-season looks like in Miami and how to survive it
🚀 Adam’s vision for the future of nightlife and potential new ventures
Whether you’re a bar owner, real estate investor, or just obsessed with Miami’s cultural shifts, this conversation is a masterclass in knowing when to pivot, how to adapt, and what it means to go out on top.
🎧 Listen now for unfiltered insight into Miami nightlife, Wynwood’s next chapter, and the legacy of one of its most legendary venues.
Documentary filmmaker Billy Corben joins the Just the Tip podcast to talk about the real Miami — the corruption, the scandals, and the power players shaping the city behind the scenes.From Cocaine Cowboys, The U, 537 Votes, and God Forbid, Billy has spent his career exposing the truth about South Florida — and he’s not holding back. In this episode, we dig into the side of Miami most people don’t see: the broken systems, political hustlers, and shady deals that run the city like a cartel.We cover:🔥 How local government, developers, and lobbyists really operate in Miami🍽️ Why restaurants are getting crushed by permits, landlords, and red tape💸 The truth about service charges — and why they’re basically legalized scams🏙️ The bigger picture: real estate, power, and how corruption shapes the future of the cityIf you care about Miami politics, restaurants, real estate, or culture, this conversation will change how you see the 305.Subscribe to Just the Tip for more unfiltered conversations about Miami, hospitality, and the business of building a city.
George Arango, aka Mr. Eats 305, is one of Miami’s most recognized food creators. But unlike the noise you see on your feed, when he posts, it actually moves the needle.
In this episode of Just a Tip with Felix from F+B Miami, we sit down with George to talk about how he built his platform and why authenticity matters more than hype. From leaving law school to chasing food full-time, he’s carved out a lane that’s real, community-driven, and respected in Miami’s restaurant world.
We cover:
🍽️ George’s journey from law school to the Miami food scene
🔥 Why authenticity wins over clout-chasing
🤝 How to build trust with restaurants and the community
📲 The power of content that actually impacts small businesses
Whether you’re in the food game, hospitality, or just love Miami eats, this episode pulls back the curtain on what it takes to stand out and stay respected.
Below Deck to the best cheesesteak in Miami - Chef Ryan McKeown joins the Just the Tip Podcast to share his wild pivot from reality TV to restaurant owner.
Ryan went from stirring up drama on Bravo to running Peppi’s Pizza & Cheesesteak in the Design District — a spot that blew up after Dave Portnoy dropped an 8.5 review.
We cover:
🍕 How Ryan went from reality TV “villain” to respected operator
* What it takes to build a restaurant brand in Miami
📈 The viral moments that actually translate to long-term success
If you love Miami restaurants, pizza, cheesesteaks, or Below Deck drama, this is one episode you won’t want to miss.
Subscribe to Just the Tip for raw conversations about Miami nightlife, restaurants, real estate, and culture.
Alan Roth is a driving force in Miami nightlife. From starting as a cashier at News Café, to helping open the Delano’s iconic Blue Door restaurant, to now creating some of the city’s most talked-about spots—Rosa Sky rooftop, Giselle Miami, and the Jagger Suite—Alan has built experiences that define how Miami goes out.
In this Just a Tip podcast episode, we cover:
How Alan Roth went from the ground floor to owning Miami nightlife hotspots
The story behind Rosa Sky and Giselle, two of Miami’s best rooftop bars and restaurants
How social media changed the hospitality game in Miami
What it really takes to build a brand and keep it relevant in a city that reinvents itself nonstop
If you’re interested in the Miami bar and restaurant scene, rooftop vibes, or what it takes to succeed in hospitality, this conversation is packed with insights.
Miami nightlife legends Ingrid Casares and Chris Paciello join the Just the Tip Podcast to tell the untold story of Liquid, the most iconic club in Miami history.From Madonna, J.Lo, Diddy, and Versace to wild nights that defined the ’90s, they reveal how they built the scene, what really happened behind the velvet rope, and why today’s nightlife has lost its magic.We cover:✨ Running Miami’s most legendary club in its peak✨ Celebrity stories you’ve never heard✨ How nightlife changed — bottle service, exclusivity, and the fall of the sceneIf you care about Miami nightlife, hospitality, or real estate, this episode will change how you see the city.Subscribe to Just the Tip for more unfiltered conversations about Miami, nightlife, restaurants, and culture.
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