The Chef of the Year works in Miami Beach. After China, England, and Hawaii, now he enchants Americans

Marco Calenzo secures the Chef of the Year award for the Top Italian Restaurants guide. He works behind the stoves at Lido At The Surf Club in Miami, where he landed in 2023. His culinary style has become an emblematic example of authentic Italian taste worldwide. We first encountered him at unsuspecting times in 2013 in Beijing when he worked at the renowned restaurant Mio. We were astounded by his offerings, which inspired the guide to the best addresses for Italian flavors abroad, which came to fruition in 2015. After Beijing, Calenzo showcased his skills at the Four Seasons Hotel in Hawaii, Zuma in London, and left a significant mark in his previous restaurant: Al Mare in London, housed within the Carlton Tower Jumeirah. His cuisine surprises with the clarity of flavors, handled with great elegance, coupled with a rare and effective creative flair.

Lido At the Surf Club

The many Four Seasons Hotels in Miami have always stood out for its particularly refined food and wine offerings, including mixology. Hence, the arrival of a chef of Calenzo's caliber to lead this establishment comes as no surprise. Even a simple saffron risotto or steamed sea bass impresses with the precision of recipes and the assertiveness of flavors, while the langoustine carpaccio with two types of caviar is not just visually appealing but also a dish of intricate and complex flavors. During our visit, even classic spaghetto pomodoro reached unparalleled heights in fragrance and definition of aromas, a true ode to Italian cuisine. Among its signature, don’t miss the original Ricciola (amberjack) cacio e pepe.