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In Miami, chef Jeremy Ford is known not only as the winner of “Top Chef” season 13 but also for his fine-dining finesse. He serves a constantly evolving tasting menu at Michelin-starred Stubborn Seed, dry-aged steaks at The Butcher Club, and gorgeous foie gras tarts at Beauty & The Butcher, all using the best local ingredients he can get his hands on.
But when Ford, a Florida native, is home after a long day or enjoying a rare day off from work, his palate showcases a completely different story. “I’ve always been a fast food kind of guy — in college it was an integral part of my stoner diet,” Ford says with a laugh. “Of course, I love dining at the hands of an award-winning chef, but there’s nothing that hits quite like a Popeyes crispy chicken sandwich.”
“I love cooking — obviously I’m almost always in the kitchen — but I’m also a huge fan of ordering delivery,” Ford says. “I’ve got a handful of absolute go-to orders I’ve perfected that have yet to fail me.”
Read on for chef Jeremy Ford’s top takeout picks.
PINCHO
“I love PINCHO; it’s a homegrown spot that keeps things solid and consistent. I always go for the Fritanga Burger (find it when you can as a monthly special!), a burger topped with homemade slaw, tons of crema, and a huge slab of queso frito. I get a side of tostones and the Pincho sauce, which is a perfect ratio of mayo and ketchup.”
sweetgreen
“This is probably the healthiest of my orders, but it’s always dependable and gets delivered super quickly. sweetgreen’s Hot Honey Chicken Plate is legit with warm quinoa, slaw, and toasted almonds. I always have to get a side of the roasted sweet potatoes with green goddess ranch — there’s something about that sauce that’s just so damn good. I’m also a big fan of the Chicken Pesto Parm Bowl with roasted chicken, spicy broccoli, tomatoes, shaved parmesan, za’atar breadcrumbs, quinoa, baby spinach, sweetgreen hot sauce, and lots of pesto vinaigrette.”
Popeyes
“Just thinking about Popeyes gives me goosebumps! Obviously, we’re ordering fries because they make them the best. Then it’s at least one chicken sandwich — the bun, the pickles, the mayo — it’s absolute perfection. During those “chicken sandwich battles,” I was always Team Popeyes. You also can’t sleep on the two-piece meal. Sometimes I’ll order that, instead, with mashed potatoes and gravy. That’s the stuff right there.”
Five Guys & Sergio’s Restaurant
“I call this my Turf & Turf special. I have a Five Guys that usually takes roughly 15 to 20 minutes to deliver to me and then there’s a Sergio’s that takes forever (about an hour), so I place both orders at the same time. At Five Guys, I’ll do a milkshake, a large Cajun fry, and a cheeseburger with grilled onions, mushrooms, jalapeños.
Then within the hour, Sergio’s will show up and now I’m getting my Cuban fix. Always gotta get the ham croquetas; I’m convinced they are some of the best Miami has to offer and they are super consistent. Then a pan con bistec, which is a steak sandwich made with really thin flank steak, grilled onions, tomatoes, and shoestring potatoes on pressed Cuban bread, and usually vaca frita, which is fried and shredded skirt steak with grilled onions. Plus, a side of white rice and black beans. I know it sounds insane, but this is all just for me. This doesn’t include what’s being ordered for the rest of my household. If there’s an occasion where I have leftovers, I’m reheating everything the next day in the air fryer and enjoying it all over again.”
PHOTO CREDIT: Grove Bay Hospitality Group
