Local chef and restaurateur John Wong recently said it best: “Food is comfort in a crisis.”
Just days after the devastating September 26 flood, Wong—whose restaurants Bloom and Bravo Americano Moderno narrowly escaped serious damage—opened his kitchen to the Globe High School Culinary Arts class. The lesson that day was about more than pizza dough.
Chef Wong taught students the finer points of crafting the perfect pizza, but he also shared what it takes to run a business—paying taxes, managing bills, coaching staff, and learning to accept criticism not as a setback, but as an opportunity to grow.
And then came the real-world application: with Broad Street still thick with mud and volunteers cleaning up one storefront after another, the students made 50 pizzas and hand-delivered them up and down Broad Street to those volunteers.
Chef Wong has always shown that cooking and giving back to the community is one in the same.
In many ways, his message reflects what’s happening across the local dining scene. Despite setbacks, downtown restaurants have remained open, feeding the community and offering a place of comfort when it’s needed most.
We’re encouraging patrons to dine at and support the restaurants and cafés that were in the flood’s path but continue to serve, employ, and uplift our community.
Downtown Globe:
Bravo Americano Moderno • Bloom on Broad • La Luz Del Dia • Vida E Caffe
Also: DeMarco’s Italian Restaurant • Copper Cities Coffee
Downtown Miami:
Miami Flats • Guayo’s El Rey • Sweet Memories
A heartfelt shout-out to those who have come together to feed flood victims, first responders, volunteers, and neighbors during these past weeks of recovery — including, but not limited to: Apache Gold Casino, World Central Kitchen, The BBQ Guys, Irene’s, Taqueria La Familia, Bento Guy, Operation BBQ Relief, Sundt, and Gorditas Doña Rosa.
Because in Globe-Miami, food isn’t just nourishment — it’s how we show up for each other.
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