Curious if Stubborn Seed is any good? Miami’s food scene has seen explosive growth in recent years. The city is now home to 16 Michelin-starred restaurants and consistently ranks as one of America’s hottest new culinary destinations.
But here’s the thing…Not all Michelin stars are created equal. You’ve got your celebrity chef, tricked out tasting menu, Instagram-first dining spots. Others? They earn their stars the old-fashioned way. Stubborn Seed is one of those restaurants.
Consistency. Innovation. A refusal to cut any corners on quality.
Meet Stubborn Seed
Stubborn Seed is located on Miami Beach’s historic Washington Avenue. The restaurant’s industrial-chic décor and glass-fronted kitchen set the tone for an approachable fine dining experience.
Chef Jeremy Ford (Top Chef Season 13 winner and 2022 James Beard Award Semi-Finalist) helms the kitchen. The chef-driven tasting menu changes with the seasons, and what’s on the menu at Stubborn Seed focuses on ingredients sourced directly from Ford’s own 5.5-acre farm in Redland.
Dishes reflect a blending of Latin and Asian influences. Expect small, precise plates that elevate humble ingredients in unexpected ways. Risks are taken (and they pay off).
A typical meal includes:
- Eight courses of innovative dishes.
- Wine pairings selected by the restaurant’s expert sommeliers.
- Dishes inspired by the chef’s personal farm and Latin and Asian flavors.
- Ingredients elevated to the highest level of execution.
The Real Story of Dining at Stubborn Seed
It starts with small bites that wake up your palate. Celery root croquettes with beef bacon jam. Beef tartare with black truffle and Japanese milk bread. Then it escalates.
Gnocchi (ricotta gnudi to be exact) with Manchego foam. Kombu-cured local fish with caviar.
The key is building on flavors course after course. Building tension. Creating a complete story across the full meal. That’s why it’s a tasting menu, not just a collection of plates.
The dishes hit. One after the other. Risks that pay off. Big time. Service is smooth and anticipates your every need. The wine pairings shine.
How Stubborn Seed Stands Out
Miami has no shortage of quality, chef-driven fine dining. We’re talking about 31 Michelin-starred restaurants across all of Florida. The competition is fierce.
But Stubborn Seed stands tall for three reasons:
- Farm-to-table execution that actually means something – Stubborn Seed actually owns the farm. Most restaurants talk the farm-to-table game. These guys live it.
- Consistency without predictability – Yes, the menu changes constantly based on what’s available and in season. The quality never wavers.
- Personality in every dish – This isn’t textbook fine dining. Chef Jeremy Ford is bold and brash. He’s not afraid to put his stamp on the menu. Some dishes are all Latin. Others are Asian inspired. All work.
Stubborn Seed: Worth the Price?
The elephant in the room: The price tag. Michelin-starred tasting menu prices are never cheap. Stubborn Seed checks in at around $225 per person before drinks. Add wine pairings and it’s a serious investment.
So, is Stubborn Seed worth it? The answer is an easy yes for three reasons.
- Hours of preparation for each course – These are no easy dishes. Behind each plate is a team spending hours in the kitchen prepping.
- Ingredients you literally can’t get anywhere else – Chef Ford owns the farm. Rarely will you get this level of control over ingredients.
- A two-hour culinary journey, not just a meal – It’s a tasting menu for a reason. The experience is full on.
Compare Stubborn Seed to other Miami Michelin restaurants with two stars (there’s only one) and you’re looking at $400+ per person.
The value here is pretty good.
The Real Verdict on Stubborn Seed
Stubborn Seed has become a Miami Beach institution for good reason. Chef Jeremy Ford’s ingredient-driven cooking elevates humble flavors with precision and personality.
Consistency. Innovation. Risks that pay off big time.
The tasting menu at Stubborn Seed truly is a flavor journey and a window into what makes Miami’s food scene special.
The value? Good for the experience and level of execution you’re getting. The price tag is an investment, but the results are worth every penny.
If you’re looking to experience what Miami has to offer and feel the city’s vibrant, multicultural energy reflected back at you, Stubborn Seed is a must-visit.
Bottom Line: The Talent Behind Stubborn Seed
Chef Jeremy Ford is Top Chef Season 13’s winner and the brainchild behind Stubborn Seed. The James Beard Award semi-finalist helms the kitchen and the menu shows it.
Ford’s approach is a simple one: Take honest ingredients. Elevate them. Make every bite matter.
Making it work night after night, year after year is what separates the good from the great. Ford and the Stubborn Seed kitchen are both. The result? Four years of Michelin stars in a row.
Chef Jeremy Ford on Farm-to-Table
Chef Ford’s personal 5.5-acre farm in Redland is a key part of the Stubborn Seed story.
Ford told the New Times “Farm-to-table has become a watered-down phrase. It’s become a marketing gimmick for so many restaurants, but we are literally in the kitchen every day. We have a farmer on staff.”
That’s rare. Most restaurants tout farm-to-table on their menus, but their ingredients come from suppliers. Ford and Stubborn Seed aren’t just talking it. They’re living it.
Stubborn Seed Miami Restaurant Dining Experience
First the drinks. The wine selection is top notch. Go for the wine flights and enjoy some Latin beer options if that’s your thing. The servers are well versed in the pairings.
Food prep is key
Orders don’t hit the table as fast as they are prepared. Expect about a 20-30 minute wait between each course. Why? Precision.
Everything is done in the restaurant kitchen. Chances are the servers can see you sneaking peeks at the prep area as they prep the next course. It’s kind of awesome.
Service is top notch, but unobtrusive. The servers can read the table.
Stubborn Seed Fun Fact
Ask for the sommelier’s recommendations if you’re wondering what to drink. Prices are reasonable for wine pairings, and you can go off menu and choose from a full wine list if you prefer. No corkage fee, either.
Don’t miss out. Plan to book at least two months in advance. If Stubborn Seed is on your radar, it’s already the hardest reservation in Miami to get.
Should You Dine at Stubborn Seed?
Stubborn Seed is a top tier fine dining restaurant with a James Beard semi-finalist in the kitchen and a host of quality awards to show for it.
Chef Jeremy Ford takes risks, executes and raises the Miami food scene in the process. Consistency is the key. Stubborn Seed has kept its Michelin star for four years running.
Stubborn Seed rises above for three reasons:
- Farm-to-table execution that actually means something.
- Consistency without predictability.
- Personality in every dish.
It’s all the reasons you should book Stubborn Seed on your next Miami visit.
Honorable Mentions: Miami Michelin-Starred Restaurants
Stubborn Seed has earned the top spot as Miami’s best, but there are a few close runner ups. Here are the top 3:
- Stubborn Seed – Farm-to-table driven by Chef Jeremy Ford and his 5.5-acre Redland farm.
- Cote Miami – Local ingredients given Korean treatment by Chef Hooni Kim.
- Koia – Chef Niven Patel elevates Indian flavors with an inventive tasting menu.
Chef Jeremy Ford’s Stubborn Seed stands out for the focus on local ingredients and Latin and Asian flavors. Miami’s diverse food scene deserves world class chefs who are as bold and brash as the city itself.
Chef Ford is that man.