Identity elements
Name and location of repository
Level of description
Collection
Title
Norman Van Aken papers
Date(s)
- 1957-2023 July, bulk 1985-2022 (Creation)
Extent
14.96 linear feet (15 boxes)
Name of creator
Biographical history
Norman Van Aken: Timeline
1951 Born in Diamond Lake, Illinois
1972 Began culinary career as a cook at “Tom & Jerry's Fireside” in Libertyville, IL
Early 1980’s Partnered with restaurateur Gordan Sinclair to open “Sinclair’s American Grill” in Florida
1985 Worked at “Louie’s Backyard” in Key West, where he is visited by Charlie Trotter
1986 Coined the term “New World Cuisine”
1988 Published his first monograph, Feast of Sunlight
1989 Executive Chef at the Betsy Ross Hotel’s “A Mano” and “Stars and Stripes Café” in Miami Beach, FL
1995 Opened his restaurant “Norman’s” in Coral Gables, FL, which is nominated “Best New Restaurant” by the James Beard Foundation.
1995 Published, The Great Exotic Fruit
1997 Published, New World Cuisine
2003 Opened “Norman’s” at The Ritz-Carlton, Orlando, FL
2003 Won the James Beard “Who’s Who of Food and Beverage in America” award
2005 Norman’s in Coral Gables named a finalist for The James Beard Foundation’s “Outstanding Restaurant.”
2010-11 Operated the Norman’s 180 at The Colonnade Hotel in Coral Gables, FL
2012 Published, My Key West Kitchen
2013 Published the autobiographical book, No Experience Necessary: The Culinary Education of Chef Norman Van Aken
2016 Published, Norman Van Aken’s Florida Kitchen
2016 Inducted into MenuMasters Hall of Fame
2019 Norman’s at The Ritz-Carlton in Orlando, FL closed
Content and structure elements
Scope and content
“In his adopted home of South Florida he imaged a cuisine that would wed the raw and rustic powers of the diverse immigrant cultures that comprise the population there to the classic techniques of gastronomy that have survived the test of time and trends. The revolution for a new style of cooking was born and Norman christened it a 'New World Cuisine.'” - Norman Van Aken, Correspondence, 1993 December 2.
A 2016 MenuMasters Hall of Fame Inductee, noted restauranteur, and the first chef to use the term "fusion cuisine" in its modern definition, Norman Van Aken (1951- ) is a celebrity chef primarily known for his "New World" fusion cuisine. Drawing from the flavors and culinary traditions of Latin America, the Caribbean, North America, Asia, and Africa, his impact on the culinary arts has been internationally recognized since the start of his career. His culinary influences on Florida's own local cuisine and restaurant culture are still observable to this day, especially to those who dine nightly at his Orlando restaurant.
This collection serves as a meaningful look into his career as a chef and culinary expert, and his personal life as a man with a deep interest in his family's past and present. The Norman Van Aken papers include documents, correspondence, photographs, manuscript drafts, menus, ephemera, recipes, and more, which showcase the personal life and professional career of one of South Florida's most celebrated chefs. Researchers with an interest in gastronomy, the history of South Florida's restaurant and food culture during the 1990s-2000s, or interpersonal relationships between celebrity chefs, may find this collection useful in their studies.
System of arrangement
This collection is arranged into five series: I. Personal Life, II. Correspondence, III. Photographs and Audiovisual materials, IV. Professional Life, and V. Publications.
Records in Series I (Personal Life), Series III (Photographs and Audiovisual Materials), and Series IV (Professional Life) are primarily arranged by subject, and more generally by genre or format. Records in Series II (Correspondence) and Series V (Publications) are arranged chronologically at the folder or item-level whenever possible.
Conditions of access and use elements
Conditions governing access
This collection is open for research. Some folders may be restricted due to containing Personal Identifiable Information (PII) or items with potential material value.
Physical access
This collection is kept in an off -campus storage facility. Please contact Special Collections at asc.library@miami.edu with the boxes you are interested in prior to your visit, and allow up to 1 week for delivery of materials.
Technical access
Conditions governing reproduction
Van Aken, Norman papers Finding Aid © 2021 University of Miami. Requests to reproduce or publish materials from this collection should be directed to asc.library@miami.edu.
Languages of the material
- English
- German
- Spanish
Scripts of the material
- Latin
Language and script notes
Finding aids
Acquisition and appraisal elements
Custodial history
Immediate source of acquisition
Gift of Norman Van Aken, 2019-11.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information
Accruals
This collection is expected to receive additional accruals in the future.
Related materials elements
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related archival materials
Related descriptions
Notes element
Specialized notes
Alternative identifier(s)
Description control element
Rules or conventions
Sources used
Archivist's note
Finding aid created and updated by Kalani Adolpho, 2022-02. Revised by Jordan Jedry, 2023-08.
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Van Aken, Norman (Subject)