Van Aken, Norman

Persona

Van Aken, Norman

1951-

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

Completo

Laura Bass, UGrow Fellow 2020