& Conference Center, which opened October 2007, has been repositioned, according to Beachside developer Robert Spottswood. The concept has been changed, and James Beard Award winning chef Norman Van Aken is no longer at the helm.... (8 replies, last updated by jmdhsmiami March 23, 2008)

on the whole celebrity status of chefs in Miami and hightailed it to Key West. Correct me if I am wrong, Norman's closed and didn’t he pack up in Orlando?? It is a refurbished Holiday Inn apparently called Harborside... (4 replies, last updated by The Chowfather AKA sobe March 5, 2008)

I read that Charlie Trotter worked for Norman Van Aken in Charlie’s early days. I have been to Norman's in Florida and liked it. Look forward to checking out his Sunset Blvd. version. (6 replies, last updated by Marco Polo March 31, 2004)

Norman Van Aken is one of the most talented chefs in the country. He was way ahead of his time when he opened the first serious restaurant on South Beach (A Mano... in what was the Betsy Ross Hotel). When he left after a... (6 replies, last updated by WineTravel June 21, 2007)

I’m familiar with Norman Van Aken but have not had the opportunity to dine at his rest. at the Ritz Carlton/Grande Lakes in Orlando. Any feedback? (9 replies, last updated by theflytyr August 7, 2007)

restaurant on the Sunset Strip, opened by one of Florida’s top chefs, Norman Van Aken. It purports to serve “New World Cuisine,” a blend of Latin, Caribbean and Asian influences. Hence, on the menu you’ll... (0 replies, last updated by pocky July 23, 2004)

Norman Van Aken reportedly coming back to Coral Gables in the space on the NW side of the Colonnade Hotel. Thanks to Carolina at MenuPages for bringing the news -> http://blogs.menupages.com/southflorida/2009/02/breaking_normans (4 replies, last updated by dmo305 February 19, 2009)

Van Aken — rhymes with sophistication By Scott Joseph Sentinel Staff Writer October 26, 2003 When the Ritz-Carlton approached Norman Van Aken to operate a restaurant in one of its hotels, it represented the first time the... (7 replies, last updated by Bob Mervine November 2, 2003)

I went to Norman's in August. Norman Van Aken was actually there, and came around to our table. I thought the food was uneven. The amuse-bouches weren’t very interesting, which was not a good way to start a major meal. On... (4 replies, last updated by Jerome September 22, 2004)

I’ve been much more recently and regularly to Ortanique so it’s somewhat unfair to compare. The general consensus seems to be that the shine is off Norman's a little and that Van Aken is not paying the Gables location... (8 replies, last updated by ems February 13, 2007)

Norman's was/is a Miami institution as chef Norman Van Aken was one of the “founding members” of the Mango Gang that put South Florida on the culinary map with high end technique combined with Latin American influence... (10 replies, last updated by HeatherFL April 17, 2007)

We’ve been talking about Norman in the thread “Coach's in OKC”. As always, it depends on what you want. For bbQ, Van's Pig Stand, vegetarian The Earth, Misal of India has been there forever also. I like Legends... (2 replies, last updated by ECB April 3, 2007)

We stayed at the new JW Marriott, part of a vast resort complex newly opened in July 2003. Norman's is the signature restaurant of the Ritz Carlton and is run by Norman Van Aken who owns Norman's in Coral Gables. Primo is the... (4 replies, last updated by Joe H. January 4, 2004)

The sense among locals has been that Norman Van Aken was no longer very personally invested in the place, combined with a tendency to flock to the hot new place rather than the old standards (which Norman's has become). It is a... (16 replies, last updated by Frodnesor June 23, 2007)

for Senor Van Aken, which I beleive would have been a much better name, Van Aken's instead of Norman's. Mel’s across the street works because it conjures up in your mind exactly what it is...an old school diner. Norman's... (26 replies, last updated by netmover November 11, 2006)