Miami Chef Heads to NYC for the Lucky Rice Festival

It’s a great day when some of Miami’s most celebrated chefs earn the national attention that they so deserve. We got word today that Jonathan Wright, executive chef at The Setai, South Beach, has been tapped to cook alongside some of the culinary world’s top luminaries in the inaugural Lucky Rice Festival in New York City, April 28 to May 2.

So what is this festival that rejoices in the good fortunate of a grain, you ask? Why, the celebration of Asian cuisine, of course.

After landing in NYC, Chef Wright will rub elbows with some of the greatest names in the culinary game, including our own previous cover subject Jean-Georges Vongerichten, David Chang, Eric Ripert and Pichet Ong, whom Food Editor Tracey Ceurvels interviewed for an Haute Living online exclusive.

This is quite an honor for Wright, considering that he is the only chef from South Florida to be selected to participate in this event that likes to stay true to its NYC roots; only two chefs outside of New York were chosen overall.

So what does Wright have in store to show off his skills to a discerning New York crowd? On April 30, Momofuku chef David Chang will play host for the outdoor Night Market under the Manhattan Bridge in DUMBO, where the culinary theme will pattern itself after traditional Asian street food. The next morning, on May 1, Wright will join Jean Georges, Floyd Cardoz, Singapore’s Willin Low of Wild Rocket and a line up of other top toques to present the Grand Feast of Asian Flavors.

Perhaps Wright is thinking of these two events as a sort of testing ground for his new menu, which will debut at The Restaurant at The Setai in early May.

Good luck to all of our hometown hereos, in both Miami, and New York City.