Executive Chef Jose Saavedra

Chef Jose Saavedra was born and raised in Colombia in a family that cherished cooking traditional and tasty dishes. He developed a passion for cooking during his childhood as he watched and helped his grandmother cook. Initially Chef Saavedra began his professional education seeking a degree in Industrial Engineering, however, his obsession with cooking soon drove him to pursue formal education in cooking instead. His desire was to perfect the craft he enjoyed so much and for which he was naturally gifted. He moved to the United States with the dream of becoming an acclaimed chef.

Chef Saavedra earned a degree at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts. While working in some of the most celebrated restaurants in Florida, he met his mentor a famous five-star German chef and credits the chef for providing the guidance that helped make him the success he is today. In 2011, Chef Saavedra accepted a position at an exclusive luxury private club in Key Biscayne FL, where he learned and developed skills for serving the restaurant’s fine dining gourmet dishes. Later, in 2019, Chef Saavedra accepted the position as Head Chef at a Latin American Fusion Cuisine, where he gave ‘free rein’ to his culinary creativity and designed new dishes that were infused with flavors from his global travels to France, Italy, Spain, Cuba, Puerto Rico and of course, his beloved Colombia. He brings all this culinary experience to his present cooking endeavors at the Palace Bar & Restaurant, where he is quickly making new fans. As Chef Saavedra’s expertise continues to grow and evolve, one thing is sure, he continues to fall deeper in love with cooking and bringing pleasure through taste to many in Miami Beach and surrounding Miami area. We hope you will soon make it a point to come and experience Chef Saavedra’s dishes for yourself and have an unforgettable dining experience!

Chef Saavedra’s favorite saying is, “a ‘happy stomach’ can help you conquer the world.”