Sustainable Living Panel 2020
Rabbi Yaakov Florans
Yakov aka Rabbi ‘Flo’ is the Director of YEHUDI Wynwood. You’ll usually find him engaged in Miami’s young Jewish professional scene, hosting, teaching and entertaining. Additionally, with his know-how around the kitchen, there’ll always be serious eats. If you’re looking for a taste, make sure to come by for a Shabbat dinner.
Benjamin Goldman
Benjamin Goldman graduated from Johnson and Wales University in Miami and began his career under the direction of Chef Andrea Curto-Randazzo at her long-standing Talula restaurant. After a stint in the northeast at Clio/Uni restaurants under chef and restaurateur Kenneth Oringer, Goldman returned to Florida to work at a small fine dining concept called The Hunter’s Grill. Starting as a sous chef and later promoted to executive chef for the brand, he most enjoyed creating the restaurant’s seasonal menus. In 2013, he took a position at the soon-to-be-open Shikany restaurant and later joined David Grutman’s team as executive chef of Komodo. In 2018, Goldman brought his plant-based lifestyle to the kitchen as chef de cuisine of Planta South Beach, where he creates dishes using his global influence and passion for food.
Marissa Zarco Hoffman
Marissa Zarco Hoffman, MS, RD, LD/N is the founder of her private practice, Marissa Zarco Nutrition, where she works to enhance her clients’ health and wellness by helping them integrate positive nutrition and fitness habits into their daily routines. As a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Marissa is licensed to provide safe and effective nutrition therapy for all ages, health conditions, and fitness levels. She offers private nutrition counseling for a wide-range of needs, including weight management, athleticperformance, and medical nutrition therapy for disease prevention and therapy. She also conducts group educations and lunch-and-learns for schools, corporations, and community events. Marissa’s professional approach is based on scientific foundations of food, nutrition, and human biology, in addition to the understanding that everyone has a personal and unique connection to what and how they eat.
Marissa holds a Bachelor of Science in Biological Anthropology and Anatomy from Duke University and a Master of Science in Nutrition and Exercise Physiology from Columbia University. Upon returning to her hometown, Miami Beach, FL, Marissa started counseling and educating in nutrition for private businesses, while also working at South Florida’s largest public hospital, Jackson Memorial Hospital, as a clinical dietitian for four years prior to starting her private nutrition practice.
Daniel Levine
Daniel Levine is a Miami native with a lifelong passion for food and hospitality. After graduating from Washington University in St. Louis, he worked in management for the Hillstone Restaurant Group before joining the esteemed NYC restaurant consulting group, Blackwood Hospitality as the Director of Operations. Seeking to develop the hospitality scene in his home city, Daniel later launched Leviathan Hospitality and did freelance consulting work before founding Dasher & Crank, a craft ice cream shop located in Wynwood. He launched this company over two years ago which has been named ‘Miami’s Best Ice Cream’ each year since its inception. Rotating his flavors weekly and creating over 350 flavors to date, he looks to local collaborators, holidays, and seasonal ingredients for inspiration. Some of his unique flavors include Latke ice cream, ZTB Babka N Cream, and Apples and Native Guy Honey. He recently accepted a position as the Corporate Head of Food & Beverage for the rapidly growing Life House Hotels.
