Chef-Owner, Zitz Sum; Coral Gables, FL

Pablo Zitzmann is the chef and owner of Zitz Sum. He is blue collar, DIY, and a hardcore punk fanatic, who has always found a way to make things happen. Growing up playing in punk rock bands and skateboarding, Pablo understood from an early age the concept of community, hard work, and resilience. His love for Asian flavors began at an early age when Pablo’s dad used to take him to Teppanyaki restaurants in his native Bogota, Colombia, and though Pablo grew up in a German and Mexican immigrant household, Asian flavors were The Ramones of food for him. Life took him to Hong Kong, Hawaii, and Japan, where he dove deeper into those cultures and their food, which left a deep impression upon him. Pablo has been recognized for his work at No Name Chinese, Zitz Sum’s predecessor, and was able to beat Iron Chef Bobby Flay in his own kitchen. The restaurant is the recipient of a 2022 Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand Award, a 2022 James Beard Foundation Semifinalist for Best New Restaurant, and was included in the list of The New York Times 2022 Best 50 Restaurants in America. @zitzsum