Thomas Buckley
When Nobu Hotel Miami Beach’s executive chef, Thomas Buckley, wonders how he can be authoritative about his adopted city, he’s characteristically modest: “You sure you want a British guy to do that?” But actually the head chef—who also fulfills the lofty role of corporate executive chef for the Nobu restaurant empire—has lived in Miami since 2001, scads of time to discern the best of the area’s food and social scene. The backstory: After helping to launch Nobu venues in London and Milan, Thomas was presented with a choice: move next to Paris or Miami Beach. He’d grown attached to the U.S. during an earlier chapter of this life, while working at one of New York’s iconic restaurants. The decision, he says, wasn’t difficult. The lifestyle is just easier compared to that of other big cities, he says: “I have a sense of freedom here.”