Meet Ian Fleischmann | Executive Chef

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ian Fleischmann and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ian, how do you think about risk?
Risk is the only way to true rewards.

I have rolled the dice multiple times in my career. I walked away from being the Executive Chef the Goodtime Hotel on South Beach, which was owned by Pharrell and David Grutman. There was never going to be room to be a partner/owner with a company like that.

It’s hard to walk away from a group that has this overwhelming success. But ultimately if you know your own value you can’t keep contributing to others successes, you have to push it for yourself.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I have a career that is wildly different from most chefs. Most chefs have the rigor to stick with one facet and put in the time. I however couldn’t sit still in my career. Two years in and out of Michelin Starred establishments. Six years flipping shrimps into peoples mouths at hibachi restaurants. Three years in luxury hotels. Three years running a ballet and opera house while doing large scale catering. I was all over the place.

Besides working in all of these different facets I loved traveling. I spent great deals of time abroad and became engrained in the food cultures.

So when it came time to do what I wanted to do. It was an easy decision. I wanted to team up with people I enjoy, people who could do the things I didn’t know how to, and people who were going to push me out of my comfort zone. That is exactly what we have going on at Fabel.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I have an undying loyalty to certain places in Miami.

B&M Market to get that Caribbean flavor at lunch time.
Media Noche sandwiches at the no name shop at the corner of 12th and Flagler.
Check out Buena Vista for a lazy day and get Cholados at Amazonica.
Greasy breakfasts at Jimmy’s Eastside Diner on Biscayne.
I always love renting a boat and giving friends a tour of Miami from the sea.
Of course I would invite them in to Fabel to eat!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My sister. Heather Johnson. She is incredibly successful and I always felt I wanted to achieve what she had. She helped me get sober and constantly pushes me in my personal life and career.

Website: https://fabelmiami.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ian_fleischmann/?hl=en

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ianfleischmann