LITTORALICIOUSIn This Article
The Brief
Port type: Major hub. Agent markup in this port runs 15–18%. On a USD 15,000 provision, self-sourcing saves USD 2,200–2,700. The wholesale infrastructure is so good here that using an agent is paying someone to do what you can do better yourself — unless you genuinely have zero time.
Costco Business Center is not regular Costco. The Business Center in Doral (also Pompano Beach) carries restaurant-format packaging — 5 kg flour bags, case lots, portion-controlled proteins. Make the extra 20-minute drive. This distinction alone changes your entire provision. Regular Costco sells consumer packs. The Business Center sells professional packs. The difference in value and format is significant.
Miami has zero import tax, multiple wholesale clubs that grant free membership with boat registration, and suppliers covering every quality tier from crew-grade to A5 Wagyu. If your season starts here or you transit through, load everything you can carry. Prices only go up from here.
Restaurant Depot membership is free. Bring boat registration, a business card, and the captain’s ID. One card covers every Restaurant Depot in the US. Between Costco Business Center and Restaurant Depot, you cover 60–70% of any provision at wholesale prices.
The Provision Map
The one-page reference. Screenshot this.
| Category | Order Online | Go In Person | The Move |
|---|---|---|---|
| General / One-Stop | Instacart (Costco, Whole Foods) | Costco Business Center (Doral) | Business Center, not regular Costco — professional packs |
| Fish & Seafood | Browne Trading (overnight ship) | Captain Jim’s (N Miami Beach) | Before 08:00. Buy whole fish — price per kg drops, you control the butchery |
| Meat & Protein | Halpern’s (wholesale account) | Restaurant Depot (membership) | Halpern’s is where provisioning agents source from — go direct |
| Deli / Cheese / Caviar | Marky’s (wholesale.markys.com) | Miami Cheese Shop | Use the Marky’s wholesale portal, not retail |
| Specialty / Guest-Level | Regalis Foods (2-day ship) | — | Truffles, A5 Wagyu, Japanese wasabi, firefly squid |
| Bread & Bakery | Zak the Baker (online ordering) | Zak the Baker (Wynwood) | Order 48h ahead for volume. Stock Caputo flour at Restaurant Depot |
| Produce & Fruit | — | Robert Is Here (Homestead) | Tropical exotics unavailable anywhere else in the US |
| Dry Store & Pantry | Amazon Fresh (order D-5) | Costco Business Center | Business Center for case lots. Amazon for specialty |
| Ethnic & Specialty | — | 168 Market (Hialeah) | Last reliable large Asian source before the Caribbean — stock up |
| Wine & Spirits | Total Wine (online) | Total Wine (multiple) | Duty-free spirits at the port if heading international |
How to Provision
Plan ahead. The day before a trip is not for shopping — it is for finalising preparations and cooking ahead. If you are running around shops the day before guests arrive, you have already lost.
If you are sole chef, separate your orders by category across different days. One day for proteins — order from your butcher and fishmonger separately, let them prepare your cuts and portions. Another day for dry store — the wholesale run where you load flour, oils, pasta, canned goods, supplies. Another day for fresh produce and specialty items. Each run has a different rhythm and different suppliers. Trying to do everything in one day means you rush the decisions that matter most.
If you have a team, split the runs. One person on proteins, one on dry store and produce. Same principle: separate by category, not by urgency.
The rule: Your last day before departure is for prep and cook-ahead only. Stocks simmering, sauces reducing, bread proofing, mise en place locked in. Not for standing in a queue at Restaurant Depot. Plan your shopping so you never have to choose between sourcing and cooking on the same day.
Category Deep Dives
General / One-Stop / Wholesale
| Supplier | Type | Key Intel |
|---|---|---|
| Costco Business Center | Wholesale, in-person | Doral + Pompano Beach. Restaurant-grade bulk. Professional packs, case lots, 5 kg flour bags. The heavy-lift run. Covers 40% of your dry store and pantry. |
| Restaurant Depot | Wholesale, in-person | FTL, Pompano Beach, Miami, Medley. Free membership with boat registration + business card. Bulk proteins, dairy, dry goods, supplies, produce. Covers every location in the US. |
| Costco (regular) | Wholesale, in-person | Multiple locations (Davie, N Miami, etc.). Kirkland organics, spirits, bulk consumer packs. Kirkland sushi-grade fish is surprisingly good for price. |
| BJ’s Wholesale | Wholesale, in-person | Multiple locations. Similar to Costco. Sometimes better on specific items. |
| Instacart | Online delivery | Pulls from Costco, Whole Foods, Publix. Schedule delivery to the marina. General grocery run when you cannot leave the boat. |
| Amazon Fresh | Online delivery | Order D−5, arrives next day. Good for specialty dry goods and anything you cannot find at wholesale. |
| Whole Foods | Retail + provisioning service | Free provisioning service: call ahead, give list, they shop it, store temperature-controlled, ready for pickup. No markup beyond retail. Best for organic produce, specialty dietary items, fresh herbs, cheese counter. |
| Publix | Retail | Everywhere. BOGO deals on proteins/dairy/staples (check weekly flyer). Bakery, Boar’s Head deli counter. Emergency provisions — open early/late. |
| Trader Joe’s | Retail | Snacks, wine, frozen appetisers for crew. Good cheese for the price. |
Whole Foods free provisioning service. Call ahead, they shop your list, store it temperature-controlled, and hold for pickup. No markup beyond retail price. Not a chandler — a free service most chefs do not know about.
Fish & Seafood
| Supplier | Type | Key Intel |
|---|---|---|
| Captain Jim’s Fish Market | In-person, N Miami Beach | Local catch, stone crab (Oct–May), Florida lobster. Fishmongers know yacht chefs. Arrive before 08:00 for best selection. |
| Haulover Marina | In-person, Sunny Isles | Boats come in at noon and 17:00. Buy directly off the boat. Cash preferred. Yellowtail snapper, mahi, swordfish, tuna at 40–60% below retail. Build the relationship. |
| Sea Salt Fish Market | In-person, 3020 N Federal Hwy, FTL | Wild-caught, responsibly harvested. USD 8 prep fee for cleaning/filleting. Call ahead with order. |
| The Fish Peddler | In-person, 2805 E Commercial Blvd, FTL | Solid daily quality. Good for routine needs. |
| Plaza Seafood Market | In-person, Allapattah, Miami | Cheapest whole fish and shellfish in Miami. Not pretty. Very good. |
| Krudo Fish Market | In-person, N Miami Beach | Sushi-grade, kosher-certified. When you need guaranteed quality. |
| Finster Murphy’s | In-person, FTL | Premium. Caviar, tobiko, specialty seafood. When guests want the best. |
| Garcia’s Seafood | In-person, Miami River | Good snapper, stone crab in season. Market + restaurant combo. |
| Browne Trading | Online, ships overnight from ME | Premium day-boat fish, caviar, smoked fish. Overnight to Miami. Guest-level seafood when local catch is not what you need. |
| Halpern’s | Wholesale account, FL distribution | 2,000+ products including seafood. Where provisioning agents source from. |
| Manny’s Seafood | Wholesale delivery, all South Florida | Minimum order. Ask for yacht chef rates. Competitive pricing. |
| Bar Harbor Seafood | Wholesale, Miami (65,000 sq ft facility) | Large orders only. Miami distribution centre. |
The Haulover Marina hack. Boats come in at noon and 17:00 at Sunny Isles. Buy directly off the boat — cash preferred. Yellowtail snapper, mahi, swordfish, tuna at 40–60% below retail. Build the relationship and they will call you when they catch something special.
Meat & Protein
| Supplier | Type | Key Intel |
|---|---|---|
| Halpern’s | Wholesale account, FL distribution | The source behind the agents. 2,000+ products. Beef and seafood. Cut out the 15–18% middleman. Since 1966. |
| Restaurant Depot | Wholesale, multiple locations | USDA Prime and Choice at wholesale. Best value for standard guest and crew proteins. |
| Josh’s Premium Meats | In-person + online, SW 57th Ave, Miami | Wagyu specialist (Australian + Japanese). Wild-caught seafood. Same-day Miami-Dade delivery. Top 5 Miami butcher (Infatuation). |
| Wild Fork Foods | Online + retail, multiple Miami-Dade stores | Broad range crew-grade to Wagyu. 48h lead time for full catalogue. Marina delivery. Products arrive frozen and vac-packed from facility. |
| Snake River Farms | Online, ships nationwide | American Wagyu beef + Kurobuta pork. THE pork specialist. Flat-rate shipping. Ships frozen and vac-packed. Order 3 days ahead. |
| Meat N’ Bone | Online | Grass-fed, dry-aged, ethically sourced. USDA Prime, Wagyu, Picanha. Next-day ship. |
| Four Star Poultry & Provision | Wholesale delivery, South Florida | Since 1967. Locally owned. Delivers to marina with minimum order. |
| Jomara Seafood & Meats | Wholesale, Miami | 30 years. Frozen meats, poultry, cheeses. |
| MDist (Martinez Distributors) | Wholesale, Miami | Family-owned, 20+ years. Latin American specialties + standard provisions. |
Deli / Charcuterie / Cheese / Caviar
| Supplier | Type | Key Intel |
|---|---|---|
| Marky’s | Wholesale (wholesale.markys.com) | Best deli meats in South Florida. Caviar, foie gras, truffles, charcuterie, A5 Wagyu. Use the wholesale portal, NOT the retail site. |
| Miami Cheese Shop | In-person, 2900 NE 7th Ave, Miami | Imported and local cheeses. Truffles, olives, jams, pastas, honey, vinegars. One stop for charcuterie board. |
| Chèvre Miami | In-person + online, multiple locations | Cheeses and wines from worldwide. Online ordering — have it ready for pickup. |
| Mimmo’s Mozzarella | In-person, Miami Beach | Fresh mozzarella and burrata made daily. Italian imports. The real thing. |
| Mari’s Kitchen Italian Market | In-person, FTL | Authentic Italian imports. Dried pasta selection alone is worth the trip. |
Specialty / Guest-Level
| Supplier | Type | Key Intel |
|---|---|---|
| Regalis Foods | Online, ships 2-day | Truffles, caviar, A5 Wagyu, foie gras, specialty mushrooms, live seafood, Japanese wasabi, firefly squid. Also good for premium poultry. |
| The Chef’s Garden | Online, ships overnight from Ohio | Microgreens, edible flowers, specialty vegetables, herbs. 400-acre regenerative farm. Guest garnish and tasting menu produce. |
| Browne Trading | Online, ships overnight from ME | Premium seafood, caviar, smoked fish. Day-boat fish. |
| Marky’s | Wholesale (wholesale.markys.com) | Caviar, foie gras, truffle products. When the guest expects the best. |
Bread & Bakery
| Supplier | Type | Key Intel |
|---|---|---|
| Zak the Baker | Online + in-person, Wynwood | Artisan sourdough, challah, focaccia. Order 48h ahead for volume. Delivers. |
Flour warning. Stock Caputo flour and bread flour at Restaurant Depot or Costco Business Center. 12%+ protein flour is scarce and expensive in the Caribbean. Buy 10–20 kg here.
Produce & Fruit
| Supplier | Type | Key Intel |
|---|---|---|
| Robert Is Here | In-person, Homestead | Tropical exotics: mamey, sapodilla, jackfruit, starfruit, dragon fruit. Unavailable elsewhere in the US. Worth the drive. |
| Yellow Green Farmers Market | In-person, Hollywood (Sat/Sun) | 190,000 sq ft, 600+ vendors. Overwhelming — go with a list. Best farmers market in South Florida. |
| MKT at Las Olas Oceanside Park | In-person, 3000 E Las Olas Blvd, FTL | Walking distance from marinas. Organic produce, local cheese, baked goods. Convenient. |
| Legion Park Market | In-person, 6601 Biscayne Blvd, Miami | Best organic selection in Miami proper. |
| Lauderdale-by-the-Sea Market | In-person, El Prado Park (Sundays 09:00–13:00) | December–May only. Seasonal. |
| Restaurant Depot | Wholesale, multiple | Standard produce in bulk at wholesale prices. |
| Presidente Supermarket | Retail, multiple (Miami) | Latin American specialty. Tropical produce, yuca, plantains. Cheapest in Miami. |
November–April: Peak growing season in South Florida. Tomatoes, avocados, tropical fruits at their best and cheapest. For guest garnish and tasting menu produce — microgreens, edible flowers, specialty vegetables — The Chef’s Garden (Ohio) ships overnight.
Ethnic & Specialty
| Supplier | Type | Key Intel |
|---|---|---|
| 168 Market | In-person, Hialeah | Full Asian supermarket. Best Asian selection in South Florida. Lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime, miso, dashi, nori, rice noodles, Thai curry pastes, wonton wrappers. |
| Sedano’s | In-person, multiple locations | Cuban/Latin. Plantains, yuca, black beans, mojo, sazon, achiote. |
| Presidente Supermarket | In-person, multiple (Miami) | Latin American specialty. Tropical produce, spices. Cheapest in Miami for Latin ingredients. |
168 Market is the last reliable large Asian source before the Caribbean. Buy your entire Asian pantry here in bulk. Lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime, miso, dashi, nori, rice noodles, Thai curry pastes, wonton wrappers. What you do not buy now, you will not find at the next port.
Wine & Spirits
| Supplier | Type | Key Intel |
|---|---|---|
| Total Wine | Online + in-person, multiple locations | Broadest selection in South Florida. |
| Costco | In-person, multiple | Kirkland brand spirits are repackaged premium products. Good wine selection. |
| Duty-free at port | In-person, Port of Miami / Port Everglades | If heading international. Buy all spirits for the Caribbean leg here — prices only go up from here. |
Freezer-Ready Intel
Most of what you buy gets frozen. The suppliers who vac-pack, portion, and blast-chill before you collect save hours of galley prep and preserve quality.
| Supplier | Vac-Pack | Portioning | Blast Chill / Pre-Frozen | Lead Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wild Fork Foods | Yes (most products) | Individual portions standard | Products arrive frozen from facility | 48h |
| Snake River Farms | Yes | Individual cuts standard | Shipped frozen | 3 days |
| Halpern’s | TBC — confirm on account setup | TBC | TBC | TBC |
| Josh’s Premium Meats | TBC — ask on Wagyu orders | TBC | TBC | Same day Miami-Dade |
| Browne Trading | TBC — ask for larger orders | TBC | Ships overnight on ice | Overnight |
| Restaurant Depot | No (self-service) | No | No | Walk in |
| Meat N’ Bone | TBC | TBC | TBC | Next day |
What to ask every protein supplier: (1) Can you vac-pack? (2) Can you portion — whole fillet AND individual cuts? (3) What lead time for packed orders? (4) Blast chiller available? A supplier who vac-packs and blast-chills is worth a 10% premium.
Buy here, freeze for later: Wild Fork and Snake River Farms arrive already frozen and vac-packed — best quality for freezer loading. For proteins heading to the Caribbean, these two are your cleanest freezer-ready option.
Do not freeze from here: Fish. Buy fish fresh at the next port. Frozen fish from Miami competes poorly with fresh local catch in the Caribbean.
Logistics and delivery: Uber XL (USD 20–40 per trip to marina, phone ahead, have orders bagged and ready). Uber Direct (express courier, 30 min–2 hours in FTL area). Reliable Couriers knows every marina slip in Lauderdale — Pier 66, Bahia Mar, 17th Street, Las Olas.
The Agent
Sometimes you dock at 14:00 and charter starts at 18:00 the next day.
| Supplier | Type | Key Intel |
|---|---|---|
| Yacht Provisions USA | Full-service agent | 15–18% markup. Sources from Halpern’s and the same wholesale suppliers. Only worth it when you have zero time. On a USD 15,000 provision, that is USD 2,250–2,700. |
| Yacht Chandlers | Chandler | 29 years. Daily delivery FTL, Miami, West Palm Beach. Team led by an exec chef with 15+ years yachting. |
| National Marine Suppliers | Chandler | Direct farm/ranch relationships. Good for protein sourcing. |
| ODP (On Demand Provisions) | Chandler | Run by an executive yacht chef. Understands galley realities. |
| Just Provisions | Chandler | Direct gangway delivery to superyachts. Fort Lauderdale. |
| Whole Foods Provisioning | Free service | They shop, store temperature-controlled, and hold for pickup. No markup beyond retail. Not a chandler — a free service. |
Use the agent only when your charter starts in 24 hours and you have not left the boat. Miami’s wholesale infrastructure is so accessible that the agent markup is harder to justify here than anywhere else.
Red flags: Any agent who cannot tell you exactly where they source proteins. If they are vague, they are marking up Restaurant Depot.
Local Gems
What Miami does better or cheaper than anywhere else. Stock up — you will not find this at the next stop.
| Item | Where | Why Here |
|---|---|---|
| Stone crab claws (Oct–May) | Captain Jim’s / Haulover Marina | Peak season, direct from boats, half restaurant price |
| Tropical exotics (mamey, sapodilla, jackfruit) | Robert Is Here, Homestead | Grown in South Florida, unavailable elsewhere |
| Asian pantry staples (bulk) | 168 Market, Hialeah | Last reliable source before Caribbean — buy everything |
| 12%+ protein bread flour | Restaurant Depot / Costco Business Center | Scarce and expensive once you leave the US |
| Cuban bread and pastries | Any Sedano’s or Latin bakery | Authentic, cheap, crew will thank you |
| Fresh mozzarella and burrata | Mimmo’s Mozzarella, Miami Beach | Made daily. The real thing. |
The Bottom Line
Miami is the provisioning capital of the Americas. Zero import tax, wholesale infrastructure everywhere, every cuisine and quality tier covered from crew-grade to A5 Wagyu. The single best move is getting the Costco Business Center and Restaurant Depot memberships on day one — between them, they cover 60–70% of any provision at wholesale prices. Before you leave, load flour, Asian pantry staples, and frozen vac-packed proteins for the next three ports. Prices and suppliers shift season to season — verify before committing.
Aggregated from recommendations across the Chefs Helping Chefs (~1,025 members) and Yacht Chef Group (~300+ members) WhatsApp communities, July 2025 – February 2026. Supplier recommendations from working yacht chefs based in Fort Lauderdale and Miami. All sources anonymised. Prices and availability subject to change — verify before committing.
Will this change how you provision in Miami?
Join the conversation