Julio Portales

West Tampa businessman and chef Julio Portales was known in show business circles as Caterer to the Stars. For nearly a quarter of a century, he served breakfast, lunch, snacks and often dinner to cast and crew of movies filmed all over Florida.

Always wearing a bright smile, Julio became forged friendships with such show business icons as Burt Reynolds, Debra Winger, Carl Reiner, Rip Torn, Richard Crenna, Tim Burton, Johnny Depp, Henry Winkler, Ron Howard, the late John Candy and lots of others.

Julio with Burt Reynolds on old Jefferson HS movie set Tampa, Florida ~ 1992.

He has been on hand for the filming of "Edward Scissorhands," "Doc Hollywood," and many, many more great pictures.

In 1985, Julio stayed overtime to personally cook dinner for John Candy at his quarters during the filming of "Summer Rental" along the beaches of Pinellas County. He's always part of the family and the stars have adopted him as one of their own.

That same year, he served the stars of "Cocoon," a Ron Howard movie filmed primarily in St. Petersburg, one that got Don Ameche his first Academy Award. In 1992, during the Tampa filming of "Cop and a Half," he won big-time points from buddy Burt Reynolds by keeping him in constant supply of great local cigars.

No matter what may be needed on a movie set, if nobody else can find it or do it, Julio is the man to come through. There was never a nicer man on a Florida movie set.

Now in retirement, he still lives in the same house just off Columbus Drive and Armenia Avenue, these days being very selective on the assignments he accepts.