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SOUTH FLORIDA’S LEADING LADIES OF CUISINE: CELEBRATING FEMALE CHEFS FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S MONTH
South Florida’s food scene is thriving, thanks to a group of incredible female chefs who are making their mark. In honor of International Women’s Month, we’re celebrating the talented women bringing passion, creativity, and culture to their kitchens. From fine dining to local favorites, these chefs are shaping the way we eat while inspiring the next generation.
MICHELLE BERNSTEIN OF SRA. MARTINEZ & CAFE LA TROVA
Born and raised in Miami with Jewish and Latinx roots, Chef Michelle “Michy” Bernstein is a leading figure in the culinary world, known for her vibrant, Latin-inspired cuisine. A 2008 James Beard Foundation Award-winner for "Best Chef: South," Bernstein combines global flavors and techniques she’s collected from her travels to create a dynamic, eclectic cooking style. She and her husband, David Martinez, co-own Michelle Bernstein Catering, offering customized menus for events. In 2019, they opened Café La Trova in Little Havana, which has earned critical acclaim and landed on top restaurant lists like GQ and Esquire.
Bernstein is also a partner at Sweet Liberty, a popular Miami Beach cocktail bar, and launched La Cañita in 2021, celebrating tropical flavors from the Caribbean and Latin America. It will open a second location in Kendall this February. Bernstein hosts two Emmy-winning TV shows, Check, Please! South Florida and SoFlo Taste and frequently appears as a guest judge on Top Chef and Chopped. She collaborates with brands like American Express, Lexus, and Lugano Diamonds. Passionate about community work, Bernstein serves as Vice Chair of Common Threads, a nonprofit promoting health through food. She also advocates for those with psoriatic arthritis, sharing her personal journey with Cosentyx.
ADRIENNE GRENIER OF BURLOCK COAST AT THE RITZ-CARLTON, FORT LAUDERDALE
Burlock Coast's Executive Chef Adrienne Grenier was drawn to find inspiration in the kitchen of her childhood home. Growing up in Hollywood Beach (Florida), Grenier was exposed to the enticing flavors found in the area's locally sourced ingredients like fresh seafood and seasonal fruits. These experiences influenced her lifelong passion for food and, ultimately, a successful career as one of South Florida's foremost culinary talents.
A culinary school graduate with a Bachelor's in Food Science and Nutrition, Adrienne began her career in 2005 at 3030 Ocean Restaurant, learning under esteemed chefs Dean Max and Paula DaSilva. She honed her skills in Southern California, cooking at Gordon Ramsey’s Michelin-starred restaurant before returning to South Florida in 2010 to work with DaSilva again at 1500 Degrees Restaurant, earning acclaim and winning Food Network’s Chopped. Returning to 3030 Ocean as Executive Chef, Grenier emphasized local produce and seafood before a stint in Brooklyn where she opened Pasta Louise amidst the pandemic. In 2023, she returned to South Florida as Chef de Cuisine of Burlock Coast, where she demonstrates her capacities as one of South Florida’s foremost culinary talents by incorporating her innate skill in combining flavors found in locally sourced ingredients into the modern coastal cuisine featured in the restaurant’s diverse menu.
IG: @burlockcoast burlockcoast.com
PAULA DASILVA OF THE RITZ-CARLTON, FORT LAUDERDALE
Director of Culinary and Beverage at The Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale Paula DaSilva is directly responsible for the property’s culinary outlets, beverage and wine program, in-room dining, Club Lounge, stewarding, purchasing and receiving and banquet operations. In addition, she continues to refine and strengthen operational and financial excellence with a substantial focus on elevating the customer experience. She brings more than two decades of expertise in professional cooking, kitchen management and an unyielding dedication for excellence to the property.
Prior to this position, DaSilva served as Executive Chef, a role in which she executed innovative and speed-to-market offerings to position Burlock Coast amongst Fort Lauderdale’s top culinary destinations. DaSilva, who also worked at 3030 Ocean at the Harbor Beach Marriott in Fort Lauderdale under Chef Dean James Max, earned a slot on Season 5, in 2009, of FOX’s Hell’s Kitchen with Gordon Ramsey; she finished as the season’s runner-up and fan favorite, cementing her place as one of Florida’s celebrity chefs.
IG: @theritzcarltonfortlauderdale
ritzcarlton.com/the-ritz-carlton-fort-lauderdale/dining
MARTHA PALACIOS OF JARANA
With a vibrant career spanning over two decades, Martha Palacios has seasoned her keen culinary skills across South America, stirring up flavors in Peru, Colombia, Argentina, and Chile. Her international exposure is vast, including a significant decade in Japan. Born in Lima, Peru, Martha's culinary journey has been shaped by her education at San Ignacio de Loyola University and influenced by her grandmothers' teachings from Cuzco and Lima.
With significant roles at renowned establishments like Panchita and La Mar by Gastón Acurio, Martha's leadership as Executive Chef at JARANA in Aventura highlights her commitment to authentic Peruvian cuisine and the philosophy of cooking with love. Beyond her culinary achievements, Martha's dedication to her family and her joy in both the kitchen and personal life reflect her passion, earning her recognition such as the title of “Best Female Chef” by El Comercio in 2022.
IG: @jarana.aventura jaranarestaurant.com/aventura
JANICE BURASCHI OF PASTA
Janice Buraschi, co-owner and pastry chef at PASTA, has infused Miami’s vibrant Wynwood district with her unique blend of creativity and Italian culinary traditions. Born in 1996 in Lima, Peru, Buraschi's culinary education began at Le Cordon Bleu in London, where she specialized in pastry. Initially uncertain of her career path after high school, Buraschi found solace and purpose in baking, which provided her with a sense of calm and fulfillment. Influenced by renowned Peruvian chef Mitsuharu “Micha” Tsumura, who guided her towards pursuing a formal culinary education in London, Buraschi traveled extensively through Italy during her time abroad, deepening her understanding and passion for Italian cuisine. Following graduation, Buraschi gained invaluable experience while staging at some of the world’s most renowned restaurants, including World’s 50 Best Restaurant Maido in Lima and MICHELIN-starred Blanca in New York.
She also worked as a pastry chef at El Pan de la Chola and Felix in Lima before becoming the head pastry chef at Siete restaurant, where she led a team and perfected her craft. In 2019, these experiences provided her with the skills and confidence to open PASTA in Lima at 23 years old, which quickly became one of the top Italian restaurants in Peru. Most recently, it was awarded the “Best Italian Restaurant” in the country by the prestigious “Somos Awards 2024” given by El Comercio, the oldest and largest Peruvian newspaper. This past fall, Buraschi, along with her husband, Chef Juan Manuel Umbert, expanded their successful venture with their first stateside location of PASTA in Miami offering a modern Italian dining experience, blending traditional Italian flavors with innovative techniques and Peruvian influences.
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