Michelle Bernstein

American chef

Michelle Bernstein

Education| Johnson & Wales University
Spouse| David Martinez
Culinary career
Cooking style| Latin cuisine

Current restaurant(s)

*     * Cafe la Trova (2018-)
* Sweet Liberty (2015-)
* La Cañita (2021-)
* Little Liberty (2022-)

Previous restaurant(s)

*     * Azul (2001–2005)
* Michy's (2005–2018)
* SRA (2008–2011)
* Crumb on Parchment (2011–2018)
* Seagrape (2015–2017)

Television show(s)

*     * Melting Pot
* Check, Please! South Florida
* SoFlo Taste (2015–)

Award(s) won

*     * James Beard Foundation Award – 2008

Website| www.chefmichellebernstein.com

Michelle Bernstein is an American chef from Miami, Florida. She is an expert in the Latin-style flavors of cooking.[1] She is a James Beard Foundation Award recipient.

## Early life[edit]

The daughter of an Argentine-Jewish mother and a father with Russian-Jewish heritage,[2] Bernstein graduated from high school at 16 and moved to New York City to study dance at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.[3] When an injury ended her career as a ballerina, she returned to Miami to study culinary arts at Johnson & Wales University.

## Career[edit]

Bernstein won the James Beard Foundation Award for best chef in the South in 2008.

In 2001 she opened the restaurant Azul at the Mandarin Oriental. Esquire Magazine food critic John Mariani called it "the best new restaurant in America.[4]

Bernstein was a co-host of the Food Network series Melting Pot and was once in a battle on Iron Chef America versus Bobby Flay, which she won. She has appeared as a guest judge on Top Chef. She also hosts a PBS weekly television series, Check, Please! South Florida. She has appeared on The Today Show, The Martha Stewart Show, Despierta America, Good Morning America, CBS Morning News, The Chew and Good Morning Britain.

In 2005, Bernstein and her husband, David Martinez, became business partners and left Azul to open Michy's in Miami. Gourmet named it one of the "Top 50 restaurants in the country," and Food & Wine named it "Best New Restaurant" in 2006.

In May 2006, Bernstein became a consulting chef for Delta Air Lines.[5][6][7]

Bernstein's third restaurant arrived in 2008, called SRA. Martinez, a tapas restaurant in the Miami Design District. In 2009, SRA. Martinez was again named one of the "Best New Restaurants in America" by food critic John Mariani. In 2009, Bernstein said she would open a namesake restaurant.

Bernstein operates a Miami chapter of Common Threads.[8]

In 2011, Bernstein opened Crumb on Parchment, a café in the Miami Design District.[citation needed]

In 2015, Bernstein and her husband opened Seagrape at the Thompson Hotel, Miami Beach; they also run all food and beverage operations in the Hotel.

In April 2015, she debuted her TV show "SoFlo Taste."[9]

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Try home-cooked, hearty pork chop 'schnitzel' Chef Michelle Bernstein shares her secrets to a potential family favorite". Today. msnbc.com. September 16, 2009. Archived from the original on September 22, 2009. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
2. ^ Jewish Women's International: "Michelle Bernstein Cooking Up Inspired Fusion Cuisine Susan" by Susan Josephs Archived 2017-02-22 at the Wayback Machine retrieved February 21, 2017
3. ^ "Chef Michelle Bernstein Michelle Bernstein to discuss her Jewish roots" by Marvin Glassman retrieved February 21, 2017
4. ^ chefmichellebernstein.com Archived 2009-06-22 at the Wayback Machine Accessed on September 24, 2009
5. ^ "News Release: Delta's New Celebrity Chef Michelle Bernstein Spices Up International Dining Experience for BusinessElite Customers". news.delta.com. Atlanta: Delta Air Lines. 2006-05-04. Retrieved 2012-03-12.
6. ^ "In-flight Services: BusinessElite Dining". delta.com. Delta Air Lines. Retrieved 2012-03-12.
7. ^ "In-flight Services: First Class Dining". delta.com. Delta Air Lines. Retrieved 2012-03-12.
8. ^ "Michelle Bernstein Included on List of South Florida's Best & Brightest (May 2011)". Aventura Business Monthly. May 1, 2011. Archived from the original on 30 April 2011. Retrieved 21 May 2011.
9. ^ "Local 10 to debut 'SoFlo Taste' featuring chef Michelle Bernstein". local10.com. 2015-03-23. Retrieved 2015-11-25.

## External links[edit]

* Official website
* Michelle Bernstein at the Omphoy
* Michelle Bernstein Profile on Aventura Business Monthly

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF

National|

* Germany
* United States