Michelle Bernstein facts for kids
Michelle Bernstein is an American chef from Miami, Florida. She is famous for her amazing cooking and has won a special award called the James Beard Foundation Award. Chef Bernstein is known for making delicious Latin American style food.
| Cooking style | Latin cuisine |
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| Education | Johnson & Wales University |
| Spouse | David Martinez |
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Current restaurant(s)
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Previous restaurant(s)
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Television show(s)
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Award(s) won
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Contents
Early Life and Education
Michelle Bernstein grew up in Miami. Her mom was from Argentina, and her dad had roots in Russia. Michelle finished high school when she was just 16 years old!
After high school, she moved to New York City. There, she studied dance at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Later, she decided to follow her passion for cooking. She went to Johnson & Wales University to learn all about culinary arts.
Chef Michelle's Career
Michelle Bernstein started her cooking career with a bang. In 2001, she opened a restaurant called Azul. It was located inside the Mandarin Oriental hotel.
TV Appearances
Chef Bernstein has been on many TV shows. She was a co-host on the Food Network series Melting Pot. She even won a cooking battle against famous chef Bobby Flay on Iron Chef America! Michelle has also been a guest judge on Top Chef. She hosted her own weekly TV show on PBS called Check, Please! South Florida. In April 2015, she started her TV show "SoFlo Taste."
Opening Restaurants
In 2005, Michelle and her husband, David Martinez, became business partners. They left Azul to open their own restaurant in Miami called Michy's.
In 2008, Michelle opened her third restaurant. It was called SRA. Martinez and served small plates, known as tapas. This restaurant was in the Miami Design District. In 2011, she opened another place in the Miami Design District. It was a cafe called Crumb on Parchment.
Awards and Community Work
Michelle Bernstein won a very important award in 2008. She received the James Beard Foundation Award for best chef in the South. This award is like the "Oscars" for chefs!
Chef Bernstein also helps her community. She runs a Miami chapter of an organization called Common Threads. This group teaches children about cooking and healthy eating.
