VeritageMiami, presented by City National Bank, is proud to announce the 2015 Interactive Dinner headlining chefs: Eileen Andrade of FINKA TABLE & TAP; Adrianne Calvo of Chef Adrianne’s Vineyard Restaurant and Wine Bar; Paula DaSilva of 3030 Ocean at Harbor Beach Marriott Resort & Spa; Cindy Hutson of Ortanique on the Mile; and Dena Marino of MC Kitchen. The Interactive Dinner is considered one of the year’s most unique culinary experiences, where guests will team up and cook five-course meals under the tutelage of these distinguished chefs, who recently graced the cover of INDULGE Magazine. All proceeds benefit United Way of Miami-Dade.
Jorge Gonzalez, president and CEO of City National Bank, alongside his wife Melinda Gonzalez, will co-chair the Interactive Dinner, and as such have been dubbed the Ministers of Fundom of the Third Knight.
“City National Bank is a proud year-round partner of United Way, and presenting VeritageMiami is one of the ways we support the organization’s work to strengthen our community,” Jorge Gonzalez said. “As a community bank it is also a great opportunity to shine a light on local culinary talent that has transformed Miami’s food scene and added value to South Florida.”
The Interactive Dinner is set for Friday, April 17, at the InterContinental Miami. Each chef will bring her unique flavors and background as she guides guests in preparing a course, with Johnson & Wales University culinary students serving as sous chefs and sommeliers.
Eileen Andrade is the owner of FINKA TABLE & TAP in West Kendall, where Andrade serves up her unique twists on traditional Latin cuisine. Finka’s menu is inspired by Andrade’s travels to South Korea and her Peruvian mentor, chef Omar Caycho, and of course, her Cuban roots.
Adrianne Calvo is the owner of Chef Adrianne’s Vineyard Restaurant & Wine Bar – a concept inspired by Calvo’s time in Napa Valley working under chef Thomas Keller and chef Cindy Pawlcyn. She attended Johnson & Wales University, through which she competed in more than 40 national competitions and became the youngest person to cook for the United Nations.
Paula DaSilva is the executive chef of 3030 Ocean at the Harbour Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, known for its delectable seafood, romantic ambiance and talented culinary team that under DaSilva’s tutelage, executes imaginative farm-to-fork dishes that highlight the flavors and freshness of South Florida’s local ingredients.
Cindy Hutson is a self-taught chef who developed a passion for cooking at the age of nine, and honed her skills through her teenage years. Named Chef of the Year by Chef Magazine in 2011 and Chef of the Year by Eater in 2012, Hutson and her life partner Delius Shirley currently own Ortanique on the Mile in Coral Gables; Ortanique on the Crescent at Camana Bay, on Grand Cayman Island; and chef Hutson recently expanded her cuisine to Harbour Island, Bahamas at The Dunmore.
Dena Marino’s refined taste comes from her many years spent under the tutelage of acclaimed chef and restaurateur, Michael Chiarello. Her culinary sophistication has earned her accolades from Food & Wine, Bon Appetit, La Cucina Italiana, Wine Spectator and the New York Post. She hails from Aspen, Colorado, where she gained reputation as the chef of the much respected D19, Ellina and Ajax Tavern.
Catch all five of these accomplished female chefs under one roof at VeritageMiami’s Interactive Dinner, on Friday, April 17. For more information or to purchase tickets visitwww.veritagemiami.com. For sponsorship opportunities contact Mercedes Garcia at 305.646.7029 or info@veritagemiami.com.
VeritageMiami brings together more than 3,500 wine and food lovers for four days of culinary indulgence. This year’s lineup begins on Wednesday, April 15, with a Craft Beer Tasting atWynwood Walls, includes a Fine Wine Tasting at the Village of Merrick Park on April 16, followed by the popular Interactive Dinner at the InterContinental Miami on April 17, and the final inning is an Auction & Wine Dinner on the Diamond at Marlins Park on Saturday, April 18. Since its inception, VeritageMiami has raised more than $11 million for the community. All proceeds support United Way of Miami Dade’s work in education, financial stability and health.
