Executive Chefs from 3030 Ocean, Chef Adrianne’s Vineyard Restaurant and Wine Bar, Finka Table & Tap, MC Kitchen and Ortanique on the Mile to Headline VeritageMiami’s Interactive Dinner 
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. Andrade grew up in the kitchen, working alongside her parents and grandfather who opened Islas Canarias, a well-known Cuban restaurant on Coral Way back in 1977. After working with her family at Islas Canarias, Andrade and her brother Jon opened their own mobile restaurant CUBANCUBE in 2011, and later FINKA TABLE &TAP in the spring of 2014. To much acclaim, Andrade has been acknowledged by the Miami Herald’s prestigious list “South Florida’s Food 50” in 2015; and Zagat Miami’s “30 Under 30” in 2014.
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. After graduating, Calvo began to work under executive chef Patrick Lassaque of the Ritz Carton in Paris and at Mandarin Oriental, before opening her restaurant in 2007. In 2009, Calvo became the spokesperson for Panda Kitchen and Bath, providing her with increasing television exposure on her weekly cooking segments with NBC’s “6 in the Mix” and Univision. Calvo has also published books to include: “Maximum Flavor,” “Driven by Flavor Fueled by Fire.” In 2006, Calvo established the Make It Count Foundation, which benefits children suffering from cancer and their families. To date, she has partnered with over a dozen charitable organizations, made several national TV appearances to include “Chopped” and received several awards and recognitions. Her restaurant is located in West Kendall and is known as a “hidden gem” and notably a destination dining must.
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. Hooked on cooking since she was a child, DaSilva would help in the kitchen at her family’s Brazilian restaurants. Shortly after earning an associate degree in culinary arts from the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, DaSilva appeared on season five of the Fox show “Hell’s Kitchen” with Gordon Ramsay. DaSilva was invited to be a guest chef at the James Beard House in New York City, where she shared her innovative dishes with the sophisticated palates of their members and guests, and she is a seven-time participant in the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival in Orlando, Florida. After beginning her culinary career at 3030 Ocean in 2000, DaSilva was named executive chef of 1500˚ at Eden Roc Renaissance Miami Beach, which was the only Florida restaurant featured in food critic John Mariani’s annual article in Esquire magazine, “The Best New Restaurants in America.”
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. Her first venture with Shirley was Norma’s on the Beach, which received the coveted 5 Star Diamond Award for fabulous dining, and was touted as “the best Caribbean restaurant in South Florida” by publications such as USA Today, New York Times, London Times, Chicago Tribune and Ocean Drive. In 2015, Hutson released her first cookbook, “From The Tip Of My Tongue,” with tropical recipes accompanied with personal anecdotes. Later this year, Hutson will open Zest and Zest Mrkt in downtown Miami.
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. In 2012, Marino opened MC Kitchen in Miami’s Design District, showcasing her rustic Italian approach and the use of seasonal organic ingredients. Touted as one of Miami’s best and best-looking restaurants, as well as one of the best in America by Esquire magazine, Marino has become a star in Miami’s bustling dining scene. Her talents have also been showcased on the Food Network’s “Follow That Food with Gordon Elliott;” Tom Colicchio’s “Eat Drink or Die” series, and in January of 2010, she challenged Masaharu Morimoto to “Battle Fig” on “Iron Chef America.”
Catch all five of these accomplished female chefs under one roof at VeritageMiami’s Interactive Dinner, on Friday, April 17.
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 at Wynwood 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 $12 million for the community. All proceeds support United Way of Miami Dade’s work in education, financial stability and health.
For more information or to purchase VeritageMiami tickets click here. For sponsorship opportunities contact Mercedes Garcia at 305.646.7029 or info@veritagemiami.com.
VeritageMiami sponsors can be found here.
VeritageMiami trustees can be found here.
About VeritageMiami
The annual VeritageMiami brings together wine, spirits, beer and food lovers for a four-day festival featuring, top sommeliers, notable chefs, prestigious wineries and winemakers, breweries and impressive auction lots, all to benefit the South Florida community. Celebrating its 20th year, VeritageMiami benefits United Way of Miami-Dade, supporting programs in our community that are focused on improving education, financial stability and health – the building blocks for a good life. For more information, visit www.VeritageMiami.com, www.facebook.com/VeritageMiami, www.Twitter.com/VeritageMiami and www.instagram.com/VeritageMiami.
About City National Bank
Headquartered in Miami, City National Bank (CNB) is the financial institution to which Floridians have turned for more than 65 years. With more than $5 billion in assets, CNB is one of the largest financial institutions based in the state. City National Bank is one of the most liquid and best capitalized banks in Florida and is rated 5 stars “Superior” by BauerFinancial. CNB was voted Best Community Bank, Best Business Bank, Best Bank for Commercial Real Estate, Best Bank for Jumbo Loans and Best Private Bank by the readers of the Daily Business Review. The South Florida Business Journal named it Business of the Year in 2013 and Community Bank of the Year in 2013 and 2011. CNB offers a diversified portfolio of financial products and services at 26 convenient banking centers from Miami-Dade County to the greater Orlando area.