Chef Michelle Bernstein at Sra. Martinez, her flagship restaurant in Coral Gables. Photo by Salar Abduaziz
For 25 years, the South Beach Wine & Food Festival (SOBEWFF) has been a kaleidoscope of celebrity chefs, grand tastings, and unforgettable dinners that have shaped Miami’s foodie identity. This month, as the festival celebrates its milestone anniversary, the spotlight will land squarely—and deservedly—on one of Miami’s own. Chef Michelle Bernstein, the city’s beloved James Beard Award–winning culinary ambassador, has been named the honoree of the festival’s silver-anniversary tribute dinner. And for Bernstein, the recognition is as surprising as it is meaningful.
Affectionately known throughout the city as “Michy,” Bernstein is not just a chef but a symbol of Miami’s culinary rise. The hometown toque is adored by peers, staff, and diners alike, though humility sometimes prevents her from seeing her impact. “I think it was Bobby Flay who whispered into [SOBEWFF executive director] Lee Schrager’s ear: ‘It’s about time that you put a local in for the honoree,’ and I guess he thought of me,” she says. “I’m still kind of surprised. I keep thinking that maybe they made a mistake.”
According to Schrager, the choice was clear. “In addition to being one of the chefs who has put South Florida on the map, Michelle has been participating in this festival since its earliest incarnation as Florida Extravaganza on FIU’s north campus,” says Schrager. “To say she has been a supporter, friend, and driving force and talent behind this festival’s success and longevity would be an understatement. It made all the sense in the world to honor her as our first local chef tribute dinner honoree for this, our twenty-fifth year.”
Standout dishes at Sra. Martinez include fire-roasted cauliflower with green tahini and harissa oil. Photo by Salar Abduaziz
“I have done every single festival since its inception,” Bernstein says proudly. Not illness, scheduling, nor even an accidental oversight could keep her away. “I did one festival with a black eye,” the Miami native recalls. “I think they might have forgotten about me once and at the last minute I was thrown into a dinner. I do a lot of replacements. I call myself the cleaner.”
The lack of ego is striking. Bernstein shows up, works hard, and treats every invitation—whether glamorous or last-minute—as an opportunity to give the festival her best. “To me, it’s been 25 years of organized chaos, giggling, nerves, and fear,” she reflects.
Schrager adds, “I am lucky enough to call Michelle a friend, but beyond her big heart and unwavering support, she has never been anything but a staunch supporter for the festival and its mission: to raise money for the Chaplin School of Hospitality at FIU and help forward the careers of the next generation of hospitality professionals. Without someone like Michelle, a die-hard Miamian and undeniable culinary powerhouse, the festival wouldn’t be the success it is today.”
Seafood paella with bomba rice, prawns, mussels, and cuttlefish. Photo by Salar Abduaziz
Which is why it is so meaningful that Bernstein will be bestowed SOBEWFF’s biggest honor this month. The tribute dinner, the festival’s marquee event, brings together nationally acclaimed chefs to honor a single figure. Ironically—and delightfully—the honoree does not cook. Bernstein will finally be a guest at her own dinner. “Sadly, I would like to hide in the kitchen,” she admits. “I have to actually sit, eat, and be charming.”
Held at the Loews Miami Beach February 21, the evening will be emceed by Bobby Flay and complemented by wine pairings curated by Château d’Esclan’s Sacha Lichine. Choosing the chefs who would cook in her honor proved both challenging and sentimental. Her all-star roster includes Michael Symon, Scott Conant, Lindsay Autry, Timon Balloo, and Thomas Buckley.
For the dessert course, Bernstein selected Duff Goldman for reasons far deeper than fame. The pick was a nod to their shared Jewish heritage. “Every time I eat his food, it makes me emotional because it reminds me of what came out of my grandmother’s and my mother’s hands,” she describes.
Chef Michelle Bernstein at Sra. Martinez. Photo by Salar Abduaziz
That sense of connection—to memory, to family, to the people who feed us—has always guided the way Bernstein leads. At Sra. Martinez, her flagship restaurant in Coral Gables, the bond between Bernstein and her team is palpable. The staff adores her in a way that goes beyond professional courtesy; they orbit around her with the natural affection of a chosen family.
Across her storied career, Bernstein has cooked for presidents (including Mikhail Gorbachev), won a James Beard Award (Best Chef: South, 2008), and helped define Miami cuisine for a global audience. She first garnered attention at the sultry South Beach hot spot Tantra in 1998. She went on to helm the kitchen at Azul from 2000 to 2004, establishing her reputation at the innovative, modern Brickell Key restaurant that became a magnet for celebrities and dignitaries.
From there, Bernstein opened the cherished—and much missed—Michy’s, Sra. Martinez (twice), the chic dive bar Sweet Liberty, the award-winning Café La Trova, and the vibrant Latin-Caribbean bar La Cañita, which now has three locations across Miami. Her success is shared with her husband, David Martinez, who is her partner in all ventures. (They met at Azul, where David was a waiter.) Together, they have built not just restaurants, but a brand rooted in hospitality, warmth, and community.
Tropical pavlova with passion fruit caramel and citrus curd. Photo by Salar Abduaziz
Sra. Martinez, which relaunched in 2024 in Coral Gables, blends Spanish cuisine with Mediterranean flavors, spanning dishes like shrimp aguachile with avocado, lime, and fresh tostadas; seafood paella with bomba rice, prawns, mussels, and cuttlefish; fire-roasted cauliflower with green tahini and harissa oil; and New York strip with green peppercorn sauce and chimichurri.
The power-lunch spot transforms into a romantic space at sunset with live music, Miami flair, and a charming ambience. “We want people to feel comfortable having a business meeting at lunch, but yet come in at night and feel like you can be with your family or on a great date,” Bernstein explains.
Still, nostalgia is creeping back in. “I’ve been missing Michy’s more and more,” the Johnson & Wales alum admits. “At Sra. Martinez, I’ve been throwing some classic dishes on the menu like gnocchi lasagna, chestnut soup, and a fried chicken sandwich, which is an homage to my fried chicken.”
With more than 25 years in professional kitchens, Bernstein is known for her leadership and calm demeanor. Photo by Salar Abduaziz
Bernstein’s culinary reach extends far beyond her dining rooms. Her 2008 cookbook, Cuisine á Latina: Fresh Tastes and a World of Flavors from Michy’s Miami Kitchen, provided home chefs a road map to replicating her most delicious plates. Through her eponymous catering company, the pert chef designs custom menus with the same care as if she were building a restaurant dish. “Catering used to be a bad word,” she says. “But we’re giving people experiences.”
Shrimp aguachile with avocado, lime, and fresh tostadas. Photo by Salar Abduaziz
Then there’s her career on camera. Bernstein hosts two Emmy Award–winning TV shows, Check, Please! South Florida (PBS) and SoFlo Taste (Channel 10). She also regularly appears as a guest judge on nationally televised culinary competition programs, including Top Chef and Chopped, and has competed herself on Iron Chef America—and even bested Flay. “I’m connecting with a different audience,” she says of her TV career. “People who may never come to my restaurants.”
For all the accolades and accomplishments, Bernstein’s most candid moments surface when she talks about her family. As the mom of Zachary, 14, she negotiates between demanding kitchens and motherhood’s emotional bandwidth. “Nobody balances anything,” she acknowledges. “It is a fallacy to think that anything can be balanced.”
“My confidence comes out when I’m standing on a hotline. I feel power and strength from the kitchen. but in real life, i’m very soft and tender.”. Photo by Salar Abduaziz
Bernstein shares a recent mom-fail about waking up early to make her son a fresh mushroom-and-pasta breakfast—only for him to declare it “too mushroomy.” “I almost started to cry,” she admits. But she reminded herself: she tried her best, and he knows he is loved.
Greek salad with tomatoes, cucumbers, and ripped pita. Photo by Salar Abduaziz
“My confidence comes out when I’m standing on a hotline,” she says. “I feel power and strength from the kitchen. But in real life, I’m very soft and tender. I think about everybody else first.”
This instinct—to lead with kindness, to nurture, to love fiercely—defines Bernstein as much as her food. And it is what makes her one of Miami’s most cherished figures.
As the twenty-fifth anniversary tribute honor approaches, Bernstein is preparing for an evening destined to be more emotional than any award she has received. “At the moment, it’s the most exciting thing that I could have ever imagined.”