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" Specialty: Latin Cuisine with a global influence Chef Bernstein actually began her career as a professional ballerina. The young dancer happened to enroll in a nutrition course, which was enough to whet her appetite for more. Soon, Bernstein would throw away her ballet shoes and enroll in cooking classes at the nearby Miami campus of Johnson &amp;amp;amp; Wales University. The rest is history. The chef began to cook at award-winning restaurants in Miami Beach, including Tantra and Red Fish Grill. Bernstein has opened her flagship restaurant, Michy&amp;#039;s, in Miami, Michelle&amp;#039;s, at Carysfort in Key Largo, and MB, in Cancun. These restaurants showcase the chef&amp;#039;s Latina background, with fresh fruits from the Caribbean as well as other international influences. The chef&amp;#039;s cooking also showcases many seafood and fish dishes, including one of her favorites: loup de mar, a Mediterranean fish. A member of Seafood Choices Alliance since 2001, Bernstein supports sustainable seafood and fishing programs. Bernstein won the prestigious 2008 James Beard Award for Best Chef: South. She has also received many accolades from publications including Food &amp;amp;amp; Wine and Gourmet. She was voted &amp;quot;One of the 15 Top Latinas in the Nation&amp;quot; by Latina magazine and &amp;quot;Top 10 Jewish Women in America&amp;quot; from the Jewish Woman International Federation. Bernstein cohosted the Food Network program Melting Pot, in which the chef shared stories, traditions, and recipes from her Latina background. As a contestant, she&amp;#039;s won Iron Chef America and has also made numerous appearances on The Today Show and The Martha Stewart Show. Fun fact: Bernstein has earned her wings by creating menus for Delta Airlines&amp;#039; new Business Elite Class. Recipes: Shell Crabs Over Watermelon &amp;quot;Carpaccio&amp;quot; With Feta Cheese and Arugula White Gazpacho with Marcona Almonds, Jerez Gel, Grapes, and Cucumbers "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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