Michelle Bernstein

Michelle Bernstein is an American chef known for her expertise in Latin-style cooking. Born in Miami, Florida, she is the daughter of an Argentine-Jewish mother and a father with Russian-Jewish heritage. After studying dance at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York City, she returned to Miami to pursue culinary arts at Johnson & Wales University. Bernstein gained recognition when she opened the acclaimed restaurant Azul at the Mandarin Oriental in 2001, which was hailed as the best new restaurant in America by Esquire Magazine. She won the James Beard Foundation Award for best chef in the South in 2008. Bernstein has also appeared on various television shows, including co-hosting the Food Network series Melting Pot, competing on Iron Chef America, and serving as a guest judge on Top Chef. She currently hosts the PBS weekly television series, Check, Please! South Florida.