Chef Michael Mina Experience

An exclusive evening with Chef Mina himself. This is not a class—it’s a culinary journey filled with laughter, storytelling, education, and a touch of humor, all centered around a stunning five-course menu crafted by the chef and paired with exquisite wines.

 

 

Instructor: Chef Michael Mina
Chef & Founder, The Mina Group

Michael Mina is the chef and founder of The Mina Group, an award-winning restaurant management
company with a collection of over 30 chef-driven concepts across the country that showcase the best of
food, wine and spirits.

Born in Cairo, Egypt and raised in Ellensburg, Washington, Chef Michael Mina began his epicurean
journey at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY. During his formal schooling, he spent his
weekends sharpening his skills by working alongside Chef Charlie Palmer’s kitchen at the upscale
Aureole in New York City. During his time there, Chef Mina was presented with a rare opportunity to
collaborate as chef de cuisine with renowned Chef George Morrone on the creation of AQUA, an upscale
seafood restaurant in San Francisco that would open to rave reviews and national acclaim in 1991.
At AQUA, Chef Mina dedicated himself to perfecting the guest experience by personally training the
entire kitchen staff while continually refining and evolving the menu. In 1993, Chef Mina earned the
executive chef role and was thereafter recognized for his contributions to the culinary world by the
James Beard Foundation as Rising Star Chef of the Year (1997) and Best Chef: California (2002.)
With the drive and desire to provide his unique perspective on elevated dining experiences to guests
across the globe, Chef Mina’s culinary and business vision ultimately led to the founding of MINA Group.
With deep roots in San Francisco – a city Chef Mina has always held close to his heart – The Mina Group
now expands from coast to coast and internationally with restaurants in the Bay Area, Los Angeles, New
York, Hawaii, Dubai and beyond.

Across all markets, Chef Mina focuses on fostering the talents of young local chefs and promoting
upward mobility for all staff while ensuring each concept gives back to its local communities through
various philanthropic initiatives year-round. Michael Mina is an advocate of Ava’s Kitchen, a non-profit
organization founded to bring awareness to pediatric cancer. Each year, The Mina Group hosts the
organization’s largest event, Ava’s Kitchen Benefit, bringing together guest chefs from around the
country to raise funds and awareness for the organization.

Throughout his illustrious career, Chef Mina has been honored with additional numerous accolades
including a Michelin star at MICHAEL MINA (2012-2018), James Beard Foundation’s “Who’s Who of Food
& Beverage” inductee (2013), Gayot’s Restaurateur of the Year (2011), Bon Appétit’s Chef of the Year
(2005), and more. He was most recently named one of the “50 Most Powerful People in American Fine
Dining” by Robb Report magazine.

Chef Mina and his collection of restaurants have been featured across national media outlets such as
Bon Appétit, Food & Wine, Food Network, The Today Show, TIME, Robb Report, Travel + Leisure, and
Wine Spectator. He has been a featured guest chef at the James Beard House on numerous occasions,
has served as a judge on Hell’s Kitchen and Master Chef, and has cooked for three U.S. presidents: Bill
Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama. In late 2024, Michael Mina released his second cookbook,
My Egypt, illustrating his journey as a chef from childhood influences to discovering his cultural roots
that made him the chef he is today.

 

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