Treats & Beats
C U I S I N E W I T H C H A RACT E R Get to know the creative genius behind Miami’s hottest new restaurant, CHICA by Lorena Garcia. BY G I A N N A N O LT E
up in the CHICA kitchen is no small feat, so Garcia
All it took was one conversation with CHICA
takes every opportunity
mastermind Chef Lorena Garcia to recognize
to recognize the hard
the warm personality, originality and passion
work and talent of her
you taste in every bite of her masterful
superstar staff. But
cuisine at CHICA Miami.
exceptional hospitality
Garcia’s rise to the top of the culinary
CHICA Miami. From a
where this gifted Venezuelan native earned
one-of-a-kind mixology
her bachelor’s degree in culinary arts. Her
program to an inviting
first job? The kitchen of The Ritz-Carlton in
ambience that transports
Paris. From there, Garcia traveled the globe
you to the lush and most elegant corners of the Latin American
and the most exclusive and elite kitchens of
tropics, the restaurant located on Biscayne Boulevard and
Italy, Argentina, Peru, Mexico and beyond.
4th Court focuses on creating a magnificent guest experience
She continued to sharpen her keen culinary
incorporating fresh ingredients and fresh fish that arrives daily.
instinct and skill, and a brilliant career began
“It’s all made with love, commitment and attention to detail,”
to take shape. To date, Garcia has been a
Garcia beams. “Everything is made from scratch.”
guest chef at The James Beard House, she’s
Garcia draws inspiration from her days growing up in
published two best-selling cookbooks and has
Venezuela. She picked up her knack for cooking early on, and
starred on national television food shows.
by age six she was preparing home-cooked arepas with her
Somewhere along the way all her global
grandmother. A wave of proud nostalgia can be perceived in
adventures led to Miami with ideas to expand
Garcia’s voice when she mentions how some of CHICA Miami’s
her already-successful CHICA brand.
dishes were re-created from memory. The same goes for most
CHICA Miami, the sister restaurant
of the food prepared in Garcia’s own household, where flavor
of CHICA Las Vegas, was born from a
was passed down from generations. “My grandmother and
collaboration with founder and CEO of 50
mother were a fountain of inspiration, and I want the food we
Eggs Hospitality, John Kunkel. At the time,
make to trigger a memory or a thought in our guests.”
Garcia was looking to create a Latin-infused
CHICA by Chef Lorena Garcia
is only the beginning at
game began at Johnson & Wales University,
Maybe that’s why CHICA’s interior has that worldly and well-
restaurant built around a centralized kitchen,
traveled allure, with its jungle-like setting of upscale furniture,
a lifelong goal of Garcia’s. After two years of
organic patterns and textures, and lush greenery that evokes
conceptualizing, the duo brought to life the
the same feeling you will draw from the delicious food that
vision of CHICA Miami: a flavorful dining
is served there: an adventurous journey that still feels deeply
experience that celebrates this city and Latin
intimate and personal.
American culture. Since its long-awaited opening in the fall of 2019, CHICA has been a popular spot. Keeping
Garcia currently resides in Miami with her husband and son. She enjoys spending her free time running on Miami Beach, spending time with family or horseback riding.
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