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Michael Schwartz The 2021 class of Miami Rising Stars anonymously voted on a Mentor Chef Award, presented by Vitamix. The award goes to the chef who supports and inspires young chefs in their city. Previous Miami honorees include Michelle Bernstein and Norman Van Aken. For his ability to nurture talent, combined with his generosity, skill, and vision, Michael Schwartz is the recipient of the 2021 Miami Rising Stars Mentor Award. When people think of Miami’s best cuisine, Chef and Restaurateur Michael Schwartz immediately comes to mind, but he actually hails from Philadelphia. Starting in the industry as a busser at DiLullo, he then trained at Wolfgang Puck’s Chinois in California before he moved to Colorado, New York, then Miami, where he finally settled.
Schwartz opened Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink in 2007, attracting diners to the newly developed Design District. Since then, Schwartz founded The Genuine Hospitality Group, including Amara at Paraiso, Tigertail & Mary, and an additional Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink in Shaker Heights, Ohio. Harry’s Pizzeria now has two locations and a third in development. In 2019, the COMO Metropolitan Miami Beach unveiled Traymore by Michael Schwartz. Schwartz won the 2010 James Beard’s Best Chef: South award for his seasonal, locally driven meals at Michael’s. Outside of the restaurant, Schwartz uses his influence and resources to support causes such as Share Our Strength, Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, Slow Food (from which he received its Miami convivium’s first Snail of Approval), and Wellness in the Schools.
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