MAPP (Mentorship, Advocacy, Purpose and the Power of women) is the non-profit organization dedicated to empowering women in the culinary and hospitality industry. On Tuesday, April 2 the organization will be in Miami for the red-carpet premiere of filmmaker Joanna James’ exploration and celebration of women in the culinary industry in the 2017 award-winning film, A Fine Line.

Taking place at Miami Beach’s Regal Cinema, the event will be part of a day-long series of events focused on creating a culture of self-worth and respect for women in or looking to build a life in the restaurant industry.

The film premiere itself will take place at 7:30PM, followed by an all-star panel discussion featuring local and national female culinary stars including Dominique Crenn, who stars in the film and is the only three Michelin star female chef in the U.S. Joining her will be local Miami chefs Eileen Andrade, Lorena Garcia, Karla Hoyos, Dayanny De La Cruz, Suzanne Barr, Ani Meinhold, Jamila West and Karina Rivera. Tickets for the film and post film panel are $30 per person and available HERE.

Prior to the screening, attendees are invited to attend the MAPP Mini-Conference, which will explore the theme of "Creating a Culture of Respect." Featuring rotating workshops led by industry leaders and starting at 3:30PM at Santorini by Georgios. There will be an appetizer, wine and cocktail reception for attendees to meet each other, and network, while also having the opportunity to speak with their industry heroes leading panel conversations. Tickets for both the mini-conference and movie premiere are $100 and available HERE.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the 501c3 non-profit MAPP, dedicated to empowering women into leadership roles.

To celebrate the talented and accomplished women in Miami culinary, here is a brief bio of each of the eight participating local chefs:

Eileen Andrade- Eileen Andrade grew up watching her grandfather cook in Cuba. She spent much of her childhood in the kitchen working with family at their legendary Islas Canarias, one of Miami's most iconic and culturally relevant Cuban restaurants. Eileen opened FINKA TABLE & TAP in July of 2014. Focusing on Cuban, Peruvian and Korean cuisines, FINKA quickly became a popular spot for eclectic food and creative cocktails. In November of 2017, Eileen decided it was time to push the boundaries again and opened a cozy Cuban diner across from Islas Canarias. Amelia's 1931 is named after her grandmother who was born in Cuba in 1931. Eileen's menu at her newest venture also showcases Latin-Asian fusion but in a more homie setting.

Lorena Garcia- Lorena Garcia is a Venezuelan chef who has opened multiple restaurants and became well known through appearances on multiple television shows. She is known for the restaurants she currently owns in airports across the United States, and for competing on the show Top Chef Masters. Garcia has put out her own cookbook and a line of kitchenware, while also making strides in her life to help end obesity. Her Miami restaurant, CHICA, is an upscale Latin American restaurant with a second location on the Strip in Las Vegas.

Karla Hoyos- Karla Hoyos is ready to hop on a plane at a moment's notice. As both a humanitarian and a chef, she has been a lead chef with Jose Andres World Central Kitchen since she first volunteered after the devastating Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico. She has traveled to set up disaster kitchens in Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, Ft. Myers, Spain, Poland, Ukraine, Bangladesh, Haiti, Israel, and Gaza. As Executive chef for Jose Andres The Bazaar, she honed her skills in fine dining and now proudly has her own restaurant, Tacotomia, in the buzzy Julia and Henry’s food hall.

Dayanny DeLa Cruz – Dayanny DeLa Cruz was born in the small village of Nagua in the Dominican Republic, where cooking with her grandmother was where she learned about cooking with love and with respect. A rising star in large format venues, she led the culinary operation for the Harley-Davidson Museum, and then the Hockey Arena in Minnesota. ultimately landing here in Miami, where she was tapped in 2012 to head up and curate the elevated dining concepts at the American Airlines Arena for the Miami Heat. Sodexo/Centerplate enticed her in November of 2017 to move to Hard Rock Stadium where she managed 157 suites, 4 VIP clubs, and 7 kitchens through Dolphins and UM football season, Miami Open tennis, Super Bowl LIV and Formula 1. In 2023, Dayanny joined Levy Restaurant Group as VP- Culinary Solutions and is a leader in sustainability, reducing food waste and resilience in the culinary world. An entrepreneur in her own right, Dayanny founded her own company, Quimera, making fresh hand crafted sauces and empanadas using locally sourced ingredients.

Suzanne Barr- Suzanne Barr, the visionary force behind Suzanne Barr Food, is not just an Award-Winning Chef, but a culinary luminary whose journey embodies a profound commitment to community, advocacy, and cultural celebration (identity). After the closure of True True Diner in 2020, Suzanne embarked on a new chapter, channeling her passion into a vibrant online community and strategic brand partnerships. This evolution birthed Suzanne Barr Food, a dynamic platform that transcends traditional culinary boundaries to encompass editorial content creation, public speaking, workshops, cooking demos, brand partnerships, recipe development, and consulting services.

Karina Rivera- Karina Rivera is a Pastry Chef originally from Mexico, where she studied culinary arts in Mexico City. In 2012 her first formal job was as a pastry cook at Celebrity Cruises. After a year she was selected for an amazing opportunity to intern at St Regis Hotel in Bar Harbour next to renowned Chefs, Antonio Bachour and Brad Kilgore. There, her knowledge and passion for pastry grew to a new level. Through hard work, dedication and inspiration, she become the Head Pastry Chef of Bachour Bakery and Bistro and then Head Pastry Chef of Bachour Miami before moving to become Head Pastry Chef at Novikov. In 2020 she founded her own company, Sweets with Love, where she focuses on teaching online and in-person classes, selling seasonal macarons and consulting for bakeries and restaurants. Her passion and expertise have allowed her to be part of other amazing experiences like being the runner-up at the Food Network, Spring baking Championship, assisting Chef Massimo Bottura at different events, and founding Women Chefs 305.

Jamila West- Jamila West began her career at a young age working part--time at well-to-do restaurants within the Hudson Valley area of New York. After years of training while in high school, she went on to attend The Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park, New York. Her love of travel, dedication to exceptional service and respect for great food come together in the creation of The Copper Door, a bed and breakfast concept fitting for the South Florida complex community and expanding food culture. Since 2018, Jamila has created and is currently co-operating with her husband Akino West, Rosie’s, a Southern-American dining experience, while being an advocate for mental health within the hospitality industry. Jamila continues to follow her passions as a culinarian by actively working as a private chef within the South Florida region.

Aniece Meinhold- Ani Meinhold was raised in San Juan, where her first job was as part of the cleaning staff at the El San Juan hotel where her father held the position of General Manager. She was only 11. At 14, the family moved to New York City. Living in the world's epicenter for dining sealed Meinhold's fate with the hospitality industry. She decided to apprentice at the Drake Hotel under her father's tutelage to get a firm foundation in the industry before attending the University of Miami. with an eye on a career in hospitality management, she graduated with a business degree and a focus in Marketing. In 2004, Meinhold met Cesar Zapata, a brilliant young chef, while opening the Four Seasons Brickell together. In 2011, Meinhold, along with Zapata, launched Phuc Yea, a Miami pop-up restaurant long before the pop-up dining concept was trending. Its Vietnamese-inspired menu was considered ground-breaking in South Florida. In 2016, with the help of chef Zapata, Meinhold re-introduced a grown-up version of Phuc Yea as a stand-alone restaurant in the heart of the Miami's “MiMo” District. Although Meinhold's official title is general manager, you can find her anywhere needed - behind the bar slinging drinks, on the line, or greeting guests.

WHEN/WHERE:

 Tuesday, April 2, 2024

 3:30PM – mini-conference at Santorini by Georgios- 101 Ocean Drive on Miami Beach

7PM – A Fine Line Film Red Carpet premiere- Regal Cinema South Beach, 1120 Lincoln Road Mall, Miami Beach

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/miami-red-carpet-premiere-of-a-fine-line-tickets-836565428717