Chef Appreciation Week: Celebrate your favorite Miami chef

Chef Appreciation Week 2025 will be celebrated from Sunday, September 7th to Saturday, September 13th, 2025. This global event recognizes the talent, hard work, and dedication of chefs and culinary professionals. You can show your support by thanking your favorite chefs in person or on social media using the hashtag #ChefAppreciationWeek.

Now is the perfect time to spotlight the chefs who continue to shape Miami’s dynamic and ever-evolving food scene.

From rooftop fine dining to bold global fusions and playful wine bar fare, these are just three of the chefs pushing culinary boundaries while creating unforgettable dining experiences.

Whether blending flavors from across continents, elevating comfort food classics, or redefining casual dining, these chefs bring creativity, heart, and hustle to every plate, and their kitchens are some of the most exciting places to dine in Miami right now.

Chef Gustavo Zuluaga of Giselle Miami

Giselle Miami shines a spotlight on Executive Chef Gustavo Zuluaga, a Miami-born talent with Colombian roots, whose career spans over a decade in some of the world’s most renowned kitchens. Inspired early on by his family’s deep ties to the hospitality industry, Zuluaga pursued formal training at Le Cordon Bleu before joining the teams at acclaimed Miami restaurants including Juvia, Zuma, Komodo, Marion, and El Tucán.

His career highlights include interning at Björn Frantzén’s three-Michelin-starred Restaurant Frantzén in Stockholm and serving as Executive Sous Chef at Miami’s two-Michelin-starred L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon. Today, Zuluaga leads the kitchen at Giselle Miami, the rooftop dining destination above E11EVEN, where he blends refined Japanese, French, and Mediterranean techniques with Caribbean and South American influences. The result is a globally inspired menu filled with bold, unexpected flavors that showcase his diverse training and cultural heritage. Known for his high energy, leadership, and passion for creating memorable dining experiences, Chef Zuluaga continues to push culinary boundaries while making Giselle one of Miami’s most exciting destinations.

Chef Ivan Barros of Magie Wine Bar

Chef Ivan Barros brings playful sophistication to the table at Magie Wine Bar, where his inventive menu is designed to surprise and delight. A Miami native with Dominican roots, Barros pairs refined technique with bold creativity, crafting shareable bites that push the boundaries of casual dining. Signature dishes like caviar dino nuggets, house-made sour cream and onion potato chips topped with caviar and crème fraîche, and elevated riffs on comfort classics perfectly complement Magie’s world-class wine list.

With a career that spans acclaimed kitchens such as Scarpetta, Macchialina, and Amara at Paraiso, as well as his own Santa Monica restaurant, Barros has developed a culinary voice that is equal parts polished and daring. His talent earned him the title of Food Network’s Ciao House Season 2 champion, plus national recognition from outlets including Star Chefs and the Cooking Channel. Now, at Magie Wine Bar, Chef Ivan Barros is redefining Miami’s wine bar experience, one imaginative bite at a time.

Chef Cesar Zapata of Phuc Yea

Chef Cesar Zapata is redefining Miami’s dining scene with his fearless fusion of Colombian and Vietnamese flavors at the Michelin-recognized Phuc Yea.

Phuc Yea has earned four consecutive Michelin Bib Gourmand awards, cementing its place as one of Miami’s most creative and crave-worthy dining destinations. Chef Cesar’s menu celebrates bold, flavor-packed dishes, think egg noodles coated in garlic butter and oyster sauce, crispy imperial rolls, and rich, soulful bowls of pho, that embody his signature “Viet-Cajun” style.

A pioneer since opening Miami’s first pop-up restaurant in 2011, Cesar has become known for turning comfort food into an art form, with plates that are as vibrant as the city itself. Cesar’s culinary journey includes training in Michelin-starred kitchens and working alongside James Beard Award-winning chefs, but it’s at Phuc Yea where his creativity shines brightest. His food has earned national attention on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, Tastemade, Vice TV, and most recently as a guest judge on Chopped. With four consecutive Michelin Bib Gourmand awards (2022–2025), Cesar proves that every dish at Phuc Yea is crafted with both heart and hustle.

As Miami Spice continues through end September, celebrate your favorite chefs and dine in their restaurants.
#ChefAppreciationWeek