Today we’d like to introduce you to Ines Chattas.
Ines, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Growing up in Buenos Aires, Argentina, it’s only natural to acquire a love for great food & wine. From my family gatherings, I gained a passion for cooking and sharing a memorable meal with loved ones. Those memories stuck with me and steered my dream of a future in food. I studied hospitality management in Argentina then interned with several institutions in France and throughout the U.S. In 1997 I moved to Miami and started building my career and furthering my passion for the food and beverage industry at the renowned Grand Bay Hotel Coconut Grove. In 2001 I embraced a new project with Icebox Cafe, a now Miami Beach staple, as the General Manager for over 10 years. In 2011 my former business partner Sandra Stefani and I opened the doors of Open Kitchen.
Has it been a smooth road?
While the journey to get where I am and where Open Kitchen is has required hard work, I have been fortunate enough to experience success and continued growth. The transition between my position of 10 years and opening my own establishment required perseverance. There have been incredible ups with a couple scary moments in between. Through it all though, I feel our success continues due to the environment and relationships created at Open Kitchen through years of hard work and dedication.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Open Kitchen story. Tell us more about the business.
Open Kitchen is a neighborhood restaurant that evolved into so much more. We offer cooking classes, full service catering, and have a pantry where customers can purchase hand selected ingredients & wines. We are passionate about sharing out love for food and the overall experience of a great meal. Whether you’re eating a meal we prepared, shopping at our pantry, or you are a student at one of our cooking classes, I am thrilled to be sharing a little piece of me and everything I know about food.
Who & what we are is all in the name: Open Kitchen. Everything about us is meant to make our guests feel welcome into our kitchen. Our fresh menu is very much our take and twist on things also features familiar flavors that make you feel at home.
What sets us apart is that we aim to create an environment that makes our guests feel like extended family. We want to wow you with flavors but we want you to feel like you are being wow-ed in great company!
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
The culinary scene in South Florida is still very young compared to other big cities like New York. There’s been a lot of change and growth in the past 10 years but there’s lots more to go. There’s been a shift to focus on use of fresh and local ingredients. This is something I’ve felt strongly about since I opened the doors of Open Kitchen. There has also been a change in what kind of restaurants are frequented. More and more, South Floridians are spending their time in local establishments (Versus chains). It’s exciting to see patrons yearning for a higher quality experience. Those higher expectations challenge Chefs and restaurants to do their best and to place South Florida on the worldwide culinary map.
Pricing:
- Lunch: $20
- Dinner: $50
Contact Info:
- Address: 1071 95th St
Bay Harbor Islands, FL 33154 - Website: openkitchenmiami.com
- Phone: (305) 865-0090
- Email: info@openkitchenmiami.com
- Instagram: openkitchenmiami
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/openkitchenmiami
- Twitter: OpenKitchenMIA
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/open-kitchen-by-pure-simple-cooking-bay-harbor-is-2?utm_campaign=www_business_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)
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