Today we’d like to introduce you to Chef Fernando Estrada.
Chef Nando was born and raised in one of the most diverse food cities in the US, Miami. He came from Cuban descent, so flavorful food was a big part of his family’s culture and that led to him discovering his culinary passion at the age of eight.
He began his journey as a dishwasher in a Korean kitchen; with only a dream & a raw passion for the art he began to climb the ranks from dishwasher to prep cook, then assistant chef. As he grew as a chef, so did his love for the art, his passion for the kitchen blossomed into a deep appreciation for fine dining. This appreciation led him to work for several luxurious hotels; including the prominent EPIC hotel, where he began as a sauté chef. It was there he was molded by many renowned chefs including Michael Bloise & Wolfgang Birk, as well as, took part in several food & wine festivals. Within only seven years, he was able to work his way from sautéing chef, to chef de partie, to sous chef, to executive sous chef, and finally executive banquet chef.
After having his son, Chef Nando took the leap in creating chef-inspired meals that are delivered FRESH to your doorstep. He realized he wanted to set the right eating habits for his son and more importantly, he wanted to be there for his son as often as possible. Chef Nando is now pursuing his next endeavor of becoming a renowned private chef. He is using his 15 years of professional chef experience to create original mouthwatering recipes & a luxurious fine-dining experience that is perfect for any occasion!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I couldn’t say it’s been a smooth ride, but I prefer it that way. With all the struggles, ups and downs all that molds you to become the best. One of the most challenging struggles for me in my career has always been “timing”, you often wonder when is it going to be my time!? But I quickly learned it’s all about what you put in, this always determines the outcome. I have a commitment to stay consistent, with passion and love nothing is a struggle.
What do you do? What do you specialize in?
Currently, I am a private chef located in Miami Florida, I’ve been in the culinary field for over 15 years. I always dreamed of becoming a chef. I started working in restaurants and found that I had a passion for cooking. That’s when I took more interest in all types of cuisine. Now, as a private chef, I travel worldwide and bring the restaurant and amazing food with exceptional service directly to my clients. Chef Nando is all about giving clients an all-around unforgettable dining experience. Also known for the amazing flavors and bring some amazing dishes to the table. I must say how proud I am to know that my clients love my creativity and passion I have as being a chef, at the end of the day, I don’t cook for my self yet others. Reliability and bringing the highest quality products, service and most importantly, treating each and every one of my clients like family is what sets us apart from others.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
My drive to succeed and always want to evolve to become the best chef I can be is my passion and recipe for success.
Contact Info:
- Website: WWW.chefnando.com
- Phone: 3059062694
- Email: chefnandoevents@gmail.com
- Instagram: @chefnando_
Image Credit:
M3 media marketing
Getting in touch: VoyageMIA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
