Chef and Restaurant Benefit Dinners

Sereia

When
February 18, 2025
Where
Sereia 3540 Main Hwy
Miami, FL
Tickets/Info
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Sereia is a modern Portuguese restaurant by Chef Henrique Sa Pessoa of 2-Michelin starred Alma in Lisbon, with Miami native Chef Miguel Massens (Daniel, French Laundry, Norman Van Aken) at the helm. Chef Henrique, who began his culinary career in America, is well known in Portugal for his nearly 20 years of cooking shows on television (much like Chef Jacques!).

This 90/90 event, curated by Florida’s culinary icon, Chef Norman Van Aken in partnership with Sereia, will offer a 6-course menu crafted by Miami’s top chefs, a cocktail reception and wine pairings.

Highlights

  • 6-course fine-dining dinner crafted by Miami’s top chefs
  • Cocktail reception with hors d’oeuvres by local chefs
  • Dishes inspired by Chef Jacques’ legacy of French tradition
  • Michelin-starred chefs along with James Beard Award nominees and winners

Details

  • Proceeds will support the Jacques Pépin Foundation. Your ticket purchase helps transform lives through culinary education, and we deeply appreciate your generous support.
  • Jacques Pépin proudly supports our 90/90 Celebrations. While he can’t be present at all of them, we invite you to check our website for details on the events where he will joining in celebration.
  • For questions, please contact the restaurant.

Event Hosts

Henrique Sá Pessoa

Henrique Sá Pessoa

Chef, Sereia

Chef Henrique Sá Pessoa of Portugal studied at the Pennsylvania Institute of Culinary Arts, before working abroad in London and Australia. After winning 2005 Chef of the Year in Portugal, he starred in cooking shows before opening Alma, which holds 2 Michelin stars since 2019.

Miguel Massens

Miguel Massens

Chef de Cuisine, Sereia

Chef Miguel Massens, a Miami native renowned for his expertise in Latin American and Caribbean cuisine, has honed his skills under top-tier chefs like Daniel Boulud, Thomas Keller and Norman Van Aken. In 2024, celebrated chef Henrique Sá Pessoa selected Chef Massens to be the opening Chef de Cuisine at his first U.S. restaurant, Sereia, a modern seafood-focused venue inspired by the Iberian coast.

Norman Van Aken

Norman Van Aken

Chef, author and owner, Norman’s

Florida’s culinary icon, Norman Van Aken is known for introducing the term “Fusion” into the vocabulary of global cuisine. He is the only Floridian Chef recipient of the James Beard Foundation’s “Who’s Who”.  He’s been a semifinalist for the “Best Chef in America”, and NORMAN’S was nominated as a finalist for “Best Restaurant in America”.  He was honored alongside Alice Waters, Paul Prudhomme and Mark Miller as “One of the Founders of New American Cuisine” at Spain’s “Madrid Fusión” summit.

Guest Chefs

Mike Beltran

Michael Beltran

Executive chef/owner, Ariete

Born in Hialeah, raised in Little Havana, and trained at some of Miami’s most celebrated restaurants under legendary chefs, Mike is at the forefront of a new generation of South Florida chefs helping the region establish itself as a destination for world-class cuisine and define its culinary voice for the long haul.

Chef Mike’s vision guides all of Ariete Hospitality Group’s concepts. He grew up watching his Cuban exile grandparents bring people together with food and honed his skills at some of Miami’s most celebrated restaurants. If Beltran family cooks instilled in him a love for food as a tool for deepening relationships, his professional mentors opened his eyes to high-level technique and the possibilities of cuisine as a vehicle for storytelling.

Danny Ganem

Danny Ganem

Culinary Director Gioia Hospitality, Fiola Miami, Daniel’s A Florida Steakhouse, La Terrazza

Born and raised in Miami, Chef Daniel Ganem a graduate from Le Cordon Bleu, has fostered his culinary knowledge from a young age, his love for cooking blossoming while working alongside his Palestinian and Basque grandparents in their family kitchen. In 23 Years of Experience, Ganem has earned a pedigree by working with some of the best Chefs in the world, from Michael Mina in San Francisco, Laurent Tourondel, Christophe Bellanca, Norman Van Aken and Fabio Trabocchi on the East Coast of the United States; to Two Michelin Starred Chef Andoni Luis Aduriz in Mugaritz and Three Michelin Starred Chef Martin Berasategui in San Sebastian, Spain.

As an Executive Chef Ganem has exerted his position at some of the most Iconic Hotels and Restaurants in South Florida, from the historical The Raleigh Hotel, Four Forbes Star The Betsy Hotel, 50 Best by Conde Nast and Relais and Chateaux property Little Palm Island in The Florida Keys and Michelin Guide Recommended Fiola Restaurant in Coral Gables.