Chef Chat: How Well Do You Know Michelle Bernstein and Stephanie Izard?

Pop quiz: Who are the only female chefs cooking together in an exclusive dinner at this year’s South Beach Wine and Food Festival? 

Here are four clues: 

1. Both are James Beard Award winners.
2. Both own restaurants in their respective hometowns that are insanely popular with locals and visitors alike. 
3. Both appeared on Top Chef, one as a contestant – she won, in fact – and the other as a judge.
4. Both have published bestselling cookbooks.

Still not sure? Here’s a fifth and final clue: 

    5. Both have the XX chromosome, though neither is especially interested in having a “women in food” conversation. (More on this in a few.)

If you guessed Michelle Bernstein and Stephanie Izard, congrats. You win two free tickets to Miami and dinner with the chefs. [pagebreak]

Just kidding. (And sorry.)

The pair, longtime friends and two of the rockin’-est chefs in the famous foodie world, will combine forces next month at an exclusive dinner during SOBEWFF 2016. The meal will celebrate the chefs’ shared loves of simple, soulful cooking and the food and ingredients they’ve fallen in love with while traveling.

We spoke to Bernstein and Izard and asked them everything from ”What’s your worst fear?’ to ‘Do you like social media?’ to ‘Who will you be partying with after hours in South Beach?’ Here’s what they had to say. 

What can SOBEWFF attendees look forward to from the two of you? 

Stephanie Izard: Michelle and I have been friends for a while but we rarely get an opportunity to cook together. The fun that we are going to have in the kitchen will definitely come through in the menu. It’s going to be a good mix of both of our styles of cooking. We’re really looking forward to this dinner! 

Michelle Bernstein: Our relationship has always been seamless and easy; we have the same sense of practicality and we love big flavors. We love to just have a good time with each other and with our food. It will be casual, delicious and a good time.

What’s happening behind the scenes at these food festivals? Do the chefs party like it’s prom night – meeting up in one hotel room and raiding the mini bar – or is it more Olympic athlete-style (e.g. lights out at sundown)?

MB: Funny question; it all depends on the chefs. No meeting in one room, but definitely at one party and of course some partying until sun up. Some chefs consider this their one time to party all year. Others want to get a taste of [Miami’s] yummy food and sit out at the beach and enjoy our awesome city and its cultures. It’s a first time for some, and we’ll see how they react.

SI: There are definitely more fun things to do than hide in a hotel room since you’re in South Beach. It’s more like college where you party hop until morning. Except these parties are in amazing bars and restaurants with great food and drinks. It’s definitely better than beer out of a keg.

Stephanie, the last time I interviewed you, you were just back from your honeymoon in Belize. What are your favorite memories – food and otherwise – from the trip?

Dining on a whole lobster on the beach was the highlight meal for us. It was actually on our NYE menu at the restaurant this year, minus the beach! Other influences are on the menu at both restaurants. At Girl & the Goat we have a braised short rib with chermoula and our “unbelizeable” spice mix, a take on the go-to spice mix in Belize. [pagebreak]

Any honeymoon mishaps that you and your husband now laugh about?

It was rainy and 60 while we were there, but still better than the minus 40 that was going on in Chicago. At least we didn’t get sunburned. We played a lot of gin rummy while drinking tasty cocktails. I let Gary win a few times.

Michelle, where did you go on your last vacation? And what did you do and eat there? Any travel mishaps that turned into funny legends/stories?

My last vacation was Southern Cali then Hawaii. We went with our son so we didn’t eat anywhere too small or too fancy. Our favorites, as usual, were Gjelina and Gjusta. I love the food in LA! Anything Vinny and Johnny do is amazing, especially the new pizza place. 

Michelle, since you live in Miami, tell us where you eat when you go out?

Everywhere! Some of my favorites are Macchialina, Garcia’s, La Camaronera, Enriqueta’s, True Loaf, and Hakkassan.

Stephanie, you were the first female chef to with Bravo TV’s Top Chef. How many times have you been asked your opinion on “women in the kitchen?” (Including now.) Is it a subject worth talking about or should we all just get over it already?

This probably marks 233 that I’ve had to give an answer on the subject. Let’s just get over it. [pagebreak]

What’s on your refrigerator at home?

MB: Photos, poetry magnets, kids’ art, etc. Pictures of Zach, lots of them! One of my mom and I when we were in an article together, some old ones of my husband David and I (when we were thin) and lots of kid’s drawings.

SI: We don’t put things on our fridge. It’s not really magnetic. Instead we turned a wall in our kitchen into a magnetic chalkboard wall. All of our friends leave notes and pictures for us when they come over.

What do you think of social media – love it or hate it?

MB: I think everyone loves and hates it. It’s a necessary evil but can be amazing. [It sometimes] gives too much freedom for some to post. I could go on and on!

SI: Love it. My favorite part is seeing pictures that guests post of our staff or dishes. [pagebreak]

Ok, so here are some silly things we call “Quickfire Questions.” Answer first thing that comes to mind. No thoughtful pauses allowed. Ready?

Last book you read?

MB: Parenting books, ay ay ay.

SI: Do cookbooks count? I haven’t read a real novel of any sort since college. Pasta by Hand by Jen Louis is one I’ve really enjoyed recently. 

Worst fear?

MB: Getting stuck in small spaces.

SI: Fans. The type that blow air. I just don’t like them blowing on me.

Favorite song to drive to? 

MB: California Love by TuPac.

SI: Gary and I usually just sing our own songs while we drive. Whatever is stuck in our head

Favorite song to cook to?

MB: anything by Andrea Bocelli.

SI: My cooks pick all of the music, so whatever they happen to be listening to.

Favorite song to work out to?

MB: I’m an 80’s hip hop girl. It Takes Two by Rob Base.

SI: Most of my working out is swimming….and there are not too many speakers under water!

Favorite song to… you know: 

MB: I have a toddler. I’m lucky if I can light a candle.

SI: [Insert face that says, “I’m not telling you that.”]