Dena Marino Speaker & Booking Information

A bella in her own right, Marino’s relocation from Aspen, Colorado to Miami, Florida in 2010 was sparked by enthusiasm to get closer to the source of many of her ingredients. With culinary sophistication at the forefront, Marino’s approach to food is centered on thoughtful presentation where each ingredient is plated with purpose. Marino hails from Aspen where she gained reputation as the chef of the much respected D19, Ajax Tavern and Ellina. Touted as a “hot young chef” (2001), the media circus surrounding her food has made her the star act. With Aspen Magazine setting the media standards high, Marino has continuously delivered with accolades from Food & Wine, Bon Appetit, La Cucina Italiana, Wine Spectator, New York Times and Post. She has appeared on several episodes of the Food Network's acclaimed series “Follow That Food with Gordon Elliott”; Tom Colicchio’s “Eat Drink or Die” series and in January of 2010 she challenged Masaharu Morimoto to “Battle Fig” on “Iron Chef America”. While some might consider Marino the valedictorian of her “culinary class,” she stays humbled, attributing the foundation of her schooling to her Nonna’s classroom where she sat front row on the kitchen counter. “Growing up, we were a big, food-oriented family," said Marino. “Pasta, sausage, cheese, sauces and pastries were always homemade.” Marino’s refined taste comes from her many years spent under the tutelage of acclaimed chef and restaurateur, Michael Chiarello. It was at his celebrated Tra Vigne, Napa Valley, that she polished her families Italian roots. In November of 2012, Marino opened MC Kitchen in Miami’s Design District. The cuisine speaks to her rustic Italian approach and showcases modern techniques through the use of seasonal organic ingredients. Miami has welcomed this bella with headlines associated the restaurant with “Miami’s New Heat” and rave reviews like “Chef Marino nails it” and Lee Schrager’s “seal of approval,” who named it one of 2012’s best new spots in Miami. The restaurant and Marino have received multiple accolades in La Cucina Italiana, DuJour, Haute Living, Travel and Leisure, Departures, Vogue and honors including Miami New Times’ Best Restaurant Design District, Miami New Times’ Top 10 Chefs and a threeand-a-half star rating from The Miami Herald. In September 2013, Marino was spotlighted in Wine Spectator as one of six nationally-recognized Italian chefs featured in the magazine’s cover story. Marino has also been warmly accepted by the local and national culinary community and has participated in the James Beard Foundation’s Taste America, the James Beard Foundation’s Policy for Change Boot Camp, Common Threads, Taste of the Nation and will participate in the New York City Wine & Food Festival in addition to hosting events at the South Beach Wine & Food Festivals. Just shy of MC Kitchen’s first anniversary, restaurant critic and international gourmand John Mariani named MC Kitchen one of the nation’s Top 20 Best New Restaurants in Esquire’s November 2013 issue. When Marino is not in the kitchen she enjoys watching the Miami Heat, practicing her right hook and spending time with her husband Marcus and son, Cash.