50 Eggs Restaurant Group

Miami, FL — 50 Eggs Restaurant Group welcomes two stellar additions to their culinary team, including Chef Kenny Gilbert of “Top Chef” and Chef Berenice de Araujo of Sra. Martinez and “Top Chef.”  Both chefs arrive from acclaimed restaurants in Florida, and bring years of experience, as well as innovative, exciting and delicious flavor to the table. Chef Gilbert has been enlisted as a 50 Eggs Corporate Chef, while Chef de Araujo has been consulting for Yardbird Southern Table & Bar, where both will reside as 50 Eggs works on building their portfolio of concepts.

“We are thrilled to have Kenny and Berenice join our team – the two will no doubt, continue to have a hand in elevating the dining scene here in South Beach,” said 50 Eggs Founder & CEO, John Kunkel. “50 Eggs Restaurant Group strongly believes in mentoring young chefs on the SOBE dining scene whenever possible and establishing a culinary talent pool both within and outside of the group.”

Chef Gilbert joins the 50 Eggs ranks with over 20 years of professional experience, spanning across the culinary industry. Most recently, he was the Executive Chef at Nippers Grille in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, where he developed a celebrated Southern-fusion menu. He achieved national recognition in the public eye as one of the contestants on Bravo’s “Top Chef” Season seven, where his modern Southern cuisine stood out amongst the competition. Additional career credits include Executive Chef positions at The Grill at The Ritz Carlton Amelia Island, a AAA Five Diamond, Mobile Four Star Restaurant; The Lodge at Sea Island, a AAA Five Diamond, Mobile Five Star Resort; The Ritz Carlton Golf Club and Spa in Jupiter; Capella Hotels and Resorts in Telluride, Colorado and The Inn at Lost Creek in Telluride, Colorado. Impressively, he also received AAA Four Diamond Recognition for Onyx Restaurant at Capella Hotel and Resorts in Telluride, Colorado within four months of opening.

Chef de Araujo began her career as a private chef for high-profile families and NBA players in Houston. Following that, she worked at 17 Restaurant in Houston, a destination for New American cuisine, before moving to Miami to work under Chef Michelle Bernstein at Michy’s in 2005 where she moved her way up the line to sous chef. In 2008, she became Chef de Cuisine at Berstein’s acclaimed restaurant, Sra. Martinez, where she helmed the award-winning kitchen for three years. This past fall, Chef de Araujo appeared on “Top Chef” Season nine, prior to joining Yardbird in December.

Both chefs are exciting additions to the culinary roster at 50 Eggs Restaurant Group which is currently fine-tuning a multitude of concepts to be rolled out in Miami, beginning with seafood and Asian concepts.