Michael Casalinho

Award-winning Executive Chef with 15+ years of progressive experience in various sectors of the food service industry including fine dining, events (private & public), and restaurants.

Expertise as a hands-on Restaurant Operator and Chef with specialty in Portuguese and Latin cuisines.

Former marketing professional with strong staff management, communication skills, business development and branding.

• Featured in several industry publications and press releases such as New Jersey Monthly, Eater NYC, Infatuation NYC, NBC news and many more.
• Won best restaurant consecutively over a decade in NJ/NY/nationwide , Best Spanish/Portuguese Cuisine, among many others
• Internationally recognized by the Portuguese Government for delivering an authentic cultural experience in the USA, participating in catering to the UN and even the Portuguese Prime Minister on visits to the US.
• Coordinated and produced events for luxury brand clients such as Ferrari, Roger Dubuis, YSL, Tag Heuer, Dior; as well as high profile executives in the entertainment world; Media available upon request.
• Successfully managed 3 separate restaurant teams of 40+ employees efficiently.
• Performed chef duties for nearly 15 years while managing all operations of front and back of house.
• Organized and forecasted budgets along with all administrative duties including but not limited to orders,inventory,vendor calls and all general operations.