  Chef Paula DaSilva |
EXECUTIVE CHEF
1500˚
Since opening 1500˚, the chic farm-to-table eatery, located in Miami Beach's beautifully renovated historic hotel, the Eden Roc Renaissance in October 2010, Executive Chef Paula DaSilva (32) has won raves for her soulful, rustic cookery, including a 2012 nomination for James Beard's Best Chef of the South. 1500˚ was singled out as the only Florida restaurant in noted food critic John Mariani's annual Esquire magazine feature, "The Best New Restaurants in America 2011." A native of Brazil, DaSilva spent her early days in Massachusetts, peeling garlic and cleaning vegetables in her family's Brazilian restaurant. Ever since, DaSilva was hooked on cooking. After moving to South Florida, her parents opened two restaurants, for which DaSilva assisted in all aspects of operations Following high school, Paula attended the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, from which she earned an Associate's degree in Culinary Arts and landed a job at the nearby Harbor Beach Marriott Resort & Spa. For two years she rotated through the kitchen, fine-tuning her skills at all stations.
In 2000, at only 21, talented chef and author Dean James Max opened 3030 Ocean, the hotel's modern American seafood restaurant, and selected DaSilva as his Chef de Cuisine. Under Max's tutelage, DaSilva secured a reputation as one of South Florida's future culinary stars. A few years later, the rest of the country got a sample of Paula's aptitude when the chef appeared on season five of the popular FOX reality cooking show Hell's Kitchen with Gordon Ramsay. There, she was regularly spared Ramsay's wrath by virtue of her talent, dedication, passion and lack of drama or attitude, which ultimately led to her near win. Soon after the show ended, she was named "Best Celebrity Chef" in the Broward/Palm Beach New Times 2009 Best Of issue. Later that year DaSilva was honored as one of Broward County's "40 Under 40" by Gold Coast Magazine. She's also received several awards for her efforts in supporting the local community, including the prestigious Women's Circle of Excellence Award given by the Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce for her services in hospitality.
DaSilva was instrumental in creating the concept for 1500˚ and her dedication has hit all the right notes with diners and critics alike. The restaurant was voted "Best New Steakhouse" by Miami New Times and, since opening its doors, has been featured in a slew of high-profile publications including CNN.com, RestaurantHospitality, New York Magazine's Grubstreet blog, Ocean Drive and New York Resident. Most recently, 1500˚ was the only Florida restaurant to be named one of The Best New Restaurants of 2011 by Esquire magazine in its prestigious annual November feature of the same name.