We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website.

2023 Chef Showcase

Chef Johnny Alarcon Ruiz

A native of Lima, Peru, Johnny Alarcon was destined to communicate his passions, through the language of fine cuisine. Coming from a family of food-lovers within the culinary rich country of Peru, set him on course to hone his culinary skill at the prestigious Laureate International University. There, he was certified with the “Seal of the Blue Cord”.

Emigrating to the dynamic country of Panama heightened his inspiration and brought opportunity as he was hand chosen to oversee the food and beverage program at the most luxurious casino in Central America, the Ocean Sun Casino.

He later opened four restaurants, with the highlight being the “Panaviera”, an acclaimed high- end fine dining restaurant in the Trump Hotel. Panaviera is also known as the “Highest Restaurant in Panama” as it sits on the 66th floor of the Trump International Hotel & Tower Panama.

During his time in Panama, Chef Johnny was a professor at prestigious universities including Ganexa Art University, Panama Hotel School, and his alma mater, Laureate International University.

He now resides in South Florida as the Executive Chef at The Casino @ Dania Beach for the past four years overseeing the culinary activities and food preparation at all three of the casino’s dining attractions including The Grill, Pizzelato, and Luxe Buffet. Chef Alarcon is continuously striving to build upon his vision of providing exemplary dishes and a comprehensive guest experience, while also encouraging a rewarding team environment for his staff.

Chef Dherlie Guirand

Dherlie Guirand is a culinary Chef and Founder and CEO of Kiskeya Farm. As a certified culinary chef, she brings her Caribbean style cooking to every event that she caters, from celebrities to families. Chef Dherlie recently had the pleasure to cater and serve up her exquisite Caribbean/Haitian cuisine at a private party hosted by Miami-based New England Patriot’s star running back Sony Michel, who scored the only touchdown of Super Bowl 2019.

In addition to creating exciting meals, Chef Dherlie founded Kiskeya Farm,  a company that distributes authentic Haitian inspired condiments. She is passionate about creating rich flavors from the Caribbean and desires to share them with the rest of the world. Her Kiskeya Farm Pikliz, which is a staple topping for most dishes, is currently distributed in 35 supermarkets across South Florida. Her goal is for Kiskeya Farm products to reach supermarket chains internationally. Chef Dherlie is also a woman of faith who serves her community relentlessly through her passion for food.

Chef Cher

Chernéy Amhara is an Emmy®-award winning journalist who joined NBC 6 in February 2022. She currently anchors the station’s weekend morning newscasts, NBC 6 News Today at 6 am and 8:30 am on Saturdays and NBC 6 News Today at 7 am and 9 am on Sundays, from the station’s Miramar-based studios. She is also a weekday reporter.


Amhara has also worked in Las Vegas, where she covered the high-profile trial of David Copperfield, the Las Vegas Raiders move, and Las Vegas mass shooting tragedy. She also won an Emmy®-award for her in-depth coverage of Las Vegas gang culture.


In her spare time, Amhara loves to cook and loves to travel. She will typically take a cooking class whenever she visits new countries or regions. Amhara even has an Instagram page @ChefNCher dedicated to her cooking.

Chef Shanna Benson

Shanna started baking as a way to calm the chaos of her job in PR and Marketing, realizing that the moment she stepped into the kitchen she found her zen. The more stressed Shanna was, the more desserts came out of the oven and into the hands of lucky clients. In 2010 Shanna was begged by one of her clients to join a charity baking competition and won Best Overall Cupcake – taking the crown over all the professional bakers. Word on the street spread fast about South Florida’s dopest dessert dealer and soon No Regrets Dessert Co was born, turning a passion into an obsession and from a recipe of equal parts hope, dreams and faith, with a sprinkle of sarcasm and a lot of love. Since then Shanna has competed and won several local baking competitions and in 2022 was featured on Season 4 of Holiday Wars on Food Network.

Chef Darrel Johnson

Chef Darrel Johnson is a culinary school grad and a 25 year vet of Food Industry. His passion for cooking started at an early age. His inspiration came from his Great Grandmother who was “the best Chef he’s ever known”.

Chef Darrell has appeared on Food Network’s Cutthroat Kitchen and is season 10’s winner of Food Network’s The Great Food Truck Race.

Chef Johnson has also competed in the Louisiana Food Prize and the World Food Championships Chef is a native New Oreleanian who’s food is true to his city and it’s culture. Our Chef believes that “Food is an art…. And should be treated as such”.

Chef Robinson

“Born in St Louis du Nord, Haiti; I was raised in Boston and South Florida after immigrating to the US at the age of 4. My love language of food began at a young age watching my mother prepare traditional Haitian dishes. Inspired and determined, I graduated from Coconut Creek High School in 1998 and through dual enrollment completed the Culinary Arts program at Atlantic Technical College in 2000. With a certification in Culinary Arts and Commercial Foods my experience includes culinary cuisine, hospitality, management and my current role as culinary instructor at Atlantic Technical College. The love language of food has afforded opportunities to achieve the following:


  1. Winner of Taste of Haiti Orlando Florida Chefs Cook Off 2018 Culinary Instructor- Camp MasterChef 2018
  2. Recipient of the Chef Award from National Black Chefs Association 2019
  3. Winner of the city Of North Miami Florida Mac&Cheese Festival 2019

With many more achievements. The most essential and sentimental achievement took place in April 2016 when my wife, Cynthia Eugene-Joseph, and I decided to put faith to action starting our luxury catering company Michel’s Catering and Events. My consistent goal is to bring a different level of intimacy through food influenced by a Haitian Chef with many flavors.