When your parents are Middle Eastern immigrants, you have three choices. You can become a doctor, a lawyer or an engineer.
Michael MinaI believe what makes cooking in Las Vegas different from cooking in most other cities are the guests that dine with you in Las Vegas.
Michael MinaWhat I've learned over the years is it's so much better to surround yourself with real talent and hire real chefs. I learned more from the chefs I have working for me than you could ever imagine. There's nothing wrong with being able to create opportunities for people, and you don't have to do everything, take credit for everything, and have all the weight be on your shoulders.
Michael MinaGuests love to be 'wowed' in Las Vegas. They enjoy and embrace new tastes, new flavors, and they come to expect the unexpected in Las Vegas.
Michael MinaChefs become attracted to being able to get product and then clientele - those are the two things that attract you as a chef.
Michael MinaI love San Francisco, it's very hard to compete with San Francisco when it comes to availability of product, but one thing you can't replace about Las Vegas or Miami is people are walking in the door and they want to have a good time. They walk in, and this is the start of their good time.
Michael Mina