Back in the Big Apple
MICHAEL MINA, MINA Group
WORK • Tuesday Routine
MICHAEL MINA • chef & founder • MINA Group
Neighborhood you work in: Midtown West
It’s Tuesday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
On any given Tuesday, I could be anywhere in the world these days. This week, I’m in New York City working on our new restaurant, Bourbon Steak (at the JW Marriott Essex House). I meet with my culinary and operations leaders each morning to review business across all our restaurants. It’s important that we have a regular cadence of connecting as we can be spread across the country — or globe — at times, so this ensures we’re always connected. When I’m not on the road, I start my morning working from home in Las Vegas.
What’s on the agenda for today?
Today, it’s all about working with our team at Bourbon Steak. After weeks of training and practice meals, we’re finally ready to welcome guests. This is our first Mina Group restaurant in New York, and since I went to culinary school here and started my professional career here, this is a huge moment. I love the energy of openings, and that, mixed with the pace of New York, is exhilarating. It’s also been great to connect with chefs and other friends in the city. New York has always been a playground for me, and now I get to invite people in to dine at my restaurant — what a special moment!
Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
The list of restaurants I plan to visit when I’m in NYC is long. There’s always something new, and yet, I also like to visit friends and some of my favorite spots. Coming up this weekend, I’m planning to go to Le Bernardin, Le Pavillon, Cote, and Marea.
How about a little leisure or culture?
I’m a big sports fan — specifically, San Francisco teams — but since I’ve been spending so much time this spring in New York, I’ve enjoyed going to Yankee Stadium. I was even able to celebrate my son’s birthday with him at a game earlier this month. My two sons are now out of college, so any time I can spend with them is cherished.
Any weekend getaways?
Living in Las Vegas, my favorite weekend getaway is riding my dirt bike to Red Rock Canyon.
What was your last great vacation?
Any chance I get to take a vacation, it’s always to Hawaii with my family. I’ve been traveling to Hawaii for years, and even if it’s for work (I have two restaurants in Hawaii, Mina’s Fish House, and StripSteak), I feel immediately relaxed the moment I step on the island. My favorite thing to do while I’m there is go fishing, and my spot is a sandbar in Kaneohe on Oahu.