F&B FLORIDA 2019

Paula DaSilva

The Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale


A native of Brazil, Paula DaSilva attended the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, where she earned a degree in Culinary Arts in 1999. After graduating, she joined the Marriott organization in a kitchen position at 3030 Ocean at the Harbor Beach Marriott in Fort Lauderdale under Chef Dean James Max. Years of hard work and training paid off when DaSilva auditioned for and earned a slot on Season 5, in 2009, of FOX’s Hell’s Kitchen with Gordon Ramsey; she finished as the season’s runner-up and fan favorite, cementing her place as one of Florida’s celebrity chefs. DaSilva took her talents to South Beach as the executive chef of 1500 Degrees at the illustrious Eden Roc Hotel. Her culinary skills at 1500 Degrees earned massive praise, including a nod from Esquire magazine as one of the “Best New Restaurants in America” as well as a Semifinalist nomination in 2012 for “Best Chef: South” by the esteemed James Beard Foundation. DaSilva joined a number of her former Eden Roc compatriots at The Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale team in 2017, helming Burlock Coast. Proving her mettle, in 2018 she was promoted to Executive Chef of the hotel. In 2017 the chef won top prize at Cochon 555, going on to represent South Florida at the national Grand Cochon competition. She is also incredibly active in the community. She has served for many years on the Chef Council for the annual Taste of the Nation fundraiser for Feeding South Florida; is the current Culinary Chair for Junior Achievement’s Uncorked event; works closely with the Foodservice Council for Women (FSCW), which was created to promote the importance of women and leadership in the foodservice industry; as well as Women of Food + Beverage, a council established by Marriott International to help highlight women in the industry. In 2019 she was nominated for the J. Willard Marriott Award of Excellence, the company’s most prestigious award for dedication to service.

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