In June 2026, the Michelin Guide made history by awarding its first star to a Cuban restaurant anywhere in the world. The honor went to Emelina, an intimate 16-seat venue in West Palm Beach, Florida, marking a watershed moment for Antillean gastronomy and the broader Latin culinary scene.
Behind this milestone is chef Osmel González, who left Cuba at 22 with his wife and fellow chef Camila Salazar. Together, they built a culinary vision that challenges expectations. Rather than simply recreating family recipes, they ask a provocative question: What could Cuban food have become without decades of political isolation and scarcity? Their answer is a tasting menu that reflects total creative freedom and access to abundant, high-quality ingredients.
The couple honed their skills in world-class kitchens like Disfrutar in Barcelona and SingleThread in Sonoma County. Before opening Emelina, they ran the acclaimed pop-up EntreNos in Miami, which earned a Michelin star and a green star for sustainability between 2024 and 2025. That consistency impressed the Michelin judges, who awarded Emelina its star just four months after opening.
Emelina is more than a restaurant—it's a deeply personal tribute. The name honors González's grandmother, Emelina, blending nostalgia with fresh, local Florida produce. The menu transforms memories into avant-garde dishes, elevating Cuban culinary foundations to universal haute cuisine standards. It's a bold reimagining that avoids clichés and instead offers a refined, exclusive experience.
The restaurant is located in the historic Flamingo Park neighborhood, making it a source of pride for Palm Beach County. It's the only Michelin-starred establishment in the area, and experts praise its audacity. This achievement validates the hard work of the entire team and highlights the vast potential of Antillean cuisine. It shows how excellence and creativity can break down identity boundaries, placing Latin talent in high global demand.
The project has the backing of APM Restaurant Group, founded by Álvaro Perez Miranda, in partnership with Welteroth Property Group. Their support provided the resources needed to realize this ambitious vision. For the Latino community, Emelina's success is a powerful reminder that our culinary traditions can reach the highest echelons of fine dining. It inspires future generations to explore their cultural roots without limits, proving that Cuban food is not just comfort food—it's world-class cuisine.
This historic moment also resonates beyond the kitchen. It echoes other recent achievements in the Latino community, such as Karim López's potential NBA draft history and the broader narrative of Latino families redefining the American dream. Emelina's star is a testament to the power of perseverance and the richness of our cultural heritage.
