A Quickie with William Milian
From a raft to reimagining Cuban cuisine at Caña Miami
Executive Chef William Milian’s inspiring journey from Havana to Miami is rather shocking yet inspirational. Raised in Cuba, Milian grew up in a household where everything happened in the kitchen. And that’s what instilled a lifelong belief that cooking is a passion that’s communal and loaded with love.
At 23, he defected from Cuba, spent over a year at Guantánamo Bay, and eventually resettled in Miami where he started as a dishwasher and worked his way up to head sushi chef before pursuing classical training at Le Cordon Bleu.
Furthermore, he trained under culinary greats including Michael Psilakis and José Andrés, and became accustomed to blending tradition with innovation, creating cuisine that reimagined the Cuban dishes of his childhood. Today, he’s dedicated to sharing the flavors of his heritage in fresh, vibrant ways, as the Executive Chef at Caña Miami while embodying t…
