Meet the Kitchen Manager: Irina Hincu

The Staff is what makes a place great. They not only make the food look and taste great, they organize it to make your experience really enjoyable. When you meet the kitchen manager, Irina Hincu, you can see exactly how that works for RG Cocina Mexicana. I had the chance to talk to her earlier this week, and I want to share that conversation with you.

She’s been working there since November 20, 2014 and through the learning process that she acquired within the restaurant, she went from bar to kitchen staff, then got the job of kitchen manager. Irina is almost 23 years old and I can assure you, she’s done many things that most people only dream of. One of those is learning 5 languages, all of which she speaks fluently: Romanian, russian, ukrainian, spanish and english. She’s not only good with languages, if there’s something that I’ve seen in her is enthusiasm: She gives her all to whatever she focuses her mind into. She’s been passionate about mixing drinks, and when George Rodriguez gave her the chance to work as Bartender, she took it.

Irina then acquired more experience and learn more things about the inner working of a Restaurant. As she’s currently working in the Kitchen, she has the ability to switch and help the bar, learning the responsibilities of each one of them. “To me it’s not important being in the kitchen or in the bar, what really matters is that I can bring something new, give a new vision of what you can drink and eat.” It’s that talent what makes her stand out from the crowd, that no matter where she is, she devotes herself to it. That the clients enjoy the things RG Cocina Mexicana serves it’s a main concern for her too. She brings care to the place: “I’m here, all in. As the rest of my team.” Irina does her best to bring all the positive energy that's what distinguish her to the rest of the staff, and the clients.

When I asked her about her favorite dish, she jumped and quickly told me it was Plato Mexicano. To her, it’s like taking a trip through Mexico. Irina likes the array of the different dishes and the fact that you can arm your plate the way you want, to her, it’s just phenomenal. Then it was times for drinks, and she was as quick to answer with that: The Ginger Margarita with Lemongrass. She told me it was a signature drink, that made you remember the place where you drink it. When I asked what made her love  RG Cocina Mexicana, she told me that it was the hospitality George taught her. “It’s what makes us different, the care we put in everything”

She’s excited about the new look of the place too: “It’s sophisticated, that’s what we tried to achieve when it was changed. I love it!” She sees herself working in another restaurant, helping make the other places that they plan to open, like the first one in essence. “I want the passion to be there too”. In a few years, maybe more calm about the different locals, “By that point they will transmit the same energy I love about this one, I’m sure of it.”. Some people might think she would want to open her own place, but the truth is, Irina doesn’t want that at all: “I just want to mix, giving people something new!”. By the looks of it, she’ll have many RG Cocina Mexicana locations to do that!

"All I want to say is 'THANK YOU!' to the clients. Without them, we would not be here right now, and that's why I'll always be in debt to them!"

-Irina Hincu-

RG Cocina Mexicana address is 314 72nd ST, Miami Beach, FL 33141. Their phone number is: 305-4647404.