Eileen Andrade grew up in the kitchen working alongside experienced chefs and her grandfather whom started their family business back in Cuba. After coming to Miami and opening one of the city’s most well known Cuban restaurants since 1977, Islas Canarias, Eileen’s grandfather paved the way for his children and grandchildren to continue his culinary legacy.
At an early age, Eileen showed interest in everything creative. Mixing cuisines and reinventing traditional dishes that her grandfather brought from his homeland has always been a passion of hers. In 2011, Eileen opened up her first business, CUBANCUBE foodtruck. The foodtruck was an instant success on the streets and at large scale caterings. CUBANCUBE’S popularity showed how Miami’s food scene was lacking a real twist on traditional Latin cuisine. Steamed Asian buns stuffed with their famous “Croquetas de Jamon” topped with avocado, maple bacon sauce, fried shallots, and chives was one of their top sellers. Now, you can find similar twists on classics at her very popular restaurant in West Kendall, FINKA TABLE & TAP.
Eileen opened FINKA TABLE & TAP in July of 2014. Her focus on Cuban, Peruvian and Korean cuisines draws thousands of people a week through the rustic doors of FINKA. Her eclectic food menu mixed with craft cocktails using homemade syrups make for a different experience in the suburbs of West Kendall in Miami. In November of 2017, Eileen decided it was time to push the boundaries again and opened a cozy Cuban Diner across the street from her parent’s restaurant, Islas Canarias Restaurant. Amelia’s 1931 is named after her grandmother who was born in Cuba in 1931. Eileen’s menu at her newest venture also showcases Latin-Asian fusion but in a more homie setting with old decorative accents brought from her grandmother’s home.
Eileen has new projects that will be coming to life in the near future that will extend beyond the suburbs of West Kendall, introducing more people to the world of Latin-Asian fusion done with integrity. Her newest concept Barbakoa by Finka will be located in The Doral Yard and is set to open in September of 2021.
