DALLAS (1080 KRLD) - She survived Hurricane Maria, but the Ritz-Carlton Reserve Property at Dorado Beach did not. That's where Yia Medina was the lead cook.
"There are no words to describe what it was like after the hurricane. We didn't have food, water or communication for two months," she said.
The Ritz-Carlton's parent company, Marriot International, transferred employees to other properties across the country. Medina landed at Fearing's at the Ritz-Carlton in Dallas. It turned out to be a fortuitous move. One day on her walk to lunch to she noticed Circo was opening and requested an interview. She recognized it was a sister property to the famous Le Cirque in New York City.
“The opportunity presented itself and I had to take it,” Medina said. “I’m the first female executive chef of the entire Le cirque brand since it was founded in 1996. We have Michelin star restaurants in Dubai, India and around the world and I’m so proud to be the first female executive chef within the brand.”
You can have two experiences at Circo, where there is a main dining room that serves classic Italian dishes with a modern twist. Everything, including pasta, meatballs and sausage, is made in house. Some of those items are sold in a market within the restaurant. Then there is the upstairs lounge which offers two pools and spa services and an “adult playground.”
Medina compared Dallas’ restaurant scene to New York City’s, where diners are smart and know what they want. She plans to be here for “many, many years.”