CLEO launches its new Mezze Masterclass Series with Executive Chef Camila Olarte

Cleo, the newly opened Eastern Mediterranean restaurant at the iconic Balfour Miami Beach, A Morgans Originals Collection in the South of Fifth enclave, invites food lovers to embark on a culinary journey through Old World cooking with the Cleo Mezze Masterclass Series. Led by Michelin-trained female Executive Chef Camila Olarte, this intimate workshop debuted on August 30, offering guests a chance to explore the art of mezze in a relaxed, social setting that celebrates the rich, diverse flavors from the Levant and beyond.

Held in Cleo’s semiprivate dining room on select Saturdays, each two-hour session includes instruction and guidance in preparing three seasonal mezze dishes, such as velvety hummus, spicy lamb cigars, juicy kabob skewers, smoky eggplant dips and other regional favorites. Guests will receive a welcome cocktail at the start of the experience, followed by a hands-on cooking session with all tools and ingredients provided. Each guest will also enjoy a complimentary drink of their choice—wine, cocktail or mocktail—as well as a shared meal of the dishes prepared during the class, served with fresh-baked pita and sides. Chef tips and recipes will be provided for guests to take home.

The experience is beginner-friendly and ideal for date nights, group outings, or anyone who loves mezze as much as they love making it. Classes are limited to 12 guests per session, and reservations are required.

WHEN:

Select Saturdays from 5-7 p.m.

August 30
October 4
November 8

WHERE:

Cleo at Balfour Miami Beach

350 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, FL 33139

Semiprivate Dining Room

PARKING:

Street and valet parking at Balfour are available for a fee.

TICKET OPTIONS:

General Admission: $40
Purchase tickets:

Camila Olarte, Executive Chef, Cleo

With more than 15 years of experience at award-winning restaurants, including Francis Mallmann’s Los Fuegos and Thomas Keller’s The Surf Club Restaurant and The French Laundry, Chef Camila Olarte brings refined technique and soulful creativity to Cleo. A Colombian native and Le Cordon Bleu alum, Olarte blends deep culinary training with a passion for Eastern Mediterranean flavors, leading Cleo’s kitchen with a focus on seasonal ingredients and vibrant hospitality.

About Cleo

Cleo is a vibrant dining concept that celebrates the bold, diverse flavors of the Eastern Mediterranean with a menu rooted in Old World cooking techniques and modern presentation. The restaurant offers an inclusive and communal dining experience designed to bring people together over wholesome, family-style dishes, from house-baked jou jou pita bread paired with signature miza dips to colorful mezze, artisanal cuts of meat and standout seafood. At Cleo, the atmosphere is as much a part of the experience as the food; diners are welcomed into an energetic space filled with natural light, the sounds of Balearic lounge music and lively jazz, and the bustle of activity, evoking the carefree spirit of an endless summer. For more information, visit cleomiami.com or follow on Instagram.