Chef Hannah Flora-Mihjlovic
Chef Hannah Flora-Mihajlovic: Shattering Glass Ceilings, Breaking Traditions
Hannah Flora-Mihajlovic has spent her life setting goals and exceeding expectations — including her own. As the first female executive chef at Mizner Country Club, she is a creative culinary force, offering residents a mix of traditional country club fare alongside unique and imaginative dishes.
Flora-Mihajlovic knew she wanted to be a chef when she was just 9 years old. By 15, she was cooking in professional kitchens. For her, it’s never been a matter of if, but rather when she’d become an executive chef. At 28, she’s already achieved that goal — quite a feat in a male-dominated industry.
Flora-Mihajlovic has been at Mizner Country Club for three years. She rose to her position from executive sous chef, where she was second in command. Since taking over Mizner’s menus, Flora-Mihajlovic has brought Michelin-style dishes to a country club atmosphere.
“In restaurants you have different clientele every day and in a country club you have the same members every day. The challenge is how to make it different and keep them engaged,” she explains.
She has hand-picked her team and gives them plenty of creative freedom. “I hone in on their diverse backgrounds, so we can offer a special, but cohesive dining experience,” she says.
As members become more comfortable returning to the dining room, Flora-Mihajlovic has unveiled avant-garde presentations at themed evenings like Lobster Night and cozy wine and cocktail food pairings.
“We want every dining experience to be unique and personalized. My goal is to intrigue their senses,” she says.
When she’s not in the kitchen at Mizner, Flora-Mihajlovic — a strong proponent of life-work balance — spends her time with her husband, a craft flair bartender and manager, enjoying “market research.”
“On our days off we pick different restaurants to see what is trending and what can we do differently. It’s a fun way to see what’s out there and how can I reinvent it and bring it back to Mizner,” she says. “I love that my epiphanies work in concert with Mizner’s slogan: ‘A Fresh Take on Tradition.’”
Mizner Country Club is located at 16104 Mizner Club Drive, Delray Beach. For more information, call 561-288-3300 or visit miznercc.org.
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