Jose Rivera was born in Nicaragua, Central America, his family moved to Costa Rica when he was 7 to escape civil war and then migrated to Australia when he was 14 as refugees.  Not knowing a word of English he went to school at St Augustine’s in Cairns and completed several tafe certificates in the building trade before moving to Brisbane at 16 and embarking on his lifelong passion and craft of cooking.  Beginning his apprenticeship at the prestigious Brisbane Club and going on to work in many world class restaurants and hotels both in Australia and overseas, including Siggi’s Fine Dining at the Heritage Hotel, Victoria’s Fine Dining at the Brisbane Hilton, Tables of Toowong with Russell Armstrong and the Sebel Brisbane and Internationally at the Westin 5 Star Resort in Whistler, Charlie Trotters in Chicago, Raffles Hotel in Singapore and Aqua Fine Dining in Toronto.  Jose is now married to Kara and they have 3 children, Milagro, Felix and Theodore.  They together started Milagro Restaurant in 2009 giving him an opportunity to put his stamp on the restaurant world.  Milagro Restaurant is Modern Australian food with some dishes having a strong Latin Influence coming from inspiration from Jose’s mum’s traditional Central American cooking.  The décor of Milagro Modern Australian is rustic timber, large eccentric paintings of Real Cuban people finished off with exquisite tableware of amazing plates and beautiful glasses.  Jose’s eye for detail shines through in his restaurant giving it a very personal feel with pure mouth watering artwork on the plates.  Milagro Modern Australian offers monthly themed Degustations giving Jose’s creative side a challenge and also a chance to showcase some amazing Australian produce in ways some people would never imagine.