On Monday, Oct. 7th, it was another lively interview in “The Best of Laguna Beach” show at KXFM 104.7, Laguna’s Community Radio station.
This week, my guest was local favorite, the immensely talented Chef Maro Molteni, who initially began Maro Wood Grill … then moved to Royal Hawaiian Fire Grill. He then stepped in as pinch hitter with Chef Leo Bongarra for the 2023 summer season at the Festival of Arts’ Terra (along with concessions, seven 7 seven, the [seven-degrees] event center, Hotel Laguna’s Larsen, and even the restaurant at Laguna Art A Fair … long story that you’ll hear about here).
This past summer, Chef Maro stepped in again to handle Terra through the Festival season, but NOW he’s working on his own project. And it’s not in Laguna Beach. (sob).
In the above audio replay, here’s how Chef Maro’s story unfolds:
3:00 Maro’s recent birthday, his Argentinian origins and what he really planned for his life (that was not about cooking).
6:00 Maro’s first (disastrous) forays in the cooking world but why he chose to continue.
9:00 When wood grilling, here are his preferences of wood for various proteins.
13:00 How his schooling internships led to Brazil, Colombia, Mexico and Manhattan and the deciding factor that got Maro to permanently move to the States.
15:15 What brought Maro to Orange County and why he and his growing family specifically chose Laguna Beach in 2008.
19:40 How Chef Maro discovered the original building that became the famed Maro Wood Grill in Dec. 2010 (and the weird way they opened).
23:35 Why I, the designated restaurant reviewer, never reviewed Maro Wood Grill.
24:15 The biggest mistake Maro made when he sold the restaurant in 2017.
25:50 How Chef Maro landed on his next restaurant, Royal Hawaiian Fire Grill, why he chose it, and the initial issues he dealt with in establishing his “Argentinian way” in RH. We further discuss the COVID shutdown, how I managed to work out my “Annual Gratitude Party” virtually with Chef Maro’s help, and the best idea he came up with to continue bringing in income.
36:15 I mention my upcoming column - a new review of Laguna Tastes & Tours’ unique dinner hosted at Bluebird Canyon Farms. It’s here (once you finish listening here). I also mention Ruben Flores’ upcoming “Garden Walk” this coming Saturday, at 10 a.m. at Laguna Nursery, 481 N. Coast Highway.
37:40 Why I played “Ramble On” by Led Zeppelin because our Chef Maro is opening up shop in … Laguna Niguel. But before we discuss THAT terrible news, we quickly review more of the great “chefery” Chef Maro has provided since leaving Royal Hawaiian Fire Grill. This includes a super fast prep with Chef Leo Bongarra for the onslaught of the Festival Summer Season in 2023.
43:15 Chef Maro explains the grand plan for his new restaurant, Tierra de Fuegos, including why he chose Laguna Niguel instead of Laguna Beach. (And the restaurant he tried to check on in Laguna Beach that he didn’t get a response on.)
47:05 We talk “ideal square footage” of restaurants in Laguna Beach vs. the more ideal square footage Chef Maro wants for Tierra de Fuegos in Laguna Niguel.
49:20 Chef Maro shares his timeline for planned opening of Tierra de Fuegos, and explains his “all-wood cooking” plan that includes his grills, a pizza oven and rotisserie. He also discusses lunch and dinner menus, coffee-and-pastry afternoon moments, “to go” family dinners, late night gatherings (that will likely attract fellow Argentinians he says) and a large table plan for … well, you’ll have to listen for this one.
NEXT WEEK: Bruce Russo, the most awarded restaurant design and concept creator in the country (nearly 600 concepts!), joins me at Laguna’s only radio, KXFM 104.7. Tap in and turn on as we discuss Laguna’s restaurants, what works in restaurants and what definitely does not. See details below on how you can tune in live!
Join me LIVE on Mondays, 2 pm PDT/5 pm EDT at KXFM 104.7 Radio for new restaurant news and reviews, the best Laguna events, and plenty of rockin’ interviews with Laguna Beach chefs, restaurateurs and downright interesting people.
If you’re not nearby to twirl that radio dial … in fact, if you’re one of my subscribers hailing from one of those 32 countries, download the free KXFM Radio app from Google Play or the App Store … OR just go online to KXFMRadio.org
[Podcast] Local Fave Chef Maro Molteni