Meet Mark Nargi | chef & gummy candy enthusiast

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mark Nargi and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mark, what habits do you feel helped you succeed?
I don’t know if this is a habit, per se, or just a general way of thinking, but from day one I have always made it a huge point to earn the trust of every one who I have worked for and every one who works with me. Being very open, honest and transparent (sometimes, to a fault) I really believe has helped me in the long run. It hasn’t always made things easier in the moment, but long term it has created lasting relationships because we all have each others’ best interests at heart.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I’ve been at this for close to 20 years. In that time, my (for lack of a better term) business model has changed many times. Sometimes it was due to finances or the economy. Sometimes I was just bored and wanted to switch things up. My culinary background is really diverse and I think that has extended to how I’ve run my business. It took me years of ups and downs and tons of experimentation to find what really felt fulfilling and meaningful. I’ve been lucky enough to travel around the world cooking and eating, but I’ve also been homeless and lived out of my car. All of these things influence how and why I do what I do.

The main thing I focus on now can probably best be described as non-sushi omakase. I curate custom multi-course dinners for any number of occasions, from birthdays to weddings to corporate retreats to anything else you could think of. My background is in Michelin starred kitchens, but those environments are harsh and unforgiving and frankly (in my case, anyway) unfulfilling. So I do my best to create the same level of cuisine without the pretense. I don’t wear a chef coat. I don’t make people call me chef. My staff don’t have a dress code. I just create unique menus for every event and do my best to make sure the people who trust me to cook for them have a great experience. In the end, it’s their special moment and I’d be failing if I didn’t do everything in my power to ensure that I was giving them a positive, lasting memory. That said… it’s just food and I try my very best to not take things so seriously and just make sure we all have a good time.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Oh boy. Up until recently, I would say as far as food, Otium is top of the heap. Unfortunately, they’ve made some decisions that have really impacted the public’s view on their integrity and that’s a big bummer.

I feel like LA is one of those places like Tokyo or New York where you can’t really just say “what should I do in LA?” – you really have to narrow it down and be okay with the fact that you’re going to miss out on a lot of things because there are so many options. Is Venice Beach LA? is Santa Monica? There’s just so many possibilities.

I love science and museums and especially dinosaurs – I actually have a custom made chef’s knife with a dino fossil embedded in the handle – so the Natural History Museum is a given for me. I could spend half a day staring at fossils with zero regret. Griffith Observatory for sure. Catching a Dodgers game has to be high up on the list as well. Even if you’re not super into sports, it’s a worthwhile experience. Depending on how much you like “the arts”, The Broad and Disney Concert Hall are right next to each other in downtown. MOCA is also very close-by. For something more off the beaten path, check out the Frederick R Weisman Museum in Holmby Hills.

Driving down PCH is a form of free therapy a lot of people overlook. Rent a convertible, drive up to Malibu and find the quietest beach you can and just sit and stare at the waves. If you like walking, Little Tokyo, the Venice canals, 3rd Street Promenade all have their benefits. Olvera Street has a special place in my heart from childhood field trips. I can’t overstate how awesome local comedy is here. Big shout out to The Comedy Store especially. Every night there are multiple options to go and relax and laugh and not think about anything else. It’s great.

Food wise… take your pick. Throw a rock and just go where it lands. There are so many options that you’re not really missing out by going to one spot over another. And if you’re a tourist… go to tourist-y places. Don’t overthink it. I bring every out of towner to In-N-Out. Is it the best burger ever? Not even close. But it’s a classic California thing and they always love the experience.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
This is one of those funny questions that doesn’t have a very simple answer. Obviously I have worked super hard for a long time and focused on aspects of what I do to ensure that I’ve created something that is hopefully successful and sustainable. That said, every single person who has ever helped me in my personal and professional journey deserves some credit, Every cook, dishwasher, server, bartender, friend who filled in last minute, partner who dealt with long days & nights, client who trusted me, vendor who let me order product on faith, people who shout me out on social media, etc. etc. There is no one person who was responsible for such a huge impact, but collectively everyone banding together (or individually!) were so instrumental in me being able to achieve anything. And for that I am immensely grateful.

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