Maizano Cocina at Mercado Gonzalez, Costs Mesa, with Restaurateur Jorge Salim Part 2

SoCal Restaurant Show

“Maizano, the cornerstone destination eatery of Costa Mesa’s Mercado Gonzalez Northgate Market, has expanded its hours to include lunch. When the restaurant debuted in November, it opened with a dinner-only menu. As the restaurant enters spring, Executive Chef Alan Sanz debuted a curated menu of lunch dishes. Available Wednesday to Sunday from 11 a.m. – to 5 p.m., the masa-focused menu pays homage to the diverse culinary landscape of Mexico through vibrant and modern interpretations of its regional cuisine.”

“Sanz’s lunch offerings epitomize Mexican haute cuisine with a contemporary twist. The entire antojito section of the lunch menu features smaller masa-based dishes, using fresh masa from the Mercado's Tortilleria La Gonzalez. These starters include Gordita de Pulpo featuring octopus in adobo, fresh green salsa, and a chicharron crumble; a playful Chapulín Taco featuring grilled Oaxacan cheese, smashed avocado, and fried grasshoppers; and a vegan Tlacoyo topped with green fava beans and a nopales salad.”

“Maizano is the newest venture from Gruppo Apapacho visionaries Jorge Salim and Javier Hernandez Pons, known for their successes with restaurants across Los Angeles and Mexico City, including Cha Cha Chá, Loreto, and Mariscos Za Za Zá. With Maizano, they’ve opened a portal to the culinary epicenter of Mexico City. Its revolving glass doors whisk diners into its modern minimalist dining room, which features leather-bound chairs, crimson marble countertops, and warm earthen-toned walls adorned with Mexican curios and indigenous cookware.”

An elevated Chef’s Table Experience at Chef Alan’s Chef’s Counter looking directly in to the kitchen at Maizano is on the horizon for June. Jorge stylistically refers to it as a “Mexican Omakase.”

Restaurateur Jorge Salim of Gruppo Apapacho continues with us in-studio.