About the Tournament: Location
Location
Mari Luna Bistro
1225 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21201
410.637.8013
www.mariluna.com
The Mason Dixon Master Chef Tournament is thrilled to partner with The Mari Luna Restaurant Group this year for the third running of our unique one-of-a-kind chef competition. This year’s tournament will be held in the newest of their three restaurants, the Mari Luna Bistro, which is located in the heart of Baltimore’s cultural district.
The evening will begin with Happy Hour, featuring drink specials, complimentary hors d’oeuvres prepared by Mari Luna’s owner and executive chef Jaime Luna, as well as cooking demos and educational opportunities for attendees to enjoy. Attendees will also have the opportunity to purchase additional food from a special menu prepared just for the Mason Dixon Master Chef Tournament.
After Happy Hour, attendees will relax and enjoy the beautiful ambiance of the Mari Luna Bistro’s dining room, where the tournament’s main event will take place. Complimentary wine and/or spirit tastings will be conducted each evening, highlighting different top-label wines and spirits. Attendees will also enjoy complimentary coffee and dessert to complete their evening.
For those that want to keep the party going longer, the Mari Luna Bistro will be hosting an after-party each night after the competition. All Mason Dixon Master Chef attendees will be invited to stay to enjoy the music and relax in the bar or the adjacent outdoor patio, talk with the competing chefs that often hang out after the competition, and enjoy drinks and food that will be available for purchase.
Location
The Mari Luna Bistro is conveniently located in the heart of Baltimore on the corner of Cathedral Street and W. Preston Streets, right across the street from the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s Joseph Meyerhoff Hall. For those taking the train, Mari Luna is a short walk from the light rail Cultural Center stop.
Parking
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There is street parking right in front of the Mari Luna Bistro, as well as several parking garages within a short walk from the restaurant’s entrance. Guests should be sure to check the closing times of garages prior to parking however, so that they can stay and enjoy the after-party!
About The Mari Luna Restaurant Group
The Mari Luna Restaurant Group consists of three restaurants, the Mari Luna Bistro in Baltimore, and the Mari Luna Latin Grille, and the Mari Luna Mexican Grill both in Pikesville, Maryland. All three Mari Luna restaurants are family owned and operated by the Luna family, which includes executive chef Jaime Luna, his wife Alba, and their daughters.
The roots of the Mari Luna Restaurant Group reach back to the City of Mexicali in Baja California where Jaime Luna was raised on traditional Mexican cooking. When he came to the United States in 1984 he began a 20-year career in the culinary field working with nationally acclaimed chefs and restaurateurs in the Washington, D.C. and Baltimore markets, including Michel Richard at Citronelle and Steve de Castro at Babalu Grille. In 2004, he opened his first namesake restaurant, Mari Luna Mexican Grill.
The newest member of the Mari Luna family of restaurants, and the home of the Mason Dixon Master Chef Tournament this year, is the Mari Luna Bistro. The Bistro brings authentic Mexican food to the cityʼs cultural district. Highlights of the menu include seven styles of guacamole, each served in a traditional stone mortar called a molcajete, extensive taco offerings made with fresh corn tortillas, and house made white and red sangria. The basement of the Bistro called the Luna Lounge is a unique private party room with a built in bar and dance floor.
The Mari Luna Restaurant Group is renowned for filling the void of authentic Mexican food in the Baltimore region. Each restaurant combines the warmth of the Luna family with sophisticated and delicious food preparation for a unique dining experience. Chef Luna likes to say: “La comida tiene que estar terminada cuando se presente.” Roughly translated, food should be exciting; a meal should be complete, not lacking in any way.