Episode #193 - Mark Sotelino of Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba! & Mon Ami Gabi

Mark Sotelino grew up in the kitchens and dining rooms of some of Chicago's most celebrated restaurants. His father, Chef Gabino Sotelino, emigrated from rural Spain and went on to partner with Rich Melman at Lettuce Entertain You to create landmarks like Ambria, Mon Ami Gabi, and Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba!. Since then, Mark has built a 28-plus-year career of his own at Lettuce, rising from teenage host at Ba-Ba-Reeba! to Partner overseeing the Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba! and Mon Ami Gabi brands across Chicago, River North, Bethesda, and beyond. Hot on the heels of Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba!'s 40th anniversary celebration, Mark comes to the studio to reflect on the challenge of keeping a beloved restaurant feeling vital across four decades -- balancing the sacred cows (sangria, bacon-wrapped dates, patatas bravas) with the constant push to evolve. This episode we cover: the wild origin stories behind the Mon Ami Gabi and Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba! names, opening Lil' Ba-Ba-Reeba! in nine days flat, surviving a two-day power outage with refrigerated trucks and candlelight -- and so much more!