Mariano FERNANDEZ has been a professional Chef for OVER 20 years. He trained AT the Hotel School El Cortijo (Denia) in his home town of Valencia IN FOOD & BEV MANAGMENT Spain. He was Chef owner of  Restaurant L'Ambigu for over 9 years in Valencia, which was named by Esquire Magazine in 2005 as one of the Best New Restaurants Outside the U.S.

In 2006, Chef Mariano moved to the United States where he has worked as chef de cuisine in restaurants in New York and Dallas.

In 2014, he moved to Montreal with his young family and IS PRESENTLY head chef at Tapas 24 by Carles Abellan which is both classic and modern Spanish cuisine. The menu offers Chef Mariano's daily specials, tapas, homemade dishes and several classics from the reputed Barcelona restaurant.  Chef Mariano is also the Chef-owner of Montreal Paella Inc. where he caters traditional paella to 25-600 guests.

Chef Mariano's culinary talent has been widely acknowledged and recognized in Europe and US; He was appointed official representative of Paella for the World Foundation in Canada as well as many other accolades:

Chef of the Catering Department for the Spain Grand Prix Championship, 1999-2000.

Executive Chef of the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival, Valencia Pavilion in Orlando, Florida, 2004.

Executive Chef of the Gastronomic Tour of the Cuisine of Valencia, Barcelo Hotel in Prague Czech Republic, April 2005.

Executive Chef of the Gastronomic Tour of the Taste of Valencia, L'Enfant Plaza Hotel in Washington D.C., September 2005.

Taste of Valencia Ribbon Cutting Celebration in Honor of the Commercial and Cultural agreement signed by representatives of the City of Dallas and the President of Valencia. Dallas, 2008.

Mary by The Sea’s House Opening. NYC 2010.

Dinner in Honor of Rafael Anson, President of Real Academy of Spanish Gastronomy.Dallas, TX 2010

Passport to Spain, Central Market promotional tour of Spanish Products. Dallas, TX 2010

Cooking Classes of Tapas, Central Market. Dallas, TX 2010

Reception in Honor to Spanish pianist Joaquin Achucaro. Dallas, TX 2011

Calatrava’s Inauguration of Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge. Dallas, TX 2012

92NY StreetFest NYC (Guest Chef by  the Consulate General of Spain). NYC 2013

Action Against Hunger, Spanish Wine Tasting. NYC 2013