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CHEF MARIO NAVARRETE JR.
"Born in Lima
Trained under Boulud
Renowned in Canada"
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Born in Lima, Peru, Mario Navarrete Jr. left his country at age 18 with a one-way ticket to America. What was supposed to be a stopover on his way to college ultimately turned into an unexpected discovery: cooking. Working in a small kitchen in Utah, he fell in love with the rhythm of service, the warmth of the kitchen, and the intensity of the craft. A few years later, Montreal became his training ground. He worked in several of the city’s top restaurants before heading to New York to hone his skills under Chef Daniel Boulud, and later under renowned figures such as Douglas Rodriguez and Guillermo Pernot.
At a time when few Latino chefs were associated with haute cuisine, Mario chose to blaze his own trail. In 2005, he opened Razza on Laurier Avenue. The early days were tough: on opening night, not a single customer showed up. Then a review in La Presse changed everything. Razza quickly became one of the most sought-after restaurants in the country. A few months later, enRoute ranked the restaurant among the best in Canada, before Zagat, Food & Wine, and Gourmet Magazine in turn highlighted the work of the Peruvian-born Montreal chef.
Following the success of Razza and the Madre restaurants, Mario is opening Mercat 1484 in Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville. The project now brings together everything that defines his cuisine: Peruvian roots, the precision of large kitchen teams, and a deeply human approach to dining. At Mercat, every ceviche, every dish, and every service tells a part of this journey that spans Lima, New York, Montreal, and now the South Shore.
SOMMELIER JOSE LOPEZ
José Lopez is one of the pioneers who introduced the culture of tapas and fine Spanish wines to Montreal. With restaurants like Casa Tapas and, above all, Pintxo, from EnRoute, he has been helping people discover a more lively, convivial, and refined approach to Spanish cuisine since the 2000s. Passionate about wine and authentic ingredients, he quickly developed a reputation as a sommelier known for his precise pairings and approachable service.
Over the years, José has developed expertise in Spanish wines, spirits, and the dining experience. Through his agency, Passion Gourmet, and his collaborations in the restaurant industry, he selects wines that reflect a region, a culture, and a history. His approach to wine is rooted as much in discovery as it is in emotion: guiding customers toward pairings that enhance the culinary experience rather than simply accompanying a dish.
At Mercat 1484, José is reunited with chef Mario Navarrete Jr., with whom he had previously worked more than twenty years ago. Together, they bring two cultures together around the same table: Mario’s Peruvian cuisine and the fine Spanish wines selected by José. At Mercat, every pairing, every bottle, and every course contributes to creating a warm, elegant, and deeply human experience.
MERCAT 1484
