Mario Carbone, Rich Torrisi and Jeff Zalaznick
When Jeff Zalaznick, Mario Carbone and Rich Torrisi opened Carbone in 2013, they built a glitterati temple. In this holy land of high sugar, celebrities flock like manna to the candlelit rigatoni. The entire family of Derek Jeter (because one Jeter is not enough), Selena Gomez, the Kardashians, Tony Bennett and President Barack Obama all decorated their tables. Truffle tortellini is, obviously, a great combination.
As the masterminds of the Major Food Group (MFG), the trio has turned food into a global sport, where the scoreboard includes more than 45 restaurants, a luxury residential tower, exclusive clubs, a Michelin star and an incredible number of rave reviews. In January, Major Food Group bought the expansion rights to Marea, announcing plans to take the iconic Italian restaurant worldwide. In February, they announced a partnership with Hard Rock International to bring dining experiences to Hard Rock Hotel & Casino locations around the world. In November, MFG announced a partnership with Matt Ishbia, owner of the Pheonix Suns and Pheonix Mercury, for a private members-only dining club at the sports teams’ arena—which will open later this year.
In December, MFG will open VINO, marking the group’s ninth restaurant in Miami, a city that “thrives with energy and vibrancy—two qualities at the heart of what we do,” chef and co-founder Mario Carbone tells the Observer. “Miami has welcomed us, and it feels like the perfect place to continue to grow.” About making the Observer list for the second year in a row? “It is a testament to the dedication and creativity that shapes every concept we develop. Our approach has always been about storytelling. “We don’t chase recognition, but this recognition confirms that the work we love is making a real impact in the industry,” said Carbone.
By 2025, MFG will further expand its global portfolio—which already includes France, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Canada, Korea and China. For Zalaznick, Carbone and Torrisi, the world is more than their oyster; it’s their casino of Michelin-starred, hand-wrapped, impossibly chic clams.
