Meet MARK ESPOSITO | Chef & Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with MARK ESPOSITO and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi MARK, do you have a budget? How do you make lifestyle and spending decisions?
Hello! I do have a budget in place. I’m currently working as a full-time Sous Chef in LA that pays well and that income covers my bills along with other fun expenses. I’ve set up a budget for my personal chef business in which I’ll allocate a small percentage of my earnings towards taxes and a rainy day fund. How I used to handle money, I’d spend my entire paycheck within the first few days. Having a business to nurture has changed my perspective. I’m focused on growth and finding joy in managing my finances responsibly.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
What truly sets me apart is my expertise in pasta making. It’s something that I take immense pride in. While I’ve had the privilege of working at some of the finest restaurants across the country, what truly amazed me was the warm and welcoming community within the world of pasta.

Unlike the challenging environment of traditional restaurants, the pasta world is filled with friendly and passionate individuals who are eager to share their favorite dishes and their knowledge about pasta. I’ve learned from talented chefs living in LA, Chicago, and NYC. These experiences have taught me valuable lessons.

I strongly believe that the key to success in the culinary world lies in sharing your story. By cooking with joy and authenticity, you create an emotional connection with your audience. That special connection makes people genuinely care about your creations. I want the world to know that I specialize in crafting delicious handmade pasta, and I’m genuinely excited to share it with you. Your support would mean the world to me!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My best friend coming to visit me would be like this, Coffee at nudae
Breakfast at boil & bake bagels.
Beach Day or maybe just go to the pier.
Tuesday farmers market on Main Street in Huntington Beach
Wine at Main Street wine company in Huntington Beach
Pasta Mark Pasta Pop up for delicious handmade pasta.
I would go to the bungalow for a weekend night out fun
Super secret speakeasy for ramen
Definitely more beach days
Pool day
Sunday Funday at my house for bbq fun

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The Chefpreneur Podcast! I listened to that podcast religiously, took as much information from it as possible and implemented it into my own business. I almost spent a pretty penny with them but i didn’t have money starting so I did everything with as minimal overhead as I could.

The book that I want to shout out is business made simple. I read that book a few times and still go back to it for inspiration and guidance.

Another podcast is make more money cooking. These guys are real AF and give you hard information that they have been doing for years. Definitely check them out!

Website: Pastamark.com

Instagram: Instagram.com/thepastamark

Yelp: https://m.yelp.com/biz/pasta-mark-orange-county

Image Credits
Adam Jennie Claire Bruns