Well traveled
MARCO CALENZO • Lido Restaurant at The Surf Club
WORK • Thursday Routine
MARCO CALENZO • head chef • Lido Restaurant at The Surf Club
Neighborhood you work in: Surfside
Neighborhood you live in: Miami Shores
It’s Thursday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
Thursdays start early. I’m up with the kids for breakfast, handling school drop-offs, and arrive at the hotel by 730a. Once I change into chef whites, I move through each kitchen from pastry to in-room dining, poolside, and finally Lido, greeting teams, checking prep, tasting what’s coming out. It’s the moment to feel the pulse of the day and set the energy.
By 830a, I’m in our morning briefings and labor meetings, reviewing performance and finalizing plans for the week ahead. Before lunch service, I’m back in the kitchen, hands-on with the team. That connection to the people and the product reminds me why I started doing this in the first place.
Any bar or restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
I have a few places on my list. I’m hoping to visit my friend Marco [Giugliano]’s new restaurant Mano Libera in Coral Gables and ViceVersa to see my friend Valentino [Longo] and enjoy a Negroni. I also have a meeting with the Love to Italy Academy, a project I’ve been involved with since its beginning. It’s a beautiful initiative that protects true Made in Italy culture, from ingredients and recipes to masterclasses.
How about a little leisure or culture?
This past month was full of both. I spent a week in London getting my daughter settled into boarding school and enjoyed some of my favorite food in the city. A highlight of the trip was breakfast at Pavyllon by Alléno and a memorable dinner at Brat in Shoreditch.
When I returned to Miami, I had two full weeks with my other two kids while my wife traveled to Japan. That meant school drop-offs and pick-ups, football and volleyball practices, homework, and plenty of home-cooked meals. It was a great bonding time and I was in full parenting mode.
Any weekend getaways?
Key West and the Everglades are top of mind. I’d also like to visit a few of the oyster farms we work with. For me, inspiration often comes from these small moments, standing on a dock, talking to a fisherman, tasting something fresh at its source.
What was your last great vacation?
Hard to choose just one, so I will share my top three.
With the family: Sicily. It’s my go-to. Affordable, stunning seaside towns, and home to some of the best food on the planet. The lifestyle is unmatched, la dolce vita at its finest, from mountains to sea, culture to cuisine.
With friends: France. My most recent trip was a week-long escape through Paris and Reims. Highlights included dinner at Arpège by Chef Passard, a must-stop at Plénitude for Arnaud Donckele’s cuisine, and of course, Maxime Frédéric’s pastries (which are my personal favorite). We also explored the Reims area for a full Champagne immersion, with a visit to Glue Pot, a low-key bar with a wine list unlike anything else, where the best bottles aren’t even featured on the menu.
For food and culture: Japan. I have been more than 20 times and still cannot get enough. If you are a true foodie, Fukuoka and Hokkaido are a must. The seafood is on another level, and the number of exceptional small restaurants is unmatched.