I was delighted when I confirmed the restaurant review with Jason Park of Maru Restaurant and even happier to have my very best girlfriend Angela join me. Our meal took place on a beautiful Thursday afternoon and if the décor was any indication as to the caliber of cuisine I was about to enjoy, I could surely count on one unforgettable meal! The restaurant is beautiful inside… elegant and carefully decorated. Everything looked as if it was perfectly in its place. Chef Park created an extravagant dining experience for us and with 14 dishes all together, I chose my five favorites to share with you.
As the plates were delivered, we were introduced to the dishes and given a suggestion on how best to enjoy them by Chef Park. This was a theme throughout our meal and something I truly enjoyed. It helped both of us enjoy all the flavor profiles in the way Chef Park intended. Working with seasonal ingredients, Chef Park focuses his attention on creating California cuisine – always fresh and simply delicious.
Our experience began with Divers Scallops & Corn ($18). As we enjoyed the dish, Angela and I were treated to a wonderful education about Divers Scallops. It was truly refreshing to meet someone so passionate about what they do. And when Chef Park is not at the Restaurant, he can be found regularly at the Farmer’s Market ensuring he gets only the best and freshest ingredients for his dishes. Everything is made fresh at Maru… right down to the ice creams and sorbets… but we will get to those later.
The Heirloom Salad ($12) was not only visually stunning, but the flavor was so wonderful I wanted to eat the entire dish myself. With or without the crostini, this dish was a winner andv one of both Angela and my favorites. The combination of the tomatoes with the delectable flavor in the sherry vinaigrette with shiso pesto just made my mouth sing with praise.
Crispy Duck Risotto ($16)… three words I immediately fell in love with upon my first bite. Oh my, the flavor in this dish was so amazing I struggle to find words to describe it. I don’t know if words can do this dish justice. Combining Maru’s famous duck confit with a super crisp risotto sautéed on the outside then paired with a to-die-for tomato-truffle oil sauce, I could not stop eating this dish. I had to have it removed from the table it was so good.
Following the deliciously rich duck risotto, the Proscuitto & Walnut Salad ($12) brought a fresh and light balance to the meal. Highlighting the Proscuitto de Parma, Chef Park balanced the flavors with organic walnuts, sliced organic apples then dressed the dish with a sun-dried tomato vinaigrette, all on a bed of crispy lettuce.
Right before we hit the point of no return, Chef Park treated us to dessert. And what a treat this was. Everything made right in the restaurant. Everything fresh. Everything delicious. Beginning with Chocolate Bread Pudding ($8.95) and Berry Cobbler ($8.95), every bite was heaven in a ramekin. Served with French pressed coffee, I have to admit this was one of the highlights for me. Finishing up with Ice Cream and Sorbet ($8.95) along with an artistic take on Cheesecake ($7.95), my meal was complete and my stomach was full.
Maru Restaurant is located at 24250 Town Center Drive in Valencia. For more information, please call 661-290-2595 and visit www.MaruValencia.com.