M'tucci's Twenty-Five Team Leaders
/With the opening of M’tucci’s Twenty-Five only weeks away, we would like to introduce you to a few of the people who are going to make this restaurant the place to eat on the East Side of Albuquerque.
“I am honored to work along side these four exceptional people. For the two chefs, I‘m fortunate to have more than 17 years of history working with them. All four of these leaders are not only people that have made M’tucci’s a success, but they’re cut from the kind of fabric that enriches our lives and our guests lives. Many of the stories and obstacles they’ve overcome in their lives are beyond inspiration. The Partners are thankful for all their efforts and excited to see them take the next step in their careers” , said Executive Chef/Founding Partner John Haas.
Trey Godwin - Assistant Manager
Trey has been a familiar presence behind the bar at M’tucci’s Italian for the past three years. He will be in charge of the bar at M’tucci’s Twenty-Five.
He started working in the restaurant business while he was in his teens, worked for awhile as a bar back, and got a job tending bar at Grand Central Station (not the one in NYC) on his 21st birthday.
“I worked in sports bars, slinging Jack ’n’ Cokes, pouring beers and learning that there is more to the job than making drinks,”
When he started with M’tucci’s it was a Tuesday night, probably one of the busiest nights of the week and discovered there was more to the bar than Jack ’n’ Coke.. It was a trial by fire, but he embraced the great cocktail culture and became one of the more creative bartenders in the M’tucci’s family.
He’s said that he is excited about bringing the M’tucci’s culture across the river and hosting the nightly “M’tucci’s Party”.
Jade Santiago - Assistant Manager
Jade has been at M’tucci’s Italian for several years, most recently as an assistant manager.
She moved to Dallas after graduating from high school to get a job in the restaurant industry to “overcome my shyness.”
After returning to Albuquerque, she got a job at the Fat Squirrel, where she was “discovered” by Partner Austin Leard.
“I’ve always said that you can teach every skill in the service industry, except for personality - and it was obvious that Jade had a bright personality,” he said.
After joining the M’tucci’s team, she worked with Ernest Nuñez at M’tucci’s Cocina at the Hispanic Cultural Center, then helped train the servers at M’tucci’s Moderno before it opened.
“I love organizing and creating new systems and doing that for our largest restaurant will certainly be a challenge, but I’m excited about that challenge,” she said.
Omar Rosas & Damian Lucero
Omar Rosas - Chef de Cuisine
After arriving in Albuquerque from Puebla, Mexico in 2007, Omar started working in Italian restaurants, working his way up the line. His second Italian restaurant job turned out to be a stroke of good luck for M’tucci’s, because he worked under Bravo’s Executive Chef John Haas, now the Executive Chef/Founding Partner at M’tucci’s.
Soon after M’tucci’s Italian opened in 2013, Omar joined the team and became Sous Chef, eventually moving to M’tucci’s Moderno as the Chef de Cuisine where he has been in charge of the kitchen for the past three years.
The late Anthony Bourdain said that the great chefs come from Puebla, Mexico. We wouldn’t argue with that claim.
Damian Lucero - Executive Sous Chef
An Albuquerque native, Damian Lucero has been the Sous Chef at M’tucci’s Italian for several years, starting as the pizza cook.
He has been involved in the restaurant business since he was in high school, helping out in family-owned spots. While he was in the hospitality program at CNM, he was the owner/chef of Food Quest Catering for a few years before joining M’tucci’s Italian two weeks before we opened.
One of four M’tucci’s chefs who traveled to Italy last summer, he is bringing a few of his favorite meals from that trip to M’tucci’s Twenty-Five.
A lot of companies use the buzzwords “team” and “family” to describe their employees. During the past year working with M’tucci’s, I’ve learned that those words are not cliches. While talking with me, Executive Sous Chef Damian Lucero, summed it up much better than I ever could.
“I knew in the interview, that I had found something that was going to be unique. I found a restaurant that would challenge me. Trust me "challenged" is putting it lightly. I found a place I could grow, learn and develop myself as a cook. John Haas has an unwavering belief in food. That belief is infectious, and it reaches the cooks, the service staff and in turn reaches the community.
M’tucci’s changed my life and more importantly changed my daughter's life forever. If you randomly asked, you would discover that my story is the same as so many others working with M'tucci's. Now that I’m a chef, I look at this massive force of a brand that I’m helping to build. It’s those early days of hard work, dedication and belief, that I key in on, and pass down to every cook that I come across. M'tucci's is the culture that I grew up in, and it’s that culture that is the driving force behind its success. CNM's culinary program gave me a great foundation. M'tucci's has given me knowledge, skills and opportunity. Through hard work and dedication, these two institution's have made me the chef I am today.”
NEWS FROM M’TUCCI’S
M’tucci’s Twenty-Five
Opening in Mid-February
4939 Pan American Highway NW, Albuquerque, NM - Next to Tomasita’s - South of Jefferson
There are only a few openings for skilled and motivated servers and bartenders. You can apply for a position at any of our locations online by clicking here or by going to the “Join Our Team” page on this website.
Next week we will introduce our leaders. We plan to share our new menu with you during the first week of February and we will announce an opening date at that time.
Watch this space and our Facebook page and Instagram feed for updates and news about our opening week. You can find us on both social media platforms: @mtuccistwentyfive Please Follow us Now!
M’tucci’s @ Lava Rock Brewing Company
Happy Hour Monday - Friday 3:00 - 6:30
Daily Specials
Sunday - Happy Hour all Day - SUPER BOWL SUNDAY, TOO!!
Monday - Margherita Mondays - $5 small Margherita pizza, add a pint and it’s $10
Tuesday - $2 Tuesdays - All pints $2 (except seasonal beers) and $2 off all Appetizers
Wednesday - Wing Wednesday - 2 pounds of our special house brined wings in 3 flavors for $8
Thursday & Friday - Live Music and regular Happy Hour
2020 Lunch Special
Every 20th guest who comes in for lunch between 11:00 & 3:00 Monday - Friday gets lunch on M’tucci’s. Who said there’ no such thing as a free lunch??
Happy Hour Menu features The Burger, a 10” Margherita or Pepperoni Green Chile Pizza, Charcuterie Boards and Wings for $7, . $1 off all pints. You can catch your favorite team on one of our large five screens.
Live Music at Lava Rock, we’ll have live music every Thursday from 6:00 - 8:00 and Fridays from 8:00 - 10:00.
Live Music - Thursdays @ 6:00 and Fridays @ 8:00
1/31 - Mario DeHuerta
February
2/6: Marco Topo as Scott Jarrett Duo
2/7: Chris Dracup
2/13: Melissa Rios
2/14: AdLib
2/20: Cali Shaw
2/21:Lea Leyva
2/27: Alex Maryol
2/28: GB Duo
M’tucci’s Italian
Weekend Specials
Cut of the Day - 24 oz Hand Cut Porterhouse, Salt Water Potatoes, Grilled Asparagus and a Balsamic Reduction
Pan-Seared Fish - Swordfish, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Sautéed Arugula, Lemon Caper Sauce
Ravioli - Braised Short Rib/Ricotta Ravioli, Sautéed Artichoke, Haricot Vert, Shallots, Spinach Lemon Cream Sauce
Braised - Braised Beef Short Ribs, Sautéed Mushrooms, Shallots, Garlic & Spicy Red Wine San Marzano Tomato Sauce
M’tucci’s Moderno
Weekend Specials
Spaghettini and Goat Cheese Pasta
A wonderful chili pepper goat cheese sauce with sweet and spicy peppers, shrimp and hazel nuts.
Pan-Seared fish of the Day: Mahi Mahi
Mahi Mahi has a semi-firm texture with a mild flavor that is almost sweet. The fish is pan-seared and served with creamy garlic mashed potatoes, roasted artichokes, sautéed organic arugula and topped with a bright lemon caper butter sauce and smoked prosciutto powder
Cut of the Day: NY Strip
Hand-cut in-house, grilled to perfection and served with crispy saltwater potatoes, grilled asparagus and our Traditional Italian Salsa Verde.
Ask about our wonderful wine pairings!
VALENTINES DAY RESERVATIONS ARE GOING FAST!
One of our bartenders, Isaac, created two special Valentines Day Cocktails. Make your reservation so you can try a Lillet Love (made with the yummy French Aperitif wine) and a Chocolate Covered Strawberry.
Live Music
Thursdays @ 7:00
2/6: Shane Wallin
2/13: RJ Perez
2/20: Shane Wallin
2/27: Alex Maryol
Fridays @ 8:00
2/7: Cali Shaw
2/14: Kirk Matthews
2/21: Kirk Matthews
2/28: Lani Nash
Ciao! See you next Friday
