He lost his first restaurant. He got burned by investors. And still — he built one of Miami’s most talked-about
food brands.
In this exclusive interview, Mario Naar , founder of Chèvre Miami , tells the story of how he went from nightlife
in Panama to launching a viral cheese and sandwich empire in Miami. From $20 sandwiches and foie gras
boards to being ranked #3 on Goldbelly and launching in Saint Barts — this is the story of grit, taste, and
reinvention.
In this episode, Mario shares:
-Why he walked away from his first international brand
-The sandwich that saved his business
-How he turned caviar into a lifestyle product
-The truth behind the $65 caviar croissant that went viral
-How Miami landlords and hospitality deals really work
-Why he believes consistency > creativity in food
-The biggest mistake that almost cost him his new business
-What it means to build a “lifestyle brand”
— not just a restaurant
⏱ Timestamps:
00:00 – Starting From Zero in Miami
02:51 – Building Chev: Boutique Food & Vision
05:42 – Pandemic Timing & Cheese Curation
08:33 – The Koji Wagyu Sandwich That Went Viral
11:24 – Cheesecakes, Goldbelly, and Premium Flavors
14:15 – Launching a Caviar Brand From Scratch
17:06 – The $65 Caviar Croissant Craze
19:57 – Losing Salvaje & Reinventing My Brand
22:48 – Becoming a Lifestyle Brand, Not Just Food 25:39 – Scaling to Saint Barts, Coconut Grove & More
28:30 – Why Restaurants Shouldn’t Pay for Buildouts
31:21 – Inside the Wine Room & Rare Cheese Pairings
34:12 – Catering, Foie Gras, and High-End Boards
37:03 – Lessons From My Most Expensive Mistake
39:54 – Local Partners & Artisans I Trust
42:45 – Miami Needs More Locals, Less Bullsh*t
45:36 – Oma Pie Concept & Elevating Pizza
48:27 – Cheese-Pull Marketing & Final Reflections
Connect with me on my instagram:
🤳 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emiguerra99/
Connect with Mario Naar:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/naarmiami
Listen to my podcasts on:
🍎 Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/industry-talks-hospitality-podcast/id1790526837
🍏 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5Qqf1YkCmKKL0nEH9J5rAv
Check out my hospitality businesses on Instagram:
🏨 Breakwater Hospitality Group: https://www.instagram.com/breakwaterhg/
🏨 The Wharf Miami: https://www.instagram.com/wharfmiami/
🏨 The Wharf Fort Lauderdale: https://www.instagram.com/wharfftl/
🏨 PIER 5: https://www.instagram.com/pier5bayside/
🏨 JohnMartin’s: https://www.instagram.com/johnmartinsmiami/
🏨 Carousel Club: https://www.instagram.com/carouselclb/
🏨 Regatta Grove: https://www.instagram.com/regattagrove/
🏨 Riverside Wharf: https://www.instagram.com/riversidewharf/
Thank you for your support. If you aren’t already subscribed, do subscribe to the channel for our latest
episodes. Cheers!
#MarioNaar #ChèvreMiami #IndustryTalks #HospitalityPodcast #MiamiFoodScene #FoodEntrepreneur
#ViralFood #CheeseLovers #CaviarLife #MiamiEats #LuxuryFood #GourmetSandwich #CulinaryBrand
#FoodBusiness #MiamiRestaurants #CheesecakeLovers #LifestyleBrand #CaviarCroissant
#WagyuSandwich #FromPanamaToMiami #ChefLife #FoodStartup #PodcastHighlights #podcast
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