Carlos Santana Brings his Latest Culinary Endeavor to San Diego

SAN DIEGO, July 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Maria Maria, specializing in fresh and vibrant "Nuevo Mexican" cuisine, brings its newest outpost to the San Diego area, to the Hazard Center in Mission Valley. The opening will mark the fifth location for Maria Maria, with restaurants already established in Danville, CA, Walnut Creek, CA, Tempe, AZ and Austin, TX.

Maria Maria's essence and flavors are the result of a true collaboration between distinguished Mexican chef Roberto Santibanez and guitar legend Carlos Santana where music meets cuisine. The adventurous menu at Maria Maria celebrates the diversity and complexity of Mexico's distinctive regional cuisines. From spicy to sweet, Santibanez's creations balance innovation and tradition throughout, using only the finest ingredients. The restaurant's decor is inspired by the music of Santana, reflecting passion and spirit through lively artwork.

With his inventive cuisine specially created for Maria Maria and priced under $19, Santibanez respects time-honored traditions but reinterprets the rules with a contemporary spin. Slow-braised duck tacos, blackberry-infused mole, and a sauce mingling Guajillo chilis, pineapple and cinnamon are notable specialties. The same vision inspires the bar menu, featuring hand-squeezed juices in signature cocktails such as Tangerine Mojitos and world-class house Margaritas.  Maria Maria's tequila menu lists only varieties made from 100% Blue Weber Agave, with 25 fine selections including Blanco, Reposado and Anejo bottlings.

As culinary director of some of the most important Mexican restaurants in the US and frequent contributor to national magazines like Bon Appetit, Chef Roberto Santibanez signed on as a consultant and culinary partner in 2007. Santibanez oversees the "Nuevo Mexican" cuisine with creative consultation from Carlos Santana. Santibanez was also recently published the cookbook Rosa's New Mexican Table.

The latest Maria Maria is located at 1370 Frazee Road in Mission Valley's Hazzard Center. The restaurant is fashioned in the style of a traditional Spanish villa draped by luscious palm trees. There is also an amazing patio adorned with a handmade fire pit allowing for alfresco dining that will offer an amazing Mexican Riveria-esque escape. The interior is highlighted by the contrast of white tooled leather dining chairs, rich dark leather booths and natural zebrawood tables.  The dramatic focal point of the space is a life-size metal tree that is upwardly lit, casting theatrical shadows on the exposed wood beam ceiling.  Beneath the tree, the canopy creates an intimate setting within the lively lounge area, also boasting a prime view of the performance stage.  The dining room is enhanced by a combination of candlelight and hand blown amber glass fixtures, handmade guitar sconces, and rustic metal chains that decorate the walls along with Carlos Santana album covers. Recordings of the best music from around the globe provide a soulful soundtrack for the Maria Maria dining experience, with live music to be featured several nights a week. As a backdrop to the revelry in the bar area, an array of classic video background art from classic Santana performances will be displayed on a massive 120 inch screen.

Maria Maria will be open Sunday through Wednesday, 11 a.m. until midnight, and Thursday through Saturday, 11 a.m. until 2:00 a.m.   A special brunch menu will also be served on Saturday and Sunday afternoons which includes $1 mimosas. A Happy Hour menu is available 7 days a week, and all day on Wednesday with a list of offerings that include:

• Mojito Mondays (4pm to close)
• Taco Tuesdays featuring $1 tacos
• All-day Wednesday Happy Hour
• Margarita Thursdays featuring half-priced margaritas
• Sangria Sundays featuring their legendary sangria for only $3.50

Maria Maria features live music every Thursday, Friday and Saturday and also boasts three private dining rooms for events ranging from 20 to 60 people. To-go service and catering service is available. For reservations, call 619.574.6800. For more information, please visit www.mariamariarestaurants.com

SOURCE Maria Maria