April 11, 2012 By Christian Murray
The owner of Mario’s Restaurant, an Italian eatery located at 43-04 47th Ave., will be appearing on Sweet Genius, the dessert-based competition that pits four of America’s leading pastry chefs against one another through three rounds of challenges critiqued and judged by Ron Ben-Israel, executive chef and owner of Ron Ben-Israel Cakes in New York City.
Lynn Chauca and her daughter Angela Cuervo will take part in the show on May 3rd at 10 p.m. on the Food Network. The mother-daughter duo will compete by using their creativity, ingenuity and imagination to create chocolate, candy or cake desserts employing surprise ingredients and a specific inspiration under timed conditions in the hopes of advancing to the final round for chance at a $10,000 cash prize. The show, which is hosted by Ron Ben-Israel, is back for a second season.
Chauca’s strength is in baking chocolate mousse, cheese cakes, brownies, and Napoleons—which she has been doing at Mario’s for the past 26-years. Meanwhile, Cuervo is a specialist in baking custom cakes—for weddings and other special occasions.
The women were selected for the show after Cuervo applied online to compete. She was called in to meet with producers from the show and a video clip was created. They called her back for a follow-up interview – this time over the phone—which subsequently resulted in her being selected for the show.
Cuervo, who lives in Sunnyside, told the producers about her mother and she too went through the same interview process. Chauca is from Woodside.
The show has already been taped. However, “We have been sworn to secrecy,” said Cuervo. She hopes that local residents will watch the show and root for them.
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28 Comments
This restaurant just threw my 80 year old mother out on the street along with my wife and young daughter because they asked for a different table. My mother is an asthmatic and may well be in the emergency room before the evening is over. They’re nuts. Stay away!
Have to admit food is good but abit pricy, But that does not bother me, what does is their personality, or lack of. They walk around like miserable zombies. They act like all high and mighty, and dont take critism well. I have been there a total of 6 times, and 5 out of 6 they are miserable! no personality, a smile never killed anyone. Why is the place even open?
I stopped eating there when they renovated the place and increased the prices and cut down on the portion. That was some 10 years ago. And I won’t watch that nonsense of a show. I can’t STAND food compeitition shows on Food Network.
Love Marios! Everything is so fresh and bought that morning. The service is great and atmosphere is nice and cozy. Love the chicken parmigiana and a glass of homemade sangria. Carlos, the owner, also prepares the food himself. Good luck ladies on Sweet Genius! I’ll be watching and cheering you on.
Congratulations to Lynn & Angela! Mario’s is on our regular restaurant rotation, and we wish them all the best! Great idea, SunnySkies, about a neighborhood event!
I love Mario’s!!! Their lasagne is excellent. I’m so happy for them. I will need to try their pastries.
Good luck to the ladies from Mario’s.great to see locals on a tv show. Looking forward to watching it. Some other good places to try in Sunnyside are bliss street station 4702 greenpoint av and pj Horgans beside Sunnyside movie theater.
Ate there a few months ago, was not impressed with the food nor the prices .
Check out their website mike http://www.mariosrestaurantny.com I think your counting wrong. I tried to have the tiramisu the other night but it was sold out probably because it’s popular and fresh not thawed and from the freezer like this other restaurants.
last time i went, 3 weeks ago, they reduced their menu to 3 ,yes 3, pasta dishes. Seriously, what kind of variety is that? otherwise decent. Desserts seems thawed out freezer stuff.
Don’t eat out a lot lately but have had some very good meals this year at Yum Yum, Turkish Grill and PJ Horgan’s.
I’m a big fan of Mario’s. The food is always very good. Great to see people from the area doing big things! I wish them both the best of luck. Also Regina suggested some good spots to eat. Maybe I could take her out to one of them.
This is a good review blog to checkout. It has short reviews of many of the restaurants in Sunnyside with pictures of various dishes. http://sunnysidefood.wordpress.com/
Love Mario’s! Consistently great, fresh food is the reason why this restaurant has been in business for 26 years.
Wouldn’t it be fun if members of the community could cheer on Lynn and Angela at a local pub with huge flat screen TVs like Bar 43 or Sidetracks and turn it into a kind of neighborhood event. Go Girrrls!!!
All good choices Regina.
I also really enjoy Bliss 46 Bistro, Dee Thai, De Mole, and Mi Bolivia.
Eduardo sounds like a hater too. Here are a few restaurants besides Mario’s to try Eduardo: Arriba Arriba, The Turkish Grill, Nodus, Yum Yum and in Woodside: TJ Asian Bistro. I hope they do well and represent Sunnyside and Woodside!
Good luck to u both, all the best. I know u will make us proud. Go win that money!!!! Olga
Great food in Sunnyside? Seriously? I would beg to differ, but I’d love to hear what others have to say about this. What restaurants would you say are truly wonderful?
Sue sounds like a hater.. Good to see ladies from sunnyside on a national TV.. Hope they do great on the show which I’m sure they will
My best discovery at Mario’s were their meatballs served with spaghetti.
Fabulous! but not aways on the menu.
Marilyn S.
not sure what the new restaurant has to do with Mario’s being on Sweet Genius, but the food is great and the atmosphere is comfy! I hope they win big!!
stopped eating 15 years ago…….the food was overpriced back then for the quality & quantity …better Italian restaurants in the neighborhood! wishing his new competition lots of luck!
I must be going crazy… why I have I not heard of this place? I’m going to have to make a stop at Mario’s!!!
This neighborhood does indeed have great food. I’ve tried a lot of places but still have so many others to try? I wish we could get a post on where people eat and what dishes to try.
Mario’s now has nearby competition in the new Italian restaurant that has opened in the former premises of Sunrise Grill on Greenpoint Avenue across from the Thalia Spanish Theatre.
I must say, this neighborhood kicks butt for good food and restaurants. Whenever I have out-of-town visitors, I always take them out to eat in Sunnyside, not Manhattan. Better food, better prices, great variety and authenticity.
So cool. I watch that show… the competition is fierce… Brava, ladies!