Opening a new restaurant is always a daunting task - unless, of course, you work with a group that does it all over the country and have spent your career cooking at some of the highest levels around! When Solstice recently opened in Irvine, CA, it instantly made an impact on the dining scene. Embracing seasonality to an incredibly sharp degree, with unapologetic style and flavors. Who is responsible for this new sensation to hit South County though, and what inspires them?My guest for this episode is the Culinary Director of Captivate Hospitality Group, Chef Demetrio Zavala - the man behind the vision for these new culinary creations. With decades of experience, training from some of the best chefs in the world, countless appearances and wins across Food Networks' programming lineup, and more, Chef Zavala is a true force. He was kind enough to hop onto a call with me from Florida to discuss the process of opening Solstice, as well as his approach to seasonality, flavor, and restaurant culture.Enjoy!The Best Ceats Podcast brings unprecedented access to the Orange County hospitality industry each and every episode. Bringing you the best stories, and the people behind them with every interview, The Best Ceats Podcast showcases the very best of Southern California’s bars, restaurants, and beyond.You can find more information at https://thebestceats.comFollow Host Crawford McCarthy at https://www.instagram.com/thebestceats/To support content like The Best Ceats Podcast, please consider supporting The Best Ceats, at: https://patreon.com/thebestceats To learn more about Ali Coyle, as well as her debut track “Trust Me,” please see her official website: https://alicoylemusic.com To find out more about our sponsors for this episode, please visit the following:https://www.heirloompotager.comhttps://www.lawinefest.comhttps://amass.com