Mama's Meatball & Mistura: The Many Lives of Local (but World Renowned) Chef Nicola

In this soulful, laugh-filled, and eye-opening episode, Adam sits down with longtime friend and culinary visionary Chef Nicola Allegretta — the heart behind Paso’s beloved Mama’s Meatball and the bold brilliance behind Mistura, one of the most acclaimed Peruvian restaurants in the country.From dancing salsa at The Grad to launching his latest Chef’s Table experience (yes, he’s serving kui, beef heart, and alpaca), Nicola shares the story of his culinary fusion, his deep spiritual connection to food, and the risks he’s taken to build something truly special here on the Central Coast.But this convo goes deeper than cuisine. Nicola is now a finalist in the national Fav Chef 2025 competition, and if he wins, he’s pledged to donate 100 percent of the $25,000 prize to fund a clean water well for an entire community through Charity: Water. Let that sink in. Food with purpose. Flavor with legacy.Vote for Chef Nicola - ITS FREE!!! https://favchef.com/2025/nicola-allegrettaSupport the cause https://www.charitywater.org/nicolaallegrettaVisit the restaurantshttps://www.mamasmeatball.com/ https://www.misturarestaurants.com https://www.misturacatering.com/aboutFollow Chef Nicola on InstagramListen, share, and if you’re hungry for something real, this one delivers.*****Sailing with Phoenix Links:Instagram: @sailing_with_phoenixPredictWind Tracker: Live GPS MapMarineTraffic: AIS Vessel InfoGoFundMe: Help Make a Dream Come TrueArticles:Statesman JournalKGW News********Listen to Up+Adam with Adam Montiel:Official Website: adammontiel.comApple Podcasts: Up+Adam on Apple PodcastsSpotify: Up+Adam on SpotifyiHeartRadio: Up+Adam on iHeartRadioYouTube Music: Up+Adam on YouTube Music********CHECK OUT OUR WOODS HUMANE PET OF THE WEEK!********ADAM’S TEDX VIDEO IS HERE!********FOLLOW ADAM ON INSTAGRAM*********Sincere Thanks to the supporters of Up + Adam. Please take a moment and visit them and thank them for supporting local broadcasting, and valuing what we do here. Thank you for supporting them!Window Coverings By DesignWe Help You LegalGeneral Store Paso RoblesDaou VineyardsWoodsHumaneSocietyTin City DistilleryOriginal Music by Dan Curcio and Moonshiner CollectiveMoonshiner on Spotify HEREPlease Rate, Review, and Subscribe to the podcast, and learn more at AdamMontiel.com