Moonage Food Co and NeedleFish are the brain child of chef Tyler Mars.A ever evolving collection of recipes and experiences from difernt areas around the globe. A cosmic bouillabaisse of flavors, conversions and music. So sit back and enjoy the trip…
California
The Beginning
1972
Im Tyler Mars, I started my culinarily lust cooking simple dishes with my mom growing up. I later worked in kitchens at a few boarding schools I attended. what started as a punishment only anchored my passion for culinary arts. After bouncing around in various community colleges in San Diego I decided to try a local culinary school. After barley graduating (not for a lack of effort, more like not seeing eye to eye on what I was wanting to learn) I found himself in a bunch of dead-end jobs cooking other peoples style of food.That is until I found himself at Rimels of la Jolla and then over to Zenbu, both owned by Matt and Jackie Rimel. Now under the wing of Tim Johnson I learned the art of sushi and the rest is history. After 17yrs in those two restaurants, a sabbatical to Bali, Ibiza, Bilbao and Australia I found himself back home in N. County San Diego back at Zenbu. While there I started Moonage Food Co as a side project witch eventually turned into a full time venture. From Moonage I have now spun off and started NeedleFish an omakase sushi and vinyl catering project. The rest you probably know. And if you don’t, Im always more happy to talk about my stories…
North County San deigo
Moonage Food Co.
2015
Moonage is the brain child of Myself and friend Adam Sherit. while working together at Zenbu he and I started discussing the simplicity of street food from other countries. Being that San Diego is so close to Baja Mexico it made since to create fusion street tacos. It all started while bidding on a vintage Airstream trailer, drunk on whiskey and a vision. That night turned into an an interstellar galactic road trip to Nogalas Texas being chased by Aliens and Comanche Indians. Needless to say we left empty handed, but had a hell of a road trip. We then bought a street taco stand in East Los Angeles and started throwing parties around town. Adam moved to work on his writing career and I stuck around to see this thing through.I Had a food truck then a permanent space in Leucadia, the shit hit the fan and now Im back to the taco stand. Im available for pop-ups and of coarse private events…
North County san Deigo
NeedleFish
2024
Like I mentioned before I have a sushi background. I cut my teeth making sushi when I weaseled my way into Zenbu in La Jolla. For a long time both Zenbu La Jolla and then Zenbu N. County were considered the best sushi spots in San Deigo, at least from my perspective. I slowly crafted and honed my skills and started making a name for myself, 50% creativity and 50% personality. When one can light shit on fire, drink with the best of them, entertain the guests as well as put together innovative dishes, one starts to get a fallowing. The days of drinking are long gone but the desire to still press the envelop when it comes to sushi still excites me. Welcome to NeedleFish a sushi catering company that only prepares innovate dishes and brings the party to your house. I’ll show up with my portable sushi case, 6 tastings for parties of 10-20 and a few crates of my personal vinyl records(please feel free to requests your favorites)along with a portable turntable/speakers set up, I make the food and you pick the tunes and we will have one hell of a good time. I may still have a belt of your best whiskey if offered and quite possibly might light something on fire.
