Fabulous People: Marty Fay

Marty Fay was recently named the executive chef of Sandpiper Wood Fired Grill & Oysters, considered to be one of the hottest restaurants in La Jolla. “The menu features a variety of fun, shareable items from a custom-designed wood-fired grill and oyster bar, along with desserts from Georges at the Cove pastry chef, Aly Lyng.” Learn about Marty Fay…

Hometown:  Bel Air, Maryland 

First job: I worked as a dishwasher an old sports bar in Bel Air called Half Pints. My first cooking job was as the opener at Open Door Café, a brunch/lunch eatery in Bel Air.

Favorite ways to spend your free time in CA:  I recently got certified for scuba diving so I have been out in the beautiful Pacific Ocean most of my free time. I came face-to-face with a seal, literally. I didn’t even realize how big they can be.

Your biggest accomplishment and why: Moving out to California and getting settled here in San Diego is my biggest accomplishment. Re-establishing myself after stepping out of my network was quite challenging, but getting the opportunity to work with a nationally-known chef like Trey Foshee made the move all the more worth it.

The biggest obstacle you overcame: I feel my biggest obstacle was moving around from city to city and restaurant to restaurant. I think we all seek to settle down somewhere eventually, and fortunately I have found a place I know I want to be for a long, long time.

Someone who inspires you and why: My old chef Michael Pagliarini at Benedetto in Boston because his sourcing of sustainable food was inspiring. I worked with him for four and a half years – from the Benedetto concept’s inception to its ultimate end. That was the most influential restaurant I worked at in my young career.

Advice to someone pursuing a career path in what you do: Stay humble and listen to everyone. Be willing to go anywhere as well.

Favorite quote: “What you feel like eating at any given moment is what you should have.” –Spanish chef, Ferran Adrià 

Something someone would be surprised to learn about you: I used to spend my summers as a teenager outside of Calgary drilling and repairing water wells.

What makes someone fabulous:  Someone who sets high standards and becomes who they want to be.