Why Mazarine’s Kitchen Runs on a Bespoke MARENO M1 90 — “The Best Value Stove on the Market”

When chef‑consultant Thierry Laborde set out to create the kitchen for his new fish‑focused restaurant, Mazarine in Hanover Square, he knew exactly what he needed from his cook suite: compact power, unwavering reliability, and a layout that made every millimetre count. Working once again with the team at Dentons, who had previously collaborated with Thierry, the project is a masterful combination of design, technical precision, and the intelligent use of space, at the heart of which is a MARENO M1 90 cook suite, specified and installed in partnership with Grande Cuisine.

From the outset, Thierry was clear about his priorities. “Quality and reliability were non-negotiable,” he explained, noting that his previous experience with MARENO had already set the brand apart. But the decision wasn’t based on equipment alone – the relationship he developed with Steve and the Grande Cuisine team following the initial consultation played a decisive role, reinforcing his confidence that the suite would be delivered exactly as envisioned.

The basement kitchen at Mazarine was handed over as a blank shell, an ideal starting point for Dentons, who were able to propose partition walls and create distinct zones for wash-up, prep, pastry, and the central cooking island. With BOH storage limited, some bar elements, including ice machines and wine storage, were cleverly integrated into the kitchen footprint. The only significant constraint came from logistics: the finished cook suite needed to have a one-piece top which had to be delivered in pieces, given the basement location, and then welded on‑site. Space was tight, and customisation became crucial. “The building is very old and the space is small,” Thierry notes, “so the modularity of the M1 90 proved invaluable.”

Dentons are long-time fans of the build quality of MARENO equipment, and this project finally offered them the perfect opportunity to specify a full suite rather than modular units. With a column to work around and a compact footprint to respect, the flexibility of the M1 90 allowed the Dentons team to tailor the suite precisely to Thierry’s needs. The final configuration combines high‑performance electric units including twin fryers, a pasta cooker, two 10kw induction units, and a 16kw electric plancha, with open-stand worktops and a four‑drawer refrigerated counter. Dentons also integrated a drop‑in Robata gas grill, with MARENO providing bespoke fabrication to maintain the seamless one‑piece design. All electrics were neatly housed within the suite thanks to further custom fabrication.

Once installed, the suite delivered exactly what Thierry had hoped for. “The installation of the suite was very smooth thanks to Steve, his team at Grande Cuisine, and Dentons,” he says. “During peak service it performs without fault with the electric solid tops proving particularly strong. The controls are intuitive, cleaning is straightforward, and the brigade has adapted quickly.”

For Dentons, the M1-90 struck the perfect balance between performance and cost – more robust and ergonomic than entry‑level equipment, yet without the price tag of ultra‑bespoke ranges. And for Thierry, the outcome was unequivocal: “Yes, 100% – for me the best value stove on the market.”