MANNY MARROQUIN

PROPRIETOR

Manny’s talent is unique, having graced nearly 250 million albums worldwide. His ear for sound has helped earn him over forty #1 albums and one hundred Top 10 albums on The Billboard 200. Add to that another twelve Hot 100 #1 singles and over forty singles in the Top 10; the range of his talent is extraordinary and his work reaches far beyond one genre. He received his first Grammy award in 2005 and has collected many more since then, including Best Engineered Album for John Mayer’s “Battle Studies” in 2011, Record of the year for Lizzo’s “About Damn Time”, and much more coming to a running total of 18. He’s firmly secured his role as one of the most in demand mixing engineers in the industry today.

OSCAR TORRES

EXECUTIVE CHEF

A son of the City of Angels, Oscar Torres developed an affinity and deep love for the city’s rich culture. He gravitated to the kitchen at an early age mimicking and learning from family members who quite literally passed down generations-old recipes and culinary techniques to young Torres.

Driven by his passion for creating, Chef Torres pursued formal culinary training at Le Cordon Bleu, where he sharpened his skills under the guidance of master chefs, refining his techniques and discovering his unique identity. His passion and talents didn’t go unnoticed, and he was awarded his first Executive Chef position at the age of 24.

At the heart of Oscar's culinary journey, he was taken under the wings of several mentors, including Chef Mario Alberto (Lazy Ox, Olivia’s), who helped him understand and develop Angelino cuisine. By creating a genreless category without boundaries, he can unrestrictedly share his dedication to the cuisine.  

MATIAS MARROQUIN

BEVERAGE DIRECTOR | CERTIFIED SOMMELIER

Matias Marroquin is the Beverage Director at VERSE and a Certified Sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers. Matias achieved this milestone at the remarkable age of 21, setting a precedent for excellence early in his career, establishing himself as one of the youngest Americans to pass this exam. His journey has taken him across the globe, exploring the nuances of wine cultures and refining his craft to deliver an unparalleled experience. Now stationed at VERSE in Toluca Lake, Los Angeles, Matias orchestrates an elevated wine program, infusing each glass with his expertise and passion for the classic wine regions, with an eclectic list pairing them alongside hidden gems from around the world. He strives to build out VERSE as a premier wine destination, hosting dinners with some of the industry’s finest winemakers and ambassadors.  Matias is currently training to sit for the Advanced Sommelier Exam.