Bios
MARILYN SCHLOSSBACH, Restauratuer
Self-taught chef and businesswoman Marilyn Schlossbach has enjoyed a successful 25-year career as a restaurateur. Inspired by her world travels, Marilyn's culturally infused cuisine offers a distinct dining experience that is matched only by the eclectic atmosphere in her New Jersey restaurants - Langosta Lounge, Labrador Lounge, Pop's Garage and Trinity and the Pope. As her most recent endeavors, these dining locales have earned a strong following among longtime residents of the Jersey Shore as well as the myriad of travelers that congregate on New Jersey's beaches each summer.
Throughout her career, Marilyn has been motivated by an innate creative vision and passionate determination. Her extensive surf travels and exposure to exotic cuisine have infused her fun, savory fare with cultural influences from arouond the world. In addition, Marilyn's globe trotting continues to draw an array of customers to her restaurants that are eager to learn about her latest adventure, or try a new dish that was influenced from a distant part of the world. Her most recent trips have included tours in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Thailand as a producer of Thai chef Tommy Tang's PBS series, "Let's Get Cooking." She has also embarked on surf trips to Sayulita, Mexico, the Galapagos Island, Vieques and Australia. Through these travels, Marilyn is able to parlay her acute cultural conscious into each of her restaurants and, in turn, expose her patrons to her passion for the world.
At a young age, Maqrilyn used her fiery determination to create a unique, acclaimed dining locale - Oshin - in Avon by the Sea. She quickly gained a reputation as an innovator, becoming one of the restaurant owners in New Jeresy to offer sushi - long before it became a part of the mainstream. Marilyn was also an environmentalist long before being 'green' was 'in'. Since running Oshin in the 1980's, she has endeavored to use exotic, sustainable products, organic foods and recycled long before it was the norm. For many years, Marilyn has been ahead of the curve, always bringing innovation and creativity to the plate.
Since Oshin, Marilyn has continued to brighten people's lives with distinct culinary havens. Restaurants like Rosalie's Kitchen, Cafe la Playa and Labrador Lounge have made her a staple of dining down the Shore. Now with Pop's Garage, Langsota Lounge and Trinity and the Pope in Asbury Park, she continues to boast eclectic eateries with a one-of-a-kind flare.
Marilyn's enthusiasm and influence extend beyond the culinary world. She is dedicated to community service and environmental activism, feeling a strong responsibliity to make the world a more fulfilling and enjoyable place. She is an advocate of both Surfrider Foundation and Clean Ocean Action, and is working to bring culinary-arts education to Asbury Park's youth through her 501c3 nonprofit organization Food for Thought by the Sea. She also co-founded the nonprofit Asbury Park Film Initiative, bringing free cinema to the city on a recurring basis. In addition, on Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter, Marilyn closes the doors of Langosta Lounge to feed anyone and everyone in need of a free holiday meal. This past Thanksgiving and Christmas, Marilyn fed an estimated 3,000 people free dinner at Langosta Lounge.
A true citizen of the world, Marilyn successfully creates environments for friends, family, customers and staff to enjoy her unique blend of cuisine, culture and fun. Her sophisticated yet insouciant culinary style has allowed Marilyn to establish a successful career as an entrepreneur and philanthropist who brings people and communitites together through her passion for food.