Finding faith in food

Meet Gustav Mauler–Master Chef, television personality, restaurateur, and Legate . . .

In old family photos, Gustav Mauler is the little boy dressed in a chef’s outfit who is always helping his mother in the kitchen.

The Austrian-born member of Legatus’ Las Vegas Chapter grew up to become a restaurateur, television personality, kitchen designer and one of only 62 Certifi ed Master Chefs designated by the American Culinary Federation.

“It’s love,” he says of his affi nity for all things food. “If I started all over again, I would do the same thing. When I am a speaker at hotel colleges in the summer, the fi rst thing I say to the students is: ‘If you love what you do, you’re 50% ahead of the next person.’”

Giving to others

Mauler’s career started in 1972 in Johannesburg, South Africa, where he worked for Westin Hotels. His calling has since taken him to Edmonton and Toronto in Canada, then to Seattle and Atlantic City, where he met his wife, Denise. In 1987, the Maulers moved to Las Vegas where Mauler oversaw restaurant and lounge development and designed the food and beverage areas for Mirage Resorts. Then in 1989, he created his own restaurant, hospitality and consulting company, Gustav International Chartered. Ten years later, he and his wife opened Spiedini in the JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort and Spa.

Although Mauler has cooked for such luminaries as Barbra Streisand, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Clint Eastwood, he is equally at home making meals for friends in his own kitchen or planning and hosting fundraisers for St. Rose Dominican Hospitals and Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada. He credits his wife, who recently completed a term as chairman of the board of trustees of Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada, with reminding him of his humble beginnings in Austria and his responsibility to continue giving to others.

“I came from a little family that didn’t have anything,” he said, recalling his childhood in post-war Europe. “We didn’t have much. We had our land, and my father and mother worked hard, but still, we gave.”

Father Robert Stoeckig, vicar general and chancellor of the Diocese of Las Vegas, said the Maulers have given back to their community through the Knights and Ladies of the Holy Sepulchre and were honorees at the Chefs for Kids annual gala in recognition of Mauler’s work for that charity, which brings food and nutrition to schools with underprivileged populations. In addition, Fr. Stoeckig said Mauler has supported the Utah Shakespeare Festival and a Belfast charity that has helped deepen the peace in Northern Ireland.

Grounded in faith

Gustav Mauler and his wife Denise

The Maulers got involved with Legatus after they were asked to hold a chapter event at Spiedini.

“People kept asking if we would join,” Mauler recalled. “It took us about a year to realize what an important group it was. We found so many people with our values and thoughts. We ended up with some fabulous personal friends out of this.”

Legatus has become so important to the Maulers that it has sometimes taken precedence over their own anniversary and birthday celebrations. For example, their 25th anniversary on Feb. 1, 2011, coincided with their monthly chapter event, which is always on the first Tuesday of the month. Mauler said he handled the conflict by telling Denise, “Honey, I’m throwing a big party for our anniversary.”

Fortunately, he said, his wife not only understands the nature of their business, but is directly involved in it, overseeing accounting, working with managers, signing checks, setting service standards and making sure things are run properly.

Because the Maulers’ work requires them to maintain unusual hours, they have long been accustomed to arranging their lives around the needs of their customers. They do manage, however, to set aside Sundays for Mass and together time.

“We go to church to help our soul and say our prayers,” Mauler said. “People find excuses why they don’t want to go to this church or that, but it’s you and God. Maybe you don’t like the sermon or it’s a little long, but it’s your time with God. That’s always been our thing.”

Mauler said when he became a boss, “my days off were always Sundays unless I had to work on a big event.” Earlier in his career, he said, “I was always upset if I couldn’t have Sundays to go to church.” Nonetheless, he never wandered away from his Catholic faith.

Growing up in Austria, Mauler said, 96% of the population was Catholic and he never knew any religion but his own. His childhood memories include being an altar boy and gathering flowers from his mother’s garden each weekend to decorate their local church.

As an adult, Mauler has stayed the course in his Catholic faith through the support of his wife and regular prayer.

“I don’t let anybody stray me from God and my prayers,” he said.

Sin City?

Mauler said he typically rises early each day to walk the family dogs and to pray — in German. “I do nothing else in German, but between me and God, the prayer is German.” And when Mauler comes home from work, he makes a point of thanking God for his help that day.

Denise said she, too, prays every morning and night – and also throughout the day. “When I hear an ambulance siren or pass an accident, I say a Hail Mary. A dear priest friend of ours told me that the most important things to say to God are ‘Help me, help me, help me’ and ‘Thank you, thank you, thank you.’ So that is my mantra when I pray.”

Her spiritual practice of choice is the rosary. “Growing up, we always said the rosary so I have just continued the practice.”

Although the Maulers live in what’s commonly known as “Sin City,” Mauler is quick to challenge that perception, especially when it comes to Las Vegas parishes.

“We travel throughout the world and we’ll find a church and nobody’s in there.” By contrast, Mauler said, Las Vegas churches are full, and the parish he and Denise attend — St. Joseph, Husband of Mary — has over 17,000 parishioners. “The minute you get off the Strip, you’re in a normal city with churches and schools,” Mauler said.

Father Stoeckig, who is the Maulers’ former pastor, concurs. He says Las Vegas is newly “home” to many people who need the Church and a sense of community even more than in other places. “The Catholic churches here are filled on Sundays and the faith of people is vibrant. I’ve had frequent visitors from other parts of the country who marvel not only at the numbers of people in church but also the sense of welcome and participation.”

In the midst of this, Fr. Stoeckig said, Mauler has shown that there is an affinity between the importance of the table and the Catholic faith.

“Since we are centered on the Eucharist in faith there is a natural connection to a chef whose vocation gathers people around the table. Gustav gets real pleasure seeing people enjoy what he has created because he knows that sharing food is a big part of the experience of sharing relationships.”

Judy Roberts is a Legatus magazine staff writer.