MICHAEL JORDAN IS LIVE REMOTE FROM LAGUNA BEACH, CA AT THE SURF & SAND RESORT!
ABOUT SURF & SAND RESORT:
Surf & Sand Resort, a member of Preferred Hotels and Resorts Worldwide LVX Collection and holder of AAA’s Four-Diamond Award, lies on California's Laguna Beach shoreline where the waves of the Pacific meet 500 feet of pristine sand. Laguna Beach, which is renowned for its long history as a center for the arts, is also home to the world-famous Pageant of the Masters festival. All 154 guest rooms and 13 suites at Surf & Sand command spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean and nearby coastline. The resort also houses Splashes Restaurant, featuring a fresh and seasonal coastal menu; the intimate Aquaterra Spa; 10,000-square-feet of meeting space and wedding venues with commanding ocean views. Surf & Sand is owned by JC Resorts, whose other properties include Rancho Bernardo Inn Resort & Spa in North County San Diego, Scripps Inn in La Jolla, Temecula Creek Inn in Southern California Wine Country, and golf courses throughout Southern California.
www.surfandsandresort.com
Enjoy seaside dining at its best. There are many Laguna Beach restaurants you can choose, but SPLASHES serves up fresh seaside cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner. With the sea just 25 feet below, you can dine watching the waves roll in – whether you choose to sit inside by an open window or on one of our palm-shaded patios. The ocean views are not the only thing to savor, as each dish the culinary teams prepares is driven by fresh, local and simply delicious ingredients.
Hours of Operation
Breakfast: Monday – Sunday, 7am – 11am
Lunch: Monday – Friday, 11:30am – 3pm
Brunch: Saturday & Sunday, 11:30am – 3pm
Dinner: Sunday – Thursday, 5pm – 10pm; Friday & Saturday, 5pm – 11pm
Joe Baumgardner - SOMMELIER, Surf and Sand Resort, Laguna Beach, California
Our Sommelier & Cellar Master at Surf and Sand has been bringing new wines and exciting pairings to the table at Splashes since October, 2015. Joe’s interest in wine was sparked by his father who collected wines in the 60s and 70s (and lucky for Joe, he was able to learn about these wines by dipping into the family cellar when his father wasn’t looking).
Working in restaurants since the age of 15, it became apparent that Joe’s passion was strong enough that he should pursue a career in wine. He achieved the Sommelier Diploma from the International Sommelier Guild in 2008. While studying for his diploma, Joe also caught the traveling bug by hopping a train from San Diego all the way up the coast to Canada, where he tasted and learned about wines from the soil to the glass.
Ultimately, California has captured Joe’s heart, and he’s proud to call the city home, where he’s shared his knowledge and love of wine as a sommelier for small neighborhood restaurants and large resorts alike. Starting his sommelier career at Kensington Grill and CUCINA urbana with San Diego’s Urban Kitchen Group, he went on to work as the sommelier for the world famous Hotel Del Coronado and La Costa Resort.
Now sharing his expertise at Splashes, Joe works closely with our chefs to create fun, interactive and most importantly, delicious wine events for our guests and local community.
Ante Dapic - DIRECTOR OF FOOD & BEVERAGE, Surf and Sand Resort, Laguna Beach, California
Ante Dapic, Director of Food & Beverage, brings over 12 years of hospitality and gastronomic experience to the fresh, California coastal food and beverage program of Surf and Sand Resort. With Master Certificate in Hospitality from Cornell University, and being a Certified Sommelier, Dapic focuses on creating and maintaining the highest quality guest experience and service standards that have driven guest attendance since he began. His leadership role also consists of menus and beverage lists development, financial objectives and ensuring the smooth flow of operations to meet the standards of Laguna’s luxury beachfront resort.
Dapic was born and grew up in Croatia where his curiosity and passion for hospitality first arose. The love of culinary delicacies and fine wine stemmed from spending time on a small vineyard where his dad produced non-commercial, mostly crisp white wine. His interests are further rooted in trips to the Mediterranean where his love of gourmet cuisine and wine continued to flourish.
It has been four years that Dapic has been Director of Food & Beverage at Surf & Sand, previously having the same role at luxury Caesar Park Hotels in Brazil. Prior to that, he was the catering, banquet and dining room manager respectively, at La Casa del Zorro Resort in Borrego Springs, California, where he moved upon receiving Bachelor’s Degree in Hospitality Management in his home country.
Dapic is a bi-lingual industry professional and is settled in Southern California with his wife Lori and two kids Luka and Laura.
RON FOUGERAY - EXECUTIVE CHEF, Surf and Sand Resort, Laguna Beach, California
Surf & Sand Resort, Laguna Beach’s premier oceanfront destination, welcomes Ron Fougeray as Executive Chef. Chef Ron oversees the culinary operations at the resort including the signature seaside restaurant, Splashes. Combining the resort’s celebrated California coastal fare with Chef’s passion for locally sourced ingredients and sustainability, guests of the resort enjoy top-notch epicurean experiences whether in-room, during a conference, relaxing poolside or perched above the shoreline at Splashes.
Gobbling up homemade chocolate chip cookies has been a culinary primer for kids in the kitchen for generations. For Splashes Executive Chef, Ron Fougeray, the techniques and ingredients were more intriguing. His quest for knowledge eventually led him to study at the respected Johnson & Wales University in the Culinary Arts Program.
Time spent at Philadelphia’s most famous restaurant, Le Bec-Fin proved instrumental for Chef Ron. Considered an institution in Philadelphia, the restaurant was rated America’s finest French restaurant, and the Mobil Travel Guide consistently awarded it five stars for 40 years. During his nearly seven year tenure, Chef Ron was mentored by renowned owner and French chef, Georges Perrier, and worked his way up to Chef de Cuisine. Perrier left an indelible impression on Chef Ron, teaching him to expect only the highest standards for his menu, staff and cooking equipment. Chef Georges continues to be a mentor and personal friend. In 2009, Chef Ron transitioned to Bibou BYOB, where he worked side-by-side with owner and chef, Pierre Calmels. He started off as Chef de Cuisine and worked his way up to Executive Chef in 2013. Bibou garnered a variety of accolades during his tenure. GQ Magazine named it one of “The Top 10 New Restaurants” and it was voted the top restaurant in Philadelphia on NBC.com. It was also named a James Beard Finalist for Best New Restaurant and received four bells (highest rating) from the Philadelphia Inquirer. There were only four restaurants in the entire city to be awarded that distinction.
Having learned from such respected culinarians, Chef Ron is passionate about making everything from scratch and sourcing the finest possible ingredients. A keen appreciation for food history plays a large role in the style and flavors that he displays at Splashes. “Culinary arts is a revolving wheel. It helps to remember the ideas and techniques of those that came before us, while putting a modern twist on flavors and presentation.”
While in the kitchen, Chef Ron stresses teamwork to elevate the performance of the entire staff. Everyone being in sync is critical to achieving the ultimate goal – smiles from guests. Chef Ron describes his culinary style as creative and cutting edge. Combining his extensive knowledge of food history with his modern twist on flavors and presentation, Chef Ron’s been able to construct an exquisite menu. Taking advantage of Southern California’s bounty of fresh seafood, he’s able to source the finest ingredients available – a highlight among all of the new menu items.
New menu specials from Chef Ron include:
• Tartare of Albacore -pickled strawberries, jicama, cucumber ribbon, horseradish, strawberry vinegar coulis
• Wild King Salmon with olive oil-poached, black barley risotto, verjus emulsion, apple & watermelon radish salad
• Grilled Lamb Loin with celery root purée, cipollini and apple tatin, brussels sprouts julienne, natural jus
Breakfast, lunch and dinner service from Executive Chef Ron is now available with his menu highlights. Splashes at Surf & Sand Resort is located at 1555 South Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, California, 92651. Hours of operation are 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday through Thursday. On Friday and Saturday the restaurant is open 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Brunch is served 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. For reservations and more information, call (949) 376-2779 or visit http://www.surfandsandresort.com/splashes/.