They say that all good things are worth waiting for and, in the case of KITCHEN 1540?s search for a new chef, fortune has finally arrived. L?Auberge Del Mar announced today that Brandon Fortune has been appointed executive chef of the 120-room hotel in San Diego?s picturesque coastal village of Del Mar. Fortune will oversee all culinary operations for the property, including the acclaimed KITCHEN 1540 restaurant.
?Brandon is an exceptional culinary talent who not only brings the kind of youthful energy and creativity we desire in an executive chef, but also the business acumen and leadership qualities,? said Michael Slosser, vice president and managing director for Destination Hotels & Resorts and general manager of L?Auberge Del Mar. ?Having run his own restaurant and worked for stellar culinary establishments, he has the unique combination of understanding the demands of running both an efficient kitchen and a quality-driven operation.?
A native of the Southeast, Fortune draws inspiration from his Southern upbringing, world travels and outstanding educational background to create extraordinary cuisine. An honors graduate of Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Atlanta, Georgia, he began his career at the five-diamond, five-star Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta before heading west to hone his skills at another five-diamond, five-star resort, The Grand Del Mar in San Diego.? As a member of The Grand Del Mar?s opening culinary team, Fortune worked alongside two-Michelin Star-awarded Chef Jason McLeod perfecting his craft in the resort?s dining outlets and banquets.
In 2010, Fortune opened his own tapas restaurant in La Jolla, Calif. called Aquamoree. The restaurant offered upscale Southern cuisine prepared as small plates and was quickly named a top American restaurant by San Diego opentable.com. With the arrival of his first child in 2013, Fortune moved away from restaurant ownership and has been serving as a culinary consultant on a local project.
?I?m thrilled to return to the hotel business, especially with such an incredible property as L?Auberge Del Mar where the ocean is right outside my kitchen,? said Fortune. ?I?m excited to build on KITCHEN 1540?s acclaimed history and continue its reputation as a top establishment for creative, inspired dining in San Diego.?
Fortune will start at L’Auberge Del Mar on February 17 and will begin implementing his vision immediately.? A complete new menu release for KITCHEN 1540 is anticipated in April.