To tell the story of Blue Stone Kitchen, we really have to go back in time. In my wife’s family, all of the grandmothers and mothers and daughters were proposed to with a Blue Stone ring – a Sapphire, to be specific.
In 1999, I was the Executive Chef opening the Regent Four Seasons, Sydney hotel in advance of the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Pacing the chef’s office, I waited for my future father-in-law — half-way around the world – to answer my call asking for his daughter’s hand. Later that day, with official parental blessings in my heart, I kneeled in front of Laura and asked her to be my wife (she said yes). As I slipped a simple sapphire ring on her finger, I felt hope for a future that I never even imagined possible. All that year, we walked the streets of Sydney (creating and enjoying amazing food!), and I began to build my food empire in my mind.
We moved to Southern California the following year, where I opened the St. Regis Monarch Beach Hotel as Executive Chef. We had our first child, and became a part of the community, where I applied my passion for food and people to fundraising efforts for organizations such as JDRF and others. In 2001, I began delivering turkey dinners to all the local emergency room hospitals — a tradition I carry on to this day. I love feeding people, and to me, giving is a part of community.
Our second child quickly followed the first, and as we became more entrenched in our community, we talked more and more about opening our business: a restaurant, to start. In 2006, we opened Sapphire Laguna, and, perhaps with a mind to future staffing needs, we had our third child. We continued to build both our business and our family, introducing Sapphire at School, Sapphire at Work, and Sapphire Catering, and adding our fourth child, not to be forgotten. While we transferred ownership of Sapphire Laguna Restaurant in 2020, we continue to operate Sapphire Culinary Group, now serving more than 6,000 meals daily across Orange County, at local schools and offices.
I am a creative spirit, with a passion for meeting the moment. My personal mission statement is: to use my talents and passion to take care of my family, my employees and their families, and my community. I live by this, and it is with this in mind that I bring you Blue Stone Kitchen.
It is the mission of Blue Stone Kitchen to be your trusted culinary resource for a variety of wholesome, affordable, quality meals to meet your lifestyle needs. The name Blue Stone keeps the connection to my family story alive, and, as I am committed to them, so do I bring my passion and commitment to you. We are honored to be a part of your community.
