Each member of this talented team brings their own special flavors to the table, whether it be for a casual, date night dinner at Chandler’s, a corporate buffet for hundreds, or the coastal wedding which dreams are made of. A contemporary take on Coastal California Cuisine, where only the best seasonal and local ingredients are creatively composed and “served with love”, is the core foundation of this culinary dream team at Cape Rey.
With over 6 prior years’ experience at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco and working at other esteemed properties such as the Westin Savannah Hotel & Golf Resort, Westin San Francisco Market Street, Sheraton Seattle, Marriott Louisville, Westin Long Beach, Westin Century Plaza, Beverly Hills Hotel, and Miramar Hotel Santa Monica, John Hart brought Cape Rey a wealth of knowledge and expertise as Executive Chef as well as his warm smile.
As a chef, he loves working on the fast-paced line and specializes in the art of Garde Manger, where canapes, carvings, presentation, and flavor combinations are a must. He also enjoys creating unique "Action Stations," where he cooks a la minute for guests.
A passion for cooking started at home and after graduating from high school, he joined the 3-year ACF Apprentice program, and his exploration in the culinary world began at the San Diego Sheraton Hotel and Towers. He later became captain of the California Culinary team and won a gold medal in the Berlin Germany Culinary Olympics. We're honored to have him lead the culinary team and look forward to the unforgettable dining experiences he creates for our guests.
With 20+ years of high-volume yet refined cooking and restaurant leadership skills in the North County San Diego market, Chef “Tommy” has earned outstanding relationships with local fishermen and farms ensuring only the highest quality ingredients from our area are served at Cape Rey. His deep-rooted love for California Coastal Cuisine is seen and savored in every dish he serves with love.
