Renowned chef to manage Pelican Hill’s restaurants

Jean-Pierre Dubray, a chef for the Ritz-Carlton company for more than 20 years, and executive chef of the chain’s San Francisco hotel, has signed on as executive chef of The Resort at Pelican Hill, the Irvine Co. officials announced Thursday.

The French-born Dubray will oversee the resort’s three restaurants as well as in-room dining and banquet services. He is scheduled to begin work March 17.

Dubray said he was glad to be back in Orange County.

“You couldn’t ask for a better location and a better team of people,” he said. “I’m sure, as we keep building the team, we’re going to get great people as we go on, and that’s the excitement of it.”

The resort will include 204 bungalows, 128 villas and a spa, and it is scheduled to open this year. The first phase opened in November.

— Michael Miller