Lopez will also run Hotel La Jolla’s culinary program.

Penthouse restaurant Sea & Sky, perched atop Hotel La Jolla, Curio Collection by Hilton in La Jolla Shores, has a new Executive Chef in Ernest Lopez.

Lopez will also oversee the hotel’s culinary program, including banquets and catering for the property’s 1,600 square feet of events space.

Lopez brings to Sea & Sky more than 25 years of culinary leadership experience at esteemed luxury hotel properties and restaurants including Water View Restaurants, operators of several key outlets in San Diego’s Seaport Village such as Edgewater Bar & Grill; Auberge Resorts Collection’s Five Star Mauna Lani; and the original Malibu Farm.

“With abundant experience at luxury coastal resorts and restaurants where sustainable seafood is a key focus, Chef Lopez is a perfect fit for Hotel La Jolla,” Hotel La Jolla general manager Adam Lund said in a press release. 

“We look forward to seeing how his vision will enhance our culinary offerings and continue to catapult Sea & Sky to the upper echelon of La Jolla dining in its first full fiscal year of operation.”

At Sea & Sky, Chef Lopez plans to evolve the existing menu built on fresh, locally sourced ingredients highlighting the coastal flavors of La Jolla and surrounding areas. Guests can expect new dishes and a continued focus on sustainability, seasonality and exceptional service.

© lajolla.ca