Chef Cale Falk Wins Casa Laguna Cook-Off, Takes "Top Breakfast" Honors at
Laguna Beach B&B Known for Gourmet Offerings
Laguna Beach, CA, March 01, 2010 --(PR.com)-- Casa Laguna Inn & Spa in Laguna Beach, California
has announced the winner of their Culinary Competition, held poolside at the inn on February 18, 2010.
Chef Cale Falk, previous Gold Medal winner at Select Registry's 2008 Distinguished Inns of North
America's “Inn-Credible Breakfast Cook-off,” took the winning spot again with his Asparagus Flan with
Herb Confit Potatoes topped with poached eggs and crispy Asparagus.
Falk's creation won out over those of Select Registry's 2007 winner, Peter O'Keefe, and current Casa
Laguna Executive Chef, Josh Roberts. The chefs were asked to create a dish that represented their
individual style, and would be appropriate for inclusion on Casa Laguna's breakfast menu. The recipes
had to follow in the Inn's “Slow Food Movement” tradition using fresh, local, seasonal ingredients.
The Culinary Competition kicked off Casa Laguna's 10-year anniversary celebration, with founder/owner
Francois Leclair acting as master of ceremonies, and former co-owner Paul Blank serving as one of the
judges. The rest of the judging panel included Fifi Chao, Food Reviewer for the Orange County Business
Journal,; Laguna Beach Mayor Elizabeth Pearson; President of the Laguna Beach Visitors and
Convention Bureau, Karyn Philippsen; and special guest judges, long-time regular Casa Laguna guests,
Shauna and Dave Weiner, who got married at the inn four years ago.
After the cook-off, Leclair presented each chef with a “Top Chef” cookbook and a one-of-a-kind ceramic
presentation platter handmade by local Laguna artist Doreen Mellen; as well as cash prizes. A photo of
Chef Falk's winning dish will appear on the cover of Casa Laguna's upcoming Tenth Anniversary
Cookbook, and the item will be included on the Inn's summer menu.
“We couldn't believe how close the votes were,” Leclair said after the event. “Each of the three chefs had
won one or more of the