The Grand Del Mar is pleased to announce the appointment of Rachel Saunders as maÃtre d’ of its signature fine dining venue Addison distinguished by AAA Five Diamond, Forbes Five-Star and Wine Spectator Grand Award recognitions.
Most recently, Saunders worked as restaurant manager at historic Rosewood property The San Ysidro Ranch in Santa Barbara, Calif., and served as event manager at The Napa Valley Reserve in St. Helena, Calif., where she planned events at the members-only winery and oversaw the catering staff of Relais & Châteaux Meadowood Resort. Prior to these positions, she worked at Thomas Keller’s prestigious Per Se in New York for four years. At Per Se, Saunders started as a kitchen server in 2008, progressed to cellar sommelier and back server, and in 2011 was appointed as a captain.
She graduated from the Culinary Institute of America at Hyde Park, N.Y., in 2006 with a bachelor’s degree in professional studies. In 2011, she successfully completed Level 1 coursework of the Court of Master Sommeliers, and she achieved a “Level 2 Award in Wines and Spirits” from the Wine and Spirit Education Trust in 2010.
posted by Sarah McCallum
1/9/14
