He now calls Southern California his home base for his various culinary projects; in fact, OCMETRO BUSINESS listed Ghahreman as one of the “2007 Hottest 25 People in Orange County” and dubbed him ‘rock star chef’.
In 2007, Ghahreman opened his first restaurant and lounge, Sapphire Laguna, with its adjunct gourmet specialty shop, Sapphire Pantry. His globally-oriented cooking style and avid interest in the best food products and wines from California have solidly placed him on the region’s culinary map. His motto has always been, “When you travel through the world’s markets with your palate, you don’t need a passport.”
Prior to opening Sapphire Laguna and Sapphire Pantry, Ghahreman devoted five years of outstanding service as executive chef of the four restaurants at AAA Five Diamond St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort & Spa, Dana Point, California. He was also opening executive chef consultant of The Grand America hotel in Salt Lake City, Utah where he supervised the dining facilities for the 2002 Winter Olympics; and was the as executive chef of The Regent Sydney in Australia, which was the official hotel for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games International Olympic Committee.
Ghahreman’s global experiences have given him the prestigious opportunity to cook for over 30 kings, presidents and heads of state, among them, President and Mrs. George H.W. Bush; and the past prime ministers of Singapore, Thailand and Pakistan; and former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.
He is an actively involved with local school efforts to educate children about healthy and sustainable foods, as well as a supporter for cause-related organizations, including The March of Dimes; Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation; National Kidney Foundation; and AIDS Foundation.
This 47-year-old resident of San Juan Capistrano shares his life and culinary passions with his wife and their three young children.
