LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. – Montage Laguna Beach has appointed Victor Casanova as the new chef de cuisine of The Loft restaurant. With over 20 years of fine dining and hospitality industry experience at award-winning restaurants, resorts and hotels, Casanova will oversee all operations of The Loft, developing new menus and leading the team of chefs, sommeliers, servers and fromagiers at this all-day resort restaurant overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

“We are delighted to welcome Victor Casanova to helm the kitchen at The Loft,” said Anne-Marie Houston, general manager of Montage Laguna Beach. “With his refined approach to setting the stage for a customized dining experience, creative menu development expertise and leadership acumen, we know Chef Vic will take The Loft to new heights.”

For the last six years, Casanova, known for his innovative international cuisine prowess, was chef/owner of highly acclaimed Gusto in Los Angeles. Prior to that, he was the executive chef of Culina Modern Italian at Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills and also served as the executive chef of Il Terrazzo, The Praying Monk and The Thirsty Camel at The Phoenician in Scottsdale, Arizona.

New York native Casanova competed on TV’s “Iron Chef” in 2011. He attended Peter Kump’s The Institute of Culinary Education in New York City and graduated with a degree in culinary arts, management and hospitality.