Chef Jessica Roy Plants Cultivar in Sherman Gardens

With the closing of Chef Pascal Olhats’ Café Jardin and Tea Garden Crêperie at the Sherman Gardens in Corona Del Mar comes an exciting new restaurant from Chef Jessica Roy, who worked alongside the highly revered French chef for the past several years.

Roy will open Cultivar at 2647 E Coast Highway, where guests will be able to delight in a carefully curated California-inspired menu among vibrant flowers and viridescent foliage. There is no better location for Cultivar than the Sherman Gardens, where Roy will get to work with horticulturalists, plant her own farmer’s market, and select the freshest ingredients for her seasonal menu.

In an interview with Voice of OC, Roy elaborated on how growing her own herbs and vegetables at home “completely transformed” her lens as a chef. She is constantly looking for new ways to incorporate the colors, fragrances, and tastes of her garden into her cooking. With her immense experience working as a chef de cuisine alongside Chef Pascal and as the executive chef at the Renaissance Hotel in Newport Beach, Roy will certainly sow her skills, creativity, and passion into every Cultivar dish.

Although Cultivar will begin with a transitional menu to maintain the original audience, it will gradually bloom into a dazzling collection of garden-inspired dishes that spotlight Roy’s distinct culinary style. The Huntington Beach-native will also offer a special cocktail program that will feature the herbs and blooms of the garden.

Be sure to check back here for updates on Cultivar’s debut. If you’re driving down the Pacific Coast Highway, you’ll definitely want to stop and smell the roses at Cultivar.