Culinary Team

Peter Edwards, Executive Chef
Fernando Duarte
Rachel de Moss, Pastry Chef

The Watermark’s Executive Chef Peter Edwards

A native of Australia, Chef Peter started in the culinary field at age 14 as a dishwasher and preparation cook at Prego’s Café in Sydney Australia.  This position convinced him that he enjoyed the fast-paced environment and instant rewards of producing great food.  Chef Peter continued to work at restaurants throughout high school, and credits his parents for instilling in him a strong work ethic.  He moved to California in 1990 and completed a four year culinary degree program at Mesa College and the Culinary Institute of America.  Chef Peter continues to keep abreast of culinary trends, and donates his spare time by speaking at culinary schools and demonstrating as a chef instructor.

Chef Peter focuses on using California’s rich culinary resources to their fullest extent and offers guests at the Watermark a plethora of locally grown, freshly-harvested ingredients.  Chef Peter’s innovative menus allow guests an intimate, restaurant-quality experience as opposed to the traditional stuffy fine dinning experience.

I believe that food should be inspired by natural seasonality, enhanced by cultural cooking techniques and the freshest available ingredients.

I would classify my style of cooking as contemporary cuisine, no real authenticity to a certain style although I mostly lean towards French techniques, and have a love for Mediterranean and Asian flavors.

My goal is to teach families to stop picking up the phone, buying fast food and to slow down and enjoy cooking and eating with their family, and friends.

Professional Experience:
Executive Chef. Ojai Valley Inn and Spa, Ojai California
Executive Chef. The Walt Disney Studious.  Burbank California
Executive Chef.  The Grand Colonial Hotel, La Jolla California
Executive Sous Chef.  Marriott, Los Angeles California
Banquet Chef.  La Costa Resort and Spa, La Costa San Diego
Stagier Joel Robuchon Las Vegas, L’Atilier de Joel Robuchon Las Vegas
Stagier Le Bernadin NYC, Tetsuya’s Sydney Australia