SAN DIEGO, CA – Longfellow Real Estate Partners (Longfellow), the largest privately held investor and developer of life science buildings in the world, announced their upcoming partnership with celebrity Chef Richard Blais, who is currently co-hosting FOX’s hit show Next Level Chef. Chef Blais, known for creating and operating some of the area’s most popular and successful restaurants, will bring his imaginative flair to the first restaurant in the partnership, California English, a space where professionals and neighbors can gather in the thriving Sorrento Mesa district.
Set to open its doors in early 2023, California English will serve as a place where the
relaxed meets the refined and SoCal meets Great Britain in a unique experience for the San Diego submarket. Chef Blais will present a classic menu featuring the highest quality Californian ingredients in this 6,000-square-foot, European-inspired eatery. Patrons can lounge on the expansive lawn, sip inventive cocktails at the veranda bar, or savor a tasty dish in the quaint interior.
“I’m incredibly excited to partner with Longfellow and be a part of their positive additions to the San Diego area and present my first full-service restaurant with them,” said Chef Richard Blais. “California English will be a fun take on the classic and casual bistros of Europe presented through the lens of Southern California’s produce and people. With an all-day menu perfect for a leisurely lunch, post work dinner meeting or a date night with friends or family, I can’t wait to continue to create and cook for the San Diego food scene.”
The first restaurant in the partnership will open at Longfellow’s Biovista development on the corner of Mira Mesa Boulevard & Scranton Road, conveniently located off the I-805 and I-5 Freeways in the heart of Sorrento Mesa. In addition to California English, the partnership between Longfellow and Chef Blais is set to grow with another restaurant scheduled for the following year at Longfellow’s upcoming development Bioterra, located less than a mile away on Oberlin Drive.
“Our team is thrilled to welcome Chef Richard Blais and his newest restaurant, California English, to Longfellow’s campus next year,” said Nick Frasco, Chief Investment Officer West & Managing Director at Longfellow Real Estate Partners. “Developments like Biovista and Bioterra thrive on the forward-thinking live-work-play campus model, and the partnership between Longfellow and Mr. Blais will not only enhance these campuses, but the entire community with these world-class dining options. California English is a testament to Longfellow’s continued investment in the region.”
Open to the public and the community’s foremost innovators, the dining experience becomes the newest addition to Longfellow’s 4+ million square foot portfolio in San Diego, which strives for a wholistic experience in its developments. California English is also just minutes away from Longfellow’s award-winning SOVA Science District campus, which includes an amenity center complete with an on-site gym, and additional dining and beverage options, including New English Brewing, The Craft Taco Truck, and The Coffee Cart Café.
From the interior design to the enticing menu, Longfellow and Chef Blais are prepared to embrace the San Diego lifestyle with English charm. For more information on the grand opening of California English, visit www.california-english.squarespace.com and follow on social media at @californiaenglishsd.
About Chef Richard Blais
Richard Blais is a successful chef, James Beard nominated cookbook author and television personality. Widely recognized from Bravo’s Top Chef series, Richard was the winner of the inaugural Top Chef All-Stars Season. Currently, he co-hosts FOX’s Next Level Chef with Gordon Ramsey and Nyesha Arrington.
About Longfellow Real Estate Partners
Longfellow Real Estate Partners is a real estate investment company founded in Boston, Massachusetts in 2009. With over 180 employees in bio-innovation clusters across the US and UK, Longfellow partners with renowned universities and pioneering life sciences and technology companies to help bring visionary ideas to life. Driven by a passion to support those working to advance the human condition, Longfellow continues to grow and expand in the name of scientific progress.
