CORONA DEL MAR TODAY

New Chef to Take Over at Five Crowns, SideDoor

A new executive chef has been named for Five Crowns and SideDoor, according to a company statement.

Greg Harrison, a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu who has worked with many renowned chefs for a decade, has replaced Ryan O’Melveny Wilson. Wilson, who was named executive chef in 2011, will continue as the executive chef for Lawry’s Restaurants, Inc. He also will have oversight of the Five Crowns and SideDoor restaurants.

Harrison, who originally is from Los Angeles, has worked with Chef Roy Yamaguchi in Maui. He later joined with the MGM Grand culinary team in Las Vegas, working with chefs including Fabio Trabocchi, Michael White and Michael Mina. He later worked at Morimoto in Napa.

Harrison’s Five Crowns and SideDoor team includes sous chef David Moldovan, who worked at Sundried Tomato American Bistro in San Clemente and has been a junior sous chef at Five Crowns, and Steve Kling, who has worked in the kitchens of Mark Peel, Katsuo Nagasawa and Thomas Keller. Kling also is the sous chef at Five Crowns, according to a statement.

“We are thrilled to have Chef Greg Harrison and his amazing team lead Five Crowns and SideDoor,” Wilson said in a statement. “Greg has the passion, skills, and vision to further Five Crowns’ role as one of Orange County’s best restaurants.”

Photo courtesy of Five Crowns. Picture from left are Executive Chef Greg Harrison, junior sous chef David Moldovan and sous chef Steven Kling.