“Meet the Team”

Lighthouse “Meet The Team”

Joshua Luce started his culinary career at the French Culinary Institute in NYC learning the building blocks of cuisine from legendary chefs such as the iconic Jacques Pepin.  After several years working through intense kitchens run by the likes of Craig Koketsu and Jean-Georges Vongerichten, he took a formative position as chef de partie for Terrance Brennan at his famed Picholine restaurant (**).  It was here that he began to learn what it takes to work in a Michelin level kitchen operation. 

Next, a rare opportunity came to join the kitchen brigade at the Alain Ducasse outpost in the St. Regis Hotel where he had the great privilege to work alongside the passionate Didier Elena who continues to be a source of mentorship to this day.  

Joshua returned to his native California in 2012 to run the fine dining restaurant at the Peninsula Beverly Hills and later held a position as the executive sous chef at the Ace Hotel DTLA. After over a decade in the top echelon of the industry, Joshua jumped at the chance to open  Neighbor in Venice Beach as the executive chef.  

“My approach for the Lighthouse Cafe is to bring improved and bold flavors to the South Bay audience with a heavy focus on ingredients and classic appeal”- Joshua Luce

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Lee Farrell started his hospitality journey at Jianna in North Beach learning restaurant 101 from creative mastermind Marc Valiani. After 10 years of working in kitchens from Toronto to Kansas City, Lee made the switch from the back of house to the bar, applying cooking techniques to cocktails. 

Lee was traveling throughout North and South America when he had a two day layover stop in Los Angeles that lasted  three weeks. He fell in love with the cocktail and spirits scene across the city. Nine months later he moved from Toronto to Hermosa Beach and began working at Redbird as the AGM, learning cocktails & spirits from Tobin Shea and Julian Cox. He then took what he learned to a local group as the GM for Laurel Tavern (Hermosa Beach, Dallas TX, Studio City). Lee’s approach to cocktails and the bar is simple. Be happy, have fun, serve quality products, try to be better at everything you do and strive for progress. 

“The cocktail program for The Lighthouse Cafe will be like an upscale “cheers”. A great selection, fun, lively, bright, refreshing citrus forward cocktails - perfect for coming off the beach.” - Lee Farrell