A popular chef who catered to Hollywood’s elite has died in a horrific car accident.
Rainer Schwarz died Monday afternoon when his vehicle went off the Crown Valley Parkway in California.
The car hurtling through the landscape finally came to a stop when it crashed into a parking lot in Dana Point.
Emergency services arrived at the scene, but the 59-year-old restaurant owner from Orange County was pronounced dead at about 4.50pm.
The investigation is ongoing to determine the exact cause of the crash, but authorities say Schwarz was driving an Audi near Pacific Coast Highway when the vehicle suddenly left the road.
Schwarz was a well-known figure in the Southern California dining scene, where he co-owned the Laguna Beach hotspot Driftwood Kitchen & Deck.
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Austrian-born Schwarz began his culinary career when he was a teenager working at the Grand National Hotel in Lucerne, Switzerland.
It was here that he met the famous chef Joachim Splichal.
He then moved to Los Angeles to pursue his career in the United States.
After moving to Colorado, he opened several bistros and pubs before returning to California in 2009 to work as executive chef at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood.
The world-famous restaurant regularly welcomes celebrity guests with the likes of Justin Bieber, George Clooney and Leonardo DiCaprio all reportedly seen there.
Becoming a major player in Orange County’s restaurant scene, Schwarz helped shape Driftwood Kitchen and The Deck into two of Laguna Beach’s most popular dining destinations.
He also created the menu for Hendrix Restaurant & Bar in Laguna Niguel – which has since closed.
After the news of Schwarz’s death was announced, friends and colleagues were quick to share heartfelt messages on social media.
Fellow chef Amar Santana said, “He will be the most missed person in this industry.”
“He had a unique smile and a voice you could hear from a mile away.”
He added, “He was probably one of the few chefs who actually came up to me and introduced himself.”
“That, to me, was an honor.”
Business partner John Nee also paid tribute to Schwarz in a statement reflecting on their working relationship.
The pair first worked together on Disney’s Mondavi project.
They then reunited at the Roosevelt Hotel and later came together to create Driftwood Kitchen and Deck.
“We always wanted to be recognized first for our people, then for our food, and lastly for the place,” Nee said.
“That’s when we knew we had it right. If we had any legacy, it was the family and friends we’ve made in Laguna to this day.”
Schwarz is survived by his wife Tasha and their son Max.
