BRIEFLY IN BUSINESS

Sapphire Laguna names culinary team

Sapphire Laguna, a new restaurant slated to open early January on the site of the landmark Pottery Shack, now the Old Pottery Place, has named a trio of chefs to oversee its culinary operations.

Tin Vuong will take charge as Sapphire Laguna’s corporate chef, overseeing all culinary needs for both the restaurant and adjacent gourmet shop, Sapphire Pantry; Eric Cummings will serve as executive chef for the restaurant; and Andrew Capek is the sous chef, owner and chef Azmin Ghahreman said

Vuong comes to Sapphire Laguna from the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort in Dana Point, a property he helped open in 2001. Cummings was previously chef garde manager and chef de cuisine of Motif, the casual dining venue at the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort. Capek was most recently a sous chef with T. Cook’s at the Royal Palms Resort and Spa in Scottsdale.

Sapphire Laguna is at 1200 So. Coast Highway.For more information, call (949) 715-9888, or visit www.sapphirelaguna.com.

Bella Boutique holds opening party

Bella Boutique, a European fashion boutique, will hold a grand opening party from 4 to 9 p.m. Saturday at the shop, 1936 So. Coast Highway.

The store caters to women of all ages and offers 20% off for the holidays as well as 10% off regular prices for locals.

The store offers clothing, shoes, purses, accessories and makeovers by their store make-up artist.

For more information, call (949) 494-4454.

Chamber hosts TIP

Fire Chief Mike Macey joined Wayne Fortin, founder of the Trauma Intervention Program, to present the “TIP” Crisis Response Team Program at the chamber’s monthly luncheon Tuesday at Partner’s Bistro.

The Crisis Response Team is a team of volunteers who are called by emergency personnel to provide immediate on-scene support to victims of crime and survivors of tragedy.

TIP was founded by Fortin in 1985 in San Diego. The program now serves more than 250 cities across the country.

The TIP program was integrated into the City of Laguna Beach this past September and operates on a 24-hour year-round basis.

For more information, visit www.tipnational.org.