Eat, Tour and Explore Fantastic New Homes at Baker Ranch ~ Meet Top Chef Richard Blais

LAKE FOREST, CA--(Marketwired - Feb 19, 2015) - The public is invited to the Eat, Tour and Explore at Orange County's newest master-planned community, Baker Ranch, this Saturday, February 21^st from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hosted by renowned home builders Shea Homes and Toll Brothers, the event is highlighted by the culinary genius of Bravo's Top Chef Richard Blais as he cooks up a storm in the gourmet kitchen at the award-winning Grove Clubhouse.

Guests will be treated to food tastings and poolside massages and will have a chance to win a $500 Williams-Sonoma gift card, as well as a variety of specialty gift baskets. Children are welcome and are invited to take part in kids-themed games and activities at the Arbors Club.

"Baker Ranch has all the ingredients for an extraordinary lifestyle that includes sun, fun and a healthy dose of resort life. It's a winning recipe, to be sure," said Janet Benavidez, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Shea Homes. "It's going to be a great day. We're looking forward to sharing Baker Ranch with the public and even more excited to announce the grand unveiling of The Peake, one of the newest communities to fold into the Baker Ranch master plan."

Built by Shea Homes, The Peake will overlook the city lights and sun-drenched canyons of Orange County with a backdrop of majestic mountains. The Peake joins six other communities currently offered at Baker Ranch including three other neighborhoods by Shea Homes, Ridgewood, The Knolls and Brookland. Three communities by Toll Brothers include Parkview, Heights and Highlands.

Baker Ranch, open for just one year, has already sold nearly 400 homes and welcomed nearly 60,000 visitors who have been drawn to the community's thriving lifestyle and award-winning, resort-style amenities. Amenities include acres of open space, biking paths and scenic walking trails, two recreation centers featuring a resort-style clubhouse with a big party room, lagoon-style pool, spas, splash area, quiet pool and expansive veranda. A total of six parks include the sprawling Promenade Park with walking paths throughout the length of the park, bocce ball, climbing walls and ropes, hammocks and benches, barbecues, and features a bridge across Alton Parkway to an additional park.

"Without a doubt, home shoppers have been enthusiastic about Baker Ranch and know value when they see it. When one considers the lower cost of living and the active lifestyle afforded by Baker Ranch, it's easy to get excited about all the possibilities of living and loving life in this exceptional community," says Brian Harrelson, Toll Brothers' Assistant Vice President for California.

Children who live at Baker Ranch will attend schools in the Saddleback Valley Unified School District boasting an impressive record of educational excellence. The community will be primarily served by nearby Foothill Ranch Elementary School, Serrano Intermediate School and El Toro High School which make frequent appearances on the list of California Distinguished Schools.

The public is invited to tour the beautifully appointed models at Baker Ranch. With six neighborhoods and 18 distinctive floorplans, the homes boast a variety of stylish exterior architectural appointments, range up to 3,200 square feet and showcase contemporary kitchens, luxurious master suites and numerous energy-saving features.

Baker Ranch is situated in Lake Forest, considered one of the premier locations to live an active life in south Orange County with its many parks, equestrian trails and the Whiting Ranch Regional Wilderness Park. Laguna Beach and Newport Beach are just a breezy 20 minutes away. Baker Ranch is located just off the 5 Freeway at Bake Parkway and Dimension Drive in Lake Forest, Calif. The Bravo's Top Chef Richard Blais cooking demonstrations will be held at The Grove Clubhouse located at 101 Mariposa. For complete information regarding all the event activities visit www.liveatbakerranch.com.

Shea Homes Southern California is a division of Shea Homes Limited Partnership, one of America's largest privately held homebuilders. As a member of the Shea family of companies, which is celebrating its 134^th anniversary in 2015, Shea Homes has won numerous prestigious awards for quality, integrity, innovation and customer satisfaction. For more information, please visit the company's website at www.sheahomes.com.

Toll Brothers serves move-up, empty-nester, active-adult, and second-home buyers and operates in 20 states from coast to coast. For more information visit www.tollbrothers.com.