Walt Disney World hosts up-and-coming New Orleans chefs
Walt Disney World hosted 24 up-and-coming female chefs for three days of learning about all things Disney culinary and catering.
Walt Disney World hosted “Culinary Dreams Come True in Orlando” — a program for 24 up-and-coming female chefs to learn about all things Disney culinary and catering — on July 23-26, 2024, and we got to tag along for some of the fun. Disney partnered with Visit Orlando, Southwest Airlines, and New Orleans & Co. to put on the event.
Day 1: Junior chefs check in
After arriving at Walt Disney World, the chefs and their chaperones were treated to a welcome reception at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. They were gifted with “The Princess and the Frog”-themed Loungefly bags and Mickey Mouse headbands.
Day 2: Magic Kingdom before rope drop + learning from Disney chefs
The second day of the culinary experience started about an hour before Magic Kingdom’s rope drop with a New Orleans-inspired breakfast filled with Mickey Mouse-shaped beignets, cajun smash hash, maple glazed and peppered bacon, and Mickey waffles with bananas foster sauce.
After breakfast, the chefs were surprised with a meet and greet with Princess Tiana and Louis in front of the newly-opened Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Magic Kingdom.
After meeting with Tiana and Louis, the event attendees were the first riders of the day on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure before the park’s official opening.
Later that day, the group reconvened at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort for a special presentation hosted by Walt Disney World Ambassador Shannon Smith-Conrad and Chef James, Disney’s executive chef of Catering Event Operations.
During this presentation, the chef introduced the students to information regarding the lifecycle of a private event hosted at Walt Disney World and what that means for the catering team when it comes to preparation and execution. Following the presentation, attendees took an exclusive backstage look at the kitchen in action — an experience typically off-limits to guests.
Day 3: In the kitchen
Day three of “Culinary Dreams Come True in Orlando” was the hands-on portion of the event, where the rising chefs had the opportunity to go into the kitchen at the Yacht Club and be mentored by Disney chefs to cook a meal and learn some Disney recipes.
The junior chefs broke into teams and prepared the whole meal — from rolling the napkins, to making the desserts, to rolling out the catering tables.
Once the cooking was completed, the junior chefs joined the Disney chefs to verbalize what they had learned and created in the kitchen throughout the cooking process.
The lunch menu consisted of broccoli and carrot slaw, lemon garlic shrimp pasta, pretzel rolls and butter, seared chicken breast chasseur style, and chocolate caramel macarons. As far as the food the young chefs made, I thought it was delicious — especially the chicken.
The up-and-coming chefs
We had the opportunity to sit down with some of the girls and chat about their participation in the “Culinary Dreams Come True in Orlando” program and their future culinary goals.
“For me to be here, it means I can do whatever I put my mind to and I could always do more than I thought I could,” said 18-year-old Aniya Bailey-Kelly of the New Orleans Career Center. “I never thought I would be at Disney World with other teens and didn’t think I would be at Disney World exploring a field that I’m interested in with other teens, so it’s really been a very fun and different experience and I feel proud.”
20-year-old Raley Curry of the New Orleans Culinary and Hospitality Institute added on to the conversation, saying that “to see the behind-the-scenes and to see how it takes the time, dedication, and preparation has been really cool.”
“Some of my chefs have been asked [by the girls] about how we create the food and how much it takes to put some food on the table,” said Christine Weissman, culinary director at Walt Disney World Parks and Resorts.
Mentorship was a key theme of this event. It was heartwarming to see these rising chefs mentored by the Walt Disney World professionals. The chefs were all happy to be there and grateful for the opportunity.
“I’m truly hoping they take home the magic of Disney, especially when it comes to food,” said Smith-Conrad.
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This is really amazing! Kudos Disney!