Ama Ama Beachside Restaurant Concept Art
Aulani, Disney’s new Hawaiian resort, will open in late 2011 in Ko Olina, Oahu, with Chef Patrick Callarec at the helm of Aulani’s dining establishments.
Honolulu Magazine is reporting that the chef — trained in France and a veteran of the Four Seasons and Ritz-Carlton hotels — has worked extensively in Hawaii; his resume includes a Hale Aina award for the French cuisine at his very own Chez Paul in Maui.
Chef Patrick Callarec
Chef Callarec will likely be spending most of his time in the Ama Ama Beachside Restaurant, which, according to Imagineer Joe Rohde, “won’t look like a new building. It will look like we found the family home of some fishermen on the site and refurbished it. It will look organic, as if it grew up here.”
Disney recently found and hired Callarec from the Ritz-Carlton in San Francisco. He is currently planning menus and hiring a staff.
Thanks to @jrriddle for the heads’ up on this story!
Our handy (and portable!) ebook guides make sure you get the best deals and can plan a vacation of a lifetime.
It’s really great that they are hiring a head chef with lots of experience. It’s also interesting that they are allowing him to hire the staff, which probably means he will be pulling people from his previous work establishments.
Oh Chef Patrick Callarec:
I had the pleasure of visiting Aulani Restaurant and having dinner with my sister who lives at Aiea,Hawaii. I was blown away by what I was seeing on each plate that was coming out of the kitchen! The smell of the variety of dishes ,the cleanliness the entire presentation ,employees working in the kitchen and waiting on guest. I asked to meet the Chef He came over and introduced himself Chef Patrick Callarec I thanked him and asked how he ended up Working for Disney. I said to my self ok cooked in France, Ritz-Carlton, I am thinking he has to be Mitchell 3 Star Chef ! Keep in mind my sister gave me such a hard time because I was dragging her to a Disney Resort for dinner. She literally has eaten at every restaurant in the Hawaiian Islands ! She never stopped eating. Till this day we talk about this guy food. His ability to Cook and care about his food his team. We ( I ) received a perfect gift eating delicious fresh food. Top it off with his spin on desert . Pinch me I am dreaming. All over a person love to Cook from the heart. First year you opened the Disney Aulani Resort. Something else came to mind he had talked about.
Chef Patrick talked about the farm that Disney had on the Island, varieties of vegetables fruits fresh fish Pork meat etc.. about being able to Create Dishes that would make people want to come back again and again . His key to his success is “Humility “ he truly cares about each and every guest and every things that leaves his kitchen had to be perfect.
I hope he is still working their because he Filled my entire memory bank of food that was made with pure love and care down to presenting it in away that fired on every emotion a good meal is suppose to be in your heart and memory forever.
Disney Struck Platinum when they hired Chef Patrick ! That’s what I call him. You are so rite Josh ! Disney knew they could give this guy the keys to the Disney Kingdom Kitchen at Aulani Resort and he would treat it with kindness and delight every person in and out of the kitchen down to the guests memories that are marked in your memory bank for ever and make you want go back for more.
Sorry it took so many years to say thank you again for the food mind blowing experience! After all It’s called the Magic Of The Disney Guest Experience! Hoping you are still making magic in the Kitchen Chef Patrick Callarec ! Your talent is a gift. I knew I was in for a treat when I peaked in the kitchen door before the restaurant was open and saw magic !
Forever Greatful
Denise and Deborah