Chef Anette Gray is leaving JIko and WDW!!

[Uncleromulus]

Just got an e-mail from her this morning. In July she is leaving for Dallas Texas and a position with Carlson Restaurants Worldwide (they own TGIF).
Aside from being a great Chef, she was a genuine nice person. Every time we dined at Jiko, she was always out and about the restaurant stopping at tables, inquiring about the food, etc.
She WILL be missed!!!

 

[Dana49]

Thanks for the info Uncle "R," although I must say it's a bit depressing. My wife and I remember Anette from her days at Artist Point. Please tell her that Dana and Patty will miss her greatly, and we wish her the best. Thanks.

 

[bicker]

Yup, I remember Annette from way-back as well. I thought it was pretty remarkable that she's stayed in one place for so long. Good for her! It sounds like she's setting forth on a great new adventure in her life!

 

[Mackey Mouse]

Good for her.. she will be missed I am sure by those who know her expertise at Jiko's but probably is moving forward as all good chefs do...

 

[Leota]

She will most definately be missed. We too have loved her work since her AP days....

Best Wishes to her on her next culinary adventure!

 

[BCV23]

Wishing her luck in her new adventure. She will be missed at Jiko.

I wonder how many of her dishes will last at Jiko? So good and so unusual.

 

[Inkmahm]

which dishes at Jikos were her? I'd be upset if they got rid of the filet and mac with cheese or the coffee chicken flatbread. That's my favorite meal at Disney.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

Uh oh...

 

[BCV23]

which dishes at Jikos were her? I'd be upset if they got rid of the filet and mac with cheese or the coffee chicken flatbread. That's my favorite meal at Disney.

I think all of them. Hasn't she been the chef there since AKL opened?

 

[Michelle1125]

Noooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!! I love the filet with mac and cheese and the kalamata olive flatbread. Jiko is our favorite.

 

[BroadwayGirl]

I think all of them. Hasn't she been the chef there since AKL opened?

Nope...the restaurant opened under the aegis of Chef Serge B (can't recall his last name) when AKL opened. He is the one who created the menu which Chef Annette then added her own touches to. Chef Serge is responsible many things still on the menu, including the Oak Grilled Tenderloin (Filet now I guess) served over macaroni and cheese with the Red Indaba reduction, many of the flatbreads, the cinnamon spiced beef rolls and the duck firecrackers. Chef Annette actually tried to change the mac and cheese to pap and received a huge amount of complaints about it so she returned he side to the original mac and cheese. She also got rid of the 2 most amazing desserts from the original menu - the Cardomom Chocolate Candies (can you say chocolate bliss) and the Vanilla and Chocolate Creme Brulee with Paradise Dust. However, over the years she has done an excellent job at Jiko and hopefully her replacement will continue the legacy of wonderful cuisine there.

 

[John's Mom]

Thanks for the info Uncleromulus. Chef Anette will be missed. Jiko is our favorite WDW restaurant.