Chef TJ gone from 'Ohana?? Help!!

[ekatiel]

You guys are good!

9:29 am - Chef TJ Reported "missing"
1:53 pm - Chef TJ Reported to be at the Grand Floridian
3:39 pm - First and Last name posted in order to aid with the search
6:12 pm - "Found!" He's at the Grand Floridian Cafe in the Grand Floridian

Too bad you can't work missing persons cases, nobody would stay lost for long.

To answer your question Katie - I think you found his cult following right here.

Chef TJ, we will follow you ANYWHERE. . .

YES!! That's it!

There was a chocolate chip cookie, cut in half somewhere in the mix. I remember that because it's not often we can find egg/nut free cookies.

Wasn't it amazing when he brought it out? It was such a special moment. That "TJ tower" made the bread pudding look sad.

He makes the BEST desserts! My DS didn't get a chocolate chip cookie in his b/c at the time, he was still allergic to wheat, so Chef TJ put cotton candy in there instead ! DS has outgrown his wheat/barley/rye allergies, though, so we're down to eggs and nuts now. I can't wait for him to have Diivies at WDW! --Katie

 

[ChristmasElf]

Wow, we met him just in time. My son has egg/nut allergies and he was his chef for our June trip. He was fantastic, deserving of all the praise he receives on the Disboards. He brought DS a dessert that was the envy of everyone at our table, as well as the surrounding tables. I wish I knew how to upload the picture. It was very tall with layers of pineapple, chocolate chip cookies, ice cream and banana. I think there was chocolate drizzled on top too!

I guess we have no choice but to try every restaurant in the GF to find him. I'm also in love with Chef Brad, from Kona. I've only seen him there during breakfast but he's great too.

Good Luck as there are not too many "Chef's" that work for Disney. Most are just folks that work in the restaurant industry and nothing more. There are a few that actually have a culinary degreee, but they don't last long it seems.

 

[squirrel]

Chef Julie is the one we had at 'Ohana last year. She was fine, but my niece did not get a dessert like the picture shown.

 

[everythingALICE]

Last time I was at Ohana, Chet TJ was not there and Chef Julie made me a very nice tofu/veggie/rice dish. It was delicious, and with the salad, noodles, and broccoli, I certainly did not go hungry. However, after seeing the vegetarian feasts that he prepares I made an ADR for September in hopes that I might get to experience it! I must say I'm disappointed, but maybe I'll add GF Cafe to the list too!

Boma is awesome, but this year I'm going to Sanaa after reading such great reviews. I look at the menus on Allears.net, and not too long ago there was a completely separate veggie menu (it has since been "updated" and the veggie menu is no longer listed). While there are options on the regular menu, there may be even more to choose from if you ask. I'm really looking forward to it!

 

[bicker]

I'm sure the chef who replaced him or whomever works when TJ doesn't would be able to make you something nice.

We had a favorite chef ... Marianne Hummel. We followed her around property for a while, getting to know her a little, and she always prepared us wonderful (vegetarian) dishes. She once sent us home with a small container of Ras Al-Hanout; our introduction to that spice mixture.

I forget what restaurant she was in charge of several years back, but we made reservations and hoped to have another great meal. When we got there, we found out that she had just moved on. We were concerned, of course. The chef who took over for her assured us he could do a great job.

I can't be sure, but I have a sneaking suspicion that that new chef was TJ.

He did fine.

 

[nicki.momof3]

You guys are good!

9:29 am - Chef TJ Reported "missing"
1:53 pm - Chef TJ Reported to be at the Grand Floridian
3:39 pm - First and Last name posted in order to aid with the search
6:12 pm - "Found!" He's at the Grand Floridian Cafe in the Grand Floridian

Too bad you can't work missing persons cases, nobody would stay lost for long.

To answer your question Katie - I think you found his cult following right here.

Maybe the clut following is why he moved (or at least why no one can confirm wehre he is).

 

[Tricia1972]

Chef TJ, we will follow you ANYWHERE. . .

No kidding!

Like I said, you guys need to re-think career choices and consider "Missing Persons"

 

[leebee]

Chef TJ started- or at least we first met him- at Boma. We were put in touch with him regarding a special request for my DD's birthday. I gave his name to a friend whose entire family, except for one daughter, has gluten allergies. He made a feast for them at Boma, topped off with an amazing gf dessert, and deep fried oreos as a special treat for the daughter who CAN eat wheat! Now there's a guy who thinks about his customers!

 

[DCDisney]

I for one think it was great they moved TJ to the GF. They were AWFUL with allergies at GFC and only 1900 Park Fare was close to as bad. I got no dessert not even the prepackaged products they carry everywhere on property. The only thing they could safely make me on the menu was steak or plain pasta (I'm just allergic to nuts, beans, carrots, and soy) and rather than being the NY strip on the adult menu it was the child's sirloin which was awful and tiny. They couldn't even scrounge up any plain veggies and I ended up having fries. They seem to have pre-mixed and marinated everything including plain salad greens. At 1900 the chef walked me around and just kept pointing to things and saying safe and then I'd ask doesn't asian dish have soy sauce and he'd kind of go oh yeah that isn't safe. So I didn't feel comfortable eating anything except the plain pasta, plain baked chicken, and plain steamed broccoli from the kids corner. Hopefully TJ will teach those GF chefs a thing or two!!!

 

[snorris49]

I for one think it was great they moved TJ to the GF. They were AWFUL with allergies at GFC and only 1900 Park Fare was close to as bad. I got no dessert not even the prepackaged products they carry everywhere on property. The only thing they could safely make me on the menu was steak or plain pasta (I'm just allergic to nuts, beans, carrots, and soy) and rather than being the NY strip on the adult menu it was the child's sirloin which was awful and tiny. They couldn't even scrounge up any plain veggies and I ended up having fries. They seem to have pre-mixed and marinated everything including plain salad greens. At 1900 the chef walked me around and just kept pointing to things and saying safe and then I'd ask doesn't asian dish have soy sauce and he'd kind of go oh yeah that isn't safe. So I didn't feel comfortable eating anything except the plain pasta, plain baked chicken, and plain steamed broccoli from the kids corner. Hopefully TJ will teach those GF chefs a thing or two!!!

I completely agree! Although I sure wish they would have transferred him AFTER my October trip to Ohana But, I'm sure my gluten free, dairy free meal will be just fine when I go.

I'd be more apt to go to the GF restaurants now. I had a pretty lousy experience at the Garden View Tea Lounge in February where the chefs promised to deliver but didn't...I know having TJ on staff will sure help out a lot!

Count me in on the folks planning to stalk him at the GF now!

 

[GalDisney]

He is at 1900 park fare. I work there and have seen him. He may also work GF Cafe.

 

[DisneyFamily123]

Same here. He made an awesome desert for DS4 - egg and peanut allergy. It was a tower of ice cream and other egg free dessert things....

Wow, we met him just in time. My son has egg/nut allergies and he was his chef for our June trip. He was fantastic, deserving of all the praise he receives on the Disboards. He brought DS a dessert that was the envy of everyone at our table, as well as the surrounding tables. I wish I knew how to upload the picture. It was very tall with layers of pineapple, chocolate chip cookies, ice cream and banana. I think there was chocolate drizzled on top too!

I guess we have no choice but to try every restaurant in the GF to find him. I'm also in love with Chef Brad, from Kona. I've only seen him there during breakfast but he's great too.

 

[ekatiel]

He is at 1900 park fare. I work there and have seen him. He may also work GF Cafe.

The plot thickens! Would you ever get the chance to talk to him and find out his basic schedule (ie-- When he's at 1900 Park Faire vs. when he's at GF Cafe). I would much rather got to 1900 Park Faire to see him (characters AND Chef TJ-- does it get any better??). Let us know if you are able to find out anything more! --Katie

 

[ekatiel]

Just got an email back from special diets about Chef TJ's wherabouts. Here's the reply:

Chef TJ is now at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa at either 1900 Park Fare or the Grand Floridian Café.

Let us know if you need any further assistance.

*** ******
Guest Communication Services
Walt Disney World

SOOOOOO-- Does that mean he's at BOTH restaurants, or does that mean THEY don't know which restaurant he's at either??? --Anyhow, that's the update for now. I guess we need to find someone who's got ressies at these places soon to confirm! --Katie

 

[MMS1125]

1900 Park Fare is on my list but I don't go til April (blah I knowwwww) Hopefully somebody will go before then!

 

[disneyfan'08]

I'm another TJ groupie as I can't have gluten and my mom can't have gluten, dairy, or soy. We've been following TJ since his Boma days. We'll be in the world from August 8-14 and I've made a ressie at the Grand Floridian Cafe. I'll definitely confirm what I learn about TJ and his new schedule.

 

[everythingALICE]

I've never been to GFC, but he could sure improve things over at 1900 Park Fare. It's definitely not great for people w/ allergies (as a PP recently mentioned), and as a vegetarian I remember there not being many options and nothing on the line seemed very interesting (I think I got half my plate from the kids section). I think it is the only place in WDW that I would never go back to, but if Chef TJ is there I would definitely consider it.

 

[squirrel]

How far away are the kitchens? I have only been to 1900 Park Fare and I wasn't checking out the GF Resort. He could be covering both at the same time.

The chefs do get moved. The chef my niece had in 2008 went from Pop Food Court to Boatwright's and POR food court (covered both) and now is at Kona Cafe. Too bad that niece won't be coming this year. POR was a big pain to get to last year as we stay at Pop.

 

[clanmcculloch]

YAY!! Maybe I'll get to meet him at 1900PF next month.

Interesting about the Pop chef. We've met a few of the same chefs (including Chef Dan who is the chef who always contacts us at home) at Pop between our 2008, 2009 and 2010 trips. I've gotta say that I LOVE Pop. It's always hard to go to other resorts with smaller food courts and less options (though we do anyway).

 

[cab0ad]

MOVING!!!??? I'm sure this is because of his restraining order against me and my insistance on eating when he works! Moving won't help you TJ...We WILL follow...

I'm sure if he has moved to GF His schedule will be figured out before next May when I go on vacation! Then I will stalk him again! Disney just isn't Disney without eating with Chef TJ.