Chef TJ gone from 'Ohana?? Help!!

[livie1205]

I hope yall are not really hunting down ONE chef at all of wdw....I am sure they have plenty of people that can make great meals..

 

[cab0ad]

It isn't about a "good meal" to my family. Its about personalized service where he takes a limitation that a person has and turns it into an opportunity to have the best meal ever.

His presentation and service outweighs his food. He makes kids feel "special" rather than "different" when dietery concerns are an issue. He made my son (9) feel like a VIP when we went to eat at Ohanas. Heck, we just asked for advice on what NOT to eat due to his allergy. He took it a step farther and acted like a personal chef to my son through our whole meal. He came to our table several times and made a huge fanfare over his special dessert when it came out that made kids at all of the other tables jealous! The dessert itself was nothing special--ice cream, one of those prepackaged brownies, chocolate syrup, banana, pineapple. But the way he put those together and made such a big deal over his special dessert that he insisted he not share with anyone at the table (and we all wanted it--we're not much on bread pudding!) You would have though my son was the president or something with the attention he gave him! Other restraunts/chefs just tend to take the easy way out and give you the prepackaged brownie or popcicle. TJ took time to make my son feel like a king. When we left the restraunt my son was on cloud nine and actually said that this was the first time he felt blessed to have a food allergy!


We want to eat with TJ for the "experience". Its no different than going to Animal Kingdom only to have the experience of riding the Yeti rollercoaster. Sure, there are plenty of other rides that are good at WDW. Should we go to AK ONLY to ride that roller coaster when there is nothing else there we want to do? Sure we should...if the experience is worth it to us.
I'd eat bologne sandwiches if Chef TJ were making/serving them to us!

 

[ekatiel]

It isn't about a "good meal" to my family. Its about personalized service where he takes a limitation that a person has and turns it into an opportunity to have the best meal ever.

His presentation and service outweighs his food. He makes kids feel "special" rather than "different" when dietery concerns are an issue. He made my son (9) feel like a VIP when we went to eat at Ohanas. Heck, we just asked for advice on what NOT to eat due to his allergy. He took it a step farther and acted like a personal chef to my son through our whole meal. He came to our table several times and made a huge fanfare over his special dessert when it came out that made kids at all of the other tables jealous! The dessert itself was nothing special--ice cream, one of those prepackaged brownies, chocolate syrup, banana, pineapple. But the way he put those together and made such a big deal over his special dessert that he insisted he not share with anyone at the table (and we all wanted it--we're not much on bread pudding!) You would have though my son was the president or something with the attention he gave him! Other restraunts/chefs just tend to take the easy way out and give you the prepackaged brownie or popcicle. TJ took time to make my son feel like a king. When we left the restraunt my son was on cloud nine and actually said that this was the first time he felt blessed to have a food allergy!


We want to eat with TJ for the "experience". Its no different than going to Animal Kingdom only to have the experience of riding the Yeti rollercoaster. Sure, there are plenty of other rides that are good at WDW. Should we go to AK ONLY to ride that roller coaster when there is nothing else there we want to do? Sure we should...if the experience is worth it to us.
I'd eat bologne sandwiches if Chef TJ were making/serving them to us!

^^^^What she said ! He really is worth stalking. It's hard to understand if you or your child don't have a special dietary need. Our kiddos are the ones who are always left out (no matter how hard we try to make their food look as good as everyone else's). To have our kiddos be able to have the best looking food in the place for once in their little lives is an AMAZING experience. Chef TJ is a gem. BTW-- DH called chef TJ my "boyfriend" last night when I was telling him about this thread . --Katie

 

[Shelly D.]

We don't have anyone with food allergies in our family, but I read this post out of interest and I'm so impressed! How wonderful there are chefs who go to such lengths to accommodate people with allergies. These are the things that make WDW so great and make it difficult to explain that greatness to people who haven't been before!

 

[horselover]

I hope yall are not really hunting down ONE chef at all of wdw....I am sure they have plenty of people that can make great meals..

It isn't about a "good meal" to my family. Its about personalized service where he takes a limitation that a person has and turns it into an opportunity to have the best meal ever.

His presentation and service outweighs his food. He makes kids feel "special" rather than "different" when dietery concerns are an issue. He made my son (9) feel like a VIP when we went to eat at Ohanas. Heck, we just asked for advice on what NOT to eat due to his allergy. He took it a step farther and acted like a personal chef to my son through our whole meal. He came to our table several times and made a huge fanfare over his special dessert when it came out that made kids at all of the other tables jealous! The dessert itself was nothing special--ice cream, one of those prepackaged brownies, chocolate syrup, banana, pineapple. But the way he put those together and made such a big deal over his special dessert that he insisted he not share with anyone at the table (and we all wanted it--we're not much on bread pudding!) You would have though my son was the president or something with the attention he gave him! Other restraunts/chefs just tend to take the easy way out and give you the prepackaged brownie or popcicle. TJ took time to make my son feel like a king. When we left the restraunt my son was on cloud nine and actually said that this was the first time he felt blessed to have a food allergy!


We want to eat with TJ for the "experience". Its no different than going to Animal Kingdom only to have the experience of riding the Yeti rollercoaster. Sure, there are plenty of other rides that are good at WDW. Should we go to AK ONLY to ride that roller coaster when there is nothing else there we want to do? Sure we should...if the experience is worth it to us.
I'd eat bologne sandwiches if Chef TJ were making/serving them to us!

I couldn't agree with the 2nd post more. It's not that there are no other chefs that can accommodate special diets it's the way TJ does it. Maybe if you had a child that could never go to a birthday party without bringing his own food, never can partake of special parties at school because no one ever gives a second thought to gluten allergies only the most severe nut ones (if it's nut free it must be fine for everyone right?!), never can eat at a friend's house without bringing his own food, & never goes out to eat at restaurants at home you might understand. Yes, all the chefs will make you something but sometimes it's not all that great & sometimes you get the impression they really don't want to.

So yes, I will follow TJ to whatever restaurant he is working at because it makes my son very happy & isn't that what Disney is all about?

 

[o2bnoz]

This is really great information! I completely understand where you are coming from..

Our last trip to Disney, we went gluten-free for my Mom (obviously not a child, and not quite as important to make her feel special) but I have to say that all of Disney did a wonderful job with this. I had mentioned the gluten allergy when making all of my reservations and then also when we checked into the restaurants. It was really something to see the care that they took to make my Mom happy. They made special waffles for her for breakfast, reinvented some dishes at other meals, etc..

Also at the CS restaurants, they always had an alternative for her. It was just great!

I agree with you when you say "isn't that what Disney is all about?". The most important thing to me when planning ANYTHING is that those around me are having a good time, and that they are comfortable and well-fed (must be the midwestern farmer's daughter mentality or something).

So great to know of Chef TJ, and we may just venture over to the GF on our trip in February!

Hugs to your kids who have to deal with this on a daily basis. Such a big difference between feeling "different" or feeling "special".

And kudos to you parents who are doing such a great job!

 

[squirrel]

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).

We met Chef Dan last year at Pop as my niece's favorite Chef was over at POR. They both have the same name, that might be part of why she is her favorite. Chef Dan was very nice and put ham on her dairy free pizza. We even packed one to take for her to eat at the airport.

 

[bicker]

I don't see anything wrong with patronizing a restaurant that a favorite chef works at, as long as you don't invest too much in the reservation so as to be dissatisfied if that chef isn't working at that restaurant any longer or not working that day. Disappointed, no problem; but dissatisfied is not reasonable afaic.

 

[VeganCupcake]

http://vegansatori.blogspot.com/2010/07/chef-tj-update.html
Chef TJ link for everyone.

 

[Ladybugsy]

Well, my family has no allergies whatsoever and we still love Chef TJ. In fact, my daughter's birthday is September 17th and she specifically requested 'Ohana since he was there. He knows us by name, we always get pictures and he's just so darn cute, you can't help but smile and love him. Sometimes he makes deep fried oreos for us. Sometimes he just brings his smile to the table.

She has cried all evening since I told her he moved to GF.

This stinks

 

[angelmav]

Well, my family has no allergies whatsoever and we still love Chef TJ. In fact, my daughter's birthday is September 17th and she specifically requested 'Ohana since he was there. He knows us by name, we always get pictures and he's just so darn cute, you can't help but smile and love him. Sometimes he makes deep fried oreos for us. Sometimes he just brings his smile to the table.

She has cried all evening since I told her he moved to GF.
This stinks

Oh the humanity of it all!

 

[WeLoveLilo05]

All I have heard about since I have questioned WDW and DD's peanut allergy was how wonderful Chef TJ is...well...I would be super shocked if I ran into him @ 1900 PF in 2 weeks...especially since I made those ressies 6 months ago not knowing he would have been moved

I would be REALLY happy if he was there while we are there, last year the Chef @ 1900 PF said DD could have anything on the buffet line...really? Anything? I was iffy with the desserts so I ended up just giving her the soft serve ice cream. There was no PBnJ on the buffet line, but it says that there is on the allears menu

Anyone know his schedule yet?!? C'mon! haha

 

[VeganCupcake]

He is currently scheduled Sun-Wed.

 

[mdsoccermom]

^^^^What she said ! He really is worth stalking. It's hard to understand if you or your child don't have a special dietary need. Our kiddos are the ones who are always left out (no matter how hard we try to make their food look as good as everyone else's). To have our kiddos be able to have the best looking food in the place for once in their little lives is an AMAZING experience. Chef TJ is a gem. BTW-- DH called chef TJ my "boyfriend" last night when I was telling him about this thread . --Katie

But it's no longer become about the kids with special dietary needs. Now, everyone and their mother has a special dietary need. There are vegetarians who can be perfectly accommodated pretty much everywhere at Disney (actually, any dietary need can be accommodated pretty much everywhere at Disney) who insist on going to a restaurant known for serving MEAT just so they can feel special and loved. What was a special thing for the people that truly need it has really gotten out of control. I mean, good grief, children are crying because he's not at that restaurant anymore? That only happens when people are led to believe that you can't possibly have a good meal or dining experience without Chef TJ.

Before you know it, Chef TJs unique "experiences" will go the way of the Coral Reef diver.

 

[Ladybugsy]

Oh the humanity of it all!

I know, Right!

It's not like she's staying home and going to school on her birthday. She only gets to go to Disney for 8 days. Poor thing.

 

[angelmav]

I know, Right!

It's not like she's staying home and going to school on her birthday. She only gets to go to Disney for 8 days. Poor thing.

Sounds like cruel and unusual punishment to me!

 

[WeLoveLilo05]

He is currently scheduled Sun-Wed.

I am doing the dance of joy right now! We will be @ 1900 PF on a Monday

 

[KY*Figment]

All I have heard about since I have questioned WDW and DD's peanut allergy was how wonderful Chef TJ is...well...I would be super shocked if I ran into him @ 1900 PF in 2 weeks...especially since I made those ressies 6 months ago not knowing he would have been moved

I would be REALLY happy if he was there while we are there, last year the Chef @ 1900 PF said DD could have anything on the buffet line...really? Anything? I was iffy with the desserts so I ended up just giving her the soft serve ice cream. There was no PBnJ on the buffet line, but it says that there is on the allears menu

Anyone know his schedule yet?!? C'mon! haha

PB&J use to be on the buffet. Actually, you use to be able to request it an just about any place on property even if it was not on the menu. It was a great help w/ my oldest because she is so picky. Anyway, in June I did not see it only at one place and we requested it at most places but was told they do not carry it anymore. Jiko has it on their menu along w/ peanut butter ice cream. We bought a PB&J in the gift shop. I love peanut oil but as far as I know no one uses it. So, your child is pretty safe. I'm allergic to cherries, throat swells shut. I'm always asking what food items have in them.

 

[GatorLady]

He is currently scheduled Sun-Wed.

The link said Saturday-Wednesday, has it now changed to Sunday? TIA

 

[VeganCupcake]

The link said Saturday-Wednesday, has it now changed to Sunday? TIA

Oops! My bad! I posted before my caffeine kicked in! Haha yes- Saturday-Wed