Disney

National Gingerbread Day Dec 12th FOX5 San Diego /  by George Geary

This week marks 29 years in Morning TV. From my first segment on Live in LA with Cindy Garvey and Steve Edwards in Los Angeles on KCAL9 to National Mike and are NBC, to coast to coast, currently on WGN-TV Chicago, NBC ~ Tampa and home station of FOX5, San Diego. During COVID we transitioned to broadcasting from my two home kitchens in Palm Springs and Corona, CA. For about a year after I filmed outdoor segments and have been back in the studios for a while now. Every time I walk into the studio and get on the set I think of that first time in 1993 making Blueberry Muffins. Today was National Gingerbread Day. Here are the recipes from the show from San Diego.

1990s Disneyland Gingerbread Houses

Wednesday April 29th: Retro Disney Week: Tahitian Terrace Restaurant /  by George Geary

The Tahitian Terrace was a Polynesian themed restaurant at Disneyland Park in California. It was placed next to the Enchanted Tiki Room attraction in Adventureland. Popular dishes to enjoy during the themed native dancing show where skewered chicken, tropical fruit salads and other island dishes were served. It was in operation from 1962 to 1993 when it was replaced by Aladdin’s Oasis Dinner Show which only lasted 2 years. Currently, they are changing the restaurant once again to The Tropical Hideaway. This dessert was on the menu from the late 80’s to closing. It was served with vanilla ice cream for $2.

Even though we purchased the pie crusts, I wanted to include a recipe and also the proper techniques as to how to make the perfect pie crust. You can watch the show to see me roll out the dough.. It is all in the method! Enjoy!

All American Pie crust Recipe

Fundamentals of Pie Dough Rolling

Here is the show!

Monday April 27th, 2020 Retro Disneyland Pastry /  by George Geary

Many of you know, I was the Pastry Chef for the Walt Disney Company in the mid 80’s to the mid 90’s. I created a number of items that are still used in all of the Disney Parks worldwide. When I worked for the company we only had California an Florida with Euro Disney opening up and then the name change to Paris Disney. I decided this week to focus on some of the foods that we made since the world wide web has so many fake foods that are being published that we’re not the recipes and not the correct information. I still have my formula book with the mass quantities for the foods.

Making Truffles for Club 33’s Private events.

Making Truffles for Club 33’s Private events.

Today we focus on The Big Thunder Ranch. It was an area out in the North west of the property. It had a great outdoor dining BBQ place. I created the cornbread and here is the recipe

On a slow day we would bake 1500 servings of cornbread.. Cornbread Recipe from Big Thunder Ranch

On a slow day we would bake 1500 servings of cornbread.. Cornbread Recipe from Big Thunder Ranch

Our second recipe comes from one of the smallest food venues that Disneyland had, The Mile Long Bar. A Soft. Gingerbread Cake. The cake was sold for only a shirt time as they decided to close the Mile Long Bar down and change the land to Critter Country from Bear Country.

Here is the show for Monday !

Disneyland’s Tahitian Terrace "Menchune Macadamia" Pie /  by George Geary

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I sometimes need my memory to be jogged. For 10 years I was the Pastry Chef for the Walt Disney Company Theme Park Division. Until someone asks about one of the desserts I forget what I used to make. 25 years ago this week we were notified we would be closing the bakery. Only 3 years prior, I was the first Disney Chef to be awarded a culinary medal, so I was a little surprised that they would be now buying frozen product to serve.

Recently someone asked if anyone had the recipe for the Macadamia Pie. I got into my files of the huge recipe that made 70 pies and cut it down. Then I tested the recipe, now we have it for you. Many of my Disney Recipes I would have to cut into amounts for the public as they would be requested from guests to the LA Times Food Section. This recipe never had been requested so I had to test it myself this weeked.

Disneyland’s Tahitian Terrace Menchune Macadamia Pie: Recipe

Disneyland’s Tahitian Terrace Menchune Macadamia Pie: Recipe

The Tahitian Terrace was a Polynesian themed restaurant at Disneyland Park in California. It was placed next to the Enchanted Tiki Room attraction in Adventureland. Popular dishes to enjoy during the themed native dancing show were skewered chicken, tropical fruit salads and other island dishes. It was in operation from 1962 to 1993 when it was replaced by Aladdin’s Oasis Dinner Show which only lasted 2 years.  

This Macadamia Pie dessert was on the menu from the late 1980’s to the closing of the venue. It was served with vanilla ice cream for $2.