Brian Piasecki, who has been chef de cuisine at California Grill for the past seven years, has accepted a new position with Disney as Executive Chef WDW Resorts, Moderate, Value and Standalone DVC properties.
“It was a bit of a difficult decision, because California Grill, after over 7 years, seems like home and truly has become my life,” Piasecki said in a message. “But the holistic scope of the opportunity will allow me to develop and grow in new ways.”
Piasecki told me that in his newly created position he’ll be working in the development phase of rolling out new concepts with an emphasis on redefining what quick serve will be. He’ll also be working on the “succession planning for the talented team of chefs that are across property.”
Piasecki will remain in CG’s kitchen for the time being while his replacement is determined. No determination has been made, so far.
Piasecki is the second of top tier chef to move out of a high profile kitchen and into another role within Walt Disney World. Phillip Ponticelli left Citricos in November to take over the kitchen at Golden Oak, Disney’s ultra upscale home development near the Four Seasons Resort.
There has been precedence that the chef from Flying Fish Cafe would move up to an open position at California Grill, and one might expect that would be a logical thing for the Fish’s Timothy Keating, given that the BoardWalk restaurant is currently closed for renovations.
But that apparently isn’t going to happen, and I’ll tell you why soon.