Alex Flores
CARTHAY CIRCLE
DISNEYLAND, CALIFORNIA
Food brings families and friends together. No matter who we are, where we grew up or what we do for a living, we all love to eat. This enduring belief inspires Chef Alex Flores to create dishes that celebrate the act of gathering around a table. He thrives on the day-to-day challenge of cooking up cuisine that transforms an ordinary meal into a delicious, soul-satisfying experience. With over 18 years at the Disneyland Resort, he enjoys serving others by experimenting in the kitchen, especially when he can take fresh ingredients, stretch their traditional uses, and combine flavors to find a bridge to new, tasty recipes. Creativity and a love for food were already brewing in Alex as a young boy. His parents showed him that you must learn what you can to do what you love. This notion came alive at mealtime, when his father would create “one-pot wonders” from scratch. Curious to know how, Alex gradually learned cooking skills while his dad taught him everything, from scrambled eggs to Bolognese sauce. Soon father and son were trying out recipes they’d seen on their favorite cooking shows. By high school, Alex was working in a local restaurant to learn the business side of the food industry. After interacting with customers as a host, cashier and server, he set his sights on becoming a chef. Thanks to financial aid, Alex enrolled in the culinary program at Cerritos College and expanded his talents. In 2000, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa was about to open and Alex saw an opportunity to work in the kitchen. There he found a supportive mentor in Chef Bill Orton, a certified Executive Chef and Sommelier at Storytellers Café. Alex then took a position at the Disneyland Resort’s award-winning Napa Rose where he felt blessed to be encouraged by yet another wonderful mentor and friend, Executive Chef Andrew Sutton. At Napa Rose, Alex learned every station and honed his craft through the culinary training program, which led to his role as Sous Chef. In 2009, he was recognized as “Sous Chef of the Year” by the Southern California Restaurant Writers association. Sutton praised Alex’s award, saying: “He is incredibly imaginative and has the culinary disciplines to back it up with sound cooking and flavor combinations.” Alex then rose to the next level as Chef de Cuisine and earned his certification as a Level One Sommelier. Currently, Chef Alex serves as Chef de Cuisine at Carthay Circle Restaurant, the award-winning signature restaurant inside Disney California Adventure Park where the spirit of Walt Disney is celebrated. The glamorous dining location is a detailed replication of the iconic Carthay Circle Theatre, Hollywood’s Golden-Era movie palace where Walt Disney’s classic “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” enjoyed its world premiere in 1937. As guests dine on elegant meals, they sit at luxurious tables surrounded by framed portraits of Walt Disney, Hollywood stars and classic Snow White animation. Chef Alex is honored to create menus and new culinary dishes for this premiere dining experience. As he does, he makes sure that fresh California ingredients are given the “starring role” on every plate. For whenever he goes to local farmer’s markets, he spends time with the growers and fishmongers and is impressed by the pride they have for what they do. He always returns with a greater appreciation for each fresh culinary ingredient, and it’s a passion he shares with the culinary crew---as well as his own family at home. As Chef Alex sees it, maybe one person can’t save the world alone, but we can each make a difference by the food we select and buy. And imagine how wonderful life could be if all the world could gather together and share a delicious meal as family and friends.
