Gerardo Quijada Gonzalez rises to Chef de Cuisine at Magic Kingdom

Gerardo Quijada Gonzalez, known as Jerry, has risen to the position of Chef de Cuisine at the Be Our Guest Restaurant in Magic Kingdom. His journey began over two decades ago when he participated in the International College Program at EPCOT’s Mexico Pavilion.

Unlike many participants who view the program as a temporary seasonal experience, Gonzalez returned to Mexico to complete his education and establish a stable culinary career. After years of working in Mexico, he and his family relocated to Central Florida. His return to Walt Disney World was not the result of recruitment, but rather the result of submitting numerous job applications over several years. He officially joined the Disney Culinary team in 2016 as a sous chef before reaching his current leadership role.