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Chef Art Smith, Former Oprah Chef, Brings Southern Flavor to Walt Disney World Foodies

Umito November 18, 2024

A former employee of Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom theme park becomes a personal chef for Oprah Winfrey while simultaneously growing his client list to include former President Barack and First Lady Michelle Obama, Angela Bassett, and becomes an owner of restaurants in Washington, DC, New York, Chicago, Georgia and various cities in Florida – it’s Chief Art Smith. Born and raised in Florida, Chef Art grew up cooking soul food classics, and now his restaurant in Disney Springs, Return home‘, exposes the world to its buttermilk fried chicken, sausage gravy, deviled eggs, shrimp and grits, collard greens and everything in between.

PopCulture.com was invited to enjoy the magic of what Disney Springs offers food and drink lovers as part of its “Unwrapping Disney Springs” event to indulge in all things vacation. Before a full-blown feast was thrown, Chef Art took some time to talk to PC about his journey and why Disney Springs is the perfect reunion location.

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You are the only former Disney Parks cast member to own your own business at any Disney location worldwide. Tell me about the importance of this legacy around the world with all the Disney Disney in general, especially with your location as a Florida native.

I didn’t even know you had to open a business here. But I think when I discovered this (writing the story), the first thing I did, I started teaching classes at the Disney College Program school here. I have done an entire seminar and am always open to helping in this way. I want young people to know that if I can do it, you can do it. I think Disney is one of the greatest companies when it comes to leadership and they lead when it comes to imagination and allowing people to dream.

And if you can dream it, as the late Quincy Jones would say, you can be it. I remember when Quincy Jones would come to Oprah, and I would feed him all the time, and I remember him saying that all the time and I think we need to teach young people to be able to dream big and and really believe that you can make your dreams come true.

Despite your history with Disney, thanks to your experience, you could have opened your restaurant anywhere else in the world. Why start and stay here?

Disney is just a happy place. I prefer happy places.

You are world famous. Who was your favorite celebrity client? Or your top five?

Oprah Winfrey. Michelle Obama. Angela Bassett – Angela and are very close… I would say Lady Gaga… I think about the people that I actually know and that I actually interact with and not just that I’ve cooked for, but the people that I interact with that know What. they love. We interact, we talk. It’s more about the personal relationships I’ve built.

Your fried chicken is a staple and the fact that so many cultures try it and respond positively to it is one thing. But there’s a certain thing about being able to impress anyone African-American with your fried chicken or fried chicken in general, because it’s a highly valued food in the culture and one of the most harshly criticized. But you have a Southern upbringing. Tell us a little about the camaraderie there?

Oprah and Stedman (Graham) always said, “You put your foot in it. You cook like Madea. I love it. I always knew how to make sauce and stuff like that. I knew how to smother things, like smother chicken and stuff like that. So cooking isn’t new to me, but I feel like it’s because I put love into my food.