Disney has highlighted a Galaxy’s Edge chef and her approach to storytelling when it comes to preparing food straight out of a Galaxy Far, Far Away.
‘If it doesn’t make sense for Batuu, it doesn’t belong.’
Disney Parks Blog shared a behind-the-scenes look at how the culinary team for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge develops dishes that fit the world of Batuu at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
The post spotlights Chef Maria Colon Cabrera, head chef for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Hollywood Studios.
As the post details, the goal for park chefs is not simply to serve distinct and delicious theme park meals, but to create dishes that feel like they could naturally be found in Black Spire Outpost, the remote trading port at the core of Galaxy’s Edge.
That effort includes considering ingredients, colors, plating, names, and how each item contributes to the larger Star Wars setting beyond the parks.
Chef Maria is a second-generation Disney cast member whose parents also worked for the company before retiring. She was part of the opening team for Galaxy’s Edge, and her wife, Olivia, also works for Disney and is currently a leader at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
In her role overseeing the culinary development at Galaxy’s Edge, Chef Maria and her team consider a wide range of ideas before narrowing down the best dishes through tastings and story discussions. The culinary team looks at what guests already enjoy, then considers how those dishes might be adjusted to fit a marketplace located on the edge of Wild Space, the unmapped regions at the outer edges of the Star Wars galaxy.
In some cases, that can mean unusual colors, less-wasteful ingredient choices, or presentation elements designed to make a familiar meal feel more otherworldly. Chef Maria gives an example:
“Pot roast, carrots, and potatoes are classic comfort food. But what’s the Batuu twist? Add turmeric for a warm golden color. Suddenly it looks like something you’d find in a trader’s stall in Black Spire Outpost. Food is a big part of the story at Galaxy’s Edge. If it doesn’t make sense for Batuu, it doesn’t belong.”
The post also notes that the culinary team collaborates with Lucasfilm to ensure the food aligns with the broader Star Wars setting. That collaboration can affect everything from dish names to plating and other small details that help preserve the land’s in-universe atmosphere.
Chef Maria also spoke about leadership within the kitchen, noting that several cast members who helped open Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge remain part of the team. She emphasized the importance of taking risks and learning from the diversity of her team:
“You don’t know your potential until you try. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes. Learn from them and be better than you were yesterday. The best storytelling happens when many voices help shape the experience.”
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge first opened at Disneyland in 2019, and later at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in the same year, bringing guests to the Outer Rim planet of Batuu with new Star Wars attractions, merchandise, dining, and interactive elements.
In recent weeks, Disneyland has been shifting the narrative setting of its Galaxy’s Edge area to introduce elements of the Original Trilogy of Star Wars films, including new merchandise, meet and greets, and other guest experiences.
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