Universal Studios’ Head Chef Reveals Holiday Treats, Best Places to Eat at Orlando Resort

The holidays are just around the corner, but the seasonal treats at Universal Studios are already here — and according to the park’s executive chef, Jens Dahlmann, they are spectacular this year.

“The holiday season is so special to us,” says Dahlmann, who is the executive chef of operations at the resort.

“It’s a theme park based on a movie studio, but it does feel like you’re walking around in the perfect Christmas movie set, with all the carolers and decorations.” He adds, nodding to the Florida weather, “If only it were 30 degrees colder!”

Each year, he says, the park makes sure to sell seasonal treats, and says this year, the pastry chef knocked them out of the (theme) park.

“Of course, we’re going to have hot chocolate and your Christmas cookies, but we’re always elevating those basic offerings, asking ourselves, ‘How can we step it up?'”

He continues, “This year at the NBC cafe, we launched a pistachio holiday wreath, which is a petite choux ring with pistachio filling, and it looks so elegant.”

“Being European, I also love roasted chestnuts. To me, chestnuts and Christmas really go together, so this year we have a montblanc thats filled with vanilla cream and has chestnut mousse all the way around, garnished with a little gold leaf on top.”

“Of course there’s certain flavors that come with Christmas, like peppermint,” he says.

“This year we have a peppermint cheesecake bar, which looks like a beautiful fancy chocolate bar, but then you get all these flavors of chocolate and peppermint and it takes you right to Christmas. It’s like a snow-covered log almost, just a really unique and elevated dessert.”

As for their hot chocolate offering? Yep, it’s also elevated.

“Our Grinch chocolate bomb is something that’s unique,” Dahlmann says.

“It’s like a little chocolate shell, and it’s in the shape of a heart, and inside it has marshmallows and chocolate, and you drop this into your hot chocolate, and then it melts into it and intensifies your hot chocolate.”

“Those have become fan favorites. And our holiday cookies are also really elevated, like our snowman cookie. It’s gingersnap with a little vanilla bean cheesecake head.”

As for his own favorite spots for dining around the park?

Dahlmann says he usually wraps up his long days with a cocktail and lakeside dining at Bigfire restaurant.

“It’s very close to my heart,” he says of Bigfire, located on the City Walk. “Everything is cooked on a beautiful, wood grill fire, and it feels like a very fancy lakeside cabin,” he says.

“I also love Cowfish on Citywalk,” he notes.

“It’s just a fun place, and because it’s a burger and sushi bar, there’s something for the whole family. I do love my sushi, and it’s a very creative take on rolls. Plus it’s very, very high-quality.”

Dahlmann says that he’s always amazed at how quickly park staffers turn the resort into a winter wonderland.

“I just came out of the park and everything is fully decorated,” he says. The tree is up, the lights are up. It’s pretty impressive and it really makes you feel appreciation for everyone who works so hard to give the guests such a wonderful experience. It’s really amazing.”