At Satu'li Canteen within Pandora – The World of Avatar at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park, culinary innovation brings Avatar to life through food. Desserts appear to be consumed by flames without a single spark. Beverages glow with bioluminescence. Bowls are topped with boba balls that pop with flavor. Behind this culinary magic are a team of chefs, including Executive Chef Camilo Velasco and Pastry Chef Kellie Matthews, who have spent years cultivating a menu where every dish is carefully crafted to capture the magic of James Cameron's Pandora. Since the land opened in 2017, they've been translating a cinematic universe into tangible flavors that transport guests to another world. We sat down with Chef Camilo and Chef Kellie to explore how they transform an alien world into flavors guests can experience for themselves.
Crafting Culinary Experiences that Transport Guests to Another World
Creating food for Pandora begins with story. While Chef Camilo and Chef Kellie lead the culinary vision, they work alongside a broader team, including Food and Beverage Concept Development Beverage Director Steph Dold, who ensures that drinks receive the same storytelling treatment as food. "We often start by understanding the story we are trying to tell through the food/beverage experience," Chef Camilo explains. "Then we discuss flavors and ingredients, which leads to several rounds of testing. Sometimes we start with how we want the dish to look, and sometimes it starts with a single ingredient."
This creative process is supported by a unique three-way collaboration between Disney's culinary team, Walt Disney Imagineering, and Lightstorm Entertainment — the production company behind the Avatar films. "The Lightstorm team have always been fantastic partners," Chef Camilo explains. "They always guide our creative process by providing us with key elements of the storyline to focus on and draw inspiration for our food and drinks."
Chef Kellie describes how this collaboration works in practice: "They gave us some flavor profiles and images from the movie to base our ideas off, which was helpful!" Armed with concept art, story elements, and the creative vision behind the films, the culinary team creates dishes and drinks that serve as extensions to the films.
Steph Dold brings this same storytelling focus to beverage development. “In partnership with our beverage professionals, we’ve leaned into marketplace trends, enhancing flavor profiles to attract a broader audience while boosting the storytelling opportunities in the World of Pandora,” she says. “Additions like chamoy, dragon fruit, and savory garnishes immerse guests in the essence of the Avatar story, one of excitement and adventure.”
While the collaboration with Lightstorm provides the foundation, the magic happens when individual creativity meets that framework. Both Chef Camilo and Chef Kellie bring their own guiding philosophies that help bridge the gap between cinematic storytelling and culinary experience. For Chef Camilo, it's about creating moments of discovery while maintaining approachability for global park travelers: "I like to ensure there is always an element of surprise. The goal is to find the balance between discovery and comfort while staying true to the storyline." Guests should join the adventure, but never feel as though the dining options are unapproachable.
For Chef Kellie, the process is equally intentional. "For me, everything begins with flavor and the mood it's meant to evoke. Food has the power to transport us to a memory or immerse us in a story, which is why it's important to understand the intention behind what I'm creating. Once I define my flavor profiles, I think about what I want to eat, what our guests want to eat, and how I can push beyond the expected. If a dessert doesn't make me want to jump up and down with excitement after the first bite, then I know there's still more work to do." She also grounds her creativity in the world of Pandora itself. "The golden rule is natural. I want things to feel authentic and in harmony with nature." This philosophy reflects the deep connection to environment that defines the Avatar films.
The land itself also serves as constant inspiration. "Walking down Pandora is always super inspirational," Chef Camilo notes. Chef Kellie agrees: "After all, we eat with our eyes first, so creating something that will authenticate the story is a must!"
Together, this collaborative process ensures that when guests sit down to eat at Satu'li Canteen, they're not just having lunch; they're stepping deeper into the story of Avatar and experiencing Pandora in a way that engages all their senses.
From the Theatres to Your Plate
With the release of Avatar: Fire and Ash, the culinary team found inspiration in the film’s title. “This time I drew inspiration from the name itself: Fire and Ash,” Chef Camilo revealed. “It made us think about heat, warming spices, roasted flavors and caramelization.” These flavors are reflected in the choice to add chamoy to the new alcoholic beverage, the Trader’s Tailwind.
Chef Kellie, too, drew inspiration from the film when creating the newest dessert addition, the Mangkwan Mousse. "There is a scene that has the fire pit surrounded by bones and other remnants, and it captivated my attention," Chef Kellie recalls. "I think I had this aha moment when seeing this because I knew there was so much opportunity there. I wanted to be able to create a dessert that tasted warm; I thought to myself, how can I include flavors and textures that are sharp and bold yet familiar?" The result is a dessert that challenges expectations. The Mangkwan Mousse tantalizes your taste buds with "burning" embers of chocolate sesame cookie, cinnamon milk chocolate, and caramelized banana. All the flavors evoke the sensation of warmth and toastiness. "I wanted to think about this differently, because typical desserts will have an element of surprise on the inside of a dessert, but I wanted the element of surprise to be front and center with the lava-like banana caramel," Chef Kellie explains.
Even the visual presentation is intended to call back to the film scene. Chef Kellie describes how her team “only used cocoa butter spray on one side of the dessert because I wanted to evoke the feeling that fire is slowly taking over this dessert.” For Avatar superfans, the dessert offers a direct connection to the film. "Hopefully our dessert will take them back to the fire pit scene," Chef Camilo says.
More Than Just a Meal
For both Chef Camilo and Chef Kellie, the ultimate goal extends beyond satisfying hunger — it's about creating lasting memories.
"I want guests to feel immersed in the story," Chef Kellie emphasizes. "It's not just a quick service restaurant that will satisfy your hunger; it's a memorable experience and feeling we are trying to evoke out of the dishes we create. You won't find your typical park food in this location, and that's the point."
Chef Camilo shares the same vision: "I hope they are transported and immersed in this wonderful world of Avatar."
When asked about future additions to the menu, Chef Kellie's enthusiasm is evident. "I would love to ideate more frozen treats, as it's hot 90 percent of the year in Florida! It would be fun to play around with a frozen dessert that had warm elements to tie into Fire and Ash!"
As the Avatar franchise continues to expand, Chef Camilo Velasco and Chef Kellie Matthews will continue their work as translators of wonder, turning cinematic magic into culinary experiences that allow guests to taste a piece of Pandora. And in the warming spices, the carefully balanced flavors, and the attention to every visual detail, you can feel the care of chefs who aren't just doing a job; they're bringing a world to life, one dish at a time.
Whether you’re a longtime Avatar fan or visiting Pandora for the first time, Satu’li Canteen offers an experience unlike any other theme park dining. Come taste the Mangkwan Mousse or sip a Nightwraith Blaze inspired by Avatar: Fire and Ash under the floating Hallelujah Mountains. The delicious journey to Pandora awaits you!
