Between Matt and me, we have numerous Disney cookbooks, including Food & Wine Festival ones. But some of the more interesting ones don’t just contain recipes; they contain historical information from the parks. Today’s comes from Disneyland and it’s former Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship Restaurant, found in Chef Mickey: Treasures from the Vault & Delicious New Favorites by Pam Brandon.
“The Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship and Restaurant opened in the Fantasyland Area on August 29, 1955, sponsored by Van Camp Seafood Company’s Chicken of the Sea tuna, and was home of the only takeout tuna sandwiches at Disneyland Park. The ship featured a blonde mermaid figure-the mermaid was the sponsor’s trademark. In 1969, the restaurant’s name was changed to Captain Hook’s Galley, when Disneyland Park took over its operation. The ship remained until 1982, when it was demolished for the remodeling of the Fantasyland Area.”
The restaurant closed the same year I was born, and many years before we ever made it out to Disneyland. While I would have appreciated the novelty of the pirate ship as a kid, the idea of tuna sandwiches, takeout or otherwise, is not appetizing to me. I do believe that Matt would have adored this place, especially being renamed Captain Hook’s Galley. He likely would have loved their tuna sandwiches, much as he does Columbia Harbour House for theirs to this day. And imagine the tie-ins they could have had with the Pirates of the Caribbean movies…
Do you have a restaurant that you used to love from either coast that has significantly changed or completely been closed or removed? I have a feeling their will be a lot of Odysseys out there!
