Meet Peter Gebauer, Chef and Author
Chef Gebauer, AAC, WCMC, GMC, retired with his wife Aime and daughter Anna Claudia to Yavapai Hills this past summer, after running the Watson Lake Inn Bed & Breakfast in the Granite Dells since 2017.
The chef and his family had created a real culinary destination in Arizona. To celebrate their five-year anniversary, they published the Watson Lake Inn Family Cookbook, the story, the vision, history, and collection of tantalizing recipes that nourish both the body and the soul. The Inn’s commitment to serving meals that used fresh, seasonal, and local ingredients, combined with Global flavors and delicate preparation had been the hallmark of their program since the beginning. Watson Lake Inn: “Where culinary experiences become lifetime memories”.
Chef Gebauer had an extensive career in the international hospitality industry, opening new resorts, cruise lines and developing food & beverage concepts. During his career Chef Gebauer was involved in consulting projects around the world, earning him many memberships and awards. He catered to royal families, presidents, and governments, and was featured on TV shows in Germany as well as the US. He cooked at the James Beard House in New York City and frequently at the Grand Old Opry in Nashville, Tennessee.
Growing up in the Bavarian Alps, he had a humble childhood in the countryside and began his culinary career as an apprentice in a boutique hotel where he became a certified chef with honor after three years. He sailed around the world onboard luxury cruise lines and worked in Hong Kong & the Middle East, before returning to Germany to become Certified Master Chef.
He became Executive Chef onboard the legendary SS Norway at age thirty, then returned to Singapore for the startup of Star Cruises and later Disney Cruise Line in Florida. He participated in several openings for Palace Resorts in Cancun then moved to Nashville to become the Executive Chef at the Gaylord Opryland Resort. Years later, he moved to Wisconsin taking the culinary helm at Potawatomi Hotel & Casino, one of the largest Native American Casino operations.
While in Wisconsin, Chef served as an advisor to both culinary schools in the Milwaukee area, and on the Wisconsin Restaurant Association board of directors; actively supporting the community and local charities. He served two terms as President of the ACF Chefs of Milwaukee and is a member of the American Academy of Chefs AAC, the Honor Society of the American Chefs Association.
Chef Gebauer published his first book in 2009, Omnivore’s Travel which takes an unprecedented approach in examining his international career and more. His second publication in 2013, My Culinary Academy is a comprehensive textbook for progressive culinary training and development.
Now that the family has settled in Yavapai Hills, he’d love to continue sharing his passion for food and hospitality, especially in the neighborhood. He will soon offer private cooking classes in a more intimate setting again, perhaps even private dinners to cater to the many loyal clients from the past, as well as foodies in Yavapai Hills.
Here are three of Peter’s favorite recipes:
Risotto-with-butternut-squash.pdf
Watson Lake Inn Family Cookbook and more at Amazon
Contact Peter via LinkedIn: or call 262-899-0200