Meet the people who make our mountain culture thrive. Our monthly Employee Spotlight highlights the passionate individuals who bring energy, expertise, and heart to Palisades Tahoe. This month, we’re featuring Tony Morris, a longtime sous chef at Alpine Lodge whose journey—from land speed records to crafting gourmet pastries—proves that adventure comes in many forms.
Tony Morris Sous Chef
Alpine Lodge
Years at Palisades: 14
Originally from Oakland, Tony’s diverse background spans welding, drafting, graphic design, and cooking. His varied experiences eventually led him to Reno, NV, where he joined Steve Fossett’s team as a logistics engineer on an ambitious quest to break the land speed record of 763 mph. In his role, Tony was responsible for ensuring that the vehicle not only withstood intense speeds, but could safely come to a stop. After the project ended with Fossett’s tragic death in 2007, Tony turned his attention to the mountains surrounding Lake Tahoe, a favorite spot where he often went snowboarding. He decided to embrace his culinary talents, working in local restaurants before joining Palisades. “These mountains have a lot to offer,” Tony says. “When I retire in a few years, this is the perfect place. And I’m already here.”
Fun Facts:
Favorite Part of the Job: “I love being the head of a team: working with people from all over the world, watching them grow in the kitchen, and developing relationships.”
Secret Talent: “I’m a certified pastry chef. For July 4th, I made a piña colada cheesecake for the staff. It had a coconut graham cracker crust, a grenadine sauce, roasted pineapple, pureed mango, and an edible flower.”
Outside the Resort: “ When I’m not in the kitchen, I’m outdoors. Besides snowboarding, I kayak, roller skate, and inline skate. I also have a small business called Big T Designz that makes custom aprons.”
Must-Do For Guests: “ Experience the food here. We really try to offer something for everyone – not just the typical burgers and fries, though of course we have those. This season, we’ll be doing a lot of barbecue. I’m going to be smoking everything I can get my hands on!”
How Do You Share The Spirit?: “ I make sure everyone knows that we bring skiers and snowboarders together to enjoy all we have to offer here. That’s not available everywhere.”
