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EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival

Snack Series: Yule Log at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

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I just got back from a Disney World trip and BOY do I have a ton to share with you!! From new holiday goodies to in-depth reviews, we’ve got a lot of delicious food coming your way. But first up — I had to tell you about this awesome Yule Log at Kusafiri Bakery in Disney’s Animal Kingdom!

Yule Log

During my regular “casing” of Animal Kingdom on this trip, I found a few new holiday goodies at Kusafiri. There’s a red-and-green frosted chocolate brownie, a few holiday cookies, and the Yule Log, which I couldn’t wait to try!

Kusafiri eats

I snagged one and headed for my regular “photography” table nearby. 🙂 Check out the detail on this thing! I love the dusting of “snow,” and the holiday star sprinkles.

Yule Log

The “bark” is made up of dark chocolate shavings, which give the treat [Read more…]

Full Review: Gaston’s Tavern in New Fantasyland

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Editor’s Note: The Pork Shank is no longer available at Gaston’s Tavern.

While visiting the Magic Kingdom’s New Fantasyland in Walt Disney World last week, I knew I had to pay a visit to the new Gaston’s Tavern!

Gaston’s Tavern

This tribute to the mighty Gaston from Disney’s animated Beauty and the Beast features everything you’d expect, from a rustic atmosphere to antler-ific decor from top to bottom.

While it’s not getting as much attention as the new table-service restaurant, Be Our Guest Restaurant, in New Fantasyland, it’s not to be passed over. Debuting brand new, unique eats, Gaston’s is a must-do on your next Magic Kingdom visit…

Atmosphere

While it’s a counter-service joint offering mostly snacks along with the newly introduced Pork Shank, Gaston’s showcases some unique dining areas once you grab your grub.

Gaston’s Tavern Ordering Area

If you turn to your right after getting your food, you’ll find a main dining room complete with a giant portrait of Gaston. The room sports wooden tables and stools, a massive fireplace, and even Gaston’s giant chair, which is perfect for pictures.

Gaston’s Tavern main dining room

Random Guy in Gaston’s Chair

Over in the corner is this great little seating area that’s separated a bit from everything else. This circular spot is crowned with a chandelier of antlers, of course!

Gaston’s Tavern side room off of main dining room

If you turn to your left after getting your food, you’ll find a smaller dining room. This one also holds plenty of wooden tables and stools for seating, and also features a dart game — in progress — between Gaston and [Read more…]

News! Monsieur Paul Menu in Epcot’s France

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Update:Monsieur Paul will be a signature restaurant requiring two Disney Dining Plan credits per person. Guests with the Disney Dining Plan may order the Prix Fixe menu with two dining plan credits plus a $30.50 per person surcharge when using the standard dining plan; deluxe, premium, and platinum dining plan guests will be charged $14.50 per person plus the two table service credits. In addition, the regular menu does not feature vegetarian options. Please note your special diet information when making your reservation.

As we reported earlier this year, Bistro de Paris closed to undergo renovations. The table-service restaurant will re-open on December 11th with a new name — Monsieur Paul — which is a well-deserved nod to Chef Paul Bocuse!

Monsieur Paul Restauarant in Epcot's France

While Monsieur Paul will be less formal than Bistro de Paris, the restaurant will still maintain an upscale and elegant atmosphere by capturing classic French architectural elements as well as personal mementos of Chef Bocuse’s culinary achievements in a contemporary setting. Servers will approach guests in crisp white shirts, purple ties, and long black aprons.

The restaurant will not only greet guests with a new name and decor, there will also be a redesigned menu featuring classic Bocuse entrees recreated with American ingredients. Let’s take a look!

Appetizers

Raviole d’escargots, crème au persil

Escargot raviole, cream of parsley $16

Saumon mi-cuit mariné, salade de concombre
Lightly cooked marinated salmon, blinis, cucumber salad $17

Soups and Salads

[Read more…]

Dining in Disneyland: Harbour Galley’s Pumpkin Squash Chowder, Stuffed Baked Potatoes, and More

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Tucked in a corner along the Rivers of America in Critter Country lies the hidden little gem that is Harbour Galley.

Now that it’s FINALLY getting a little colder here in Southern California, it’s a great time to enjoy some warm comfort foods. Harbour Galley is a counter service restaurant that actually looks more like a snack stand, and they feature soups, salads, and stuffed baked potatoes.

The Harbour Galley

Atmosphere

The seating is limited in this area, but there are a few tables with chairs as well as a little hidden area around the corner to the left of the utensil station where you can usually find a nice waterside table.

If it’s too crowded, you can always take your food to the nearby Hungry Bear seating area.

Harbour Galley Waterside Seating

I recently had a Cast Member tell me that I needed to try the Stuffed Baked Potatoes at Harbour Galley — specifically the Barbeque Chicken one.

Eats

So on a recent lunch date with some friends, I suggested that we head over and check them out.  To my surprise, I found something even better than baked potatoes… Seasonal Pumpkin Squash Chowder!

Don’t be fooled by the [Read more…]

2013 Epcot Flower and Garden Festival Will Include Unique Food and Beverages

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The 20th Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival will be in full bloom from March 6 – May 19, 2013 at the Walt Disney World Resort.

And best of all for us Disney food fans, the chefs will create exclusive festival eats at cooking stations around World Showcase – a festival first!

We don’t have a lot of info yet, but the booths may be like last year’s Haiti kiosk where we discovered the tastiest frozen lemonade!

Haiti Booth

While the chefs are creating the menu, we’ll be dreaming about the kind of festival flavors that might be offered at the multiple festival-themed food and beverage kiosks.

For now, we know the menu will include backyard barbecue and a multitude of [Read more…]

Disney Food for Parents: Your “Little Helper” is Only a Gift Shop Away

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Normally I write about Disney Food for Families. This means I share tips about dining with children at Walt Disney World.

Sometimes a glass of wine hits the spot after a long day in the park!

But I’m here now to acknowledge that Mom and Dad are also an important part of a Disney family vacation, too. Oh gosh, am I even allowed to say that? 🙂

Don’t tell my kiddos, but sometimes, after a long day of hunting for FastPasses, adjudicating squabbles, masterminding wait-time entertainment, and taking the brave one (why is there always a brave one?) on Tower of Terror for the third time in a row, yes sometimes Mommy needs a evening unwind, facilitated by a little drinkie-poo. Yep, sometimes old Mom needs a glass of wine.

Where to Kick Back?

Wine and other friendly alcoholic beverages are, of course, readily available at restaurants and lounges throughout Walt Disney World. Heck, you can now even get yourself a nice Pinot Gris in the Magic Kingdom.

But often the place you most want your relaxing drink is where you can, you know, actually relax. You want your adult beverage in your hotel room, when the pups are asleep. You want to be able to shower off the day, put your feet up, snuggle in front of a non-G-rated movie, and enjoy your vino in your jammies.

Can’t do that in the bar downstairs unless you’re in the mood for some unwanted attention from security.

Chilled wine by the bottle, for sale in the Saratoga Springs gift shop

The obvious solution is to bring a bottle of wine to your room. And, having always thought of everything, Disney is ready to accommodate.

ALL the Walt Disney World hotels sell a selection of bottled beers, wines, and spirits in their gift shops or food courts. Even better, all the Disney hotels now have in-room refrigerators provided free of charge. You can keep your hooch cool without having to make a PJ-clad run to the ice machine down the hall. (Is it super obvious that I’ve done this on more than one occasion?)

What’s Available?

The selection of bottled alcohol varies quite a bit from resort to resort and from week to week. But generally you can find several brands of domestic and imported beer, basic hard liquors, and a handful of red, white, and rose wines. The deluxe resorts also often have chilled champagne in their refrigerator cases.

To give you an idea of what you might expect, here are some photos of the alcohol selection taken at various Disney World resorts over the [Read more…]

Best Disney World Restaurants According to Zagat

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Zagat released its inaugural 2013 Orlando Survey

recognizing Orlando as a true food-lover’s haven!

ZAGAT: Orlando City Guide

Covering 360 restaurants, 75 nightspots, shops, and more, the Zagat results are based on the opinions of 5,614 local consumers.

And, not surprisingly, several Walt Disney World venues made the top lists in many of the categories, from Top 10 Restaurants in Orlando to Best Decor to Winning Nightspot!

Let’s take a look at where Disney’s recommended in the new Zagat guide…

Top 10 Restaurants

Clocking in at an impressive second place in the Top 10 Restaurants in Orlando category, Victoria & Albert’s at the Grand Floridian takes the honors.

This elegant restaurant is also voted as best romantic venue.

Victoria and Albert's Seating

And Jiko at the Animal Kingdom Lodge receives accolades placing 8th in the Top 10 Category!

Seating by the Window at Jiko

These restaurants are also highlighted in the “Best Food” and “Best Wine List” categories!

Top Rated Restaurants by Cuisine

For New American cuisine, Chef Scott Hunnel at Victoria & Albert’s gets top marks once again!

Sake-Soy-marinated Long Island Duck with Bok Choy and Soy Beans at Victoria & Albert's

Best Eclectic/New World Restaurants

One of our favorite Downtown Disney restaurants, Paradiso 37, made the list in this category!

Paradiso Chocolate Stack Dessert

Best Japanese Restaurants

Looking for Japanese cuisine? Head to Epcot’s [Read more…]

First Look and Food Review: Splitsville Menu in Downtown Disney

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It’s finally time to bring you a sneak preview of Walt Disney World’s newest entertainment complex — Splitsville Luxury Lanes! Located at Downtown Disney and opening officially on December 19th, the bowling chain has created its biggest and best location, yet…

Splitsville -- Outside View

Located in the old Virgin Megastore across from Wolfgang Puck Cafe, the brand new space is a welcome addition to Downtown Disney’s WestSide. And with the promise of upscale bowling alley food — sliders, pizza, and sushi taking center stage — we were anxious to finally get a peek behind those construction walls.

Atmosphere

OK, so basically…this place is massive. Boasting two floors of bowling, dancing, and dining, you’ll be blown away by how much space there is here.

And both inside and outside of Splitsville, the vibe is completely retro chic. Owners wanted to bring back the golden age of bowling, so you’ll see a lot of mid-century modern touches throughout the space.

Locker Decor

Even the shoes make a statement.

Bowling Shoes

Cool “nuclear” chrome light fixtures mix with bold red, black, and white color schemes to make a decor statement. And speaking of red, black, and white, plan on seeing a lot of that in the merchandise here, too.

You can even purchase your very own [Read more…]

Disney Food Post Round-Up: December 9, 2012

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I had a great time reporting live from Walt Disney World this past week. Are you ready to dig into all the new treats in New Fantasyland?

New Fantasyland

Disney Dining News

Here’s some of the tempting Disney Dining news this week…

  • New Fantasyland is now open in Disney World’s Magic Kingdom! Check out some of the fun eats and treats you can find this weekend!
  • Starbucks will debut in Disneyland Park in 2013 at the Market House on Main Street USA.
  • Splitsville will open in Orlando’s Downtown Disney on December 19th. Stay tuned for a review of the food this week!
  • Raglan Road in Disney World’s Downtown Disney announces a new Celtic Brunch, holiday meals, and more!
  • Tables in Wonderland, the Disney World dining discount program, has increased its price in 2012.

We’ve got additional food news, including Tables in Wonderland December Event at The Wave, and LOTS more, on our Disney Food News Pin Board! Head over and check it out!

DFB Reader Finds

If you find a fun new food in or from Disney, share a photo with us so we can add it to our DFB Reader Finds each Sunday!

On a recent trip to the Disneyland Resort, Disney Dad Bernie Edwards saw these gorgeous candy canes at Trolley Treats in Disney California Adventure. While they’re likely not THE candy canes, they’re still a fabulous holiday treat!

Trolley Treats Candy Canes

Venessa/neomi_buttons exclaims “Making A.J. proud during Food and Wine Festival!!” with a tray for “teeny foods”.

Food and Wine Tray

DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World® Holidays 2012 e-Book

Don’t forget to grab your DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World® Holidays 2012 e-Book before heading to Disney World this holiday season!

The DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World Holidays 2012 e-Book features 230 pages of information, including NEW events and holiday happenings; over 200 photos; and an informative FAQ section. It includes:

  • Detailed descriptions and photos of all holiday events and activities happening at the parks and resorts this year!
  • A fully comprehensive holiday dining section with listings of holiday snacks, treats, meals, and menu items offered this year.
  • A clickable 3-Month Schedule of Holiday Events so you can see at-a-glance what looks interesting to you.
  • Our recommendations on ways to SAVE while you’re in Disney World this holiday season.
  • And more!

As always, we’ve made this guide instantly downloadable for your convenience. It’s easily installed on your mobile devices like smartphones and tablets.

We want to celebrate the holidays with a bargain – get $3 off the purchase price for the e-Book TODAY! Order your copy now for only $11.95 (regularly $14.95). To secure the discount, use code HOLIDAY at the check-out. Click here to get your copy.

And if you want another GREAT deal, snap up our DFB Holiday Bundle! This includes the DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World Holidays AND our original DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining 2012! With a 100% 30-day, money-back guarantee on all of our guides, you have nothing to lose! 🙂

On to the Round-Up

Walt Disney World for GrownUps

takes date night to Disney’s Yacht Club resort.

Daveland shares vintage and modern food photos from Disneyland, including Walt with a tuna boat salad.

Main Street Gazette samples gourmet caramels in Disney World.

Disney by Mark takes my advice and dines at Yak ‘n Yeti with a window view of the Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade.

AllEars.Net stops by Raglan Road at Downtown Disney Orlando.

Disney Parks Blog shares a video of Dancing With The Stars pros waltzing inside Be Our Guest. Of course, Belle and the Beast join in!

Dining in Disneyland: Holiday Treats in Disneyland and DCA

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With a few weeks left of the Disney Holiday Season, you still have plenty of time to head on over to the Disneyland Resort to taste some of the special holiday offerings. Read about some of the fun eats and events happening this year on our 2012 Disneyland Holiday page, and check out even more below…

And even if you aren’t a candy cane or egg nog fan, it’s worth a trip just to see the decor. I mean come on, look at this:

Sleeping Beauty's Winter Castle

I recently visited Disney’s California Adventure to get a sampling of all the yumminess the resort has to offer this season — and let me tell you, there are some pretty tasty treats.

A sampling of this year's holiday goodies.

Both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure are carrying a line of holiday caramel apples.  Choose from a festive Mickey or Minnie, or go for the cute snowman complete with chocolate Mickey ears and a sour belt scarf!

Festive Mickey & Minnie Caramel Apples

Snowman Caramel Apples

Both parks are also carrying a variety of Christmas Cupcakes, including this chocolate peppermint one! The frosting is whipped and infused with peppermint flavor.

It was by far my most favorite part of the cupcake. Warning though: with that bright green and red frosting, your tongue stands no chance against staining…

Chocolate Peppermint Cupcake

Traditional chocolate cake cupcakes with red & white vanilla frosting topped [Read more…]

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