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News! Pre-Ordering Now Available for Two Best-Selling Disney Dining Guides!

We know you’re just as excited as we are about the upcoming 2013 Epcot Food and Wine Festival AND this year’s holiday season in Walt Disney World! It’s never too early to start making plans (you’ve gotta make those Dining Reservations 6 months in advance, after all!), so we have an exciting new offer for you today!

Pre-order the 2013 Editions of two best-selling Disney Dining e-Books — and get the 2012 Guides for Free!

When you pre-order your copies of the DFB Guide to the 2013 Walt Disney World Holidays and/or the DFB Guide to the 2013 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival for an exclusive discounted rate, you’ll be able to instantly download the 2012 Guides and start your planning — TODAY.
Then you will be automatically emailed the 2013 Guides when they’re published. Get two editions for the price of one and start planning right away.

Pre-Order — DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World® Holidays 2013

The Holiday season in Disney World is packed with magic: Holiday meals and snacks, special events, and seasonal shows, for starters! How will you see all the attractions, save money, AND take in the extra festivities in your already jam-packed vacation?

We’ll guide you through all the holiday events, activities, and dining so that you can get the biggest bang for your buck in Walt Disney World!
List Price: $14.95. This price includes the 2012 Guide as an instant download. You will automatically be sent the 2013 Guide as soon as it’s published.
Enter Discount Code: PreHoliday
DFB Reader Discount: $3! (20% off)
Your Exclusive DFB Price: $11.95 — get the 2012 Guide instantly, and the 2013 Guide as soon as it’s published!

To Order: http://dfbminiguides.com/holiday

We’ve done all of the research for you so you can pack your luggage and get ready to enjoy the festivities. Do you know where to score a chocolate monorail? Which event offers complimentary Continue reading →

News! Disney World Swan and Dolphin to Host a Mother’s Day Brunch

Mother’s Day is fast approaching — May 12, to be exact — and if you haven’t made plans yet, we have some terrific news for you!

The Walt Disney Wold Swan and Dolphin will host a Mother’s Day Brunch to help celebrate all the wonderful things that she does throughout the year.

Celebrate Mom with Your Disney Friends at the Garden Grove!

When: Sunday, May 12, 2013, 11:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.

Where: Garden Grove Cafe, Walt Disney World Swan Resort

Cost: $35.99 for Adults, $19.99 for children ages 3-9, children under three eat for free

The buffet-style meal will include Continue reading →

Fun Finds: Disney Kitchen Plates, Coasters, and Other Fun Stuff!

Iconic Disney is the name of the game when it comes to new Kitchenware in the parks!

On a recent trip to Walt Disney World, I spied some seriously fun finds. And, of course, I wanted to share them with you! Be sure to check out DisneyStore.com to see if these goodies pop up over there!

Dessert Plates

First up are these rad Square Dessert Plates with those fun “2013″ designs.

Dessert Plates

One depicts a very Mary Blair-like design of the “it’s a small world” exterior, done up in primary colors for a change of pace. Another has Donald gallivanting — our favorite grumpy duck is outfitted in different colors than normal, and he’s surrounded by cool “Lucky Duck” symbols – for lucky number (20)13!

The other two plates feature 2013 too — one proclaims it “The Year of the Villians” (ooooooh!) while the other features Mickey in front of a ton of iconic Disney symbols!

Food-erific Magnets

Just when you think that Disney magnets could not get any better, you find you’re wrong! These have been around for a while, but I’m seeing them pop up more and more in several Disney parks shops.

Vying for a spot in my collection this trip are these awesome Disney-themed Food Magnets. Don’t you think Junior’s best artwork should totally be held in place with a Mickey Bar and a Krispie?

Disney Food Magnets

And if you have any kind of Continue reading →

DIY Disney Recipe: Pollo A Las Rajas from Epcot’s San Angel Inn Restaurante

Guest chef Carol E. takes us to Epcot’s San Angel Inn Restaurante this week. And she’s sharing two different ways to make the guest favorite Pollo A Las Rajas!

My husband and I absolutely love Mexican food, so one of our favorite restaurants to visit in Epcot’s World Showcase is the San Angel Inn inside Mexico’s Mayan pyramid. If you find yourself lucky enough to visit this restaurant, ask for a table close to the river which runs through the back of the restaurant.

Table by the River at San Angel Inn

We’ve visited San Angel Inn several times, but I was recently introduced to what has quickly become one of my favorite dishes in all of Epcot! It’s called Pollo A Las Rajas!

Pollo a las Rajas as served at San Angel Inn in Epcot

As soon as I got home, I started flipping through all my Disney cookbooks to find this recipe. I was told it has been a staple on their menu since the beginning, so I was excited to learn that the recipe was printed in the Cooking with Mickey and the Disney Chefs cookbook!

You might be thinking, I can’t even pronounce this, how am I supposed to make this dish?! Don’t be intimidated…we’ll cover what it all means before we get started making it!

Pollo is the Spanish word for chicken (pronounced Po-yo). A Las Rajas, pronounced awe las (like Las Vegas) raw-hoss (like boss with an h instead of a b), means cracks or splits in Spanish, and refers to the skin of the roasted poblano pepper that we will be “cracking” the skin off of as we roast it in hot oil. So there you go, Pollo A Las Rajas is a super easy dish to make for dinner and is a fancy Spanish phrase for cracked pepper chicken!

I do have to say after looking over the recipe, I was a little disappointed. It seems they have changed the recipe that they actually serve now in the restaurant. I wanted to try the original recipe that was listed in the cookbook, but I was already in love with the dish they served me a few weeks ago in the restaurant. What a dilemma!

The only way to solve this problem is to make both dishes, so that’s what we’ll do! Below you’ll find the original recipe first and then the changes that the restaurant has made to make this dish now. We’ll meet up at the end to discuss! :-) Let’s get started!

Ingredients

Be sure to check out the A Few Lessons I Learned section below to find out more about these ingredients, including how to prep your chorizo.

-4 chicken breast halves
-5 tablespoons vegetable oil
-1 large poblano pepper
-1 large Spanish onion
-1 large red bell pepper
-I cup of chorizo (Mexican sausage), peeled and diced
-1 garlic clove, chopped
-1 cup sour Continue reading →

Disney Food Pics of the Week: Dole Whips!

It’s getting hot out there, my friends, and it’s time to start talking Dole Whips.

Today, we feature this perennial Disney Foodie fan favorite through the lens of our awesome readers who post on our Flickr Disney Photo Food Extravaganza!

Dole Whip Vanilla Swirl

One of the things I love best about Dole Whips is that there are so many awesome ways to enjoy them. Here, photographer Kelly Tressler has captured one great way to enjoy the treat – swirled with vanilla soft serve!

Photographer: Kelly Tressler

Vanilla Swirl Dole Whip from Aloha Isle in Magic Kingdom

We’re gonna assume Kelly snapped this pic at Magic Kingdom, where Aloha Isle in Adventureland is the place to grab this refreshing treat.

Dole Whip Float for Two

Next, we move into new drink+snack territory! Behold, the Dole Whip Float.

Photographer: Mandy Jansen

Dole Whip Float for Two

But the real question is…would you share? Mandy Jansen looks to be Continue reading →

News! Sanaa at the Animal Kingdom Lodge Unveils New Lunch Menu…With Some Surprises!

The Animal Kingdom Lodge’s Sanaa has debuted a new lunch menu! And we have all the details and a few pics courtesy of guest author Julie B.!

You all know how much I LURVE Sanaa at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Kidani Village (BUTTER CHICKEN!!!). And I’m excited to share that there have been some interesting changes made to the lunch offerings since our recent Sanaa lunch review.

In fact, it’s the most dramatic menu makeover since the restaurant opened.

Let’s take a look at what’s been updated…

Bread Service

The Sanaa bread service has been a major fan favorite for years. Basically, you’ve always been able to get a choice of three breads (including the gorgeous and buttery Naan bread) and three accompaniments for $8.99.

A Few Bread Service Choices -- Naan - Onion Kulcha - Paneer Paratha

Now, Sanaa diners can pay an additional $2 to receive all nine accompaniments with the bread service! Just two bucks and NO MORE CHOOSING!

Bread Service Menu.

You’ll get all those delicious sauces and chutneys for $10.99! Seriously good deal.

All nine bread service accompaniments!

Appetizers and Salad Sampler

The Appetizer Sampler for Two has changed its offerings.

OLD Appetizer Sampler for Two -- Potato and Pea Samosas - Lamb Kefta - Roasted Cauliflower

NOW, instead of samosas, lamb kefta kabobs, and roasted cauliflower, it features samosas, lamb kefta sliders, and a choice of Seasonal Soup or Chana Tikki (a new appetizer described as Spiced Chickpea Cakes with Tomato Chutney).

Appetizers and Salad Sampler.

The Lamb Kefta Sliders have replaced the former kabobs, and a seasonal soup is now a regular feature on the menu.

Never fear, the totally awesome Tomato Soup with Paneer Cheese is still there!

Tomato Soup with Paneer Cheese is safe on the menu!

Two new salads have appeared on the salad sampler – Kachumbari (didn’t get a detailed description, the Cast are still getting used to everything, too) and Mango salad. These replace the Golden Lentils and Tomato Salad, and the Roasted Beets salad.

Slow-cooked in Gravy

Another menu change Julie got to sample personally was the different variety of “Slow-cooked in Gravy.”  She says:

You can sleep soundly tonight knowing your beloved Continue reading →

Review: DFB Snack Attack IllumiNations Dessert Party (Save the Date for our October Event!)

I’m excited to say that we just had another awesome Disney Food Blog Snack Attack and IllumiNations Dessert Party a couple of weeks ago!!

Watching Illuminations from a VIP location and eating Disney desserts? Yes, please!

It was so much fun to meet so many Disney Food Blog readers and supporters, and we lucked out with absolutely beautiful weather in Epcot for our VIP IllumiNations Dessert Party. Thank you all for coming!

The sun sets as we wait for the party to begin!

What’s Snack Attack?

Just in case you’re new to DFB, our Snack Attack events are special ticket-only evenings where we combine:

  • Our favorite Disney World snacks from all over the parks and resorts, AND
  • A private, VIP viewing area for IllumiNations, Reflections of Earth — the Epcot fireworks spectacular!

If you want to attend our next Snack Attack, save the date for October 2, 2013!! Tickets will go on sale soon!

One of several dessert tables weighed down with goodies for us!

Whaddya Eat at Snack Attack?

Well, we eat all of my favorite snacks…and DFB readers seem to like ‘em, too! These are served throughout the event, and are all-you-can-eat! Here’s a little sampling of some of the goodies…

Carrot Cake Cookies from Writer’s Stop in Disney’s Hollywood Studios (filled with gobs of cream cheese frosting!)

Writer's Stop Carrot Cake Cookies

Close Up of a Carrot Cake Cookie!

Zebra Domes from Animal Kingdom Lodge

Animal Kingdom Lodge Zebra Domes

School Bread from Epcot’s Norway pavilion

Epcot Norway School Bread

Butterfinger Cupcakes from Starring Rolls Continue reading →

My Great Idea That You Have to Try: The Jungle Juice Float in Disney’s Animal Kingdom!

Just outside of Tusker House in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, there is a humble little kiosk called Harambe Popcorn. I estimate that I’ve passed right by it about a million times, give or take ten thousand or so.

I’ve noted the menu — popcorn, check. Glazed nuts (yum!), check. Assorted bevs and Jungle Juice, check check. I’ve even mentioned it to you in the Tusker House review.

Menu -- Click to Enlarge

The addition of Jungle Juice — that glorious stuff that includes passion fruit, guava, and orange juice into one yummo glass –  to the kiosk is relatively new, and I’d been looking forward to getting some here.

It’s pretty great that you can now get it without booking a table at Boma or Tusker House! Here’s a pic of Jungle Juice at Boma…for comparison purposes.

Regular Jungle Juice Served at Boma

But when I finally headed over to get myself a glass a week or so ago, I was pretty intrigued by what I was given.

When the nice cast member handed over a hefty serving, I realized…it was FROZEN!

Well, not completely frozen, but slushy…the texture was a cross between a slush puppie and Disney’s frozen lemonade.

Frozen Jungle Juice at Animal Kingdom's Harambe Popcorn

Now, I have no idea if this is what regularly happens here at this kiosk. But I CAN tell you that the Jungle Juice was in one of those frozen drink tumbly things. You know, the ones that look like little washing machines?

So my guess is that they do serve it frozen as a general rule. How about that?! Have you seen frozen jungle juice anywhere else?

Frozen Jungle Juice -- Up Close

And this stuff is ah-mazing! I loved it! I would definitely be in line for more if I didn’t have to eat everything else in the Disney Parks. ;-)

My Great Idea That You Have To Try: Continue reading →

News! California Grill Menu and Epcot’s France Ice Cream Shop Menu Updates

On my visit to Walt Disney World I got some great updates on the California Grill renovation at Disney’s Contemporary Resort,  and on Epcot’s new L’Artisan des Glaces France Ice Cream Shop opening! And I just couldn’t wait to share them with you!

L’Artisan des Glaces — Epcot’s French Ice Cream Shop Updates

The new ice cream parlor in Epcot’s France pavilion — L’Artisan des Glaces — will open in mid-June! Recently, I spoke with a General Manager of Operations at the France pavilion and found out a few great updates about the menu!!

Ice Cream and Sorbet Flavors
They’ll have 10 ice creams and 6 sorbets available. Varieties will change regularly and be served in either one scoop or two scoops with a choice of a cone or cup.

Flavors will vary and rotate, but standards will include chocolate, vanilla, pistachio, and — this one sounds awesome! – profiterole!

Details and Flavors for Liquor-Topped Ice Creams
Remember, you can also top your ice cream with liquor! If you choose the liquor option, it will be served in the same types of martini glasses that the famous Grand Marnier and Grey Goose slushes are served in at the outside kiosk in France.

Liquor flavors are still being finalized, but will likely include Grand Marnier, Grey Goose vodka, a rum from Martinique, and other options.

California Grill Menu Updates

During an informative conversation with California Grill Chef Brian Piasecki this week, I uncovered these fun updates!

Chef Brian Piasecki at California Grill!

California Grill Opening Date
California Grill is still looking at a “late Summer” opening…likely September. Get ready to make your reservations as booking should be available in the next 4 weeks or so.

New! Omakase Menu
I asked the Chef if he foresaw any Chef’s Counter or Chef’s Table option at Cali Grill in the future. While he said there wouldn’t be a typical Chef’s Table option, California Grill will be offering an Omakase menu at the sushi bar.

“Omakase” means “I’ll leave it to you” in Japanese, and that’s exactly what diners will do when ordering this menu! They’ll receive a 12 course, chef-directed meal featuring modern interpretations of Japanese cuisine and sushi, progressing from lighter dishes and flavors to heavier and richer options in later courses.

The menu will change for this meal regularly, and that could mean that you get a completely different meal from night to night. The items will not be available on the regular menu and will only be available for those ordering the Omakase meal.

California Grill Menu Updates
We got a taste of a brand new menu item! The Oak-Fired Three Meat Meatball with Continue reading →

FULL Review: The NEW BoardWalk Bakery in Walt Disney World!

OK,  I promised you on Saturday that I’d have a full, extensive review of the new BoardWalk Bakery for you soon…and here it is!!

Last Friday, I was up bright and early to be first in line for the grand re-opening of the brand new BoardWalk Bakery at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn! And while I wasn’t FIRST in line, I came pretty close. :-)

Long a fan favorite, this tiny bakery needed a major overhaul in the space department, and we couldn’t wait to see what Imagineers had dreamed up.

We’ll start with atmosphere pics and lead into the goodies. If you want to dive right into the super sugary part, scroll to the bottom section called “What Did I Pick?”

Atmosphere

When looking for the BoardWalk Bakery, head down the steps from the hotel’s main lobby to the BoardWalk, and you can’t miss it.

Sign Leading Down to the BoardWalk

I wasn’t disappointed to see that the bakery had tripled in size. This place really needed to be larger!

The NEW Boardwalk Bakery -- three times the size of the old one!

You can see that there are now two entrances to the bakery — one for those queuing up for food, and one for BoardWalk Inn and Villas guests who just need to refill their resort mugs. A great system!

Mug Filling Station Has a Separate Entrance from Bakery Queue

And, of course, Hue G. Krazont is still the proprietor. :-)

Bakery's Windows and Proprietor's Name

Time to head inside!! Guests who were there first thing received these snazzy celebration buttons. (Okay, they’re the regular celebration buttons with handwriting. But still.)

Celebration Buttons to Mark the Grand Re-Opening!

We are ecstatic to see a lot more room inside the bakery, even though most of it is reserved for the actual queue line.

The classy red walls and checkerboard floor along with wrought iron, brass, and dark wood accents give this spot a been-there-forever kind of classic feel. The schoolhouse lighting is another fun addition!

Note, however, that the display cases have multiplied by about four! They’re not kidding around with the focal point here!

Bakery Display Cases and New Queue Setup

If you do find yourself in that long queue line, at least the large windows make people watching on the BoardWalk an easy sport.

Looking Out from the Inside Onto the BoardWalk

Soon you’ll get up to the bakery and dessert cases to make your selections. We’ve got LOTS more pics of these in our “Eats” Section of this review…so scroll down for the goodies!

Assorted Pastries in the Bakery Case

After you’ve made your selections and check out, it’s time to Continue reading →