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

Apr 29th, 2013
by AJ.
11 comments

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 →

Posted in: Contemporary Resort, Counter-Service, disney parks, disney resorts, Epcot, High-Brow, News, Snacks, Table-Service.
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FULL Review: The NEW BoardWalk Bakery in Walt Disney World!

Apr 28th, 2013
by AJ.
54 comments

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!!

Learn About:
Boardwalk Bakery
Boardwalk Restaurants
Disney World Restaurants

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 →

Posted in: Boardwalk Inn and Villas, Counter-Service, disney resorts, News, Snacks.
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Want More Disney Food? Subscribe to the Disney Food Blog Newsletter!

Apr 28th, 2013
by AJ.
No comments yet

Hey all! I get so many awesome comments from DFB readers who subscribe to our monthly newsletter that I thought it would be fun to share it with those of you who may not know about it! :-)

Each month, our subscribers get a colorful, info-packed newsletter full of the latest Disney dining news, updates, and events. We also include exclusive articles, recipes, and — my favorite section — the “Munch of the Month,” where I share one of my favorite eats or treats in Disney World and Disneyland.

DFB Newsletter subscribers are the first to know about special events, discounts and deals, new restaurant openings, and more. We’ve even got an Epcot Food and Wine Festival Cookbook giveaway coming up soon!

Sign up today and get a Continue reading →

Posted in: Special Stuff.
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Disney Food Post Round-Up: April 28, 2013

Apr 27th, 2013
by AJ.
1 comment

Another awesome trip to Disney World this week!

Mike and Sully on Spaceship Earth!

The highlights included getting to see Mike Wozowski and Sully announce the upcoming 24-hour Disney Day on May 24th…from Spaceship Earth! You can check out my video of the whole #Disney24 Monsters University 24-hour day announcement here!

But we’ve got LOTS more news where that came from. Like new goodies at the Boardwalk Bakery and in Disneyland, wine dinners, and more.

Disney Food News

Let’s take a look at a few of the big news items this week…

And there’s more! Check out all the latest Disney Food News — even the stuff we don’t mention in posts on the blog! — on our Disney Food News Pin Board.

Reader Finds

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

Michelle B. shared her first visit to Club 33 in Disneyland — “We had such an amazing time!! The dessert buffet (and all the other food) was fantastic! The s’mores dessert and Mickey macaroons were my favorite!”

Anniversary Lunch at Club 33!

Happy Anniversary, Michelle!

Katie S. sent in this gem from Joy of Tea. “It is a mango green tea slush from the Joy of Tea booth in the China pavilion at Epcot. It has a tangy sweet flavor but it is not very overpowering. It is super refreshing and perfect for hot Florida days. It is a must get every time I set foot in Epcot!”

Mango Green Tea Slush!

Thanks for sharing!

Bundle Up for Savings…

If you’re headed to Disney World this year, this set of guidebooks is a must-have! Get more great Disney Dining information and photos for an even lower price.

Our best-selling DFB Guide + Snacks e-Book Bundle includes Three Great e-Books for over 30% Off!

With our popular DFB Guide + Snacks Bundle, you’ll get our:

  • 400-page DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining, 2013 Edition, our
  • DFB Guide to Magic Kingdom Snacks, AND our
  • DFB Guide to Epcot Snacks

All for a significant discount! Learn more about the DFB Guide + Snacks Bundle here!

And don’t forget — with a 30-day money-back guarantee, there’s no risk in trying them out!

Enjoy "Be Our Guest" Dinnerware at home!

On to the Round-Up

Mickey Fix tempts us with Be Our Guest Dessert Plates now available!

Kevin Kidney features his new mugs, designed for the Tiki Room Anniversary!

Walt Disney World for Grown-Ups visits character meals at Walt Disney World!

Gorillas Don’t Blog finds vintage Disney bottle caps!

AllEars shares a new Hidden Mickey at Karamell-Küche in Epcot — courtesy of Steve Barrett!

Daily News Los Angeles dines at Carthay Circle Restaurant in Disney California Adventure!

Running at Disney highlights Landscape of Flavors at Art of Animation Resort.

Main Street Gazette sips an African Starr Mojito at the Animal Kingdom Lodge’s Sanaa.

Posted in: Disney Food Post Round Up.
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Coming Soon! New Dining Options and Nightlife on the Disney Magic Cruise Ship!

Apr 27th, 2013
by AJ.
3 comments

Fun news from the Walt Disney World Monstrous Summer event this week!

New dining and entertainment options are being introduced to the Disney Magic Cruise Ship during a dry dock refub, which will take place in Spain this Fall 2013! We’re super excited about a special surprise that we mention at the bottom of this post!

More Magic Coming to Disney Magic!

The Magic was launched in 1998 with the latest in technology and imagineering at the time. But since the Disney Dream and Fantasy have taken to the seas, Disney’s decided it’s time to do some upgrades on the oldest ship! Let’s take a look…

Re-Imagined Dining on the Disney Magic

We love that the dining and restaurants on the ship will get a refresher!

NEW! Carioca’s
The Brazilian-themed Carioca’s will replace Parrot Cay on the Magic, and will bring an energetic atmosphere reminiscent of Rio de Janiero.

Adding to the dining experience, the concept will change from day to night with vibrant colors. Savor the Latin-infused flavors from the menu during day time buffet meals and table-service dinners.

Carioca's!

At night, windows will reveal “city” scapes and flickering lanterns will illuminate the room.

Animator’s Palate
The ever-popular Animator’s Palate will get a slight makeover bringing in new technology (larger, high-def flat screens). The “Drawn to the Magic” black-and-white-to-color show will continue throughout the meal, but new friends like Rapunzel from “Tangled” and Remy from “Ratatouille” will join the ranks of Disney characters represented.

Animator's Palate transformation!

The popular “animation magic” show from the Fantasy will be added here as well — where guests draw their own characters that come to life on the screens! 

Animation Magic coming to Animator's Palate!

New! Cabanas
Many guests rely on the come-as-you-are Topsider Buffet on the Magic for casual eats during the day. During the Magic’s refurbishment, this restaurant will be upgraded and expanded into Cabanas! This casual spot will be treated with an Australian and Finding Nemo theme, similar to Continue reading →

Posted in: Buffet, Counter-Service, disney cruise line, News, Table-Service.
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First Look: The New BoardWalk Bakery in Walt Disney World!

Apr 26th, 2013
by AJ.
14 comments

I’ll be publishing my FULL review of the brand new BoardWalk Bakery in Walt Disney World very soon, but I wanted to give you a little sneak peek of what’s coming!

Brioche and the NEW BoardWalk Bakery

I popped into the bakery around 7am Friday morning — opening day — to check out the digs…

New Mosaic!

The space has been greatly expanded, and now offers two entrances!

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

There’s one for guests waiting in line for food and pastries, and one for guests who just need to refill their refillable mugs!

The Mug Filling Entrance is Clearly Marked

Once inside, the queue line is quite long. It takes up half of the bakery space!

Interior and Queue Lines for the new Boardwalk Bakery

The stuff-your-face options have expanded greatly at the bakery. They now feature a Continue reading →

Posted in: Boardwalk Inn and Villas, Counter-Service, disney resorts, News.
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Guest Review: PB&J Cupcake at Captain Cook’s at Disney’s Polynesian Resort

Apr 26th, 2013
by AJ.
7 comments

Welcome Guest Author, Wendy P., with a review of the PB&J Cupcake at Captain Cook’s Snack Company in the Polynesian Resort. Classic PB&J lovers — this one’s for you!

Polynesian Resort
Disney World Restaurants

I was on the hunt for the Chocolate Beer cupcake at Captain Cook’s, which sounded heavenly when I learned about it on the Disney Food Blog.

That article also mentioned the PB&J cupcake… though at the time I was too distracted by the words “chocolate” and “pretzels” and “beer” to take much notice.

Alas, on my recent visit the Chocolate Beer Pretzel was unavailable. So after about five minutes of staring at it through the case (I have to admit, I wasn’t sure about this one), I grabbed the PB&J Cupcake.

PB&J Cupcake in Bakery Case.

PB&J Cupcake

A vanilla cake base topped with white vanilla frosting, the “PB” is in the chips on top -— and they don’t skimp! I was able to taste peanut butter in every bite.

PB&J Cupcake Close-Up

So, where is the “J”? It’s all in the middle. Sorry, strawberry jam fans -— this is GRAPE JELLY all the way!

Jelly in PB&J Cupcake.

I had assumed, what with the GIGANTIC pile of sweet vanilla frosting over the cake base, that the PB&J flavors would almost be an accent, or even an afterthought.

But, not at all… in fact, it was hard to Continue reading →

Posted in: Counter-Service, disney resorts, Polynesian Resort, Snacks.
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Guest Review: Seafood Dine-Around at Walt Disney World

Apr 25th, 2013
by AJ.
21 comments

Join us in welcoming guest author KJ Simpson with a Walt Disney World Seafood Adventure!

Crab Cakes at Narcoossee's

A recent trip to Walt Disney World opened up a whole new world of culinary delights for me: seafood!

In my many previous visits, I had never tried any seafood dishes. This year, for a variety of reasons, I began incorporating seafood into my diet. As part of this new culinary adventure, I decided to sample some of the many dishes from the sea that are available throughout the parks and resorts.

If you’re curious about some of the offerings that can be found throughout Walt Disney World, read on as I embark on this seafood adventure…

And don’t forget to share your favorite Disney seafood dishes in the comments below!

Yorkshire County Fish Shop

No seafood tour would be complete without a stop at the very popular Yorkshire County Fish Shop, in the United Kingdom area of Epcot’s World Showcase, for an order of Fish & Chips.

There’s often a line at the Yorkshire County Fish Shoppe- this is a popular spot!

It’s a classic — two pieces of battered fish, served in a quick-service style over chips (also known as fries, here on this side of the pond). It’s even wrapped in faux-newspaper to give it a whimsically authentic appearance.

While not the healthiest of seafood meals, it was certainly one of the tastiest! There’s not a lot to go wrong here, and this was a perfect afternoon snack to share. The malt vinegar — a traditional accompaniment to the English fish fry — added the perfect tang and gave a whole different taste dimension to the fish.

The classic - Fish & Chips.

Sharing this while sitting in the seating area off to the side overlooking World Showcase Lagoon was a splendid afternoon respite! If you eat outside here, be forewarned: enjoy the view, but beware of the aggressive birds, ducks, and squirrels. They apparently love the food here as much as we do, and are not shy about wanting you to share.

Les Halles Boulangerie Patisserie

Next was a visit to the newly-refurbished bakery in the France pavilion, Les Halles Boulangerie & Patisserie.

The expanded menu has a new seafood offering: Bisque de Homard, or Lobster Bisque.

Les Halles

This was a satisfying soup, smooth and creamy without being too heavy. Tomato was the more dominant flavor here, but the seafood added a richness and Continue reading →

Posted in: Animal Kingdom Lodge, Boardwalk Inn and Villas, Buffet, Counter-Service, disney dining tips, disney parks, disney resorts, Epcot, magic kingdom, Table-Service.
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Guest Review: Earl of Sandwich Chicken Pesto Pomodoro Sandwich

Apr 25th, 2013
by AJ.
2 comments

Please welcome back Guest Author Julie B. as we head with her to the Earl of Sandwich in Downtown Disney Orlando. Today, she samples the Chicken Pesto Pomodoro Sandwich! Let’s check it out…

Learn About:
Earl of Sandwich
Downtown Disney
Disney World Restaurants

There’s a lot of buzz about the new offerings at Earl of Sandwich and I’m eager to sample the new wraps, salads, soups, and sandwiches.

While I was sad that the new items weren’t on the menu yet when I visited, I couldn’t pass up a chance to try another undiscovered sandwich while at my favorite Disney sandwich shop!

Chicken Pesto Pomodoro Sandwich

The Chicken Pesto Pomodoro sandwich was a winter seasonal selection that is supposedly becoming a regular item on the menu!

Winter Time Specials at Earl of Sandwich!

It features grilled chicken, Swiss cheese, tomato, and basil leaves. They said the bread is brushed with olive oil before being coated in basil pesto.

A very helpful hostess recommended ordering an extra side of pesto (she said some were finding the sandwich too dry without any extra).

Chicken Pesto Pomodoro Sandwich -- order extra pesto!

My sandwich arrived in all its toasty goodness. There’s something so exciting about opening that little golden package of Continue reading →

Posted in: Counter-Service, disney parks, Downtown Disney Orlando.
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Dining in Disneyland: The Mickey Coconut Pattie

Apr 24th, 2013
by Heather.
10 comments

Perusing the goodie case at Trolley Treats in Disney California Adventure, I stumbled across something that could potentially be a new favorite treat.

I’m a huge fan of coconut and I love Mounds and Almond Joy candy bars (they are the first to be stolen from my kids at Halloween), so I figured I’d better check out the new “Mickey Coconut Pattie.”

Mickey Coconut Pattie

Mickey Coconut Pattie

I’m not sure why the treat is called a “Mickey” Coconut Pattie, because in no way does it resemble Mickey.  It’s a big circle; no ears!

Anyhow, I will forgive Disney for this due to the fact that that it tastes amazing.  The Mickey Coconut Pattie is $3.99 and is very generously portioned. Plenty big for sharing — or if you don’t want to share, it’s a great treat for eating a bit and saving the rest for later!

Generously Portioned Mickey Coconut Pattie

A thick dark chocolate coating on the outside topped with Continue reading →

Posted in: disney california adventure, disney parks, Disneyland, News, Snacks.
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