food IS a theme park
Let’s face it: sometimes it’s just nice to bring a little bit of Disney home with you to help you get over those post-Disney blues! And if you have a handful of Disney Dining Plan snack credits left over at the end of your Disney World trip or you’ve got friends and family you’d like to surprise with a treat, Disney foods make some terrific souvenirs!
You remember when we analyzed the brand new Le Cellier Steakhouse Signature dinner menu a few weeks ago, right? Well, I finally had the chance to try it myself.
For those who are just tuning in, one of Disney World’s most popular restaurants, Le Cellier in Epcot’s Canada pavilion, began offering a signature dinner menu (e.g. super expensive) at the beginning of March 2011. While the restaurant remained priced at one Disney Dining Plan credit for lunch, the dinner menu cost two Disney Dining Plan credits. For those of us who don’t purchase the dining plan, that means that the dinner menu was renovated and all prices bumped up a few bucks…or more.
Atmosphere
The decor and atmosphere at Le Cellier hasn’t changed at all. You’re still dining in a very small “cellar,” featuring candlelight sconces on the walls (not real candles, of course), rich woods and deep maroon fabrics, and stone archways creating the structure of the restaurant.
Le Cellier Dining Room
Le Cellier Dining Room
Le Cellier Ceilings and Chandeliers
The only thing upon arrival that makes you think something might be slightly different is the presence of some snazzy new napkin rings (I’m pretty sure I’ve never seen napkin rings at a Disney World restaurant…) and candles on the tables… [Read more…]
Honey Lemon Cupcake Topped with Edible Glitter & A Chocolate Bee
I have a LOT to share with you today, so bear with me! We’ll start with Disney news, then head over to the e-Book update, and finally, the round-up!
Here are a few of the fun newsy things that happened this week:
In other news, don’t forget to join me on the WDW Today monthly live show, where you can call in with your questions and comments. The special guest will be yours truly! Tune in tonight, Sunday, March 27, at 8:00 pm Eastern time!
And after a week at WDW filled with fun (and food!), I look forward to sharing lots of restaurant reviews and photos with you guys! Best of all, positive reviews on our e-Book, The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining, continue to pour in. If you are undecided about purchasing the book, check out these insights:
WDW For Grown-Ups
shares a delicious glimpse of the tempting caramel work done by a Karamell Küche cast member. My insight? I want to enjoy the fruits of their labor on my next visit!
Main Street Gazette zeroes in on a fun menu item in the Magic Kingdom that not many folks even know is there!
Watch Me Eat stops by Orlando’s House of Blues restaurant in Downtown Disney for some Cajun cuisine.
Cookie Madness reviews a voyage on the Disney Dream and gives the cookies served on Castaway Cay a thumbs up!
Food and Drink Digital reminds us to check our produce aisle for a new line of Disney fruits and veggies. Disney Consumer Products calls them “new and refreshed Disney-branded products that capitalize on synergistic promotional opportunities tied to Disney entertainment content and beloved characters.” Yum.
Whew! And that’s all she wrote! See ya next week!
I have a confession. Until this past week, I had never actually eaten my very own sweet cream cheese pretzel in Walt Disney World. So when my husband and I decided to throw caution to the wind and head into the Magic Kingdom at 11pm on a Saturday during Spring Break, we figured it was high time to make a change.
Sweet Cream Cheese Pretzel at Lunching Pad
After riding everything we possibly could, we headed over to the Lunching Pad and purchased one of these yummy treats. They look like regular soft pretzels, but they have a faint dusting of what seems like [Read more…]
Dining in Disneyland columnist Heather Sievers shares her review of the brand new Hungry Bear Restaurant menu today!!
After weeks of renovations, the Hungry Bear Restaurant in Disneyland’s Critter Country has reopened with a brand new menu. We had seen the tarps and boards up for some time; we even took a sail on the Columbia to see if we could get a sneak peek at what was going on behind the scenes. No such luck. So, when the restaurant opened back up this past week, we headed over for an early dinner to check it out. Hungry? Why yes, we are!
Eager Beaver Welcoming You to The Hungry Bear
Location and Atmosphere
Let me start by telling you that Hungry Bear is in the way way way back of Disneyland. I mean, we’re talking outskirts. If you’re looking for a semi-quick way to get there, hop on the train and get off at the New Orleans Station, head left, pass the Haunted Mansion & Splash Mountain, follow the curve around to the left and you will find the Hungry Bear just before the Winnie the Pooh ride on your right side.
When we first walked up to the restaurant, we were a little nervous. There were ZERO people in line, which isn’t really a great sign for a restaurant. Especially for a Saturday evening during Spring Break. I’m going to assume this was because people really didn’t know it was open. There are still lots of walls up around the area due to the Splash Mountain refurbishments in progress. So at the moment, Critter Country doesn’t look too inviting. Though, as soon as [Read more…]
Thanks to all who have contributed their photos to the Disney Food Blog Photo Extravaganza! Keep on sending ’em! The Disney Food Pics of the Week feature adult beverages! Slàinte!
This margarita flight is served at La Cava del Tequila in Epcot’s Mexico pavilion! Salud!
Photographer: shnewell
Margarita Flight
The Lapu Lapu is served in a pineapple at the Tambu Lounge at [Read more…]
We’ve been reporting the news, and now I get to share the pics with you! The Wave…of American Flavors in Disney World’s Contemporary Resort has a brand new meal — a breakfast buffet! They’ve been testing it since December, and according to one of the managers I had a chance to speak with, it looks like it’s going to stay. I’m glad to hear it; the buffet is delicious.
Atmosphere and Background
As we know, The Wave focuses on a sustainable menu full of local products. In fact, The Wave was just approved to change their menu every few months — they’re one of the only non-signature restaurants able to do this — so that they can offer an even wider variety of seasonal, local ingredients. I’m looking forward to the updates!
Contemporary Resort's The Wave Restaurant
Regarding atmosphere, you can see a lot of great photos of the restaurant in our review of dinner at The Wave here. But here’s a quick pic from this week that shows that the [Read more…]
We continue to celebrate the launch of our 2013 Edition of the The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining e-Book with one of my favorite restaurant tips from the DFB Guide!
Fireworks from Bistro de Paris Window
There are lots of unique reasons to dine in certain Disney World restaurants, and one of the most interesting is the view you’ll have from your table.
At many Disney World restaurants, you’ll have the chance to glimpse fireworks shows, parades, animals, and more, but only if you ask for the right tables!
For example, at Epcot’s Bistro de Paris you’ll have a wonderful view of the Epcot fireworks, but to get it you’ll have to score a window-side table. The key? Make sure your reservation is for about an hour before the fireworks begin, and be sure to request a fireworks-view table — a seat in the middle of the row of tables next to the window — when you check in for your reservation!
While nothing is ever guaranteed, if you let the host know you’re willing to wait a bit longer for a great table, chances are good you’ll have a wonderful dining experience with a fantastic view of the show!
Want to know more about which seats to request in which restaurants?
What are your favorite table requests? Let us know in the comments below!
Traveling to Disneyland soon? You’ll want to add these resort restaurants to your dining list! We give a foodie shout-out to the winners of the Southern California Restaurant Writers awards!!
With a 36 year history, the Southern California Restaurant Writers, Inc. selects winners from south Santa Barbara to the border of Mexico. With such a large region, it’s a testament to the food quality at Disneyland that so many awards were presented to Disneyland restaurants at the annual banquet Sunday night.
Join me in congratulating Executive Pastry Chef Jean-Marc Viallet named the Pastry Chef of the Year! For the last ten years, Viallet has been dreaming up creative pastries for Disneyland guests.
Jean-Marc Viallet, Executive Pastry Chef, Disneyland Resort
Disneyland Resort received top honors in five categories! The Golden Bacchus is presented to restaurants with an extensive wine collection. The Golden Sceptre is considered the “top restaurant” award.
Special Award Category
* Pastry Chef of the Year: Jean-Marc Viallet, executive pastry chef, Disneyland Resort
Golden Bacchus Wine Award
* Napa Rose (Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel)
* Steakhouse 55 (Disneyland Hotel)
Golden Sceptre (Five Star)
* Napa Rose (Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel)
* Steakhouse 55 (Disneyland Hotel)
Gold (Four Star)
* Ariel’s Grotto (Paradise Pier, Disney’s California Adventure park)
* Blue Bayou (New Orleans Square, Disneyland park)
Sterling (Three Star)
* Goofy’s Kitchen (Disneyland Hotel)
* Storyteller’s Cafe (Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa)
Source: Disney Parks Blog
Chef Photo copyright Disney
Disney Food for Families columnist Erin Foster discusses a great bonus you can find with some kids’ meals on Walt Disney World property!
It’s long been said that Disney is in the details. One of my favorite Disney details is the container for children’s meals at some of the counter service restaurants at Walt Disney World. What is this magical container? The sand bucket!
Buckets ready to be called into action
There are restaurants located near the pools or sandy areas at Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon, the Yacht & Beach Clubs, and the Caribbean Beach Resort that serve their kids’ meals either in, or with, a new, [Read more…]
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