food IS a theme park
The Downtown Disney District is constantly changing. We are anticipating the opening of six (!!!) new restaurants in the coming months, and some are already beginning to open!
Downtown Disney
Three new restaurants from Chef Carlos Gaytán recently opened, and we are eating our way through them. We recently ate at Céntrico, and now we are checking out another new restaurant!
A new study has shown that the raw seafood you are ordering in dishes such as poke, ceviche and sushi may not be what you think it is.
©National Fisheries Institute
This could be a particularly critical issue for those with food allergies.
After years of watching the progress of Disney California Adventure’s expansion, and in recent months being able to see the tower of Carthay Circle Theater from behind construction walls, it’s so surreal that I have now actually dined there…twice!
*Please note, the lighting inside Carthay at night is so dark. Many of my photos do not do it justice.
Carthay Circle Restaurant Marquee
Carthay Circle Premiere!
Inspired by the original Carthay Circle Theatre in Hollywood where Walt Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs premiered in 1937, the restaurant is about as close to a true replica as you can get.
The theming inside is true to the period as well. It features fabulous old photos of Walt as well as memorabilia from Snow White. From the moment you walk into Carthay Circle Restaurant, you feel as though you have stepped back in time; back to the “Golden Age” of Hollywood.
When facing Carthay, there are three doors. The two on the left are entrances to the restaurant, and the door to the right is the entrance to the private 1901 Lounge (for which we will soon have a review,too!). Lovely cast members are there to get the door for you and welcome you to Carthay Circle.
Welcome to Carthay
Upon entering there is a rather large lounge area. To the left is a spacious waiting area to enjoy after you’ve checked in for your meal, and to the right there is a separate room — The Carthay Circle Lounge — where the bar and extra seating is located.
In the lounge, you can get drinks and small bites. No reservations are needed to visit the lounge, and you are more than welcome to [Read more…]
This post is part of our series of posts on the 2009 Epcot Food and Wine Festival. Be sure to check out more of the posts in the series.
Hi all! I’ll be putting up separate posts all about today’s Tequila Tasting Seminar, the Epcot Food and Wine Festival Center, the Taste of Puglia seminars, and the Festival Artwork artist — Tim Rogerson — with whom I had the chance to chat. For now, I wanted to share with you all of the delicious things I got the chance to try and see today. If your suggestion didn’t make it into this round of photos, don’t worry — I’ll get to it!
A radio station was broadcasting live from Epcot!
Radio Station Broadcasting Live
Around the World I go! Stopped in the San Juan booth for some Arroz con Pollo and Ham Croquettes.
San Juan Booth
Arroz con Pollo
Ham Croquettes from San Juan Booth
Then it was next door to Santiago, Chile, for a taste of the Corn and Cheese Arepa and the Alfajores (Dulce de Leche Cookie). I also had a chance to snap a photo of the Rock Shrimp Ceviche. I love that they put popcorn in this thing — the CM said it was a Chile tradition.
The Corn and Cheese Arepa was nothing to write home about (basically, a cornmeal pancake — rather grainy on the inside — with a sprinkling of cheese), but the Alfajor was amazing. Served chilled, this little cookie was one of the superstars for me today.
Santiago Chile Menu
Ceviche
Dulce de Leche Cookie
Had to show you a pic of the delicious filling
Santiago, Chile, Corn and Cheese Arepe
Inside the Corn and Cheese Arepe
Next came the first of two baklavas taste-tested today (thanks for the suggestion of the Baklava Throwdown!). I’m going to write the Baklava Throwdown as a separate post, but for now, here are photos of the Marrkesh Baklava and the Athens Baklava. Which do YOU think is better?
Athens Baklava
Marrakesh Booth
Marrakesh Baklava
I also snapped some shots of the New York State wines booth, as I’m such a giant fan of ice wine…
Wines of New York
New York State wines menu
The ice wine is all the way to the right...
And I got the chance to chat with Tim Rogerson, the Festival Poster Artist. I’ll write a separate blog about his work, but I snapped a fun photo of Tim with his original masterpiece. (Note: I’ll grab the price on the poster tomorrow.)
Tim Rogerson with his original painting
Then it was over to New Orleans for a bit of some AMAZING Chicken and Andouille Gumbo and Praline Bread Pudding with Bourbon Caramel Sauce. I can’t tell you how many happy noises I made while chowing down on these two dishes. The Praline Bread Pudding tasted like a sugar-soaked monkey bread with the perfect crunch of sugar caramelization on the top. The Gumbo was spicy and flavorful — a meal in itself.
New Orleans Booth and Menu
New Orleans Praline Bread Pudding
Chicken and Andouille Gumbo
I realized that Big Bad Voodoo Daddy was about to perform at the Eat to the Beat Concert, so I popped in to listen to the first song. I’d seen them in concert back in the 90’s, so it was fun to reminisce!
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy Announcement
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy Performing at Eat to the Beat
Continuing my tour, I headed to Melbourne, Australia, for a bite of Grilled Lamb Chop, Red Wine Sauce, and Murray River Sea Salt.
Melbourne, Australia Booth
Grilled Lamb Chop, Red Wine Sauce, Murray River Sea Salt
Finally, I headed over to the China booth to try a Green Tea Plum Wine Cooler. This drink was absolutely delicious. I highly recommend it to anyone. In fact, I liked it so much, I went back and got a photo of the Plum Wine bottle! Also got a shot of the rice pancake.
Shanghai, China Booth
Green Tea Plum Wine Cooler, China
Plum Wine
The Plum Wine pour and some rice pancakes in the China booth
Whew!! I hope you’re still with me! I’ll be back tomorrow with more — and stay tuned for my Tequila Tasting Seminar post coming soon!
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