food IS a theme park
Yee-haw!! Howdy from Disney’s Wilderness Lodge! We decided to mosey on over to Whispering Canyon Cafe, because they changed their dinner menu earlier this week.
Whispering Canyon Cafe
Whispering Canyon Cafe has long been a favorite spot for comfort food, all-you-can-eat skillets, and rowdy antics from the servers, and we were excited to see what new eats they had to offer!
Well, it’s bound to happen once in a while… not every day can be perfectly bright and sunny in the Magic Kingdom.
Though colder days are primarily behind us for this year, sometimes it can get downright chilly, and there is potential to catch a rainy afternoon any time of year.
It’s time to escape to the indoors! Fortunately some of the best spots to get out of the rain are also some of the best food stops in the Park! Today we’re waiting out the rain in Columbia Harbour House, where the warm woods and tucked away sections and corners lend a cozy feel to lunch or snack time.
Upstairs seating in Columbia Harbour House
Additionally, the upstairs seating options offer some great vantage points for watching all the people in their rain ponchos.
Rainy day at the Magic Kingdom
We’re warming up with a couple of hot dishes: the Vegetarian Chili and Seasonal Cobbler. Let’s start with the Chili!
The Vegetarian Chili has long been a stand-out at Columbia Harbour House, offering a meatless option as well as warmth on a cold day (though, really, it’s just a tasty option any day). I topped mine with the oyster crackers available at the Harbour House. You can also sprinkle these in a bowl of their New England Clam Chowder.
Oyster Crackers
Vegetarian Chili Close-up
This tasty chili is so chock-full of veggies that I’m not even certain [Read more…]
I was recently back in Disneyland for a visit, and I couldn’t resist booking lunch at one of my favorite locations, Storytellers Cafe.
We visited anticipating a delicious and relaxing experience, as we often have at Storytellers. The fact that I had a mad craving for that Charred Nebraska Corn Chowder and had been dreaming about it was just a happy coincidence. 😉
Won’t you join us?
You’ll find Storytellers at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel, which certainly lives up to its name. It is simply a gorgeous place to spend some time.
With design that typifies the American Craftsman style, you are surrounded by larger than life, simple warm accents that make grand use of natural materials, like wood and stone. You find the same style carried through Storytellers Cafe.
Fireplace and Atmosphere
Two major design elements tend to dominate the decor of Storytellers Cafe: you’ll find murals and large paintings covering the walls. Paintings depict…storytelling, of course — featuring classic stories with California as their setting.
One of the Many Large Paintings in Storytellers Cafe
But you also find ample use of silhouettes in many places throughout the dining space. And check out the beautiful post and beam construction on the ceiling while you’re looking up. (Disney World fans will get a definite Wilderness Lodge vibe from this place!)
Lighting and Ceiling Detail
Stained glass with warm swirls of color are a hallmark of Arts and Crafts design, and the stained glass softly filters the indirect light, which provides the perfect backdrop to these working man silhouettes.
And be sure to notice the detail on the hanging lights as well! They’re really something special.
Storytelling Lighting
Lanterns hung from copper stands distribute light throughout the dining room, and give the sense of bringing the outdoors inside.
Lantern
And as is often the case — don’t forget to look down! Even the carpeting conveys the theme and story of this spot with letters and more silhouettes.
Carpet
Throughout Storytellers Cafe, the art of storytelling shares the stage with [Read more…]
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