food IS a theme park
Thanks to all who have contributed their photos to the Disney Food Blog Photo Extravaganza! Keep sending them along! This week, the Disney Food Pics of the Week feature one of my favorite indulgences — Dole Whip! Check ’em out!
An original drawing gives a new look to an old favorite at Aloha Isle in the Magic Kingdom! Artist: [rich]
Dole Whip Drawing
This photo of the Dole Whip sign at Disneyland’s Tiki Juice Bar is making me thirsty! Photographer: [Read more…]
Thanks again to Sarah Holodick for reporting and reviewing from one of our favorite spots, ‘Ohana in Walt Disney World’s Polynesian Resort!
Back in July I made a dinner reservation to go to ‘Ohana in January. It had been several years since Matt last went, and over 16 years for me! I don’t remember much, if anything, of what was served back then. Our reservation was for 7:15 p.m. and we arrived early to have a drink at Tambu Lounge.
Tambu Lounge
We noticed that they’ve expanded their appetizer options since the last time we were there. They also have added a page dedicated to the Tambu Lounge specialty cocktails, which when I last saw it was simply the generic property-wide menu. We both highly recommend the Backscratcher! I checked in at the podium and had about a 15 minute wait until we were seated for dinner.
Tambu Lounge Menu
Tambu Lounge Specialty Drinks
‘Ohana
They led us to our table and, to start off, they serve sweet ‘Ohana bread. We dove in before [Read more…]
Great news for those of you who have kiddos clamoring to try their favorite Disney dishes in their very own kitchen!
On the heels of Chef Mickey Treasures From the Vault and in addition to the other wonderful Disney cookbooks, Pam Brandon and the Disney Chefs have released another new set of recipes that’s been in the pipeline for the past year! Delicious Disney Just for Kids inspires even the littlest chefs to innovate and create like a Disney imagineer!
The book includes recipes from Disneyland, Disney World, and the Disney Cruise Line — including some of your favorites like Jiko‘s Mac and Cheese and Sci-Fi Dine-In‘s BLT Tomato Soup! Expect lots of [Read more…]
On your mark, get set, Register! Registration is now open for the 2011 Wine and Dine Half Marathon, which will take place at the beginning of the 2011 Epcot Food and Wine Festival!
The race, scheduled for Saturday, October 1, 2011, will feature Disney entertainment along the course. Runners – and foodies – will be able to run a half marathon at night through three inspiring Disney parks! You can even split it up into a relay with a partner! Do not miss this motivating Runners’ Night Out, which rallied over 11,000 runners to participate last year and sold out two months in advance!
Once again, the marathon takes place at night, the first Saturday of the Food and Wine Festival. Prices, times and marathon features are subject to change.
Date: October 1, 2011, 10PM
Start: ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
Finish: Epcot® World Showcase
Costs for Half Marathon:
$145 by March 27, 2011
$155 between March 28 and May 8, 2011
$165 on or after May 9, 2011
Participants must be 14 years of age or older. Currently, registration is open only for the half-marathon. Registration for the half-marathon relay and 5K will open soon.
With registration, runners receive: [Read more…]
We escaped to the Kona Cafe after a madhouse morning in the Magic Kingdom on a recent Disney World visit, and I immediately knew how I was going to frame Kona for this review — it is, indeed, an escape from the hectic theme parks. Located in the Polynesian Resort — a resort located on the Monorail loop — it’s very easy to get to from the Magic Kingdom and Epcot.
As a sister to the Polynesian’s more popular restaurant, ‘Ohana, many folks only try Kona Cafe as a last resort — which means those of us who know better get first crack at it!
This unassuming restaurant is actually a den of cult favorite menu items for many Disney World veterans. Home of Tonga Toast, the Big Kahuna, the Kona Kone, and some of the best steaks on property, Kona Cafe is a frequented and beloved staple for many Disney guests.
Kona Cafe
Located in the Polynesian Resort‘s Great Ceremonial House, Kona Cafe is to the left of the entrance doors on the second floor of the lobby.
Kona Cafe Dining Room
Open to the lobby, the restaurant has the general feel of any ho-hum hotel restaurant, but you might find a few interesting shapes in the bright floral [Read more…]
It’s hearts week in the USA as Valentine’s Day approaches! Happy Hearts Day everyone! In Disney food news, we’ve got a few interesting tidbits to share:
And now, on to the round-up!
WDW for Grownups has compiled some great Disney World dining tips from their facebook fans.
Progress City USA shares the news about a new book, Four Decades of Magic: Celebrating the First Forty Years of Disney World, written by some extraordinary Disney historians and bloggers.
Main Street Gazette heads to Yak & Yeti in Disney’s Animal Kingdom (and doesn’t quite [Read more…]
Warning to Disney purists — we’re branching out a bit today! Heather Winfield sent along this amazing review of some food stops in Universal Orlando’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter! Just take one look at that mug of butterbeer and you might be swayed… . Take it away Heather!
Three Broomsticks. Click photo for larger image.
In December, we visited Universal for the first time to see the Wizarding World of Harry Potter (WWoHP.) I got in late in the Harry phenomenon, but WWoHP is a must do for any fan. It was amazing. Every detail was perfect! When it was time for lunch, we didn’t want to leave the area, so we decided to eat at WWoHP’s restaurant, Three Broomsticks.
The Three Broomsticks
Like all of Hogsmeade, the outside of the restaurant looks exactly [Read more…]
Clearly Disney food is not only a popular topic with park guests, but also with the folks at the Disney Merchandise Department.
Magnets depicting some of our favorite Disney foods, including Mickey-shaped rice krispie treats and Mickey bars…
And pins! I love how some of these come in [Read more…]
Lords and Ladies of the Kingdom, we welcome you to…Cinderella Castle!!!
Admittedly, I couldn’t wait to go back to the castle — in the middle of Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom — to dine. I’d never had breakfast here (not since I was a small fry, at least), and I was downright giddy! I don’t care how old you are, it’s just plain rad to go inside the castle where nobody else (unless they have a reservation, too, of course) gets to go. Seriously. Rad.
So I made the reservation the minute our 180-day Advanced Dining Reservation Window opened up (yep — this is one of the toughest reservations to get, so book early), gave them my credit card number (need to lock this one in with a card number — call in advance to cancel, or you’ll be charged), and started counting down the days…
There are several magical things that happen when you book an early breakfast reservation at Cinderella’s Royal Table:
Hello, hello, Disney food lovers! It’s the end of January, and that means two things: 1. You’ll be getting your January Disney Food Blog Newsletter tomorrow, and 2. We’re now only eight months away from the 2011 Epcot Food and Wine Festival! OK…I know I’m a little too excited about that one, but we just booked our hotel, so I’m enthusing.
All righty — here’s the latest Disney Food News!
And now… on to the round-up!
Kevin Kidney combines the release of his new Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship replica (which I now need) with an incredible post describing the history and design of the actual Chicken of the Sea in Disneyland. A great read.
Daily Mail eats around WDW! (I’m itching to correct the zillion things that are wrong about that photo caption, though…)
Southern Plate highlights the recipe for 1900 Park Fare’s Strawberry Soup.
Eating (and Drinking) Around WDW reminds us to always tell your server when it’s your birthday…
Main Street Gazette checks out the new burgers (veggie and decidedly non-veggie) at Liberty Inn in Epcot!
Cupcakes Take the Cake highlights some of our favorite Marvel characters, cupcake-style.
Disney Parks Blog checks in from the Dream!
Our handy (and portable!) ebook guides make sure you get the best deals and can plan a vacation of a lifetime.
