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Kona Cafe’s Tonga Toast

Guest writer James Chapman from touschezmickey.com just returned from a Disney World trip and reviewed the Polynesian Resort’s Kona Cafe and its famous Tonga Toast. Thanks, James!

The Kona Cafe is an easily overlooked oasis that has more than one special treat for a hungry family; but one especially wonderful treat is Tonga Toast, a cinnamon and banana-infused slab of toast!

Tonga Toast

A thick, sweet strawberry compote makes that first bite all the more inviting (and filling). For those on a diet (forget about it), this meal can easily feed two people, and for those who order a more traditional breakfast of eggs, grits, and wheat toast, the tonga toast may be shared as a treat for the whole family.

Kona Cafe offers a traditional American fare for both breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and provides a pleasant, Polynesian decor. Even with the larger table service restaurant, ‘Ohana, directly next door, the Kona Cafe menu and atmosphere offers an excellent experience, and I would highly recommend this restaurant to everyone visiting Walt Disney World!

Aloha!

Greetings from your favorite alien!

Take A Bite Out of….Mickey?

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Nobody knows branding quite like the Disney Company. When you visit a Disney establishment, not only do you see your favorite mouse in animated character form, you also see him in every other form imaginable…including those that are edible!

While you can consume Mr. Mouse as a pasta, a vegetable, an ice cream sundae, and even as a pancake, my favorite Mickey Mouse-shaped foods are those that follow:

1. Mickey Waffles: These seem to keep popping up in my blog, but they’re pretty quintessential Disney food, no? The Mickey Waffle can be found on just about every buffet breakfast and room service menu on property; it’s a staple Disney parks and resorts food, and with all the folks trying to duplicate it at home, why shouldn’t it be?

Mickey Waffles at Cape May Cafe Character Breakfast

2. The Mickey Bar: This has been an icon of Disney theme park food since…the beginning of Disney theme park food? (Seriously, if anyone has a good “history of the Mickey Bar” they can share, I’d be most obliged.) It’s simple and ubiquitous and can be enjoyed by adults and kids both.

Mickey Ice Cream Bars

Frozen Treats at the Magic Kingdom

3. Mickey Rice Krispies Treat (on or off a stick): Who knew such a simple recipe, first printed on the Rice Krispies box in 1941, would, with just a little re-shaping, become such a huge mega-seller in Disney theme parks? Sometimes dipped in chocolate, sometimes straight-up, Mickey Rice Krispies Treats are a great between-meal snack. And low-fat, right? (By they way, every once in a while you can find GIANT Mickey Rice Krispies treats — bigger than your head.)

Mickey Rice Krispies Treat

4. Chocolate-covered Mickey Pretzels: Again, simple, yet delicious. Grab a pretzel, dip it in chocolate, add some decoration, and sell it for an enormous profit. We’re happy, you’re happy.

Chocolate-Covered Mickey Pretzels

Now, my fifth favorite Mickey-shaped nom was not mentioned here, because I don’t believe it exists any longer (but I can hope!). If anyone out there has a photograph (or knowledge of its presence on Disney property) of the old sculpted Mickey butter that used to be served at the restaurants, I’d love to see it. A 3-dimensional sculpture of Mickey made out of butter. It doesn’t get any better than that.

Also, let me know YOUR favorite Mickey-shaped foods…there are many not mentioned here…

Disney Food Post Sunday Round-Up: July 5

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I’ve cheated a bit on the Sunday Round-up this week, folks. I found a couple of links that are NOT from this week, but I just had to include them; they were too good! The rest are legit and from this week; I didn’t fail you completely! Read on…

Theme Park Insider readers named Chefs de France best Theme Park restaurant for 2009.

Tasty Chomps visits Animal Kingdom’s Yak and Yeti for another close-up look and review

Yesterland remembers Boardwalk Betsy’s Strips, Dips & Chips: Boardwalk Betsy served deep-fried fish filets, deep-fried chicken strips, and deep-fried mozzarella strips — with deep-fried jumbo french fries — until Toy Story Mania drove her out in 2006. This is a great look back.

Lindsey Luscious shows us how to make a few Disney Favorites at Home: Missing your Dole Whip and Bengal Barbecue? Check this out for some great at-home recipes and photos (especially if you’re not willing to shell out the dough for Dole Whip mix…)

Clumbsy Cookie has figured out how to make Winnie the Pooh cookies and cakes quick and easy: This is perfect for the next 5th birthday party or summer picnic you might be planning.

Wishes Fireworks Dessert Party Photos!

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THANK YOU to Zapperz at My Disney Mania for allowing me to use his stunning Wishes Dessert Party photos from this weekend. Stop by his blog and see more of his photos from his trip (including a few from the Museum of Pintiquities)!

The Wishes Fireworks Dessert Party is currently running from June 23 through August 28. (9/18 Update: The Wishes Dessert Party has been extended through January 2nd, 2010!) It includes exclusive viewing for Wishes fireworks and a self-service dessert buffet. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 407-WDW-DINE.

You can read more about the event on our previous Wishes Dessert Party blog post.

Tomorrowland Terrace--Location of the Dessert Party

Castle from Party Vantage Point

SpectroMagic from Party Vantage Point

Wishes from Party Vantage Point

Wishes from the Party Vantage Point

Sunday Round-Up June 28: Disney Food Posts From the Week

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Lots of fun food posts about Disney this week! Enjoy!

SoloFriendly takes an in-depth look at Animal Kingdom’s newest table-service restaurant, Yak and Yeti: As always, great commentary and fantastic photos. Also a plug for great Disney service, which we always like to see.

Win a pair of tickets for an advance screening of Julie & Julia with Scott Joseph Orlando and the Divas of Dish on July 23rd: A fun opportunity to preview this foodie-heaven film (starring Meryl Streep as Julia Child and Amy Adams) two weeks before it hits theaters! And, if you’re from out of town, you’ll just have to book a trip to Orlando if you win… won’t you?

The Touring Plans blog hits the China, Norway, Germany, and American Adventure pavilions on this week’s “Drinking Around the World” post: Kristen and company enjoy some Tsing Tao, Beck’s, Carlsberg, and the seasonal Beach Bum Blonde Ale…after which I hope they went and ate something absorbent!

Etckt takes a look at dining in Epcot and dining the Magic Kingdom: Rarely do you see an overview blog of dining in a particular park, so these are a great opportunity for anyone interested in seeing all of their options at once. I have to beg you to click on these links for the photography alone if nothing else, however; Matthew is skilled with a lens, ladies and gentlemen.

Orlando Sentinel’s The Dish blog highlights the Epcot Food and Wine Festival: The Epcot Food and Wine Festival is less than three months away! While details and specifics won’t be released until late July (and booking of special events will have to wait until August), Heather McPherson gives a great overview of what to expect in this post.

Lifthill’s “Walt Disney World’s Best Breakfast” article about Tonga Toast at the Kona Cafe: A good intro to the Kona cafe plus pictures of tonga toast and coffee; what could be better??

The Three Best Burgers in Disney World

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A lot of people think that the only thing to eat in Disney World is burgers. In fact, I hear lots of folks lament that they couldn’t exist solely on all that junk food, and that’s one of the big reasons why they don’t vacation in Disney World.

Well, lucky for us, there is a variety of food (both high- and low-brow) to eat in Disney World. But I have to admit, they can and do make some pretty mean burgers! While they’re pretty much good everywhere, there are a few places that stick out in my mind.

Here’s a quick look at my top three:

Le Cellier Entrance

1. Le Cellier Grilled Angus Chuck Burger: You might have to sell your firstborn to actually get a reservation at Le Cellier, but once you’re in you can get this yummy burger for just $12.49. Le Cellier is deservedly known as a steakhouse, and someone at your table should absolutely order the famous Filet with Mushroom Risotto; but if you like burgers, this is a grand opportunity.

Le Cellier Burger

What makes this one so good is the Black Diamond Cheddar melted on top. The cheese has a strength to it and the flavor will knock you out. Definitely worth a try.

Note, however, that this is only available at lunchtime at Le Cellier.

Grilled Angus Chuck Burger topped with house-made onion ketchup and your choice of cheddar or blue cheese $12.49

Liberty Tree Tavern Entrance

2. Liberty Tree Tavern Angus Chuck Cheeseburger: Another one that’s only available at lunchtime, the Liberty Tree burger is one of those unexpected surprises. While I’d been a die-hard pasta fan there for awhile, I tried the burger one day and was so impressed I had to split it with the rest of the table.

Liberty Tree Tavern Burger

Thinking it was a fluke, I ordered the burger several more times after that initial visit and have been wow-ed every time. You know how you’ve got that great hometown diner or restaurant that you keep going back to? This is what Liberty Tree Tavern lunch has become for me.

And, please, get the fries.

Angus Chuck Cheeseburger topped with bacon and cheddar or mushrooms and provolone, served with fresh fruit or tavern fries $11.99

3. Beaches and Cream Cheeseburger: And finally, the Beaches and Cream burger! While this one’s pretty flat, pretty thin, and pretty standard, the Beaches and Cream burger wins a mention for being an authentic burger in an authentic diner.

Beaches and Cream

You just don’t get more nostalgic than this.

Compliment the masterpiece on a plastic plate with some big ol’ greasy onion rings, or the lightly seasoned fries that are always perfectly crispy at Beaches and Cream. (You have the option to order fresh fruit as a substitute for the fries.) And don’t forget to save room for the malted milkshake, banana split, or Kitchen Sink for dessert!

Cheeseburger – – A juicy beef patty served on a fresh baked bun. Single $8.99; Double $11.49

Now, Let’s Eat!
Hopefully this little beef-based culinary tour has whet your appetite for some delicious burgers at Disney World.

Beaches and Cream Burger (photo (c) Brett Young)

While WDW may be the land of junk food, don’t write it off as a stereotype too quickly! Judge for yourself.

If you know of a “best burger” that I’ve missed, let me know about it in the comments section below!

Recipe: Boma’s Zebra Domes

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Boma's Zebra Domes

The Little Dessert That Packs a Punch
Disney theme parks have their iconic treats (think Dole Whips and Mickey Bars), but the Disney World resorts have theirs as well. One of the most well-known and documented of these is the coffee-kahlua flavored Zebra Dome made famous by Animal Kingdom Lodge’s Boma Restaurant.

Animal Kingdom Lodge's Boma Restaurant

While these take a while (many ingredients and even more steps) to make, the outcome is pretty extravagant. I’ve often found that people either passionately love these little desserts or vehemently hate them. You rarely find someone in between!

These are great to make for your next dinner party, or, if you’re wild and crazy, for your 4th of July Barbecue! (You KNOW that’s what you were thinking! Be honest!)

Now, the flexipan domes the recipe calls for seem really expensive! Does anyone have any good alternatives?

Where to Find ‘Em
Zebra Domes are a staple at Boma, a table-service buffet restaurant at Animal Kingdom Lodge (call 407-WDW-Dine for reservations). But due to popular demand, you can also purchase them in the quick service location, The Mara, as a grab-and-go item.

Zebra Domes Grab-and-Go at The Mara

Recipe
1 pound milk chocolate
¼ cup espresso coffee
5 egg yolks
¼ cup + 1 tablespoon sugar
6 sheets gelatin
½ cup Kahlua Liqueur
4 cups heavy cream
¾ cup white chocolate ganache
¼ cup dark chocolate ganache
sponge cake (store-bought or your favorite recipe)

1. Melt milk chocolate.
2. Whip heavy cream to soft peaks.
3. Mix yolks with sugar.
4. Soften gelatin leaves in cold water.
5. Mix gelatin with Kahlua and coffee. Set bowl over hot water bath to dissolve the gelatin.
6. Fold ⅓ of whipped cream into the chocolate.
7. Add the yolks, then the gelatin mixture.
8. Fold in the rest of the cream.
9. Pour mousse in flexipan domes almost to the top.
10. Place sponge circle (¼” thick yellow cake cut in a circle) on top. Leave in the freezer to set.
11. Once hard, unmold and place in glazing racks.
12. Make white chocolate ganache and chocolate ganache.
13. Put chocolate ganache in a pastry bag. Ladle white chocolate ganache to cover each dome. Simultaneously, pipe a stripe design of chocolate ganache over the dome.
14. Refrigerate to allow the glaze to set.
15. Decorate the bottom edge with coffee crunch.
16. Place a chocolate covered coffee bean on the center of each dome.

Note: One sheet of gelatin is equal to one teaspoon of unflavored powdered gelatin dissolved in ¼ cup of water.

The Mara photo courtesy of AKLResort.com.

Recipe from Key Ingredient. Also, here’s a good ganache recipe just in case you don’t have one handy… .

Food Blog Sunday Round-Up

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The Food Blog Sunday Round-up is becoming a tradition, I see. I just can’t let these other great Disney food posts from the week go un-mentioned, so here we go…

The Disney Blog’s Review of Portobello: Things are turning up for what is now called just “Portobello” (dropping the “Yacht Club”) in Downtown Disney. Scott Joseph Orlando has another good Portobello review from May 2009.

DisneyDaddy’s Cinderella’s Royal Table reviews: For anyone considering Cinderella’s Royal Table for breakfast or dinner, DisneyDaddy reviews both meals.

The Disney Chick has been busy cooking this week! Check out her step-by-step recipe/preparation/review blogs!
Brown Derby Grapefruit Cake: DisneyFoodBlog does not lie; one of my favorite things in the world is cream cheese frosting…which this cake has…so check it out!
‘Ohana Coriander Chicken Wings: One of DisneyChick’s favorite recipes to date! Delicious, and it only took 30 minutes to make!

Imaginerding’s Reminiscent Recipe: Highlighting the White Rabbit’s Gingerapple Fizz recipe out of Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse Cookbook

Solofriendly’s Visit to the Kona Cafe: Gray’s experience in an overly-crowded Poly Ceremonial House has her thinking that Kona might be better for lunch instead of dinner!

Thanks for the great food posts, everyone! If you’ve got a Disney food post coming up, or if you see a good one somewhere online, send them my way at [email protected]! Thanks!

Recipe: ‘Ohana Bread Pudding

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‘Ohana, at the Polynesian Resort, is a hawaiian-themed restaurant that serves skewered meats and side dishes family-style. Their menu has taken many twists and turns over the past several years, but at least one of the changes has been embraced by just about everyone who’s tried it.

Bananas Foster Bread Pudding at 'Ohana

The Bread Pudding with Bananas Foster Sauce, although one of the heavier Disney World desserts, has become almost universally beloved among Disney fans. And, as luck would have it, it comes along with your meal at no charge!

Now, my family and I love the dessert so much that one family member (who shall remain un-named) decided to try to make the dessert as part of a recent Christmas dinner. This likely occurred at my urging, but who can remember?

As it turned out, the “flambe” directive was a bit tricky, and we still had quite a bit of rum left in the sauce when it was served. Still delicious, but not exactly the same taste we were used to! From then on, we’ve taken a bit of the alcohol out of the dessert prep… just food for (hiccup!) thought… Recipe follows.

Ohana Bread Pudding with Bananas Foster Sauce

Recipe (This recipe was found on both AllEarsNet and WDWMagic, so I feel pretty confident with it. It’s also the one we used at my house, so take your chances!)

Ingredients
BREAD PUDDING
5 eggs
3 cups whole milk
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 1/2 cup sugar
8 cups french or ‘Ohana breakfast bread

1. In bowl mix eggs, milk, salt, sugar, and nutmeg. Set aside.
2. Cut bread in medium (usually 2-inch) pieces and place on cookie sheet pan. Put in 350 degree oven.
3. Bake bread until lightly toasted: about 15 minutes. Remove bread and place in egg and milk mixture.
4. Place mixture in a greased 10-inch cake pan, and bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour.
5. Let stand 5 minutes; serve hot with ice cream.

BANANAS FOSTER SAUCE
4 oz sugar
4 oz brown sugar
4 oz corn syrup
4 oz unsalted butter
1 cup heavy cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup spiced rum
1 cup banana slices

1. Combine sugar, brown sugar, corn syrup, butter, and half of heavy cream in a large pan. Bring to a boil and slowly add remaining heavy cream keeping mixture at a steady boil.

2. Add spiced rum and flambe.

3. Candy will brown slightly; cook 3 minutes until candy forms into a firm ball in cold water. Remove from heat and add vanilla. Add sliced bananas. Serve warm.

Many thanks to Brett Young for use of his photos on this blog!

2009 Eat to the Beat Concert Series Announced

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Epcot Food and Wine Festival

Thanks to Tim Weston over at The Daily Mickey blog for the tip that Disney’s finalized its Eat to the Beat concert series line-up!

These folks are set to light up the stage at this year’s Epcot Food and Wine Festival. For more information about the festival, click here!.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – A platinum lineup of popular music acts, including several Grammy-winning bands, will unleash an eclectic mix of classic and current tunes during the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Sept. 25-Nov. 8 at Walt Disney World Resort.

The Eat to the Beat! concert series will bring 17 acts – showcasing everything from rock to jazz, funk to pop – to the America Gardens Theatre stage during the 45-day festival. The lineup includes five performers playing the festival for the first time: Richard Marx, Better Than Ezra, Vanessa Carlton, John Waite and Billy Ocean.

Concerts, which are included with Epcot admission, begin at 5:15, 6:30 and 7:45 p.m. daily. The lineup (subject to change) includes:

Sept. 25-27
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy (“You & Me & The Bottle Makes 3 Tonight (Baby)”
Sept. 28-29 Richard Marx (“Hold On to the Nights”)
Sept. 30-Oct. 3 Starship starring Mickey Thomas (“We Built This City”)
Oct. 4-6 En Vogue (“Free Your Mind”)
Oct. 7-8 Better Than Ezra (“Good”)
Oct. 9-11 Sister Hazel (“All for You”)
Oct. 12-13 Kool & The Gang (“Celebration”)
Oct. 14-16 Spyro Gyra (“Morning Dance”)
Oct. 17-18 Jon Secada (“Just Another Day”)
Oct. 19-20 Sister Sledge (“We Are Family”)
Oct. 21-22 Vanessa Carlton (“A Thousand Miles”)
Oct. 23-25 Taylor Dayne (“Tell It to My Heart”)
Oct. 26-28 Boyz II Men (“Motownphilly”)
Oct. 29-31 John Waite (“Missing You”)
Nov. 1-2 Night Ranger (“Sister Christian”)
Nov. 3-5 Billy Ocean (“Caribbean Queen”)
Nov. 6-8 Los Lobos (“La Bamba”)

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