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Snack Series: Tomato Basil Soup at Pinocchio Village Haus

I’m a soup-lover from way back, and one of my favorites has always been tomato basil. So when I was on a recent research trip at the Magic Kingdom, I was very excited to find tomato basil soup listed on the menu at Pinocchio Village Haus!

Soup is a great snack — cheap, filling, and usually carrying fewer calories and fat than other snacks at the Kingdom.

But, at the time, I thought to myself — how good could it be? I’ve had exceptional tomato basil soup, but I’ve also had plenty of versions that don’t come close to making the cut.

Pinocchio Village Haus menu

Without too many expectations, I found a seat upstairs at the Village Haus and dug in — and it was amazing! I’m not kidding you. I don’t recommend something to you if I don’t love it, and I’m telling you this soup is gorgeous. Savory, buttery, creamy, and very flavorful. Usually when I’m researching, my companions and I split it and I only take a few bites, but I’m pretty sure I commandeered this cup of soup and just about ate the whole thing!

Tomato Basil Soup at Pinocchio Village Haus

So, just a quick post to let you know, if you like soup as much [Read more…]

Favorite Ice Cold Snacks at Disney Parks

By AJ 28 Comments

Recently we polled our Disney Food Blog Facebook Page for their answer to this question: “What are your favorite icy cold snacks and treats in Disney parks?”

Among the many awesome answers, the three chilling treats mentioned the most by our Facebook Friends were Dole Whips, Mickey Premium Ice Cream Bars, and Kaki Gori shaved ice!

Dole Whips

UPDATE: Dole Whip is no longer being served at Captain Cook’s, is no longer self-serve, and is no longer available 24 hours a day. You’ll now find Dole Whip at the Pineapple Lanai in Disney’s Polynesian Village in addition to Aloha Isle at the Magic Kingdom. You can also find Dole Whip available intermittently at Animal Kingdom’s Tamu Tamu Refreshments, and at Epcot during some special events. On the upside, you can also get a Dole Whip Float at Pineapple Lanai!

We heard your your 34 shout-outs (!!!) to the Dole Whip. Not surprisingly, this palate-pleasing treat was the clear winner!

Disneyland Dole Whip Float

The Dole Whip’s popularity may be partly due to the many versions offered. First, there’s Dole Whip soft-serve in vanilla, pineapple and orange. Guests can further customize their dish by ordering a swirl. Or opt for the [Read more…]

Must-Do Milkshake: Frozen Hot Chocolate at Hilton Bonnet Creek Resort

By AJ 8 Comments

Those of you who have been lucky enough to visit Serendipity 3 in New York City know the wonders of frozen hot chocolate!

Made with blended milk, ice cream, and hot chocolate and topped with whipped cream, chocolate syrup, and a cherry, this chilly treat is the perfect addition to an afternoon by the pool.

When I first tried the original recipe at Serendipity 3, I was bowled over with how different it was from a regular milkshake. Using the hot chocolate gives it a stronger chocolate flavor and a sweeter overall impression.

There’s just more taste there than you get in a standard chocolate milkshake, and the same rings true with the version served at Beech, the pool bar at the Hilton Bonnet Creek Resort. The flavor itself is truly an indulgence, so don’t plan to sip quickly! By the way, this version is technically sold “for two,” but I promise it’s OK if you drink it all yourself… 😉

Beech at Hilton Bonnet Creek

The next time you’re in Disney World, grab a cab or take your car to the resort, which is located right in between Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Downtown Disney in the middle of Walt Disney World [Read more…]

Disney Food Pics of the Week: Seafood Dishes

By Kim LaPaglia 6 Comments

Learn About:Coral Reef Restaurant

Epcot Restaurants
Disney World Restaurants

Thanks for submitting your photos to the Disney Food Blog Photo Extravaganza! These photographs are fantastic! This week, the Disney Food Pics of the Week feature tantalizing seafood dishes!

Grilled Mahi-Mahi created with ragu of rock shrimp served on Jasmine rice topped with hearts of palms at the Coral Reef in Epcot.
Photographer: Julie Nova/travelhyper

Grilled Mahi Mahi

Langoustines Royale Sauce César is a Royal Norway Lobster with Caesar Sauce served at the adults only restaurant Remy aboard the Disney Dream.
Photographer: Kristen Kirk VanTassle/TheDVCMom

Royal Norway Lobster

Kona Sushi with California Roll, Tuna Poke and [Read more…]

Disney Food Post Round-Up: June 5, 2011

By AJ Leave a Comment

Sundae at Ghirardelli

Welcome to the Disney Food Post round-up; here we go…!

Disney Food News

Disney California Adventure’s Mission Tortilla Factory will become a Ghirardelli Chocolate Factory in 2012
Epcot’s American Pavilion has introduced nostalgic and regional candies to their gift shop
We have a full review of the new Tangaroa Terrace in the Disneyland Hotel
If you’re on facebook, join our Epcot Food and Wine Festival Fans facebook page! Just one more place to talk about our favorite time of year…

On to the Round-Up

DisMarks

features their 22nd Disney Blog Carnival this week!! Head over and check out stories from some of your favorite bloggers. 🙂

MousePlanet‘s Chris Barry highlights a little Disneyana with these mid-century Disneyland birthday candles. I love the close-up look at the accompanying birthday cake decorations.

Boston Magazine ran an anonymous article in May where the town that made him famous…well…breaks up with Todd English, the celebrity chef who has his name on the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin’s bluezoo restaurant. The New York Times answered with a full profile of the chef.

All Ears Net‘s Laura Glibreath shares a virtual scrapbook of food photos from her Disney Cruise to Alaska.

Watch Me Eat documents the ice cream buffet at the Star Tours grand opening event in Disney World!

Main St. Gazette shares a secret recipe for Flame Tree Barbecue’s grill rub!

4Parks1Blog has a fun angle for a Hoop Dee Doo Revue Review — guaranteed to make you smile.

Studios Central reports that Anaheim Produce on Sunset Boulevard in Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be closed through June 24th.

Heather W has a gorgeous photo of an Epcot root beer float on her latest virtual Disney scrapbook page.

Do you have your copy of the Disney Food Blog Guide to Walt Disney World Dining e-Book?

Click here for sample pages, recommendations, testimonials, bonus items, and more! (The 30-day money-back guarantee means there’s no risk to you!)

Disney California Adventure Tortilla Factory to Morph Into Ghirardelli Factory

By AJ 10 Comments

Disney California Adventure Mission Tortilla Factory

As of Tuesday May 31, 2011, the Old Mission Tortilla Factory at Disney California Adventure has closed. But hold onto your hats because rumor has it they are replacing it with a Ghirardelli factory, chocolate shop, and soda fountain!

If the current timeline stays the same, guests at DCA will be able to experience all of the delicious Ghirardelli goodness in 2012.

The location will remain, but the exterior will be changed to resemble Ghirardelli’s famous waterfront chocolate factory in San Francisco.

Ghirardelli Soda Fountain Downtown Disney, Orlando

Disney Imagineering plans to expand the current building to the adjoining backstage structure that currently houses DCA’s first aid and lost children complex. This expanded complex will have enough space to allow for a factory tour experience, as well as a chocolate shop and soda fountain (we smell free chocolate… ;-)).

The Ghiradelli experience will be in a prime location because of its proximity to the main entrance to Cars Land, which is due to open in June 2012, and also along DCA’s parade route.

So while you will not be able to get your free bag of birthday tortillas anymore, you can rest assured that you will be able to enjoy some of the best chocolate and ice cream in the world!

Source: Micechat

Snack Series: Caramel Covered Shortbread in Epcot

By AJ 33 Comments

Over at Epcot’s Karamell-Küche in the Germany pavilion, there are endless treats to try…as we all know.

The caramel smell hits you like a wave when you walk into the shop, and I sincerely suggest you eat before you stop in, because if you’re even the least big hungry, I promise that your eyes will be significantly bigger than your stomach…as mine were a couple of weeks ago!

Stopping in to get a bit of information about how the caramel corn is made (my Dad needed the details as he’s working very hard on duplicating the recipe! Yay!), I, of course, had to check out the display cases. And I saw this.

I know I’ve seen it before, but it never called out to me like it did on this visit. (You know how that is…when food calls out to you…right? No?) Sweet, gooey caramel layered onto a lovely piece of shortbread. Shortbread crumbles on top. Simple, yet pretty freaking [Read more…]

Guest Review: Tangaroa Terrace at the Disneyland Hotel

By AJ 16 Comments

Welcome back guest author Carrie Hayward, author of PassPorter’s Disney Weddings & Honeymoons, as she shares her recent trip to the Disneyland Hotel’s newest restaurant — Tangaroa Terrace. Thanks, Carrie!

My husband and I are big fans of Disney’s take on tiki culture and often wonder why they don’t exploit the theme more around the parks and resorts, especially when it comes to food service (Aladdin’s Oasis, I’m looking at YOU). So we got very excited when we heard that Disney was reimagining the counter-service restaurant at the Disneyland Hotel with a tiki theme. On Sunday we had a chance to try the new [Read more…]

Mini “Food & Wine Festival” at Disneyland’s Downtown Disney This Week

By AJ 2 Comments

Well, we lost the REAL Disneyland Food and Wine Festival this year, but those lucky enough to live near Disneyland or who happen to be on vacation there at the moment can consider taking part in the mini “Food and Wine Festival” that is happening at three of Downtown Disney’s Restaurants through June 3rd!

Enjoy delicious food, spirits, and wine from Italy, Spain, and Mexico at Catal Restaurant and Uva Bar, Tortilla Jo’s, and [Read more…]

Guest Review: Beers Around the World, Part 1

By AJ 26 Comments

Now’s a good time to grab a mug of your favorite brew as we welcome D.J. Jones with a review of beers found in Epcot’s World Showcase. D.J. is a lifelong Disney fan from Ocala, Florida. You can follow all of his adventures at The World of Deej. We raise our glass in a DFB toast to this first installment of Beers Around the World!

La Rossa at Via Napoli in World Showcase's Italy

Perhaps my favorite thing to do in all of Disney is to take a stroll in Epcot’s World Showcase while enjoying my favorite adult beverage. Most of the time this is beer, and over the years I’ve tried each of the many brews offered throughout the World Showcase.

In preparation for this post, my team of experts conducted painstaking research, so that you may know what beer is available in each of the 11 pavilions. It was a tough job, especially for my liver, but somebody had to do it.

Learn About:La Cava del Tequila

Epcot Restaurants
Disney World Restaurants

Mexico

Our adventure begins in the Mexico pavilion, where the research team visited La Cava del Tequila.

While tequila is the main attraction at La Cava, they also feature many of Mexico’s well-known beers. Sol, Bohemia, Tecate, Dos Equis Light, and Dos Equis Amber are all on the menu by the bottle.

I enjoyed a Dos Equis Amber, which features a nice body of flavor, and was ice cold. In fact, it was the [Read more…]

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Snack Series: Tomato Basil Soup at Pinocchio Village Haus