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columnist Heather Sievers brings us to a classic Main Street USA restaurant today!

Located on Main Street in Disneyland, the Carnation Café is a great little spot for a relaxing lunch. This table service restaurant features outdoor seating and a very simple, yet delicious menu.

Atmosphere…And a Visit With Chef Oscar
The décor of red and white umbrellas that shade the adorable chairs and tables reminds me of an old “soda fountain” type of place. Casual and cute is how I’d describe it. I’ve dined at Carnation Café on several occasions, coming back again and again for their amazing Loaded Baked Potato Soup.

Today’s meal was to be a quick lunch, so we called Disney Dining ahead of time and made a reservation. This means we were able to bypass the long line, give our name, and have a seat. The perfect way to [Read more…]

Disney Food Pics of the Week: Breakfast Goodies!

By Kim LaPaglia Leave a Comment

Thank you for including your pictures in the Disney Food Blog Photo Extravaganza! We’re getting hungry, how about you?!

The Disney Food Pics of the Week this week feature breakfast items. Fuel up before starting your Disney Day!

This grilled ham, egg and cheddar sandwich was savored at the Contempo Cafe in the Contemporary Resort.
Photographer: Morgan & Jeff Rooks

Contempo Cafe Grilled Ham, Egg, Cheddar Sandwich

At the Grand Floridian, the morning buffet at 1900 Park Fare includes these yummy selections!
Photographer: Kristen Kirk VanTassle

1900 Park Fare Breakfast

At the Plaza Inn in Disneyland, order this [Read more…]

New Menu Item: Appetizer Trio at Epcot’s Rose & Crown Restaurant

By AJ 28 Comments

So, we chatted a few weeks ago about a food trend that seems to be taking Disney World by storm — trios! And we’ve found another new menu trio over at the Rose & Crown Restaurant that we thought was pretty great — almost as good as the English Bulldog!!

While the Yorkshire Dales was definitely on the tip of my tongue to order, that appetizer trio is new on the menu since my last visit, and I couldn’t wait to try it. It included Rose & Crown’s delicious Potato & Leek Soup — a strong contender for my favorite soup on property, scotch eggs, and Beef Pasties. The trio comes “to share,” so there’s two of everything — perfect when you don’t want someone stealing any of your soup!!!

Rose & Crown Appetizer Trio

First, I dug into that delectable soup. That stuff is cream + butter + salt + cream + [Read more…]

Snack Series: New Carrot Cake Cupcake at Wilderness Lodge

By AJ 8 Comments

I was pretty lucky to meet cast member Michael S. last month on my visit to Walt Disney World!

This week, Michael sent along an awesome find — a new carrot cake cupcake at Roaring Fork in Disney’s Wilderness Lodge!

Wilderness Lodge Carrot Cake Cupcake

Looks pretty great to me. Here’s Michael’s review:

The cupcake was absolutely amazing! The frosting was definitely the best part, so sweet and creamy. It reminded me very much of the carrot cake cookie that I often get at the Writer’s Stop at Hollywood Studios, only in cupcake form. I will also add that the carrot cake itself was very moist. Overall the cupcake was [Read more…]

Disney Food Post Round-Up: April 17, 2011

By AJ Leave a Comment

Peanut Butter Cupcake

Welcome to the DFB Round-Up! An exciting announcement about the WDW Foodie Fest is coming up this week, but first, let’s talk food news…:

Latest Disney Food News

Mark your calendars for the 2011 Swan and Dolphin Food and Wine Classic
Two new cupcakes make their debuts at Boardwalk Bakery in Disney World
Jiko announces wine tastings and wine dinners
Tables in Wonderland April 2011 Events were announced

And I’ve got some more awesome reviews of our e-Book, The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining to share with you! Check them out below.

Recent Reviews of the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining

Zannaland

is impressed with the information and photos in the book. Check out her review here.

SamLand’s Disney Adventures exclaims “Even veterans will get a lot out of this. This book will save you money.” Read his review here.

SoloFriendly likes the information on solo dining at WDW and says “the book is jam-packed with useful information for Disney World newbies as well as experienced visitors”! Check out her review here. Thanks for the fantastic reviews!

Now, On to the Round-Up!

Parkeology

reminisces about decoding El Pirata Y El Parico as a child.

Walt Disney World for Grown-Ups shares some details about the “Be Our Guest” restaurant that will open with the new Fantasyland expansion.

Imaginerding mentions reading our DFB guidebook while traveling to WDW.

Stuff from the Park transports readers back to the Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship Restaurant in Disneyland’s Fantasyland.

Main Street Gazette reviews La Cantina de San Angel.

Disney Parks Blog explains rotational dining aboard the Disney Dream and shares some favorite menu items. (By the way — check out our ongoing reviews and recipes from the Disney Dream here!

Guest Review: Quick Bites at Friar’s Nook and Pinocchio Village Haus

By AJ 19 Comments

The amazing Sarah Holodick is back with more mouth-watering food reviews!! Sarah stopped by the Friar’s Nook and Pinocchio’s Village Haus on a recent trip to the Magic Kingdom in Disney World. Stay tuned next week for another review from Sarah of a spot not too far from these two… . Take it away, Sarah!Friar’s Nook: Freshly Made Potato Chips

When I heard about Friar’s Nook serving freshly made potato chips, I knew I had to give them a try. I was very happy to find out that they are available with toppings as well. There are two varieties available: chili and cheese; or cheese, bacon, and ranch. They had me at bacon, so here are the chips in all their cheesy, bacony, ranchy glory!

Chips with toppings

These chips were delicious! The potatoes are cut a bit on the thick side and fried to crunchy, golden brown perfection. They are lightly salted then smothered with plastic cheese, tasty ranch, and crispy bacon.

Needless to say these chips didn’t last very long! They were a perfect snack — non-greasy, and surprisingly light. I think it will be difficult to take a trip to the Magic Kingdom without placing an order for these!

Editor’s Note: Some say these are the replacement for Figaro Fries…yay or nay?

The Pinocchio Village Haus: Mediterranean Salad
After seeing Bill Iadonisi’s review last month here on DFB, I couldn’t stop thinking about that Mediterranean Salad. I was in Magic Kingdom and wanted a quick, light lunch, so I headed over to the Haus to [Read more…]

2011 Swan and Dolphin Food and Wine Classic

By AJ 1 Comment

Purchase Room and Ticket Packages plus seminars and event tickets at: http://www.swandolphinfoodandwineclassic.com/

Foodie fans of Epcot’s International Food & Wine Festival will find more culinary delights at the Second Annual Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic!

When:
Mark your calendar for October 7-8, 2011.

This year’s beverage seminars include Riesling Rendezvous, Beer, Please!, Spanish Wines, Modern Mixology and Beer, Wine Blending, All Things Sake and Base to Bubbles. Offered each day from 4:30-5:30 p.m. These classes will be taught by certified experts in hour-long sessions.

Award-winning restaurants from the Swan and Dolphin resorts will host tasting stations on the [Read more…]

Snack Series: Flavored Popcorn

By Kim LaPaglia 11 Comments

It’s delicious! Popping up all over Walt Disney World and Disneyland, this popular snack item also makes a great take-home souvenir. The Confetti version is naturally and artificially flavored. Sold for $3.95 and only 100 calories per serving, grab a bag of popcorn to munch during a Main Street parade!

Confetti!

Check the ingredients!

They’re sold in 8 oz. bags in various flavors. How about some Cinnamon Toast? While the calories and price are bumped up, they still make a [Read more…]

Why Disney World Needs An Automat

By AJ 41 Comments

Automats are 1. Fun, 2. Out-of-the-Ordinary, and 3. Nostalgic. Wouldn’t that fit right into what you’d expect in Disney World? But let’s begin at the beginning…

What’s an Automat?
What’s an automat, you ask? Nope — it’s not a laundromat. It’s a construct of the first half of the 20th century — a restaurant + vending machine combination. Automats offered individual servings of freshly made food that were placed behind little windows. If you wanted one of the items, you dropped your nickels in the slot, opened the little window, and took out the plate. The ultimate in “fast food” before fast food joints existed!

Automat Photo (c) National Geographic

Automats were prevalent and prominent in New York City and Philadelphia — primarily run by Horn and Hardart; they popped up in [Read more…]

Review: Epcot’s Bistro de Paris

By AJ 21 Comments

Learn About:Bistro de Paris

Epcot Restaurants
Disney World Restaurants

One of Disney World’s “signature” restaurants, Bistro de Paris is a truly elegant getaway from stereotypical theme park dining.

The restaurant is the concept of French chefs Roger Verge, Paul Bocuse, and the late Gaston Lenotre; these three also created concepts for — and originally ran — Chefs de France downstairs from the Bistro and the Boulangerie Patisserie next door. Today, Chef Bocuse’s son keeps an eye on the proceedings here.

Bistro is expensive and high-end, and service is usually excellent. I’ve heard raves about this restaurant, but I’ve also heard that it can be disappointing. My review lands somewhere in the middle.

Atmosphere

The entrance to the restaurant can be tough to find! Guests must walk into the France pavilion and all the way around Chefs de France before coming to a small, residential-looking door marked with a small Bistro sign and menu. I can imagine wandering around the pavilion for quite some time if I were looking for this place in the dark!

Once you enter, things become much more…refined. The general feeling of the Bistro lobby is one of richness.

Entryway Ceiling

Lighting

The deep red carpeting, brass fixtures, milk-glass light treatments, and drop-dead gorgeous art nouveau staircase and “chandelier” are [Read more…]

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STAY CONNECTED

Dining in Disneyland: Carnation Cafe & And Interview With Chef Oscar

Disney Food Pics of the Week: Breakfast Goodies!

New Menu Item: Appetizer Trio at Epcot’s Rose & Crown Restaurant

Snack Series: New Carrot Cake Cupcake at Wilderness Lodge