Table-Service | the disney food blog

Disney Food Post Round-Up: June 20th, 2010

Happy Sunday, all! Did you catch the big Disney food news this week? Disney World has announced that Epcot Food & Wine Festival event reservations will open on July 20th, 2010, at 7am! They’ve also mentioned another new event for this year! As always keep up with the latest information on our Epcot Food and Wine Festival page! It’s updated every time a new bit of info is released.

Now, on to the round-up!

Family.com has some adorable Toy Story 3 recipes: Jessie’s Cowgirl Hat Cookies, Woody’s Sheriff Badge Cookies, Mr. Pricklepants Cupcakes, Hamm Cake Pops, and more!! (Special thanks to Between the Pages for the tip on these recipes!)

The Unofficial Wilderness Lodge Tribute Website reviews the controversial Whispering Canyon Cafe.

About.com Theme Parks does a mini-review of Cafe Orleans in Disneyland. (Yum…frites!!)

Main Street Gazette wins best blog post title ever with “Sack of Sugar, Pinch of Mystery.” You’re going to have to click to see what it’s about… 😉

A World View gives some great tips and resources for how to save some cash when it comes to your Disney World dining. This is part of a multi-part series on saving for and on your WDW vacation.

Disney Every Day checks out the Diamond Horseshoe in the Magic Kingdom.

The Disney Blog talks Perry the Platypus and cake!

Shredheads stages a healthy food smackdown between Disney World and Disneyland.

Chip and Co discusses eating gluten-free in Disney World.

Disney Parks Blog covers their favorite quick-service dining in the parks.

And, again, not Disney, but still cool:

Orlando Sentinel has a Butterbeer Report!

Also, Scott Joseph has an awesome Three Broomsticks video!!

Update on Cars Land Dining

By AJ 4 Comments

So, I have clearly developed a little obsession about Cars Land. I think it’s going to be one of the coolest things to ever come to Disneyland, and it’s natural for the obsession to extend to where I’ll be eating in Cars Land. Hopefully you’ll indulge me. 😉

We recently posted a piece speculating about what would happen with the table-service restaurant slated for Cars Land in Disney California Adventure. We’d heard some rumors about a “drive-in” themed restaurant similar to Disney World’s Sci-Fi Dine-in, which might replace — or accompany — the originally proposed “Flo’s Cafe.”

These rumors were clarified with a comment on our previous post from Michael Crawford of Progress City USA, “There was a drive-in proposed, but it’s not going be a part of the first phase of this area. Its budget was diverted to other things. Instead, it’s likely that it will be added later. I asked an Imagineer if it had been cut completely or might resurface later, and he said that it’s definitely something that they still want to do.”

Driving home the point, the Disney Parks Blog recently showcased this image of Cars Land’s Route 66, featuring a very cool rendering of Flo’s Cafe, the original restaurant proposed for the new land.

Artist Rendering of Cars Land, copyright Disney

So, in addition to what might be two very cool restaurants in Cars Land, we also learned that the Sally’s Motel cones will sell “cone-themed” quick service items, like “Cone on the Cob!”

Just wanted to keep you updated!

A Cozy Meal at Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano

By AJ 18 Comments

This post is in honor of StudiosCentral.com‘s “Disney’s Hollywood Studios Awareness Week,” so…be aware! 😉

Mama Melrose Lobby Decor

I’ve mentioned on the blog before before that I’ve never truly understood the theme of Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano. According to the storyline, Mama Melrose came to the United States from Italy, but wanted to become a Hollywood star. Moving to California, she didn’t “make it” as an actress, so she opened a restaurant, decorated it as a shrine to all things Hollywood, and started serving her Italian family favorites.

Atmosphere
So, although the story is a bit thin for Disney in my opinion, it’s still fun to wander around the restaurant to see how they’ve carried off the Italy-meets-California theme. The dark wood and red [Read more…]

The Most Popular Disney World Restaurants (And Alternatives When They’re Full)

By AJ 33 Comments

Chef Donald

You guys remember when we covered the Top Ten Disney Dining Tips, right? Overwhelmingly, the tip that was mentioned the most by Disney Food Blog readers was making Advanced Dining Reservations for high priority meals at Disney parks and resorts.

While this might be obvious to many, not everyone knows which Disney restaurants fill up the fastest when it comes to reservations. Having a little frame of reference on this might be extremely helpful as you’re planning your Disney dining and trying to determine what meals are high priority for you. So, I’ve prepared a little primer on which Disney restaurants are the toughest to book, along with great alternatives if you don’t happen to get your favorites!:

1. Le Cellier

Le Cellier Steakhouse

has been, for years, one of the toughest tickets in Disney World for both lunch and dinner. Seriously, I have heard Le Cellier cast members mention more than once that they’re continuously booked up for lunch and dinner 6 months in advance, with walk-up reservations rarely an option. In my opinion, this is due to three things: [Read more…]

Disney Food Post Round-Up: June 13, 2010

By AJ 1 Comment

Wow! Lots of Disney food news popping up this week! Here are few of our favorite stories:

Fantasmic Dining Packages announced for Lunch!
Check out the latest announcements of Hacienda de San Angel menu items, Cantina de San Angel menu items, and Via Napoli menu items!
Germany will welcome Karamelle-Kuche (Caramel Kitchen) in September.
You can now book your World of Color picnic packages online!

Also, I want to remind you to check out two new Disney Food Blog additions:

Our Disney Food Blog newsletter is ready to go — sign up here to have fun Disney Food news, info, tips, and photos to be delivered to your inbox straight from DBF headquarters!
The Disney Food Blog Photo Extravaganza flickr group is up and running! If you’re a flickr member, come join us and add your pics to the pool!

And now — on to the round-up!

Laura and Jeanine’s Salute to All things Disney but Mostly Disneyland has a great look at some of the World of Color picnic options.

Touring Plans Blog has an awesome post about dining in Disney with special diet needs.

The Disney Chick makes sweet bread from Kona Cafe in Disney’s Polynesian Resort!

The “World” According to Jack takes us to Tokyo Disneyland’s Club 33!!! It KILLS me that there are no food pics in this post, Jack. 😉

Zannaland has her interview of Raglan Road’s Chef Kevin Dundon up this week!

Disney Every Day reviews Disney World’s House of Blues! Yum!

Main St Gazette heads to the Studio Catering Company in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

DF ’82 shares the menu from Hakuna Matata counter-service restaurant in Disneyland Paris. Frites Hakuna, anyone?

Chip and Co features their favorite Quick Service locations in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Disney Parks Blog showcases the opening of Disney California Adventure’s Wine Country Trattoria.

Also, check out a couple of guest blog posts I did this week (about Disney Food, of course!). Thanks to Anna and Grey for their hospitality:

Cookie Madness allowed me to showcase my amateur baking skills on this Artist Point Berry Cobbler!

Solo Friendly let me create an itinerary for my dream day traveling solo to the Epcot Food and Wine Festival!

Finally, I know it’s NOT Disney, but…it’s cool…

Scott Joseph Orlando reviews The Three Broomsticks in Universal Orlando’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Disney World Dining Details for the World Cup Games

By AJ 1 Comment

Disney has announced some great ways to catch the games! Plan ahead and make reservations to dine in style while catching the games with other fans!

Raglan Road at Downtown Disney, where you’ll be able to watch the games on two 50-inch screens, will open at 10 a.m. throughout June. They’ll serve a full Irish breakfast all day and offer happy hour drinks and food specials.
ESPN Club on the Boardwalk will start serving at 10:30 a.m. for all early game days June 11-29 and July 2-3.
The Grill at the ESPN Wide World of Sports will be offering a limited breakfast menu for early games and lunch for the 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. games. From June 26-July 10, the Grill will offer a buffet with guaranteed seating. On July 11, you can dine in a special viewing area during the game.
For reservations, call 407-WDW-DINE

Enjoy!

Source: Disney Parks Blog

Fantasmic! Lunch Dining Packages Announced

By AJ 2 Comments

Disney World has extended their popular Fantasmic! Dining Packages into the lunch hours! Lunch packages with reserved seating at the show are now available at The Hollywood Brown Derby and Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano. Here are the details:

Packages can be booked on all dates when Fantasmic! is scheduled
Guests should arrive 30-45 minutes prior to the show time to take advantage of their designated seating
When there are two performances on the same night, the package is valid for the first performance only
Make reservations by calling (407) WDW-DINE (939-3463) up to 180 days in advance
Don’t forget to pick up your VIP voucher for Fantasmic! at the end of the meal

Source: Disney Parks Blog

The Megalosaurus, Giganto, Paleozoic T-Rex Review

By AJ 22 Comments

What is T-Rex? Part Dinosaur, Part Cotton-tini, Part Ice Cave.

Let me explain: if you’re a fan of Rainforest Cafe and other themed restaurants, you’ll love T-Rex. It takes themeing to the max — meteor showers, ice-bound wooly mammoths, a moving octopus bar — it’s all there. And it is what you make it. If you’re expecting gourmet food and bend-over-backwards service, you’re in the wrong place. If you’re expecting a fun, entertaining meal with decent grub and lots to look at — Welcome to T-Rex!

Atmosphere
Located in Disney World’s Downtown Disney, T-Rex is a prehistoric carnival of themeing. Each room has a different focus: an ice cave, complete with shifting colors and an embedded T-Rex skeleton; and undersea room with giant jellyfish lampshades and a moving octopus presiding over the bar; a meteor shower room, where you’d better watch out every 10 minutes or so; a fern forest with giant wasps and a triceratops so big you can seat three parties in his…midsection…? And it goes on from there!

Ice Cave with T-Rex Skeleton

Triceratops Seating Area

Moving Octopus Bar

Octopus Hidden Mickey

[Read more…]

Hacienda de San Angel Menu Alert

By AJ 16 Comments

New info and items from the Hacienda de San Angel menu and the Cantina de San Angel menu have just been announced. Both restaurants are scheduled to open in September 2010.

La Hacienda de San Angel

The Hacienda will seat 250 and will serve as a table service eatery for dinner only, opening at 4pm. (And I’ve heard that all the chairs will face the windows, so that everyone has a great view of Illuminations!)

The Hacienda de San Angel Menu will include:

queso fundido (warm cheese with poblano pepper and chorizo)
taco trio with rib eye
roasted chicken and pork
traditional black bean soup
mixed grill for two with flank steak, chicken, chorizo and vegetables (a seafood version features grouper, shrimp and scallops)
roasted shrimp in pepper garlic broth
flank steak with spring onions, refried beans and cactus leaves
grilled red snapper with roasted corn and cactus leaves
Chocolate churros
sweet tamales
fruit empanadas

La Cantina de San Angel

The Cantina will operate as it always has, opening at 11am and serving quick-service dishes throughout the day. It will seat 150.

The La Cantina de San Angel menu will include:

chicken and beef tacos on fresh handmade corn tortillas
nachos
cheese empanada
guacamole and chips
churros

Click to see all of our coverage, including construction photos, of the creation of La Hacienda de San Angel.

Source: Hooray for the Disney Parks Blog

Epcot Via Napoli Menu Items and Storyline

By AJ 21 Comments

Disneyland's Naples Pepperoni Pizza -- Sister Restaurant to Via Napoli

Update: Via Napoli reservations available August 6th. The restaurant will soft open on August 5th and grand open on September 10th.

According to a press release from the Patina Group, here’s a bit more information trickling out about Epcot’s new Italian Pizzeria, Via Napoli, set to open in September 2010:

Menu Items

Featured on the Via Napoli Menu will be several authentic Neapolitan pizzas. Here are just a few that were mentioned in the press release:

pizza bianca (the restaurant will likely offer several different types of white pizza)
quattro stagioni (featuring artichokes, ham, eggplant, mushrooms, tomatoes)
piccante (with chicken sausage, tomatoes, hot pepper, provolone, mozzarella)
traditional margherita pizza

Famed Pizzaiolo Charlie Restivo will serve as executive chef, and ingredients will include Marzano tomatoes, Caputo flour, handmade fresh mozzarella, Parma Cotto, crumbled sausage, and water calibrated specifically to the pH found in Naples.

Storyline and Restaurant Features

The three wood-burning ovens of Via Napoli will be named after the three active volcanoes in Italy –- Mount Etna, Mount Vesuvius and Stromboli (ah ha — a Pinocchio reference! Or is that the other way around…).

Each oven will be sculpted with the “face of the volcano” — reflecting the gods whose mythology surrounds each volcano’s history.

That’s what we know so far! Check out our other coverage of Epcot’s Via Napoli here.

Looking for something?

STAY CONNECTED

Disney Food Post Round-Up: June 20th, 2010

Update on Cars Land Dining

A Cozy Meal at Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano