Review: Simba Lion Cub Cupcake (and more!) at Kusafiri Coffee Shop and Bakery in Disney's Animal Kingdom

Review: Simba Lion Cub Cupcake (and more!) at Kusafiri Coffee Shop and Bakery in Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Who’s up for a cupcake feast at Animal Kingdom’s Kusafiri Coffee Shop and Bakery?!

Learn About:Kusafiri Coffee Shop and Bakery

A longtime favorite in regards to offering some pretty fantastic bakery eats, Kusafiri is one of those places I just have to stop every time I visit Animal Kingdom. This little shop is home to several bakery favorites (namely, the Cotton Top Tamarin Cupcake and African Spice Cake), and even has a limited breakfast menu that still manages to impress with unique items such as the Warm Colossal Cinnamon Roll and Hot Breakfast Wrap, despite its size.

Alongside the classics, Kusafiri is often a place to find something new, and it didn’t disappoint on a recent visit. To my chagrin, though, I discovered that some of my favorites have undergone a bit of a makeover.

Kusafiri Bakery menu

Let’s start with the good news…

Lion Cub Cupcake

The list of Gourmet Cupcakes has expanded with the Lion Cub Cupcake.

Lion Cub cupcake

I showed this handsome little guy off on my Instagram a while back (‘cuz how could I not — I mean, how cute is little Simba?!), and have been excited to show him to you on the blog ever since. The fondant Simba topping the cupcake (similar to the toppers you’ll find on the Gourmet Cake Cups at Magic Kingdom’s Cheshire Cafe) is surrounded by a mane of frosting. ROAR!!

The flavor? Passionfruit. It comes through in the pudding-like filling tucked in the vanilla cake under the white vanilla frosting.

Inside the Lion Cub cupcake

Lion Cub cupcake filling

The citrus is mellowed by the creaminess of the vanilla, which is a combo I love. Plus, you can’t argue with the added cute factor, so there’s that.

If Simba just can’t wait to be king, he may have already accomplished that here at Kusafiri, especially in light of the changes to [Read more…]

News! New Botanas Botánico Outdoor Kitchen Debuts at Epcot Flower and Garden Festival, Plus Garden Rocks Concert Line Up

By Brooke 11 Comments

It’s exciting to think that we’re just a little over a month away from the start of the 2015 Epcot Flower and Garden Festival!

We’ve always enjoyed this beautiful special event, but now it’s right up our alley since they added Outdoor Kitchens to World Showcase. Similar to Marketplaces Booths at the Epcot Food and Wine Festival, they offer tapas-like dishes and sips of all kinds of interesting beverages. It’s super sweet to sample and stroll as you take in all of the gorgeous gardens!

We’re anxiously awaiting all of the puzzle pieces to fall into place about this year’s menus, but today, we have a couple of new details!

New Botanas Botánico Outdoor Kitchen Coming to World Showcase

First and foremost, the FOOD! A brand new Outdoor Kitchen will debut in 2015. Botanas Botánico will be located between the France and Morocco Pavilions. This is the area that was occupied by the Brazil Marketplace Booth during the 2014 Epcot Food and Wine Festival, so we’re wondering if this will be a featured gathering spot of sorts.

We’re Wondering if the Puerto Rico Marketplace Booth from the Food and Wine Festival May Do Double Duty as the Botanas Botánico Outdoor Kitchen During Flower and Garden!

From the menu, we’re guessing that the influence will be South American in general, and Venezuelan in particular. At any rate, we can’t wait to see the set up!

Speaking of the menu, we already have a few details. Dishes here will include [Read more…]

Review: Breakfast at Kona Cafe in Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

By AJ 26 Comments

You’re in for a real treat today as we take in breakfast at one of my favorite spots, Kona Cafe!

Learn About:Kona Cafe

Polynesian Resort
Disney World Restaurants

You’ll find Kona Cafe in Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. The hotel continues to undergo vast renovations, but we’re so happy to report that Kona Cafe seems to be sticking around!

Meals at this spot are pretty consistently good. Lunch at Kona can offer a welcome respite from Magic Kingdom. And dinner is a hidden gem — many swear by Kona’s Steak. But breakfast offers some serious cult favorites for Disney veterans.

Atmosphere

Kona Cafe is located off of the center atrium at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. It’s conveniently situated for guests of both the Polynesian, and, well, anywhere! Just steps away from the Monorail, it’s a quick ride from both the Magic Kingdom and the Ticket and Transportation Center.

Entrance to Kona Cafe

You may be tempted to dismiss Kona without much thought. After all, its open atmosphere makes it seem like any plain jane hotel restaurant. And I agree — it does look like a Hilton straight out of the mid-90s.

The general feel of the space is supposed to be tropical. Bold colors abound on walls and carpet, while lighter-stained wood and wrought iron round out the space.

Kona Cafe Atmosphere and Seating

Because it’s located off of the atrium, Imagineers have made an effort to give it sort of a garden feel. As a result, some of the lights, like these large leaf-shaped glass fixtures, mimic nature patterns.

Lighting Fixtures

One of my favorite decorative features are the ceiling fans that run the length of the dining room.

These Super Cool Ceiling Fans Keep the Air Moving Nicely

The carpet is very…colorful. Big, splashy exotic blooms are scattered across it. Look closely, and you may just find a familiar shape among the flowers. 🙂

Hidden Mickey, Hidden Very Well Indeed

Seating is a combination of round and rectangular tables. If you’re with your whole fam, this is a nice place to settle in!

Seating

The mixed seating with banquettes on one side and chairs on the other are a good compromise.

Booth Seating

A lot of times, we make a big deal about [Read more…]

Disney Food Post Round-Up: January 25, 2015

By Kim LaPaglia Leave a Comment

Love the city-specific Starbucks mugs? Well, we have some exciting news for you. Disney has unveiled park specific Starbucks mugs. Find them at Starbucks locations in the parks!

Epcot “You Are Here” Mug

More java spots are coming to Walt Disney World. We’ve got the scoop on two new Starbucks locations, including the soon-to-open Trolley Car Cafe at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

If you’re more of a Dole Whip fan, you’ll want to know that Sunshine Tree Terrace is still serving Dole Whips. We’re not certain if this is permanent, but for now skip the long lines at Aloha Isle!

For all the details on the above news and more, just click on the links below!

Disney Food News

Starbucks “You Are Here” mugs now available in Disney Parks Starbucks locations!
Aloha Isle has long been the only place to find Dole Whip in Magic Kingdom. But it’s now on the menu at Sunshine Tree Terrace, too!
It’s the first “What’s New” for 2015! We’re exploring all four Disney World Parks and finding menu updates, new snacks, and scoping out not one, but two upcoming in-Park Starbucks locations.
Five Disneyland Restaurants will be participating in Orange County Restaurant Week 2015 (March 1-7): Steakhouse 55, Naples Ristorante, Catal, Tortilla Jo’s, and Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen.
The latest specialty cupcake at Disney World’s Hollywood Studios is a Chocolate Cupcake with Banana Buttercream Icing. Better yet, it’s topped with a white chocolate Baymax from Big Hero 6!
Check out the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Popcorn Bucket, available at popcorn stands throughout the Magic Kingdom!
Check out the signage for Disney’s Hollywood Studios Starbucks location in Walt Disney World!

Check out all the latest Disney Food News — even the stuff we don’t mention in posts on the blog! — on our Disney Food News Pin Board, including restaurant closures, and Rehab Dates for Magic Kingdom’s Liberty Tree Tavern, Valentine’s Day Special at Wolfgang Puck Dining Room, and more!

We’ve got all the latest for you, so check it out before you go.

DFB Reader Finds

If you find a fun new food — or other edible awesomeness — in or about Disney, share a photo with us on facebook or twitter so we can add it to our DFB Reader Finds each Sunday!

Celebrating your birthday at Disney World is always a great time to indulge in sweets. Let’s take a look at some fun birthday treats at Disney. First up, a birthday cupcake at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall sent in by Facebook Friend Salwa.

Birthday Cupcake at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall

And here’s a cutie!!! A third birthday celebration at Crystal Palace shared by Facebook Friend Raquel.

Third Birthday at Crystal Palace

Do you have a favorite find? Share your Disney food photos!

Pre-Order the 2015 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining e-Book Today with a Discount!

Want a big discount on our most popular DFB Guide in time for the new year? Or, you know, just cause you want to start planning your 2015 Disney trip TODAY? ;-D

It’s yours! Pre-Order the 2015 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining today and use promo code PRE2015 for $4 off!

We know that when it comes to your Disney vacays, planning ahead is practically essential these days. And if you can save time and money in the process — even better!

And that’s why today, when you pre-order the 2015 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining and enter promo code PRE2015, you’ll save $4 off of the already low cover price!

But the really cool part? You get two books for the price of one! We’ll deliver the 2014 Guide to you immediately, and email you the 2015 Guide as soon as it is available later this month.

Here are a couple of sample pages for you — just click to enlarge!

DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Sample Page

Samples Pages of the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining 2013

What’s in the DFB Guide?

The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is stuffed FULL of helpful features to help make your trip go smoothly, like:

A 5-Step Strategy for Disney Dining Planning, covering everything you need to know from [Read more…]

DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining e-Book: Pre-Order the 2015 Edition and Get the 2014 Edition FREE!

By AJ Leave a Comment

It’s a new year, and we’re excited about all that 2015 holds!

And already, this year is shaping up to be an awesome time where Disney Food is concerned. With major developments at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and new restaurants on the horizon at Downtown Disney Orlando (read more about Morimoto Asia, Boathouse, and STK), it seems like there’s always something new to report to you guys!

And we know that new information is never more important to you than when you’re planning your next Disney trip!

We are hard at work everyday, bringing you the latest breaking news and reviews of what’s happening throughout the Disney Parks and Resorts. Initiatives like MyMagic+ continue to have a major impact on Disney visits, drastically changing the way you do things from even a year or two ago.

That’s why planning is so important — and that’s where we come in!

We’re updating our collection of critically-acclaimed DFB Guides so that you have lots of new content and relevant information for 2015.

And very soon, we’ll bring you the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining, 2015 Edition! And — this is the best part — you can get your copy this week for $4 off using code PRE2015!

We can’t let Genie out of the bottle quite yet 😉 but you can be sure that the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining, 2015 Edition will offer plenty of new features:

Lots of UPDATED Reviews of Every Disney Restaurant, Bar, Lounge, and Eatery, Including New Spots
Many NEW Photos and Special Features
Updated MUST-KNOW Disney Planning Details for 2015
More Than Three Brand New Chapters

And [Read more…]

FYI: Dole Whip Available at Sunshine Tree Terrace in Disney World’s Magic Kingdom…For Now

By Wendy 11 Comments

UPDATE: Please note that Dole Whip is no longer being served at Sunshine Tree Terrace, and that Sunshine Tree Terrace and Aloha Isle (the original Dole Whip home) have switched locations.

With the addition of Dole Whip to Epcot during the Flower and Garden Festival and Epcot Food and Wine Festival, and at Animal Kingdom’s Tamu Tamu Refreshments since last May, we’ve become somewhat accustomed to spotting this Magic Kingdom signature snack in other Disney World parks.

Dole Whip Float

But Aloha Isle — the original home to Dole Whip at Disney World — is no longer your sole source of Pineapple soft-serve at Magic Kingdom (at least for the time being, we should say 😉 ).

Aloha Isle

Dole Whip has arrived at Sunshine Tree Terrace!

Sunshine Tree Terrace

The first appearance of Pineapple soft-serve on the Sunshine Tree menu came along with the rush of Christmas week crowds, so at the time it was unclear if it was a temporary attempt to help alleviate some of the loooooong lines at Aloha Isle for the weeks immediately surrounding the holidays.

But since the lines are loooooong at Aloha Isle any time of year (understandably, because Dole Whip ), it’s good to know that a recent visit to Sunshine Tree Terrace revealed that Dole Whip remains on the menu!

Sunshine Tree Terrace menu (click to enlarge)

Sunshine Tree Terrace is serving up Pineapple and Vanilla soft-serve in cups, cones, or Floats. It does not appear that you can [Read more…]

What’s New Around Disney World: January 23, 2015

By Wendy 2 Comments

The year isn’t the only thing new around Disney World… we’re on the lookout for new eats, sweets, and refurbishment feats. Please keep your hands, arms, feet, and legs inside your ride vehicle at all times as we tour all four Disney World Parks to see What’s New!

Something’s always just around the corner at Disney World!

Animal Kingdom

We’re starting out with another WILD trip to Animal Kingdom, which includes a couple of menu updates. At Yak & Yeti Restaurant, Firecracker Shrimp and Ahi Tuna Nachos for Two join the appetizers (the Dim Sum Basket for two remains), and Ginger Salmon with Japanese Udon has been added to the noodle dishes. Chicken Tikki Masala is among the new specialty entrees, and Malaysian Seafood Curry arrives under Wok selections.

Yak and Yeti Restaurant

Be sure to check out the Specialty Drinks for some fun new beverages: Pink Himalayan, Kiwi Kimono, and a Rickshaw Rickie.

Right next door at Local Food Cafes (also known as Yak & Yeti Counter Service), Korean Stir-fry Barbecue Chicken has replaced the Sweet and Sour Chicken.

Local Foods Cafe menu

At Dino Diner in Dinoland, U.S.A., the Snow Cone has been switched out for Nachos, served with just cheese or as Nachos Supreme (at least for these cooler months).

Dino Diner

Tamu Tamu Refreshments has undergone another menu refresh, currently offering the Slow-cooked Chicken Curry, Vegetarian Curry, and Roasted Chicken Salad.

Tamu Tamu Refreshments

This isn’t entirely unexpected, as the menu here seems to go through a standard rotation. So, if you’re disappointed that the Slow-cooked Pulled Beef Sandwich is no longer available, Hakuna Matata. It could very well make its way back around in a few months.

And, as we discussed a few weeks back, Flame Tree Barbecue is closed for refurbishment with a tentative reopening of April 1st. Find out where you can find some of your favorite Flame Tree foods at other locations around the park!

Flame Tree Barbecue closed for refurbishment

Speaking of refurbishments, construction of [Read more…]

News! Five Disneyland Restaurants to Participate in Orange County Restaurant Week

By Wendy Leave a Comment

Okay, you lucky Californians (and anyone who might be visiting Disneyland the first week of March)…

FIVE Disneyland restaurants are participating in Orange County Restaurant Week!

Running for just one week, March 1-7, 2015, Restaurant Week features 100 of the best Orange County restaurants offering special discounted prix fixe menus.

Led by Chef Marcel St Pierre, Disneyland Hotel’s Steakhouse 55 will return to the event this year.

Three courses will be offered for $50 (an optional wine pairing is available for an additional $35):

Guests will choose from among the following for their Starter Course: Hearts of Romaine, Chilled Tiger Prawns, or Creamy Onion Soup.

Entree options include: Grilled Petite Filet Mignon, Pan-roasted Double Breast of Chicken, Slow-roasted Prime Rib, Fava Bean & Rye Crusted King Salmon (all served with sautéed French green beans and Delmonico potatoes). Per Disney, vegetarian options will be available upon request.

And, of course, there’s still dessert! Choose from Vanilla Bean Creme Brulee or Chocolate Mousse Cake.

Inside the Cool and Serene Steakhouse 55

Also participating in Restaurant Week are Naples Ristorante, Tortilla Jo’s, Catal, and Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen in Downtown Disney Anaheim. Check ocrestaurantweek.com for menu information as it becomes available.

Reservations can be made by [Read more…]

Dining in TOKYO Disneyand: The Pizza Spring Roll

By Heather 9 Comments

Having just returned from an amazing trip to the Tokyo Disney Resort, there are a few items there that I just have to share with you! The Pizza Spring Roll being basically at the tip top of my list. Yes, you read that right PIZZA SPRING ROLL!

Pizza Spring Roll

Located in Tokyo Disneyland’s Toon Town is this adorable little food cart that serves two types of Spring Rolls.

[Read more…]

Snack Series: Chocolate Dipped Chocolate Chip Meringue from Epcot’s Les Halles Boulangerie & Patisserie

By AJ 6 Comments

We are back to take another look into the tempting pastry cases at Les Halles Boulangerie & Patisserie in Epcot’s France Pavilion!

Learn About:Les Halles Boulangerie Patisserie

Epcot Restaurants
Disney World Restaurants

You know that we love Les Halles. I never pass up a chance to stop in here for a breakfast pastry. The Frangipane Triangle is my favorite!

At lunch, I often enjoy one of their deliciously authentic sandwiches, like the Jambon Beurre. It never fails to transport me straight back to France!

But you will never guess what I decided to try on this visit…

Chocolate Dipped Chocolate Chip Meringue

On my last trip to Walt Disney World I, of course, had to stop by Les Halles. And I finally took the opportunity to try the — I can’t believe I’m going to say this — Chocolate Dipped Chocolate Chip Meringues.

Wait. No. You have no idea how HUGE this thing is from the picture of it in the case. So, being the very helpful AJ I am, I knew I had to get one for you guys! If for no other reason, so you could see it on a plate.

Chocolate Chip Meringue — In the Case

Okay, here we are, out in the light at one of those great little cafe tables, tucked back into the France Pavilion. And now, you can appreciate the enormity of this meringue for yourself.

Chocolate Chip Meringue — Up Close

Still not getting it? That’s a fork on the plate beside it, for scale.

Maybe I was a little bowled over here. But I have never seen a meringue this big in my life!

Chocolate Chip Meringue — The Dipped Side

Now, giant size aside, you know how I feel about meringues. Basically, they’re [Read more…]

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