Spotted! Rose & Crown Pub and Dining Room Merchandise in Epcot's UK Pavilion

Spotted! Rose & Crown Pub and Dining Room Merchandise in Epcot’s UK Pavilion

Is the Rose & Crown Pub and Dining Room your home away from home while you’re in Disney World? If so, you might enjoy knowing there are a few ways to take a piece of the Pub back home with you!

Rose & Crown Pub and Dining Room

We’d enjoyed seeing some of the merchandise dedicated specifically to the Rose & Crown during a tour of the Food & Wine Festival Center, but I had no idea how extensive the line was until a recent visit to the Sportsman’s Shoppe in Epcot’s UK Pavilion (just across the path from the pub itself).

How long has it been there? Honestly, I don’t know. It’s been a while since I’d paid a visit to the Sportman’s Shoppe in particular. But it was fun to check out all the goodies dedicated to the place “Where Jolly Good Times Happen on This Side of the Pond,” and we thought fans of the pub might enjoy a glimpse, too!

Rose & Crown merchandise display

“Where Jolly Good Times Happen on This Side of the Pond”

From barware to clothing, this stuff runs the gamut. If you’ve enjoyed a pint (or two!) at Rose & Crown, you might like any of the collection of glasses, from pints to [Read more…]

Review and Preview: The Causeway at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Food and Wine Classic

By Brooke 10 Comments

It’s almost time! The Fifth Annual Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Food and Wine Classic is just around the corner!

This event, which takes place concurrently with the 2014 Epcot Food and Wine Festival, is a fantastic evening for food and wine lovers.

This year’s Food and Wine Classic will take place on Friday, October 31 (yep! Halloween!) and Saturday, November 1. The two-day event consists of food and beverage tasting booths set up on the resort’s beautiful causeway each evening. And new for 2014, a Beer Garden experience has been added for even more great food and drink.

Guests can also take part in a number of special food and beverage seminars for an additional fee. Seminars take place at 4:30PM both days, and the Causeway booths are open from 5:30 until 9:00PM on Friday and Saturday.

We’ve enjoyed the event every year since it began, and 2013 was no exception! We thought a look back at last year’s event was the perfect way to get excited about what’s in store for 2014. Let’s head out to the Causeway for a delicious evening.

Dining al fresco on the Causeway at the Swan and Dolphin Food and Wine Classic!

Atmosphere

Whether you’re staying at the Swan and Dolphin or you’re arriving from another location, head to the Promenade that connects the two resorts — that’s where the evening’s festivities will take place. We stopped by the Will Call Booth to pick up tickets.

As far as admission goes, you have options. Purchase an all-access ticket, and it’s an all-you-can-eat-and-drink pass to the booths. If you prefer, you can choose a la carte tickets instead, which are sold in books of 25.

Will Call Booth

The Check In Table provided us with handy plates and plastic wine glasses.

Check-In Table

These would come in handy as we juggled plates and drinks on the Causeway.

Food and Wine Classic Tray and Glass

Booths line the walkway leading from the Swan to the Dolphin as well as the path directly behind the Swan. There’s a lot to take in!

The Promenade

Hi-Top tables are scattered throughout the middle of the Causeway. You’ll also find large tables with chairs off to the side directly behind the Swan.

High Top Table

At the end of the Causeway closest to the Dolphin, a stage is set up for musical performance. While you sip and stroll, you can listen to live tunes!

Stage

In addition to the food and beverage booths, last year’s Classic featured a large [Read more…]

Dining in Disneyland: Caramel Apple Smoothie & Pumpkin Muffin from Schmoozies

By Heather 3 Comments

Halloween Time at Disney California Adventure is much more “quiet” than it is over at Disneyland. There are, however, a handful of special menu items that are available through October 31st. On a recent visit I discovered a fun combo at Schmoozies in Hollywood Land.

Schmoozies!

The Caramel Apple Smoothie and Pumpkin Muffin are currently being featured as Holiday Specials.

Caramel Apple Smoothie & Pumpkin Muffin Signage

Of course I had to check both of these items out. The Caramel Apple Smoothie is made from fresh Granny Smith Apples, Caramel & Ice Cream. I think it can be called a smoothie because it has real fruit in it, but don’t get me wrong, it’s NOT a healthy item. It’s really more like a shake. Totally delicious, but not something you’d get from a juice bar!

Caramel Apple Smoothie & Pumpkin Muffin

Schmoozies makes all “smoothies” fresh to order, so it does [Read more…]

Snack Series: Candy Corn Cupcake at The Mara

By AJ 4 Comments

Boo to You

! It’s Halloween Week, and the Disney seasonal treats just keep coming!

Learn About:Mara

Animal Kingdom Lodge
Disney World Restaurants

Today, we’re showing you a fun Fall find from The Mara at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.

I love me some candy corn, but when you combine candy corn and Cupcakes? Even better!

Candy Corn Cupcake

So, Disney World has some hidden gems that keep churning out awesome eats that you’d never expect. Places like Sleepy Hollow and Friar’s Nook in the Magic Kingdom, and Landscape of Flavors at Art of Animation Resort tend to be little hot-beds of creativity when it comes to snacks and must-eat treats. The Mara at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge also fits into this category, featuring some seriously great baked goods on a regular basis (like the Chocolate Raspberry Mickey Tart).

And so I give you the Candy Corn Cupcake — with Oreo Mickey Ears, even!!

Candy Corn Cupcake at The Mara in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

Mounded high with thick Buttercream Frosting in Candy Corn’s traditional tri-color pattern, the cupcake is trimmed out with orange-tinted White Chocolate Curls for even more visual impact.

This is all piled on top of dark Chocolate Cake. But when you cut into the cupcake, you’ll find a little surprise hidden inside.

Candy Corn Cupcake — Cross Section

Now, to be honest, I’m not completely sure what this is. There is definitely chopped up [Read more…]

News! Boathouse and Morimoto Confirmed for Walt Disney World’s Disney Springs at Downtown Disney

By AJ 16 Comments

We are so excited to finally shed some light on what’s happening behind those construction walls over at Walt Disney World’s Downtown Disney!

Disney Springs Construction

It seems that after stops, starts, delays, and renamings, Disney Springs is finally taking shape. And today, we’re sharing with you not one, but TWO new confirmed restaurants that will join the Disney Springs lineup sooner rather than later. And BOTH restaurants were featured on early posts here on DFB highlighting future Disney Springs dining.

The Boathouse

The Boathouse

will offer waterfront dining with a nautical theme. Located at The Landing within Disney Springs, the restaurant is the brainchild of Schussler Creative, the same company that brought you other super-themed restaurants around Disney like T-Rex, Rainforest Cafe, and Yak & Yeti. Gibsons Restaurant Group will operate the spot.

The Boathouse — Inside

Guests can expect a mulitfaceted menu featuring American fare, including seafood, steaks, and chops. In addition, the restaurant will feature three different themed bars, including The Captain’s Raw Bar, The Admiral’s Club Bar, and The Dock Bar. Rooms within the restaurant will also carry a nautical theme and decor.

The Boathouse will offer guest more than just food, however. The restaurant will also serve as the launching spot for a number of boat-themed attractions. Guests can ride on a 40-foot Italian Water Taxi while they enjoy champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries. There will also be guided “Amphicar” Tours that highlight sites around Disney Springs.

The Boathouse — Outside View

Live music and private dining space round out the offerings at The Boathouse. The new restaurant is scheduled to serve Disney Springs guests until 2:00 AM.

The Boathouse is slated to open in the [Read more…]

What’s New Around Disney World: October 28, 2014

By Wendy 5 Comments

Happy Fall! Autumnal treats have been appearing all over Disney World for a while now, but with Halloween just days away, we thought we’d give you one last glimpse of the season’s snacks.

But that’s not the only food news ’round these parts… not by a long shot. Take a trip with us around all four Disney World parks to check out What’s New!

Hollywood Studios

October is probably my favorite time for the candy apples that hit the scene, like these at Sweet Spells.

Halloween Candy Apples

“Poisoned” Candy Apple

Minnie Witch Candy Apple

Min & Bill’s Dockside Diner currently features a Caramel Apple Shake as its tribute to fall. The featured shakes here change frequently, so be sure to pop by to see what’s available on your visit!

Min and Bill’s Dockside Diner

Caramel Apple Shake

Joffrey’s Coffee Carts all over Disney World have changed their seasonal offerings to include a Pumpkin Pie Latte and a Pumpkin Pie Frozen Cappuccino.

Joffrey’s Coffee Kiosk at Pixar Place

Seasonal Coffee beverages

Speaking of those Joffrey’s Carts… remember the Big ‘Ol Donut? We spotted a few topped with massive amounts of cookie crumble for a change [Read more…]

2014 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Recipe: South African Bobotie with Turkey and Mushrooms

By Brooke 7 Comments

We are back with another delicious taste of the 2014 Epcot Food and Wine Festival!

Welcome to the Epcot Food and Wine Festival!

A big draw of the Festival is the variety of fantastic dishes you can taste from all over the world at Marketplace Booths. And this year, we’ve enjoyed some really great options.

We’ve been fans of the Bobotie served at Tusker House and Boma for quite a while. The South African dish is reminiscent of a quiche with its egg base, but interesting ingredients, like raisins and traditional spices, give it a flavor that’s completely unique.

This year, the Africa Marketplace Booth offers up a version made with Turkey and Mushrooms.

South African Bobotie

Although Bobotie normally contains bread, this is a gluten-free version that’s prepared without it. The recipe utilizes mushrooms to provide hearty flavor, and their addition allows you to use less meat. You could even omit the turkey altogether and increase the mushrooms for a meatless version.

South African Bobotie with Turkey and Mushrooms

Africa Marketplace Booth

Serves 4-6

Ingredients:

[Read more…]

Sneak Peek and Review: Trattoria al Forno Breakfast at Disney’s BoardWalk

By AJ 11 Comments

We have a treat for you today — a sneak peek at some of the food that will be served at Disney’s soon-to-be newest restaurant, Trattoria al Forno!

Recently, we shared with you a first look at some of the menu items that are planned when the restaurant opens later this year at Disney’s BoardWalk (all subject to change, of course). But I was excited to find on my trip to Walt Disney World last week that the restaurant is already serving breakfast!

Well. Sort of.

As expected, the closing of Kouzzina left a breakfast vacuum (and a really, really devastating one at that). I was super bummed to see that the Mascarpone Waffles and other unique offerings might be nixed when Cat Cora’s Disney restaurant would be shuttered. Breakfast at Kouzzina regularly topped our list for best ways to start the day in the World.

So while I was intrigued to see that Trattoria al Forno’s breakfast menu was being served already — at its closest neighbor, Flying Fish Cafe, I was skeptical that it would even come close to Kouzzina’s breakfast. But I was eager to try it out and see what would be offered!

Now, I’m accustomed to meeting friends for dinner at Flying Fish, so it’s a little strange to arrive here for a 9:00 AM advance dining reservation!

Flying Fish Cafe in the Morning Hours

Let’s take a look at what I found — focusing on the food, rather than the atmosphere.

Menu Comparison: Trattoria al Forno Breakfast Versus Kouzzina

So here’s the good news for all of your who were super sad to hear that Kouzzina was closing. The Trattoria al Forno menu — for breakfast, at least — definitely has some of the same “feel” as the Kouzzina menu. While there are enough standard items to keep breakfast purists happy, you’ll definitely see the influence of the restaurant’s themeing in some of the dishes.

To make easy work of comparing the two, let’s take a look at both new and old.

Here is the menu that I received during my recent breakfast at Flying Fish.

Trattoria al Forno Breakfast Menu — Click to Enlarge

And here’s the menu from the last time I enjoyed breakfast at Kouzzina.

Breakfast Menu — Click to Enlarge

Press Pot Coffee will continue to be offered, something that Kouzzina fans often raved about.

While many of the exact items from Kouzzina don’t appear, there are definitely similarities. You’ll notice, for instance, that Trattoria will continue to serve Chicken Sausage as a side item. We’ve seen it on a few other breakfast menus though, at spots like The Wave (here’s a peek at their breakfast) at Disney’s Contemporary Resort and Carnation Cafe (see a breakfast review here) in Disneyland Park.

Flavors shift in the Mediterranean spectrum from Greek to Italian. Pequillo Peppers give way to Roasted Red Peppers, and Feta and other Cheeses disappear in favor of Pecorino Romano and Fresh Mozzarella.

We did notice that the Waffles seemed to make the trip over with a “tiramisu” type flavor — the addition of a coffee accent to the mascarpone. Yay!

I was pretty sad to see the demise of one of my Kouzzina favorites, the Warm Honey Pecan Cinnamon Roll.

So Far, No Warm Honey Pecan Cinnamon Roll at Trattoria al Forno

I’m still holding out hope that something similar will show up when Trattoria al Forno opens its doors! It was awesome.

In chatting with the staff, we do know of a few other items that will appear on the menu later that weren’t available when we visited. These include Caramel Apple Pancakes with Streusel-Like Topping, and a Fontina Fondue-Type dish with Prosciutto, Eggs, Vine Tomatoes, and several different types of Cheese.

Eats

Now that we’ve talked about the menu at length, it’s high time I showed you what I actually enjoyed!

I decided to go with [Read more…]

Disney Food Post Round-Up: October 26, 2014

By Kim LaPaglia Leave a Comment

With the opening of Memento Mori in the Magic Kingdom, Haunted Mansion fans now have a souvenir shop to explore! After meeting your Ghost Host, stop in and peruse the shelves of ghastly goodies.

Master Gracey crest plate

We love that many of these items are available online; just click the links provided!

Halloween treats continue to materialize in the Disney parks and resorts. We’re especially thrilled with the treats in Disneyland!

Plus, click below for all the details on this week’s Disney Food News…

Disney Food News

Memento Mori is now open in Magic Kingdom’s Liberty Square. Take a look at some of the ghastly merchandise inspired by the Haunted Mansion!
Epcot’s Liberty Inn has added regional American fare to the menu. We taste-tested the Maryland Crab Cakes with Old Bay Fries.
Chocolate sculptures are featured in the “From Bean to the Bar” exhibit at Epcot’s Festival Center during the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival.
Find out what’s inside the BoardWalk Bakery’s Ghost Cupcake!
We shared lots more Halloween Treats from Disneyland, including Zero Premium Popcorn Buckets, the Pumpkin Twist from Maurice’s Treats, and lots more!! Yum!

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 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 from Disney, share a photo with us on facebook or twitter so we can add it to our DFB Reader Finds each Sunday!

DFB loves the rotational dining, specialty restaurants (Palo!!), and lounges aboard the Disney Cruise Line ships. Let’s take a look at some delicious reader finds discovered aboard the Disney ships.

Facebook Friend Narda shared two desserts, including this Baked Alaska from the Disney Fantasy:

Baked Alaska aboard the Disney Fantasy

And here’s a dessert from Animator’s Palate aboard the Disney Dream. My favorite plates!

Dessert at Animator’s Palate

Do you have a Favorite Find? Please, share with us!

DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining On Sale!

Want a huge discount on our DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining? You’ve got it! This is the last day for our special sale, get $6 off the full price of the guide using code DOLEWHIP!

The fully updated DFB Guide to Walt Disney World® Dining 2014 e-Book is an instantly downloadable PDF guide, featuring over 450 full-color pages of photographs, information, and advice about our favorite subjects — food and dining in Walt Disney World.

It’s guaranteed to help you navigate your way to delicious dining on your next trip! And if you’re ready to get yours now, head on over to DFBGuide.com to pick it up!!

What’s In The Guide?

As thousands of repeat customers already know, the Guide includes:

A 5-Step Strategy for Disney Dining Planning, covering everything you need to know from budgeting and booking to kids’ meals, dining discounts, and fireworks.
A comprehensive and in-depth look at EVERY Disney World restaurant, kiosk, bar, and lounge, including our personal tips to ensure a positive and stress-free dining experience.
Four free, downloadable worksheets for planning your trip. These worksheets are designed to help you execute all the steps of planning the perfect Disney dining experience. And they’re reusable for all of your future trips!
Seven sample one-day dining itineraries for a head-start on planning.
A comprehensive index of bars and lounges. An often under-appreciated option for both dining and entertainment, the e-Book devotes a whole index to the topic.
The ability to be read on your mobile device or computer! It’s fully portable right in your pocket!

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

Here’s Just Some Of What You Get With Our 2014 Guide:

Over 450 Pages of Disney Dining and Planning information, tips, reviews, and recommendations!
An in-depth Disney Dining Restaurant Reviews section, covering all Disney restaurants, food kiosks, bars, and lounges
An updated Disney Dining Plan section and price analysis [Read more…]

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Spotted! Rose & Crown Pub and Dining Room Merchandise in Epcot’s UK Pavilion