News! 2014 Epcot Flower and Garden Festival FULL Food Menus!

We have big news from Epcot today!

With just a few weeks to go before the opening of the 2014 Flower and Garden Festival, and thanks to a heads up from DFB reader Linda, we have the full list of menus for the super popular Outdoor Kitchens! Mark your calendars — the Festival lasts from March 5 through May 18.

These kiosks, which are reminiscent of the Marketplace Booths that dominate the Epcot Food and Wine Festival, feature delicious small plates that allow you to taste fresh flavors from the garden.

We Loved This Violet Lemonade at the 2013 Flower and Garden Festival!

There are lots and lots of new things to try. One new booth will debut — Urban Farm Eats — while we say Auf Wiedersehen to the German-inspired Bauernmarkt for 2014. (Let’s hope it’s back next year!)

Without further ado, let’s get to it!

NEW!: Urban Farm Eats

This year, a brand new booth, Urban Farm Eats, debuts with Land-grown produce and the best of farm-raised fish.

Land-grown Eggplant “Scallop” with Romesco Sauce and Spaghetti Squash from the Urban Farm Eats Outdoor Kitchen

2014 Menu

Pickled beet salad with goat cheese cream, mizuna and pistachios
Land-grown eggplant “scallop” with romesco sauce and spaghetti squash (TRYit!)
Ghost pepper-dusted tilapia with crisp winter melon slaw and mint oil featuring The Original Sauce Man’s Kick It Up Rub
Cucumber lemon spa water, finished with a sprig of fresh mint
The Vegan Vine Chardonnay
The Vegan Vine Cabernet Sauvignon
Redbridge Gluten-Free Sorghum Beer, Anheuser-Busch (St. Louis, Missouri)

Intermissions Cafe

Visit Intermissions Cafe at Festival Center for a jump start on fresh flavors before heading out to visit the Outdoor Kitchens!

Last Year’s Beet Lollipop – Push Up. Can’t Wait to Try the New Caprese Version!

2014 Menu

Grapes
Fruit & Cheese Plate
Vegan Trio
Southwest Chicken Wrap
Tuna Salad with Pita
Side Salad
Asian Tuna Salad with Noodles
Caprese Push-Pop — Tomato, Mozzarella, and Balsamic (TRYit! Selection)
Hurricane Class 5 White Sangria, Florida Orange Groves (St. Petersburg, Florida)
Garda Italian Wine Blend, Quantum Leap Winery (Orlando, Florida)
Rogue Valley Pinot Noir, Quantum Leap Winery (Orlando, Florida)
Martini Prosecco
Strongbow Cider, Bulmers Cider Company (White Plains, New York)
SweetWater Blue, SweetWater Brewing Company (Atlanta, Georgia)

Pineapple Promenade

Back for a second year, this is your chance to enjoy Dole Whip in lots of different ways — including toppers of Myer’s Dark Rum or Parrot Bay Coconut Rum! I can’t wait for this one!

Dole Whip with Spiced Rum at the 2013 Epcot Flower and Garden Festival

And don’t miss the Violet Lemonade!

2014 Menu [Read more…]

Disney Food Post Round-Up: February 16, 2014

By Kim LaPaglia Leave a Comment

Hope your week has been snow-rific, all!!

Souvenir Tiki-Tankard

We’ve been walking the parks in Orlando finding the latest and greatest goodies and news items so you can anticipate your next Disney World visit even more than you already are… .

Sunshine Tree Terrace continues to surprise us with souvenir options (Orange Bird!) — like the new Tiki-tankard that we shared with our readers this week.

Cheers to this Magic Kingdom sweet spot!

We have even more Disney Food scoop, just follow the links below!

Disney Food News

We tried the Italian Spiced Roasted Corn on the Cob at Disney World’s Liberty Square Market!
Check out the latest innovation at The Hollywood Brown Derby: choose your own dessert trio!
Grab a souvenir Tiki-Tankard at Sunshine Tree Terrace in Disney World’s Magic Kingdom!
Spice Road Table has added Mix Grill Skewers to its menu. Plus, some dishes have been renamed (from our studying of the descriptions, though, not much has changed).

Spice Road Menu Update

Of course, there’s more! 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 a wine tasting at Martha’s Vineyard at the Beach Club, restaurant closures, and more!

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!

Facebook friend Patti shared her Kobe burger from Big River Grille & Brewing Works at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn: “Kobe burger at Big River Grill was one of the best things about our trip last week. Cooked just right and so good we skipped our usual Beaches and Cream burger.”

This hilarious photo is from Tokyo DisneySea! Thanks for sharing, Christian! Sometimes, photo backgrounds make all the difference, don’t they? ;-D

Little Green Men Dumplings

We love your Disney food finds; send more!

The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World® Dining 2014 e-Book Grand Launch

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!!

For our Grand Launch Sale, use code: 2014 to get a $4 discount for a limited time! And at the end of this post, we have details on even more savings!

While our 2013 Guide was extensive, Disney World is always updating menus, prices, and other dining info. And we’re always finding new things to tell you about! So we’ve updated our 2014 edition with brand new details and more exclusive info!

Here Are 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 for 2014
NEW Disney food and restaurant photos
An updated Disney Snacks chapter, including our list of dozens of must-try snacks AND our Top 11 Must-Have Snacks for 2014.
An updated section on birthday parties and specialty cakes in Disney World
A comprehensive, 10-page chapter of What’s New in Disney World in 2014, including new restaurants, menu updates, and more
Details about how the My Magic+ Planning System and FastPass+ will affect your vacation planning
Our picks for the 11 Great Snacks you must try this year
Scavenger Hunts, Trivia, and Top 5 List updates
Bingo Cards
Updates on all pertinent facts such as dining hours, prices, resources, phone numbers, and restaurant closures/openings
All new restaurant additions, closures, refurbishments, and added dining experiences
And much more!

But, of course we’re offering a discount for our Grand Launch week!! Again, to celebrate the launch and to thank you for your support of the blog, we’ll be offering the Guide for $4 off its standard rate for a limited time! Order your copy now at DFBGuide.com and use code: [Read more…]

Review: Disney’s Aulani Loco Mocos

By Erin 4 Comments

I’m back from my first visit to Hawaii with, of course, a visit to Aulani, Disney’s outpost in the Aloha state. Since it was my first visit, I was particularly excited to explore Hawaii’s unique culture.

Aulani View

During our initial morning on site, we chose to have breakfast at Ama Ama, the more upscale of the resort’s table service restaurants.

Ama Ama breakfast menu.

The rest of the family chose to eat traditional American style food: pancakes, scrambled eggs, and French toast (can I call French toast American? :-)). But I chatted with the server, a native Hawaiian, and asked what the most traditional local dish was. She responded, “Loco Moco,” and told me that the Ama Ama version was excellent. So Loco Moco it was!

For those of you not in the know, a Loco Moco consists of rice, topped by a hamburger patty, topped by a fried egg, topped by a brown, usually onion or mushroom based, gravy.

Here’s the Ama Ama Loco Moco. (Try saying that five times fast.)

I loved the way the semi-cooked yolk and gravy oozed into [Read more…]

Disney Food Pics of the Week: Pub Grub!

By AJ Leave a Comment

We just shared our favorite Disney Pub Grub with you on Tuesday, and I thought it would be fun to check in with our DFB reader/photographers to see what they’re snapping these days!

It’s always so fun to flip through the fantastic photos that our members post on the Disney Food Blog Photo Extravaganza, our Flickr group. If you haven’t had a chance to check it out, head over there! We think a virtual trip to Disney is a great way to take a break from your busy day. 🙂

Let’s take a trip to some of our favorite Disney watering holes today for our latest installment in our Disney Food Pics of the Week Series!

Tri-Tip Sliders from Cove Bar in California Adventure Park

Cove Bar

in Disney California Adventure is a great place to take a load off while you enjoy water views and a spot of shade. And while you quench your thirst with specialty cocktails or craft beers, you can also answer your hunger with some fancy apps, like Tri-Tip Sliders. Yum!

Photographer: Hilary_JW

Tri-Tip Sliders from Cove Bar

Breads and Dips from Tambu Lounge in Disney’s Polynesian Resort

Who can resist ducking into Tambu Lounge at Disney’s Polynesian Resort? This open airy lounge is a terrific spot to wait for your table at nearby ‘Ohana while you nurse a world-famous Lapu Lapu! It’s one of my favorite First Day Traditions.

And don’t forget — it’s just a monorail ride away from Magic Kingdom, so it’s a great place to relax with a basket of Breads and Dips with your island-inspired drinks.

Photographer: DVC Mom

Breads and Dips from Tambu Lounge

Chips and Queso Blanco at La Cava Del Tequila in Epcot

But no Disney pub crawl is complete without [Read more…]

Top 4 Disney Chocolate Goodies to Share With Your Valentine!

By AJ 7 Comments

Happy Valentine’s Day, Everyone!

We can’t let this day go by without thinking dreamily of all the ways we’d be celebrating if we were lucky enough to be in Walt Disney World Today! Like chocolate ganache, maybe? Here’s a fun holiday cupcake found at many Disney’s Hollywood Studios restaurants right now!

Yep — Valentine’s Day means chocolate to us here at DFB! 😉

Let’s check out a few more awesome ways to celebrate the Disney Food Blog way!

Enjoy Red Velvet Pancakes at Kona Cafe

Every year, these gorgeous pancakes — topped with cream cheese icing!!!! — make their appearance at Kona Cafe in Disney’s Polynesian Resort for a few weeks. Today’s the last day you can get ’em this year, though, so head on over!

Valentine’s Day Treat: Red Velvet Pancakes at Kona Cafe

Share a Chocolate Milkshake at the Plaza Inn Restaurant

One of my favorite under-the-radar dining spots in Disney World is the Plaza Restaurant in Magic Kingdom. Affordable by Disney standards, they have some delicious dishes. AND your view as you dine if you’re lucky? Cinderella Castle! So how could you go wrong for a hassle-free romantic date night?

While I’ve enjoyed most everything I’ve ordered here, hands down my favorite menu items are the Hand Dipped Cookies and Cream Milkshakes. They’re incredible! They come served in those heavy, old-fashioned, footed glasses that you can only get in soda shops of our childhood!

Plaza Restaurant Milkshake

Top it with Whipped Cream and a Cherry, ask for two straws, and sip away with your Honey Pie while you take in the castle views. Sounds like a pretty awesome date to me. 🙂

Nibble on a Salted Caramel Chocolate in Epcot

Or maybe you think there’s no better date night than a stroll around World Showcase in Epcot. With stunning views, charming shops, fun attractions, and delicious eats, I couldn’t agree more!

But after you’ve shared a bowl of Spaghetti e Polpettine at Via Napoli, or perhaps a luxurious French dinner at Monsieur Paul, save a little room for dessert. And my suggestion is a walk over to the Germany Pavilion for a stop at Karamell-Küche.

This little German-inspired sweets shop is home to some of my favorite Epcot indulgences. Snag a bag or two of their caramel popcorn for the road. But for sharing with your special guy or gal, try the Chocolate Covered Sea Salt Caramel.

Chocolate-Covered Sea Salt Caramel at Karamell Kuche in Epcot

Because you’ll know it’s true love if you can actually share this heavenly treat. Come to think of it, you probably should just go ahead and get two of them. For the sake of your relationship.

Make Your Own Sweet Treat at Goofy’s Candy Company

Teamwork! Anyone who’s been on the merry go round of relationships knows that success comes with [Read more…]

Mickey’s Toontown “Restaurant Tour” at Disneyland!

By AJ 4 Comments

Mickey’s Toontown is the perfect place to visit when you want to feel like a kid again. It’s easy to believe that you’ve been dropped right into a cartoon as you venture into this land based on Toontown in Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Exploring Mickey’s and Minnie’s houses, and seeing all the cool detail, is one of my favorite things to do here!

And it’s great knowing that Toontown is still alive and kicking in Disneyland, since it went by the wayside to make room for New Fantasyland expansion in Walt Disney World.

But what if you’re looking for a bite to eat in the land of ‘toons? You’re in luck! There ain’t much to eat in Mickey’s Toontown, but what’s there sure is fun!

Toon Town Restaurants

Among the wonky architecture and interactive attractions in Toontown, you’ll find an assortment of stands for grabbing a bite to eat between rides. And no worries about picky eaters — everything here is sure to please even the littlest members of your crew!

Let’s take a little tour of the counter services spots and see what they have to offer. Fortunately, they’re all nestled close together, similar to a food court — great for a family or group whose members all want something different for lunch!

Counter Service Eats in Disneyland’s Toontown

The first stop on Toontown’s Restaurant Row is Daisy’s Diner. Donald’s girlfriend serves up Pizza in two varieties — Cheese or Pepperoni. Pizzas are individually sized, and are pretty standard Disney pizzas. If you’ve eaten Disney counter service pizza anywhere else, you’ll know what to expect.

You can also get a limited assortment of drinks here — Soda-Pop, Milk, or Juice. The Souvenir Sipper is also available. We’ll see a pic of that in a sec. There are also a few desserts available as well.

Daisy’s Diner

The next stop is Pluto’s Dog House. CUUUUUTE! 😉 I have serious love for that hotdog skewered on the fork above the window. Even the road signage out front lets you know what’s happening in this part of town.

Pluto’s Dog House

It probably won’t surprise you to find out that Pluto serves up Hot Dogs. Get a basket with a side of Apple Slices or Chips.

Pluto’s also features a few Kid’s Meal options, including a Kid’s Hot Dog or Turkey Sandwich, which both come with sides. There’s also a Toddler Meal featuring Macaroni and Cheese. Assorted desserts are available here, too.

In the drink department, Souvenir Sippers are also for sale here, along with the same beverage options that Daisy’s Diner features. However, you can also get Coffee, Hot Tea, and Hot Chocolate at Pluto’s — which are available in a Travel Mug.

Pluto’s Dog House Menu

Our next stop is Clarabelle’s! Head to the awning with the cute cow spots if you’re looking for something a little fresher for lunch or dinner.

Clarabelle’s

Options include “Moo” Plate Specials (bahahahahahaha!), and you see the word [Read more…]

DIY Disney Recipe: New England Pot Roast from Magic Kingdom’s Liberty Tree Tavern

By AJ 26 Comments

Guest chef Carol returns with a hearty recipe for New England Pot Roast. This delicious dish is served at the Liberty Tree Tavern in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World!Is there anything better than a pot roast?

Seriously, it’s a one-stop pot filled with nothing but love and gravy!!! Picture it, a beautiful roast surrounded with perfectly tender carrots, onions, celery, garlic, and thyme all married together in beautiful gravy made from butter, wine, and stock then served over mashed potatoes…sign me up please! Is your mouth watering, yet? Mine definitely is!!!

You can try this delicious dish at the Liberty Tree Tavern at Walt Disney World. There’s nothing like stepping back into time as you enter Liberty Square at Magic Kingdom Park.

But, since most of us don’t actually live at the Magic Kingdom, you can also make this dish at home as those nice, crisp winter nights start to set in! Thanks to Cooking with Mickey and the Disney Chefs, we’re gonna break this recipe down step by step with pictures for you to make and enjoy at home. So, let’s get started!

Ingredients

Pot Roast Recipe Ingredients

-1/4 cup vegetable oil
-3 pounds boneless beef shoulder roast
-1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
-2 cups large diced carrots
-2 cups large diced celery
-2 cups large diced onion
-1/4 cup chopped garlic
-2 tbls chopped fresh thyme
-1 cup all purpose flour
-1 cup burgundy wine
-6 cups beef broth (48 oz container)

Step 1: Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit

Step 2: Prep all of your veggies! Clean, peel, and dice the carrots.

Carrots

Rough chop [Read more…]

Tips from the DFB Guide: Expert Reviews of Walt Disney World Restaurants

By AJ 4 Comments

Ever wonder where to eat on your next Walt Disney World vacation?

Are you a veteran visitor looking for somewhere different to dine? Or perhaps your family will be first-time visitors and you’re just trying to figure out your options?

Yep, we’ve been there too! Countless restaurants and ever-changing menus keep us all wondering where to dine when visiting Disney World! Whether you are just seeking sustenance or long for a memorable meal — knowing ALL of your options is key to making the best dining choices for your family.

We understand that you have budget considerations and differing palates to contend with — and finding the right restaurant for your group may seem daunting. What you need are — restaurant reviews!

Our recommendations will provide you the information needed to make the most informed dining picks for your family! We’ve taste-tested many items for you! And after years of eating at Walt Disney World restaurants, we also tell you about the service and atmosphere.

In our The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World® Dining 2014 e-Book, we have mini-reviews of EVERY Disney World restaurant. Pick up your copy here for an extra $4 off using code 2014 for a limited time!

With our comprehensive DFB Guide, you’ll learn which character meals are our favorites — and where to find the best treats. Don’t dine without reading our reviews!

Counter Service Restaurants

Let’s dig in to the comprehensive listing of counter service restaurants that we’ve included in the DFB Guide to share with you our opinions of quick service spots.

And our reviews are completely honest. We’ve had some less than stellar eats at Electric Umbrella in Epcot, however in our mini-review, we acknowledge that the Vegetarian Flatbread was a hit. And we’d definitely return for another one!

We recommend the Veggie Flatbread at Electric Umbrella!

Snack Kiosks

When you’re busy touring Walt Disney world and need a quick snack (yes, it happens to us, too!), choosing the right pick-me-up is key. Don’t waste [Read more…]

New!: Italian Spiced (and more!) Roasted Corn at Liberty Square Market

By Wendy 7 Comments

It’s funny: Liberty Square Market is smack dab in the middle of Magic Kingdom’s Liberty Square. And yet, somehow it remains something of a hidden gem. I’m referring to the structure itself, and also its food offerings. You never know what you might find at Liberty Square Market.

Liberty Square Market

Well, that’s not entirely true. You do always know you’ll find lots of grab-n-go options, like bagged chips and whole fruit. And you’ll find them in a pretty cool setting! But there are always a few surprises here, too! Let’s check out a few of the details.

Atmosphere

There is a lot of charm packed in this not-so-huge space. And all of it perfectly complements its Liberty Square surroundings, from the open-air building…

View of Liberty Square Market

…to the font used on the menu.

Liberty Square Market Menu

I like the barrels of Mead, Ale, Grog, and potatoes! (Please note: Liberty Square Market sells neither mead, nor ale, nor grog ;D) . It does, however, sell potatoes! More on that in a few…)

Barrels o’ Mead and Grog!

My very favorite is the cart full of chips. I like to think this was how the Founding Fathers picked up their Doritos and Cheetos after a long morning of drafting Constitutions and what-not. You know.

Cart full of chips

You can take your goods to this seating area behind the Market. Tables are often [Read more…]

News! Choose-Your-Dessert-Trio at Disney’s Hollywood Brown Derby Restaurant

By AJ 14 Comments

Thanks to facebook friend Terri Mabry Pendleton for sending along the fun news (and pics!) about Disney’s Hollywood Brown Derby Restaurant’s latest piece of awesomeness.

Learn About:Hollywood Brown Derby

Disney's Hollywood Studios
Disney World Restaurants

You know how lots of Disney restaurants are doing dessert trios these days? Like, here are three little desserts instead of one big dessert? And you know how there’s always one or two desserts on that plate that you don’t really care about, but there’s one that you REALLY want to try?!?

Problem solved, say the Hollywood Brown Derby pastry chefs. CHOOSE WHICH ONES YOU WANT ON YOUR TRIO!!!!

Brown Derby Dessert Trio Menu Choices

Terri obvi made some killer choices: Bluberry Crumble (YUM!), Mini Grapefruit Cake, and…um…something chocolate, maybe? ;-D

Brown Derby Dessert Trio

And our friend Mealtrip chose some deliciousness, too!! Check out the Banana Toffee Cake on Cocoa Crunch and Strawberry Pearls in the middle!

Banana Toffee Cake on Cocoa Crunch and Strawberry Pearls

Either way, I [Read more…]

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