News! Bistro de Paris Gets New Look and Menu; Glacier Ice Cream Parlor Added to France Pavilion

UPDATE:

New name for Bistro de Paris will be “Monsieur Paul” — a fitting tribute to Chef Paul Bocuse!

There’s lots to anticipate over at Epcot’s France!!

We broke the news on the Epcot France bakery’s transformation and new menu earlier this year. Now we’ve heard even more updates from around the pavilion!

Boulangerie Patisserie

Look for Bistro de Paris to re-open in early December with a new name plus a whole new look! And the transformation of the Epcot restaurants includes the addition of a new bakery by mid-December along with an ice cream shop. Jerome Bocuse (owner of the France pavilion restaurants and son of the famous founding Chef Bocuse) revealed even more details!

Bistro de Paris

This Epcot restaurant will undergo a complete transformation including a new name — Monsieur Paul, less formal dining room with fresh and bright colors, costumes for the servers, and haute cuisine menu.

The elegant atmosphere will allow park guests to enjoy French cuisine in a nice (but not stuffy) atmosphere. For example, the servers will no longer wear tuxedos. Themeing will revolve around [Read more…]

Quick Bites: Pot Stickers and Pork Buns in Epcot’s China Pavilion

By AJ 20 Comments

Learn About:Lotus Blossom Cafe

Epcot Restaurants
Disney World Restaurants

We’re back in the World Showcase of Epcot today with a peek at a few snacks from The Lotus Blossom Cafe and the Joy of Tea!

Atmosphere

To be honest, I often overlook the Lotus Blossom Cafe — the China Pavilion’s counter service spot — just because there are usually better options for my particular palate elsewhere. But the Joy of Tea, that adorable little stand with some of the best drinks in World Showcase, gets more love from me.

And if nothing’s going to cut it for you except Chinese food while you’re powering through the World Showcase, then it’s time to stop at these spots!

Lotus Blossom Cafe

Located just past the entrance of the Nine Dragons Restaurant in the China Pavilion, Lotus Blossom boasts modern decor and indoor/outdoor seating.

Eats
Here’s an idea of what you’ll find for a quick bite to eat at Lotus Blossom. As you can see, the menu includes pretty standard fare like Egg Rolls and Sweet and Sour Chicken.

Lotus Blossom Cafe Menu - Click to Enlarge

Since I’ve recently been going through a pot sticker phase, I wanted to try them here.

Pot Stickers - Lotus Blossom Cafe

I’m no Chinese food expert, but they were [Read more…]

DFB Top Tips for Epcot Food and Wine Festival Event Booking

By AJ 27 Comments

UPDATE: To book online, go to http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/reservations/dining/ and click the “dining event” button.

I don’t know about you, but I’m still scrambling to figure out what events I’d like to sign up for during the 2012 Epcot Food and Wine Festival! Cheese seminar? Discovery of Chocolate? Wine School? Italian Regional Lunch?

But no matter what, I’ll have it all sorted out by 7am EST tomorrow morning, Tuesday, August 14th, because that’s when booking opens for ALL guests to snag their chosen 2012 Epcot Food and Wine Festival events!

It’s easy to book: just call 407-WDW-FEST to book all events. Some events will be available for booking online at http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/reservations/dining/ — click the “dining event” button.

So here’s your reminder to get planning! And I wanted to share a few of my top tips for Food and Wine Festival Booking with you as well!

DFB Top Tips for Epcot Food and Wine Festival Event Booking

Get Started Early

A few minutes here or there might not matter in most things, but when it comes to booking Food and Wine Festival events, a few minutes can really make a difference.

Many of the most popular Food and Wine Festival Events sell out quickly — and by “quickly,” we mean in mere minutes — so the earlier you’re on the phone or on your computer, the better.

Additionally, wait times on the phone can be brutal if you call after 7AM, so try to dial right when that number flips on your digital clock.

Plan Ahead

There’s no better way to have a great time at one of the biggest Food and Wine Festivals in the world than to plan ahead. Know what’s happening when you’re there, and know what events are must-dos for you. We’ve got comprehensive event information on [Read more…]

Review: Anandapur Local Food Cafes (Yak and Yeti Counter Service) in Animal Kingdom

By AJ 19 Comments

Learn About:Yak and Yeti Local Food Cafes

Animal Kingdom
Disney World Restaurants

I haven’t written about this one in a long time, and I was excited to go back. Anandapur Local Food Cafes in Disney World’s Animal Kingdom — also known as the “Yak and Yeti Counter Service” by many folks — has the most interesting counter-service options you’ll find at Animal Kingdom. (I didn’t say “best,” I said “most interesting.”)

This restaurant is tucked waaaaay back into Asia — pretty much as far back from the entrance to Animal Kingdom as you can get without being at Rafiki’s Planet Watch — and is a great stop if you’ve just toured the Maharaja’s palace on Maharaja Jungle Trek or gotten doused on Kali River Rapids. It’s also just a short walk from Expedition Everest.

Anandapur Local Food Cafes

Atmosphere

This all-outdoor eatery offers fantastic themeing and decent food. You’ll order at registers lined up over an overhang; but while you’re waiting, be sure to take in some of the “props” used by Imagineers to make you feel like you’re in an Indian market.

Props Outside the Restaurant

Ordering Area

Cooking pots line shelves above the food windows

Once you have your food, it’s time to head over to the seating areas. Several outdoor tables are arranged in a courtyard book-ended by marketplace shops (selling not-at-all exotic things like flip flops, dresses, towels, socks, and other sundries that may be needed by folks who’ve just emerged sopping wet from Kali River Rapids) and punctuated by a [Read more…]

Disney Food Post Round-Up: August 12, 2012

By AJ 1 Comment

This week we reported on some seriously exciting Disney food news from Walt Disney World!

From the opening date for Be Our Guest Restaurant (December 6th!) to more dates for Free Dining and finally culminating in the release of more Food and Wine Festival news, it was a crazy, exciting week, right?!

Disney Food News

Let’s take a more in-depth look at the news!

2012 Epcot Food and Wine Festival

Culinary and Beverage Seminar and Demonstration

Be Our Guest Restaurant Opens December 6th, but it looks like there are previews starting November 19th!
The Walt Disney World The Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic is back this year! Check out all the info about the chefs, menus, and more!
A Tables in Wonderland Event – “Elephants & Bees” – at the Tusker House Restaurant has been announced for September.

We’ve got more food news (including FREE Disney Dining Plan extended to December 20, a new menu at Tutto Gusto, restaurant closure updates, and LOTS more) on our Disney Food News Pin Board!

DFB Guide to the 2012 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Grand Launch and Discount!

In anticipation of the 2012 Epcot Food and Wine Festival, we’ve launched the DFB Mini Guide to the 2012 Epcot Food & Wine Festival e-Book.

It’s jam-packed with all the info you need to make sure you get the best value from the 2012 festival! Get your copy now before booking begins on August 14th at 7am!

For our readers, we’re offering the Guide at a discount during this Grand Launch week! Get your copy of this instantly downloadable PDF for just $11.95 (regularly $14.95). How? Use code CHEFS at check-out. With a 100% money-back guarantee, you’ve got nothing to lose!

Check out special features, bonus items, sample pages, and more at DFBMiniGuides.com/FoodandWine!

On to the Round-Up

Long-Forgotten Haunted Mansion

gives us a close-up look at the china inside this popular attraction.

WESH shares the top 5 must try activities at the 2012 Epcot Food and Wine Festival. Courtesy of DFB!

Studios Central recommends the Hollywood Brown Derby at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Running at Disney looks at healthy options at the Epcot Food and Wine Festival.

Mousetalgia recreates Disneyland’s exotic Tahitian Terrace during a one night only dinner event.

Main Street Gazette finds a great soup – Chicken and Andouille Gumbo – at the River Roost Lounge at Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside resort.

Gluten Free and Dairy Free at WDW announces a special diets IllumiNations party!

The “DFB Mini-Guide to the 2012 Epcot Food & Wine Festival” Grand Launch (and Discount)!

By AJ 10 Comments

We’re thrilled to announce the grand launch of the DFB Mini-Guide to the 2012 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival e-Book! And, honestly, it’s not so “mini.” With over 160 pages and multiple bonus items, it’s pretty substantial! And just in time to make your plans — booking begins August 14th!

In honor of our grand launch, we have a discount option for DFB readers (as always!). You can get the new mini-guide for $3 off the regular purchase price for the next 7 days — just use code CHEFS at the check-out!

The DFB Mini-Guide to the 2012 Epcot Food & Wine Festival e-Book

The DFB Mini-Guide to the 2012 Epcot Food & Wine Festival e-Book

features all the info you need to know before you attend the Food and Wine Festival this year, from what’s NEW this year to touring strategies and a brand new FAQ section.

And with the Epcot Food & Wine festival rapidly approaching, the time is now! Booking for festival events opens August 14th at 7am EST, and our exclusive daily schedule of events is the most efficient way to plan your festival strategy.

With a detailed schedule of seminars and events for every single day of the festival, it’s a quick, easy way to decide what activities events you want to book! Don’t waste time flipping between web pages, PDFs, and websites — just find the date you need and we’ve got it all right there in front of you. Just like that!

As always, we’ve made this mini-guide instantly downloadable for your convenience, and easily installed on your mobile devices. It’s a PDF guide with [Read more…]

Guest Review and Preview: BBQ Weekend at Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek

By Kim LaPaglia Leave a Comment

Courtesy of Andy Jackson from Eating (and Drinking) Around the World, we have a review of last year’s Barbecue Weekends at Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek. This year’s BBQ weekend begins August 10th! Get details here!

The Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek resort, located in the middle of Disney World property, offered up a couple of food-related events during the summer of 2011. As part of their “SummerBlast!” promotion the hotel hosted a weekend devoted to Cupcakes, and followed that up with two weekends of Barbecue festivities.

So with the 2012 BBQ Weekend about to begin, I thought it was time to look back at the events from 2011.

Atmosphere

I’d heard a lot of positive things about this resort (as well as the adjoining Waldorf Astoria), and especially its restaurants (I believe a certain Ms. Wolfe is a big fan…), so I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to check it out. The resort is located smack-dab inside of Disney property, even though it is not a Disney-owned or run hotel.

The weekend was advertised as featuring cooking demos, cook-offs between the chefs of the various restaurants on the property, a Barbecue buffet, and a beer sampling. Most of the restaurants at the Hilton were also featuring special BBQ items on their menus while all the bars were offering themed drinks during the weekend. In addition there were to be BBQ-themed kids activities such as the [Read more…]

Snack Series: Pocky in Epcot’s Japan Pavilion

By AJ 21 Comments

OK, so while this isn’t technically a “Disney-made” snack (I’ve even found it in my local grocery store recently), many of us have our first experience with Pocky in Mitsukoshi Department Store in Epcot’s Japan pavilion. I know I did! Just in case you haven’t experienced Pocky yet, let me introduce you!

These slender, crisp cookies coated in chocolate (and occasionally other flavors) are one of my favorite snacks available in Epcot’s World Showcase. You’ll find the tasty sweets way in the back of the fabled department store — near the indoor sake bar.

There Are Many Flavors of Pocky Available

There’s a Pocky for every flavor preference, from the purist approach of milk chocolate to fruit-flavored options. You can also find chocolate and nut combinations.

And, of course, there’s “Men’s Pocky.” No, I’m not kidding. Men’s Pocky is a dark chocolate version of the snack. 🙂

Front of Pocky Box

The cookies come in a range of quantities as well, from little pocky boxes to GIANT POCKY BOXES. Just in case you need to share (yeah, right).

On this visit, I went for the classic: “chocolate cream covered biscuit sticks.”

Back of Pocky Box - Nutritional Information and Ingredients

While I’m displaying my Pocky on a plate, one of the great traits of this snack is that you can definitely stroll and [Read more…]

2012 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Culinary Demos and Beverage Seminar Details

By AJ 5 Comments

We’re excited to finally share the 2012 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Culinary and Beverage Seminars and Demonstrations details!

Buddy Valastro at a 2011 Culinary Demonstration

After a long wait (and just in time!), the details on the low-cost seminars and demos that make up the meat of the Epcot Food and Wine Festival are available.

Click through to our Culinary and Beverage Seminars and Demonstrations page to see links to the Culinary, Beverage, and Mixology events.

Seminars and demos are priced between $9-14 this year, and feature chefs and beverage companies that are at the top of their game. Check the details to find your favorites, like Warren Brown, Robert Irvine, Cat Cora, and more!

Booking

Booking will be available for most events on August 14th, 2012, at 7am EST. Guests will be able to book the events online at as well as by phone at 407-WDW-FEST.

Booking for Tables in Wonderland Members, Annual Passholders, and DVC Members will begin August 10th at 8am EST for seminars, demos, and Mixology events only.

Discounted pricing is available Tables in Wonderland members, Annual Passholders, and DVC members at $12/$9. This applies only to [Read more…]

2012 Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic Menus, Meet the Chefs, Special Rates

By AJ Leave a Comment

As you know, the Walt Disney World The Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic is back this year with seminars, tastings, sweets, and beverages! And scroll down to see some special rate codes from Disney Food Blog for this year’s classic…

The Third Annual Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic will take place Friday, October 12, and Saturday, October 13, 2012, from 5:30 – 9:00 pm at the Swan and Dolphin Resorts in Walt Disney World. These resorts are just a short walk from Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, which means this is a great way to supplement your 2012 Epcot Food and Wine Festival trip!

Food and wine lovers can immerse themselves in this culinary festival while strolling the Crescent Lake causeway. Savor culinary delights from the resort’s award winning restaurants and lounges while listening to live music.

With 17 restaurants and lounges, the Swan and Dolphin resorts have a nationally-recognized culinary team that can’t wait to show off their talents! I had a chance to go to the event last year, and I can highly recommend it.

Swan and Dolphin Causeway

Tasting Booth Menus

Choose selections from over 30 stations that showcase food and drinks from Shula’s Steak House, Il Mulino New York Trattoria, and Todd English’s bluezoo, among other great Swan and Dolphin restaurants.

Also select from your favorite beverages, including wine, sake, beer, and cocktails. If you love wine, vintages will be offered from around the world. With over 70 certified wine sommeliers and more than 1,400 wine selections, this beverage team has a lot of knowledge to share!

Shula’s Steakhouse
Friday and Saturday: Carved Prime Rib with Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Shula's Carved Prime Rib, Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Cib’s Smoke Shop
Friday: Texas Style Beef Brisket, Fried Pickles, Brioche Puree
Saturday: Smoked Pork Belly, Garlic Toast, Baked Bean Foam

Beef Brisket

cibs smoked pork belly

Todd English’s bluezoo
Friday: “Shrimp Cocktail” Steamrollers; plus Oyster selections will include Traditional Rockefeller – Creamy Spinach, House bacon, Parmesan; Six Shooter – Bloody Cocktail, Horseradish, Celery, Corona, Lemon Foam, Old Bay; and Traditional – On the half Shell, Choice of Mignonette or sauce
Saturday: Pan Seared “Shrimp n Grits”, Seared Local Shrimp, Anson Mills Cheese Grits (I’ve had the shrimp and grits from bluezoo, and they’re well worth [Read more…]

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