Review: Japan's Outdoor Sake Bar | the disney food blog

Review: Japan’s Outdoor Sake Bar

Epcot’s Japan has been evolving over the past few months! The Yakitori House has re-opened as Katsura Grill, featuring a broader menu and some more authentic Japanese dishes; Kabuki Cafe is open as a take-away kiosk offering not just Kaki Gori, but also Miso soup, sushi, edamame, and other goodies!

But another little spot opened in Japan with little to no fanfare — a new outdoor sake bar located at the base of the steps to Katsura Grill.

Sake Bar

While many folks will just walk right past this spot without necessarily noticing it, I urge you to stop by and try out a few of the items there. While I do enjoy the indoor sake bar in Mitsukoshi Department Store, this outdoor location offers a few more “introductory” sake drinks that I think you might enjoy!

Atmosphere

Like I mentioned, this location could potentially fade into the background. With similar clean-lined architecture and neutral tones to the surrounding area, it’s easy to just walk right by.

Sake Bar

But this little spot offers a fun menu and an even more accessible stop on your tour to Drink Around the World! Plus, it’s a good introductory spot to try sake — a drink that is becoming [Read more…]

Disney Food Pics of the Week: Flatbreads

By Kim LaPaglia 17 Comments

One of our favorite pastimes is looking at your photos submitted to the Disney Food Blog Photo Extravaganza! While they make us really hungry…please send more! 😉

The Disney Food Pics of the Week this week feature flatbreads! Flatbreads (also possibly known as fancy pizzas) can be found at many of Disney’s table-service and quick-service restaurants.

First up, a tempting Mushroom & Arugula Flatbread from Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Looks gorgeous!
Photographer: Kelly Tressler

Mushroom and Arugula Flatbread

And the flatbreads from Animal Kingdom Lodge’s Jiko are always delicious! Check out this [Read more…]

Disney Food New Year’s Resolutions — What’s on Your Bucket List?

By AJ 41 Comments

All right, all, I’ve been writing this blog every day for nearly three years now, and there are still a few Disney Food items on my bucket list if you can believe it!

They always say that if you share your goals and resolutions with your friends you’re more likely to stick with them, so I’m sharing them with you guys in the hope that you’ll keep me accountable to accomplish these! 🙂

And if you have your own Disney Food resolutions or bucket list items, let me know in the comments section below! I’d love to hear what you guys want to see/do/eat in the parks and resorts!

Here we go!

Resolution 1: Dine at the New Disney Restaurants

Oh my GOODNESS, you guys, there are SO many restaurants opening this year! In Disney World, there are Be Our Guest Restaurant and Gaston’s Tavern in Magic Kingdom’s Fantasyland, and the new Landscapes Cafe at the Art of Animation Resort.

Gaston's Tavern Concept Art...does anyone else think that turkey leg makes that girl look like she has a beard?

In Disneyland, we’ve got Flo’s V-8 Cafe (“Eat here and get gas!”), the Cozy Cone Motel, and Fillmore’s Taste-In in Cars Land; the new Carthay Circle Theater Restaurant; and the Jolly Holiday Bakery and the updated indoor Carnation Cafe.

Artist Rendering of Cars Land and Flo

And — while I’m pretty sure it’s (to quote Deborah Gibson) “only in my dreams” to try them — there are the new restaurants on the Disney Fantasy cruise ship and the restaurants at [Read more…]

Dining in Disneyland: Dia de Reyes Celebration

By Heather 14 Comments

This past weekend marked the first time the Disneyland has celebrated Dia de Reyes, also know as Three Kings Day. This special event is celebrated at the end of the Christmas season marking the occasion when the three kings, or three wise men, followed the star to Bethlehem to deliver their riches to the Christ child.

Three Kings Day Signage

Dia de Reyes Floral Display

Disneyland celebrated the event in Frontierland with special menu items, activities, performances, and character greetings. We started our day off at Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante for a holiday feast.

Rancho de Zocalo Restaurante

Rancho del Zocalo Specialty Eats

The restaurant was offering four special menu items for the event: a Tamale Platter, a Carne Asada/Tamale Platter, a Sweet Corn Tamale dessert, and Mexican Hot Chocolate.

Rancho del Zocalo Holiday Specials

Rancho del Zocalo Holiday Dessert

Since Rancho del Zocalo is a counter service cafeteria type restaurant, we grabbed our trays and ordered one each of the entree specials. We also ordered a Sweet Corn Tamale, a fruit platter, and [Read more…]

Review: Epcot’s La Hacienda de San Angel

By AJ 20 Comments

Learn About:La Hacienda de San Angel

Epcot Restaurants
Disney World Restaurants

It’s been over a year since Epcot’s newest Mexican restaurant, La Hacienda de San Angel, opened its doors to great fanfare.

Our first visit there (when it first opened) was good, but not entirely memorable; so we were eager to give this spot a second try. And this time we brought along AJ’s Mom and AJ’s Dad to get their feedback!

Atmosphere

La Hacienda is a beautiful restaurant. The contemporary decor, look, and feel of the place gives off a polished, sleek Mexico-inspired vibe without being kitschy and stereotypical. The high ceilings and simple furnishings give the space a fresh, light, airy feel; but the furniture is solid and steady — a fun contrast!

Carved Wood Tables

I think it’s got one of the most soothing vistas on Disney property — a long-windowed look out onto the World Showcase Lagoon and [Read more…]

Disney Food Post Round-Up: January 8, 2012

By AJ 1 Comment

Marathon Weekend Race Cupcakes

Congratulations to the all of the runners that participated (and may still be participating!) in this year’s WDW Marathon Weekend!

If you’re in Disney World now, stop by the Main Street Bakery to pick up one of these colorful cupcakes celebrating the races. There are versions for the marathon, half-marathon, marathon relay, and the Goofy challenge! Yum!

Now, if you’re home and not in Disney World — like me — here’s a bit more about what happened at the Happiest Places on Earth last week!

The Latest Disney Food News

We bid farewell to Disneyland’s Blue Ribbon Bakery on Thursday, making way for…
Jolly Holiday Bakery!! This brand new bakery is now open on Disneyland’s Main Street.
Jolly Holiday Entrance

Click the link to see a bazillion photos and reviews of both breakfast and lunch!
Disney World’s Plaza Ice Cream Parlor is officially closed for refurb through March 27th.
Disneyland’s Carnation Cafe closed January 5th for renovations. When the restaurant re-opens this summer, guests can enjoy new indoor seating…and FRENCH FRIES! We’ll have a post coming up soon…
Disneyland celebrated Three Kings Day with fun entertainment and Latin American menu items.

For more sweet and savory food news, stop by our Disney Food News Pin Board, where Disney Food News is updated on a regular basis!

On to the Round-Up!

A Wedding Cake Blog

showcases an Alice in Wonderland cake that is absolutely gorgeous!

The Orange County Register News celebrates Chef Oscar Martinez, who was awarded a 55-years of service award. Stop by and see Oscar at the Jolly Holiday Bakery right now (he’ll return to the Carnation Cafe when it re-opens). Congratulations, Oscar!

Eating (and drinking) around the World features Cabanas’ Strawberry Margarita from the Modern Mixology seminar at the Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic. (I can attest — it was delicious!)

PassPorter Moms Podcast graciously had me on to discuss the 2012 Disney Dining Plan. Listen to a discussion on the changes to the plan this year as well as the pros and cons of purchasing the DDP! (DFB Editor Kim highly recommends listening to this fun podcast! :D)

Main St. Gazette pays a visit to the Hollywood Brown Derby in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

AllEars.net finds a jolly good time at Epcot’s Rose & Crown!

Stuff from the Park goes back to 1956 to show us the Chicken of the Sea pirate ship and a vintage popcorn cart.

The Hidden Laws of the Magic Kingdom

By AJ 7 Comments

On a visit through Adventureland and Frontierland last month, I noticed that some of the local restaurants had rules I wasn’t even aware of… . Figured I’d share them here with you so that you can avoid finding yourself in a sticky bind in the future…

Should you find yourself wandering into Tortuga Tavern, remember the Code of Conduct below (be sure to click to enlarge — you’ll need to read it all), including “Every man has equal right to fresh provisions (iffin he has the gold),” and “A witness shall be present for gaming at cards or dice. (Short drop and sudden stop for cheatin’ scallywags.).”

And, of course, no monkeys.

Tortuga Tavern Code of Conduct

Next door at Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe there is a shorter list of rules, but they’re no less important (after all, this is the Code of the West). Methinks the last one is likely the most [Read more…]

Dining in Disneyland: FIRST LOOK! The Jolly Holiday Bakery

By Heather 51 Comments

It’s a Jolly Holiday on Main Street! It’s open everyone, it’s open! We’ve been waiting patiently or maybe not so patiently for the new Jolly Holiday Bakery to open since it’s cute signs started enticing us months ago.

Yesterday, the Jolly Holiday Bakery, a counter service eatery, soft opened in Disneyland with a “Grand Opening” planned for Saturday, January 7th. I am happy to announce that I was there yesterday morning on the very first day of service and everything was spit spot!

Jolly Holiday Entrance

Mary Poppins Weathervane on the Rooftop

Outdoor Menu Teaser Board

We’re covering both breakfast AND lunch at the bakery in this post, so stay tuned for dozens of mouth-watering photos of what’s available…like these!!

Strawberry Lemon Cupcake

Waldorf Chicken Sandwich

These are just teasers, though! Read through the rest of the post to see more yummy pics!

Atmosphere

When walking up to Jolly Holiday, I noticed that it was a completely full house with the line wrapping around out the door. It was prime breakfast time and with this being the only eatery open on Main Street, it was the place to be. Not to worry though, the line moves quick and once inside, it splits into two lines with multiple speedy cashiers ready to take care of business! There is plenty of outdoor seating & even with a long line, there were many available tables to choose from.

Jolly Holiday Outdoor Seating

Jolly Holiday Table with Matching Umbrella

Jolly Holiday Patio Seating

While in line, the decor is distractingly adorable, so that makes it go even quicker! My absolute favorite thing to see were the [Read more…]

Review: Waldorf Orlando Bull and Bear Lounge New Menu

By AJ 7 Comments

It’s no secret that I LURVE the Bull and Bear Steakhouse at the Waldorf Astoria Orlando. This place is phenomenal, and with a location in the middle of Walt Disney World property, it’s well worth trying if you haven’t been there yet.

Entryway

Now, perhaps you don’t have time for a full, multi-course meal, but you’d still like to pamper yourself and your taste buds? I now have the perfect solution thanks to the Bull and Bear’s new lounge menu!!

Bull and Bear Bar and Lounge area

Have you ever wanted to pretend you’re Marilyn Monroe or Clark Gable, out for an evening in a luxurious Hollywood lounge? That’s exactly how you’ll feel surrounded by plush seats (pillows!!), sparkling white tablecloths, dark wood, and a fabulous staff of servers. The best part? You’re in a lounge, which means you get all of the Bull and Bear flavor with a lower check total!

Eats

The new menu debuted at the Bull and Bear a couple of months ago, and we got the chance to go in and sample some of the new dishes!

Menu - click image for larger version

Don’t be fooled; the prices reflect the quality of the food, but trust me — it’s well worth it! We started out by sampling the new-and-improved bar snacks in the lounge.

Wanting to appeal to different tastes and all of your taste buds, Chef David Sears decided on a trio of accompaniments you wouldn’t expect!

Bar Snacks

Next up on our tasting menu: the Shrimp and Grits with Tasso Ham and Tomatillo Chutney. Now, how cool is this presentation? Chef Sears wanted to include a smoked flavor, but didn’t want it to be too strong. His solution? Add a touch of smokiness by serving the plate under a dome of flavor!

Shrimp and Grits Presentation

How do they do it? Trade secret… 😉

Shrimp and Grits Presentation

The shrimp and grits did have a mildly smokey flavor, and the touch of tasso ham gave it the [Read more…]

WDW Swan & Dolphin Offer Pre-Race Menus During Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend

By Kim LaPaglia 1 Comment

It’s that time of year again! Runners and racers are prepping for the Disney World Marathon and Half-Marathon! For many runners, prepping = carbs, and the Disney World Swan and Dolphin have you covered this year!

The resorts’ restaurants will offer special Pre-Race meals this weekend for Disney Marathon and Half-Marathon runners. These meals will help you load up on carbs the evening before each race!

bluezoo seating

Participating Restaurants

Todd English’s bluezoo
Picabu Buffeteria
Il Mulino New York Trattoria
Garden Grove

Here are a few of the menu items to expect, along with nutrition information so you can hit your maximum pre-race numbers!!

Todd English’s bluezoo
Roasted Chicken Penne
Whole wheat penne pasta, charred broccolini, tomato, roasted garlic, focaccia breadcrumbs, olive oil
Carbohydrates….54.2g
Calories….439.5
Protein….19.45g
Fat….14.35g
Reservations are recommended!

Picabu Buffeteria
Baked Ziti Bolognaise, Mozzarella Cheese
Carbohydrates…….24.96g
Calories…..268.5
Protein…….18.42g
Fat…….10.73g

Il Mulino
Parpadelle Pasta and Chicken Ragout, Crushed [Read more…]

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