"You Won't Believe This!" Snack: Cottontop Tamarin Cupcake

“You Won’t Believe This!” Snack: Cottontop Tamarin Cupcake

It’s been a while since we had a new cupcake for you, but this one’s a doozey!! (Is that how you spell “doozey?”)

You remember the White Chocolate Elephant cupcake and the Zebra cupcake, right? Well, joining its furry friends is the new Cottontop Tamarin cupcake at Kusafiri Bakery near Kilimanjaro Safaris in Harambe Village! You can also find this sweet treat at the Coffee Kiosk at the entrance to Discovery Island.

Cottontop Tamarin Cupcake -- Please excuse the rainy day photo

Pastry Chef Andreas Born blended both white and dark chocolate to create the cute (weird?) little Cottontop Taramin face. The mold sits atop a generous layer of butter cream. Underneath that is [Read more…]

Guest Review: Epcot Food and Wine Festival 3D Disney’s Dessert Discovery

By AJ 9 Comments

Sweet! Let’s welcome MealTrip as he shares a review of this year’s 3D Disney’s Dessert Discovery, one of several special events held at this year’s Epcot Food and Wine Festival. This year, the event introduced a new upgrade called Sweet Seats. Take it away!

The 3D Disney’s Dessert Discovery event is a ticketed dessert extravaganza held in the World ShowPlace in Epcot, and capped off with specialty viewing of the IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth fireworks show. Cost of this event is $55 per person.

Chocolate Art at the Disney Dessert Discovery

As the Discovery enters it’s sophomore year, we welcome the introduction of “Sweet Seats.” This additional upgrade ($25 extra) elevates your party from the mass of sweet-seeking attendees waiting patiently behind the closed doors of the World ShowPlace Pavilion and places you squarely into a private reserved table with your name on it (literally), a full 15 minutes before the official start of the event.

Sweet Seats Signage

Check-In and Atmosphere

If you don’t mind waiting in a tight huddle with a few hundred soon-to-be acquaintances, the Sweet Seats upgrade really is just an option, and not needed to fully enjoy this abundant dessert extravaganza.

The 3DDD event by itself is one of the most economical ways to get inside the World ShowPlace Pavilion, and if you have never been inside for a Party for the Senses (review coming soon!) or other private event, it’s a very unique space worth experiencing at least once.

Outside World Showplace

The check-in queue for the event begins on the World Showcase Lagoon side of the main walkway, just past Off Kilter’s stage in Epcot’s Canada. If you have purchased the Sweet Seats upgrade, your check-in is [Read more…]

Review: Disney California Adventure Caramel Popcorn

By AJ 8 Comments

I’ve made some great friends through this blog, and one of them sent me to Disneyland with a fantastic suggestion — “Get the Caramel Popcorn in DCA!” he said.

As it happens this caramel popcorn isn’t all that prevalent in Disneyland. From what I can gather, they only have it at Disney California Adventure, and only at two or three locations in the park! This one is by Mickey’s Fun Wheel on Paradise Pier. There’s also one by Soarin’ Over California.

Popcorn Stand by Mickeys Fun Wheel

Menu - click image for larger version

What else is interesting about this snack is that there isn’t a long process to adding the caramel after the popcorn has popped. They use a special contraption that pops the corn and adds the caramel all at one time! Genius!

Scooping Popcorn

Caramel Corn

This caramel corn starts with your favorite Disney popcorn — buttery kernels of [Read more…]

Review: Rose & Crown Pub Grub (Subtitle: Homemade Sour Cream and Cheddar Potato Chips in Epcot)

By AJ 13 Comments

When meeting friends in Epcot, I usually choose one of two places to begin our adventure — La Cava del Tequila or the Rose & Crown Pub.

On this particular day, the timing made sense to meet at Rose & Crown, so we got the opportunity to check out a few menu changes on the pub menu.

Pub Menu -- click for larger version

Now, Epcot’s Rose & Crown Restaurant and Pub both have different menus, so don’t be shocked if your favorites don’t translate from one to the other!

We started out with a couple of drinks. My friend knew immediately that she wanted a Snake Bite and Black (equal parts lager and cider with blackcurrant cordial added as a sweetener). I, however, couldn’t make up my mind.

Snake Bite and Black

So I headed over to the bar to see my good friend Carl — who brightens my day EVERY time I see him — and charged him with choosing my drink for me. “Why don’tcha have a Pimm’s Cup?” he asked; and so [Read more…]

Epcot Food and Wine Festival Food Pictures: Italy and Greece Booths

By AJ 21 Comments

It’s time for more 2011 Epcot Food and Wine Festival booth food pictures! Let’s head over to two extremely popular booths: Italy and Greece!

As always, if you want to see full coverage of each booth, check out our Epcot Food and Wine Festival Booth Pages! Click on any booth or country name for detailed information, menus, photos, and prices.

Italy
Italy introduced a new item this year that was just wonderful — the Cappellini con Gamberi Piccanti, or, pasta with spicy shrimp and garlic! It was gorgeous!

I loved the angel hair pasta, which caught the sauce beautifully. The spicy shrimp gave some great flavor to the dish as well.

Cappellini con Gamberi Piccanti (Cappellini Pasta with Spicy Shrimp) -– $5.25

Cappellini con Gamberi Piccanti (Cappellini Pasta with Spicy Shrimp)

The ravioli this year is very similar to last year (they’re just using the Italian name this year ;-D). Delicious — the perfect comfort [Read more…]

DIY Disney: Mama Melrose’s Chicken Parmesan

By AJ 22 Comments

Today, Chef Big Fat Panda’s DIY Disney Recipes column brings us a fan favorite today! Mama Melrose’s Chicken Parmesan! Take it away, Chef!

Mickey's Ready to Make Some Chicken!

Hello! Chef BigFatPanda here!

Again, I apologize for not posting in quite some time. My friends know the reason, and I’d like to open up to you about it as well. My Mom was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer in January of this year. She passed away on August 28th. As you may have read, she was very influential in my life (as most mothers are), but even more so when it came to her passion for cooking.

While life will never be the same, it does go on. Her name was Anna, and all prayers for her are most appreciated. I know she would love knowing she was mentioned here. Thank you!

Today we are going to make an Oven-Baked Chicken Parmesan from Mama Melrose’s at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Let’s face it, most of us go weak at the knees for a good chicken parmesan, no? I know I do. I’m always looking for that crunchy outside, tender inside and balance of cheese and sauce that can even make my non-Italian friends ask for more.

Well, look no further. If you have been reading my column, you know I tell it like it is and I can absolutely give you my seal of approval on this recipe and then some (with a few alterations). 🙂

Table at Mama Melrose's in Disney's Hollywood Studios

As usual, the recipe’s instructions will be bolded for easy reference should you wish to print this out and skip my commentary. I’d like you to NOT do that since I am turning 40 in a few weeks and relish my dwindling relevancy. 🙂

There really are 2 parts to this recipe: you first create the breadcrumb mixture, then actually [Read more…]

Review: Epcot Food and Wine Festival Xante Mixology Seminar

By AJ 9 Comments

Eric Hay Teaching About Agave Syrup

The 2011 Epcot Food and Wine Festival is offering new Mixology Seminars taught by beverage experts!

When: Daily at 6pm
Where: Festival Center
Pricing: $12 ($10 for TiW members, AP holders, DVC members M-Th)

We attended one of the very first seminars of the festival, featuring Xante pear liqueur, which is the star of this year’s Scandinavia Booth!

The event was held in the beverage seminar area of the Festival Center (the old Wonders of Life pavilion) in Future World. We arrived, collected our tickets, and filed into the seating area with the rest of the attendees.

The room was set up with long tables, which featured individual place settings including a placemat for drinks, a list of the recipes we’d be hearing about, and a [Read more…]

Review: Les Chefs de France Restaurant in Epcot

By AJ 37 Comments

Learn About:Chefs de France

Epcot Restaurants
Disney World Restaurants

I can remember, years and years ago, while visiting Epcot with my parents on one of my family’s “Easter vacations,” we approached the Worldkey kiosk to book a reservation in France for that evening’s meal. All I knew — around age 7 — is that I probably hated French food, and I was 100% ready to dislike this restaurant.

Well, things have apparently changed in my old age. I’ve enjoyed all of the food I’ve ever had in the “real” country of France, and the same goes for anything I’ve had in the Epcot version of the place as well. Especially at Chefs de France.

Atmosphere

Les Chefs de France

sits in a quaint corner of Epcot’s World Showcase, just across the bridge from the UK pavilion and the International Gateway.

Les Chefs de France

The restaurant is, aesthetically, one of my very favorites in Walt Disney World. With walls of windows framing a classic French bistro dining room, it’s one of the only restaurants that truly makes me feel as though I’m dining in a foreign location. (I can recall dining in a restaurant in Paris that looked a heck of a lot like this one, in fact!)

Front of Les Chefs de France at Night

Once inside the restaurant, everything is done in dark woods, beige, and [Read more…]

Touch-Screen Ordering at Food and Wine Festival Booth…Trial Run for Next Year?

By AJ 15 Comments

I’ve heard from several sources (thanks Epcyclopedia!) that a touch-screen ordering kiosk has been added to this year’s Cheese Booth at the Epcot Food & Wine Festival!

Cheese Booth Touch-Screen Ordering Kiosk

Methinks this is a harbinger for things to come. Will all of the booths have touch-screen ordering next year? Is this part of Disney’s technology push?

Main Screen at Ordering Kiosk

Based on the screen below, guests are able to choose how many of the menu items they’d like, then [Read more…]

Disney Food Post Round-Up: October 16, 2011

By AJ Leave a Comment

Tuna Poke with Seaweed Salad at Hawaii Booth

There’s lots happening in the Disney Food world this week — new menus, new dining locations, new dining policies, and more! And don’t forget…that Epcot Food & Wine Festival is still going strong!

Disney Food News

Here’s the latest in the Disney Food World this week…

A new cancellation policy for signature and character dining locations in Disney World will begin October 26th. See details and other Disney Dining Reservations news here.
Epcot Food and Wine Festival Merchandise is on sale at DisneyStore.com!
Check out this year’s Disney World Resort Gingerbread House pins
There’s a new frozen drinks stand in Animal Kingdom, and these aren’t your standard frozen drinks…
We’ve got a review of the brand new Epcot Food & Wine Festival Pizza and Beer Tasting in Italy for you!

Of course, we’ve got TONS of Epcot Food & Wine Festival coverage happening over on our Epcot Food & Wine Festival Pages — click on breaking news to see the latest!

The DFB Mini-Guide to the 2011 Epcot Food & Wine Festival e-Book Review

Thanks to AllEars.net for another great review of our Food and Wine Festival Mini-Guide! We hope this book is helping lots of folks who are visiting the festival this weekend! Pick up your copy of the DFB Mini-Guide to the 2011 Epcot Food and Wine Festival e-Book today!

Here’s an excerpt from the AllEars.net review:
You’ll not only want to buy this guide to help you plan for your visit to the Festival beforehand, but also to have it in your pocket during your visit. I plan to take it with me on my iPhone next month when I visit the Food and Wine Festival with my family.

Read the full review here!

You can download your copy of the DFB Mini-Guide to the 2011 Epcot Food & Wine Festival e-Book today; and don’t forget to use code ALLEARS for a discount!

On to the Round-Up!

WDW for Grown-Ups

recommends the Top 7 Epcot Food & Wine Festival booths.

Hello My Sweet has some awesome Star Wars party eats to try!

Yesterland has a rainy review of the Epcot Food & Wine Festival. I was there on this day, and it was crazy!

DisneyShawn takes a look at the details of Toad Hall Restaurant in Disneyland Paris — “No Consumus Froglagus!”

AllEars.Net has a review of the first Discovery of Chocolate seminar at the Food and Wine Festival!

Main St. Gazette has another great recipe for us! From the 2010 Epcot Food & Wine Festival Spain booth — Spanish Almond Cake!

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“You Won’t Believe This!” Snack: Cottontop Tamarin Cupcake