Nominate Your Favorite Disney Restaurants for a 2011 DFB Choice Award!

Around here, we believe there’s no better restaurant recommendation than the one we get from another Disney fan. So, in our quest to provide the very best information about Disney restaurants, we created the DFB Choice Awards in 2010!

These awards are bestowed upon Disney-area food and restaurants based on nominations and votes from Disney Food Blog readers. Here’s the timeline:

Nominations: December 15-20
Award Voting: December 21-28
2011 DFB Awards Announced:December 31

To participate, nominate one contender for each category in this survey (contenders can be from ANY Disney-related park or resort around the world unless otherwise specified); the top nominations from each category will be entered into our voting round, which begins on December 21, 2010! See you then!

Click Here to Nominate Your Favorites for a 2011 DFB Choice Award!

Thanks again for nominating!

Dining in Disneyland: Gingerbread House Workshop at Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen

By Heather 7 Comments

After a super successful Haunted House Building Workshop with my family in October, I knew that we’d be back in December for the Gingerbread House Workshop…

Note: If you are in the Disneyland area, you still have time to register for the December 17th & 18th (THIS WEEKEND) Gingerbread House Workshops. Call Bruno Duarte asap at 714.776.5200 from 10am-4pm Monday-Friday. These workshops WILL SELL OUT.

Gingerbread House Workshop Information

Since this was not our first gingerbread rodeo, we were overly prepared for this workshop (after being under prepared at Halloween). I had stocked up on supplies from Michael’s Arts & Crafts as well as Target. We knew going in that we were going to be making a serious masterpiece!

Atmosphere and Haunted House Prep

Arriving right on time, we had just a few minutes to get organized and check out the set up. The room was once again arranged with large tables and reserved seating. We also had fun jingle bell necklaces waiting for us on our chairs!

Gingerbread House Workshop Seating

Ralph Brennan Jingle Bell Necklace

Our place settings included the Gingerbread House pieces and a gingerbread man, tree, and snowman along with a bag of white frosting. Cups of candy included [Read more…]

2011 Gingerbread Holiday Display Pins

By Kim LaPaglia 2 Comments

New pins were released to commemorate the 2011 Gingerbread Holiday Displays. These pins would make wonderful gifts for the Disney food fan and/or pin trader in your life! Get them at the individual Gingerbead locations in the Deluxe Resorts, or by calling WDW Mail Order (info at the bottom of this post)!

The Beach Club‘s traditional carousel is highlighted on this adorable pin.

Beach Club Pin

Beach Club Resort 2011 Gingerbread Carousel

Stitch has taken over the bakery at the Boardwalk Inn. Stop by to see this gingerbread display and pick up a pin!

Boardwalk Pin

Boardwalk Inn Gingerbread Display 2011

Stitch Took Over the Bakery Display in the Lobby!

At the Grand Floridian, the Gingerbread house beckons guests to [Read more…]

Hot Fudge Cookie Sundae On the Menu at Storybook Treats

By AJ 15 Comments

UPDATE: Please note that as of June 2015, the Hot Fudge Cookie Sundae is no longer being served at Storybook Treats.

We told you earlier about the awesome hot fudge, and strawberry shortcake sundaes at Storybook Treats in the Magic Kingdom, but now there’s something even better — well, in my opinion anyway!

Introducing the Chocolate Chunk Cookie Hot Fudge Sundae at Storybook Treats!

Storybook Treats Sundae

This is SUPER exciting to me, since one of my favorite sundaes at Eat-n-Park back when I was in college was their massive cookie hot fudge sundae! I always put strawberry sauce on it, which gives me a great idea for how to alter this sundae as well… 😉 Anyway…

From Whence It Came

The menu has consistently offered a chocolate chunk cookie as well as a hot fudge brownie sundae, and my guess is that so many guests asked for the cookie to be substituted for the brownie that they decided to just make it a permanent addition to the menu!

Sundae

Also, remember that caramel sauce can be substituted for the hot fudge on most Storybook Treats sundaes. So on my visit last week, I asked if they could just add [Read more…]

Disney World’s “Be Our Guest Restaurant” to Open in Late 2012

By AJ 37 Comments

UPDATE: Read about the Opening Date for Be Our Guest Restaurant and Reservations Info!June Update: Be Our Guest Menu and Reservations info now available!May 2012 Update:

Another new set of videos from Be Our Guest Restaurant!

March 2012 Update: Check out this post for a great Be Our Guest Restaurant video of the mural going up in the Beast’s Ballroom!

We’re eagerly awaiting news about this new restaurant — sign up for the Disney Food Blog Newsletter to get the latest details!
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We’re getting anxious for more news on the Be Our Guest restaurant, which we first reported about way back in September 2009.

Luckily, we now have a vague idea of when we might be able to try it out! We’ve just heard word that Be Our Guest will be opening in late 2012. And we think Advanced Dining Reservation availability might be just around the corner.

Be Our Guest Restaurant Concept Art, Beast's Castle

If you haven’t heard about this new spot in the updated Magic Kingdom Fantasyland yet, here are a few details…

Location

The restaurant will be located in the Beauty and the Beast area of the Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom Fantasyland expansion. And the actual dining rooms will be inside the Beast’s Castle!

Atmosphere

There will be three dining rooms in the restaurant, seating 550 people. Will you be seated in the Library/Gallery, mysterious West Wing (where the enchanted rose is kept), or the two-story Ballroom, where a snow effect in the windows will make guests feel as though they’ve stepped into the film?

Medieval windows will extend to the ceiling to create [Read more…]

Disney Food Updates From the World

By AJ 15 Comments

Every once in a while when I’m in Disney World I gather a bushel full of food news, and this is one of those times! So, I decided to take one post to share all of these items and get your feedback! If you’ve heard this news or have experience with it, let us know in the comments! 🙂

Poolside Dining Available at Beach Club Dunes Pool

The Dunes Pool outside of the Beach Club Villas is now offering Poolside Dining like we’ve found at Animal Kingdom Lodge’s Kidani Village and the Contemporary Resort!

Poolside Dining

Refillable Mug Price Hike

Disney resort refillable mugs will now cost $14.49, plus tax, meaning they’ll be over $15.00 when all is said and done.

Current Souvenir Mug Info

Holiday Swirl Cone at Storybook Treats

Magic Kingdom’s Storybook Treats is now offering a red and green version of its soft serve swirl cone! The flavor is still vanilla, but some creative food coloring gives the cones here a special holiday “something.”

Seasonal Cone

(By the way, we’ll have more Storybook Treats news [Read more…]

Happy Hour: Caramel Apple Margarita

By AJ 7 Comments

Over on the Boardwalk in Walt Disney World, there’s a new sweet-n-sour drink to enjoy!

The Caramel Apple Margarita caught my eye at Boardwalk Joe’s, and though I don’t like sweet drinks, the promise of Sour Apple Pucker and Sweet and Sour made me think it might not be too bad…

Boardwalk Joe's

Boardwalk Joe's Menu

…and it wasn’t! I really enjoyed the sour apple flavor of the margarita, and the caramel apple syrup provided just enough sweetness to cut that flavor a bit. I wouldn’t recommend sucking down a bunch of that caramel syrup, though — that would end up being super sweet! Be sure to mix first!

Caramel Apple Margarita

All in all, I thought this was [Read more…]

Review: Katsura Grill

By AJ 26 Comments

The day is finally here! I get to review the new Katsura Grill at Epcot’s Japan pavilion!

Photo Copyright Disney

This spot opened last week in the former location of the Yakitori House in Epcot’s Japan pavilion. Yakitori was not necessarily a fan favorite, but I always found it to be a nice, out-of-the-way place to dine on passable Asian food while taking a bit of a break from the crowds of the World Showcase.

At Katsura, the location and look of the restaurant is still largely the same, so you get to take advantage of that relaxing, “away from the main drag” feeling while dining on a relatively new menu.

Atmosphere

Katsura Grill is pretty much Yakitori House with a new, sleek, modern look when it comes to atmosphere. There are digital menu boards, a “Wendy’s-esque” counter ordering set-up, and a “clean lines” feel to the place now, but the general vibe really hasn’t changed all that much. 🙂

Counter

You still have the option of [Read more…]

Disney Food Post Round-Up: December 11, 2011

By AJ Leave a Comment

Gluhwein in Epcot's Germany

We’re in Walt Disney World this weekend eating lots of good stuff and capturing tons of great photos to share with you as you plan your upcoming Disney trips, including a new caramel apple margarita, an ice cream cookie sandwich filled with pumpkin ice cream, and even a caramel-fudge-cookie sundae that only costs one Disney Dining Plan snack credit!

Speaking of upcoming trips, here’s a bit of Disney food news to keep you in the loop!

Weekly Disney Food News

It’s a jolly holiday with Gluhwein in Epcot’s Germany! Try this spiced red wine at the Christmas Market booth.
These World Showcase Food and Drink Shirts highlight eats and drinks in Epcot’s World Showcase!
The Walt Disney World Contemporary Resort and Grand Floridian Resort have created memorable holiday displays out of gingerbread!
The Contempo Cafe is offering seasonal cupcakes, including a Chocolate Peppermint Cupcakes!
Christmas in Disneyland means the famous Yule Log Cake is back! Find out all about it!
Ghirardelli is slated to open in spring 2012 at Disney California Adventure. Check out the new concept art!
Kouzzina has new items at breakfast! Check out the eats at this Boardwalk Inn restaurant.
Fun Disney kitchen accessories can now be found at Target!
The WDW Swan and Dolphin will host a full calendar of holiday activities, including milk and cookies at bed time!

Want more news? Stop by our Disney Food News Pin Board, where Disney Food News is updated on a regular basis!

And don’t forget to follow along on our 2011 Holiday Dining page!

Disney Food Blog Gift Certificates Make Great Gifts For Disney Fans!

Our popular Disney Food Blog Guide to Walt Disney World Dining, DFB Mini-Guide to Magic Kingdom Snacks, and new DFB Dining Adventures e-Books have been very popular, and now there’s a way for you to give them as gifts to your friends and family!

Using our new Disney Food Blog e-Book Gift Certificates, you can instantly give all of this great dining info and advice to your favorite Disney fan, and it’s EASY! Get all of the details — and great holiday discounts — at http://dfbguide.com/giftcertificates!

Don’t let your friends and family go to Disney World unprepared. Get a DFB Gift Certificate for your favorite Disney fan today!

On to the Round-Up!

WDW For Grown-Ups

takes a look at Adult-Friendly Character Meals! Great idea!!

WESH.com names Top 5 Holiday Food Picks at Walt Disney World — written by yours truly!

Goofy at Cape May Cafe -- an Adult-Friendly character meal!

Daveland Blog reminisces about a long-lost Disneyland coffee shop.

DisMarks has another great Disney Blog Carnival this week with lots of fun Disney food articles!

Stuff from the Park travels back in time to take a look at a 1970s menu from the American Egg House at Disneyland.

MiceChat.com reviews dining with diabetes aboard the Disney Dream.

BabyCakes NYC Blog shares the news that Downtown Disney’s Babycakes Bakery will now fulfill vegan and gluten-free cake orders for Disney World resort guests!

Main St. Gazette checks out the scene at Epcot’s Sommerfest! Happy Birthday, Ryan!!

Disney Weddings Blog highlights a new trend — mashed potato bars!

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