Dining in Disneyland: Carnation Cafe, the Matterhorn Sundae, and a Chat With Chef Oscar

For my son’s 10th birthday, he really wanted to tackle the famous Matterhorn Sundae from the Carnation Cafe located on Main Street in Disneyland. Always up for a challenge like this, I booked a lunchtime reservation with some friends of ours and we fueled up with lunch before the challenge of finishing this wondrous mountain of goodness.

Atmosphere

I always recommend making a reservation in advance for the Carnation Cafe. Although the menu is small, the food here is really fantastic and the prices are reasonable for a table service restaurant.

Carnation cafe view of street

Seating is also limited to a pretty small area (though the Cafe will be refurbished in 2012 to create a larger indoor seating area). You can see more photos of the seating area here. So, with a party of eight, on one of the last weekends of the summer, it made perfect sense to [Read more…]

Snack Series: Disneyland’s Chili Lime Corn on the Cob

By AJ 12 Comments

Dallas is pretty warm today, so I thought we’d check out one of the fun, summer-y Disneyland treats I sampled last August in Disneyland Resort!

The Chili Lime Corn on the Cob can be found in several locations around Disney California Adventure (usually accompanied by chimichangas or Turkey Legs)…

Menu and Food Items - click image for larger version

Heather and I grabbed one of these while doing our own little food tour of DCA during the D23 Expo, and we were pleasantly surprised. Despite the [Read more…]

New! Waffle Sandwiches at Magic Kingdom’s Sleepy Hollow

By AJ 50 Comments

Learn About:Sleepy Hollow

Magic Kingdom
Disney World Restaurants

You heard me right! Waffle sandwiches!!!

But before we go off on a tangent, let’s start at the beginning…

Sleepy Hollow, the small counter-service location in Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom Liberty Square, has long offered some of our favorite snacks, including the large Mickey-shaped waffles (one of the last places you could get these!), and the filling and delicious chicken and wild rice soup.

We’ve heard through the grapevine (Thanks, Laurie!) that the menu has changed significantly and asked one of our colleagues, Brooke Fehr from DisZine.com, to investigate during her recent WDW visit!

New Waffle Sandwiches

The new menu at Sleepy Hollow has introduced what we think will be a new Disney food classic — waffle sandwiches. And these are true waffle sandwiches — as in a giant waffle with stuff crammed into it, then folded over!

There are three new offerings: A sweet and spicy chicken waffle and a ham, prosciutto, and Swiss cheese waffle, both for $6.99; and a Nutella and fresh fruit waffle for $5.59. None of these are currently listed for a snack credit.

Here’s Brooke’s report:
“The waffles were huge. Both sandwiches were full-sized, round waffles, folded in half with the filling in the middle. Think ‘waffle taco.’ While neither sandwich came with any sides, they were more than enough food for a heavy snack or meal. They were served in those tiny baskets, so they were [Read more…]

Disney Food Post Round-Up: November 13, 2011

By AJ 1 Comment

Cheshire Cafe Sign

This weekend wraps up the 2011 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival. It’s been a whirlwind of food, menus, beverages, parties, and demos, and we’ve had a great time covering it all for you. Don’t worry, though — we still have a few reviews to share next week!

Moving forward, we set our sights on the holiday season and all the yummy good treats that are created for the celebration in the Disney parks and resorts!

Latest Disney Food News

Relax and catch up on this week’s news highlights!

The Cheshire Cafe is replacing Enchanted Grove in Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom!
The coveted Disneyland Candy Cane dates have been found out by our intrepid Disneyland reporter, Heather!
Downtown Disney restaurants announce Thanksgiving prix fixe meals
New Crossroads at House of Blues Menu coming to Disney World’s HoB in December
A review of the seashell-shaped Guylian Chocolates that were found in the Belgium Booth at the Epcot Food and Wine Festival.
Rose and Crown Restaurant in Disney World’s Epcot has a new menu!

Do you crave more news? Check out our Disney News Pin Board, where Disney Food News is updated on a regular basis!

On to the Round-Up!

MiceChat

takes us to Disneyland for a behind-the-scenes look at outdoor vending!

WDW for Grown-ups reviews one of my favorite hideaways — the lounge at Sanaa in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Kidani Village.

Eating (and Drinking) Around the World gives us a tour of random foodie “odds and ends” around Epcot. Check out the adorable Mickey Ice Cream bar shirt to the left, courtesy of Andy Jackson.

Main Street Gazette reviews the Floridian Club Sandwich at the Grand Floridian’s Gasparilla Grill.

The Orange County Register announces the Anaheim Thanksgiving Dining Guide, including Disneyland options!

Healthy Disney shares vegetarian options at Wolfgang Puck Express.

Disney Parks Blog showcases a unique, hand-painted Vinylmation created for the Festival of the Masters. Check out Mickey’s Ice Cream Dream!

Downtown Disney Restaurants Announce Thanksgiving Feasts

By Kim LaPaglia Leave a Comment

Portobello

We are thrilled to announce Thanksgiving meals being offered at the Levy Restaurants in Downtown Disney. Wolfgang Puck Grand Cafe, Portobello, and Fulton’s Crab House will debut prix fixe menus for the holiday.

Also, don’t forget to check out our reader-voted favorites for Best Places for Thanksgiving in Disney World and the fun Raglan Road Thanksgiving menu!

Let’s look at the Downtown Disney menus!

Wolfgang Puck Grand Café Dining Room

Start your meal with Sweet Potato and Duck Confit Tart with melted onions, bitter greens, roasted grapes and pumpkin oil. For the main course, savor Whole Roasted Poussin with butternut puree, charred brussels sprouts and red currant chutney. For dessert, [Read more…]

House of Blues Crossroads Menu Comes to WDW’s Downtown Disney in December

By AJ 5 Comments

Thanks to Andy Jackson over at Eating (and Drinking) Around the World for sending over the photo below!

Celebrity Chef Aaron Sanchez is leaving his mark on the House of Blues chain of restaurants by introducing his new “Crossroads” menu, a fusion of food representing “music, love, art, and spirituality.”

A Crossroads menu was introduced in Disneyland’s House of Blues this summer, and the above announcement notes that a Crossroads menu will be moving into Disney World’s House of Blues restaurant in December, 2011.

While we’re not certain they’re the same exact menu, the new menu in Disneyland keeps HoB favorites like jambalaya, and adds new signature dishes including shrimp and grits, short rib meatball sliders, hand stretched grilled flatbreads, chile braised short ribs, and street tacos. Guest favorites like [Read more…]

Review: Epcot Food and Wine Festival Scent Demonstration

By Heather 4 Comments

This year was my first experience at Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival, and I will tell you this, it will not be my last. I’m pretty much addicted. Eating & drinking my way around the world? A cranberry bog? AND super cool special events like the Scent Demonstration? All of this while the kids are at home with Grandma & Grandpa… one can’t go wrong.

Anyhow, I happened to get super lucky that AJ had purchased tickets for the festival’s Scent Demonstration and then couldn’t use them. When I was asked to go cover this event I had a million questions, the first being, “What in the world is a Scent Demonstration?” As well as, “Are they going to teach me how to use my nose correctly?” And, “Have I been using it wrong all these years?”

The Scent Demonstration Took Place in the Festival Center

Well, here is how Disney describes it:

“Scent Demonstration – NEW!: Join scent critic Chandler Burr for a unique double-culinary experience—a meal made entirely of scents! You’ll also get to taste one of the courses, prepared by a Disney chef. Sunday, Oct. 2 from 2:45 to 4:00 p.m. $13 per person, tax included.”

I have to admit, although the description had me intrigued, I immediately thought of a field trip that I went on with my son last year at a nature center. One of the activities was to sniff certain bottles filled with “local” scents. We’re talking everything from sweet honey smell to nasty stinky skunk. So at this point, I’m thinking the demonstration could go either way! Also knowing that my husband and I are both super sensitive to strong perfumes, I was a little nervous and didn’t want to leave the event sniffling and sneezy.

Our event took place at 2:45, so after the [Read more…]

Recipe: Baked Pumpkin Cheesecake

By AJ 3 Comments

Learn About:Raglan Road Irish Pub

Disney Springs
Disney World Restaurants

OK, you have only two weeks to think up a fabulously new Thanksgiving-y dessert that isn’t the same ol’ same ol’, but brings a fresh new flair to an old-fashioned favorite?

Let me help you with that. 😉

Raglan Road (one of our favorite Downtown Disney Orlando restaurants) featured this awesome Baked Pumpkin Cheesecake recipe in their October newsletter.

The recipe was created by Raglan Road Master Chef Kevin Dundon for his Great Family Food cookbook.

Chef Dundon's Baked Pumpkin Cheesecake

Now, don’t forget to save a piece for me!

Baked Pumpkin Cheesecake

The perfect recipe to mix things up a bit this holiday season!! Pumpkie Pie + Cheesecake — two great tastes that taste great together!

Ingredients: Serves 12
Crust: [Read more…]

First Look!: Magic Kingdom’s Cheshire Cafe Photos and Menu

By AJ 14 Comments

We got some fun pics yesterday from Jacquie Symonds over on Google+ of the brand new Cheshire Cafe (the new name for the Enchanted Grove) in Disney World’s Magic Kingdom!

This change brings the counter-service kiosk’s theme into the fold of the Alice in Wonderland area of Fantasyland, which makes sense since it’s located right next to the Teacups ride! Let’s take a look at the changes between the old Enchanted Grove and the new Cheshire Cafe!

Signage

We’ve changed here from the fruity display of the Enchanted Grove, featuring Chip and Dale (or chipmunks of some variety), to the Cheshire Cat logo on a sign that looks like it’s being held onto the structure with vines! Minute Maid is still sponsoring the booth.

Cheshire Cafe Sign

Enchanted Grove Sign

Outside Appearance

The structure of the kiosk hasn’t changed much, but you can see that there is a new design on the front and side wainscoting and the accent color has changed from aqua to a [Read more…]

Review: Guylian Chocolates at the Food and Wine Festival Belgium Booth

By AJ 10 Comments

If you have a sweet tooth like me and you’re in Epcot right now, head over to the Epcot Food and Wine Festival Belgium Booth for an awesome treat!

Guylian Belgian Chocolate Seashell Truffles at the Belgium Booth

The Guylian seashell truffles are new at the booth this year, and I love the addition. I’ve been a huge fan of these truffles since I was at University in the UK (way back in the 90’s ;-D), when I would save my pence to buy a little box of these yummy seashell-shaped, hazelnut-chocolate flavored treats for myself whenever I could. So I was pretty excited to see them added to the menu, giving the Belgium booth a [Read more…]

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