Disney's Victoria & Albert's Restaurant Earns AAA Five Diamond Award

The Disney Food Blog congratulates Victoria & Albert’s on receiving the AAA Five-Diamond for the 11th year in a row!

Located at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, Victoria & Albert’s well deserves this honor – the highest awarded by AAA. Fifty-five restaurants were distinguished on the 2011 list, with V&A’s being the sole recipient from Central Florida.

The memorable meals are due to the fine talents of Chef Scott Hunnel, manager and sommelier Israel Perez, and Master Pastry Chef Erich Herbitschek.

Chef Scott Hunnel

Check out some of the gorgeous cuisine Chef Hunnel creates at the Victoria & Albert’s Chef’s Table in this guest review from our [Read more…]

Disney Carrot Cake Review

By AJ 26 Comments

Every once in a while I get an idea for a particular post that I can’t wait to write, and this is one of those! CAAAAAAAAAAAAKE!! Cream cheese FROOOOOOOOOSSSSSSTINGGGGG!! (For those of you who are getting tired of my frosting obsession, my apologies. Sometimes a little too much of it can sneak its way into the blog.) Anyway, carrot cake is one of my favorite desserts — all those healthy carrots — it’s the perfect way to end a meal! Or begin a meal. Or have a meal…

Carrot Cake Cookie Close-Up

So, I’ve been compiling data for this post for a long time, and I’m ready to share what I think are the best Disney options for carrot cake lovers like me! I hope you’ll share in the comments what your favorites are — and if I missed any, I’d love to know about it (more research is always good)!

Here are my reviews, from best to worst!

Goofy’s Candy Company Carrot Cake Cookie

Goofy’s Candy Company

is more often known for its make-your-own confectionery creations, but every once in a while you’ll find a hidden gem in the bakery case of this Downtown Disney mainstay. Plus, the wonderful staff here is more than enough draw to stop by and pick up a sugary treat.

I saw this Carrot Cake Cookie at Goofy’s and then saw it again at the Main Street Confectionery in the Magic Kingdom, so I think you can get this bad boy in several different locations from time to time (though they may not be there during your stay).

Another Carrot Cake Cookie

Which is great news, since it’s incredible! The heft and build of the cookie reminds me of [Read more…]

Cupcake Lovers Weekend at Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek!

By AJ 6 Comments

OK, for those of you headed to Orlando (or who live near Orlando) in July, I am truly jealous. The first ever Cupcake Lovers Weekend at Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek has officially been announced!!

Scheduled for July 8-10, 2011, this sugary-sweet weekend is open to all guests at the Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort (sounds like the perfect follow-up to dinner at La Luce…).

As the resort celebrates its SummerBlast! promotion, this event will focus on cupcake-themed activities and events. Most importantly, guests will be able to sample [Read more…]

Guest Review: Beers Around the World, Part Two

By AJ 16 Comments

In part one of “Beers Around the World,” D.J. Jones and his team of experts examined the various beers available in Epcot’s World Showcase. Here is part two of their global journey.

Kirin Beer Tap

After several hours of tedious research, the combination of the Florida sun and beer had begun to take its toll. So the research team and I decided to head back to our hotel where we would take in a much needed nap. Feeling refreshed and ready to complete our “Around the World” journey, we returned to Epcot and picked up where we had left off, which was halfway around the “World” in…..well, America.

America

We entered the American pavilion’s Liberty Inn, where Bud Light and Samuel Adams Boston Lager were both available on draft. While either of those would have been an acceptable choice, I decided to wait on ordering as my gut told me something better lay on the horizon.

My patience soon paid off, as I was astonished to find Sam Adams “Boston Brick Red” on draft at a nearby ice cream cart. The beautiful amber color of this beer was only surpassed by its incredible body of flavor. I later was told that this beer has been limited in distribution to only Boston area bars, which makes finding it in the World Showcase that much more impressive.

The Samuel Adams Boston Brick Red

Japan

Next we journeyed back across the Pacific to the Japanese pavilion. There we found on draft [Read more…]

Epcot Food and Wine Festival Portugal, Caribbean, and Hawaii Booth Menu Items Announced

By AJ 7 Comments

Epcot Cast Member at Food and Wine Festival

It’s been announced that three new kiosks, Portugal, Hawaii, and the Caribbean Islands World Showcase booths, would be introduced to the World Showcase Marketplace at this year’s 2011 Epcot Food and Wine Festival! Today, a few of the new menu items were announced!

Hawaii: Kailua Pork Sliders
Caribbean Islands: Ropa Vieja
Portugal: Calamari Salad

We can’t wait to check out the other menu items this year!

Stay in touch as we report on the 2011 Epcot Food and Wine Festival! Check out our 2011 Epcot Food and Wine Festival page for details about this year’s festival and coverage of last year’s festival!

Source — Disney Parks

2011 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Introduces Odyssey Lounge

By AJ 7 Comments

UPDATE: This will not be happening at the Festival after all. Unfortunately, that “all items subject to change” policy is alive and well!

More exciting news today about the 2011 Epcot Food and Wine Festival! In addition to the Special Event booking date, we also know that a brand new (free!!) addition to the festival will be debuting this year!

The Odyssey Lounge (which we’re guessing will be located in the Odyssey Center between Epcot’s Future World and World Showcase) will be a part of the 2011 Epcot Food and Wine Festival!

Epcot's Odyssey Center

Apparently this location will act as a sort of “internet cafe” — offering the chance for guests at the Festival to sign on and communicate with friends and family, play games, and surf the web.

The Odyssey Lounge will even offer a spot to charge your phone and other electronic devices. Sounds like the perfect place for me to sit while I’m updating the Disney Food Blog with [Read more…]

2011 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Event Booking Opens August 16th

By AJ Leave a Comment

Yay! The first bits of information are finally starting to *officially* roll in about the 2011 Epcot Food and Wine Festival!

Epcot Food and Wine Festival Special Event booking (we’re guessing this means both the expensive events and the seminars and demonstrations) is available on August 16th. No word yet on special discounts for Annual Passholders, DVC members, or Florida Residents.

Special events this year include once again 3D Disney Dessert Discovery, Party for the Senses, Kitchen Memories (which has formerly been called Celebrating Family and Friends in the Kitchen), the First Bites Opening Reception, and more!

Check out our 2011 Epcot Food and Wine Festival page for all of the details on this year’s Festival events as they come in!

Source — Disney Parks

2012 Disney Dining Plan Changes

By AJ 58 Comments

Details for the 2012 Disney Dining Plans have begun to be unveiled! See Pricing below (thanks to reader Pudge the Fish for this!). And there are a few changes you need to know about if you’re planning a 2012 trip.

Standard Disney Dining Plan to Include Refillable Mugs

Let’s look at the thirst-quenching addition first. The standard Disney Dining Plan will include refillable mugs!

Our first clue that this addition was likely in the works was via the release of the Virgin Holidays 2012 free dining package details for United Kingdom guests. And we can now confirm that refillable mugs will be included in all standard Disney Dining Plan packages! You’ll receive one refillable mug per person for refills at quick-service locations ONLY in your Disney resort hotel.

Refillable Mugs

Quick-Service Dining Plan Reduces Snack Quota to One Per Day

Quick Service Disney Dining Plans

didn’t fare as well for the 2012 season. If you love snacks (cupcakes, Dole Whip and more!), the significant change is that [Read more…]

Review: Coral Reef Restaurant

By AJ 33 Comments

Learn About:Coral Reef Restaurant

Epcot Restaurants
Disney World Restaurants

At long last, Coral Reef is finally getting its due on the Disney Food Blog! The last time I visited this restaurant was when I was much, much younger, so I knew it was time to give it a try again. It’s been through a lot of changes, but, from what I can tell, the basics are still the same…

Atmosphere

Coral Reef is one of only a couple of table-service restaurants located in Epcot’s Future World. You’ll find it hidden in the Seas With Nemo and Friends (The Living Seas for those who used to visit in the 80s), tucked back in the right-hand corner. You really need to want to find it; you won’t just stumble over this restaurant by mistake! But after all these years, the sign is still very similar to what it was way back when, so those who have a tinge of Epcot nostalgia like me will be very pleased…

Upon entering the restaurant (using the seahorse door handle of course), you’ll find that the place is themed — as it should be — but in a very stylized manner. Walls and flooring are undulating as if you’re under water. Light fixtures resemble coral and shells. Glass fish sculptures sit inside lit alcoves behind the [Read more…]

2011 Epcot Food and Wine Festival to Include Cranberry Bogs and Cranberry Recipe Contest

By AJ 7 Comments

According to a press release from Ocean Spray back in October, the 2011 Epcot Food and Wine Festival will include a real live cranberry bog (where? no idea — World Showcase Lagoon?)! And the Fifth Annual Ocean Spray Cranberry recipe contest will also be a part of the Epcot Food and Wine Festival this year. (Of course, this is all subject to change… .)

Cranberry Bog

This is all due to the recent relationship built between Craisins brand dried cranberries and the Walt Disney Company. See a quote from the press release below:

As a part of Ocean Spray’s ongoing commitment to educate consumers about the taste, health and heritage of the cranberry, the company will build cranberry bog displays during…the Epcot® International Food & Wine Festival in fall 2011. Third-, fourth- and fifth-generation cranberry growers will travel with [Read more…]

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Disney’s Victoria & Albert’s Restaurant Earns AAA Five Diamond Award

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