Guest Review: Tortilla Jo's at Disneyland | the disney food blog

Guest Review: Tortilla Jo’s at Disneyland

Bienvenidos once again to intrepid DFB reporter Shayne Newell, who brings us a guest review of Tortilla Jo’s in Disneyland’s Downtown Disney district.

Tortilla Jo's entrance

We recently celebrated my husband’s 40th birthday at the Disneyland Resort. We are from Texas, so we are always hesitant about eating Mexican food outside of our home state. However, we had heard good things about Tortilla Jo’s here on the Disney Food Blog, so we decided to give it a try.

Atmosphere

The sign near the hostess stand at Tortilla Jo’s reads, “Bienvenidos, Mi Casa es Su Casa,” which translates to “Welcome, My House is Your House.” We had an early lunch reservation at 11:30 a.m., so the restaurant was practically empty when we arrived.

Tortilla Jo's bienvenidos

Nonetheless, the atmosphere of the waiting area felt homey, with brightly colored tiles, ceramic pottery, wooden furniture, and lots of [Read more…]

Menu Details! Stars and Stripes Celebration at WDW Swan and Dolphin

By AJ 2 Comments

The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin resort will celebrate independence with a family-oriented, all-American Stars and Stripes Celebration!

Imagine old-fashioned fun with a live band and carnival-like games as chefs create your family’s barbecue meal in the outdoor Fantasia Gardens Pavilion on Saturday, July 2, 2011 from 3:00 – 8:00 pm.

Summertime Senses

Luckily, we got the chance to speak with Chef Robert Ciborowski (a.k.a. Chef Cib), the Executive Chef at WDW Swan and Dolphin, about the menu for the event!

Robert Ciborowski, Executive Chef

It always amazes me how well the chefs at the Swan and Dolphin know both their craft and their audience, and Chef Cib clearly holds the reigns on creating that culture at the resorts! Check out these details on the food…

What’s the first sense that comes to mind at a barbecue? Smell! According to Chef Cib, “we tried to use that sense as the focal point of what we’re doing.”

To capitalize on this summertime sense of barbecue, the menu will feature all-beef hot dogs, hamburgers, pulled pork and traditional BBQ chicken, as well as some incredible side dishes and desserts that are sure to make your mouth water!

BBQ Chicken:
Chef Ciborowski elaborated on using the [Read more…]

Disney Corn Dog Nuggets…Casey’s Corner vs. Paradiso 37

By AJ 25 Comments

So, corn dogs are pretty awesome. And corn dog nuggets — those little mini corn dogs that are bite sized and just perfect for snacking — are seen by many as a good thing made better.

Casey’s Corner Corn Dog Nuggets

The corn dog nuggets that many of us are familiar with can be found at Casey’s Corner in Disney World’s Magic Kingdom:

Casey's Corner Corn Dog Nuggets

These are great! Mini hot dogs encased in a thick cornbread coating, they’re the perfect treat to snack on while you’re watching the parade come down Main Street, USA, or while you’re waiting to see the fireworks show above the castle… . You can pair them with mustard, plastic cheese, barbecue sauce, ketchup — the condiments list is endless, and for those who consider condiments a food group (like I do), it’s a dream come true!

Casey's Corner Corn Dog Nugget Cross Section

And if you know me well enough, you’re sensing a “but…” [Read more…]

Disney Food Blog Special Event: Snack Attack, Featuring DFB Favorites

By AJ 25 Comments

Start your Disney Vacation with a bang! We’re excited to announce a new WDW Foodie Fest event that will take place in Epcot on the evening of October 4th, 2011! Join me and other Disney Food Blog readers for an evening of…

Fun, Food, and Fireworks!

The Snack Attack, Featuring DFB Favorites, is an event like none other! On October 4th, our guests will arrive at a private Illluminations Fireworks viewing location in Epcot (psst…it’ll be in the UK pavilion!) and get down to business — the business of eating, that is!

This dessert party doesn’t just offer a few generic cannoli and brownies. No sir. We’ve worked with Disney to provide a menu that will excite even the biggest Disney food fan! The menu of the evening will include a buffet of…

Starring Rolls’ Butterfinger Cupcakes
Classic Disney Popcorn
Animal Kingdom Lodge Zebra Domes
Mickey Ice Cream Bars
Norway’s School Bread
Writer’s Stop’s Carrot Cake Cookies
Boardwalk Bakery’s Cheesecake Brownies
Starring Rolls’ Red Velvet Cheesecake Cupcakes
And MORE!

What a great way to start the evening!

But that’s not all!! Once you’ve had your fill, relax and enjoy a fabulous view of Illuminations: Reflections of Earth, Epcot’s outstanding fireworks spectacular, from our private viewing area! That’s right — no jostling for the best view, no saving seats. You’ve already got a great view, so just sit back and take it all in.

Illuminations, Reflections of Earth

Cost for this event will be $40 per person. Tickets will be limited! Ticket information will be announced soon on the Disney Food Blog Newsletter, our WDWFoodieFest.com website, and right here on the Disney Food Blog, so stay tuned.

Please note that this event will in addition to our Oct. 2nd Beach Club Resort event. You can see the WDW Foodie Fest schedule of events here!

Also — wanted to add that I got this great idea from a Mother’s Day event created by fellow blogger Mark D.! He’s written up a review of his event for Disney Food Blog that I’ll be sharing soon!

Disney Food for Families: Little Kid Snacks Throwdown — Disney Style

By Erin 7 Comments

Disney Food for Families columnist Erin Foster has done a bit of experimenting this week with a couple of volunteers!

Disney has made admirable strides in recent years in providing healthier food options for kids: fries are no longer the auto-side for meals, fresh fruit is readily available, and non-sugary snacks are often displayed on the same shelf as candy.

Among these non-candy options are offerings called “Tiny Treats,” some branded with the Chip & Dale Snack Company logo and some with the Minnie’s Bake Shop logo.

Visually appealing Tiny Treats, displayed right next to candy

Introducing Tiny Treats

Tiny Treats are single-ish serving, easy to hold containers of the Disney version of preschool snack basics: Cheddar Mickey Crackers (think Pepperidge Farm Goldfish or Annie’s brand bunnies), Oat Cereal (think Cheerios), Arrowroot Cookies (think Gerber and others), and Dried Bananas and Strawberries (think Gerber and others).

When my own children were preschoolers, probably 50% of their calorie intake consisted of Goldfish and Cheerios. (I had three kids in three years. We were in “whatever-it-takes-to-survive” mode. Don’t judge.) Back in those days, touring the Disney parks meant bringing snacks from home and toting along a multitude of [Read more…]

80% Discount on Disney World Restaurant Gift Certificates for a Limited Time

By AJ 13 Comments

Great news! Restaurant.com is offering an 80% discount on many Disney World and Orlando Restaurant gift certificates purchased through June 30th. This means you can get $25 gift certificates for $2 each! Simply use code SUMMER in the discount code box.

You can see details about Restaurant.com and check out which Disney World restaurants are included in the program on our Restaurant.com gift certificate program page.

Here’s how it works:

Step 1: [Read more…]

Review: Maya Grill at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort

By AJ 14 Comments

Learn About:Maya Grill

Disney World Restaurants

Hidden in Coronado Springs Resort’s El Centro, between the lobby and the Casitas section of the resort, Maya Grill offers a Latin American menu in the midst of Mayan architecture.

Atmosphere

You really do feel like you’re at the entrance to a Mayan pyramid when dining in this restaurant, and the decor — with soaring ceilings and moody lighting — is stunning. But many folks shy away from Maya Grill due to its distance from…well…just about everything.

Maya Grill sign

We arrived without a reservation, and although I could see many empty tables, we were told there would be a 45-minute wait. This was disturbing, since I think of Maya Grill to be one of the lesser-populated restaurants in Disney World. But since we were already staying at Coronado Springs (and since we had to eat here anyway so that we could cover it on the blog), we just told the hostess that we’d come back in 45 minutes, and spent the time catching up on work in our room.

When we returned, she’d [Read more…]

Lady and the Tramp Spaghetti and Meatballs Recipe

By AJ 1 Comment

Join me in welcoming Maxime from the Designing Disney Blog with a fun, Disney-inspired recipe creation!

Everybody remembers that romantic moment in Lady and the Tramp with the yummy plate of spaghetti, right?

Here’s a fun, easy recipe to recreate it!

Ingredients

1 pound ground sirloin
1/4 cup minced fresh onion
2 tablespoons dry breadcrumbs
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 large egg white, lightly beaten
1 (25.5-ounce) jar fat-free tomato-and-basil pasta sauce, divided
Cooking spray
5 cups hot cooked spaghetti (about 8 ounces uncooked pasta)
5 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
5 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

Method

Combine the first 6 ingredients and 2 tablespoons of pasta sauce in a medium bowl.

Combine ingredients

Shape the meat mixture into 25 (1-inch) [Read more…]

Disney Food Post Round-Up: June 26, 2011

By AJ 5 Comments

Happy Summer! If you’ve been on vacation or spent a day by the pool, you may have missed some of this week’s Disney food news. We’ve gathered it here for your easy reading!

2011 Epcot Food and Wine Festival News

This week’s updates on Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival!

See our Exclusive interview with Marianne Hunnel, the brains behind the 2011 Epcot Food and Wine Festival!
Chocolate seminars set to debut in this year’s festival!
Mixology seminars will be a nightly occurrence at the Festival Center this year!
Details and dates of Special Events have been released, including booking information and discount information!

We have always updated, in-depth coverage of the 2011 Epcot Food and Wine Festival here!

Summer Sale on the Disney Food Blog Guide to Walt Disney World Dining!

Not sure whether the Disney Dining Plan is for you? What will be the best use for your DDP credits? Which restaurants are kid-friendly? Where can I get food in the middle of the night in Disney World?

You’ve got Disney dining questions! We’ve got answers! Get your guide now with our 20% off Start of Summer sale!

Order YOUR copy of the Disney Food Blog Guide to Walt Disney World Dining here — use code SUMMER at check-out to get 20% off!

Now, On to the Round-Up!

Kevin Kidney

works on artistic touches inside Trader Sam’s! Amazing!

Disney Contemporary reminisces about the Concourse Steakhouse which closed in 2008.

Main Street Gazette reviews the Angus cheeseburger at Pecos Bill!

Disney Parks Blog reminisces about the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue’s long-standing home, Pioneer Hall!

All Ears reviews the recent Tables in Wonderland Illuminations Dessert Party.

4Parks1Blog.com highlights Disney Pub Crawls in a two part series. Part 1 and Part 2.

NY Times reveals a BabyCakes doughnut recipe. Try these gluten-free treats at home!

Flanagan Wines Dinner at Bull and Bear

By Kim LaPaglia 3 Comments

The Waldorf Astoria Orlando

is home of the award-winning Bull and Bear Steakhouse, which will host a private dinner with winemaker Eric Flanagan. Wines from the Flanagan Estate (Sonoma, California) will be featured at this exclusive dining experience. And several dishes highlighted in our recent review will be on the menu!

The Flanagan Wines dinner will include four courses of Bull and Bear cuisine paired with fabulous Flanagan wines. At this distinguished meal, Eric will introduce his first Chardonnay, which was barrel fermented in fifty percent new French Oak. The French Oak was made by Philippe Melka and sourced from a distinctive Sonoma vineyard.

Eric began his vineyard in 1999 from the ground up on Bennett Ridge in Sonoma County, producing wines that reflect the soils and climate of his Estate site. Flanagan Wines now produce 500 cases of Cabernet and 100 cases of Syrah. For more information, visit www.flanaganwines.com.

Dining Room Seating

Date

Monday, June 27 2011, at 6:30pm

Cost

$135 per person plus tax and gratuity

Reservations

Call 407-597-5409 and specifically request the Flanagan wine dinner

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