Countdown to Epcot Food and Wine Festival: China, Ireland, Morocco

Here we go with another fun Countdown to Food and Wine post! The Epcot Food and Wine Festival will begin in just a week, and I’ve decided to share my excitement by counting down to the Festival with a sneak peek at the International Marketplace booths that will be located around the World Showcase Lagoon!

For those who haven’t had the chance to go to the Festival, one of my favorite parts are the dozens of International Marketplaces — little booths, or kiosks, set up that represent a specific country or region. Each booth offers a short menu of tasting plates and drinks from the country or region represented. These tasting items cost anywhere from $2-$7, so they’re a great way to enjoy the Festival without breaking the bank.

Today, I’m going to highlight the representative menus from China, Ireland, and Morocco!

Green Tea Plum Wine Cooler

China

China’s introducing some new menu items this year, but bringing back my favorite part of the menu from 2009 — the Green Tea Plum Wine Cooler! Here’s the full menu for China:

Black Pepper Shrimp with Sichuan Noodles
Pork Pot Stickers
Xinjiang Barbecue Chicken Stick
Tsingtao Beer
Dragon’s Hollow Chardonnay
Green Tea Plum Wine Cooler
Happy Lychee

I am going to be all about those pot stickers this year!

The China booth will be located [Read more…]

We Are Siamese If You Please…

By AJ 5 Comments

You can find these wily felines at The Scary Apothecary in Disney World’s Disney’s Hollywood Studios! Be sure to grab a few pieces of fudge while you’re there to make up for the scare! 😉

Of course, you can see where these villains originated in Disney’s The Lady and the Tramp. Bad kitties!

Guest Review: Wine Country Trattoria World of Color Dining Package

By AJ 7 Comments

Today, guest blogger Shayne Newell, author of Shayne’s Project 365, is back with a review (and some gorgeous photos) from her recent Wine Country Trattoria World of Color (WOC) Dining Package meal! Take it away, Shayne!

Like the previously reviewed World of Color Dining Package meal at Ariel’s Grotto, the Wine Country Trattoria package meal is a fixed-price, limited menu that can be reserved up to 30 days in advance.

Atmosphere and Menu
It was pretty hot the day we went (Saturday, 9/4/10), so we were happy to be seated in the upstairs portion of the restaurant, where it was under cover and cool; we still had a nice view of the park. Everyone on the upper level seemed to be ordering from the WOC menu, so perhaps they segregated the WOC diners from those ordering off of the regular menu? On both the adult and kids’ menu, the appetizer/salad course and the dessert course were pre-determined, but each diner could choose their entree from [Read more…]

Champagne and Sake Seminar Details: Swan and Dolphin Food and Wine Classic

By AJ 3 Comments

Furthering my crusade to learn more about the first annual Disney World Swan and Dolphin Food and Wine Classic, I got the wonderful opportunity to speak with two of the event’s seminar leaders last week: Chad Lobner, Kimonos Sushi Restaurant Manager and leader of the Sake Seminars; and Olivier Zambaux, Shula’s Steak House Manager/Certified Wine Sommelier and leader of the Champagne Seminars.

Here’re some of the pretty rad details that you get to experience if you’re signed up for either of these two seminars. (And if you’re not, check out this link for more information on how you can experience the first annual Disney World Swan and Dolphin Food and Wine Classic!)

Sake Seminar

When:

Friday and Saturday, October 8th and 9th, 4:30-5:30pm
To Book: Some seminars are full, but it never hurts to call — 407-934-1609. As of this interview, there was still space in Friday’s seminar.

Description: Dive into the history of sake, the current trends in the industry, and a hint at what we can expect tomorrow. Topics include vessels, labeling, when to warm your sake and how the production and milling of sake produces different grades and taste profiles. This class will be filled with opportunities to taste many different types of sake and demonstrate how simple it is to pair with food. Kanpai! Instructor: Chad Lobner, Kimonos Sushi Restaurant Manager

What can guests expect from the sake seminar that might surprise them?
Guests will walk through the experience of Japanese sake, and the seminar will dispel some myths about sake. For example, hot sake, which is what many of us have the most experience with, is usually not the highest quality sake you [Read more…]

DIY Disney: Disney Village Peach Cobbler

By AJ 17 Comments

About twice a month, our resident Chef BigFatPanda puts together his amazing step-by-step, photo-filled posts where he and Chef Mickey show you their adventures in the kitchen cooking up Disney goodies! Today, Chef Big Fat Panda’s DIY Disney Recipes brings us a gorgeous sweet treat! Take it away, Chef!

Hello again! Chef BigFatPanda here with a truly wonderful, easy to make recipe.

I don’t consider myself a pastry or dessert expert by a long shot, but after making this little gem, I certainly want to aim for it. By this time next year, I likely will have posted enough Disney sweets that I will be more comfortable with these delectables.

So, coming off of a less than stellar Chili recipe a few weeks ago, I am so glad I opted for this next adventure. Today, I am presenting you with a Peach Cobbler from Chef Mickey’s Village Restaurant at the Disney Village Marketplace.

But Chef Mickey’s is at the Contemporary! you may exclaim. Some history is in order here:
I believe that when the Village Marketplace first opened or was renamed in the 80’s, the restaurant we now know as the Rainforest Café was the Disney Village Restaurant. I remember going here with my Mom for a very pleasant dinner. Some years later… and it’s hard to find specifics… it became Chef Mickey’s Village Restaurant. It was not uncommon to see Chef Mickey roaming [Read more…]

Food Pics of the Week: Vinylmation Hopes

By AJ 7 Comments

I started seeing some incredible foodie vinylmation designs showing up in the Disney Food Blog Photo Extravaganza, so I asked where I could buy them! The artist, Richard Page, mentioned that they were from a series he’s pitching to Disney, so they’re not guaranteed to EVER exist, but my fingers are crossed! I wanted to share them with you to see what you think!

You can find more of Page’s vinylmation designs here! Let’s hope he gets the opportunity to sell his designs!

Goofy's Candy Company Lollipop

The Land Pumpkin

See more after the jump! [Read more…]

Food Photography Tips and Tricks

By AJ 15 Comments

Disney Food Blog contributor Megan Dorsey offered a few food photography tips she’d learned from taking pics on a recent trip, and I thought it’d be fun to compile a few more from some photographer friends and me! More and more folks are starting to join the weird crowd of us who take photos of everything we eat, so tips and tricks are always fun to share!

The following tips are compiled from Megan, Anna G. who writes Cookie Madness, Joe S. from Culinary in the Country, my Dad (a professional photographer), and me!:

1. Play around with camera angles: While taking photos directly above the plate looking down works well for many entrees and shows the whole plate, some foods are more impressive when seen from the side. Experiment with different angles (makes it harder to keep us, the kids, and the other table stuff out of some shots.)

A Side-View Offers a Unique Photograph of this Brownie

2. Try to clear away the rest of the table clutter from the shot. (Hard with two kids.)

3. Have the camera ready because it is tempting to start eating before you take the picture. If the camera is on the table it serves as a reminder to [Read more…]

Epcot Food and Wine Festival Preview Pictures: World Showcase Booths are Up

By AJ 11 Comments

We’re counting down to the 2010 Epcot Food and Wine Festival here on the Disney Food Blog, and I was VERY lucky to receive two sets of photos yesterday of the World Showcase International Marketplace booths! They’ve been placed around the promenade all ready to get spiffed up for the upcoming 45-day event, which begins October 1st. The pics came from the fantastic Mr. Todd Perlmutter, and Mr. Bill Iadonisi, who I hope you’ll be seeing around here more often as a guest restaurant reviewer!

These are the booths where guests will be able to purchase small portions of regional cuisine, so you’ll see that the booths are shaped and themed to fit the country or region they represent!

NEW South Korea booth

NEW Belgium Booth -- still behind bushes

Many of the signs are remainders from last year’s focus on major cities, but the presence of the Mouse Catch booth — which isn’t listed on the 2010 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Map — makes me think they’ll be changing out signage a bit in the coming weeks. (A Cheese and Charcuterie booth is scheduled for this year, which is likely what the [Read more…]

Guest Reviews: La Cantina de San Angel

By AJ 10 Comments

My friend and yours, Ms. Sarah Holodick, headed over to La Cantina de San Angel this weekend to investigate the newest (refurbished) quick-service spot in the World. Touring Plans blogger and “man’s man, ladies’ man, man about town” Todd Perlmutter sent over some pics from his meal there as well. Sit back, relax, and enjoy!

Sarah Holodick’s Review

Atmosphere and Eats

It’s finally starting to cool off in Florida, so walking around the parks was very pleasant. It was also very quiet, so I was able to walk on almost every ride. Gotta love college football season in Florida! I headed over to Epcot to try out the newly opened quick service restaurant at the Mexico Pavilion — La Cantina de San Angel.

AJ’s been keeping all of you well informed on the happenings surrounding the restaurant, so I thought I would take to the field and try it out myself! The entree menu is simple but I think most people could find something to enjoy. It’s a good introduction into Mexican cuisine for those who may be hesitant to stray from burgers and fries, and it’s a step up from your typical [Read more…]

New Disney California Adventure Paradise Pier Dining Concept Art

By AJ 5 Comments

The OC Register is reporting on the up coming changes to Disney California Adventure’s Paradise Pier. Here’s a bit of concept art for what the Pier will look like come next year…

Gone are Pizza Oom Mow Mow and the Burger Invasion restaurant, which will soon be replaced by an 800-seat dining area — part of the $1-billion renovation project at Disney California Adventure.

When it opens next year, the area will include:

* Paradise Garden Grill, in the former space of Burger Invasion.
* Boardwalk Pizza and Pasta, where Pizza Oom Mow Mow used to be.
* Corn Dog Castle, which closed last year, will re-open in the same spot.

A Beer Garden is not part of the plans at this time.

Update! Thanks to Carolyn Hoagland on facebook, here’s the map from the Blue Sky Cellar of the new dining area! Pizza and Pasta and Garden Grill are located on the left.

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