Epcot Food and Wine Festival Belgian Waffle Recipe

Belgian waffles have been a staple of the Epcot Food and Wine Festival for the past two years, and I thought it would be fun to feature the Disney Belgian Waffle recipe as we countdown to the 2012 Epcot Food and Wine Festival!

The Belgium Booth at the Epcot Food and Wine Festival

We’ll feature a few more recipes as we continue the countdown to September 28th! If you try them out, be sure to let us know! 🙂 Stay tuned to our 2012 Epcot Food and Wine Festival pages for all the latest details…

Belgian Waffle with Berry Compote and Whipped Cream

Belgian Waffles with Berry Compote and Whipped Cream

Serves 4 (makes 8 4×4-inch waffles)

Belgian Waffles
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon dry active yeast
1 1/2 cups [Read more…]

Disney Food for Families: Getting Kids to Try New Foods at Walt Disney World

By Erin 19 Comments

It’s no secret that my daughter Louisa is more than a little produce averse. There was a period of about four years when NO fruit or vegetable crossed her lips, and even now at age 12 she still has to be cajoled into having more than a bite or two of something as innocuous as sweet potato or banana.

Frozen bananas, a gateway fruit.

So you can imagine my surprise when, on a recent trip to the Animal Kingdom’s Yak & Yeti restaurant, she consumed nearly the entire plate of wok-fried green beans we had ordered for the table. It was one of those parenting moments where you hold your breath and move slowly so as to avoid breaking the spell.

Yak & Yeti wok-fried green beans. My hero!

Those Yak & Yeti yummies didn’t turn Louisa into an inveterate bean eater, but she is now occasionally willing to nibble on a tempura string bean if we’re out for Japanese. Based on our prior track record with legumes, I’m going to count that solidly in the win column.

The Theme Park Food Effect

What was it about the Yak & Yeti beans that made Louisa such a fan? Yes, they were quite tasty, and yes, the green part was handily obfuscated by a crunchy, yumtastic fried breading coating; but we had tried similar ploys in the past to no avail. My theory is that the Yak & Yeti beans were flavored by the spice of (cue the orchestra) The Theme Park Food Effect.

Much like campers will say that meals eaten on the trail are the BEST, you know that their experience is colored by the fact that their senses are overwhelmed and they’re starving from an [Read more…]

First Look! 2012 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Merchandise

By AJ 25 Comments

More Epcot Food and Wine Festival info comin’ your way!!

While we wait for the 2012 Epcot Food and Wine Festival menus to be revealed, let’s take a look at some of the merchandise that will be sold at this year’s Festival scheduled for September 28 – November 12.

According to the DisneyParks Blog, Disney’s Event Merchandise department has created some unique items for this year’s event.

Pins and Vinylmation

First up, I HAVE to show you these limited edition pins. Cranberry bog fans will want to collect the Mickey Mouse in a cranberry bog version… Now, I ask you, WHY does Mickey get to go in the cranberry bog and I DON’T?!??!

I’ve been asking Ocean Spray on twitter (@OceanSprayInc if you’d like to petition for me) for months to let me get in the bog, and, alas, no answer…

2012 Food and Wine Vinylmation and Pins

Also showing up in pin form: The main logo pin features Chip and Dale. Disney Vacation Club members should look for a Minnie Mouse pin, and Annual Passholders might want to pick up the new Figment pin (!!!!) — yes please.

Vinyl fans will love that limited edition Vinylmation figure! The 3-inch figure features Tony from “Lady and the Tramp.” Designed by Billy Davis, the edition size is ONLY 2,500.

Signature Artwork This Year

Check out this piece – it’s the signature artwork element that will be used on some of the merchandise pieces like cutting boards, trivets, spoon rests, coffee mugs, and coasters. (Looks like we also get a sneak peek at what the Marketplace Passports will look like!)

2012 Food and Wine Festival Artwork

Drinkware

Two drinkware pieces that will be showcasing the festival logo include a wine glass and light-up tumbler.

(Yes, I am getting a light-up tumbler and you can’t stop me. I’m putting it on my tray when I walk through the festival. Yes, I bring a tray to the festival.)

2012 Food and Wine Merchandise

Apparel and Other Kitchen Items

Look for the following “sketch” on kitchen items like [Read more…]

Guest Review: Tutto Gusto in Epcot’s Italy Pavilion

By AJ 19 Comments

Let’s raise a glass to Lisa Davis for this fabulous review of Tutto Gusto’s wines, cheeses, and more! Tutto Gusto is a new wine bar serving small plates and meals in Epcot’s Italy pavilion.Tutto Gusto

Wine Cellar in Epcot’s Italy Pavilion is the second venue of its kind in Epcot. Having experienced the joys of drinking and dining in Mexico’s La Cava del Tequila, my husband and I anxiously awaited the opening of Tutto Gusto.

We were finally able to visit in early June, one month after it officially opened.

Tutto Gusto Entrance

Tutto Gusto is much larger than La Cava del Tequila, but still retains a small/intimate atmosphere. The decor and lighting help to make you feel as if you just walked into the wine tasting room of a winery in Italy. (Editor’s Note: See a photo tour of Tutto Gusto here!)

You can sit at a table in the main area by the food case and wine display, or in a more intimate setting by the fireplace. There are several table sizes to accommodate different sized groups.

Fireplace Room at Gusto

Gusto Seating

On our visit, we were able to walk right in and be seated, which was a pleasant surprise considering the wait times we typically have at La Cava del Tequila. There were two greeters at the entry — whom we initially walked right by on our way in — to provide us seating options.

Since it was just the two of us, we chose a loveseat by the fireplace. On a side note, we believe we came at a great time, having arrived at 7 p.m. on a Friday, just after a severe late-afternoon thunderstorm that cleared the park.

The fireplace area is separated from the [Read more…]

New! Pineapple Coconut Cupcake at Epcot’s Sunshine Seasons

By Kim LaPaglia 8 Comments

Learn About:Sunshine Seasons

Epcot Restaurants
Disney World Restaurants

Woo! You know we like to keep you updated on all of the snacks in Disney parks, and we love when readers send pics and updates to us when they’re in Disney World and Disneyland!

Thanks to Susan T. (who also found the fabulously popular King Cupcake at Pop Century), we’ve got a review of a brand new one!

Spotted inside Epcot’s Land pavilion at the Sunshine Seasons food court was a pineapple coconut cupcake. What a fun, summery treat! (We’ve also seen a pineapple coconut cupcake earlier this year in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.)

Pineapple Coconut Cupcake

Selling for $3.99 or a Disney Dining Plan snack credit, this concoction has a creamy pineapple frosting, is topped with toasted coconut, and is garnished with 2 small pieces of fresh pineapple.

Susan informs us that it tastes like pineapple upside down cake, but with [Read more…]

Disney World Cheese Plate Gallery

By AJ 31 Comments

FINALLY!!

After several years…and lots of cheese…we’ve finally put together a list of many of the cheese plates found in Walt Disney World restaurants!

Cheese from Tutto Gusto in Epcot's Italy

For those who have never had a cheese plate in a Disney World restaurant, here’s a little Disney cheese plate primer:

Cheese plates are often offered as both an appetizer and a dessert
They usually provide small samples of three, four, or five cheeses
Cheese plates are served with accompaniments like dried fruits, nuts, compotes, honey, and small pieces of toast or crackers
The samples are usually arranged from mild to strong, with a veined blue cheese almost always at the end of the line

You’ll find goat milk, cow milk, and sheep milk cheeses with varied aging processes and preparations. If you’re dining in a themed restaurant, the cheeses may be themed as well (e.g. Cheeses from California).

I can highly recommend pairing just about anything with honey or dried raisins on the vine. 😉 In fact, I usually ask my server to bring an extra side of honeycomb since I nearly always run out.

Another tip: always ask for more little toasts. Even if you’re NOT sharing with a dining partner, you’ll still run out.

We’ve had many requests for this type of post — there are a lot of cheese lovers out there — so I hope this is helpful. Note that plates change often, so you may find different cheeses and accompaniments on your visit. Please share your reviews and experiences in the comments section below!

Epcot

Les Chefs de FrancePlateau de fromages de France

My very favorite cheese plate in all of Disney World is found here, at Chefs de France. The creamy, delicious cheeses in large portions could probably be a meal in themselves!

Imported cheese board $14.50. Available at lunch and dinner.

Cheese Plate

Le Cellier
Assortment of Artisanal Cheese
accompanied with Chef’s Selection of Dried Fruits and Preserves $14.00. See our review!

Cheese Plate

Boulangerie Patisserie
Cheese Plate
Get a similar plate to the one in Chefs de France over here at the [Read more…]

Disney World Free Dining Package for Fall 2012

By AJ 73 Comments

Editor’s Note: The Free Dining promotion has been extended until December 20, 2012. Source: MouseSavers

Disney World’s Free Dining Promotion is back for Fall 2012! The promotion is available for the following dates and is currently for Disney Visa Cardholders ONLY. The package is expected to be available to the general public on Thursday, July 12th.

Disney World Free Dining Fall 2012 Dates

Book the free dining package if checking in on the following dates. Guests must book by September 29, 2012, and availability is limited. Book by calling 407-W-Disney.

9/30/12–10/4/12
10/19/12–11/1/12
11/9/12–11/15/12
11/23/12–11/29/12
12/10/12–12/13/12

A 3-night minimum stay is required (14 nights is the maximum stay). A minimum 2-day park ticket must be purchased for each guest in the room, and a $200 deposit must be [Read more…]

New! Disney Food-Inspired Air Fresheners

By AJ 36 Comments

According to one of my favorite people at the DisneyParks Blog, merch specialist Steven Miller, there are some awesome new Disney food merch items about to debut!

Turkey Leg and Mickey Ice Cream Bar Air Fresheners

Taking the powerful sense of smell and combining it with the Disney food world, the Parks will release Disney Food-inspired Air Fresheners in August!

And while I’m not 100% sure (not even 25% sure) I’d want a Turkey Leg scent emanating from my car on these hot summer days, I sure could get on board with a yummy Mickey Waffle smell or that spicy candy apple!

Candy Apple and Mickey Waffle Air Fresheners

The turkey leg, Mickey Mouse premium ice cream bar, candy apple, and Mickey Mouse waffle air fresheners seen here were [Read more…]

Review: ESPN Club in Walt Disney World

By AJ 18 Comments

Editor’s Note: As of May 2013, hot dogs are no longer being offered and the nachos are served with BBQ Pork.

Learn About:ESPN Club

Boardwalk Restaurants
Disney World Restaurants

It’s been TOO LONG since I’ve done an ESPN Club review for ya, so we finally headed over there on a recent visit. It wasn’t from lack of trying, mind you — I actually like this restaurant a lot and we enjoy going there. But other restaurants kept getting in the way. 😉

But now it’s time for this paradise of bar food to get its day in the spotlight…here we go!

Atmosphere

Your first impression of ESPN Club will be that you’ve died and gone to Sports Bar Heaven. Seriously, as you will see, no detail is left untouched. This is a world created for the die hard sports fan. From the menu to the television placement (more to come!) you need never miss a second of the game while you’re here.

ESPN Club (with a line to get in on Game Day!)

But never fear, even though the feel is straight-up sports bar, it’s very kid-friendly, with the standard Disney kids’ menu offered. And with an arcade off to the side, chances are you’ll wave goodbye to the kids and not see them again until dessert anyway!

As you walk in, you can choose from seating in the bar area to the right or the dining room to the left. The bar area has ample TVs situated all around the room — even at your table.

Bar

And what goes better with the game than beer? Here are a few of the draft selections, including the very popular local Orange Blossom Pilsner.

Beer on Draft

Although we were there on a quiet weekday, make no mistake: this place gets packed fast when there’s a big game on. And while it’s a fantastic venue to catch the play-offs or a World Cup match, be prepared to [Read more…]

Disney Food Post Round-Up: July 8, 2012

By AJ Leave a Comment

We hope your holiday was filled with lots of great food this week! The big food news this July 4th was the confirmation of the California Grill closure.

Of course, we enjoyed seeing a new cupcake unveiled for the holiday at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Did anyone see other holiday treats around the parks this week?

Disney Food News

In this week’s food news for Disney fans…

New pictures from the stunning Be Our Guest Restaurant!
HGTV stars will host seminars during the 2012 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival.
The Contemporary Resort’s California Grill in Walt Disney World will close for renovations on January 6 through late summer 2013.

We’ve got more food news (including menu info for the new DCL Remy’s brunch, a new policy for Top of the World Lounge…plus LOTS more) on our Disney Food News Pin Board, where Disney Food News is updated on a regular basis!

DFB Podcast Episode 6 Now Available

We’re pleased to announce that the sixth episode of our brand new podcast has been released! You can catch it over on DFBPodcast.com

In this episode of the Disney Food Blog’s DFB Podcast, we cover the latest Disney Food News, discuss two delicious Disney steakhouses, answer a few listener questions, and reveal the answer to our Episode 5 trivia question (as well as give you a brand new trivia question)!

And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast via RSS or on iTunes!

On to the Round-Up

Walt Disney World for Grown Ups

consumes some fun mocktails!

Designing Disney visits the Toad Hall restaurant at Disneyland Paris. Wow!

Daveland shares beautiful photos from the Blue Bayou Restaurant in Disneyland.

Disney History shares a vintage interview with Walt Disney explaining why [Read more…]

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Epcot Food and Wine Festival Belgian Waffle Recipe

Belgian Waffles with Berry Compote and Whipped Cream