Dining in Disneyland: The Patented Chocolate Easter Egg

Our Dining in Disneyland columnist, Heather Sievers, shares some Easter-time treats!

Spring Break is in full swing & The Disneyland Resort has sprung some amazing Easter treats on us. On a recent trip to my favorite candy kitchen on Main Street, I noticed something I had never ever seen before. Chocolate Easter Eggs!

Disneyland Chocolate Easter Eggs are Made Just Once a Week

Unfortunately they weren’t being made right at that moment, but I did take the time to ask the Cast Member working at the Candy Palace’s register a few questions.

With over 50 years of combined experience, I wasn’t surprised to learn that the creators of this confection are the “Disneyland Candy Gods” Chris Thompson & Rob McHargue. You know, the same guys who have been making candy canes forever and a day?

The Chocolate Easter Eggs are made only once a week during the Spring Break season, and they are made and sold only at the Candy Palace on Disneyland’s Main Street USA. Each egg is 8 oz and there are two flavors: Chocolate Nut Fudge & Vanilla Nut Fudge. The recipes were created by Rob, and these, like all of his other recipes, are actually patented by Disney. I got to thinking, just because the recipes are documented and protected doesn’t mean any ol’ candy maker can create the same amazing treats as these two pros. Who will take over when [Read more…]

Disney Food Pics of the Week: Birthday Treats

By Kim LaPaglia 4 Comments

Thanks to all who have contributed their photos to the Disney Food Blog Photo Extravaganza! We love to see your photos and can’t wait to see more! The Disney Food Pics of the Week feature celebratory birthday cake! Happy Birthday wishes to our readers!

This birthday surprise was served at Via Napoli in Epcot’s World Showcase. Make a wish!
Photographer: Erin O’Brien

Via Napoli Birthday Dessert

The Chocolate Moose at Le Cellier turns a birthday into [Read more…]

Disney Food for Families: The DVC Villa Kitchens, Part 1

By Erin 22 Comments

Disney Food for Families columnist Erin Foster begins this DVC Villas Kitchens series with a look at what you’ll find in your villa kitchen!

My family has been a member of the Disney Vacation Club since 2001. Because of this, we often stay in DVC villa-style rooms when visiting Walt Disney World, which we pay for using our DVC points. While villa rooms are most often used by DVC members, anyone may rent them. And one of the best parts about a villa is the inclusion of a kitchenette in studio villas and a full kitchen in one-bedroom and larger villas!

Over the next few posts, I’m going to discuss the villa kitchens. What do they include? What is easily available to cook in the kitchens? Is is possible to save money by cooking in your villa? Will the villa kitchen save you any time?

A statue of Ariel greets guests at the Beach Club Villas

Here are a few more details about DVC Villas: There are villa rooms at seven Walt Disney World resort hotels — Animal Kingdom Lodge, Bay Lake Tower (Contemporary), Beach Club, Boardwalk, Old Key West, Saratoga Springs, and Wilderness Lodge.

Villas are available in studio, one bedroom, two bedroom, and three bedroom versions.
Studio villas are like regular hotel rooms, with the addition of a small kitchenette area. The kitchenette includes a sink, a dorm-sized refrigerator, a microwave oven, a coffee-maker and a toaster.
One, two, and three-bedroom villas are like apartments. They include a the requisite number of bedrooms, often several bathrooms, a washer and dryer, plus a living room area and a full kitchen.

Bay Lake Tower (Contemporary) two-bedroom villa kitchen

The villas are a terrific option for guests with larger families or larger traveling parties, multi-generational families, families where the parents don’t want to sleep in the same room as the children, or for families who want, or need, a kitchen.

The larger space and multiple bathrooms make vacationing with my mirror-loving daughters a breeze — that alone makes the villas worth it for my family. But I must confess that I have a real love/hate relationship with the villa kitchens. Obviously, having a kitchen can be a godsend for guests who need to prepare food for an allergic or special needs family member. But what is the value of the kitchen for the average family? What is the value of the kitchen for the average mom, like me, who finds that one of the best aspects of vacation time is not having to cook?

As a first step in the Villa Kitchen series, I’ll show you what exactly you can expect to find in a Disney Vacation Club Villa kitchen at [Read more…]

Disney Dream Recipe: Chocolate Souffle

By AJ 7 Comments

Souffle with Vanilla Gelato and Chocolate and Vanilla Sauces

When I sailed on the January Christening Cruise and completed the Disney Dream Dine Around, the dessert at Palo was a highlight. Here’s the recipe so that you can try it at home!

Where to Find It

The Chocolate Souffle is the popular dessert created at Palo aboard the Disney Dream. Palo is the adults-only restaurant that requires reservations.

Here’s the recipe…

How to Make It

Chocolate Souffle

Serves 6

3 tablespoons butter, plus more for greasing the soufflé cups
6 tablespoons sugar, plus more for dusting the soufflé cups
1 cup milk
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons Dutch-processed cocoa
2 ounces (2/3 cup) semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, melted
4 eggs, separated

Vanilla Sauce (recipe follows) [Read more…]

Top 5 Disney Snacks to Take Home From the Parks

By AJ 39 Comments

Let’s face it: sometimes it’s just nice to bring a little bit of Disney home with you to help you get over those post-Disney blues! And if you have a handful of Disney Dining Plan snack credits left over at the end of your Disney World trip or you’ve got friends and family you’d like to surprise with a treat, Disney foods make some terrific souvenirs!

Here are my top five favorite snacks to bring home from the parks!

[Read more…]

Comfort Food and Mom’s Day Breakfast in Bed at Hilton Bonnet Creek

By Kim LaPaglia Leave a Comment

The Hilton Bonnet Creek is located within the gates of Walt Disney World and continues to offer some incredible dining options and deals for those visiting the parks. In the past few weeks, they’ve featured a couple of interesting options that I hope I’m able to try out.

Blackened Grouper Sandwich

Comfort Food at Harvest Bistro
Comfort Food every day! The Harvest Bistro chefs at Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek create comfort food with flair. While traveling, it’s comforting to have a taste of home. Chefs highlight a different comfort food each day using fresh, seasonal ingredients. Meatloaf, Baked Macaroni & Cheese and Barbecue Baby Back Ribs were some of the recent offerings.

Don’t forget that kids 12 and under eat free for breakfast and dinner when an adult meal is purchased! Your reservation can be made by calling 407-597-3600.

Announcing the Breakfast in Bed Experience for Mom
The Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek knows what moms want! Imagine that it’s Mother’s Day morning and the kids are working with the Harvest Bistro staff to make mom breakfast. While they work, mom can enjoy some quiet time. Before delivering breakfast, the kids will also make a fresh flower bouquet!

I love this idea and my son even at age 11 would absolutely delight in helping the Chef create breakfast. This is a creative, innovative and absolutely fun idea for the entire family. I only wish that my family had plans to visit Orlando for Mother’s Day. If you are lucky enough to be in central Florida in May, consider this great treat for Mom! Call 888-353-2013 and reference SRP code P5.

Have you stayed at the Hilton Bonnet Creek or are you considering a trip there? Let us know what you think!

Review: New Le Cellier Signature Dinner

By AJ 38 Comments

Learn About:Le Cellier Steakhouse

Epcot Restaurants
Disney World Restaurants

You remember when we analyzed the brand new Le Cellier Steakhouse Signature dinner menu a few weeks ago, right? Well, I finally had the chance to try it myself.

For those who are just tuning in, one of Disney World’s most popular restaurants, Le Cellier in Epcot’s Canada pavilion, began offering a signature dinner menu (e.g. super expensive) at the beginning of March 2011. While the restaurant remained priced at one Disney Dining Plan credit for lunch, the dinner menu cost two Disney Dining Plan credits. For those of us who don’t purchase the dining plan, that means that the dinner menu was renovated and all prices bumped up a few bucks…or more.

Atmosphere
The decor and atmosphere at Le Cellier hasn’t changed at all. You’re still dining in a very small “cellar,” featuring candlelight sconces on the walls (not real candles, of course), rich woods and deep maroon fabrics, and stone archways creating the structure of the restaurant.

Le Cellier Dining Room

Le Cellier Ceilings and Chandeliers

The only thing upon arrival that makes you think something might be slightly different is the presence of some snazzy new napkin rings (I’m pretty sure I’ve never seen napkin rings at a Disney World restaurant…) and candles on the tables… [Read more…]

Disney Food Post Round-Up ‘n’ More: March 27, 2011

By AJ 3 Comments

Honey Lemon Cupcake Topped with Edible Glitter & A Chocolate Bee

I have a LOT to share with you today, so bear with me! We’ll start with Disney news, then head over to the e-Book update, and finally, the round-up!

Disney Food News

Here are a few of the fun newsy things that happened this week:

We review the new menu at the Hungry Bear in Disneyland!
AND head over to the Wave in Disney World’s Contemporary Resort to try out the new breakfast buffet…
But don’t forget that Disneyland was honored this week with some great food awards!

In other news, don’t forget to join me on the WDW Today monthly live show, where you can call in with your questions and comments. The special guest will be yours truly! Tune in tonight, Sunday, March 27, at 8:00 pm Eastern time!

DFB Guide Reviews!

And after a week at WDW filled with fun (and food!), I look forward to sharing lots of restaurant reviews and photos with you guys! Best of all, positive reviews on our e-Book, The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining, continue to pour in. If you are undecided about purchasing the book, check out these insights:

A World View explains the usefulness of an E-book over a paper book.
DVC Mom says “First timers should not even start to plan without this guide…” and notes that Disney veterans will find great information, too.
DisneyBiz notes “No otherresource that I’m aware of goes into this much detail on how to plan dining.”
Military Disney Tips Blog declares “It’s a must have for any Disney food lover!“

The Round-Up!

WDW For Grown-Ups

shares a delicious glimpse of the tempting caramel work done by a Karamell Küche cast member. My insight? I want to enjoy the fruits of their labor on my next visit!

Main Street Gazette zeroes in on a fun menu item in the Magic Kingdom that not many folks even know is there!

Watch Me Eat stops by Orlando’s House of Blues restaurant in Downtown Disney for some Cajun cuisine.

Cookie Madness reviews a voyage on the Disney Dream and gives the cookies served on Castaway Cay a thumbs up!

Food and Drink Digital reminds us to check our produce aisle for a new line of Disney fruits and veggies. Disney Consumer Products calls them “new and refreshed Disney-branded products that capitalize on synergistic promotional opportunities tied to Disney entertainment content and beloved characters.” Yum.

Whew! And that’s all she wrote! See ya next week!

Snack Series: Sweet Cream Cheese Pretzel

By AJ 31 Comments

I have a confession. Until this past week, I had never actually eaten my very own sweet cream cheese pretzel in Walt Disney World. So when my husband and I decided to throw caution to the wind and head into the Magic Kingdom at 11pm on a Saturday during Spring Break, we figured it was high time to make a change.

Sweet Cream Cheese Pretzel at Lunching Pad

After riding everything we possibly could, we headed over to the Lunching Pad and purchased one of these yummy treats. They look like regular soft pretzels, but they have a faint dusting of what seems like [Read more…]

Disney Dream Recipe: Enchanted Garden Strawberry Cheesecake

By Kim LaPaglia 2 Comments

Strawberry Cheesecake at Enchanted Garden

When I sailed on the January Christening Cruise and completed the Disney Dream Dine Around, the desserts were scrumptious! If you love to try Disney treats at home, here’s a yummy recipe to try!