Celebrating Cinco de Mayo in Disney World

If you’re ready to head out for the evening in Disney World, there are some great places to celebrate Cinco de Mayo with a margarita or two!

First of all, Epcot’s San Angel Inn is a great place to grab your evening meal (try the Pollo a las Rajas — it’s my favorite!). Accompany that with some flan or arroz con leche, or head over for an entirely different kind of dessert at the…

La Cava del Tequila! This brand new Tequila bar in Epcot’s Mexico pavilion is one of my new favorite places in Walt Disney World! Order up my favorite — the Aguacate (Avacado Margarita) — or sample another new and different margarita. They even have an incredible array of Tequila flights to suit your fancy. You can check out the full La Cava del Tequila menu here!

If you’re just passing by the Mexico pavilion and want to pay your respects, stop at the Taqueria del Lago outside for some quesadillas or taquitos, or at the Margarita stand near by for a portable fiesta 😉 (Unforunately, Cantina de San Angel isn’t open at the moment, but it will be re-opening soon with even more to offer those of us who love dining al fresco in Mexico!)

Homemade Treats From Disneyland’s Candy Palace

By AJ 16 Comments

Have you ever realized how many similar dining opportunities exist in Disneyland and Disney World? That’s what my colleague and friend, Ryan from Main Street Gazette, and I were discussing a couple of months ago when we came up with a fun idea. We knew we were both headed to Disney parks — he to Disney World, and I to Disneyland — and thought it would be an intriguing series of posts to compare our experiences at “mirror image” locations in Disney World and Disneyland!

For the next month of Wednesdays, you’ll see us reviewing back-to-back, mirror image foodie havens in the Florida and California parks! Whether you’re headed to the East coast or the West, we’ve got your Disney Food needs covered — please join us for the ride!

Disneyland's Candy Palace

Making Magic

Today, we’re discussing the homemade goodies from the Main Street candy stores at Disney World and Disneyland, which means I get to talk about Disneyland’s Candy Palace! And let me say right up front — this place is all about the homemade! You know they’re famous for their homemade candy canes during the holiday season, but they’re making homemade candy — front-and-center — every single day of the year here.

Making Peanut Clusters at the Candy Palace

From fudge and pecan rolls to molasses sponge and rocky road, there’s always something brewing at the Candy Palace — and you can buy freshly made packages of your nostalgic [Read more…]

Snack Attack: Matterhorn Macaroon

By AJ 15 Comments

Check out this fun addition to the Blue Ribbon Bakery in Disneyland!

Matterhorn Macaroon

This Matterhorn Macaroon, named and shaped after the famous Matterhorn mountain icon in Disneyland, is a new arrival on the snack scene in the west coast park.

A “mountain” of coconutty goodness dipped in white chocolate “snow,” it’s a fun reminder of the other times Disney’s made edible representations of their well known iconic structures — castles, Mickey Mouse, and Spaceship Earth being just a [Read more…]

Review: Raglan Road Tables in Wonderland Dinner

By AJ 3 Comments

Thanks to Julie Strachan Haiber for reporting on the recent Tables in Wonderland dinner at Raglan Road in Downtown Disney’s Pleasure Island! Julie is a WDW annual passholder, past Disney bride, and moderator on Disneymooner.com, a site dedicated to Disney Weddings and honeymoon planning. Thanks for taking the time to write up your review, Julie! Take it away!

My husband Rory and I recently had the opportunity to enjoy the “Tables in Wonderland” special event dinner at Raglan Road in Downtown Disney. We have dined at Raglan Road many times and were eager to meet Chef Kevin Dundon as well as sample the evening’s special cuisine.

Atmosphere
A back room in the restaurant was set up exclusively for the event, with flowers and candles on the tables, and about 60 people in attendance. We were seated at a table for six and dined with two local Orlando couples. We are annual passholders and travel to Orlando several times a year, and we very much enjoyed the company and conversation at our table. Each place setting had a menu tied with a flower and a signed copy of Chef Dundon’s cookbook, Great Family Food. [Read more…]

Naples Review: Is This What We Can Expect from Epcot’s Via Napoli?

By AJ 24 Comments

In Disneyland last week, I chose to have lunch at Naples, a restaurant/pizzeria located in Disneyland’s Downtown Disney area and run by the Patina Group — the same folks who will be running Via Napoli in Epcot’s Italy!

As you know, Via Napoli will be opening as a Pizzeria in Fall 2010, just in time for the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, and we’re all eager to determine whether this will be the opportunity to get some really great pizza in Walt Disney World.

We dined here primarily to see what we might be getting in Disney World this fall, but we had a wonderful experience that makes Naples one of our new favorite and [Read more…]

Free Dining at Disney World Announced for 2010

By AJ 4 Comments

It’s here, as we’d hoped! Walt Disney World has announced their Free Dining package for Fall 2010. Here are the details:

You must book a full-price WDW vacation package, checking in *most nights* between 8/15 and 10/2.
You must stay at least three consecutive nights at an official Walt Disney World hotel (i.e., a hotel that is owned and operated by Walt Disney World) and at least a 2-day theme park ticket.
If you stay in a Value Resort: You’ll receive the Magic Your way Plus Quick Service Dining package for the price of a standard Magic Your Way package. You can upgrade to the regular Dining Plan for $10 per adult per night and $2 per child (age 3-9) per night, or you can upgrade to the Deluxe Dining Plan for $40 per adult per night and $12 per child per night.
If you stay in a Moderate, Deluxe, or Villas Resort: You’ll receive the Magic Your Way Plus Dining package for the price of a standard Magic Your Way package. You can upgrade to the Deluxe Dining Plan for $30 per adult per night and $10 per child per night.
This offer must be booked by August 14, 2010, and the number of packages is limited (so book fast!)

To learn more about Disney World’s Dining Plans, check out our Disney World Dining Plans reference page!

To learn more about how to make dining reservations in Walt Disney World, check out our Advanced Dining Reservations reference page!

Disney Food Post Round-Up: May 2, 2010

By AJ 3 Comments

Our Goodies at the Wishes Dessert Party

We’re nearing the end of our whirlwind Disney World and Disneyland back-to-back trips, and there’s lots of news and info to share! Here are a few of the main items:

And now, on to the round-up! The first batch of links are from some colleagues of mine who attended the recent “From 5 Stars to Mickey Bars!” Disney World dining event with me.

What Now?!?!?, a fun blog written by Disney World Moms Panelist, Kathie F., showcases some shots from our Disney dinner at Flying Fish Cafe. Be sure to scroll through her other posts from our WDW weekend, too!

About.com: Theme Parks shares a photo gallery and review of Walt Disney World’s Sanaa Restaurant.

Chef Druck Musings has an awesome article covering some great counter-service finds in Epcot’s World Showcase.

Haute Travels reviews Todd English’s bluezoo.

Live and Learn has a fun break-down of what happened during our culinary weekend, as well as a hat tip to some great blogs and publications.

Studios Central tells us why NOT to book the Fantasmic Dinner Package.

GrubGrade shares the latest about Burger King’s Whiplash Whopper, created to commemorate Disney’s Iron Man 2.

Babes in Disneyland has some fun facts about Disneyland dining.

Passport To Dreams Old and New shares a piece about Ben Franklin, a mysterious Disney World portrait, the Hall of Presidents, and Liberty Tree Tavern.

Chip and Co has a fun look at creme brulee in Disney World.

Scott Joseph Orlando brings us to Victoria and Albert’s Queen Victoria Room.

Disney’s California Food & Wine Festival Specialty Item Review: Chicken Wrap and Cheesecake

By AJ 4 Comments

As I mentioned previously, Disney’s California Food & Wine Festival is highlighting several specialty items inspired by the festival’s “Art of Flavor” tagline and sold at counter service locations throughout the park.

Yesterday, I reviewed the pulled pork sandwich and mangia meatballs, and today I’m taking a look at the Festival Chicken Wrap and the Dulce de Leche Cheesecake.

Festival Chicken Wrap
The Festival Chicken Wrap can be found at the Bountiful Valley Farmers Market near Pacific Wharf in Disney’s California Adventure theme park. This item consists of a spinach tortilla filled with Buffalo-sauced chicken tenders, crumbled blue cheese, and diced celery.

Bountiful Valley Farmers Market

Festival Chicken Wrap Sign

When we received the wrap, it was ice cold and felt like it was taken directly out of the refrigerator. This was really surprising to us, as the description of a “crispy chicken strip” made us think “hot.” The chicken strip was a standard Disney chicken finger doused in Buffalo sauce. It was accompanied by what looked like fresh spinach as well as the promised blue cheese crumbles. We couldn’t find any diced celery in the wrap, so we assumed the spinach was taking its place at this point.

Festival Chicken Wrap

While we liked the overall taste of the sandwich and thought the fresh spinach was a nice touch, the cold chicken was soggy, and we couldn’t get over the feeling that it was supposed to be served warm. At least, we certainly would [Read more…]

Rumor: Wishes Dessert Party Booking Summer 2010 Dates

By AJ 9 Comments

Thanks to R. O’Neil who just posted on the Disney Food Blog Facebook Fan Page that there have been reports of folks booking the Wishes Dessert Party for dates in June, July, and August 2010.

Sounds like this is a recent development, so several of the CMs at the phone banks are having to do some digging to find the info in the system.

Were you able to book the Dessert Party into the summer months? Let us know your experience! Call 407-WDW-DINE to book.

Click here to see our photos and review of the Wishes Dessert Party.

Have You Used a Tagine?

By AJ 4 Comments

I was browsing in one of the Epcot Morocco shops recently and found a very interesting display. While I like to think I’ve had experience with many different kinds of food and cooking, I hadn’t yet heard about the Tagine:

Decorative Tagine

Basically, it’s a Mediterranean crock pot!

Interestingly, I’ve heard people speak about tagine-cooked meals several times since finding this display, so maybe it’s just in my [Read more…]

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