Chef Robert Irvine Meets Up With Fans in Disney World!

Star of Food Network’s Dinner:Impossible and owner of Eat! Restaurant in Hilton Head, Chef Robert Irvine agreed to meet with a few of his fans in a low-key gathering at the Crew’s Cup Lounge at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort Friday night. Chef is in town for the Epcot Food and Wine Festival, and the gathering was organized by a few of his facebook fan page fans! Our fearless columnist, Chef BigFatPanda, had a front-row seat for the shenanigans of the evening. Take it away, Chef!

Chef BigFatPanda and Chef Irvine

The Anticipation Part
A few Food Network fans on Facebook heard that Chef Robert Irvine was going to be in Walt Disney World this weekend. They thought it would be great to have an informal intimate gathering of less than 20 people to just sit down and enjoy a drink with the Chef — but this sounded impossible. Surely, Chef Irvine would be very busy and not really have time to casually meet up with a few select fans.

Au contraire!

I met up with a few friends at the Crew’s Cup Lounge for the scheduled 6 o’clock meeting (I was surprised word had not leaked out on Facebook resulting in hundreds showing up). We were asked not to [Read more…]

Report From Disneyland’s Cupcake Store!

By AJ 10 Comments

One of my favorite Disneyland gourmands, Eric Chu (who also delivers some delicious eats over at Chu’s Choices), sent along these delectable photos from the Cupcake Store in Disneyland’s Downtown Disney District!

The Cupcake Store in Disneyland's Downtown Disney

A Few Cupcake Choices

Eric and Nicole chose a “day and night” cupcake and a red velvet cupcake — each $4.45 including tax. The review: “Pricey, but delicious. Moist, and the icing isn’t [Read more…]

Giant, Mickey, Chocolatey, Toffee-y Goodness

By AJ 10 Comments

To quote one of my favorite monsters… “Coooooooooooookiiieeeeeeeeeeeeeee!”

So, when I showed you the Disneyland treat-of-the-month — the Peanut Butter Chocolate-Dipped Mickey Cookie — my mouth was pretty much watering as I wrote the post.

You can bet that when I got to Disney World a few weeks later, I bought their treat-of-the-month — a Chocolate Chip Toffee Chocolate-Dipped Mickey Cookie!

Now, I have no idea if this is still available, but just in case it is, I had to show you. Look at how HUGE this thing is!!! See that little knife right there? That’s for scale purposes only… [Read more…]

Fresh Introduces New Signature Cocktail Menu

By AJ 7 Comments

The Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort‘s mixology lab has come up with another new menu of delicious drinks.

New Cocktail Menu at Fresh

This time, Fresh — located in the Dolphin section of the resort — unveils a colorful array of cocktails ranging from the classic Mimosa and Bloody Mary to the more extravagant Istanbul Coffee, Egyptian Honey Bourbon Tea, and Barcelona White Sangria. While the former selections are guest favorites, the latter options offer guests a taste of the restaurant’s signature Mediterranean flavors.

I had the chance to sample the brand new “Fresh” Extraction — a combination of Ketel One Citroen and the fresh juice extracts of Kiwi, Apple, Wheatgrass, [Read more…]

3D: Disney’s Dessert Discovery Event at the Epcot Food & Wine Festival

By AJ 12 Comments

Disney has introduced several brand new events as part of the 15th Annual Epcot Food and Wine Festival, including this 3D Disney’s Dessert Discovery event! A friend and foodie, Colin Buchanan (you might know him as @ParadisePeer on twitter), has written up an incredible review of his visit. Take it away Colin!3Ds: Delicious Decadent & Delirious

As part of my 15th Annual Epcot International Food and Wine Festival excursion I chose to attend the inaugural “3D” Disney’s Dessert Discovery event. Actually, my entire week was scheduled around this event. As soon as this year’s events were announced, the 3D event jumped off the page with the lure of desserts, cordials and a V.I.P. view of [Read more…]

The Best Use of Cream Cheese Icing Ever

By AJ 9 Comments

I have a new favorite breakfast.

Hilton Bonnet Creek's MUSE Cinnamon Rolls

These — four of them — were delivered to our room on a recent PR trip to the Waldorf Astoria Orlando. My husband and I just stared at them; we rarely eat pastry for breakfast, and there was no way we could down four of them. But there was warm cream cheese icing dripping off the rolls, so we had to at least split one.

The other side 😉

Fast forward to two hours later…there was about a third of a roll left.

As it turns out, these aren’t your average cinnamon rolls: [Read more…]

Quick Bite: Epcot’s Joy of Tea

By AJ 20 Comments

Not too long ago, a kiosk called Joy of Tea popped up in Epcot across from the beautiful China pavilion. I knew the little red pagoda sold several different kinds of tea, but I had no idea of the extent of the fun and interesting menu!

While wandering around Epcot earlier this month my stomach started growling while I was walking toward China — perfect timing! I had no idea of the food offerings at Joy of Tea — or the [Read more…]

Disney Food Pics of the Week: Desserts I’d Love To Try

By AJ 8 Comments

Thanks to all who have contributed their photos to the Disney Food Blog Photo Extravaganza! Keep sending them along! This week, the Disney Food Pics of the Week are three desserts I’d love to try!

Here’s a gorgeous shot of the Warm Chocolate Espresso Tart at Disney California Adventure’s Wine Country Trattoria. Photographer: Kirsten Marie

warm chocolate espresso tart at Wine Country Trattoria

This Chai Cream dessert at Sanaa has been called addictive! Photographer: [Read more…]

Guest Review: Magic Kingdom’s Columbia Harbour House

By AJ 44 Comments

Thanks to Bill Iadonisi for this guest review of a favorite Magic Kingdom counter-service eatery — Columbia Harbour House! Take it away, Bill!

With 98 restaurants on property and counting, Walt Disney World is a food connoisseur’s Mecca. With offerings from German, American, Asian, Haute Cuisine, Bistro and everything in between, there is something for every discriminating palate. Even guests with any food allergies can be accommodated. But an important part of the food scene in Disney is the counter-service or “quick service” restaurants. They are vital for two main reasons: Time and Money. But mention quick-service and most conjure up the universal burger, french fries, chicken fingers and Mac and cheese. Yes, there are restaurants that do serve up these perennial favorites, but there are many wonderful alternatives with the [Read more…]

“You Won’t Believe This!” Snack: Giant Gummy Bear

By AJ 37 Comments

OK, I think it’s part of my job to keep you guys updated on fun and delicious Disney foods that you can find in Disney Parks and Resorts. This is why I’m always showcasing things like the butterfinger cupcake, that incredible Earl of Sandwich brownie frosting sandwich of wonderfulness, and plastic cheese.

But sometimes, a food makes it into the list of “You Won’t Believe This!” Snacks not because it’s heaven on Earth to eat, but because it strikes just the right combination of creepy, alien, and partly-delicious/partly-gross to be outrageous. Today, that’s the Giant Gummy Bear.

Introduction to the Giant Gummy Bear
That’s right. These are gummy bears that are big enough to sit on their own bums.

We’ve talked about gummies at Disney Parks before, but these are another thing entirely. At 4 inches tall and over [Read more…]

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