"You Won't Believe This Snack!": Carrot Cake Cookie | the disney food blog

is an unassuming little bookstore. It offers comfy chairs and couches, books lining the walls from floor to ceiling, every coffee drink you can dream of…and baked goods. That’s right, this is another location in Disney’s Hollywood Studios harboring a “You Won’t Believe This!” Snack!

While most folk just wander right past this little corner store on their way to the American Idol Experience, Toy Story Mania, or Tower of Terror, there are a few of us who feel the call of the item that has made The Writer’s Stop famous: the Carrot Cake Cookie.

Speaking of unassuming, you can’t even see the Carrot Cake Cookie in the bakery counter display. It’s shrouded in a [Read more…]

2010 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Preview

By AJ 17 Comments

Since I’m not based in Florida, I asked my great friend and colleague (and Disney World Moms Panelist) Suzannah DiMarzio of ZannaLand, to attend the Tables in Wonderland preview of the 2010 Epcot Food and Wine Festival in my place. She kindly obliged and put together this fantastic review of the evening! Of course, for all the latest information and breaking news, check out our 2010 Epcot Food and Wine Festival pages. Take it away, Zanna!

Concept Art for the 2010 Food and Wine Festival Entryway Display at Epcot

On July 8, 2010, I was given the amazing opportunity to be a special reporter for the Disney Food Blog and experience the Tables in Wonderland Food & Wine Festival Sneak Preview. This was the third Tables in Wonderland special event I’ve attended and the experience was, as always, uncompromisingly good. Here is a rundown of the evening’s service, all of which were previews for upcoming dishes at Epcot’s 15th Annual International Food & Wine Festival:

Arrival

The event took place in the retired Wonders of Life pavilion. It had been quite some time since I’d been inside, so it was really cool to see the building still there (though it could really use some pressure washing on the outside!) and most of the inside still intact. Of course it was sad not seeing the big Cranium Command sign, the cool exercise bikes that showed Main Street, USA, on the TV screens as you pedaled, and Body Wars.

We were escorted backstage through an area next to Body Wars at the old Frontiers exhibit (still there for the most part). We ascended in a beautiful, mirrored elevator to the second floor and what used to be the VIP Lounge when Wonders of Life was functioning with a sponsor.

Passed Appetizers

The moment we stepped off the elevator and found our place card with table location on it, we were given our first wine selection: Paul Cheneau “Lady” Blanc de Blanc Cava from Spain. It was a lovely sparkling wine that came in a beautiful bottle.

Soon servers came around with our reception selections: Roasted Corn and Cheese Empanada from the Argentina kiosk;

Corn and Cheese Empanada from Argentina

Lettuce Wraps with Roast Pork and Kimchi Slaw from the new kid on the block, South Korea; [Read more…]

Disney’s Aulani Resort Restaurants and Dining Details

By AJ 8 Comments

Thanks to Werner Weiss at Yesterland for the heads up on this great news. Here are all the details on Disney dining at Aulani Resort, Disney’s newest Vacation Club property at Ko Olina on Oahu, Hawai’i. Details can be found at DVCMember.com for those with log-ins and passwords.

Makahiki Buffet Restaurant

This restaurant will have an open-air dining room featuring murals created by local artists depicting the story of Makahiki, the Hawaiian harvest festival. This location will be on the Main Building’s lower level, and will offer character breakfasts and casual dinner buffets with cuisine reflecting local favorites. These will include fresh, line-caught sustainable seafood and chef-inspired dishes.

The ‘Olelo Room

This will be a fun, interactive lounge serving tropical beverages, Continental breakfast, traditional Afternoon Tea, and cocktail service. You’ll find it adjacent to the Makahiki Buffet.

‘AMA’AMA Beachside Restaurant

Ah, yes! The beautiful Aulani beachside restaurant we speculated about so many months ago! Seating will be inside hale (beachside houses) and will serve traditional and locally-inspired meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You’ll be able to get omelets, bakery items, hot and cold sandwiches, salads, seasonal and sustainable seafood, steak, duck and vegetarian selections, and other menu selections.

'AMA'AMA Beachside Restaurant concept art

Beachside Lounge/Pool Bar

Right next to the ‘AMA’AMA Beachside Restaurant, this lounge will serve favorites like the Mai Tai, Pina Colada, Blue Hawai’i and Long Island Iced Tea. Of course, you’ll be able to get anything from the full bar, such as margaritas, sangria, sparkling cocktails, wine, and local beer. Be sure to ask about the ‘Ike Mua, the discovery drink of [Read more…]

Disney Food Post Round-Up: July 11, 2010

By AJ 6 Comments

This going to be a BIG week, fellow foodies! Disney’s set to announce the 2010 Food and Wine Festival official details on Monday. But in the mean time, check out our 2010 Epcot Food and Wine Festival pages for breaking news; details, times, menus, and Chefs for special events and demonstrations; International Marketplace kiosks; and more!

The big news this week on the F&W Festival front:

A sneak peek of the brand new Belgium and South Korea booths, including menus, pics of food, and more.
The Grape Getaway: an exclusive, 100-spot vacation package for the truly die-hard foodie.
More F&W Festival special event listings, including celebrity chefs, pricing, and times.

Also in the “big news” category, many menu items have been revealed from Epcot’s new Via Napoli menu — and the restaurant will be opening early! Next month!

And don’t forget to check out the DisMarks Disney Blog Carnival, 6th Edition, out this week! Great Disney reading from your favorite new and veteran Disney bloggers.

Now, on to the round-up!

Imaginerding shares three patriotic recipes from Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse Cookbook: Yankee Noodle Dandy, Cherry Vanilla Freeze, and Blueberry Crunch. I don’t know, George… not sure I could pull off that Yankee Noodle Dandy recipe…

Kevin Kidney and Jody Daily preview their incredible Disneyland 55th Anniversary popcorn box and coffee cup.

2010 F&W Gift Cards

The Givens Chronicles makes Bailey’s Chocolate Lava Cake from the 2009 Epcot Food and Wine Festival.

Imagineering Disney posts even more wonderfulness about Frito Kid and the Frito Bandito!! Those Fritos sure are deeeeeeeeeeee-licous!

Watch Me Eat has a great review of Paradiso 37 (one of my favorites…)

Touring Plans blogger Caroline Baggerly takes us to Beaches and Cream!

Dan Goodsell‘s Darth Bacon sculpture heads to auction. Also, don’t miss this Tron, The Legacy Mr. Toast. It’s important.

Studios Central gives a review of eating low-carb at Hollywood and Vine.

Main St Gazette reminds me that I really need to get back to Yak and Yeti and its environs…if only for the drinks alone.

Concept Art for F&W Festival South Korea Booth

Babes in Disneyland has some great tips about the various places to get ice cream and cool treats in Disneyland.

DisneyShawn continues his tour through Typhoon Lagoon and visits the water park’s watering holes.

2719 Hyperion remembers late night fun full of Make-Your-Own-Pizza at Trail’s End.

Chip and Co gives reasons to make ADRs and plan your dining ahead.

DisUnplugged reviews the new Taste of Africa Street Party in Animal Kingdom.

Disney Parks Blog shares more imagineering prowess in the form of Magic Kingdom’s Sleepy Hollow Refreshments.

Epcot Food and Wine Festival Sneak Peek: South Korea and Belgium Marketplaces With Food Pics!

By AJ 8 Comments

That’s right — sneak peek food photos from an event that’s still three months away!

Mock Up of 2010 Food and Wine Festival Garden Decor in Epcot

Since I’m not based in Florida, I asked my great friend and colleague (and Disney World Moms Panelist) Suzannah DiMarzio of Zannaland, to attend Thursday night’s Tables in Wonderland preview of the 2010 Epcot Food and Wine Festival in my place. She kindly obliged, and now we’ve got some fantastic Sneak Peek pictures of what’s new at the Festival!

I’ll be posting Suzannah’s full write-up of the event on Monday, but here’s a little Sneak Peek of the Sneak Peek! 😉 I couldn’t help myself — I had to post these pictures of what the newest International Marketplace booths, South Korea and Belgium, would be like, along with their menus and pics of [Read more…]

Check Out the 6th Edition of the Disney Blog Carnival!

By AJ Leave a Comment

DisMarks.com Logo

Congratulations to DisMarks for posting the Sixth Edition of the Disney Blog Carnival!

For those of you who enjoyed the first , second, third, and fourth, and fifth carnivals, the sixth has now been published!

This time around, 35 (!!!) Disney-related articles covering a range of topics have been included. There are posts about the Food and Wine Festival (yay!) and the Wonders of Life Pavilion, a compendium of Animal Kingdom Lodge Music, Caribbean Beach Resort’s Pirate Room Pros and Cons, fun activities outside the theme parks, and more! 🙂

Just head over to DisMarks to see dozens of articles about Disney from your favorite new and veteran Disney bloggers 🙂

I think it’s
[Read more…]

Disney’s Grape Getaway

By AJ Leave a Comment

A brand new addition to the 2010 Epcot Food and Wine Festival is this exclusive, 4-night, 3-day vacation package that will get you up front and personal with incredible food and wine.

The Grape Getaway will be offered from October 24th-27th, 2010, and will be limited to only 100 people.

See pricing and booking details on our Disney’s Grape Getaway page!

Grape Getaway Details

Click here for more information about the 2010 Epcot Food and Wine Festival events.

Late-Night Snacks at Captain Cook’s

By AJ 22 Comments

UPDATE: Dole Whip is no longer being served at Captain Cook’s, is no longer self-serve, and is no longer available 24 hours a day. You’ll now find Dole Whip at the Pineapple Lanai in Disney’s Polynesian Village in addition to Aloha Isle at the Magic Kingdom. You can also find Dole Whip available intermittently at Animal Kingdom’s Tamu Tamu Refreshments, and at Epcot during some special events. On the upside, you can also get a Dole Whip Float at Pineapple Lanai!

Here’s the scenario: Wishes just ended. Everyone’s streaming out of the parks. The line at the Plaza Ice Cream parlor is a million miles long. You’re starving.

I have the answer!

This gem of the Polynesian Resort, right across Seven Seas Lagoon from the Magic Kingdom, has a surprising array of delicious options for munching — even later at night. Just grab the boat or the resort monorail from the Magic Kingdom over to the Polynesian and head to this little counter service spot located right next to the Volcano Pool and the Polynesian beach.

Once you get inside, head over to one of the fancy-schmancy little ordering screens to choose your poison (I have heard great things about the [Read more…]

Epcot’s Via Napoli Menu

By AJ 23 Comments

Disneyland's Naples Pepperoni Pizza -- Sister Restaurant to Via Napoli

Update: This restaurant is now in soft opening! See full Via Napoli menu here.

Thanks to Pam Brandon and the Disney Parks Blog, we now know that Via Napoli will be opening early — next month! — and we have a good idea of the menu for the upcoming Via Napoli in Epcot’s Italy pavilion!

Appetizers will include:

Sicilian eggplant with olives and raisins
arancini (fried saffron risotto balls) with meat ragù, mozzarella and pomodoro sauce
corn-crusted fried calamari
minestrone with basil pesto
A shareable plate of arancini, mozzarella, calamari, portobella mushrooms, asparagus, zucchini and carciofi (artichokes) is also available

Main course salads

will include:

Manzo (filet of beef) with greens, red onion, gorgonzola, apple and cucumber with a red wine-mustard vinaigrette
chopped salad with lemon chicken, greens, cantaloupe, cucumber, red pepper, green beans, onions, almonds and pasta crisps with honey-citrus vinaigrette
calamari with arugula, carrots and fennel with orange vinaigrette

Pasta dishes

will include:

candele (long, tube-shaped pasta) with sausage ragù
linguine with seafood; malfadine (ribbon pasta) with guanciale (unsmoked Italian bacon) and pomodoro sauce
lasagna verde

The Wood-fired pizzas, which is what Disney is hoping the restaurant is known for, will be made with caputo flour imported from Southern Italy, San Marzano tomatoes, handmade mozzarella, and water from a local spring just like in Italy’s Campania region. The 10-inch, 20-inch or 1/2 meter-sized pies will come in a dozen choices, from a simple pizza Margherita with tomato, mozzarella and basil to carciofi with artichoke, potato, pecorino cheese, prosciutto and cantaloupe.

Also available will be Piatti alla Parmigiana, which are dishes topped with Parmesan and mozzarella gratinée. These will include veal, chicken, and eggplant.

Finally, the desserts! These will include:

tiramisù
zeppole di ricotta (ricotta cheese-fried dough, whipped cream and chocolate sauce);
apple cake with almond sorbetti
vanilla gelato with almond cookies and amarena cherries

The pictures I’ve linked to in this post are what we sampled at Naples in Disneyland, a restaurant also run by The Patina Group. You can see the full review of Naples here.

To see more of our coverage of Via Napoli, along with specifics about the restaurant’s interior decor, three massive pizza ovens, and more, check out this page for links.

As always, check out the Disney Parks Blog for further info on Via Napoli.

Play and Dine at Hollywood and Vine

By AJ 14 Comments

When it’s time to break bread with giant, plush Playhouse Disney characters, it’s time to go Play and Dine at Hollywood and Vine.

That’s right folks, this is your opportunity to make your kids’ favorite TV stars come to life…and eat breakfast, too!

Atmosphere
Hollywood & Vine is located in the beautiful Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park. Shades of mauve and aluminum chairs are the most descriptive decor, but there are some great photos of old Hollywood, along with some pretty fantastic murals [Read more…]

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