Disney Snack Series: Kaki-Gori

Kaki-Gori Sign

One of my favorite Disney World treats is Kaki-Gori, a Japanese dessert made with shaved ice (or “shave ice” if you’re from Hawaii) and fruit-flavored syrups.

And if you’re asking yourself, “How is this not just a sno-cone?” you’d be asking a very good question ;). I’ve actually heard that sno-cone ice is shaved more finely, but I’ve also heard that Kaki-Gori ice is shaved more finely, so, in my research, I haven’t found too much of a difference. All in all, the concept is the same.

Price List at Kaki-Gori Stand

If you’re ready to sample Kaki-Gori, head over to the Japan pavilion in Epcot’s World Showcase. It’s only $3.28, and you can choose from Strawberry, Cherry, Melon, Tangerine, or a rainbow collection of the flavors. You get a pretty healthy-sized serving, too!

Kaki Gori Flavors

Once you’ve got your snack, head over to the koi pond or gardens in the beautiful Japan pavilion to relax, refresh, and know that you’re eating something fat free in Disney World!

Kaki Gori

And don’t forget to grab a straw!

Sora Sushi Bar and Lounge Review

By AJ 5 Comments

Sora

On my recent trip to Disney World I was invited for a complimentary dine-around at Gaylord Palms Resort, which is a massive complex just outside of the “gates to the World.”

I’ll say in advance that I’m not usually one to leave Disney property all that much when I’m on a Disney trip. There are just too many things (including restaurants!) that keep my attention Disney-focused to spend precious vacation time elsewhere in Orlando. But visiting the Gaylord Palms was pretty eye-opening regarding what else is out there! Clearly, the chefs at Gaylord have been able to carve out a distinctive dining niche for the resort that includes interesting themed surroundings coupled with Really. Good. Food. While there, I visited four different restaurants; today’s review is of Sora, Gaylord Palms’ sushi bar and lounge. I hope you enjoy this first trip outside the gates!

Sora Entrance at Gaylord Palms Resort

The Atmosphere
Now, when I heard Sushi Bar and Lounge, I immediately thought, “Hmm…not really my speed;” even when I lived in New York City I wasn’t a “Bar and Lounge” person. But I can honestly say that this place is not at all intimidating. The restaurant has a relatively open floor plan, lined with comfy booths and offering views into the resort’s atrium and lobby (appropriate, as “Sora” means “blue sky” in Japanese). Walking into Sora doesn’t give the feel of a big city nightspot with blaring music and lights so dim you can’t see where you’re walking — it feels like a hip, but accessible place to pick up some appetizers, light dinner, and cocktails.

Sora Seating Areas

Sora Inside

The Eats
While Sora is known for its innovative sushi menu, I was glad to discover that both the adventurous and the picky will find things to try here. And it’s a fun selection. If you take a look at the menu, you’ll see what I mean. You can even order a drink based on how you want to feel — Balance, Nirvana, Opulent, Divine, Distinct… .

Sora Menu

We started with “Zen,” a delicious drink made with Zen green tea liqueur, Peach Schnapps, and Sauvignon Blanc. The presentation was stunning and the flavor was like nothing I’d ever tasted. I really enjoyed it and wished I could see how all of the drinks looked and tasted (maybe next time!).

Sora's Zen Cocktail

If you move on in the menu, you’ll see a thorough sushi and sashimi menu that includes BBQ eel and octopus along with standards like tuna and salmon. You can also choose from soups, salads, starters, or dinners, such as sea bass and duck. Try the “omakase” — the chefs will prepare something just for you based on the catches of the day and what’s fresh from the farmer’s market!

BBQ Pork Bao Bun Sandwiches

We sampled the Bao Bun Sandwiches, which offered a choice of barbeque pulled pork, vegetable and tofu stir fry, or miso glazed fresh fish of the day, served with Asian slaw, sriracha mayonnaise, and lemon chili sauce. We were served the pork sandwiches, which were “Do-It-Yourself” — fun to put together and sample with the different sauces.

Sora's Bao Bun Sandwiches

Another interesting twist Sora has introduced is offering “tapas”-style dishes like Lobster Fritters or Spicy Tuna Nachos in two sizes — “nosh” and “share.”

Overall
We were impressed with Sora. It’s difficult to make the “bar in a resort” into a destination, but the interesting drink menu and fun-to-eat dishes — along with the easygoing atmosphere — make it a great place to stop for pre-dinner cocktails or even a light dinner. If you’re a sushi-lover or a cocktail connoisseur, definitely give it a go.

Sora is open daily, serving food from 5:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m. The bar is open daily from 4:00 p.m. until midnight.

Corporals and Condiments at the Sunset Ranch Market

By AJ 2 Comments

In honor of Veteran’s Day this week, I wanted to share a few photos of what I think is a very special part of Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

If you’ve seen my write-up on Rosie’s Victory Garden, you won’t be surprised to see the World War II imagery and themeing carry on throughout the Sunset Ranch Market. One area that I walked by dozens of times before really looking is the condiment center next to Rosie’s All American Cafe, past the “V for Victory” and “Keep ’em Flying” signs.

Rosie's All American Cafe

Condiment Center at Sunset Ranch Market

If you look from far away, it just looks like any old condiment center, but look closely and you’ll see more. Dozens of soldiers — some wounded, some guarding, some in action — forever preparing their weapons, battleships, and fighter jets for war.

Soldier Standing Guard

A Doctor Tends to a Wounded Soldier

Look even more closely and you’ll see a collection of letters, postcards, paperwork, and historical documents themed to — or actually from — wartime.

Sailors Guard a Letter

Soldiers Watch Over Postcards

When I first found this display I looked at it for a full half-hour. I can’t imagine what other guests thought as I slowly walked around and stared at the condiment bar at Sunset Ranch Market, but this is the kind of themeing that I always hope to see: a seemingly fringe effort that adds so much to the “show staging” for those who actually take the time to notice.

Happy Veteran’s Day, Week, and Month.

Disney Food Rumor: The Victoria Room at Victoria and Albert’s?

By AJ 6 Comments

Victoria and Alberts Dining Room

Rumor has it that Victoria and Albert’s is developing a new, and even more sumptuous, offering for patrons: “The Victoria Room.”

According to a message board postings, The Victoria Room will be a dining experience even more extravagant than the Chef’s Table.

Rumored Specs
–Menu will have a 12-16 course dinner
–Experience will include all new menus and wine pairings, and level of service will be stepped up
–The number of diners in this private seating room might be limited to between 12-16
–The cost will be $295.00 per person, inclusive of the wine pairings
–As far as we can tell, this will NOT be the same as booking a private room for a party (i.e. no minimum number of guests)

Right now, there is no launch date (though there’s a hope that it will premier this winter), and, again, this is all rumor. Also rumored is a new website for V&A (Victoria_Albert.com) — not yet launched as of this posting — and a new V&A-only phone number (407-WDW-DVNA).

Unanswered Questions…
How different is this from what you get with the “private dining room” option currently at V&A? Will you be dining with other patrons, or just your group? Could the “New Years Eve” experience be the “pilot-test” of this room? Not sure yet…

Do you have info about the rumor? Would love to hear your updates, all!

Hidden Mickeys in Disney Restaurants

By AJ 4 Comments

The research for this blog began when I noticed a hidden Mickey tucked into a chair at Boma during my Animal Kingdom Lodge Culinary Tour; it’s been all downhill from there! Of course, thanks to all of the Facebook fans and twitter followers who responded to my call for “food-related hidden Mickeys” back in October!

Where possible (and if necessary), I’ve tried to include a photo of the Mickey and a photo of the surrounding area so that it’s easier to find. Not possible with all, unfortunately…

Here we go:

Liberty Tree Tavern in the Magic Kingdom
This was one of my earlier findings, and it’s definitely one of my favorites. You can find it on one of the decorative wooden racks in the lobby of Liberty Tree Tavern — it’s to the right and toward the back as you walk into the lobby.

Blueberry Hidden Mickey at Liberty Tree Tavern

Decorative Rack Containing Blueberry Hidden Mickey

Boma at Animal Kingdom Lodge
Ah, the original! I’m not sure if this even qualifies as “hidden,” but I liked it! Some chairs have it, and some chairs don’t — cross your fingers that you get a good one!

Boma Hidden Mickey in Chair

TRex in Downtown Disney
One of Disney’s newer restaurants (stay tuned for my review, coming soon!), TRex includes a moving (yep–moving) Octopus Bar. Look closely at the tentacles, and you’ll see what I saw…

Tentacle Hidden Mickey at TRex

A Wider Shot of the Octopus Bar for Context

Beaches and Cream at the Beach Club Resort
My Dad found this one, but was assured that it’s authentic! It was also mentioned on facebook (Thanks, Kristina!) as a fan favorite! Look up and to the right as you enter the restaurant to see this onion ring hidden Mickey in the decorative border.

Onion Ring Hidden Mickey at Beaches and Cream

Context Shot for Beaches and Cream Hidden Mickey

Goofy’s Candy Company in Downtown Disney
OK, this isn’t technically a restaurant, but you can get some pretty good noms here anyway! NOTE: You can also spot this hidden Mickey in the decor around the Goofy’s Candy Company section of MouseGears in Epcot! (Psst…look closely and you’ll see even more hidden characters…)

Hidden Mickey at Goofy's Candy Company

The Rest of the Hidden Characters at Goofy's Candy Company

Reader Favorites
Thanks again to those who answered the call! Here are some reader-suggested food-related hidden Mickeys!

@aryssabrooke from Twitter
At Behind the Seeds tour at Epcot, you can see how they make Mickey shaped pumpkins and watermelons.

@ArmandNoUsagi from Twitter
I have to say my favorite is at Teppan Edo, When the chef makes a Mickey volcano out of an onion.

Allison Palmer-Gleicher from Facebook
The bread Mickey head in Tony’s — over by the Lady and the Tramp picture behind the fountain.

Tinker Kell from Facebook
My favorite one is on the dog statue near the check-in desk at Mama Melrose’s.

Calling All Hidden Mickey Spotters!
I know for a fact that I haven’t seen nearly all of the Disney dining hidden Mickeys, so I hope you can help me out! Contact me via twitter, facebook, or email with a photo or remembrance of your favorite food-related hidden Mickey, and I’ll add it to this blog. The blog itself will be placed (with great honor) in the special posts section in the right-hand column so that you can keep tabs on the updates.

Disney Food Post Round-Up: November 8, 2009

By AJ 2 Comments

Eat here

Before we start out, let’s take a moment to celebrate yet another Epcot International Food and Wine Festival! It was a great one this year, I think, and I’ll be posting some reviews of culinary demonstrations throughout the year.

If you’re lucky enough to be headed to the Festival for its last day (November 8th), be sure to check out all of the Festival menus, photos, and information on the Disney Food Blog’s Epcot Food & Wine Festival page!

Now, let’s head to the round-up — there’s nothing better than spending your Sunday checking out websites that mention Disney food! These first two are a few weeks old, but I missed ’em the first time and have to share. The rest are fresh and new. Enjoy!

MichaelBarrier shares a photo of the Disney Commissary in the 1940’s, complete with excellent commentary on who is dining in the photo. Definitely worth a look.

Yet Another Disney Blog has lots of great photos and information about the Castaway Air Bar in Castaway Cay’s Serenity Bay. Ah, the islands…

Orange County Register tells us how to get free coffee at Disneyland!

The Daily Disney (which, in this case, means Heather McPherson) shares recipes for the crab cakes from Flying Fish Cafe, the penne pasta with chicken from Olivia’s Cafe, and the smoked fish appetizer from Raglan Road.

Speaking of Raglan Road…

Everything Walt Disney World has a review of Raglan Road this week.

(If you’re a fan of Raglan Road, be sure to check out DFB’s interview with Raglan Road’s master chef, Kevin Dundon.)

DisUnplugged Disney Blog has a great interview with “Bizarre Foods” host Andrew Zimmern about the Epcot Food and Wine Festival!

Scott Joseph Orlando shares, via the Divas of Dish, another Food & Wine Festival recipe: Moqueqa de Camarao from Rio de Janeiro (a.k.a. shrimp stew with coconut).

DisneyFotoBlog shares some fantastic photos of Germany’s Biergarten.

The Disney Chick shares another great step-by-step photo/recipe blog for California Grill’s Garlic and Herb Polenta. Yum!

San Angel Inn Review

By AJ 23 Comments

Special thanks today to Chip over at Chip & Co. for this great guest review of San Angel Inn in Epcot’s Mexico pavilion! Also, thanks to Annabel Freeman for contributing the fantastic food photos!

A lot of people overlook San Angel Inn in Epcot’s World Showcase, and I have to ask myself “why?” San Angel Inn Authentic Mexican Cuisine has something for everyone, and if you give me a few moments I will show you some of the nuances that make it a restaurant you will not want to pass by on your walk around the World Showcase.

San Angel Inn Entryway

First off, let me talk about the ambiance:
When you walk into the marketplace you are greeted by what I feel is one of the most breathtaking views in Epcot. A beautiful wishing fountain greets you as you walk down the ramp. You hear the buzz of the people in the marketplace checking out the different wares for sale. The soft glow of the lights makes you feel like you have stepped back in time to Central Mexico. The view of the Aztec Pyramid in the background rises high over the marketplace, and upon walking into the restaurant the bold and beautiful colors of the tables are scattered before you. A gentle glow of the lamps on the table adds a sense of romance to this breath taking view.

San Angel Inn Pyramid and Dining Room

You can hear the sounds of the newly updated Grand Fiesta Ride with Donald Duck in the background, which reminds you that you are not in Mexico, but still at Disney World. For some, this might be a bad thing; but for me, I want to remember I am at one of the greatest places on Earth: Walt Disney World!

Bring on the grub:
I recommend ordering the ceviche with any flavor of Frozen Margarita as an appetizer. If you don’t like seafood, the nachos are great, too. The Margarita is a lifesaver after a long day of trekking around the park. If you are there with a special someone be sure to mix those drinks up so you can sample one of each. You won’t be disappointed.

Tortilla Chips and Salsa are served to every table

All the entrées are fantastic; I have yet to have anything I didn’t like. A fair warning though: the food here is different from the typical “American-ized” (I hope that’s a word) Mexican food you have back home. My first time eating here I was expecting just a traditional meal that I would have at my local restaurant (which is very good I might add –- shout out to La Hacienda), but I was caught off guard by the flavors and spices used at the San Angel Inn!

Combination Plato -- Enchilada, Burrito, Steak

Be daring and try something new is what I always say when on vacation. (Insert cheesy sarcastic comment here!) What my family and I always do is order different items so we can sample more than one dish. Everything on the menu is full of flavor and just blows your taste buds out of the water.

Polly a las Rajas -- Grilled Chicken with Peppers, Onions, and Cheese

If you have a child like we do, the childrens’ menu will not disappoint. It is by no means chicken fingers (where is that part on a chicken by the way?) or hamburgers. Your kids will be able to sample some good, authentic, Mexican cuisine.

On to dessert, all I can say is WOW! I could eat the items on the desert menu everyday for the rest of my life. (Of course I would probably weigh 800 pounds if I did.) I have never had Flan before I came to San Angel Inn, and though I have tried it since, none can compare to the texture, smell, and melt in your mouth goodness of the Flan they serve there.

You have heard the good; now on to the bad and the ugly:
For 2010, Disney has dropped the San Angel Inn from its Disney Dining Plan. This makes me quite upset! My family and I absolutely love eating here, but now are going to have to either pay money out of pocket or maybe try to pop in for a drink and dessert. If any Disney Execs are reading this, maybe they could do Chip a favor and add this wonderful restaurant back!

Editor’s Note: See comments below for good discussion on this topic; some restaurants may sign up for the plan later than others. Our fingers are crossed!

Wrap it up already:
OK…OK… Overall, the San Angel Inn dining experience is one of my personal favorites at Disney World. Between the romantic ambiance and the scrumptious food I can think of no better place to take my family. It is good for a romantic couple’s meal (try to get seated near the water) or for a fun family experience. The service there is second to none.

So next time you are on your trek around the World Showcase, stop by Mexico, have a delicious meal at San Angel Inn, and think of me… OK maybe not… Enjoy!

Disney Food Snack Series: Home-Made Ice Cream Sandwiches

By AJ 20 Comments

Famous Disney Home-Made Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich

One of my favorite treats at Disney is the home-made ice cream cookie sandwich. If you haven’t tried this yet, be sure to save a meal (yep! a meal!) for this delicious snack.

I know what you’re thinking: “What’s the big deal about an ice cream sandwich?” The big deal for me is that the cookies are freshly made, and they are HUGE. On top of that, the cast members always kindly pile scoop after scoop of vanilla bean ice cream onto the sandwich.

Grab a knife and split one of these between two people…or maybe even three. I promise your sweet tooth will be more than satisfied!

Disney Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich...From The Side

There are five places to get the home-made ice cream sandwich in Disney World: the Main Street Bakery and Sleepy Hollow in the Magic Kingdom, Dino-Bite Snacks in Animal Kingdom, Fountainview Cafe in Epcot, and Hollywood Scoops in Hollywood Studios! Most spots serve only chocolate chip cookies with the sandwich, but the Main Street Bakery has been known to give you the choice of using any type of cookies in the bakery (I’ve often chosen chocolate chip on the bottom and M&M cookie on the top)!

My suggestion: head to Main Street Bakery in the early morning and split the sandwich for breakfast (I know…I’m weird…but it can’t be THAT much worse than a giant cinnamon roll for breakfast, right?), or pop into the Bakery after Wishes and grab an ice cream sandwich while waiting for the Magic Kingdom’s kiss goodnight. It’s a great opportunity for people watching while you wait for the park (and the transportation!) to empty out.

Enjoy!

Disney + Food + Technology = :-D

By AJ 8 Comments

Disney’s been sampling how technology can enhance theme park dining for years. One of my earliest memories is stopping at the Epcot WorldKey under the golf ball to make dinner reservations via the talking head on the screen.

Today, Disney’s continuing to make progress in the information age. The recently launched online Advanced Dining Reservations system and the following tech-y installments are good examples.

Computerized Ordering
You’ll recall a previous post on the Food Blog about the Contemporary Resort Contempo Cafe’s new computerized ordering system. It resembles the made-to-order (“MTO”) ordering system from my favorite gas station chain, Sheetz, and I thought it was fantastic when I got the chance to use it for the first time in February.

As it turns out, Disney’s been adding these ordering systems in several spots throughout the parks and resorts. I’ve got some photos from Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe in the Magic Kingdom and Captain Cook’s quick service restaurant in the Polynesian Resort, as well as the Contempo Cafe photos.

Contempo Cafe Ordering System Instructions

Contempo Cafe Ordering Computer Stations

Contempo Cafe Ordering Screen

Computers for Ordering at Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe

Computer Order Screen at Captain Cooks

Captain Cooks Order Screen

Online Ordering
One tech advancement I’m very excited about is Wolfgang Puck Express’ online ordering system. While this isn’t a “Disney innovation,” it is a way to take advantage of technology when dining at Downtown Disney.

If you’re planning on heading to Wolfgang Puck Express in Downtown Disney’s Marketplace, simply visit their online ordering website in advance. No need to log in, just click on “browse menu” and set a date, then make your choices — even substitutions — online.

Wolfgang Puck Express in Downtown Disney

Online Ordering advertisement at Wolfgang Puck Express

Even if you’re headed to Disney World in a few days, you can pre-order what you’d like for lunch when you arrive and have it waiting for you at Downtown Disney as soon as you land at MCO. Brilliant.

Where have you seen technology at work?
If you’ve experienced online or computerized ordering, or have a comment about another dining technology at work, I’d love to hear your story! Contact me via the email form button above!

Paradiso 37 Review

By AJ 18 Comments

We haven’t had a good, solid restaurant review for a while, and I have a lot of them in the hopper! We’ll start today with Paradiso 37, where I had the good fortune to dine in September!

paradiso 37

Paradiso 37 Entrance

The Atmosphere
You’ll remember that Paradiso 37, located on Pleasure Island in Disney World’s Downtown Disney, recently opened its doors. We posted some great food photos when Paradiso opened, and I wanted to supplement those with a few more photos and my review of the restaurant. Be sure to check out that link for the background of this new restaurant specializing in Latin American street food and cuisine.

We headed to Paradiso for lunch, and I was blown away by the incredible “bar glasses” chandelier. I’ve never seen anything like it, and the whimsy and risk prepared me for the menu I was about to see.

Paradiso 37 Bar Glasses Chandelier

We were brought to our table and felt very comfortable in the open dining room. This place is clearly made for socializing — you can see almost every table in the restaurant from any vantage point, and the tapas-heavy menu screams “share me!” It’s also made for drinking (if you like that sort of thing); the floor-to-ceiling display of tequila bottles as the focal point of the room makes a gorgeous design statement, and the restaurant prides itself on its varied tequila, beer, and margarita offerings.

Paradiso 37 Dining Room

Paradiso 37 Tequila Bottle Bar Focal Point

Paradiso 37 Partial Margarita Menu

Paradiso 37 Tequila Menu

Paradiso 37 Beer Menu

And while the indoor dining is lovely, the outdoor dining area, with its own bar and a fantastic view of Saratoga Springs Resort and the Characters in Flight balloon, is the perfect spot for an evening out with friends or a yummy family lunch.

Outdoor Seating and View

Characters in Flight

Paradiso 37 Outdoor bar

The Meal
We were seated next to a table of four who seemed to have ordered every appetizer on the menu. We wondered why, but soon envied them. What we discovered was that Paradiso 37 seems to have spent a lot of time crafting interesting, delicious “appetizers and shareables,” but didn’t spend nearly as much time on the design of the entrees — at least in our opinion! Again, another piece of evidence that this place might want you to mix, mingle, drink, and socialize rather than tuck into a big meal.

I started out with a margarita, which was delicious — sour with a very strong flavor and not at all watery. From there, we dove into our outstanding appetizers: Central American Crazy Corn, which is fire roasted corn-on-the-cob with a spicy pepper sauce & chefs special cheeses; and the Mexican Dipping Trio — fresh corn tortilla chips served with three dips of chunky guacamole, chili con carne & queso fundido (we substituted more Fundido for the Guac…even though we’re from Texas, we’re not big guac fans).

Paradiso 37 Margarita

Paradiso 37 Corn Appetizer

Paradiso 37 chips, queso, and chili con carne

The corn was delicious — clearly the spotlight of the meal for me. The combination of the (not-too-spicy) spicy pepper sauce with those melted cheeses was perfect. It tasted as good as it looks.

The fundido and chili with tortilla chips was good as well. Just be sure your fundido was fully melted; ours wasn’t, and after trying to cut it with a spoon, we asked if this was really what the texture was supposed to be. The manager soon came to our table with replacement fundido — smooth and, thank goodness, fully melted. The taste was divine, and I was more than willing to excuse the mistake.

We were full by this time, but our entrees soon came to the table: North American Sliders, served with your choice of Blackened Mahi Mahi, Grilled BBQ Chicken or BBQ Pulled Pork, served with fries (we got Grilled BBQ Chicken); and Baja Burrito — a flour tortilla with your choice of grilled chicken or beef with sauteed peppers, squash, red onions, chefs special cheeses and topped with sweet chipode BBQ sauce, served with cilantro rice and black beans.

Paradiso 37 Burrito

Paradiso 37 BBQ Chicken Sliders entree

French Fries

Like I said, when you go to Paradiso 37, go for the appetizers/tapas and the drinks. The entrees were nothing special, and we weren’t all that impressed. Though everything tasted fine, we wished we’d spent the money and calories sampling a few more of those appetizers instead of choosing entrees. Live and learn!

Dessert was delicious, though. I knew I’d already posted photos of the mini-ice-cream-cones on my previous Paradiso 37 blog, so we decided to go for the churros, dusted with cinnamon sugar and served with caramel sauce; and Chilean sopapillas — crispy fritters dusted in sugar and served with chocolate sauce. Both were fantastic choices, and although the “fried-things-with-dipping-sauces” is a common dessert theme in Disney World right now, these impressed us more than other versions we tried on our trip. I’m also posting a photo of the restaurant’s signature dessert, which we didn’t order, but looks…hefty!

Paradiso 37 Churros and Sopapillas for dipping

Paradiso 37 Signature Dessert

I highly recommend Paradiso 37 for drinks and appetizers, but unfortunately can’t recommend it so quite so highly for dinner entrees. That said, I hope you do get the chance to head over there for a fun evening on your next trip — enough of the appetizers and drinks are interesting and tasty enough to make it worth your while!

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