Guest Review: El Pirata Y El Perico

My friend and fellow Disney fan, Sarah Holodick, headed over to El Pirata y El Perico last week to enjoy the last few days of this restaurant’s “busy season” run. You’ll be hearing from Sarah a few more times over the next couple of weeks, too! Take it away, Sarah!Atmosphere

Not so long ago, I had the pleasure of trying a “new to me” restaurant as well as a couple old favorites. First, I will highlight my experience at the ever-elusive El Pirata Y El Perico. I went solo on Thursday morning and was surprised to see the menu was different from what I had previously seen at various sites online. I had read it would be from August 15th – September 4th for lunch to help accommodate free dining, so I knew this was my chance to try it out, and I’m [Read more…]

Disney Food Pics of the Week

By AJ 10 Comments

We’re starting a new series here at the Disney Food Blog highlighting some of the amazing photography submitted to our Disney Food Blog Photo Extravaganza Flickr Group!

This week, we’re taking a look at some sweet treats, close up!

First up, you can find these familiar treats at the Candy Palace in Disneyland. That famous mouse is coming in all shapes and sizes these days… . Photographer: Michael Greening

Disneyland Mickey Truffles

These World of Color rainbow apples are new to Disneyland, commemorating the brand new nightly water and color extravaganza! Photographer: Kierstin

World of Color Apples in Disneyland

A favorite sweet treat for those of us who can’t get enough of Peanut Butter and Chocolate — two great tastes that taste great together! This is the classic No Way Jose sundae at Beaches and Cream. Photographer: Angela Sledz

Beaches and Cream No Way Jose Sundae

All images are copyrighted to their photographers. Do not download or re-use without photographer permission.

Exclusive: First Look at Menus and Details from the Swan & Dolphin Food and Wine Classic

By AJ 6 Comments

I recently had the incredible opportunity to speak with Anthony “Tony” Porcellini, the Director of Food and Beverage at the Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort and the brains behind the brand new annual Swan and Dolphin Food and Wine Classic!

Tony was kind enough to share with me a few more details on the upcoming event, including menus for the tasting booths, specifics on the seminars, and a few surprises for next year’s event! I also received fantastic photos of some of the menu items that will be available in the tasting booths! You can see a few of them below, and a few more will be highlighted over the upcoming weeks.

What We’ll Be Tasting at the Food and Wine Classic

Six Swan and Dolphin restaurants will be featured at the Causeway tasting stations on Friday and Saturday nights (October 8th and 9th, 2010). The offerings will change each night, so be sure to check out the menus below before deciding your dates (or just head over both nights — that’s what I’d do!)

Todd English’s bluezoo
The first night of the festival will feature one of the restaurant’s trendiest dishes: Shrimp Steamrollers! According Tony Porcellini, to make the steamrollers, bluezoo Executive Chef Chris Windus basically “deconstructs a shrimp cocktail in a tube.” Eating them is an even bigger adventure! Chef Windus will be on hand at the tasting booth to demonstrate.

bluezoo Steamroller

Another trendy dish takes the stage at the bluezoo booth on Saturday. Pipettes filled with buerre blanc sauce will spear small pieces of scallop and bacon. To eat, simply pull the scallop and bacon from
[Read more…]

Tribute to the Sandwich Cookie

By AJ 17 Comments

I’m not sure about you, but one of my favorite ways to break my diet is with an OCP or an Oreo (or seven). So it’s exciting to see so many wonderful sandwich cookies mixed into the Magic of Disney! Here are a few of my favorite spots for sandwich cookies…

Cape May Cafe Oreo Bon Bons
Nowhere before has the casual Oreo been elevated to such a haute status. The Cape May Cafe Oreo Bon Bon — a confection built upon an Oreo sandwich cookie — has been a staple at the Cape May Cafe evening Clam Bake for years and has risen to minor cult status among Disney fans.

Oreo Bon Bons

Climb-able Sandwich Cookie
Trust me, you’ve never seen a sandwich cookie this big! Nestled between a massive paper clip and a pile of dirt, this one might not exactly be appetizing, but it sure is interesting. You’ll find it [Read more…]

Disney Food Post Round Up: September 5, 2010

By AJ Leave a Comment

Welcome to the Disney Food Post Round-Up! Our favorite piece of news this week is that the tarps have come down from around La Hacienda de San Angel in Epcot’s Mexico!

Check out these gorgeous photos of La Hacienda de San Angel in Disney World’s Epcot. Also, check out this interior concept art!

The restaurant should be opening in mid-September (15th or 16th). Reservations will be available for dates after Oct. 15th. For more details and menus for La Hacienda de San Angel and La Cantina de San Angel, check out our La Hacienda de San Angel info page.

Also in the news — save some space for Orlando Magical Dining Month! $30, 3-course meals with part of the profits donated to charity! Take advantage all through September. AND, if you’re in northern Cali, head over to the Walt Disney Family Museum for a film and food tribute to the Bay Area!

And now, on to the round-up!

Orlando Sentinel‘s Daily Disney blog posted info about our very own upcoming WDW Foodie Fest! Check it out! We’re famous! (Thanks to “A Mom and the Mouse” writer, Kristin Ford!)

Cakewrecks has takes another look at Disney cakes gone wrong!

WDW Character Hunt shares the rumor that Special Agent Oso (a la Playhouse Disney) will be replacing Jo Jo at Hollywood and Vine’s Play and Dine Character meal.

Main St. Gazette takes us to Tusker House for dinner!

BritMick laments the lack of a good cuppa on Disney property — and gives her solution to the problem.

The Givens Chronicles is posting one recipe per week from the 2009 Epcot Food and Wine Festival all this month! This week’s recipe? Mango Lassi from India!

A Taste of Wonderland follows Disney World’s Chef TJ to his new digs — the Grand Floridian’s 1900 Park Fare!

Eating Around the World reviews Coral Reef Restaurant in Epcot.

Samland’s Disney Adventures takes a look at Disneyland’s Roastie-Toasties!

Vintage Disneyland Tickets has a Spring 1970 copy of the Disney News, which includes this great historical find — find out how Disneyland feeds “those enormous appetites” of the guests!

Cooking With Mickey celebrates her anniversary at Club 33 in Disneyland!

Makin’ Memories brings us to Disney World’s ‘Ohana for breakfast!

Deb’s Digest, Deb Wills’ personal blog on AllEars.net, showcases Jim, the fun-loving Casey’s Corner pianist.

Touring Plans Blog‘s Tom Bricker has a food photo face-off, while blogger Kristen Helmstetter brings us to Epcot’s Via Napoli!

Eating (and Drinking) Around the World has some pics of the new Epcot F&W Festival pins!

WDW Magic has some news about menu changes at Animal Kingdom’s Restaurantosaurus.

Thanks to Global Disney Pinvestigation for sending Hacienda pics!

REEL Local with Jan Wahl at The Walt Disney Family Museum

By AJ 1 Comment

I’m a huge fan of the Walt Disney Family Museum, and anything they do is OK with me! Unfortunately, I don’t get to plug their work much here on the blog, as little of it is food related 🙁 However, they’ve finally sent a press release my way that I can “sink my teeth into!”

Join KRON 4’s Jan Wahl at The Walt Disney Family Museum for an afternoon of Bay Area film and food. San Francisco is the star of this Reel Local film program that features popular cinematic hits and local, mouth-watering treats. From Vertigo to Dirty Harry experience San Francisco through the eyes of Hollywood while you snack on unbeatable Bay Area bites, wine, and brews! Menu and film listings below: [Read more…]

Orlando Magical Dining Month

By AJ Leave a Comment

It’s back again!

Interested in dining at some of Orlando’s most incredible restaurants for $30 a pop? You can — all through the month of September — and you’ll even be contributing part of your bill to charity!

Roy's Restaurant Chocolate Souffle

60 restaurants are participating in this year’s 5th Annual Magical Dining Month in Orlando. Here’s how it works: These incredible restaurants offer $30 three-course dinners (you get to choose from several options on a Magical Dining Month menu), and $1 from every meal goes to support the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Central Florida!

The Restaurants and Menus“>participating restaurant list mentions several restaurants on or near Disney World property, including some of our favorites: La Luce at the Hilton Bonnet Creek Resort, and Todd English’s bluezoo and Il Mulino New York Trattoria at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort! Also, that chocolate souffle pictured to the right from Roy’s Restaurant — heaven! I can say from experience!

Click here to see participating restaurants and menus!

This whole shebang is presented by the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc. (Orlando/Orange County CVB), so send your kudos along to them!

Photos of La Hacienda de San Angel

By AJ 8 Comments

Here are a few recent photos of La Hacienda de San Angel with no tarps!

New Mexico Pavilion Landscape

View from the Lagoon

Hacienda de San Angel

Outdoor Lagoon Seating

Hacienda de San Angel Outdoor Seating Area

La Cantina

Cantina Seating

Fore more details on La Hacienda de San Angel, including menus, see our Hacienda de San Angel page!

Thanks to Global Disney Pinvestigation for the photos.

This post is part of the DisMarks Disney Blog Carnival! Check it out for more great Disney-related content and information.

Carnation Cafe: The Best Breakfast in All the ‘Land

By AJ 10 Comments

Fellow Disney food fans, I want you to close your eyes for a moment and picture the best Disney breakfast you’ve ever had. How did it smell? Taste? How did it make you feel?

Well, here’s my version of that incredible breakfast that you wish you could repeat over and over again…

Atmosphere
Basic. Red and white, soda shop tables and chairs, umbrella’d outdoor seating, pretty much squashed between the buildings on either side. That’s what you’ll find at the classic Carnation Cafe on Disneyland’s Main Street, USA. For the full history of the Carnation Cafe — and all of its former names — check out this great post featuring [Read more…]

Hacienda de San Angel Interior Concept Art

By AJ 4 Comments

WDW Magic put up three new concept art images for the interior of Mexico’s upcoming La Hacienda de San Angel!

Here’s one of them, showcasing the floor-to-ceiling windows from which guests will be able to watch Illuminations!

Sounds like Hacienda might be opening on September 15th. I wait anxiously!

Head over to WDW Magic to see the rest!

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