Lunch at Bengal Barbecue

When I was planning my recent Disneyland trip, there were two counter service restaurants I knew we couldn’t miss — French Market and Bengal Barbecue. Bengal is a tiny counter-service spot — no bigger than a booth or a kiosk really — tucked into all the action of Adventureland. Located across the way from Jungle Cruise and Indiana Jones, you get the idea that you’re supposed to sense a little danger around here…

Atmosphere
Pretty menacing tiger, eh? Once you get past the fear, just head under the little thatched roof and get in line. Speaking of lines, I can almost assure you there will be one. Bengal Barbecue is one of the most popular counter service spots in Disneyland, both for its [Read more…]

DIY Disney Food: Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup from Le Cellier

By AJ 41 Comments

Every month, our resident Chef BigFatPanda puts together his amazing step-by-step, photo-filled posts where he and Chef Mickey show you their adventures in the kitchen cooking up Disney goodies! Today, Chef BigFatPanda’s DIY Disney Recipes brings us a classic…!

Hello! Chef BigFatPanda here! Are you ready for a new recipe?

So, I hope you heard by now that I have my own column here on the Disney Food Blog. In fact, you’re reading it right now. I am very excited and honored to have this home to share my passion of Disney and cooking with you. I hope you enjoy these recipes and my attempt at entertainment as much as I enjoy bringing it to you.

I realize it’s summer and soup might not initially sound like a good idea, but it’s one of my favorite things to eat. With all the hoopla over the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival preview, I remembered how much I loved that Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup over at Canada’s Le Cellier restaurant. As I re-imagined the velvety, creamy, cheesy goodness and bacon overtones, the whole summer soup argument was over. Soup won! 🙂

Le Cellier's Famous Cheddar Cheese Soup

CANADIAN CHEDDAR CHEESE SOUP (Le Cellier)

As usual, the recipe’s instructions will be bolded for easy reference should you wish to print this out and skip my banter.

Interesting fact: Disney has published at least 2 varying versions of this recipe. I made it years ago from a Disney cookbook (whose name escapes me), but this version is much easier and did, in fact, yield the same results. It’s exactly what you get when you walk up to that little festival booth with “Peachy Vigor” awaiting your small dose of cheddar ecstasy.

One other thing worth mentioning before we get serious: sometimes Hidden Mickeys show up when [Read more…]

Battle of the Bangers

By AJ 11 Comments

Today, we’re pitting isle against isle to see who will arise triumphant in the Battle of the Bangers!

VS.

That’s right: the popular Irish Raglan Road is going up against the classic English Rose and Crown to see who’s quintessential dish wins the hearts (stomachs?) of Disney Food Blog readers!

Raglan Road

Rose and Crown

Now, of course I’m going to be completely neutral in this whole thing, but I will explore the differences between the two dishes 😉 Here we go: [Read more…]

2011 Disneyland and Disney World Food and Wine Festival Dates

By AJ 1 Comment

I know we’re pretty enmeshed in the 2010 Epcot Food and Wine Festival info right now, but I was excited to see a press release in my inbox today from Disneyland announcing their 2011 Food and Wine Festival dates! I was also excited to see on the back of the Epcot Food and Wine Festival Guide that the 2011 Epcot Food and Wine Festival dates are already set as well! So, for future reference:

2011 Disney’s California Food and Wine Festival

The sixth annual California Food and Wine Festival will run from April 29th to June 12th — later than last year’s festival — and will include locations in both Disney California Adventure and Disneyland! (I’m excited to hear that the original park will be included, too!) You can see my coverage from the 2010 Disney’s California Food and Wine Festival here!

2011 Epcot Food and Wine Festival

The 16th annual Epcot International Food and Wine Festival is now scheduled to take place September 30th through November 13th! There are no other details at this time, but you can always check out the coverage of the 2009 and 2010 Epcot Food and Wine Festivals to get an idea of what to expect!

Happy Planning!

2010 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Guide

By AJ 3 Comments

Hey all! I just received the 2010 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Guide in the mail (thanks Tables in Wonderland!). The free and low-cost demonstration and seminar titles and subjects are not yet released. But there are some great graphics to check out as well as everything you need to know to start booking your special events tomorrow!

Here’re the front and back covers…

Front and Back of Guide

Click here to see the rest of the Guide!

Via Napoli Reservations

By AJ 6 Comments

Great news! Pam Brandon over at the Disney Parks Blog has announced a few more details about Via Napoli:

You will be able to start booking reservations by August 6th for the official opening day — September 10th — and later.
A “grand opening” will be held August 5th, and walk-up patrons will be admitted through the September 10th official opening. After that, those with advanced dining reservations will be given priority.

Other news:

Table service only (no pizza window 🙁 )
Disney Dining Plan is accepted (one point per person per meal)
Lunch and dinner menus will be the same

Click the link to see our other coverage of Epcot’s Via Napoli.

“The Best Thing I Ever Ate in Disney!”: Snacks and Drinks

By AJ 53 Comments

We’ve recently started a fun new series based on the Food Network’s (very cool) show, The Best Thing I Ever Ate. Due to some keen suggestions from readers, we’re splitting our series up into different sections: breakfast, appetizers & side dishes, snacks & drinks, entrees (lunch & dinner), and desserts.

School Bread

Today, we’re taking a look at Snacks & Drinks! I’ve done my favorite brand of informal polling (i.e. posted questions on twitter and facebook 😉 ) to find out others’ experiences of the “Best Thing They Ever Ate” — snacks and drinks style — in Disney parks and resorts. To be sure, the answers sounded veeeery similar to our recent post about the Best Value for your Snack Credits, but we had a few different ideas as well!

[Read more…]

Disney Food Post Round-Up: July 18, 2010

By AJ Leave a Comment

Lamb From Australia Booth is Back This Year

Whew! What a WEEK! It was Food and Wine Festival-icous! You’ll have to forgive my one track mind this week, all, but here are the latest news items:

Here’s the latest on the 2010 Epcot Food and Wine Festival:
- All the news and photos from the Tables in Wonderland 2010 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Preview dinner
- Epcot Food and Wine Festival booth menus are now available! Click on each booth to see photos of items coming back for 2010.
- Food and Wine Festival merchandise and artwork sneak peek!
- Updates to the Epcot Food and Wine Festival Special Events page were made as well. Don’t forget — Booking opens July 20th at 7am!
Check out this Taste of Africa Street Party food photo tour!
And here are all the details on the dining options available at Aulani, DVC’s newest property being built in Hawai’i!
Finally, the Wishes Dessert Party has been extended through December 2010!

_____________________________________________
Hopefully you got a chance to check out my blog post over at Touring Plans all about the NEW additions to the 2010 Epcot Food and Wine Festival! Also, give a listen to the recent WDW Today Podcast, where we chatted about some of the upcoming festival attractions! Thanks, Touring Plans and WDW Today!

I came across a Progress City USA post from 2009 that shows us what dining was like at early WDW. Anyone remember the Pueblo Room?

DisZine reports that the Disney World Swan and Dolphin are announcing a Personal Pantry feature.

Touring Plans blogger Kristen H. writes about her favorite counter service restaurants at WDW.

Heatherw25 has created some more amazing Disney food scrapbooking layouts!

Kerrygold Cheeses at Ireland Food and Wine Booth

Main Street Gazette compares a favorite Disney World counter-service dish at Sunshine Seasons to one of his local favorites.

A Taste of Disney shows us how to make California Grill’s delicious Sonoma Goat Cheese Ravioli.

The Daily Disney reports on a new Meatball Sliders and Beer menu at WDW Downtown Disney’s Portobello Restaurant.

Designing Disney looks at inspiration for the Market House Deli in Disneyland Paris.

Chip and Co wonders what makes Aloha Isle so popular.

Pee Dee Foodie reviews Sanaa at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.

Disney Parks Blog announces that the Kona Island Sushi Bar is a permanent fixture at the Polynesian Resort in WDW!

DisUnplugged reviews breakfast at Disneyland’s Steakhouse 55.

Wishes Dessert Party Extended Through December 2010

By AJ 7 Comments

Our Goodies at the Wishes Dessert Party

Great news! The Wishes Dessert Party (formerly booking only through August) is now taking bookings through December 29th.

The Wishes dessert party is an exclusive event held at the Tomorrowland Terrace in Disney’s World’s Magic Kingdom. It offers ticketed guests a buffet of delicious desserts and a great view of the Wishes nighttime fireworks.

Click here to see my Wishes Dessert Party review and photographs of all of the desserts.

Call 407-WDW-Dine to book your party tickets. Parties sell out fast, so call soon!

Thanks to Angie for the news!

Food and Wine Festival Polaroid Collage

By AJ 5 Comments

So, as many of you know, the WDW Foodie Fest official website is up and running!

I was playing around with a polaroid-maker to create pics for the site and wound up creating this “Food and Wine Festival” collage. I think it’s pretty awesome (I’m always amazed that a computer and photography neophyte like me can figure out how to do neat-o stuff like this) and wanted to share with you!

All of the pics were taken at last year’s Festival, and all of the food featured is returning for the 2010 Epcot Food and Wine Festival!

By the way, WDW Foodie Fest is the Disney Food Blog meet-up happening October 3rd, 2010. It’s completely free and you’re all welcome to join us! Find out more at www.WDWFoodieFest.com.

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