Disney World Bakery Throw Down: Starring Rolls Cafe

Truly one of my favorite grab-and-go spots in Disney World, Starring Rolls is tiny, busy, and has some of the most delicious items I’ve ever tried, including the coveted Butterfinger Cupcake! While not technically a bakery, the shop rivals any of the other contestants with its rows of fresh and unique pastries and baked goods.

Atmosphere
Located on the corner of Sunset and Hollywood Boulevards, tucked back from the street, the Starring Rolls Bakery greets you with a bustling outdoor seating area.

Outdoor Seating Area

Find your way inside the small bakery and, well, by this time I’m usually already in a queue line! Grab a plate and a tray right inside the door and take your time looking at the baked goods as you make your way to the registers.

Mickey Waits Eagerly For Your Order

The “theme” in the bakery is pretty thin, but the art deco design and flour bags on the baker’s rack would indicate that we’re somewhere in the 20’s, 30’s, and early 40’s — Hollywood’s heyday.

Decor in Starring Rolls

Once you’ve gathered your sweets, you’ll see across from the two main registers a menu with drinks, including coffee drinks and coffee syrups, liqueurs, and wines. Yep — they have some fancy bakeries here in Hollywood!

Starring Rolls Bakery Registers and Check-Out area

Starring Rolls Drink Menu

It’s in this area that you can also order sandwiches, but we’re getting ahead of ourselves…

Eats
You’ll find delectable baked goods, bagels, huge sandwiches, fudge, and more in this unassuming little bakery, and I suggest that you try a little bit of everything! It actually is quite a versatile place to find a quick bite, but if you’re going to sample those massive cupcakes, I recommend bringing a friend! Here are the photos you’ve been waiting for… [Read more…]

Hope for Wishes Dessert Party in Spring 2010

By AJ Leave a Comment

WDW Magic is reporting that while the Wishes Dessert Party at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom has ended its run, there’s hope that it will return in the Spring of this year.

To read more about the Wishes Dessert Party and to see photos and prices, see our other Wishes Dessert Party blog posts.

2010 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival Dates

By AJ 16 Comments

October 1-November 14, 2010!

To get all the latest information about the 2010 Festival, including events, programming, international marketplaces, and more, check out our 2010 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival page! For specifics, click on the links below:

2010 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Guide and map

2010 Epcot Food and Wine Festival International Marketplace Booth and Menus

2010 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Free and Low-Cost Seminars and Demonstrations

2010 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Eat to the Beat Concerts

2010 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Special Events

2010 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Party For the Senses

Disney Dining at Home

By AJ 14 Comments

A few months ago, Erin Foster sent over a photo of some fun candy sushi she and her girls made after getting the idea from California Grill…

Candy Sushi Inspired by California Grill

This Disney-inspired treat has become one of their family favorites, and I wondered how many more of us have tried our hands at Disney dishes. After all, how many of us have tried a certain dish or food in a Disney park or resort and thought, “I wish I had the recipe for that!”

Cooking at Home, Disney-Style
As it turns out — lots of us have! I received dozens of responses via twitter, facebook, and email from readers who have had great success with creating their favorite Disney favorites at home. Here are a few that came with photos — just click on the links to get the recipes:

Erwin sent a delicious photo of some Chicken Corn Chowder from Boma simmering on the stove:

Boma Chicken Corn Chowder on the Stove

Shannon actually sent along her photo of Le Cellier’s Filet Mignon [Read more…]

Disney Food Post Round-Up: January 3, 2010

By AJ Leave a Comment

Welcome to 2010! I hope you’re all having a wonderful weekend. And I know a bunch of you are gearing up for January and February Disney trips, so get that laundry folded and in the suitcase, already!

Now, everyone’s posting some really fun things about Disney food in the past couple of weeks, so I can’t wait to share the latest with you.

First, however, I need to share some news — one of my favorite counter-service offerings, Animal Kingdom’s Picnic in the Park, will become a “seasonal” offering after January 2, 2010. “Seasonal” in Disney-speak can mean anything from open once a decade to open all the time except when it rains, so we’re not really sure what it means in this case.

Now, on to the Round-Up!

Daveland Blog shares some cool Blue Bayou photos from Disneyland.

Samland’s Disney Adventures shares a fun imagineering detail about Tony’s Town Square, which includes information about Le Chapeau next door, Walt Disney, Lillian Disney, and a puppy… .

The Disney Blog has an awesome story about a giant Wall-e made of donated food cans, which will eventually benefit local food banks.

Cake Wrecks reminds us that even though a lot of us are getting fatter, our character cakes are getting fatter, too!

Studios Central posted a great twitpic that reminds us of Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano. Don’t forget to drop by Studios Central directly for info on DHS!

Imaginerding found some interesting books at Animal Kingdom’s Restaurantosaurus…

Teacups and Toasters has a series of posts on the Disney Wonderland Tea you can find throughout the parks and resorts.

DLP.info shares the scoop that Earl of Sandwich will be opening a location at Disneyland Resort Paris. The site also shares a fun story on Mulled Wine at DLRP.

The Orange County Register reported in December that Robert Irvine is possibly being courted for an appearance at the Disneyland Food & Wine Festival.

Laughing Place reports that Epcot’s Refreshment Port, which used to be home to McDonald’s products, is now selling Latin-inspired foods such as empanadas and dulce de leche sundaes.

Cooking With Mickey is looking for your suggestions for recipes you’d like to see on the blog!

Main Street Gazette highlights a video and notes from Gary Vaynerchuk’s Portuguese Wines presentation in Epcot.

WDW Magic has the news that Studio Catering Company will be closed from February 15th, to March 27th, 2010.

Disney Every Day shares a video of the Boma Breakfast Buffet.

Great links this week! Have a good first week of 2010!

Volunteer for a Day and Get a Free Disney Ticket!

By AJ Leave a Comment

Here’s a great way to celebrate the New Year!! Disney’s “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” promotion begins today, January 1, 2010! Via this promotion, you can trade a day of volunteering at one of several nonprofit organizations for a Disney park ticket. (See more from the “Give a Day” Announcement Event here.)

Why Not Volunteer for a Food-Related Charity?
If food is your passion, consider volunteering for a charity focused on promoting healthy eating or eliminating hunger. There are plenty of organizations where you and your family can “give a day,” and the Hands On Network, which is managing the volunteering portion of Disney’s promo, has a great Hunger in America fact sheet you can use to show your kids why hunger still happens in America and why their hours of volunteering are so important.

How to Get Involved
If you’re interested in volunteering, head over to the [Read more…]

Disney Food News: Big Stories of 2009

By AJ 8 Comments

UPDATE: Read about the Opening Date for Be Our Guest Restaurant and Reservations Info!

Happy New Year’s Eve, all! It’s been a wonderful nine months since I’ve started the Food Blog, and I look forward to more exciting Disney food news, reviews, photos, history, and everything in between as we march into 2010.

Thank you for reading, sharing incredible pictures and stories, and keeping me company as I rattle on and on about one of my favorite things: Disney food!

Now, what better way to culminate the decade of the “noughts” than to remember our big Disney Food news stories from this year? Original? No. Still fun? Yes! Here we go…

New Disney Restaurants Open in 2009
This has been quite a year for new restaurants in Disney parks!

Sanaa, a restaurant that incorporates a feast for the eyes as well as the stomach, opens in Animal Kingdom Lodge’s new Kidani Village.
Cat Cora opens Kouzzina, her first signature restaurant, on the Disney World Boardwalk.
Paradiso 37, a hub of delicious tapas and tequila, opens in Disney World’s Downtown Disney.
Celebration Round Up and BBQ heats things up again at Disneyland’s Big Thunder Ranch.
Disney World’s Animal Kingdom introduces a new type of quick-service dining with the Picnic in the Park.
Customize your own rice bowl at the renovated and re-placed Lucky Fortune Cookery in Disneyland.
Disney World’s La Cava del Tequila brings Mexico’s favorite drink to the forefront in the World Showcase. The sheer number of varieties on the Cava del Tequila menu is astonishing.

Screen Shot of Online Advanced Dining Reservations System

Online Advanced Dining Reservations and Online Menus at DisneyWorld.com
Finally. After so many years of setting three alarms for 6:50 AM and convincing everyone in the household to call on a different phone line…we have online ADRs! [Read more…]

Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano

By AJ 12 Comments

Tucked into the back of Disney’s Hollywood Studios is Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano, an Italian restaurant with a very special theme.

Atmosphere
What is the theme, you ask? “Where Italy meets California in the heart of the Backlot,” of course. What does that mean? Well… most of us don’t really know or understand what it means… but here’s the general backstory: Mama Melrose moved from Italy to Hollywood to pursue acting, but was persuaded by friends to open a restaurant instead. (At least, this is one of the stories I’ve heard.)

So the kitschy “Italian home-cooking” restaurant — which would be at home in New York City’s Little Italy with its checked tablecloths, mis-matched furniture, and pizza oven — is (strangely) augmented by scads of Hollywood memorabilia from Mama’s collection. [Read more…]

Disney World Bakery Throw Down: Boardwalk Bakery

By AJ 8 Comments

Welcome to the third bakery in our Disney World Bakery Throw Down: The Boardwalk Bakery!

Atmosphere
Located on the Disney World Boardwalk, the Boardwalk Bakery is within walking distance of many of Disney World’s hotels and attractions. It’s a great place to take a break from a day in either Epcot or Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Or just head downstairs from your hotel room at Disney’s Boardwalk Inn and Villas!

Boardwalk Bakery Entry

As you approach the bakery, the windows will remind you what’s available…

…and who’s responsible!

Along the windows, you’ll see several outdoor tables and chairs. Be sure to snag them quickly; this is the bakery’s only seating! Of course, you could always stroll along the boardwalk with your purchases and find seating along the way.

Boardwalk Bakery Seating

Head inside the double doors and you’ll be greeted by a small space bordered by baked goods and condiment counters. Look over the counter to your left, and you might see some Disney bakers making specialty items for one of the resorts, or even a wedding cake!

Boardwalk Bakery condiment counter

Eats
You’ll find options for any time of day on the Boardwalk Bakery menu, from breakfast baked goods to salads to sandwiches.

Boardwalk Bakery Breakfast Menu

Boardwalk Bakery Lunch and Dinner Menu

Refrigerators to your right will hold drinks, sandwiches, and salads:

Cold Items and Drinks

Salads

Salads and Fruit

The long glass display cases will be chock full of goodies and custom cakes:

Muffins, Danish, and Cupcakes

Sweets of all Sorts

Boardwalk Bakery Cakes

Mickey Cake

And the bakers’ racks will be slowly filling up with freshly baked items:

Muffins cooling on the bakers' racks

While waiting for your order, take a peek at the wall behind those bakers’ racks to see the detailed images of baked goods painted on the tiles. As usual, Disney spares no expense when it comes to detail!

Also, take a few minutes to look beyond those counters and see some real bakers at work; this is one of the few places to see a real behind-the-scenes look at the type of baking that happens in Disney’s biggest, busiest, and most professional bakeries! I wasn’t kidding about that wedding cake I mentioned earlier — they really do make them here!

Vote For Your Favorite!
Thanks for joining us as we visited the third of the five Walt Disney World Bakeries we’re showcasing on the Throw Down! First was Magic Kingdom’s Main Street Bakery, second was Boulangerie Patisserie, and we’ll be highlighting the other two throughout the month.

You can vote for your favorite right here:

What's Your Favorite Bakery in Walt Disney World?

Boulangerie Patisserie (Epcot) (40%)
Main Street Bakery (Magic Kingdom) (27%)
Kringla Bakeri og Kafe (Epcot) (13%)
Boardwalk Bakery (Boardwalk) (11%)
Starring Rolls Bakery (Disney's Hollywood Studios) (8%)
Other (1%)

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If you have a stand-out favorite bakery, weigh in with your comments via twitter, facebook, or email.

In January, I’ll post the results, along with any reader insights as to what makes those particular bakeries so special. If you have another bakery you like better, vote “other.” (I’d love to hear what the “others” are as well!)

Disney Food History: Disneyland’s Carnation Ice Cream Parlor

By AJ 11 Comments

As many of you know, Disney Company and Disney parks history is of great interest to me, so when James (a.k.a. @DisneyNorth) sent along this fantastic menu, I couldn’t wait to share it with you.

Here’s a short quote from his email, describing his vintage find:

Thought you may find this item interesting. I bought it recently on eBay. It is a 1962 Carnation Ice Cream Parlor menu from Disneyland, that doubles as a postcard. Check out the prices on some of those sundaes!!!

Menu

In addition to the burgers, franks, and grilled cheese, the restaurant showcased sundaes created to highlight different parts of Disneyland, like Frontierland’s Old Timer, made with Peppermint Stick ice cream; and Fantasyland’s Snow White Sundae, made with Vanilla ice cream, coconut, and marshmallow topping.

Here are the images of the menu; you can click each photo for a larger version.

I love that the sandwiches are “delightfully” garnished with cottage cheese; and that the Mammoth Matterhorn Mountain sundae, “One of the world’s largest sundaes,” with 5 scoops of ice cream, sliced pineapple, 5 different sundae toppings, sliced banana, chopped almonds, whipped cream and cherry, costs just $1.00.

This description is to the right of the menu when the postcard is fully unfolded:

Here’s the postcard back of the menu ($.03 postage!):

Carnation Ice Cream Parlor History
Carnation Ice Cream Parlor opened with Disneyland in 1955. An outdoor dining area was added in 1977, and the restaurant was closed in 1997. The indoor area now houses the counter-service Blue Ribbon Bakery, and the outdoor area survives as the Carnation Cafe, serving table-service meals.

You can read a great memory of the Carnation Ice Cream Parlor’s final day over on mouseplanet.

Thanks, James!

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