A Candy-Lover's Guide to Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party

A Candy-Lover’s Guide to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party

Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party entrance sign

As you saw with the pumpkins on main street, Disney World hasn’t left the foodies out of the Halloween plans. There’s plenty more where that came from, and I can’t wait to share with you more Halloween food items at Disney World.

But today I want to focus on the real reason why we spend all that money on tickets to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party (MNSSHP): the candy.

MNSSHP Trick or Treat bag

The Basics
For those who haven’t yet attended, this year’s party is much like those of past years. Simply request your Trick or Treat bag from the CMs at the front of the park, get your MNSSHP brochure with the candy spots marked, and you’re off. Look for the Goofy’s Candy Company balloons throughout the park and follow the lines to the candy.

MNSSHP Brochure With Map and Showtimes Inside

These Balloons Will Mark Candy Spots

Once you see the balloons, just find the entrance sign for the candy line and follow the crowd.

Trick or Treat Spot Entrance Sign

The actual candy tub will look like this, once you approach. The line will usually split into two lines, each going to one of the two CMs manning candy tubs at each location. Note: Occasionally you’ll see a third candy tub behind the initial two. This one has only raisins, so choose accordingly.

Candy Tub and CMs

The candy haul is pretty good this year — Buttefingers, Dots, Twizzlers, Mike and Ike, Snickers, Now and Later, Sugar Babies, and other name brands are mixed in with the smarties and suckers — and if you’re diligent, you can really fill that bag up! Granted, for the amount you’re paying for the Party tickets you could probably buy a whole shelf of candy at the Walgreen’s, but the experience has always been worth the money for us, even when we go without kids.

Also, this year there are more “indoor” candy spots than in prior years. Be sure to head over to Pirates of the Caribbean — there’s a Trick or Treat location in the Pirates’ League. Of course, the CMs handing out candy are pirates, so be on guard!

Tip to Maximize Your Haul
As has been the case for the last few years, the highest concentration of candy goodness is in Mickey’s Toontown Fair and the subsequent Alice and Mad Hatter’s Treat Party, which is located on the path between Toontown and Tomorrowland.

Toontown Fair

MNSSHP Alice and Mad Hatter Treat Party

Decorated with images from Disney’s Alice in Wonderland (the animated version — not the upcoming Depp-ified, Burton-ified version due in March), this little walkway is rarely crowded, and happens to hold about 3 or 4 trick or treat spots in close proximity. This is also where you might catch a glimpse of the White Rabbit during the evening!

CM Manning the Treat Party

Speaking of characters, in between your Trick or Treating, keep your eyes open for some rarely seen characters at MNSSHP. Lots of Villains abound, and you might catch a glimpse of Tarzan and Jane, or even Snow White, accompanied by ALL SEVEN of her dwarf friends.

Snow White and the Seven (ALL Seven!) Dwarfs

And be sure to catch one of the two showings of the Halloween Boo to You Parade, which is by far one of the best parades on Disney property. Of course, it highlights Goofy and his famous Candy Company!

Goofy's Candy Company Parade Float

MNSSHP has always been one of my favorite Fall activities at Disney World. Trick or Treating is done by ALL, not just the kiddos, so get out there shamelessly with your bag, my friends! And costumes are optional; you’ll blend in with one or without one. The only rule? Have fun!

Still don’t have your tickets to MNSSHP? There are plenty more dates available (even though Halloween is now sold out). Just call 407-WDisney to purchase tickets, or visit DisneyWorld.com’s MNSSHP page!

2009 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival: Marrakesh, Morocco, Food and Wine Pairing

By AJ 4 Comments

Here’s one I was really looking forward to — the Marrakesh Food and Wine pairing! This was the most expensive event we signed up for, at around ~$60 per person.

Marrakesh Sign

Marrakesh Tables and Pink? Lighting

There were about 30 people there for the event, and we were seated in an upper corner of the restaurant at about four large tables. Each place setting had a wine-tasting placemat printed with the names of the three wines we would be trying: Les Trois Domaines, Guerrouane Rouge, from Meknes, Morocco; Now & Zen, Alsace White, Alsace, France; and Chateau Trois Moulins, Haut-Medoc, Bordeaux, France.

Trio of Wines for Tasting

Once we were all seated, the event began with the Marrakesh chef introducing us to the restaurant, which was fully decorated with top-to-bottom mosaic art by the Moroccan King’s own artisans (as was the Morocco pavilion itself). It’s truly a stunning location for a meal.

The chef has been at the restaurant since its opening, and touched on a few of the differences between the American and Morrocan cultures and foods. He then announced the wine expert and presenter for the afternoon, who proceeded to lead us through the tasting.

Marrakesh Food and Wine Pairing Cast Members and Moderators

Most of the afternoon was about the wines — their origins, geography, and taste profiles. The food, mostly in tapas-sized portions, was largely not discussed. I wasn’t expecting this, and really was quite disappointed that we weren’t talking about the food flavors, preparations, and choices very much. So although I was very interested in hearing about the wine choices, this was a “con” of the afternoon for me.

The Wines
Our first wine, Guerrouane Rouge les Trois Domaines, paired with a delicious, spicy lamb sausage, was from the Guerrouane growing region of Morocco and resembles a Rhone style blend. The primary grapes in this blend are Cinsault, Grenache, and Carignan.

And this wine carries with it a fascinating fact: while the first two grapes are fermented traditionally, the Carignan grapes are fermented through something called “carbonic maceration” fermentation. If you’re a wine gourmet, you’ll probably know what that means, but I was utterly impressed! Carbonic maceration means that fermentation takes place within the grape, and actually makes the grape explode! The result is a light, fruity wine, and the process can increase the alcohol level of the grape’s fermented juice.

This wine’s fruity aromas paired well with the spicy sausage; it was probably my favorite pairing of the day.

Lamb Sausage with Lamb Stock and Tomato Sauce

Our second wine, the Alsatian Now & Zen, is made from a blend of Sylvaner, Pinot Blanc, Riesling, and Gewurztraminer grapes, and hails from the long-contested segment of sometimes-France sometimes-Germany, Alsace, located between the Vosges mountains and the Rhine River. The cool climate of this area means the grapes ripen slowly, and, according to our wine moderator, this gave the the wine a wider array of aromas, including citrus and spice (coriander, nutmeg, cumin).

This was the only white that we tried (therefore, it was my favorite wine of the afternoon — I’m a white wine fan), and it was paired with Marrakesh’s delicious lemon chicken and couscous. The dryness of the wine paired nicely with the sweet and tangy lemon flavors of the dish. Overall, this was a more mellow pairing than the first.

Lemon Chicken and Couscous

Our final wine, Chateau Trois Moulins of the Haut-Medoc appellation of Bordeaux, is a Cru Bourgeois wine, which essentially means that it’s not classed as highly as some “bigger name” wines, but it is very highly regarded nonetheless. (This is the case for most Haut-Medoc wines, as I understand.) Made mostly from Merlot grapes, with some Cabernet and Petit Verdot as well, this wine has a deep color and flavor, with aromas of dark red fruits and deep tastes, like cassis, blackberry, cigar, and chocolate.

This wine was paired with the darkest meat we were served — a beef shish kabob, which included roasted mushroom. I think the pairing would have gone much more smoothly had the meat not been so badly overdone. The wine alone, though heavy, was tasty.

Shish Kabob with Mushroom

Tips on Wine Pairings
We were able to ask questions throughout the pairing, and we received a couple of great “pointers” for pairing food and wine:

Make decisions based on body and weight, not on colors, necessarily. Full-bodied and heavy foods and sauces pair well with full-bodied and heavy wines. Wines that feel lighter in your mouth will pair better with lighter foods/proteins. Wines that have deeper, heavier flavors will pair better with heavier foods/proteins.
Wines that are higher in acidity will turn up the flavors of other foods. For example, Chianti can be used, essentially, as a condiment to peak the flavors of the foods with which it’s paired.

Hopefully those are helpful to some of you. As I’m a wine novice, I found it extremely useful!

But Was it Worth the Money?
Now, a lot of folks have asked me if the more expensive events at the Food and Wine Festival are “worth it,” and while I can’t speak for every event, I’m not sure I’d do the Marrakesh food and wine pairing again. The food was consistently overdone, the portions were small for the price, and I didn’t find that it was a good representation of the dining opportunities available at the restaurant. Unless you’re a true wine-lover, consider spending the money to have a meal in the restaurant instead.

That’s just my two cents though, folks! I look forward to hearing about your positive AND negative experiences at Food and Wine Festival events.

WDW Main Street Food Spots Celebrate Halloween

By AJ 5 Comments

While I’ve got so many Epcot Food and Wine Festival blogs rattling around in my drafts folder, I came across these photos from the recent trip and had to share them with you, too!

I thought it was great that the Main Street Ice Cream Parlor, Confectionery, and Casey’s Corner have all decorated with pumpkin art befitting their trade…

Casey’s Corner

Casey's Corner

Casey's Hot Dog Pumpkin

Casey's French Fries Pumpkin

Casey's Peanuts Pumpkin

Casey's Coke Pumpkin

Ice Cream Parlor

Ice Cream Pumpkin at the Ice Cream Parlor

Confectionery

Confectionery Windows

Close-up on Candy Pumpkin

Close up on Candy Cane Pumpkin

Stay tuned for more Halloween in Disney World posts on the Food Blog. There’s just too much to pack into one!

“You Won’t Believe This!” Snack — Butterfinger Cupcake

By AJ 35 Comments

UPDATE!: See our 2012 re-review of this iconic cupcake here!

Guys, you know how much I love food. And you know by now that I can pack away some serious meals. But I think I’ve finally found a snack in Disney World that I wasn’t able to conquer. In fact, I bought it simply because I wasn’t sure it was even real!

A few months ago, someone posted a photo of a “butterfinger muffin” on the forum at WDWforGrownups.com. The photo looked like the “muffin” was a chocolate cupcake covered in icing, then dipped in chocolate and topped off with butterfinger crumbs. Being a HUGE frosting fan, I couldn’t wait to find out more about this thing. So we headed over to Starring Rolls bakery one early morning last week…

Starring Rolls Cafe

…and, sure enough, I find this:

Cupcake and Butterfinger Muffin

So, guiltily, I buy one. In the name of research, of course. I head outside, fully aware that this thing is simply monstrous, and grab a couple of forks and knives. (There’s no way one little plastic utensil is going to suffice for this thing.) And I cut into the mountain of toppings on the cupcake.

Butterfinger Muffin

First Incision

The frosting is magnificent, as we knew it would be. There’s nothing like a bunch of lard and sugar to start your day right, I always say. From there, I decided to cut the thing in half, just to get a good cross-section for those of you who might be curious, but unwilling to actually dig in yourselves:

Butterfinger Muffin Bisected

And what did I find?!? Chocolate Frosting! Chocolate Frosting in the middle of the cupcake! Oh my heavens! I’m pretty sure I died and went to heaven. Whoever invented this cupcake/muffin took all of my guilty pleasures and wrapped them into one ginormous mountain of happiness.

A Yummy Chocolate Frosting-y Center

Now, my friends, we had lunch reservations in a few hours, so I wasn’t able to finish off this muffin. In fact, I barely made a dent. But it feels good and right to know that the Butterfinger Muffin is there — waiting for me with all of its chocolate-y and frosting-topped goodness — when I need it.

Let me know if you try it — and if you are able to eat the whole thing!

WDW Moms Panelists Consider: What Are Some Underrated Disney World Restaurants?

By AJ 14 Comments

Here’s our third post in the Walt Disney World Moms Panel mini-series! You’ve met some of the moms and heard about their most magical Disney dining moments and their thoughts about the best dining values in Disney World. Today we get to hear what restaurants the moms think might not grab the spotlight as much as they should…

From Mom Erin F.

The Wave Trio of Desserts

The Wave – really nice stuff and good wine flights. Good tasting desserts, and they have really lovely food.

Another one that I tried – Raglan Road – had really delicious food. And I was very pleasantly surprised by the food on the plate (I had shepherd’s pie). The Strawberry Salad was poppin’ in your mouth delicious. If they can make a basic green salad so tasty, they’ve got something good going on.

From Mom Amber V.

The two places that come to mind are the Grand Floridian Cafe and Maya Grill. I think they both get lost in the shuffle, especially if you aren’t staying at the Grand Floridian or Coronado Springs. When we ate at Maya Grill, we were able to walk up and get a table without an ADR, which was a surprise. We found the menu, service and atmosphere to be really wonderful. The Grand Floridian Cafe is a great choice for a refreshing, light lunch and is also a nice respite from the parks.

From Mom Anna S.

It seems to me that the one restaurant I can ALWAYS get a reservation for is Restaurant Marrakesh at EPCOT, and I love it there. We have had some of the best, most attentive servers of our Disney dining experiences there, and there is never the feeling that you are being rushed so they can turn the tables over. The kids enjoy the music and dancing, and the food is delicious. We eat here at least every other visit.

From Mom Jennifer W.

Flying Fish Cafe! I rarely hear anyone talking about makings ADRs here, and it is one of the best restaurants at WDW! It is a bit on the pricey side but worth every dime. The chef will even come to your table to personally discuss your order if you like. The atmosphere is a calming change from the hustle and bustle of many restaurants and the food is top notch. I highly recommend The Flying Fish to all my friends who are looking for something different at WDW.

From Mom Kara B.

Walt Disney On-Screen at Sci-Fi Dine In

Disney provides a chance to experience something new and exciting around every corner, so often for us a magical Disney experience may be more about the experience rather than the actual food. For example, Sci-Fi is an absolute must see for us every trip, regardless of the constant criticism regarding the food. Stick with hamburgers and milkshakes and all is good (I’ll gladly share that their tofu entree is de-lic-ious!). However for us, it is clearly the atmosphere that makes this restaurant a must-do. In the middle of a hot trip (we visit in June), escaping into the cool “night” air is so relaxing. The kids sit in the front seat; my husband and I sit in the back. We feel like we are on a date because the kids are shockingly silent watching those campy movies. In fact, the entire restaurant is eerily quiet. Again, total relaxation. And of course, we all get those silly drinks with light-up ice cubes and use them at home for a fun souvenir.

From Mom Joanne M.

1. Fulton’s Crab House, Downtown Disney. Awesome view, fantastic food, and great selection. We love going there for lunch before heading to DisneyQuest. It’s not on the Disney Dining Plan, so we’ve never had a problem getting a table.

2. Narcoossee’s at the Grand Floridian Resort. The food is great, and where else can you simply turn your head and watch Wishes?

3. Kona Cafe – I have to say I’m not sure that this one is underrated, but I was so pleasantly surprised by the dining experience I have to mention it. The service was fabulous and attentive, menu varied, and great food! And the Kona Kone is the coolest dessert on Disney property!

From Mom Heather R.

In the Magic Kingdom I think the Plaza Restaurant is a real hidden gem. The location is quite convenient, and while the menu is somewhat limited, the food is excellent and the portions are quite large. My Chicken Strawberry Salad was not only delicious, but HUGE – easily shared between two people.

At the Fort Wilderness Resort, the Trail’s End Restaurant serves up home cooking style food at a very reasonable price, and since it’s a buffet (and a reasonably priced one at that!) it offers a good bang for your buck.

The Grand Floridian Cafe (guess where?) is also a real hidden gem. I can’t recommend any one particular standout menu item, but I know that every meal I’ve had there has been very good, service was attentive, and I leave intending to visit again. In a way I like it when that happens, because if I eat somewhere and have a particularly fantastic dish, I’m very likely to never try anything else! It’s good to branch out. 🙂

From Mom Whitney P.

Where do I begin? The Boardwalk Pizza take-out window is one of the best values, with a pepperoni pizza slice at $3.99! Its crust is like no other pizza on property! My indulgence is opening packet after packet of parmesan cheese and topping it off. I like to eat it outside at one of the nearby tables and people-watch. That, with a view of the water, is a great dining experience whether you’re alone or with your family.

If you’re looking for night-life, I recommend Kimono’s at the Swan. I’m a fan of karaoke and can sing with the best of them–from the comfort of my seat! It has the most extensive sushi menu on property, in my opinion, and if no one has the guts to get on the small stage and belt something out, you can sing along with the evening’s hostess.

From Mom Jo Y.

My family love Kona Cafe at the Poly, last trip I had the most delicious steak there, I much preferred it to Le Cellier and recommend it to everyone. I love how they have sample desserts on show as you enter the restaurant and if you time it right you can wander down to the beach afterwards to watch Wishes!

From Mom Kim L.

The Paint Room at Backlot Express

My family loves to eat at the Backlot Express at Disney’s Hollywood Studios when we are looking for a counter service meal. There’s always a quiet corner with fascinating props to view.

Also, Olivia’s Cafe at Old Key West serves wonderful dishes in a relaxing atmosphere. This is a hidden gem.

From Mom Kay B.

I think one of the most underrated food spots is Citricos. This is an unbelievable restaurant that is constantly being overshadowed by Victoria and Alberts at the Grand Floridian. It is family friendly yet can still be a romantic spot with a table in the inner room by the windows. The food is excellent from appetizers through desserts and the service has always been outstanding. They also have a nice wine room that can be reserved for a little more intimate dinner opportunity.

Another table service restaurant that is often forgotten and shouldn’t be is Artist Point in the Wilderness Lodge. This is another outstanding location for food, service and ambiance.

In the counter service category I would say that Flametree in the Animal Kingdom park is not remembered and this is the one place we will go and not try to get dining reservations because we would all rather just eat at this counter service location. The barbecue is excellent, served in large portions, and then the area to sit in is quiet and relaxing. We take the path down to the lake and sit under the cool trees to catch a breeze on a hot day.

From Dad Doug I.

I think that Biergarten does not get it’s due as a fun dinner venue. While I can think of a few German classics that should be added to the menu, the buffet combines a lot of great choices, as well as some americanized selections for choosy kids. And the entertainment value is a nice plus. Finally, I love that you can meet people in their long table seating arrangements.

I also like San Angel Inn more than most. Having grown up in Mexico City, I think that some of the selections there are more authentic Mexican than you can typically find in the U.S., but it seems to get panned for cuisine, often by guests looking for more Tex-Mex style choices (which I love too!).

From Mom Jodi G.

I think sometimes the resort restaurants are overlooked, and the restaurants at Animal Kingdom Lodge are top-notch. Jiko, in particular, is my favorite restaurant on property.

Sleepy Hollow's Homemade Ice Cream Sandwich

From Mom Beth C.

The Sleepy Hollow in Magic Kingdom is a great spot to grab a treat. They have homemade chocolate chip ice cream sandwiches. You can watch them bake the cookies right there! Sleepy Hollow is located right over the bridge as you cross into Liberty Square. It is a great place to get a snack before the parade or fireworks or if you are walking to the other attractions in this area.

From Mom Margaret F.

One location that our family really loves and I think misses some of the spotlight is Mama Melrose at Hollywood Studios. While it is often crowded, I think it often does not get the attention it deserves. We love the feel of the restaurant, with the warehouse setting and open kitchen. It is very family friendly and comfortable. The menu slection is top notch. The flatbread choices are delicious, and the bruschetta is superb. The pasta choices have a perfect blend of herbs and spices. My favorite here is the sirloin with grilled asparagus and red wine sauce. Mouth-watering for sure!

Thanks again to all the “moms” who are participating in the interviews!

Don’t forget, if you’d like to share your “most magical Disney Dining moment,” send me an email! I’m collecting stories and will post them in the next post of “Chicken Soup for the Disney Foodie soul!”

Disney Food Post Weekly Round-Up: October 4th, 2009

By AJ Leave a Comment

Eat here

I hope you’re staying up to date on the goings-on at the 2009 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival on our index page! This week, we looked at the newest booths — Rio and Bangkok, the Taste of Puglia Seminars, and the Pruem Wine-Tasting Seminar.

But while I’ve been covering the Festival, there have been some other great food posts from around the globe. Check out these great sites and their “tasty” posts!

The Daily Mickey takes a look at Quick Service Restaurants in the Magic Kingdom.

Orange County Register reports that a new bar is opening in Anaheim’s Downtown Disney. Stop by for a Margarita!

The Disney Chick has compiled her list of tested Disney recipes, including Princess Cake from Akershus and Dulce de Leche.

All Ears’ Jack Spence reviews Epcot’s Bistro de Paris and includes some wonderful photographs!

DF ’82 discusses Au Chalet de la Marionette in Disneyland Parc, Paris.

The Daily Loaf gives some basics on the Epcot Food and Wine Festival.

The W.E.D. Page steps back in time to review the Diamond Horseshoe Revue.

Main Street Gazette analyzes the lives and times of the Dinoland USA students based on their treatment of Restaurantosaurus.

Finally, join Lou Mongello as he interviews Gary Vaynerchuk from WineLibrary.tv at Epcot’s World Showcase.

S.A Pruem Winery Seminar at the 2009 Epcot Food and Wine Festival

By AJ 4 Comments

Pruem Owners, Presenters, and Vintners

I was lucky enough to attend a wine tasting conducted by Raimund Pruem (or Prum, depending on where you look), owner and vintner of S.A Pruem Winery in the Mosel Valley, Germany. I didn’t know when I booked the tasting, but we were going to be enjoying three Rieslings — my very favorite type of wine.

Tasting Flight

Tasting Notes Sheet

According to the winery’s website, wines have been commercially produced on site for 200 years. Raimund Pruem took over the management of his family-owned property in 1971, and has brought production from 3000 cases per year to over 40,000. He now leads “one of Germany’s finest vineyards, which is located on the most preferred growing area along the entire length of the Mosel, garnering the highest honors year after year.”

The Winery is a founding, active member of the VDP (The Association of German Premium Wineries), a consortium of Germany’s top producers.

Pruem Vineyards

The tasting began with the S.A Pruem Essence Riesling. Going for about $15/bottle, this wine was light and spicy. It’s suggested as an accompaniment to filet mignon or spicy foods, but is also suggested as a simple drinking wine — whenever and wherever. I enjoyed this wine, but compared to the others, it had a thinner flavor and made less of a statement.

From there, we moved on to Schloss Rheinhartshausen Old Vines Riesling. This darker gold wine was described as “stylish” by its vintners in the seminar, commenting on its intense, richer flavors. The rootstocks of this wine go deeper into the soil, bringing in the minerals and earthy flavors of the soil. At $27/bottle, this wine has a more alcoholic aroma and flavor, and is suggested as an accompaniment to richer sauces and fatty fish. This is a “weighty” wine.

Tasting Seminar

Finally, we tasted what would become my favorite wine of the day: the S.A Pruem Riesling Graacher Himmelreich Spatlese. Loosely translated to “Heaven’s Kingdom,” this wine is deeee-licious! It has a bubbly, spicy flavor on the tongue, and is quite sweet (which is why I like it so much). This is the result of a later picking, meaning the grapes have more acidity and less liquid — this is where the sweet comes from. It has a long fermentation, facilitated by wild yeast gathered in the vineyard. This wine, at $32/bottle, can work well with spicy foods, including Thai and Indian flavors. Pruem referred to it as a “9-4” wine, meaning you can start in on it at 9 AM and drink it all day — there’s only 8% alcohol.

You can purchase all three wines in The Cellar at the Food and Wine Festival Center, or you can try them at the Munich Booth in the World Showcase! Enjoy!

For more posts and information about the 2009 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, visit our 2009 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival Index Page.

The Baklava Throwdown at the 2009 Epcot Food and Wine Festival

By AJ 10 Comments

A kind soul brought it to my attention that there are two versions of Baklava duking it out to “reign supreme” at the 2009 Epcot Food and Wine Festival. You can fine one at the Athens booth; the other is at the Marrakesh booth.

Epcot Food and Wine Festival Athens

Marrakesh Booth

Now, for those who haven’t tried Baklava, it’s defined by Wikipedia as “a rich, sweet pastry featured in many cuisines in the area once controlled by the former Ottoman Empire, in Central Asia and in the lands in between. It is a pastry made of layers of phyllo dough filled with chopped nuts and sweetened with syrup or honey.” It’s not usually my favorite dessert, but I’ve come to enjoy the phyllo and sweet, nutty filling. I’ll take you through my thoughts as I tried both Baklava contenders, and you can let me know what YOU think.

I began with the Athens version of the dish. I was impressed by its looks. With honey oozing from the bottom layers and light-as-air phyllo perched on top; I couldn’t wait to take a bite. To its credit, the dessert was delicious. I had a difficult time cutting through the layers with my fork, but when I finally did get a chunk cut off, I was delighted by the taste. The Baklava layers melted on my tongue and I wanted to keep eating and eating (despite my promise to myself that I would just taste this year at the F&W Festival, not devour!). I wasn’t sure that Marrakesh had a chance… .

Athens Baklava

So around the Showcase I went, until I came to the Marrakesh booth. Now, Marrakesh serves its baklava in a pretty little pastry cup. (Advantage: Marrakesh.) I settled at a table outside Tangierine Cafe to sample, and found that the baklava was just as hard to cut through as it had been in Athens. Finally getting a bite into my mouth, I realized that the baklava tasted shockingly similar to Athens’ version as well. Hmm. I looked at the pastry. Almost identical. Maybe a few more nuts…one or two more layers…? I started to feel ashamed. Can I really not tell the difference between these two dishes? And I soon had to come to terms with my failure to determine a winner.

Marrakesh Baklava

The moral of this story, folks, is that I’m no baklava gourmand, and I must admit that if you told me that both versions came out of the Boardwalk Bakery that morning and had simply been shipped to their respective booths, I would probably believe you. The differences, if there were any, were imperceptible to this palate.

Throwdown: TIE!

Now, if you’d like to add your thoughts to the baklava throwdown (hopefully yours will be more insightful than mine!), let me know via twitter, facebook, or email. Thanks!

Food & Wine Experience at Gaylord Palms Resort

By AJ 1 Comment

I was recently treated by Gaylord Palms Resort to a “Dine Around” at the hotel and was quite impressed with the dining options and the staff.

Zen

I took dozens of food photos, which I’ll share with you soon, but in the meantime I wanted to let you know about the resort’s Food and Wine Experience:

This limited-availability package provides special all-inclusive experiences and itineraries that incorporate a visit to Epcot with other extraordinary culinary experiences that are not otherwise available to an Orlando visitor.

Old Hickory Steakhouse Cheese Selections

Enjoy intimate receptions, extraordinary winemaker’s dinners, special tastings, and chances to meet and interact with our resort chefs, beverage partners and culinary staff. In addition, a visit to the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival will be supplemented back at the hotel with special materials, and unique culinary experiences available only to our guests.

Availability: October 16-18, 2009
Duration: 2 nights
Price: From $499 per person
To Book: This package is available by phone only. Please call (407) 586-2000 to make your reservations.

Villa de Flora

Gaylord Palms boasts several fantastic restaurants, including Sunset Sam’s Fish Camp, Villa de Flora, Sora (Sushi and wine bar), and the Old Hickory Steakhouse, where the chef is quite proud indeed of his favorite cheese cows!

I hope you get a chance to visit, but if you still need some convincing, stay tuned for my upcoming blog about my Dine Around at the resort.

2009 Epcot Food and Wine Festival: Taste of Puglia Seminars

By AJ 4 Comments

he 2009 Epcot Food and Wine Festival features a wonderful, free-with-cost-of-admission seminar series called Taste of Puglia. Chefs from this region of Italy (Puglia — the heel of the Italian “boot”) visit the World Showcase outdoor kitchen several times daily to demonstrate cooking techniques and ingredients that make this region of Italy so famous. To see detailed recipes, click here.

Seminar Times for Taste of Puglia

Kitchen Set Up for Taste of Puglia

On the day I visited, the chef was demonstrating her pasta-making technique. What I found very “authentic,” though some might find it distracting, was that the chef described the techniques in Italian, which was translated to the audience by an interpreter.

Chef Explains Flour Textures

The Mirror Mounted Above the Cooking Surface Shows Detail

Close-Up View of the Dough

On the day I was there, and every time I’ve walked past the outdoor kitchen since, the seminars have been packed. It’s first-come-first-served, so consider arriving a bit early to ensure a seat.

Here’s a fantastic view of the finished product!

Finished Product

For more information and photos of the 2009 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, visit our Epcot Food and Wine Festival Index Page.

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