Christmas in July at the Disney Food Blog

Christmas (Eve) is in exactly six months, and I thought it’d be fun to visit a couple of Disney resorts and their food-rific Christmas decor! You’ll have to forgive me that these photos are a few years old (2005, I think), but we all know that gingerbread scenes are where it’s at for Disney resorts at Christmas-time, so at least they’re up-to-date in concept!

Disney’s Boardwalk Inn: “Santa’s Toy Workshop”
Disney bakers have a history of hiding characters — including hidden Mickeys — in their gingerbread scenes. This one has the fab five hidden throughout!

Boardwalk Inn Gingerbread Display: Santa's Toy Workshop

And of course, this is all made out of edible ingredients!

Santa's Toy Workshop Ingredients

The Beach Club: “Gingerbread Carousel”
The gingerbread carousel at the Beach Club is pretty much the same every year. Yep, the horses change, but the concept remains. And if you’ve seen the Travel Channel special, you know that there’s usually a white chocolate hidden Mickey somewhere on the display.

Beach Club Gingerbread Carousel

And, again, completely edible — and a group effort!

Carousel Ingredients

Hopefully this will put you in the holiday spirit a bit and remind you of all the wonderful Disney food to come over the holiday season! 🙂 Happy Holidays and Happy Christmas in July!

(PS: I take NO responsibility for the lot of you who are about to go check and see if there are any good deals on Disney resorts at Christmastime right about now…no responsibility at all!)

Kouzzina by Cat Cora Opening Sept. 17th; Book Your ADR From July 24th

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Cat and Mouse

According to @DisneyParks on twitter, Cat Cora’s “Kouzzina” restaurant — the replacement for Spoodles — will be opening on September 17th.

You can book reservations at 407-WDW-DINE or online starting July 24th.

Le Cellier Cheddar Cheese Soup…to go?

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Today the Food Blog has been shocked and excited to learn that maybe…just maybe…it’s possible to get Cheddar Cheese Soup from the Epcot World Showcase Canada Pavilion’s famous Le Cellier steakhouse without a coveted (and hard-to-get) advanced dining reservation! Guest poster James Chapman from the (soon to be live) DisneyfotoBlog.com shares his experience and photos.2012 NOTE: We have heard that the Soup to Go option has not been available for quite some time. 🙁

I first had the Canadian Cheese Soup at the 2008 Food & Wine Festival and absolutely loved it! I never would have thought that “cheese soup” would turn out to be one of my favorite foods from the event, along with the chocolate on chocolate dessert from the African cart, the Empanada de Queso from Chile, and Spanakopita from Greece.

Cheddar Cheese Soup, Breadsticks, and Moosehead Beet

Amy and I were fortunate to have two wonderful visits to the Food & Wine Festival last year: once during late September where the lines were 2-5 people deep, and then in early November on the last weekend of the event with the park slammed and the lines 10-20 people deep. We enjoyed both visits and had a great time tasting either a dinner, wine, or dessert from each of the 25 carts along the walkway. During our second visit in November, I had the opportunity to try the cheese soup from the Canadian cart, paired with a Moosehead beer, and both were delicious!

Having had the opportunity to try the cheese soup during the festival, I hoped that I would have another chance to taste it again during a future visit to Epcot. During our June 2009 visit, with Amy and Chloe enjoying a ride on Nemo at the Living Seas Pavilion, and while I was out taking photographs at the World Showcase, I decided to stop by the Le Cellier Steakhouse to see if I could purchase a “cup-to-go” for lunch!

Cheese Soup Thief

I wasn’t quite sure if I’d be successful as reservations are required, however, a kind host welcoming guests to the restaurant spoke to a waiter inside; within a few moments, I not only had a cup of cheese soup to go, but also three delectable bread sticks! I strolled up to the beer cart and purchased a Moosehead beer to go along with the soup and found a nearby quiet location to sit down and enjoy my feast.

Just to confirm, folks, you can order the soup any time of the year just by walking up to the podium at Le Cellier! There are no seasonal restrictions. Bon Appetit! –AJ

2009 Food and Wine Festival Seminars and Demonstrations

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These are low-cost (or FREE!) with Epcot Admission. Again, from Disneyworld.com:

Book the $8 events in advance at the Disney F&W Festival Registration Page

Authentic Taste Seminars
Each of these 30-minute seminars celebrates the origins, properties and history of some of the world’s purest ingredients. Enjoy a lively and informative presentation by subject authorities.
Friday — Sunday at 2:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
Price: Included with Epcot admission.

Authors without Borders
Listen to renowned authors from the food and wine industries speak about popular topics in these informative and enlightening 30-minute conversations.
Friday — Sunday at 12:00 p.m. and 3:45 p.m.
Price: Included with Epcot admission.

[Read more…]

Epcot Food and Wine Festival Kiosk Countries and Menus

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Click Here for 2010 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Menus for the World Showcase Booths!

Below, you’ll find the 2009 Booths and Menus from the Epcot Food and Wine Festival. While many are being duplicated for the 2010 festival, click on the link above to see full menus and photos for the 2010 Booths.

Come hungry, and sample some tapas-sized portions of these delicious items all the way “around the world!”

Athens, Greece
Location: Canada Pavilion

* • Greek Salad with Pita Bread
* • Spanakopita (Savory Spinach and Cheese Pastry)
* • Chicken Souvlaki with Tzatziki
* • Baklava
* • Beverage Selection: Boutari Moschofilero, Boutari Santorini, Kourtaki Mavrodaphne of Patras, Tsantali Rapsani

Bangkok, Thailand – NEW
Location: Africa Outpost

* • Chicken and Coconut Soup, with Mushrooms, Lemongrass & Ginger
* • Green Papaya Salad with Shrimp
* • Beverage Selection: Singha Beer

Barcelona, Spain
Location: Mexico Pavilion

* • Taste of Spain (Serrano Ham, Chorizo, Manchego, Olives, Tomato Bread)
* • Red Snapper Escabeche
* • Crema Catalana
* • Beverage Selection: Poema Cava Brut, Bodega Don Olegario Albariño, Poema Verdejo, Abadia Retuerta Selección Especial

Bologna, Italy
Location: Italy Pavilion

* • Pizza
* • Cannelloni
* • Polpetti (Italian Meatballs with traditional tomato sauce)
* • Beverage Selection: Prosecco, Chianti Placido, Pinot Sartori, Acqua Panna, Primavera (Strawberry, Banana, and Peach Slush)

[Read more…]

2009 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Details

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Details are trickling out about the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival!

To book any and all activities and events, reservations open on August 11 at 7:00AM. Call 407-WDW-FEST (939-3378). Theme park admission is usually required, along with a reservation and extra payment for the event.

Check out the Disney Food and Wine Festival Page for info and more updates.

Culinary Adventures — Signature Dining Experiences
Celebrity chefs pair up with Walt Disney World restaurant big cheeses to develop a 5-course meal. Schedule and celebrity chefs include:

10/1 6:30 p.m. Jiko–The Cooking Place — Suvir Saran
10/1 7:00 p.m. Portobello Italian Trattoria — Tony Mantuano
10/13 6:15 p.m. Ragland Road — Kevin Dundon
10/15 5:30 p.m. Flying Fish Café — Tim Keating
10/16 6:30 p.m. bluezoo — Todd English
10/22 6:30 p.m. The Wave — Frank Brough
10/25 6:30 p.m. Victoria & Albert’s — Scott Hunnel
10/29 6:30 p.m. California Grill — Brian Piasecki
10/30 6:30 p.m. Wonders Retreat — Jean Claude Boisset vs. Jean Charles Boisset Wines
11/5 6:30 p.m. Cítricos — Phillip Ponticelli

Price: $100.00-$375.00 per person, plus tax. Gratuity included. Theme park admission is not required.

Food and Wine Pairing Meals
An old favorite returns.

Saturdays, 2:30–4:00 p.m. — Tutto Italia Ristorante
Mondays, 3:30–5:00 p.m. — Tokyo Dining
Tuesdays, 3:30–5:00 p.m. — Restaurant Marrakesh

Price: $55.00 per person, plus tax. Gratuity included. Theme park admission is required.

Mexico Tequila Tastings
A NEW addition!
La Cava del Tequila, Mexico Pavilion

Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 3:00 p.m.

Price: $35.00 per person, plus tax. Gratuity included. Theme park admission is required.

[Read more…]

2009 Epcot Food and Wine Festival…Info Almost Here!

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Update! It’s here! Check out my Epcot Food and Wine Festival page-o-links for all the details!

So, I’ve been watching Disney World’s Food and Wine Festival Web Page like a hawk so that I can post info immediately! So far, they’ve clearly put in links that will click over to the detailed info…but the links are 404 at the moment! Stay tuned… I sense info coming soon… !

Undignified Dining

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There are two restaurants in Disney World that people either love…or hate! And it’s not because of the food; it’s because of the service. Not that 50’s Prime Time Cafe and Whispering Canyon Cafe have bad service; you simply have to know what to expect.

Disney incorporates “story” into all of its theme parks, rides, hotels, and restaurants. And in these two particular restaurants, the “story” is that you’re being served in an atmosphere that calls for a little less dignity and a few more pranks.

50's Prime Time Cafe

50’s Prime Time Cafe

The 50’s Prime Time Cafe in Disney’s Hollywood Studios has long been the place to get fried chicken, meatloaf, chicken soup, and other mom-a-rific favorites. The story here is that you’re eating in Mom’s kitchen, and that your server is some sort of relative — aunt, cousin, uncle, brother…you get the idea.

To make this “comforts of home” story even more real, Disney has trained its cast members at 50’s Prime Time Cafe to treat their customers as family. They bring around photo albums to show the table and ask about Aunt Betty and Cousin James. But they also tell customers to keep their elbows off the table, finish their vegetables, and set the table!

Of course, if you don’t decide to follow directions, punishments which range from slightly embarrassing to hilarious may ensue! Should you find yourself pinning a sugar packet to the wall with your nose, standing in the corner, or singing “I’m a Little Teapot” — with motions — in front of a restaurant full of your new best friends, don’t say we didn’t warn you!

Whispering Canyon Cafe

Whispering Canyon Cafe Warnings

While Whispering Canyon Cafe at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge doesn’t have quite the same reputation for humiliation as does 50’s Prime Time Cafe, you will definitely experience your fair share of pranks here!

Cast members adopt specific personalities, complete with wacky nicknames, that harken back to the old west. There’s not a lot of respect for niceties around these parts. You may have napkins and straws thrown at your table, and making a cell phone call from your seat probably isn’t smart — your waiter might want to have a word with the person on the other end! Of course, the last thing you want to do is ask for ketchup… unless, of course, you really like ketchup! (I won’t post specifics, but if you request the info via the “contact us” button above, I’ll give you the low-down.)

So you think you might want ketchup...?

But the games and pranks are all in fun, and kiddos have a great time at this restaurant. There are sing-a-long songs, hobby horse races, coloring pages, and other games. And, of course, the repeat-after-me vows to “stay up as late as I can,” and “never, ever go to Universal Studios.”

So Go Have Some Fun!
I think that a lot of folks who dislike these restaurants simply aren’t prepared for the type of service that’s customary. Once you know what you’re in for, you can be ready for it…and even have a few zingers ready for retorts! That said, if “interactive” service isn’t for you, just let your server know that you’d rather watch the fun rather than be a part of it. Shouldn’t be a problem in either restaurant. Enjoy!

Photo Credits:
Ketchup: EdenPictures via flickr
Prime Time Cafe: JoshMcConnell via flickr
Special Thanks to WildernessLodgeSite.com

Dine with an Imagineer Review

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Disney's Hollywood Brown Derby Restaurant

Brad at StitchKingdom.com recently did a fantastic review of the Dine With a Disney Imagineer experience, and I hope you’ll click on that link and read all about it.

Personally, I’ve never had the chance to take part in this cool opportunity, and I’m so glad to be able to share the details with you through the insightful description (and food photos!!) on StitchKingdom.

From the Disney Website:
Dine with an Imagineer at Walt Disney World Resort offers a one-of-a-kind opportunity to enjoy engaging conversation with a Disney Imagineer as you savor a delectable lunch at the chic Bamboo Room of the Hollywood Brown Derby restaurant in Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park.

Up to 8 Guests join in stimulating discussion with one of the incredibly creative artists who bring the magic of Disney to Walt Disney World Resort attractions and entertainment. Feast on a 4-course meal and receive a souvenir plate designed exclusively for this experience that can be personalized by the Imagineer!

Price: $60.99 Guest 10 and older; $34.99 Guest 3 to 9; (6.5% tax and 18% gratuity will automatically be added to the check)
Call (407) 939-5665 to book.

Photo Credit: CP via flickr

Goofy’s Candy Company

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Whether you call them candy or sweets, when you’re on Disney property they’re going to have Goofy’s stamp of approval! Gummies, sour balls, gumdrops, and more — Goofy’s got them all.

Candy Company Product Example

Goofy’s Candy Company was developed as Disney’s own candy brand (why pay someone else when the profit could be your own?), which is sold throughout the parks, resorts, and Disney properties worldwide. The story behind this brand is that Goofy, the beloved best pal to Mickey himself, owns and operates a colorful candy company; he even has the credentials to prove it!

Goofy's Candy Expert Credentials (Note the cool hidden Mickey in the woodgrain above!)

Sour Apple Eating Contest: First Place!

And in Disney World’s Downtown Disney, Goofy’s newly renovated candy wonderland opened its doors in 2005.

Downtown Disney Candy Company Entrance

Formerly Goofy’s Candy Kitchen, the need to popularize and promote the Goofy’s Candy Company product fostered the renovation — and movement into a much larger space — of the store. And while the kids who went to Wonka’s had to take what they could get, the folks who go to Goofy’s have the opportunity to dream up and create anything they want!

Make-Your-Own Glacier

That’s right! Goofy’s created an interactive paradise for sugar-fiends! There are two ways to “have it your way” at Goofy’s: Glaciers and choose-your-own-toppings treats.

Glacier Goofy

Glaciers (which are, basically, slurpees) come in eight flavors, including gawrshly berry blue and pucker purple, but the fun part is that you get to customize your cup! Purchasing the souvenir container allows you to choose a “hat” and “feet” (think “Mr. Potato Head”) for your Glacier cup in addition to your flavor (or flavors!). You can have a Mickey cup, a Minnie cup, a Goofy cup, a Stitch cup, a Princess cup…. .

And on the other side of the store, you can order your choose-your-own-toppings treats! Here, you choose a “base” item, e.g. an apple, a rice krispie treat, pretzel rods, marshmallows, and Mickey-shaped gingerbread cookies, which you then get to cover with two layers of toppings. The first, a “sticky” topping, includes choices like milk chocolate, white chocolate, and caramel. The second, a “stick-on” topping, includes options like butterfinger or oreo cookie crumbles, chocolate chips, mini M&Ms, nuts, and sprinkles.

Vat-o-Goo Candy Apple Maker

Now, don’t forget, this is Disney, so every other sweet food item you’ve seen on property is available for sale here, too. Cookies, biscuits, bulk candy (sold by the pound), tinned candy, Goofy’s Sour Powder — even a few items that aren’t exclusively made by Goofy (that’s right — Goofy even sells competing companies’ candies once in a while). So this is a great place to come to pick up a gift to bring home for the office mates.

Goofy's Sour Candy Powder

Jelly Bellies

And once you have your creations ready to eat, wave goodbye to Goofy on your way out!

One Version of a Final Product -- Rice Krispie Treat 'n' Stuff

Editor’s Note: I’ve never been able to visit Goofy’s Candy Company without incurring a massive stomach ache within 3 hours of leaving. This is just a warning. Carry on and good luck. 😉

Photo Credits: JoshMcConnell via flickr
Photos 3-7, 9, 11
Photo Credit: J&E’s Photos via flickr
Photo 1
Photo Credit: _aurora1982 via twitpic
Photo 10

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