food IS a theme park
Thanks to Reader Joey Beyer for sending these yummy snack pictures from Goofy’s Candy Co.!
Clearly Disney World is gearing up for the upcoming holidays — St. Patrick’s Day and Easter! Check out these green-inspired treats for St. Paddy’s day!
St. Patrick's Day Treats
Green Snacks
And with Easter right around the corner, check out these cute [Read more…]
Great news for So Cal folks — Orange County Restaurant Week takes place February 26 – March 3, 2012. This delicious event only takes place once per year and includes some great Downtown Disney District restaurants!
With fun, unique menus designed by amazing chefs, this is a great opportunity to try out a restaurant for a set cost (usually a pretty great deal, too!). Take advantage of this annual opportunity to sample some new eats, impress your loved one with a romantic meal, or grab a group of friends for a memorable outing.
Be sure to try our favorite Red Velvet Roulade at Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen! No tickets are necessary. Just make a reservation, then dine at your chosen restaurant.
Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen Red Velvet Roulade
Some of our favorite Downtown Disney District restaurants are participating! Check out the menus below… [Read more…]
Each year the James Beard Foundation spotlights the best food and beverage professionals by bestowing the Beard Awards — considered one of the highest culinary honors in North America!
The semifinalists in the 2012 Restaurant and Chef categories have been announced, and we’re thrilled to see two Disney chefs on the list! In addition, several Orlando-area chefs were also named. The finalists will be announced on March 19, 2012, in Las Vegas. And we’ll be cheering on our faves when the winners are announced on May 7th in New York City!
Scott Hunnel, Victoria & Albert’s Restaurant
Congratulations to award-winning chef, Scott Hunnel of Victoria & Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa! Under Hunnel’s innovative leadership, Victoria and Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort has won many prestigious local, national, and international nods.
This exclusive restaurant has also won nine consecutive AAA Five Diamond Awards and twenty consecutive Mobil Travel Guide Four Star Awards.
Chef Scott Hunnel
James and Julie Petrakis, The Ravenous Pig
The Ravenous Pig is located in Winter Park, FL, very close to Orlando and Walt Disney World. Stop in for “an American gastropub experience” — casual dining with [Read more…]
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and Marceline’s in Disneyland’s Downtown Disney District has some season-specific treats that taste just as yummy as they look!
Marceline's in Downtown Disney
In addition to the “standard” holiday treats that return every year, and some basic staples of Marceline’s that I thought were “Valentine Appropriate,” I came across these new and quite beautiful “rose” like cupcakes — chocolate cupcakes with a giant dollop of vanilla frosting in the shape of a pretty flower.
And these princess-pink cupcakes make a great complement.
Vanilla Cupcakes with Mile High Pink Frosting
We love the specialty Disney-themed chocolate boxes no matter what they say, but this one might be particularly fitting for this time of year!
One of the most-loved flavors of Selma’s cookies takes the spotlight during the [Read more…]
So, with the great news about Earl of Sandwich coming to Disneyland, I thought I’d do a little review about some new (to me) Earl desserts I tried at the Orlando Downtown Disney location a couple of months ago!
First, let’s start with a quick look back. When I first found what I call the “browning frosting sandwich” on a past visit to Earl of Sandwich, I was floored.
This was not only the best brownie I’d ever had; it was also some pretty reliable frosting, which is hard to find when you’re a frosting snob like I am!!
Earl of Sandwich Brownie Creme Dessert Sandwich
So I was pretty excited when I realized that not only do they have the vanilla frosting version of this giant dessert — they also have…wait for it…PEANUT BUTTER!!!! AND CHOCOLATE!!!! versions of it! I had to give them a try, too, of course, and here’s the review!
You never know what you’re going to get with a peanut butter dessert. Will it be more like a “peanut butter meets sugar and heavy cream” kind of whipped fiasco, or will it be more like a Reese’s peanut butter cup — sweet, but substantial?
Peanut Butter Brownie Sandwich
In this case, I’d definitely say it’s more the latter. The peanut butter “frosting” here is less of a frosting and more of a filling.
PB Brownie Sandwich Close-Up
I imagine I could have [Read more…]
Even more beer news on the blog this week!!
Teaming up with Orlando Brewing, Downtown Disney’s Portobello Restaurant has announced a Beer Dinner for February 22, 2012!
Portobello’s Executive Chef Steven Richard has teamed up with Celebrity Chefs Tony Mantuano and Sara Grueneberg to create a four-course, trattoria-inspired menu with perfectly paired brews.
Enjoy interacting with Chef Mantuano (Top Chef Masters, Season two) and Chef Grueneberg (Top Chef-Texas).
We’ve been told that this will book up quickly, so make your reservations soon!
Reception: 6:30 p.m.
Dinner: 7:00 p.m.
Cost: $59.95 per person, plus tax and gratuity.
ANTIPASTI
Salumi, formaggi, crostini, farmer’s market [Read more…]
We were excited about the rumor last month that Earl of Sandwich was coming to Disneyland…and now it’s official!!
Disneyland announced today that our favorite Orlando sandwich shop will open a new location in Downtown Disney in early Summer 2012.
Disney Concept Art -- Earl of Sandwich, Disneyland Resort
“We pride ourselves in giving our guests a unique experience at Downtown Disney through different retail and food offerings,” said Tony Bruno, vice president of Resort Hotels and Downtown Disney. “This will be the only Earl of Sandwich in California and it is sure to be a favorite among our guests as it has been at Walt Disney World for nearly eight years.”
The new restaurant will be adjacent to the [Read more…]
Downtown Disney’s Raglan Road has announced Valentine’s Day and St. Patrick’s Day events. There also new gluten-free items on the menu and a fun, professional photo opportunity!
Raglan Road has added gluten-free dishes to their menu including Scallops, Fish & Chips, and Calamari & Pasta. To create a light and crisp batter that is also delicious, the culinary team devised a gluten fee batter mix made with Champagne and garbanzo flour!
Gluten Free Fish and Chips
Raglan Road invites all guests with a special diet to talk to a server about menu items that are available for modification to meet various nutritional needs.
Head over to Raglan Road’s Facebook page (I’m a fan!!) and become a fan to be entered to win a [Read more…]
Great news for California-bound cupcake lovers! The Cupcake Store has opened another kiosk in Anaheim’s Downtown Disney District!
Many of you will remember when the company opened up a kiosk in Downtown Disney in 2009, and it looks like they’re back with even more offerings this year.
Cupcake Store Kiosk
Heather headed out there last night to snap a few pics. The store is offering several flavors of individually packaged cupcakes.
A few items on the menu
I think the Lemon cupcakes look amazing, but those red velvet and chocolate ones look pretty fantastic, too!
Lemon and Pure Vanilla
red velvet and pure chocolate
Of course there are plenty more to choose from — just take a look at these!! [Read more…]
Heather Sievers is the Disney Food Blog’s Dining in Disneyland columnist. See more of her columns here!EDITOR’S UPDATE: Please note that ESPN Zone in the Downtown Disney District closed in June 2018 to make way for a new hotel coming to Disneyland Resort.
Looking for somewhere to eat lunch; a friend of mine and my two boys decided on ESPN Zone. It had been forever since I’d eaten there, so I figured it was time to give it another chance.
ESPN Zone, Downtown Disney
One of the reasons I don’t like going there is because of the upstairs video arcade. The arcade is awesome! It’s state of the art and has realistic sports themed arcade games and a pretty cool rock wall. My problem: I hate being BEGGED by my kids to play games that cost a small fortune. SO, unless it is a special occasion, no games. On this visit, I established that this was a lunch only situation, don’t even bother to ask about playing the games. 😉
The restaurant is a sports-lover’s dream, with tons of sports memorabilia and enough flat screen TVs to watch every single sports event taking place at the time.
Check in Area (Sports Arena aka arcade is located upstairs)
Sports Memorabilia Filled Lobby/Waiting Area with Stairs Leading to Arcade
There are indoor and outdoor dining areas, so you’re welcome to eat on the patio if you’d like. However, you’re then subject to the creepy face-moving sports players that adorn the outside of the ESPN Zone building.
They’ve freaked me out since the day I laid eyes on them years and years ago (AJ’s weirded out by them, too). I’ve included a video of these guys at the end of the post, so feel free to check ’em out!
Side Patio Seating with Creepy Head Moving Baseball Player
Indoor Dining Area Features Many Flat Screens
6 Seat Table Top
After checking in, I made my way to the bathroom so I could share something pretty awesomely hilarious with you. [Read more…]
Our handy (and portable!) ebook guides make sure you get the best deals and can plan a vacation of a lifetime.
