food IS a theme park
Our latest visit the Magic Kingdom did not disappoint as we were on the hunt for new food, drinks, merchandise, and construction updates for you!
Magic Kingdom at Halloween
This trip was chock full of updates! We’ll start out on Main Street USA. [Read more…]
Disney food friends, this is an urgent message — an urgent PIZZA message for those visiting Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom between now and September 5! You must make your way to Pinocchio Village Haus for a truly awesome flatbread that a cast member tells me will only be available until next week!
Pinocchio Village Haus
The Bacon Macaroni and Cheese Flatbread is the flatbread of the month at Pinnochio Village Haus. It starts with a crispy flatbread crust and is topped with sour cream, macaroni and cheese, three cheese blend, chives, and crumbled bacon bits!
Bacon Macaroni and Cheese Flatbread
This is a seriously delicious — and seriously filling — flatbread that combines some of my favorite things! The sour cream is an inspired choice of “sauce” that gives the whole thing a tangy, addictive quality (as if the three cheese blend and bacon weren’t irresistible enough!). But even if you’re not a huge Sour Cream fan, the whole thing blends together so well that it won’t stand out to you.
Bacon Macaroni and Cheese Flatbread
The macaroni and cheese is made with soft elbow noodles that contrast with the crispy crust (baked to golden brown!) and the chewy bacon bits.
Bacon Macaroni and Cheese Flatbread
The whole thing is basically a savory delight, complete with the bright green chives which provide a welcome, fresh respite from the intensely (ahhh-mazingly) salty, cheesy flatbread.
Bacon Macaroni and Cheese Flatbread
This one is SO. GOOD.! I’m bummed that this seasonal flatbread will be gone on September 5 because it’s something I would totally get again and again if it was a permanent part of the menu. Here’s hoping it’s popular enough to become a recurring special addition!
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What’s your dream flatbread combo? Tell us in the comments!
It’s happened! Our very first visit to Red Rose Taverne is in the books!!
“What’s Red Rose Taverne?” you ask? It’s a pop-up restaurant — Disney style! An homage to all things Beauty and the Beast — just in time for the feature film to hit theaters in less than a month.
Red Rose Taverne Sign
And instead of going to the trouble and expense of building Belle/Beast/Gaston their own place, those clever Imagineers decided to borrow Pinocchio’s digs for a bit. Yep — if you’re looking for Red Rose Taverne in Disneyland, head to the spot where Village Haus is in Fantasyland and you’ll find it!
As you can guess, this is a temporary situation. So intrepid Dining in Disneyland expert Heather Sievers didn’t waste any time getting there to try — well, pretty much everything on the menu.
See? It works. It’s not much of a stretch to think you’d find this medieval-esque building in a small, provincial town in France, mais oui? Clever types will note the sides of the Village Haus Sign peek out from beneath the Red Rose Taverne banner. And note that even though, Miss, this is France, Minute Maid is still the sponsor. 😉
Red Rose Taverne — Outside View
And now, we get to play a fun little game that I like to call Who Is Paying Attention to the Deets? In this archway at the entrance, you usually find Pinocchio being escorted right into trouble by Gideon and Honest John. A red curtain conveniently transforms the space. [Read more…]
Recently we let you in on an upcoming Disneyland special dining experience: for a limited time, Village Haus in Disneyland is being transformed into the Beauty and the Beast-inspired Red Rose Taverne. And now we know: it’s opening THIS FRIDAY!!!! February 24!
Village Haus Restaurant
Don’t worry: Village Haus isn’t being permanently evicted (just locked in the East Wing for a while). The Red Rose Taverne overlay is a limited time affair. In the meantime, we are so, so, so excited that the March 17 release of the live-action BATB is prompting so many cool tie-ins (like the gorgeous Belle-inspired cupcake that’s made an appearance on both coasts)! If you need us, we’ll be tying our napkins ’round our necks, cherie.
So when Disney Parks Blog released the menu for Red Rose Taverne, we just had to take a glance. It’s our duty. And we take it very seriously. Mrs. Potts-making-tea-for-her-guests seriously.
On a recent trip to Walt Disney World, I made it a mission to revisit one of my favorite restaurants, Jiko.
The restaurant is your top-of-the-line, signature dining option at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Resort, and I’ve been a big fan of the spot since my very first visit.
With a combination of wonderful ambiance, exotic flavors, and a killer wine list, it’s sure to please any adventurous food lover, and it always surprises me that it tends to fly a little under the radar. This may be because the food is a bit less mainstream, or because the restaurant is a hike to get to.
As regular readers know, though — no matter how much I like a restaurant, I insist on visiting and reviewing them time and again to make sure that I can still recommend them. Fortunately, that’s nearly always a pleasure to do.
Come with me as we take a look around and see what’s new at Jiko.
If you’re looking for Jiko, head down from the main lobby of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, past Victoria Falls Lounge, until you get to the bottom floor. Boma is below Victoria Falls, and then you can access The Mara and the resort’s pool here as well. Jiko is to the right.
Jiko Sign
Enter the refined space, and you see immediately that wine is given a place of prominence here. Jiko boasts the largest collection of African wines outside of the African continent. If you’re a wine lover, you’ll want to check out their suggested pairings. [Read more…]
So, it had been far too long since I’d been to Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano, and it was high time to head back.
Located in the Backlot area of Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Mama’s is a hodgepodge, with all sorts of Hollywood memorabilia smooshed into an old fashioned Italian restaurant.
The food here can be inconsistent (surprise), so you never really know what you’re going to get. But my past two visits have been great, so I was excited to check it out again.
Let’s take a look at my most recent lunch here, and see where this meal falls on the Disney Restaurant Continuum. (Wait til you see the picture of the STEAK!!!)
Mama Melrose’s is, well, a little strange. At first, it appears to a typical old-fashioned family restaurant that might be found in any large city’s Little Italy section.
Dining Room View From Outside
But once you move beyond the brick facade and really start to look around at the curious surroundings, you might inquire about the backstory to clear up the confusion.
The story behind Mama Melrose’s is a little “We Made This Story to Fit the Space.” But here goes.
A young girl from Italy with stars in her eyes makes her way across the US, in hopes of finding fame and fortune in Hollywood. But during her starving artist days, she found that her cooking was more successful than her acting.
Dining Room Inside
And so, she opened a restaurant at the urging of her friends in a vacant warehouse that had previously been used to store film equipment. Nicknamed “Mama Melrose” by her patrons, she gained the fame she was looking for — but it came via her authentic Italian cooking.
Since Mama was a poor, struggling actress — and a recent immigrant to boot — the dining room is set up with what she could find to make it cozy and comfortable. Low lighting from strands of lights give it a soft glow. (And who doesn’t love those little white lights?)
And chandeliers are mismatched — sometimes, right down to the glass globes around the bulbs.
Mismatched Shades
Quirky Lighting
Wall hangings celebrate Los Angeles, Mama’s new home, and her roots in Italy.
Wall Hangings
Of course, it is an Italian restaurant, and so you’ll also see foods — dried and cured sausages, cheese, pasta, and fruits and veggies — hanging around as well.
Food Decor at Mama's
Walls also hold pictures of [Read more…]
Today, I’m continuing my tour of Disney World’s bars and lounges with a trip to Mizner’s Lounge. Tucked into one end of the second floor at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, Mizner’s takes full advantage of views to the outside as well as the atrium.
Mizner's Sign
And if you’ve ever been in the Grand’s lobby in the evening and heard some bouncy jazz, this is where it was coming from!
I’m always interested in finding out what these spots serve. You can usually find some really interesting dishes in Disney’s resort lounges that reflect the theming of the hotel. Let’s check it out.
If I were to describe the vibe of Mizner’s decor in one word, it would be relaxed elegance. Here’s a pre-reno pic!
Mizner's Lounge During the Day
Theming here is understated, but the setting is comfortable. During the day, tons of natural light floods the room, giving it an airy feel.
Mizner's Bar
Potted palms and ornate carpets hint at the Victorian theme. Rather than [Read more…]
Let’s face it. Sometimes a Disney vacation can be absolutely exhausting! That’s why we like to seek out bars and lounges in which we can share fun with family and friends or relax while enjoying good food and special beverages.
Schweitzer Falls at Trader Sam’s Tiki Bar
A while back, we took a look at our Top 10 Disney World Bars and Lounges, and now it’s time to take a peek at our favorites in the Disneyland Parks and Resorts!
Here are our picks for Top Six Disneyland bars and lounges — a list that includes a little help from our Facebook Friends! Thanks for your input!
Ready to jump in? Here’s our favorite place to while away some time at the Disneyland Resort…
should be your first choice for chilling out in Disneyland!
This is due to some great bartenders, unique drinks (often served in souvenir glasses), good food, and, of course, the interactive activities here. (Careful not to sit on the sinking bar stools!)
This place is an awesome tropical retreat located at the Disneyland Hotel. Check out our Trader Sam’s Review here!
Trader Sam’s Bar
While there is indoor and outdoor seating, all of the action is inside where there is limited seating (about 50 spots); so get here early as evenings may be quite crowded.
Located in Disney California Adventure, the Cove Bar (not to be mistaken for Cove Cafe on the Disney Cruise Ships or the Cove Bar at Disney World’s Contemporary Resort…) is your place to escape the long lines and hot sun while enjoying great water-side views.
View from Cove Bar
Leave the thrills behind and savor specialty drinks and craft beers. The Raspberry Rain is a memorable choice! Look for an attractive menu offering my favorite, Buffalo Wings, and Lobster Nachos.
Make the Hearthstone Lounge in the Grand Californian Resort a must-do in Disneyland.
Whether you are looking for some quiet alone time or bringing along friends, this cozy fireside lounge has a lodge theme and soaring ceilings that immediately relax you. And that’s before your first drink order!
Take a seat at the bar, on a cozy sofa, or at a [Read more…]
Today, it’s time to check back in on one of Disney’s more hidden eateries — Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
As I’ve observed before (and many of you have agreed), you just never know what you’re going to get when you dine at Mama Melrose’s. Sometimes it’s mundane, and sometimes it’s great — and it’s the “greats” that keep me going back for more! What will it be today? Here we go!
Not much has changed in the atmosphere department since my last trip to Mama’s. We were greeted with the same general decor that we found on previous visits: warm, cozy, inviting, and slightly bizarre.
Atmosphere in Waiting Area
…The story goes that Mama came west from Italy to make her name in Hollywood. While the actress fame didn’t pan out, she opened her “Ristorante Italiano” and gained a place in the heart of her new city that way! And so, the interior reflects the journey from Italy all the way to Hollywood. Though I feel like there’s a hearty helping of New York City’s Little Italy in there, too.
Show Kitchen
We arrived on time for our Spring Break reservation, but we had a bit of a wait before our table was ready. (Full disclosure — I asked for one of the rare window-side tables so that my photos would come out a bit better, so that might have been why the wait was longer).
While we waited, the kitchen staff were busily assembling [Read more…]
When planning meals for our October trip to Walt Disney World, I realized it had been a LONG time since we’d visited California Grill at Disney’s Contemporary Resort! And I haven’t reported on it here on the blog for over a year, so I figured it was time to get a little updating in!
Let’s head over to the check-in desk, shall we…?
To access California Grill, guests need to head to the 2nd floor of the Contemporary Resort and visit the restaurant’s check-in desk (you can get here by elevator, or by taking the stairs/from the back of the lobby).
Once you’re checked in, you’ll be waved over to a special elevator — one used only for California Grill guests — and taken up to the restaurant itself on the 15th floor of the hotel!
Entry from Elevators
I’m always immediately impressed by the nearly 360-degree view of Walt Disney World. The gorgeous, sprawling Grand Floridian Resort in front of you; the spires of Cinderella Castle, Big Thunder mountain, and Space Mountain to your right; and the Wilderness Lodge and Epcot to your left will make it difficult for most folks to tear themselves away from the walls of windows to take a look at the menu!
When you walk in, you’ll be greeted at the podium and (likely) handed a pager. No worries; there’s lots to do while you’re waiting. Start walking toward the windows and you’ll pass the California Grill Bar and head into the lounge area.
California Grill Bar
California Grill Bar
California Grill Lounge
Here’s a tip! If you don’t have a [Read more…]
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