California Grill - Picture Report - Relive the experience! ADDED MAY '09 Pics Page 23

[ehagerty]

Well, I just finished posting my pictures from last night - and IE times me out (I usually use Firefox), wipes out my work. Will have to re-do, but don't have the heart for it at the moment. Later.

 

[Flossbolna]

I am so sorry all your work got lost, but I am soooo much looking forward to your new pictures!!! I hope you had a fantastic meal!

 

[hmillerbarilla]

I'm really looking forward to the pics too! You always so such a great job!
We're going to the world in less than a month, and I'm really hoping to pop in for some sushi & wine. YUM!

 

[Princess_Melanie]

This thread is AMAZING!! I booked me and DBF there for next week - I'm taking him to WDW for a week for his 30th Birthday and it was a huge secret surprise! I asked him for a list of restaurants he'd like to try a year ago and one of them was CG - having seen the thread I'm sooooo excited!!

They have his reservation marked as a Birthday, and I need to call back to mark my cheese allergy on the reservation (I totally forgot when I made the bookings at 180 days - I was under pressure to get them right!!)

Thank you so much for taking all the amazing pictures - they are really something!!

 

[mamaprincess]

Your photos are just phenomenal! Absolutely breath-taking. You are truly an artist. Thank you so much for sharing your exceptional talent with us. CG is now on my list for our next trip.

 

[luckytobeme88]

Ellen, it's great to see that you have some new and beautiful as always pictures to add.

 

[TigerKat]

Well, I just finished posting my pictures from last night - and IE times me out (I usually use Firefox), wipes out my work. Will have to re-do, but don't have the heart for it at the moment. Later.

Can't wait!

 

[ehagerty]

I will post pictures from home later this weekend, along with our once-a-decade meal at V&A. Other than that, we have pretty much given up on the dining plan and reverted to enjoying inexpensive family meals in our DVC room, with the occasional DDE night out.

See you then!

 

[FredQc]

I'm going to Disney World with the regular Disney Dining Plan for the first time and I just made a reservation for the California Grill. I know that DDP doesn't include appetizer, but is the same rule applied in 2TS restaurants?

 

[ehagerty]

I hope you had a fantastic meal!

We did, thank you!

We're going to the world in less than a month, and I'm really hoping to pop in for some sushi & wine. YUM!

Sushi - outstanding, as always
Wine - you may already be an expert, but if, like me, you are not, definitely ask for recommendation from the staff. Billy, our server this trip, recommended a very reasonable "Mer Soliel, Central Coast" ($15/glass) that I really liked...

I booked me and DBF there for next week - I'm taking him to WDW for a week for his 30th Birthday and it was a huge secret surprise! I asked him for a list of restaurants he'd like to try a year ago and one of them was CG - having seen the thread I'm sooooo excited!!

They have his reservation marked as a Birthday, and I need to call back to mark my cheese allergy on the reservation (I totally forgot when I made the bookings at 180 days - I was under pressure to get them right!!)

I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

CG is now on my list for our next trip.

Always glad hear people are willing to give it a try - let us know how it goes!

Ellen, it's great to see that you have some new and beautiful as always pictures to add.

Thanks - and go, Sabres!! (My parents had to provide game time updates last week, as they are no broadcast even at ESPN unless playing a local or large-market team).

I'm going to Disney World with the regular Disney Dining Plan for the first time and I just made a reservation for the California Grill. I know that DDP doesn't include appetizer, but is the same rule applied in 2TS restaurants?

Actually, I am not sure, as rules change annually. This being January, I refer you the following links for more accurate information:

Click here for link to allearsnet recap of dining plan

Click here for discussion thread to ask questions

 

[ehagerty]

Background - from 2001-2005, we bought and used food vouchers (no longer available, no need to ask how to get them!!). From 2006-2007, we used the DDP to the max. Starting in 2008, we experimented between DDP and DDE (as annual passholders, we enrolled). For 2009, we are unlikely to use the DDP - having to pay the tip out of pocket "sealed the deal". This is not really a discussion of the merits of the various plans (they are discussed more fully on other threads), but rather a backdrop to today's post, specifically (a) the precipitous decline the number of food pictures overall and (b) how we choose the "remaining" restaurants where we choose to spend money.

Context - this was just a quick getaway from winter, post Christmas, before sons return to college. Meal "plan" was to shop at Wal-mart and eat in room (which we did), with 2 exceptions:
(a) California Grill - which never disappoints for food, wine, ambience
(b) Victoria & Albert - a one-a-decade meal, different thread.

Setting

Wednesday, January 7 was the only overcast day we had. It makes for a spectacular sunset, but limits the natural light which showcases many of the previous pictures posted.

Here is the sunset. Food pictures with flash to follow.

.

 

[ehagerty]

Creamy Butternut Squash Soup with Poached Lobster, crisp Apple, and Coriander-Lime Creme Fraiche

This may look like just another cup of soup, but it was a delight on all levels. My children have never been willing to eat squash - in other words, preconceived preferences should be overlooked when considering trying this dish - we all loved this!! It had many interesting complex flavors and textures. While offered as "amuse bouche", it is available on the menu - and we all hope it will be on the menu when we return in May. Voted "best overall" in a meal composed of all great dishes. Must try for anyone who thinks it sounds interesting.

Created by Chef Dennis:

one of the ever friendly, accessible chefs and restaurant staff at the California Grill....



BTW - my son commented that he had never heard of "amuse bouche" before - and then he heard it 3 times this trip. They had enough French to translate "amuse the mouth" - fancy French phrase for "tickle the tastebuds". Anytime!

 

[ehagerty]

Roasted Chicken Applewood Bacon, Crisp Romaine, Sweet Onions, Provolone, and Lemon Mayonnaise

This doesn't beautifully display the dish - I forgot the "pre-eat" photo - but it still gives a sense of what it looks like.

It was tasty, but not very challenging - the kind of dish they have to have in each category for someone who doesn't like any unfamiliar flavors. Highly recommended for the cunlinary unadventurers club.

Myself, I would have ordered "Bresaola and Gruyere Cheese Flatbread with Caramelized Onions and Winter Black Truffle". Next time.

 

[ehagerty]

...and Olive Oil

If you have followed previous posts, you know how much the sun can improve a picture - but at least it is still "informative" as to what you will get in the way of bread. Fresh, crisp, delicious, as always.

 

[PNO4TE]

As usual, Ellen, your photography is superb.

 

[ehagerty]

If you like sushi, try it here!!

Deluxe Sushi Platter - Maki & Nigiri

Yoshe, hard at work, at the sushi station - one of these trips I want to sit here!!

Custom Sushi entree

- half Double-crunch Rainbow Roll - cobia, salmon, tuna, tempura crunch and tobikko
- half Tempura "Malibu" Roll - grouper, snapper, cobia, hamachi, tuna tartare, and spice sesame sauce

with a close up

Yoshe, takes a moment to great us

.

 

[ehagerty]

Striped Bass with Crispy Rock Shrimp, Roasted Potatoes, Onions, Celeriac, "Chowder" Cream, Piquillo Rouille

Pan-Roasted Grouper Fillet with Olive Oil-Crushed Potatoes, Cipollini Onions, and Red Wine Butter Sauce

Both were superb - I could have made a meal out of the potatoes and red wine butter sauce.....



-------------------------------------------------
Also had a Oak-fired Filet of Beef with Cheesy Yukon Gold Potato Mash, Sauteed Broccolini and Teriyaki Barbeque Sauce.

Picture didn't turn out, but I can confirm that it looked that same as all previous pictures of the beef filet. Flavor, texture, sauce - all great. Lacking only in adventure, almost assuredly "by design", to satsfy customer tastes. Hmmmm. Maybe they could offer the filet 2 different ways, one for the unadventurous and another for the adventurous. FYI - the price for this entree is now $48 - ouch!
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For dessert, we shared the warm chocolate valrhona cake, walked onto the balcony for Wishes, concluding another wonderful evening in the kingdom.

Many, many thanks to the kindness and talents of the staff for a memorable meal - yet ANOTHER memorable meal. Particular thanks to Bridget (the manager), Dennis (chef), Billy (server).

This concludes my picture report for January. You can either follow me over to Victoria and Albert, or sit tight for May's "California Grill - Part 10" (or whatever number we are up to...).

 

[Flossbolna]

Thanks for all the wonderful pictures and the review! The sunset is spectacular! We will be eating there in two weeks at 5:30 pm. After reading your reports, I really wanted to experience CG at daylight. Our first two visits were for the fireworks, so it was dark outside.

I have read on allears.net that the chef at California Grill has changed. Have you heard anything about this?

 

[TheDISneyFamily]

Myself, I would have ordered "Bresaola and Gruyere Cheese Flatbread with Caramelized Onions and Winter Black Truffle". Next time.

Thank you for posting your outstanding photos! I'm glad you had another fine meal at CG, and I look forward to seeing your V&A photos!

We will be dining at CG in a few days, and if the flatbread you mentioned is still on the menu, we will definitely order it! Sounds delicious!

Thanks again,
Michelle

 

[DWFan4Life]

If you like sushi, try it here!!

Deluxe Sushi Platter - Maki & Nigiri

Yoshe, hard at work, at the sushi station - one of these trips I want to sit here!!

Custom Sushi entree

- half Double-crunch Rainbow Roll - cobia, salmon, tuna, tempura crunch and tobikko
- half Tempura "Malibu" Roll - grouper, snapper, cobia, hamachi, tuna tartare, and spice sesame sauce

with a close up

Yoshe, takes a moment to great us

.

Wow, nice serving. It really looks amazing and delicious. Iwill try this in our next trip.

Is it available for DDP?