We Smelled It...It Had to be Eaten, Part II ... Ding, Dong, Done!!!

[oybolshoi]

The opening of your review had me rolling in the aisle again! You are so funny The only downside is that you never asked for any of the recipes while you're at these restaurants The last time I was in Disney World I came back with at least 25 new recipes and the drink ones are the easiest of all to collect. All you have to do is jot down a few ingredients - which most bartenders are happy to give you. For the actual dishes, the kitchen often has photocopies they can give of the recipes. I don't suppose you got the recipe for it that amazing looking Key Lime Pie Martini? I'd love to make that at home.

For the Banana Beignets could you take a look at this recipe and let me know if this looks similar to what Jay had - minus the toppings?

http://www.wolfgangpuck.com/recipes/recipedetail_wp.php?Alias=RE_WP3082
If so, I could add it to my Disney Recipe collection

Well thank you for laughing! I was the only person in the house who thought it was funny ... Jay just said he was "laughing on the inside."

As for recipes ... I never think to ask for any because for the most part I don't want them. I already have a Disney Cookbook for one thing and for another ... a lot of the things we have on vacation (a lot, not all) are things that we want to leave on vacation. We wouldn't make most of them at home and I think if we did they might lose some of their charm for us. Does that make any sense at all?

I did try to find you a key lime pie martini recipe but had no luck ... I posted something else for you on the Bendy thread ... maybe that will be a nice substitute?

As for the link you provided ... it does sound very similar to what Jay had for dessert. In my mind a fritter and a beignet are the same thing anyway, so if you like 'naner flavored stuff then I'd say this recipe is a good place to start.

Gurlllll you are killing me! That WP dinner looks amazing...from now on you let me know what your plans are for dining and I will just copy yours...you seem to pick all the yummy winners!

Thanks for reading, Nicki! We thought our dinner was wonderful. And we were pretty darn fortunate on this trip to have some great meals but we've picked some stinkers in the past so I wouldn't completely rely on us.

And would you believe me if I told you I don't have a clue yet as to where we're going to eat come this October?

BTW, my next review is going to be breakfast at the Grand Floridian Cafe thanks to your recommendation so keep an eye out for it!

 

[D&R love Disney]

Okay, I'm convinced! Now I need to figure out where I can sneak a visit to the Upstairs during the next trip. That martini looks to die for and I know I'd love that wine. I really enjoy Ruffino's Orvietto and I like Pinot Grigio so I think I'll pick up a bottle.

 

[MickeyNicki]

And would you believe me if I told you I don't have a clue yet as to where we're going to eat come this October?

Neither do I! I keep saying I am going to sit down and figure it out but I never have the time....after we get back from our little March trip I need to do it for sure...even tho I have to wait until July to make the ressies

 

[Joie29]

What a fabulous review of Wolfgang Puck's! I have been so curious about it...those banana fritters and your yummy drink are calling my name.

Your little mortician references were hilarious...

It is crazy, but I happen to know a few morticians (including a good friend of mine almost went to mortuary school! and worked in a funeral home for some time) and they are some of the most upbeat, funny, wild bunch of lively people I know! My friend, who wound up as an art historian like me, ended up becoming a specialist on funeral home architecture, so she still kept a touchstone. She is SO normal, and SO wonderful, not weird at all.

My girlfriend says that most people who work in the industry are this way--isn't that nuts?? I guess they are able to channel something we cannot, or maybe their work keeps them incredibly in tune with life.

Anyway, we have had many a laugh over the strange juxtaposition of the lives of those who work with the dead...

 

[TigerKat]

Neither do I! I keep saying I am going to sit down and figure it out but I never have the time....after we get back from our little March trip I need to do it for sure...even tho I have to wait until July to make the ressies

The only one I'm sure of for Oct. is that we're trying Citricos!

Brenda, the Upstairs dining room looked incredible!

 

[whogirl'smom]

Wow, that was some awfully good lookin' crab cakes and scampi there! And I agree, much as I love my cookbooks, I don't think a lot of the stuff would turn out the same (like my adventure with Sticky Toffee Pudding...) I don't think I've ever read another review for WP upstairs, so I really enjoyed this. We are booked for Dec. and there's so many places to think about now that we're DDP free!

 

[BriarRosie]

Monday, October 13th – Pull Your Feet From the Muck and Beware That Duck; Here's Hoping Dinner at Puck's Won’t Suck.

I'm so glad you stopped rhyming, as you were heading into dangerous territory.

There are very few reviews of Puck’s mysterious upper level dining room on the DIS and the handful that I did find half-convinced me that Jay and I were going to be served scummy dishwater and filet of donkey for dinner by a crew of very surly ex-convicts participating in a work-release program. But we’d already canceled a dinner reservation here once before … in May 2007 … and it seemed like this was the perfect time for us to give the Puck a try since we were staying within walking distance of Downtown Disney. I hoped with all my might that I hadn’t chosen poorly since Puck’s Dining Room didn’t offer any kind of discount to sweeten the blow of over-priced vacation food.

Heck, I've never made it past the sushi bar near the entrance downstairs. I see it and can't bring myself to go further. I've seen those horrid reviews and shied away as well.

Either way, when we walked into Wolfgang Puck's Super-Emporium of Dining Delights I was worried. When I saw how few people were there I was more worried. When we were seated next to a table of four who promptly introduced themselves as a group of morticians attending a convention at the Swolphin I had to restrain myself from grabbing Jay's hand and fleeing the establishment as though the hounds of hell were at our heels.

I would have thought the morticians would heighten the appreciation of the place. In my head, I have a theory of morticians being really wild and crazy when they aren't tending to the needs of the dearly departed and their loved ones.

Thank goodness there was a wide variety of alcoholic drinks from which to choose so that I could soothe my frazzled nerves. I stayed with a tried and true favorite, thinking that when in Florida nothing could beat a Key Lime Pie Martini. And, in a refreshing change of pace, I was right! My drink was prepared just the way I've come to expect it to be ... the perfect creamy blend of sweet and tart served in a glass rimmed with graham cracker crumbs. While it technically could be classified as a dessert drink, I think there is enough sourness to this drink that allows it to be paired with quite a few different foods. However, like so many things in this life, it really comes down to preference so don't take my word for it ... try it yourself and see what you think!

Key Lime Pie Martini

Oh nice! I'll have to add that to my list of drinks not on the Disney Borg All-Purpose Bar Menus.

Jay opted for the other drink on the menu that I was eye-balling, and that was something along the lines of a margarita martini without the blechie margarita mix. The hubba was kind enough to let me take a taste of his drink and it was very good and very strong, mixing the best of a well-made margarita with a vodka martini.

Jay and his drinky-poo

"Hi. I'm Jay. Do sissy drinks make you feel emasculated? Well, friends, worry no more! For $19.95*, I can show you how to properly enjoy a sissy drink while holding on to your masculinity!"

*plus shipping and handling

It was either that or this:

"Bond. James Bond." But that wasn't a proper Bond martini. It was a sissy drink, not that there's anything wrong with that.

When it finally came time to make an appetizer selection Jay and I decided that we really had no alternative but to order two and share the seafoodie goodness. I chose the Sautéed Maryland Crab Cake with Basil Aioli, Marinated Tomatoes, and Micro-Green Salad. Aside from the serious jonesin I usually have for fresh seafood the likes of which cannot be found in Stinktown, I was very curious as to the presentation and serving size of a $16 crab cake.

I need not have worried.

Behold … one becomes three!

I was delighted when this plate was placed before me - three crab cakes was a much happier prospect and meant that there would be plenty for us to share. We both thought that this was a very tasty selection bursting with crab and just a hint of spiciness from the aioli.

Oh man. I think I may have to visit this mysterious dining location sometime. Those crab cakes look fabulous.

Jay's appetizer choice was the Pan Seared Sea Scallops with White Corn-Parmesan Polenta, Braised Lamb Shoulder, and Rosemary-Lamb Jus.

Scallops and grits and stuff

The scallops were very good and very tender, not a bit overcooked, and the polenta was a wonderful smooth, cheesy accompaniment. As I look at this picture today, however, I'm struck by a noticeable lack of lamb and I wonder now if Jay ordered something that's been changed since our visit. Well, regardless of what it's called, it was tasty to eat - Jay and I were well pleased with the beginning of the meal and I began to feel like it was finally OK for me to relax ... with a bottle of wine!!!

I think the lamb was hiding under those onion strings. But damn, I think I want both of your appetizers and make my meal of that.

I'm a lucky woman in many ways and one of them includes being married to a man who will share a bottle of white wine with me at dinner even though he'd probably prefer a red. Our waiter suggested this wine after we told him that we really like pinot grigio ... Ruffino Lumina Pinot Grigio is a very affordable, very drinkable white wine with an average retail price of about $13; Jay and I enjoyed it very much and would drink it again in a heartbeat.

Wine wine wine

Well, I'm sorta with Jay on the red wine issue. I enjoy a few whites, but I had a bad experience with Pinot Grigio. I don't know if it was just the wine I tried, but I thought it had the astringency power of rubbing alcohol.

I ordered Shrimp Scampi Risotto for my entree and loved every bite of it.

Sweeping the seas clean at dinner

Yum! Giant shrimpies sautéed with garlic, white wine, lemon, and parsley resting on a bed of creamy risotto ... I think I just died and went to food porn heaven - now that I think about it that may explain the presence of those undertakers! This was a wonderful dish if just a tad on the rich side because of the creaminess of the sauce. I had a difficult time trying to finish this because it was such a generous serving, but I put a pretty good dent in it ... with a little help from Jason.

Aww man, now I want that dish, too. I think there's too much sauce on it, but that's just my opinion.

And speaking of the hubba, he ordered the Line Caught Yellow Fin Tuna Nicoise for his entree. The menu described it as seared tuna with roasted fingerling potatoes, haricot vert, wilted spinach, olive vinaigrette and a crispy poached egg.

Mmmmm, tuna

I can tell you that the tuna in this dish was quite good and tender but I haven't a clue about all that other stuff on Jay's plate. He would tell you that everything was excellent and that if you are a fan of seared tuna served with a mish-mash of stuff you would be hard pressed to find a better choice than this one.

Love that they had to put "line-caught" into the tuna description. Why do they think it's that important to mention? Do they think there are activists ready to stone them if they are caught with nets, the whole dolphin cruelty thing? I dunno. It's just fussy and unimportant to me in the description of a dish. (Ok, rant over.) It did look tasty, though.

For my dessert I chose a chocolate lava cake type thingie ... I can't find a reference to it on any of the on-line menus that are currently posted. It was quite good and exactly what I expected it to be, nothing more and nothing less, and it was wonderful with that scotch!

Chocolate!

This dessert has my name all over it. If a restaurant has this ubiquitous molten lava cake on the menu, I will always have it.

As far as presentation goes Jason picked the ultimate winner of the evening -Banana Beignets .

Banana-y goodness!

I don't like banana-flavored stuff very much, but even I have to admit that this is the coolest presentation I've seen in a long time. Crispy banana beignets sprinkled with powdered sugar, crème anglaise, banana jam and vanilla bean gelato. And look at the edible spoon!!! Jay said these deep-fried little donuts practically melted in his mouth with no hint of a greasy aftertaste. He gave this dessert two enthusiastic thumbs up and highly recommends it to all you banana lovers out there.

If I didn't go for the chocolate dessert, this dessert looks promising. Love the edible spoon. That's creative.

And so ended a wonderful, relaxed, and very tasty meal at Wolfie's hidden dining room. As I stated earlier ... reviews of this establishment have been far from favorable, but Jason and I had a lovely meal there. Our serving team was pleasant and helpful and the food was well-prepared and very good. We'd recommend this restaurant to anyone who's interested in trying an establishment they haven't dined at before that has the added benefit of not being subject to the Disney's Dining Plan Food Rationing and Menu Stifling Team.

Ah yes, the Menu Stifling Team. If this place put foie gras on their menu, I'd be over there in a heartbeat.

 

[skellingtonfreak]

Wolfgang Puck's looked AMAZING! That is going to have to be a place to try one day. Thanks for taking one for the team!

 

[jakenjess]

Hi Brenda,

I haven't had much computer time lately so I'm just getting caught up. I wanted to send my condolences to your family. I'm so sorry and will keep you all in my thoughts and prayers.

 

[minniechiptink]

Thanks Brenda for telling me the name of your new thread! I was so excited when some nice person told me, but then when I scrolled down and saw YOUR name..... Wow! I felt like I just met a celebrity!

Now, I can read about food in Disney and dream about going again someday, if I can talk my husband into it. Probably in 5 years!

Thanks again!

 

[oybolshoi]

Okay, I'm convinced! Now I need to figure out where I can sneak a visit to the Upstairs during the next trip. That martini looks to die for and I know I'd love that wine. I really enjoy Ruffino's Orvietto and I like Pinot Grigio so I think I'll pick up a bottle.

If you're staying at SSR it's a lot easier to fit into your schedule ... at least that's how I look at it. Too many other delectables at Epcot to distract from Wolfie's if you're staying over that way on a trip. I really liked the wine and so did Jay - very refreshing!

Neither do I! I keep saying I am going to sit down and figure it out but I never have the time....after we get back from our little March trip I need to do it for sure...even tho I have to wait until July to make the ressies

The only thing I know for sure is that we're going back to Kimonos for sushi now that it's not quite so weird and scary to me.

Oh, and we'll probably head back to Jiko.

And I'm considering CRT for breakfast one morning because I've always wanted to eat in the castle and that seems like the best meal of the three they offer. Although I'm not sure I can swallow the pricetag ...

The only one I'm sure of for Oct. is that we're trying Citricos!

Brenda, the Upstairs dining room looked incredible!

Citricos is great, Kathy, you'll really enjoy it! And we really liked the dining room ... can't find a thing to criticize unless it was that sushi wasn't on the menu.

Wow, that was some awfully good lookin' crab cakes and scampi there! And I agree, much as I love my cookbooks, I don't think a lot of the stuff would turn out the same (like my adventure with Sticky Toffee Pudding...) I don't think I've ever read another review for WP upstairs, so I really enjoyed this. We are booked for Dec. and there's so many places to think about now that we're DDP free!

It was all quite tasty! I'm glad you enjoyed the review and keep reading for more fabulous ideas for December (if I do say so myself).

I'm so glad you stopped rhyming, as you were heading into dangerous territory.

Had I posted this on the blog I would have played the name game ... 'nuff said.

Heck, I've never made it past the sushi bar near the entrance downstairs. I see it and can't bring myself to go further. I've seen those horrid reviews and shied away as well.

Now that we've also eaten at the sushi bar I think we'd have a hard time choosing between the two ... the dining room is more of a special ocassion place and the sushi bar is for the eating of vast quantities of fishes. YUM!

I would have thought the morticians would heighten the appreciation of the place. In my head, I have a theory of morticians being really wild and crazy when they aren't tending to the needs of the dearly departed and their loved ones.

I don't know how wild and crazy this group was but they were very friendly and we had a good time chatting with them until they ... departed.

Oh nice! I'll have to add that to my list of drinks not on the Disney Borg All-Purpose Bar Menus.

You have been assimilated!

"Hi. I'm Jay. Do sissy drinks make you feel emasculated? Well, friends, worry no more! For $19.95*, I can show you how to properly enjoy a sissy drink while holding on to your masculinity!"

*plus shipping and handling

It was either that or this:

"Bond. James Bond." But that wasn't a proper Bond martini. It was a sissy drink, not that there's anything wrong with that.

It was pretty darn strong for a sissy drink. But you're still a riot! Your comment reminds of the time we were staying at Portofino Bay and he ordered a banana daiquiri at the pool bar.

WHUT?

I called him Fredo Corleone for the rest of the day.

Oh man. I think I may have to visit this mysterious dining location sometime. Those crab cakes look fabulous.

I think the lamb was hiding under those onion strings. But damn, I think I want both of your appetizers and make my meal of that.

Now you know why we had to order two appetizers.

Well, I'm sorta with Jay on the red wine issue. I enjoy a few whites, but I had a bad experience with Pinot Grigio. I don't know if it was just the wine I tried, but I thought it had the astringency power of rubbing alcohol.

Sounds you like you had a bad pinot grigio but we all like different things. I just can't drink a lot of reds so if we order a bottle while dining we typically order white. We do drink a fair number of reds at home, but then I get away with just one glass and Jay doesn't have to finish the bottle in one sitting ... unless he really wants to.

Aww man, now I want that dish, too. I think there's too much sauce on it, but that's just my opinion.

My scampi was really good. And you're right that there was a bit too much sauce but there was also a lot of rice hiding there in the plate.

Love that they had to put "line-caught" into the tuna description. Why do they think it's that important to mention? Do they think there are activists ready to stone them if they are caught with nets, the whole dolphin cruelty thing? I dunno. It's just fussy and unimportant to me in the description of a dish. (Ok, rant over.) It did look tasty, though.

Maybe they like to call it "line caught" so that we don't think the tuna came out of a can (except that might be dolphin) or so that we don't think they scooped it out of a net (how primitive). I'm with you on the description ... I think it's silly but it's also kind of funny.

This dessert has my name all over it. If a restaurant has this ubiquitous molten lava cake on the menu, I will always have it.

I knew you'd like this one!

If I didn't go for the chocolate dessert, this dessert looks promising. Love the edible spoon. That's creative.

The spoon and the ice cream were my favorite parts of this dessert.

Ah yes, the Menu Stifling Team. If this place put foie gras on their menu, I'd be over there in a heartbeat.

You and me and Jay and a handful of other people, right?

Wolfgang Puck's looked AMAZING! That is going to have to be a place to try one day. Thanks for taking one for the team!

Thanks for reading! And I'm always happy to take one for the DIS-foodies, especially when it turns out this well.

Hi Brenda,

I haven't had much computer time lately so I'm just getting caught up. I wanted to send my condolences to your family. I'm so sorry and will keep you all in my thoughts and prayers.

Hi Lori - it's good to see you posting again! Thank you so much for the hugs and kind words. They're much appreciated.

Thanks Brenda for telling me the name of your new thread! I was so excited when some nice person told me, but then when I scrolled down and saw YOUR name..... Wow! I felt like I just met a celebrity!

Now, I can read about food in Disney and dream about going again someday, if I can talk my husband into it. Probably in 5 years!

Thanks again!

Hey there! Glad you found us ... be sure to go read the first part that I started in September (if you really want to subject yourself to it ... there are some good reviews there if I do say so myself).

No celebrity allowed here ... just lots of good humor (I hope) and good food and good fun!

Thanks for reading!

 

[oybolshoi]

What a fabulous review of Wolfgang Puck's! I have been so curious about it...those banana fritters and your yummy drink are calling my name.

Your little mortician references were hilarious...

It is crazy, but I happen to know a few morticians (including a good friend of mine almost went to mortuary school! and worked in a funeral home for some time) and they are some of the most upbeat, funny, wild bunch of lively people I know! My friend, who wound up as an art historian like me, ended up becoming a specialist on funeral home architecture, so she still kept a touchstone. She is SO normal, and SO wonderful, not weird at all.

My girlfriend says that most people who work in the industry are this way--isn't that nuts?? I guess they are able to channel something we cannot, or maybe their work keeps them incredibly in tune with life.

Anyway, we have had many a laugh over the strange juxtaposition of the lives of those who work with the dead...

D'OH! Somehow I missed your post when I was repsonding to the others. I must need to go to bed.

Anyway, thank you for taking the time to read this latest update - I'm glad you enjoyed it. We were both really curious about the restaurant too, so it was nice to finally get there and try it for ourselves. Our meal was great ... I hope others who have been there recently have also had the same type of experience that we did.

The mortician thing was a hoot ... I really did wonder if being seated next to them was an omen at first, but they were very nice and very friendly.

I think it takes a special kind of person to be able to do that kind of work ... I know I couldn't do it.

 

[BriarRosie]

Had I posted this on the blog I would have played the name game ... 'nuff said.

I knew you were evil.

It was pretty darn strong for a sissy drink. But you're still a riot! Your comment reminds of the time we were staying at Portofino Bay and he ordered a banana daiquiri at the pool bar.

WHUT?

I called him Fredo Corleone for the rest of the day.

LOL! You know I couldn't resist mocking the sissy drink. I hope Jason enjoyed the mocking, too. And I think I had a banana colada by accident at the Portofino Bay quiet pool. Not by choice, either. I ordered a different colada and accepted the server's mistake as she brought it to me at the pool. But you know what a great poolside drink would be? Brace yourself.

Banana Hammock.

I thought of that off the top of my head and then Googled it. There is a real drink recipe of that title.

Now you know why we had to order two appetizers.

Yes. And I often call that, "dinner".

 

[TheDISneyFamily]

Well, I guess WPUpstairs will have to go back on the list... again. Maybe we'll actually make it there this time. Thanks for having dinner there and reporting back to us. Only you would be seated next to undertakers... LOL! The TR gods were smiling down on you with that one!

Sorry for everything that you and the family have been through lately. Misery loves company, so here's another hug for you. You aren't alone.

Take care,
Michelle

 

[oybolshoi]

I knew you were evil.

It's true ...

LOL! You know I couldn't resist mocking the sissy drink. I hope Jason enjoyed the mocking, too. And I think I had a banana colada by accident at the Portofino Bay quiet pool. Not by choice, either. I ordered a different colada and accepted the server's mistake as she brought it to me at the pool. But you know what a great poolside drink would be? Brace yourself.

Banana Hammock.

I thought of that off the top of my head and then Googled it. There is a real drink recipe of that title.

Jay thought your mockery was amusing, too, and he readily admitted that it was a sissy drink. But it was still good.

I'll pass that hammock drink along to Jay ... I don't do banana flavored drinks. The name is a hoot, though!

Well, I guess WPUpstairs will have to go back on the list... again. Maybe we'll actually make it there this time. Thanks for having dinner there and reporting back to us. Only you would be seated next to undertakers... LOL! The TR gods were smiling down on you with that one!

Sorry for everything that you and the family have been through lately. Misery loves company, so here's another hug for you. You aren't alone.

Take care,
Michelle

Hi Michelle!

You and I seem to have the same problem with the dining room ... we always cancel! I'm so glad we kept this reservation - it was definitely worth the money and the time.

And you're right ... only Jay and I would be seated next to people who couldn't wait to introduce themselves and tell us their profession. Maybe they thought it would freak us out a bit. It made for a good little story.

Thanks for the hugs and good wishes ... very much appreciate them my friend.

 

[oybolshoi]

Tuesday, October 14th - Walt Disney World Life Lesson #11: When You are Running Late for an ADR Your Preferred Method of Transportation Will Always Let You Down.

You know what they say: breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

Such sage advice was never more true than on this day, when my lovey and I devoted our entire Epcot touring plan to nothing less than World Showcase Alcoholic Domination or WSAD, also known as We Sure Are Drunk. I felt certain that if Jay and I were going to survive our drinking plan it would have to be done on a full, but not too full, pair of stomachs. Shortly before we left for WDW I noticed that the Grand Floridian Cafe had been on the receiving end of some pretty good reviews. When MickeyNicki gave them two enthusiastic thumbs up I bit the bullet and made a breakfast ADR, rationalizing that if for some reason the meal turned out badly we'd soon forget all about it in a haze of drunken blissfulness.

While the weather gods graced us with a breezy, mild, and not remotely rainy day, the transportation gods were yukking it up at our expense; as smooth and easy as the bus system was on Monday it was excruciatingly painful on Tuesday, like passing a kidney stone. Our reservation was for 9:30AM ... we waited until 9AM for a Magic Kingdom bus to make an appearance while watching numerous MGM, Animal Kingdom, and Downtown Disney buses pull up, belch fumes in our faces, and then lumber off. We would have been willing to jump a bus to Epcot and then monorail it over to the Grand Floridian, but those buses were also mysteriously absent. By the time our chariot arrived it was 9:15 and I was growing fidgety and it didn't help matters that we got stuck in construction traffic on our way to Magic Kingdom. Upon finally completing the first leg of our journey we hoofed it over to the monorail station, sprinting up the ramp to catch a ride on the train that just happened to be waiting for us only to be told that it was out of service and another train wouldn't be along for at least twenty minutes.



I would have laughed at the ludicrousness of it all but I was too busy not puking a lung on that nice family standing right next to us.

Why?

I don't like to run. In fact, I hate to run. If I had to choose between running for my life or being devoured by a pack of hounds with bees in their mouths who, when they bark, shoot bees at me ... well, I guess I'm doing the dog'n'beehive jive because running is just painful.

So, there we were ... stranded within plain view of our final destination. The only other option was to try to catch a lift on one of those cute little boats that randomly sail between the Magic Kingdom, Grand Floridian, and Polynesian. But waiting for a ride on these boats carries its own special risk since they seem to operate on a mysterious and capricious schedule known only to the hardy sea salts who captain them.

Luckily we didn't have long to wait for a cute little boat and as my hubba gently reminded me ... we were on vacation and if we got somewhere not on time it wasn't the end of the world. And I adore boat rides on the Seven Seas Lagoon - they're so peaceful and picturesque and they come with plenty of fresh air so when the only other people on the boat have a small child with them who blatts loudly in its diaper the cool breeze will waft the smell of poo away before you can turn to your beloved and ask, "who farted?"

The prow of our stinky little love boat

Quick, take the picture before they release more poison gas...

By the time we actually reached the restaurant, which is housed on the lobby level of the Grand Floridian, we were easily thirty minutes late for our ADR and I had visions of being turned away or being faced with a ridiculous wait. But it was just the opposite - the cafe was not busy at all and we were seated immediately. Our table was in the back of the restaurant so we were surrounded by a wall of windows that looked directly out on to the hotel's lawn and walkways. The decor was light and airy - I felt like we were dining in a cozy, comfortable summerhouse.

Pretty...

In honor of the drunk-fest we'd planned it seemed more than reasonable to start the morning off with a little hair of the dog along with the usual WDW swill that passes for coffee. And no, for those of you who may be wondering, drinking swill at the Grand Floridian does not make it any less swilly.

For my first alcoholic beverage of the day I chose poorly and ordered the Key West, described as a frozen blend of pureed strawberries and orange juice laced with rum.

Too much ice not enough booze

In the hands of a better bartender this could have been a good drink but we'll never know for sure because it would have taken a solar flare to melt that iceberg in my glass. It tasted like a watery strawberry snow-cone with none of the added benefit of red dye #5 sugar-syrup to turn my tongue a shocking shade of scarlet.

Jay, as he often does in these instances, chose wisely and ordered the Florida Sunshine , described as Peach Schnapps, Chambord, Vodka, and a splash of orange and cranberry juices.

I covet your drink ... is that so wrong?

There was no doubt about it ... this drink was the choice of champions and it was perfectly blended - not too sweet and not too tart. And considering how much alcohol it contained, it was a smooth, easy drink - not at all harsh or overpowering.

Had the weather been as hot and humid on this day as it had been on the previous days of our visit I might have ordered something different for breakfast, but I loves me some french toast and I'm a firm proponent of eating bread with my alcohol to help soak it all up. The Cafe offers Maple French Toast which the menu described as challah bread dipped in maple and vanilla flavored batter served with a choice of bacon or sausage.

French toast & pig

Butter & syrup

Wow! This was ever-so-good! The bread was firm but slightly custardy and had a lovely, light vanilla flavor. They didn't skimp on the bacon, either; there was a lot of pig on my plate for me to share with the hubba. And may I just publicly offer up thanks for the generous pitcher of maple syrup they provided for my bread drowning and bacon dipping pleasure?

Jason surprised me a bit with his choice - I was sure he was going to order the lobster eggs benedict but he opted for the Cafe Breakfast Skillet instead. This item is described as biscuits topped with sausage gravy, scrambled eggs, tomatoes, peppers, onions and melted mozzarella and cheddar cheeses.

Breakfast mish-mash

I find that revolting ... I do not like all my foods jumbled up together in one serving dish like that, especially at breakfast. However, for those of you who do enjoy what I like to refer to as mish-mash, Jay says this was truly a delight to eat.

Final verdict?

MickeyNicki and her thumbs were right!!!

The Grand Floridian Cafe is a hidden gem - we had a peaceful, leisurely meal with attentive service and very good food. Jay and I both liked that their menu provided some nice variations on standard breakfast fare and they offset their swill with some good alcoholic morning beverage offerings ... just do yourself a favor and avoid the drink with the Antarctic ice shelf.

 

[ocdisney08]

Awesome Reviews! Keep them coming!

 

[Tink rules]

Very good Bendy!!! The GF Cafe is one of my faves... of course that's because I'm usually draggin my butt out of bed and sauntering over in that direction... and I'm with Jay... mushy food is good... how do you think my hips got this way???

I'm going to try the Lobster Eggs Benny when I'm there next... I've just got this thing for hollydaise and lobster...

 

[aceys_h0ney]

Great review.

That thing Jay got reminds me of that weird bowl from KFC. You know the one where they grab the leftovers of everything in the kitchen and throw it in a bowl, top it with cheese and call it good. Glad he liked it though. I would give an arm for some french toast right about now.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Ahhh... the breakfast of champions. Your drinks sure look yummy. Sorry yours wasn't better. I trust you made up for it later in the day. Speaking of which, I can't wait to hear more about your quest for alcohol domination. WSAD!

GF Cafe looks really pretty. I think that is going on my list!