Here's what a little PIXIE DUST can do ....... a dining review+pics COMPLETED!!!!!

[dizneeat]

I am sorry I have been missing for quite some time, but there was lots of work right before Christmas and there was VERY little time left to do some updates.
But here we are - and the updates should be done on a regular basis again!

Still day 22, Sept 5

Lunch at Cookes of Dublin

We strolled through Downtown Disney, then decided to go offsite and do some more shopping, so we went to the Outlet Mall close to the former Dixie Stampede. By early afternoon we decided to have lunch and went back to Pleasure Island to try out Cookes of Dublin.

It took a while until we found it, and then we were amazed at how small the inside was. We placed our order and were actually able to secure an inside - airconditioned table!

So, here is the menu, since we sat right opposite, taking the photo worked like a charm.

Tom ordered the Georges Bank Atlantic Scallops, Cooke's Specialities Hand Battered Day Boat Selections served with hand cut chips and our homemade tartar sauce.
There were lots of scallops in a nice crispy batter. He really loved them. The tartar sauce was nice and the chips (fries) were really yummy.

I ordered The Original One & One, Cooke's Specialities Hand Battered Day Boat Selections served with hand cut chips and our homemade tartar sauce.

And yes, this was very good too! The fish was fresh and flakey and moist, coated in crisp batter and lots of thick chunky chips.

Once we were done with our main courses we "ordered" (handed in the receipt) our desserts.

We shared a Fresh Fruit Cup, which they took out of a fridge and handed to me right on the spot. Well, I have to admit that I am not a huge fruit lover and then it has to be fresh and crisp and not mushy and overripe.
The grapes were soft and crinkly around the stems - yuck. I don't usually eat melon, but it was all mushy and tasted like it had been sitting in the little container for a long time. Fruit - no, thank you!!

Our second choice was the Fresh Mini Doughnuts. Well, more like fried dough! Even though they were made fresh they failed to impress. They were dry and could have used some sauce to dip them in. We both ended trying one each and threw the rest out. Not just what we had expected.

Would we go back! In a heartbeat - the mains were yummy and maybe the lack of yummy desserts this time means that I will have to try the "Doh-Bars" Fried Candy Bars next time.

So what did we actually cost Disney?
Cookes of Dublin = $ 37,10
8 CS credits = $ 181,80 (14 CS credits remain)
8 TS credits = $ 274,40 (16 TS credits remain)
2 snack credits = $ 7,00 (22 snack credits remain)
all in all = $ 500,30
(only accounting for the things covered by the DDP!! Not covering any items purchased OOP)

Next up - dinner at Wolfgang Puck's Cafe

 

[DaveInTN]

...here we are - and the updates should be done on a regular basis again!

Hooray!!!! That's the news I've been waiting for. Hope you had a Merry Christmas....now on with the show!!

 

[oybolshoi]

Hi Karin! Hope you and your brother had a Merry Christmas!

I really enjoyed your Cookes of Dublin update - we always walk by Cookes on our way somewhere else but have never stopped to try anything. The scallops and the fish looked great - much better than what we had at Harry Ramsden's at Epcot in October. I think we're going to have to try Cooke's for our fishie-chippie fix on our next visit.

 

[KatMark]

Cookes if Dublin looks yummy...perhaps we will have to add that to the list as well. I hope you got my PM thanking you for the goodies that arrived.

 

[englishrose47]

I had the scallops at Cookes , and they were delish !! So was he Doh Bar but itis very rich!!!

 

[dizneeat]

Hooray!!!! That's the news I've been waiting for. Hope you had a Merry Christmas....now on with the show!!

Thank you! More coming up shortly! Thank god for Christmas holidays!

Hi Karin! Hope you and your brother had a Merry Christmas!

I really enjoyed your Cookes of Dublin update - we always walk by Cookes on our way somewhere else but have never stopped to try anything. The scallops and the fish looked great - much better than what we had at Harry Ramsden's at Epcot in October. I think we're going to have to try Cooke's for our fishie-chippie fix on our next visit.

I can SO relate to your Harry Ramsden's experience. I love fish and chips when we go to visit my aunt in London (the real UK) and that is NOTHING like it.
I loved Cookes though! They even had bottles of Malt Vinegar - yum!

Cookes if Dublin looks yummy...perhaps we will have to add that to the list as well. I hope you got my PM thanking you for the goodies that arrived.

You should add Cookes to your list. Wasn't easy to find, but worth the walk through all of pleasure island!

I had the scallops at Cookes , and they were delish !! So was he Doh Bar but itis very rich!!!

Thanks for the on the Doh Bar! I was worried it would be too rich, but next time I am definitely going to try it - rich or not!

 

[dizneeat]

.......... and still day 22, Sept 5

Dinner at Wolfgang Puck's Cafe

After our lunch at Cookes of Dublin we strolled through Pleasure Island and on the way back to the resort we stopped at the Boardwalk to pick up my birthday cake.
No, it wasn't my birthday, not even close to it, but Tom had promised to get one for me and how could I refuse it? (Pictures in the next post!!)

We spent most of the afternoon on the balcony of our villa relaxing, or in front of the TV. I was able to do lots of laundry and pack up a few things we didn't need anymore.

Our reservation was for 7pm and we arrived at the Westside at around 6.30pm, parked the car and walked over to Wolfgang Puck's Cafe. We were stunned at HOW full it was! They did turn away people without a reservation, but we were signed in and told to wait right there and were led to a table within 5 minutes. We were seated towards the back of the restaurant with a lovely view of DTD. Our waiter came by and seemed really stressed, no time to ask a question, he just asked for drinks and off he went again. It took a long time until he returned again, plopped the glasses of Diet Coke on the table and took off again. So we had time to watch the rest of the people in the restaurant. It was really noisy and we noticed quite a few things being served at the wrong tables. All the servers seemed to be stressed and having to many tables to wait at.
Finally our server came by again, put a basket of bread on the table, no butter, no spread, no oil and took our main course orders.

The bread looked a lot like the one they serve at Wolfgang Puck's Express, and even though we were not really hungry we decided to nibble a bit. Uh, bit mistake, this bread was dry and hard and had been sitting under a heat lamp for a long time. Thanks, but NO thanks!

It took quite some time for our main courses to arrive, but finally a food runner brought them out.

Tom had the Grilled Flat Iron Steak with Maytag Blue Cheese Butter - A great 10 oz flat iron steak with fries, Maytag blue cheese butter, and crisp onion straws. This made up for the stale bread - it was really good. The steak was cooked perfectly medium, the fries were crisp and everything went very well together.

I wanted something lighter and went for the Chilean Salmon - Center cut filet of salmon, pan roasted with saffron whipped potatoes, asparagus and basil butter sauce. It was a really good dish. The salmon was very crisp on the outside, but still moist on the inside, the potatoes had just a hint of saffron and the basil butter was amazing. I love asparagus, so no complaintes there.

Once we were finished it didn't take all that long for the server to come by, clear the plates and ask for dessert. Even though I had studied the ALLEARS menu I would have loved a printed dessert menu, but he just rattled off the options and for a non English speaker it was hard to catch it all.

Tom chose the Classic Carrot Cake- Homemade cream cheese icing with candied pecans. It did not only look homemade, it did taste homemade and was VERY good! Unfortunately we were both stuffed and Tom could only eat half of it. I would have asked for a container to take it home if I hadn't had my birthday cake!

My choice was the Florida Key Lime Pie - Swiss meringue with a buttery graham cracker crust. I love Key Lime Pie and that was really wonderful. It was tart and creamy and the meringue was just devine.

The waiter brought out the bill with our desserts and that is something I do not really like. I want to finish my meal, before I am asked to settle the bill. Even though the waiter did not show at the beginning of the meal we did feel really rushed towards the end of it.

Once we had settled the bill we walked over to the balloon, but it wasn't working because of the wind, so we strolled back to the car and went back to OKW. While in the living room we heard some loud noises outside and discovered that we could see Illuminations right from our balcony. We didn't have a camera handy but sat outside with a drink watching the fireworks. What a way to end the evening.

So what did we actually cost Disney?
10 CS credits = $ 218,90 (14 CS credits remain)
Wolfgang Puck's Cafe = $ 82,80
8 TS credits = $ 274,40 (14 TS credits remain)
2 snack credits = $ 7,00 (22 snack credits remain)
all in all = $ 583,10
(only accounting for the things covered by the DDP!! Not covering any items purchased OOP)

Next up - a birthday cake from the Boardwalk Bakery

 

[dizneeat]

......... and still day 22, Sept 5

Boardwalk Bakery Cake

On our way back to OKW we picked up the "Birthday Cake" - I always wanted to try the Mickey cake and I got it! Chocolate Cake with chocolate filling - since I "had to" eat most of the cake I can asure you that it stayed moist and yummy for the rest of our stay.

It was REALLY yummy!!!!!

Next up - Lotos Blossom Cafe

 

[KatMark]

Okay. I WANT that Mickey cake NOW! Do you think if I ask Mark really nicely he'll fly me down to Disney on Wednesday so I can get that cake for my birthday?

 

[dizneeat]

Okay. I WANT that Mickey cake NOW! Do you think if I ask Mark really nicely he'll fly me down to Disney on Wednesday so I can get that cake for my birthday?

Is it your birthday on Wednesday?

Oh, and I am sure Mark will take you there if you ask REALLY nicely!
Do you need someone to volunteer finishing the cake off? My hand is up ....... pick me, pick me!!!!!!!!!!! PLEASE!!!

 

[KatMark]

Is it your birthday on Wednesday?

Oh, and I am sure Mark will take you there if you ask REALLY nicely!
Do you need someone to volunteer finishing the cake off? My hand is up ....... pick me, pick me!!!!!!!!!!! PLEASE!!!

Yes, I'm one of those unfortunate ones who has a December birthday (my brother has it worse...his is Christmas Eve). I always told my Dad I wanted to celebrate in June and he would always do something special in June just for me (I was 50 years old when he passed away and I was STILL his little girl).

Yes, I would pick you in a heartbeat to help me finish the cake.

 

[Stefy]

Yummy looking Mickey cake

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

That Mickey cake looks good! Do you have a picture of it cut? Or you could just describe it

 

[dizneeat]

Yes, I'm one of those unfortunate ones who has a December birthday (my brother has it worse...his is Christmas Eve). I always told my Dad I wanted to celebrate in June and he would always do something special in June just for me (I was 50 years old when he passed away and I was STILL his little girl).

Yes, I would pick you in a heartbeat to help me finish the cake.

Thanks for letting me help finish your birthday cake! I hope you'll have a magical birthday tomorrow!

Yummy looking Mickey cake

That Mickey cake looks good! Do you have a picture of it cut? Or you could just describe it

I thought we had a photo of it cut, but even though I searched for it I never found it. So you'll have to do with the description.
This was a chocolate cake (you can have yellow cake as well) with chocolate filling (you can have vanilla too - you have to order the cake two days in advance and it is custom made). This was not a dense cake, it was surprisingly "light". The icing was "ganachelike" and stuck to your fork, , but it was really nice. We did not like the Mickey face - it is kind of a very hard marzipan which is painted with edable colours. We peeled it off, piece by piece. What amazed me the most, was that it kept moist and yummy, even though it took me about a week to finish it. (We kept it in our fridge at OKW).
Hope that helps. If I remember correctly it was 48$

 

[dizneeat]

Day 23, Sept 6

Lunch at Lotos Blossom Cafe

We started our day after we had had a snack breakfast in our villa. Tom had a sandwich and I had a piece of my birthday cake.
We then drove over to Epcot, did a few rides and then started touring the countries.

We decided to have lunch at the Lotos Blossom Cafe in China.

We both had the Orange Chicken with Steamed Rice. This was one of the first things we had ever tried in World Showcase on our very first visit and we loved it then. It did change a bit in the meantime. It's still nice but not as delish as it used to be. The orange sauce now tastes a bit generic and the rice is always a cheap bland type.

So we pepped it up a bit with some sauces.

I am a very slow (European) eater, so I had asked if it was possible to pick up dessert/ice cream after we had finished our main course. Our wish was granted!

Caramel Ginger Ice-cream. I love caramel and I love ginger, but I did not love the ice-cream.

Red Bean Ice-cream. Well, not quite my taste either. Both got a little better once they started to melt a bit and this did not take long in the early September heat, but we only had a few spoonfuls before we "parked" it in the trash can.

So what did we actually cost Disney?
Lotos Blossom Cafe = $ 26,70
10 CS credits = $ 218,90 (12 CS credits remain)
10 TS credits = $ 357,20 (14 TS credits remain)
2 snack credits = $ 7,00 (22 snack credits remain)
all in all = $ 609,80
(only accounting for the things covered by the DDP!! Not covering any items purchased OOP)

Next up - drinks from France

 

[englishrose47]

Great reviews Karin!!! I don't like the dessert choices at most of threChinese/Japenese
Resaurants I did like the Chocolate Ginger cake at TE though !! Someone at our table had the green tea pudding and said it was good !!! The service at WP was awful for you!!I hope your tip reflected it !!! By the ay Your English is very good !! My German however is NOT !! So forgive this attempt .... Guten Tag gnadiga Frau und dannke schoen!!!

 

[dizneeat]

Great reviews Karin!!! I don't like the dessert choices at most of threChinese/Japenese
Resaurants I did like the Chocolate Ginger cake at TE though !! Someone at our table had the green tea pudding and said it was good !!! The service at WP was awful for you!!I hope your tip reflected it !!! By the ay Your English is very good !! My German however is NOT !! So forgive this attempt .... Guten Tag gnadiga Frau und dannke schoen!!!

Thank you so much for your kind words!
You are absolutely right about the dessert options at the Chinese/Japanese restaurants, even though I loved my Chocolate Ginger cake (but then I love anything chocolate ) and Tom had the Green Tea Pudding and loved it - I tried it and it really was nice but the ice-cream is just blah!
Love your German!

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

Thanks for describing the cake It looks AND sounds, like my kind of cake

 

[dizneeat]

Thanks for describing the cake It looks AND sounds, like my kind of cake

I am glad I could help! It definitely is MY kind of cake!

 

[dizneeat]

Still day 23, Sept 6

Drinks from the French Pavillion

Tom and I continued walking "the World" and back in France we "needed" to try those drinks everyone raves about.

Grey Goose Slush

Grand Marnier Slush

To be very honest I did not like either! The Grand Marnier one was nice and orangy, but it still tasted too much of alcohol (stupid explanation, if you drink an alcoholic beverage ) and I did not like the taste of the Grey Goose one at all.

So, well, more left for others - we will not be fighting over these drinks!

Next up - dinner at Ohana