Celebrating 10 years together, a trip to Victora & Albert's

[Beka]

My husband and I (as of May 18) have been married 10 years! We recently moved to Orlando, and hadn't thought much about celebrating our milestone together. DH had gotten me a gift earlier in the week, so I told him he could choose what he wanted to do for the weekend. He said he wanted to go on an airboat ride, then have dinner. I suggested a few local restaurants, & none appealed to DH. He finally said "Are you sure you don't want to go somewhere on property?" Then the light went off (or the nickle dropped, as Nebo would say.) I got to work & scored at 9:15 reservation for May 19th.
Here's how dinner went down...

 

[Beka]

We arrived at the GF close to 8:00 for our 9:15 reservation. Pictures do NOT do this resort justice. Valet parking was included, so we didn't have to make the hike from the parking lot. (I must admit I was rather happy about this, as I do NOT wear heels on a regular basis, so my feet were screaming by the time we reached the doors.)

I always love seeing little girls dressed as princesses on WDW property, don't you? Maybe it's because I have 2 boys and don't get to throw gallons of glitter at them... anyway it puts me in a good mood.

...veering off the rabbit trail & back to dinner...

We entered the GF and took a moment just to absorb our surroundings. On the 2nd floor, opposite side of the entry but facing everyone was a band playing big band/swing music. Ok, I'm hooked, thanks GF, I now want to live here, in this resort, full time.

We had a little time to kill before our reservation, so we walked in a gift shop & looked around the property some. the staff had set up a large screen for kids to play Mario Kart beside the pool. I loved hearing the boats from the courtyard. Then I realized that not all of what I was hearing was the boats, I could hear the train from the Magic Kingdom! Holy Mouse Ears, Batman, I'm in Heaven!

Contemporary from the GF boat dock:

MK from the GF boat dock:

By this time we had wasted enough time & decided to go check in.

 

[OneTreeHillAddict]

....can't wait for the rest!

 

[Beka]

We checked in early, and were told that our table was ready, so we could be seated.

The restaurant is intimate. It's dim, but not so dark you can't see your food. there aren't windows to the outside from the main dining room. It's a round room, the walls are padded to muffle the sound. There's a live harp player (harpist?), and they play harp music over the speakers while she is taking a break. In the center of the room is a large floral arrangement.

Each table has fresh roses & is lit by candle light. How romantic.

They knew it was our anniversary and offered champagne to toast with. YUM! I'm not normally a fan of champagne, but this was delicious! I wish I could remember the name.

Ok, let's start with the Amuse-Bouche:
This is a little bit of lobser wrapped in a crepe. I think there was some chive and some kind of filling. Descriptive, I know, but I wasn't exactly taking notes. I must say, it's nice to have our lobster cooked properly for once!

Cold-smoked buffalo. I don't remember the sauce that was underneath it. I just know I love bison. LOVE it.

Ahi tuna. Another favorite of mine.

What you see in the background is a cauliflower panna cotta topped with caviar. It was delicious, but VERY rich.

 

[Beka]

....can't wait for the rest!

I'm still uploading & editing photos! I'm kind of reliving it too as I write this. I really think people who love food should budget an experience like this at least once!

 

[Beka]

I should also note that between courses, the pastry chef had prepared freshly baked breads.

Here's the hand-rolled French Baguette, served with a European style (apparently it's higher in fat??) butter:

I love bread. Think they can make an adult sized version of this, so I can wrap myself in it like a cocoon and eat my way out? Or is that a bit gluttonous?

 

[dreamscometrue101]

I'm looking forward to the rest of the review. DH ok'd a trip for our 5th anniversary August 2013 and I'm hoping to dine here.

 

[emmysmommy]

A belated Happy Anniversary! I am sooo looking forward to reading more of your review.

 

[jedijill]

You are off to a great start. I V&A. Happy Anniversary!

Jill in CO

 

[TheNewMrsB]

Looks great so far! I've been wanting to try V&A's for years.

And yes, the European butter has a higher fat content - to the point where butter + cheese = alfredo sauce, whereas we normally add cream over here. Isn't it heavenly?

 

[Beka]

Just got home from Sea World, I hope to post more on this tonight!

I'm looking forward to the rest of the review. DH ok'd a trip for our 5th anniversary August 2013 and I'm hoping to dine here.

Budget at least $400+ for the meal for 2. No joke. That way you can enjoy it stress free and add the kobe beef, wine pairing, turbot, etc. if you want to. Let me be the 1st to say Happy 5th Anniversary!

A belated Happy Anniversary! I am sooo looking forward to reading more of your review.

Thanks! I just had a small morsel of the bread the chef sends us home with. Don't expect pictures, it'll be in my tummy long before I'll get a pic of it. I'm having fun writing it!

You are off to a great start. I V&A. Happy Anniversary!

Jill in CO

I really feel that most people who would remotely enjoy this type of experience should budget for it, at least once. I hope to go again!

Looks great so far! I've been wanting to try V&A's for years.

And yes, the European butter has a higher fat content - to the point where butter + cheese = alfredo sauce, whereas we normally add cream over here. Isn't it heavenly?

GO! I've been reading V&A reports since 2007, and finally made it there!
OMG, the butter I had in Paris was delicious. That was in 97 & I still remember it. It was so delicious.

 

[Krissalee]

Ooooooh! Happy Anniversary!

I am looking forward to reading more of your review. DH and I have been fortunate to have had a couple anniversary dinners at V&As, and am eagerly awaiting October 2013 so we can enjoy our 15th Anniversary there as well.

Thanks for sharing - I will be reading!

 

[nebo]

Nice storytelling, Beka, now, how can I make sure
that Smidgy never gets to see this?

 

[Beka]

On to the salads....

Kyle & I decided to change up things a bit & ordered what we usually wouldn't.
My choice:

Roasted Long Island duck with pomegranate, pistachios & hearts of palm

Yum! The duck was flavorful & tender, with no hint of "gaminess". It's been a long time since I've had duck, mostly because I didn't enjoy my 1st experience with it.

Kyle's choice:

Chiogga beet carpaccio with pickled peaches & burrata cheese.

He's admittedly not a fan of beets, but that changed after this salad! I agree, it was delicious. Ok, so carpaccio doesn't usually apply to beets; the waiter did explain that sometimes the chef uses a term liberally. He can call it whatever he wants for all I care, so long as it tastes good!

 

[Beka]

Ooooooh! Happy Anniversary!

I am looking forward to reading more of your review. DH and I have been fortunate to have had a couple anniversary dinners at V&As, and am eagerly awaiting October 2013 so we can enjoy our 15th Anniversary there as well.

Thanks for sharing - I will be reading!

It's a perfect place for an anniversary dinner! I hope to have more dinners there! Happy (early) Anniversary!

Nice storytelling, Beka, now, how can I make sure
that Smidgy never gets to see this?

I'll be vewy vewy quiet. It's a far cry from Dinty Moore & cottage cheese!

 

[Beka]

The next round was seafood.

The waitress poured the most aromatic wine I've ever smelled. It was very citrusy (I'm gonna make up words as I go, if needed. Poor spell check.) and smelled like how I think a grapefruit SHOULD smell. (I'm not a fan of grapefruit.) Domaine Font de Michelle Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc, Rhone 2010 Sorry, no pictures.

Kyle had the turbot (extra $30 for those who are pricing this.)

Wild turbot with toasted capers & preserved lemon.
The turbot was light & flaky, not fishy at all. It was a good sized portion as well. I didn't taste it, but Kyle said the lemon overwhelmed the delicate flavor of the fish, but it wasn't off-putting.

I had the diver scallop & gulf shrimp cioppino with Maine mussel & fennel nage.

Oh. Mah. Gaw. That broth stuff? Delicious! And the scallop... that's what it would taste like if butter came from the sea. Know how some scallops aren't treated right & get rubbery? Or have grit in them? Not this one. Yum. The sear on it caramelized the scallop... oh my. Really, it was excellent. ETA: I forgot to mention the mussel. Now, I like the flavor of them, but apparently I have NEVER had one cooked properly before this night. The flavor was mild, and it was tender, not chewy. So good!

Next they served us brioche. Because I love bread so much, it will get its own post, giving it the respect it's due.

 

[TheNewMrsB]

Yuuuuum! The cioppino...OMG. I love scallops and mussels and am just dreaming over what they must have tasted like.

Yes. Brioche totally deserves its own post.

 

[igk]

I should also note that between courses, the pastry chef had prepared freshly baked breads.

Here's the hand-rolled French Baguette, served with a European style (apparently it's higher in fat??) butter:

I love bread. Think they can make an adult sized version of this, so I can wrap myself in it like a cocoon and eat my way out? Or is that a bit gluttonous?

I don't know about gluttonous - it would certainly be glutinous
Enjoying reading the review - one day I hope to make it there

 

[alex9179]

I am LOVING this

We're going on Nov 1 for our 11th anniversary celebration. I'm sooo looking forward to it. We have never had an experience remotely like it and your pictures and descriptions are making my mouth water!
We're also going to try things we might normally pass...this is the place to experiment, right?

 

[mamaboogie]

This is great!

We are also going in August for the first time and we can't wait!