~Good food is like music you can taste...F&W 2012~ Finished 11/30 & DEC TRIP POSTED!

[TinkerBelle_325]

"Good food is like music you can taste, color you can smell" - Gusteau, Ratatouille

Hi Everyone! Welcome to my latest Dining Review even though I haven't finished my April 2012 review...

We are heading to WDW from Oct 7th - 13th for my absolute favorite time of the year....Fall and Food & Wine Festival! This will be our 5th trip to the F&W festival and have decided to dedicate all our time to the booths, no events, no seminars and only 1 signature meal in the entire trip.

Life has been so hectic since my last WDW trip! I am in my 5th month of a 16 month MBA program and to say it is intensive is an understatement! I am up to my eyeballs in case studies, presentations, assignments and textbooks, but I am loving every minute.

As a result of my hectic schedule, this review is going to be PHOTO-heavy and TEXT-light!

DINING LINE UP

Sunday, Oct 7th
Wolfgang Puck Express - Ohare Airport
Wolfgang Puck Express - Downtown Disney
Food & Wine Festival Booths
Les Chefs de France

Monday, Oct 8th
Liberty Tree Tavern
Food & Wine Festival Booths
Via Napoli

Tuesday, Oct 9th
Rose & Crown
Food & Wine Festival Booths
California Grill

Wednesday, Oct 10th
Flame Tree BBQ
Food & Wine Festival Booths
Tutto Gusto

Thursday, Oct 11th
50s Primetime Cafe/ESPN Club
Jiko

Friday, Oct 12th
Liberty Tree Tavern
Food & Wine Festival Booths
Les Chefs de France

Saturday, Oct 13th
N/A - Early Flight Home!​

To read previous editions of my dining reviews:
2009, March 2010, Sept 2010, October 2010, May 2011, October 2011

 

[vettegirl]

Looks like you are going to have a blast! Don't you just love the F&W festival!!

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

Looks like you are going to have a blast! Don't you just love the F&W festival!!

Thanks! I absolutely love F&W It's my favorite WDW event.

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

Items to Try @ the F&W Booths!

Old Favorites
Grilled Lamb Chop (Australia)
Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup (Canada)
Escargots Persillade en Brioche (France)
Apple Strudel with Karamel-Vanilla Sauce (Germany)
Chicken Souvlaki with Tzatziki (Greece)
Kalua Pork Slider with Sweet and Sour Dole Pineapple Chutney and Spicy Mayonnaise (Hawaii)
Linda Bean's® Perfect Maine Lobster Roll (Hops & Barley)
Warm Chocolate Lava Cake with Bailey's Ganache (Ireland)
Crispy Shrimp Taco with Chipotle Lime Mayo and Cabbage Served on a Flour Tortilla (Mexico)
Seared Sea Scallop with Kumara Red Curry Puree and Apple Radish Salad (New Zealand)
Kielbasa & Potato Pierogie with Caramelized Onions and Sour Cream (Poland)


New Items
"Le Cellier" Wild Mushroom Beef Filet Mignon with Truffle Butter Sauce (Canada)
Trio of Artisan Cheeses (Cheese)
Chicken Satay with Spicy Peanut Sauce and Pickled Vegetables (China)
Yogurt Panna Cotta with Orange Cake, Raspberries and Pomegranate (Desserts)
Lemon Custard Verrine with Blueberry Compote (Desserts)
Dark Chocolate Mousse with Chili and Salted Caramel (Desserts)
White Corn Arepa with Mangalitsa Pork Rillette and Zellwood Sweet Corn Salad (Florida Local)
Florida Shrimp Ceviche with Fire Roasted Vegetables, Fried Plantains and Cilantro (Florida Local)
Schinken Nudel (Pasta Gratin with Ham and Cheese) (Germany)
Linda Bean's® Maine Home Style Clam Chowder (Hops & Barley)
Ravioli di Formaggio All'emiliana (Italy)
Spicy Hand Roll (Japan)
Karaage Hand Roll (Japan)
Sukiyaki Beef Pan (Japan)
Merguez Sausage (Morocco)
Zapiekanki-Toasted Mushroom, Caramelized Onion and Cheese Bread with House Made Ketchup (Poland)
Spinach and Paneer Cheese Pocket (South Africa)
Chili Colorado with House Made Chips & Cashew Cheese, featuring Gardein Beefless Tips (Terra)
​

 

[MickeyNicki]

Hi Megan! Cannot wait for your reviews

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

Hi Megan! Cannot wait for your reviews

Hi Nicki! Thanks for reading I'm looking forward to the trip. I will desperately need the vacation! I have assignments due pretty much every day from now until the day I leave!

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

Can't wait for your reviews! I haven't been to the F&W festival since 2002 (and I only tried one booth then - South Africa), so I'm really looking forward to seeing your pics from so many of the booths.

 

[TigerKat]

WooHoo, it's that time of year again!!!! F&W is our favorite time. Can't wait to read all about it from you before we head there ourselves!

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

Can't wait for your reviews! I haven't been to the F&W festival since 2002 (and I only tried one booth then - South Africa), so I'm really looking forward to seeing your pics from so many of the booths.

We adore F&W! This trip we really want to focus on the booths

WooHoo, it's that time of year again!!!! F&W is our favorite time. Can't wait to read all about it from you before we head there ourselves!

"it's the most wonderful time of the year!"

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

Food and Wine Festival Flashback​

Here is a sample of some of my favorite items from previous F&W Festivals!

Greece (2009)

Spanikopita and Chicken Souvlaki with Pita

U.S. (2009)

Praline Bread Pudding

Italy (2009)

Polpetini (meatballs) with Breadsticks

Baked Ravioli

Germany (2009)

Sausage on a Pretzel Roll, Ham & Cheese Spaetzel and Apple Strudel

Turkey (2008)

Meze Platter: Hummus, Pita and Cucumber & Tomato Salad and Beef Dumplings with Yogurt Sauce

Ireland (2008)

Boxty (potato pancake), Potato & Leek Soup, Cheese Selection

Italy (2008)

Baked Ziti and Chocolate Zeppole

Argentina (2008)

Beef Empanada

Spain (2008)

Churros with Chocolate Sauce

New Zealand (2008)

Lamb Slider and Kiwi Lime Pie (made me think of Friends )

Australia (2006)

Grilled Lamb Chop and Shrimp on the Barbie

Ireland (2006)

Bailey's Trifle with Raspberry

Mexico (2006)

Quesadilla with Chicken & Chorizo

France (2006)

Goat Cheese & Puff Pastry Tart

Morocco (2006)

Chicken Bastilla

 

[butiflfeet]

I absolutely adore the Food and Wine festival! I can't wait for your reviews!

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

Last Years Festival!​

Japan 2011: Spicy Tuna Roll, Tuna & Salmon Sensation, Pork Kakuni, California Roll, Kirin Beer

New Zealand 2011: Seared Scallop with Apple Radish Slaw, Lamb Slider

Morocco 2011: Baklava, Royal Mimosa, Chicken Harissa Roll

France 2011: Escargot en Brioche, Milk Chocolate Creme Brulee

Ireland 2011: Chocolate Lava Cake with Bailey's Ganache, Cheese Sampler

Canada 2011: Cheddar Cheese Soup, Neige Sparkling Ice Wine, Moosehead Beer

Hops & Barley 2011: Lobster Claws, Lobster Roll, Samuel Adams Boston Lager, Samuel Adams Festival Beer

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

So much to do!!!​

Hi All! I can't believe that I'm heading back to WDW in just 12 DAYS!!!!

However, my TO DO list before then is daunting to say the least.....

Meg's TO DO before Florida
Corporate Social Responsibility Reflection Paper
Corporate Social Responsibility Assignment
Finance Labs 2 & 3
Research Methods PowerPoint Presentation
Research Methods Assignment Part 1
Human Resources Case Analysis
Human Resources Group Project Part 1
Career Assignment
Strategy PowerPoint Presentation
Strategy Case Analysis

Can we say They really weren't kidding when they said that time management was a key element of doing an MBA! Thankfully I have started working on each and every one of those items AND I have today & tomorrow off class to work on them.

I'm tuned in to Magical Mouse Radio on Live365 (It's Background Loop Tuesday! and right now it is playing Stacey's Top 7 Countdown ) and I am determined to make that list significantly smaller!

I'll check back later to let you guys know how it's going!

 

[AvasMommy526]

I'm joining in!! All these wonderful Disers going to F&W, I'm so jealous!!
Looking forward to the live reporting
All that school work Obviously it will pay off but it's a lot! Good Luck, you will definitely deserve your vacation

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

I absolutely adore the Food and Wine festival! I can't wait for your reviews!

Thanks for reading! This vacation can't come fast enough

I'm joining in!! All these wonderful Disers going to F&W, I'm so jealous!!
Looking forward to the live reporting
All that school work Obviously it will pay off but it's a lot! Good Luck, you will definitely deserve your vacation

The school work is nuts lol, but I only have a week of classes left now. This weekend I'm going to knock the rest of the items off the list.

 

[NoOrdinaryPrincess]

Joining in! It looks as though we'll be there at the same time, though this will be my first F&WF. I'm so jealous of the tuna and salmon sensation! I don't think that item is on this year's menus!

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

Joining in! It looks as though we'll be there at the same time, though this will be my first F&WF. I'm so jealous of the tuna and salmon sensation! I don't think that item is on this year's menus!

Oh you'll love F&W! It is easily the best event at WDW in my opinion. You are right, it's not on this years menu, but I think a version of the tuna & salmon sensation might still exist as an appetizer at Tokyo Dining, if you were so inclined to try it!

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

SINGLE DIGITS!!​

Dear god I *must* be busy...I missed my single digit dance ....well, it's 8 days to go now!

I have, however, taken the opportunity to check out AJ's posts over on The Disney Food Blog and I am positively drooling over the F&W booth items! Some are very different than I imagined and having seen the pictures I am even more excited.

Based on looks alone here is my cravings list:
1. Canada's Filet with Truffle Butter Sauce!

This looks so much better than I imagined! I can almost taste it just by looking at the pictures.

2. New Zealand's Lamb Meatball

Um, hello!? This is served in a yorkshire pudding! How cool is that?? It looks delicious.

3. Florida Local's White Corn Arepa with Mangalitsa Pork Rilette and Zellwood Sweet Corn Salad

This was one of the prettiest presentations I have seen so far this year! The creamy pork rilette, the griddled arepa and the sweet corn sound like a perfect combination to me.

4. Australia's Lamb Chop with Mint Feta Pesto and Potato Crunchies

I have to admit I was skeptical when I first read this menu description, but it looks amazing. I adore salt and vinegar potato chips and think the addition of a crunchy texture to the lamb will be great.

5. Japan's Spicy Hand Roll

While it really isn't a "hand roll" in the traditional sense, this still sounds wonderful. Put spicy mayo on any sushi an I'm in!

6. Terra's Trick'n Chick'n Curry & Chili Colorado

I never thought I'd be saying I want to try Vegan food. I've tried Tofu and I think it is disgusting but these items look so beautiful that I am dying to give them a try.

7. Poland's Zapikanki

First off, cool name! This cheese bread looks interesting, kind of like a Polish pizza bun. I'm intrigued to see what the housemade ketchup tastes like.

8. Mexico's Tequila Sampler

What a smart idea! I know they have been offering a sampler in La Cava del Tequila for some time, but this presentation is adorable! I'm excited to try!

9. Germany's Schinken Nudel

Wow! This looks like awesome mac & cheese. In fact, it reminds DMom and I of a baked mac & cheese that existed in The Land food court when it was run by Kraft. It was soooo good! Let's hope this item can bring back those fond memories.

10. Italy's Ravioli di Formaggio All’emiliana and Salsiccia e “Papacelli” Napoletan

Both of these items look beautiful. The sausage and peppers is entirely different than what I pictured (I thought more of a sandwich). I am hoping the baked ravioli is reminiscent of the baked ziti from a few years ago.

Now, I should get back to work....oh by the way here's what my school checklist looks like:

COMPLETED
- Finance Labs 1, 2 & 3
- Finance Assignment 1
- Corporate Social Responsibility Reflection Paper
- Corporate Social Responsibility Assignment
- Human Resources Group Selection

NEARLY COMPLETE
- Career Assignment
- Human Resources Case Analysis
- Strategy Case PowerPoint
- Strategy Case Written Report

IN PROGRESS
- Research Presentation Questions
- Research PowerPoint Shell
- Research Proposal - Phase I

Thankfully, the "NEARLY COMPLETE" category will be "COMPLETE" by tomorrow and the IN PROGRESS aren't due until after I return from Florida!

Thanks again for reading and I'll update again soon.

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

The Best Laid Plans...​

Hi Everyone! Only 4 days to go!!

This is usually the point in time where I would lament about...."Dealing with an Indecisive DD (DDad and Disney Diner)"! For those that have read my previous reviews, you will know that my DDad enjoys "challenging" me by asking me to obtain impossible dining reservations just a few days before the desired dining date.

**Que Flashback**

“Hey Meg….can I see the itinerary?...”

Oh god…I’m screwed….he is going to want to change something, or he will ask me to obtain the impossible reservation. I understand he wants some flexibility, but for heaven’s sake, he has been to WDW as often as me, he knows that dining reservation book out months in advance….doesn’t he?

I groan and hand it over, waiting to see what his changes are.

“Why aren’t we eating at Flame Tree BBQ when we go to the Animal Kingdom?”

“I told you Dad, Flame Tree BBQ is closed for refurbishment until Sept 20th.”

“But you also said it might open early!”

“Key word being MIGHT Dad, I said might! It's Disney...remember how long it took them to open Test Track?? Right now it looks like it is behind schedule.”

“But I want to eat there!”

“So do I, but we'll do that in October.”

As an aside: We will do that in October has become a bit of a running joke in our family. We stayed at WDW during Tropical Storm Faye and it prevented us from doing several activities we had planned. As we were returning in late October for the F&W Festival we began saying "We'll do that in October" and as you can imagine the list of things we were doing in October got laughably big.

“Ok…fine...”

So DDad continues to look over the itinerary.

“You know, the Grand Floridian Cafe looks a bit…blah…why don’t we eat somewhere else that night?”

“Um…ok. Well The Wave should be pretty easy to get.”

“Ok, that sounds good, I liked The Wave.”

I go onto the WDW and easily find a reservation for The Wave, and just as I am finishing up and getting my confirmation number…

“What about the California Grill?”

“We are eating there on your anniversary.”

“I know, but what about California Grill instead of The Wave.”

“What?? Are you kidding? After Le Cellier, and outside of Cinderella’s Royal Table, California Grill is the holy grail of dining reservations. I barely got one for your anniversary and it was at a crappy time, but I got it. Besides, I've been looking for weeks and the California Grill is booked solid.”

“I’m sure you can get us in on the 7th as well.”

“No. I can’t.”

"We will just have to see when we get there. Maybe we can just walk up."

I was emphatic that there was no way on god’s green earth that I could get us a SECOND California Grill reservation, one week away! I just laughed at his suggestion to "walk-up" and said that MAYBE we could eat at the lounge but it would have to be right at the start of dinner service.

But, being the curious person I am, I checked out the WDW website this morning…I entered Sept 7th, dinner, 3 adults and smugly waited as the website processed. I was absolutely sure I was going to get “No dinner reservations are available 09/07/10.”

Then it happened….

No way….

That is not possible….

9:40pm available.

Crap. I’m never going to live this down. So I made the reservation and resigned myself to the fact that DDad would mock my lack of faith in spontaneity.

Then, I felt an Alice in Wonderland moment hit me…curiouser and curiouser…I entered Sept 5th…absolutely sure that there would be no availability and we would be stuck with out 5:40pm reservation.

Good lord…..would you look at that….

7:45pm available

So I re-booked that dinner as well.

Sadly, now he is never going to believe that last minute dining reservation changes are as impossible as I make them out to be.

But such is life with an Indecisive DDad.

**End Flashback**

As fun as that story is.....this time.....the person making the changes just days before we leave for WDW......was.....ME!

You see, we started out with a "No Signature Dining" policy for this trip. Then a few weeks ago we decided we couldn't live without a dinner at California Grill, so I added that.

Well, yesterday we received a delivery from a wine of the month club. Often they include a food item as well. As soon as we opened the box, this intoxicating spicy scent wafted out. It was allspice, smoked paprika, cumin, coriander.....it was JIKO! I swear, I was instantly transported to Jiko

So this trip it was my turn....

"Hey Dad.....are you sure you don't want to go to Jiko this trip?"

"Um...didn't we say only 1 signature meal this trip?....But I do love Jiko."

"That spice blend, doesn't it make you want the crispy beef bobotie rolls? The tandoori butter? The amazing Rudi Shultz Shiraz....?"

"Ha! Is this what it feels like when I do this to you?"

"Yup, pretty much. So what time should I make the reservation for?"

AND now we have swapped Kona Cafe for Jiko

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

Tomorrow!
​

16 hours! We are leaving in 16 hours.....and I have so much to do!!

We are leaving our house at 2:30am....I know crazy right? But we are flying out of Buffalo and our flight is 6am, so we need to arrive at about 4:30am.

Most of my To Do tasks center around packing:
- charge iPad, Nook, iPhone, MacBook, Camera & iPod (yeah, I travel with a lot of technology)
- print travel confirmations
- pack clothes, toiletries and carry on bags

Just so you all know, I'll be doing some live updates from the parks on my twitter account, @meganhuntley

I have updated the "Dining Line Up" on the first page and it will double as a Table of Contents.

I have also started a Trip Report Thread for those interested We'll Do It In October! A Fun, Fall, Food & Wine Festival Trip Reporthttp://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=46365185#post46365185