NoOrdinaryPrincess's Inaugural Dining Report: And we're back! (Updated 10/18)

[NoOrdinaryPrincess]

The Preface:

As our vacation begins in just over a week, it seems appropriate that I begin my first ever DR. Though I've never written one of these before, I've read my fair share of DR/TRs, and one of my greatest pet peeves is people who begin their reports with disclaimers. For every report I read that begins with "Well, this report won't be as good as [insert other username here]'s but I'll try" I become overcome with the desire to give them a great big hug and yell "YOU HAVE A VALUABLE CONTRIBUTION TO MAKE TO THIS COMMUNITY YOU SHOULD NOT BE ASHAMED!" That said…this report begins with a disclaimer.

And that disclaimer is this.

The Mr. and I took a quick weekend getaway back in May [2 nights, 1 day at Epcot], and I took all the pictures and notes to prepare a DR, and then chickened out. I will say that some of my reservation stems from the fact that I'm a relatively private person and have serious reservations about my personal information accessible and searchable on the internet in such a way. The rest of my hesitation lies in the idea that I didn't think I'd do a proper job (which, we have already established, is bullocks).

However, I aspire to rectify this problem by providing that DR 5 months late as a lead-up to my upcoming vacation.

Vacation Plans, Past and Future:

Unfortunately for the Mr. (also known as "J") our anniversary and my birthday are a week apart, and so to ensure we had properly celebrated both events, we headed down for a weekend at Disney arriving on a Friday in early May, and departing on Sunday. During this visit we sampled such Disney classic cuisine as Earl of Sandwich and had our first Tonga Toast as well as special birthday and anniversary celebratory dinners.

Our upcoming trip includes 7 nights on the DDP, and we will be traveling with two of our closest friends "A" and "P". We intentionally planned our trip to coincide with the F&WF which will be a first for all of us. Our ADRs include restaurants such as California Grill and Coral Reef, as well as a surprise "boys night" in which A and I allowed the boys to plan an entire day of our vacation (we figured it was only fair, as we had planned the other six). Time permitting, I may add some speculation as to what that mystery ADR might be. I will say that I plan to primarily photograph and comment on my own dining selections, out of respect for my travel companions and well as my [potential] readers. I don't feel like I can give as useful a review on a meal I didn't eat.

Hopefully I'll be able to navigate these two simultaneous DRs with minimal confusion.

 

[NoOrdinaryPrincess]

Earl of Sandwich is one of our favorite Disney restaurants, and our go-to if we're paying OOP for a meal. For us, not only is EoS one of the most affordable dining options on Disney property, but also one of the most consistently good.

On this particular occasion I opted for the Caprese, and I must say, I would order this again! The bread was fresh and not soggy from the balsamic as often happens with this kind of sandwich. I am very picky about the freshness of my tomatoes, and these were nicely in season. Mozzarella and basil is a combination I always enjoy on all kinds of foods. Winner all around in my opinion.

J ordered a cannonball, and quite enjoyed it. Every time we return to EoS he says he will try something new, but consistently returns to his old favorite. I sampled a bite of two of his, and it was good, no doubt, but in my mind it just did not compare. Perhaps it was because I preferred my lighter option to his heavier one, but for my taste the Caprese is far superior.

 

[jabead]

Yay, you decided to do a DR! Joining in and adding the link to my list.

 

[NoOrdinaryPrincess]

Yay, you decided to do a DR! Joining in and adding the link to my list.

I did it for you, Barb. Thanks for reading along.

 

[NoOrdinaryPrincess]

This next update is going to require some back story.

Though my age can be best described as "Young Professional" I have a life long affection for Young Adult literature. One of my favorite books is a really fun read by Maureen Johnson called "13 Little Blue Envelopes." The premise of this story involves the protagonist Ginny receiving a package from her eccentric aunt a few months after that aunt's unexpected death. The package contained 13 blue envelopes that send her on an adventure from her American bedroom around Europe. Throughout the adventure Ginny finds landmarks of significant importance, meets people and completes tasks while trying to figure out why her aunt would send her this way. The story is light, but quite well crafted, and everyone I have recommended it to (all older than the "young adult" demographic) have enjoyed it.

Unbeknownst to me, J had also read the story, and incorporated it into my birthday present (note the girly-looking cover art, this was no small sacrifice).

On the night before our spring departure, J and I went out to dinner, and what showed up but my very own package and blue envelopes! [the Tardis illustrations have more to do with my own Whovian affections and do not play a significant role in the story]

The letter told me I would be off on my own quest through far off lands during the days to come, and, like Ginny who had to travel to New York before beginning her European adventure, I too, would be traveling to New England. More specifically, the Beach Club and Cape May Cafe to celebrate an important birthday dinner.

 

[NoOrdinaryPrincess]

To say that I enjoy seafood, particularly shellfish, would be a bit of an understatement making Cape May a perfect surprise celebratory dinner. J and I loaded up our plates with mountains of crab legs, steamed clams and mussels. I even managed to decorate my plate with some of the non-aquatic offerings.

I like to think I'm a fairly moderate eater normally, but with this kind of cuisine I am an absolute glutton. To say I shoveled in the food in a very unladylike manner would not be entirely inaccurate, but to me the mussels were the standout portion of this meal (prior to dessert, of course). They were perfectly salty, satisfying and fresh. I loved them.

On my second helping I expanded my scope and sampled the beef as well finding it a bit fatty for my taste. To me this was the weakest aspect of the meal; though, I will be the first to admit this was likely, largely bias.

[I also want to apologize for the half eaten appearance of my food. Pictures from buffets really get you to appreciate the time professional chefs put in to the presentation of their dishes.]

Finally, it was time for dessert.

Cape May brought me a birthday cupcake. A nice gesture that I seem to fail to have gotten a picture of. I must have been too eager to sample the buffet's offering of desserts.

On this night they had strawberry cheesecake, key lime tarts and the famous oreo bon bons.

The cheesecake was good. The key lime was a bit too tart for my taste, but I know others would enjoy it. The bon bon?

Let me just say, I am part of the crowd that is absolutely gutted this item has been removed from the Cape May menu. Absolutely outstanding. The filling was cool and sweet with a hint of vanilla. The oreo was a little soft but not unappetizingly mushy. Excellent, excellent dessert.

After dessert what did I find, but another letter, of course! [note the birthday dessert in the upper right-hand corner]

Where would this particular note send me? Stick around and find out, but not before breakfast at Sunshine Seasons!

 

[jabead]

What a fun adventure...I can't wait to see what's next!

 

[nanienamou]

It's so cute that your DH prepared this surprise for you! Can't wait to read more!

 

[nfggirl5454]

Totally off-topic, but I love YA! I've read the "13 Little Blue Envelope" book and its sequel. Have you read Maureen Johnson's last book, "The Name of the Star"?

Anyway, that's such a sweet thing for J to do! I'm looking forward to reading about the next adventures.

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

Yay that you started a dining review! I'm going to sleep now, but I can't wait to read more.

And I'm intrigued by this envelope twist.

 

[NoOrdinaryPrincess]

What a fun adventure...I can't wait to see what's next!

Thanks for being a loyal follower!

 

[NoOrdinaryPrincess]

It's so cute that your DH prepared this surprise for you! Can't wait to read more!

Thanks! He's the greatest. Thank you so much for following along. I see you will be at the F&WF as well. I leave in a week. I can't wait!

 

[NoOrdinaryPrincess]

Totally off-topic, but I love YA! I've read the "13 Little Blue Envelope" book and its sequel. Have you read Maureen Johnson's last book, "The Name of the Star"?

Anyway, that's such a sweet thing for J to do! I'm looking forward to reading about the next adventures.

I love Maureen Johnson; she's one of my favorite authors! I've read all her books except Burmudez Triangle (the only one I can't manage to find for ereader), including Name of the Star. I can't wait for The Madness Underneath in February.

For me, Maureen Johnson isn't as "deep" as, say John Green, but she is engaging and relatable in a way that appeals to a broad audience, not just teenagers.

 

[NoOrdinaryPrincess]

Yay that you started a dining review! I'm going to sleep now, but I can't wait to read more.

And I'm intrigued by this envelope twist.

Thanks for joining in! The envelopes were one of the most thoughtful gifts I have ever received, and it's nice to document them in this way.

 

[NoOrdinaryPrincess]

Not all of the envelopes are food or dining related, but as some people seem to be enjoying them, I will continue to include them. If you are here strictly for the food, by all means skip over these entries.

 

[NoOrdinaryPrincess]

As I mentioned in the introduction, this was just a quick weekend trip with one full day in a park and then back home. Therefore, we were at Epcot in time for rope drop.

I couldn't continue my envelope adventure until World Showcase opened at 11, so we breakfasted at Sunshine Seasons while waiting for our Soarin' fastpasses to come due.

We got the breakfast panini and a cinnamon roll to share (the water and powerede tasted as your expected they would).

The panini was filled with eggs, bacon, sausage and cheese. It tasted very similar to the breakfast quiches offered by Panera Bread Company (if you have one of those near you). It was quite satisfying, but unremarkable. J is very particular about his scrambled eggs, and I was worried he wouldn't like it, but he ate it just the same.

The cinnamon roll was okay. It was a bit on the dry side and could have benefitted from being heated up, but it not too bad.

J really wants to try the lunch here on our trip in a week. We'll see if that ends up happening.

 

[NoOrdinaryPrincess]

After some rides and some exploring, World Showcase finally opened and I could continue my envelope adventure. Once there, I made a beeline for…













THE ROSE AND CROWN

[Image taken from Google]

Like the protagonist from the book my adventure was imitating, my worldly travels began in the UK at the Rose and Crown pub. My letter had encouraged me to push my boundaries and try something new. Specifically it asked me to sample a beer called a snake bite.

For those that don't know, a snake bite is a combination of cider and lager. It was pretty good. I like most ciders and lagers well enough independently, and the combination was good, but not something I would want more than a pint of at a time. I haven't drank any kind of soda for almost 10 years now, so I sometimes have a hard time with overly carbonated beverages.

The lager was a bit hoppy and the cider quite sweet. Overall the effect was good, but could become overwhelming if consumed in overly large quantities.

Next it was time for envelope #3. Can you tell where my next destination would be from the envelope art?

 

[Dalamara]

Subscribing! I'm hooked already! . Your hubby sounds so sweet.

 

[jecskc]

I just saw this !!! Girl, I am so proud of you !! I know this will be great, so I am going back to read now !!

 

[jecskc]

Coming back to comment.

1. I love your writing style. Excellent.

2. You do a great job of describing food and their combination of flavors so we can imagine it ourselves. Unlike MY descriptions which are basically, "we ate here. It was good." LOL.

3. I have to read that book now. It sounds like a great one !!

4. How sweet of your DH to send you on this scavenger hunt !! Oh my goodness ... he's a keeper !!! Lucky you !!

5. I can't wait to see what happens next !! Thanks so much for sharing !!

Susan