DDC XXVII: Penguins in Paradise!

[theduck619]

As Brian vaguely alluded to in his previous post....

I had a wonderful dining experience on Saturday at the Culinary Vegetable Institute in Milan, OH.

http://www.culinaryvegetableinstitute.com/

This place is literally 10 minutes down the road from my town and offers "Earth to Table" dining with guest chefs once a month.

This month's guest chef was Chef Brian Piasecki from Walt Disney World's California Grill.

We had the opportunity to sample his work and even try an upcoming new menu item to be featured on the revised California Grill menu when it reopens this August.

Here was the menu for the evening....

http://s1137.photobucket.com/user/s...D-F7E9177274A2-1592-000002A0BDDB8062.jpg.html

The item being added to the new menu at California Grill is the Handmade Potato Gnocchi....

http://s1137.photobucket.com/user/s...F-CD62F087AA42-1592-000002A0D8DE9CD8.jpg.html

The Gnocchi, we were told, will be featured with scallops on the new menu.
They were amazing!

At the end of the meal, we had the opportunity to meet up with the Chef...

http://s1137.photobucket.com/user/s...7-06FE4FFA5952-1592-000002A0E52FB645.jpg.html

He's a very nice guy and hails from Toledo (only an hour away from me).

He gave us a tip for dining at California Grill. He said if you're ever in a spot where you don't have a reservation, just tell the elevator attendant on the second floor of the contemporary that you want to have drinks at the bar. They will let you go up to the restaurant and you can actually have dinner at the bar. Or he said, let the hostess know that you'd like to be made aware of any no-shows for reservations to get a table.

He made sure to tell us to ask for him the next time we're at California Grill!

It was an amazing meal/experience.

Very cool Scott!

 

[scott2997]

She's to good for you Scott....

If she's too good for me, then she's definitely way too good for you...

Well played, Scott. Well played.

Well played DW!

Very cool.

It was a great surprise. An early birthday gift from DW.

I thougth there was a rule to never trust a skinny chef??


Good tip though.

Yeah - he was a short skinny chef....don't see to many like that!

Sounds like a great experience.

Admittedly though, when you mentioned he was from Toledo, and I see him wearing an apron, I automatically jumped to this image in my head:

No, Klinger wasn't cooking for us. Thankfully!

Very cool Scott!

It was a great night.

We arrived at 6:15p and didn't leave until 10p!


They do these Earth to Table dinners once a month. In June, the guest Chef is Tyler Florence!

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Now that is funny.

I need to get my nemesis into the world of cell phones before I try to mix it up with texting.

Hey, if you want to shell out for the data plan...

 

[FreezinRafiki]

Yeah - he was a short skinny chef....don't see to many like that!

I have one rule in life: Never trust a skinny cook.

 

[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

It was gobbled up by the pitiless, remorseless foul creature known as Monday.

Congratulations to you both!

Thank you sir. I’ll happily accept that.
DW, on the other hand, may well need to have her head examined for not having thrown me out before now…

But so long as she’s wiling to live a life of delusion, it’s all good for me.

He gave us a tip for dining at California Grill. He said if you're ever in a spot where you don't have a reservation, just tell the elevator attendant on the second floor of the contemporary that you want to have drinks at the bar. They will let you go up to the restaurant and you can actually have dinner at the bar. Or he said, let the hostess know that you'd like to be made aware of any no-shows for reservations to get a table.

Thanks! That’s a good one to know.
I may have to give it a try in June.

Congrats to the soccer and volyball players and aniversaries this weekend. Decided to mostly stay off the laptop this weekend and spent most of it hanging with DS. Took him shopping for first sport coat, dress shirt & tie (want him to look good for formal night on DCL Fantasy in June). We also finally got around to watching Wreck it Ralph - better than expected. Traveling out of town this week so wishing all, especially Boston & West TX, a good week.

We did a bit of that formalwear type of shopping as well this weekend. Prom related to be specific. Being a musician, DS already owns a tux, but we needed to find a vest and tie that matched the young ladies’ gown. I had my doubts about pulling that one off at first, but I obviously underestimated the vast amount of rentable formal apparel available. Ten minutes, and we had the mission accomplished. Celebrated with calzone and Stromboli from a local purveyor… that made the trip far more enjoyable.

 

[jmwest]

Happy new week guys. My week started with DD2 throwing up in our bed for about the 5th time in the past 2 weeks at 3 o'clock in the morning. But hey, at least the sun is shining today.

I think we've settled on Hilton Head as our June destination. Now just to decide between the Disney resort there and a newly remodeled place called Sonesta. The D resort would be about a $500 premium so I'm not sure that one is in the lead.

 

[Twin Dad]

Anniversary dinner is booked for 7pm at an undisclosed restaurant.

Sounds like a great experience.

Admittedly though, when you mentioned he was from Toledo, and I see him wearing an apron, I automatically jumped to this image in my head:

 

[AirGoofy]

Happy new week guys. My week started with DD2 throwing up in our bed for about the 5th time in the past 2 weeks at 3 o'clock in the morning. But hey, at least the sun is shining today.

I think we've settled on Hilton Head as our June destination. Now just to decide between the Disney resort there and a newly remodeled place called Sonesta. The D resort would be about a $500 premium so I'm not sure that one is in the lead.

Not the best way to start the morning. Hope he gets over it quickly. As for the hotel, while we liked the Disney resort, I don't know if I would have booked it paying cash. It works well with DVC.

I had a wonderful dining experience on Saturday at the Culinary Vegetable Institute in Milan, OH.

This place is literally 10 minutes down the road from my town and offers "Earth to Table" dining with guest chefs once a month.

This month's guest chef was Chef Brian Piasecki from Walt Disney World's California Grill.

We had the opportunity to sample his work and even try an upcoming new menu item to be featured on the revised California Grill menu when it reopens this August.

Here was the menu for the evening....

Looks and sounds like you had a great meal.

Now that is funny.

I need to get my nemesis into the world of cell phones before I try to mix it up with texting.

There is a really difficult secret weapon you can use in these battles. Don't read the text.

Hey, if you want to shell out for the data plan...

You don't need a data plan to text. You know better, sly....

 

[afwdwfan]

No, Klinger wasn't cooking for us. Thankfully!

Mmmmmmmm.... Tony Packo's....

 

[AirGoofy]

I have surrendered to the allergies. I hate this time of year.

Since I don't plan on making the next Challenge Team Sparrow is the perfect fit for me.

That's my plan - unless I win the lotto. Then, I'll sit on a couch in WDW.

For me, it was spent celebrating a 22nd Anniversary.

Happy Anniversary. 22 years is a long time.

 

[Twin Dad]

Mmmmmmmm.... Tony Packo's....

I've always wanted to try Adam's Ribs.

 

[FreezinRafiki]

Anniversary dinner is booked for 7pm at an undisclosed restaurant.

Make sure you let her splurge and order anything. Don't limit her to just the Dollar Menu.

 

[cj9200]

I had a wonderful dining experience on Saturday at the Culinary Vegetable Institute in Milan, OH...

This month's guest chef was Chef Brian Piasecki from Walt Disney World's California Grill.

We had the opportunity to sample his work and even try an upcoming new menu item to be featured on the revised California Grill menu when it reopens this August.

Here was the menu for the evening....

Very cool. Looking forward to seeing the new menu and restaurant layout.

Oh, and on a side note...

My nemesis starts texting me his dinner, making me jealous....

And then I GOT IN TROUBLE from his DW because I AM TEXTING him, while out for a nice dinner.

Funny, very funny.

Sounds like a great experience.

Admittedly though, when you mentioned he was from Toledo, and I see him wearing an apron, I automatically jumped to this image in my head:

I've always wanted to try Adam's Ribs.

"You sent all the way to Chicago and you didn't order any cole slaw?"

One of my favorite MASH episodes.

For me, it was spent celebrating a 22nd Anniversary. :

Happy 22nd.

We did a bit of that formalwear type of shopping as well this weekend. Prom related to be specific. Being a musician, DS already owns a tux, but we needed to find a vest and tie that matched the young ladies’ gown...

Reminds me of last year. You are lucky you could rent. They don't rent prom dresses.

On a side note, Marlins guaranteed not to lose today. Game was canceled because of snow coming tonight in Minnesota.

 

[afwdwfan]

On a side note, Marlins guaranteed not to lose today. Game was canceled because of snow coming tonight in Minnesota.

I about had to cry myself to sleep when they beat the Reds with a home run against Chapman.

Thankfully, they managed to salvage the weekend.

 

[Twin Dad]

Make sure you let her splurge and order anything. Don't limit her to just the Dollar Menu.

This will be a little bit better place than McDonald's. And, no I don't mean Culver's. I know that's what you Sconnies call fine dinning.

 

[wasnotafan]

This will be a little bit better place than McDonald's. And, no I don't mean Culver's. I know that's what you Sconnies call fine dinning.

Better than Culver's? Impossible unless it is a day when they are making some of the weird flavors of frozen custard. Frozen custard is anytime food.

 

[budamacdvcr]

Happy 15th anniversary to Animal Kingdom

 

[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

Happy Anniversary. 22 years is a long time.

Happy 22nd.

Thanks guys…
22 is a lot of years, but oddly it doesn’t seem like it’s been that long.
Time moves so quick now that I’m not certain how it got to be mid April much less when the heck 2013 arrived.

Reminds me of last year. You are lucky you could rent. They don't rent prom dresses.

Good point.
But I’d happily trade that “rental advantage” for some better grant offerings.

Make sure you let her splurge and order anything. Don't limit her to just the Dollar Menu.

This will be a little bit better place than McDonald's. And, no I don't mean Culver's. I know that's what you Sconnies call fine dinning.

Better than Culver's? Impossible unless it is a day when they are making some of the weird flavors of frozen custard. Frozen custard is anytime food.

Had never heard of such so I had to look that one up.
As of now there’s only one of em’ east of Ohio or south of Tennessee, but oddly enough it’s in SC, just no where near me. But then low and behold, someone is apparently planning to open one in my town… go figure… If it’s any good I may have to give it a try (assuming that it ever actually opens up that is).

 

[RodBelding]

Listen closely fellas, you probably will not hear this from me again.

Way to Go Boston!
Great Job!​

B - Strong

Thanks guys.

 

[Emma's Dad]

10 hours and we're heading to the airport! Not sure how much sleep I'll get tonight. Still putting together last minute stuff for some reason. Thought I was all ready to go! Should be checked into Wyndham Bonnet Creek Resort just after lunch time and then head over to DHS.

Sorry I haven't kept up lately... life has been in overdrive this week. Prayers to those that need them. High fives for those who are celebrating. I'll be posting stuff to FB this week.