You just graduated from college!! What's next? 5/13 - 5/21 THAT'S A WRAP!

jabead · Oct 8, 2015

On their DHS day, my nephew and his wife chose to have dinner at...

They did the Fantasmic! Dinner Package here, which included the same amount of food (appetizer, entree, dessert, and non-alcoholic beverage) as with their Deluxe Dining Plan, but with one limitation. So in other words, for the same 2 DxDP credits (each) they were able to get the same food (with one exception, which I will explain later) plus get vouchers for the reserved seating area for Fantasmic! This was done at my suggestion when I saw on their schedule that they were having dinner at HBD anyway and planned to attend Fantasmic! that night.

Ok, so first up is a photo of the menu they were presented...

Now on to their food, starting with their appetizers. My nephew chose the...

Beef Carpaccio with Capers, Lemon Mustard Aioli, Petite Salad Greens, Caesar ice cream and toasted French bread

His Comment: I thought the beef carpaccio was extraordinary!

While his wife went with the...

Crispy Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes over an English Cucumber and Plum Tomato Slaw with a Sweet Chili Sauce

Her Comment: I thought the crab cakes were crispy and very delicious with the spicy chili sauce and the slaw to cool it down.

Then for his entree, my nephew chose the...

Charred-glazed Filet of Beef with a Red Wine Reduction topped with a Cabernet and Roasted Shallot Butter, over White Truffle Oil-Wild Forest Mushroom Mashed Potatoes, and Sauteed Haricot Verts

His Comment: I enjoyed the beef filet but the green beans were a little under cooked.

His wife chose for her entree the...

Pan-seared Grouper with a Half Herb-crusted Lobster Tail over an Orzo Salad with a Cognac-Mushroom Beurre Blanc

Her Comment: I thought my entree was very beautiful, juicy and delicious,

Normally at Hollywood Brown Derby you have your choice from about 6 different desserts when you order their Mini Dessert Trio, but apparently when dining with the Fantasmic! Dining Package that is not the case.

Here is what they each received for dessert...

Mini Dessert Trio of Double Vanilla Creme Brulee, Brown Derby Original! Mini Grapefruit Cake, and Chocolate Sphere with Hazelnut Praline Chocolate and Orange-White Chocolate Mousse

Their Comments: We both thought it was kind of stinky that we didn't get to pick our desserts. I liked the tangy grapefruit cake but I thought the best dessert out of the three was the creme brulee. My wife thought the grapefruit cake was way too tangy and the texture was kind of stringy. Neither of us really cared for the chocolate sphere.

Next up: Our Dinner at Le Cellier

jknicholas · Oct 8, 2015

damn that food looked incredible @ HBD. thanks for the pictures!

GoofySon'sMom · Oct 8, 2015

That is the same dessert were received at HBD for our Dine with the Imagineer. I did like the chocolate one but agreed that the grapefruit cake was odd and I enjoy the full dessert slice. Our lunch was so great this past trip that I think it is the meal I am most looking forward to in March! ::yes::

jabead · Oct 9, 2015

jknicholas said:
damn that food looked incredible @ HBD. thanks for the pictures!

Yes, I agree! So good that I scheduled lunch there during my upcoming trip.

GoofySon'sMom said:
That is the same dessert were received at HBD for our Dine with the Imagineer. I did like the chocolate one but agreed that the grapefruit cake was odd and I enjoy the full dessert slice. Our lunch was so great this past trip that I think it is the meal I am most looking forward to in March!

I'm hoping that when I go to HBD for lunch on my upcoming trip that I'll still have my choice of all their desserts for the mini trio, 'cause my favorite is their banana toffee cake. :thumbsup2

jabead · Oct 9, 2015

As I mentioned previously, I had allowed the kids to each choose one signature restaurant at which to dine on this trip. Allison had chosen Narcoossee's, which turned out to be a very good choice. Emily picked California Grill, which also was good. As for Andrew, he wanted the steak and cheddar cheese soup at Epcot's...

The Le Cellier menu as of May 20, 2015...

Emily started our ordering with a cocktail...

Torontopolitan - A combination of Iceberg Vodka, Chambord,. Cranberry and Orange. Juices - $10.00

She liked this and gave it a rating of 4.

Next came the complimentary bread basket...

Which included 2 soft pretzel bread sticks, 2 sourdough rolls, and one multi-grain roll. To avoid a fight breaking out at our table, I immediately requested and received a couple more bread sticks. Because you can't have the Le Cellier cheese soup without an entire bread stick to dip in it.

Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup made with Moosehead Beer and Nueske's Applewood-smoked Bacon

We ordered three bowls of the soup for the four of us, as Allison and I shared one. Our ratings averaged 4, with two rating it a 4, one a 5 and the other only a 3 because they thought it was too salty.

As for our entrees, I of course expected Andrew to order a steak. However, when it came time to order he said he wasn't feeling like steak or any of the other entrees offered on the menu. Instead he just wanted the soup and this side dish...

Loaded Mashed Potatoes with Nueske's Applewood-smoked Bacon, Black Diamond Cheddar, topped with Potato Skin Crisps

We all loved the Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes that were once served at Le Cellier. These loaded ones were very good but not quite as good as the cream cheese according to the kids (Andrew shared these with Emily). One of them rated the loaded mashed potatoes a 4 and the other a 5.

In addition to a bowl of soup, Emily also ordered this side dish to share with Andrew...

Smoked Macaroni & Cheese made with Smoked Tillamook Cheddar, Black Diamond Cheddar, Orecchiette Pasta, and Nueske's Applewood-smoked Bacon

Emily and Andrew's dinner seemed to have a bacon theme. Though Emily said this was far better than the mac & cheese she had earlier that day at Prime Time, it still did not receive her highest rating of 5. Instead she gave this deluxe version of macaroni & cheese a 4 and Andrew only gave it a 3. So the winner of the side dish competition was the loaded mashed potatoes.

Allison though did order an entree. She wanted the filet but doesn't like mushrooms so didn't want the risotto that normally accompanies Le Cellier's Filet Mignon. She asked our server what her other options were for a side dish and chose green beans...

Allison enjoyed her steak and the green beans, rating them a 4.

As for me, I was originally planning to just have the soup and not order an entree here but when Andrew and Emily didn't order one I changed my mind. I wasn't all the hungry though, so I should have shared a filet with Allison. But when she insisted on not having the mushroom risotto or the truffle-butter sauce, I just couldn't do it. So I ordered my own filet entree, as it was listed on the menu...

Le Cellier Filet Mignon - AAA Canadian Beef Tenderloin, Wild Mushroom Risotto, Heirloom Toy Box Tomatoes, and Truffle-Butter Sauce

This looked incredibly good. But it was just okay.

After having a delicious filet with English pea risotto here during my May 2014 trip...

I was disappointed with my filet when I returned to Le Cellier just 6 months later...

And my latest filet tasted pretty much like the one from October 2014. The meat was just not the quality you would expect with a $49 steak.

Consequently, on my upcoming trip I will be skipping Le Cellier. I can get my cheddar cheese soup fix at the Canada F & W booth and I might give the filet mignon there a try too. For only $7.50 my expectations won't be nearly as high.

Next up: My nephew's dinner at the other Epcot signature restaurant

rteetz · Oct 9, 2015

Never eaten at Brown Derby but it does look very good.

We have friends who go to Le Cellier every trip but we have never been. It does look good and I'd like to try it at least once but we've been on the dinning plan the last two trips and I don't find it worth two credits.

Vernie822 · Oct 9, 2015

HBD and Le Cellier have been on my to do list for quite some time now but for some reason, we haven't yet been to either. After seeing a few great HBD reviews we decided to book it for our trip in November. What is your favorite entree? I am dying to try the Cobb salad, but I may do that as an appetizer. Depends if I'm in a salad mood or not if I'll do it as my entree and try a different appetizer.

The soup at Le Cellier just looks SO GOOD.. I would need like 3 of those pretzel breadsticks though. Yum. The sides do look delicious! Sorry your filet wasn't as good as in previous visits. We will be sampling the cheese soup and filet at F&W (we loved them last year!) which is why we passed on Le Cellier this time around.

jabead · Oct 10, 2015

rteetz said:
Never eaten at Brown Derby but it does look very good.

We have friends who go to Le Cellier every trip but we have never been. It does look good and I'd like to try it at least once but we've been on the dinning plan the last two trips and I don't find it worth two credits.

I agree that Le Cellier is not worth 2 DDP credits. My nephew and his wife (who were on the Deluxe DDP) were originally scheduled to have dinner there during their trip. I recommended that they consider switching that ADR to Monsieur Paul. Afterwards they were very happy that they took my advice. Stay tuned for their MP review to find out why.

Vernie822 said:
HBD and Le Cellier have been on my to do list for quite some time now but for some reason, we haven't yet been to either. After seeing a few great HBD reviews we decided to book it for our trip in November. What is your favorite entree? I am dying to try the Cobb salad, but I may do that as an appetizer. Depends if I'm in a salad mood or not if I'll do it as my entree and try a different appetizer.

The soup at Le Cellier just looks SO GOOD.. I would need like 3 of those pretzel breadsticks though. Yum. The sides do look delicious! Sorry your filet wasn't as good as in previous visits. We will be sampling the cheese soup and filet at F&W (we loved them last year!) which is why we passed on Le Cellier this time around.

I really enjoyed my lunch at HBD during my April/May 2014 trip. I had the Cobb salad appetizer and it was great. My entree (the Fettucine Alfredo with shrimp) and the mini dessert trio were also good. I'm planning to have lunch there again on my next trip and am planning to again have the Cobb salad but maybe try either the chicken sandwich or the wagyu beef burger from their special lunch menu. :thumbsup2

jabead · Oct 10, 2015

During their July anniversary trip to WDW my nephew and his wife had dinner at Epcot's...

They were seated at a table next to one of the windows with a view of World Showcase...

Their bread choices...

Being on the Deluxe Dining Plan, they then had appetizers...

Cassolette d'escargots Cauderanaise - Escargot cassolette with white wine, bacon, shallots

And a look underneath the foam...

"Tartere Classique" de Thon Juane et Petite Salad Verte - Ahi Tuna "Classic Tartare" and small greens salad

For their entrees they chose...

Magret de canard, fondant de pommes, petits oignons, choux farcie a la queue de boeuf - Roasted Duck Breast, apple fondant, baby onions, and cabbage stuffed with braised oxtail

St. Jacques a la creme de mache, courge confite et spaghettini a la truffe noire - Seared scallops, corn lettuce cream, butternut squash confit, spaghettini with black truffle

And for dessert, my nephew had La Sphere: Sphere de chocolat au lait, gateau de chocolat, creme aux noisettes caramelisees et chocolat, orange confites, glace au chocolat, sauce tiede au chocolat et Armagnac - milk chocolate sphere, caramelized hazelnuts and chocolate cream, candied oranges, chocolate ice cream, warm chocolate and Armagnac sauce. But sadly he didn't get a photo of this.

His wife though sent these photos of her beautiful dessert...

Le Vacherin: meringue, creme glace vanille, sorbet framboise, chantilly a la vanille, coulis de framboises - Meringue, vanilla ice cream, raspberry sorbet, vanilla chantilly, raspberry coulis

Their comments: From beginning to end this meal was incredible! There are no words to adequately express how delicious everything was.

MY NOTE: After hearing this and seeing their photos I immediately made an ADR at Monsieur Paul for my upcoming trip.

Next up: Our dessert at Beaches & Cream

jedijill · Oct 10, 2015

I LOVED MP when I dined there. The food is as luscious as the French waiters.

Jill in CO

rteetz · Oct 10, 2015

I've never eaten in MP but we are trying Chefs de France next time. My sisters are picky eaters by decided to open up a little bit.

ksromack · Oct 10, 2015

jabead said:
Starring Rolls had more to offer, but when other customers entered the line behind us I quit taking photos and proceeded to the check out station to purchase our pastries.

So what is your favorite at Starring Rolls Cafe???

We always do Starring Rolls for breakfast at DHS too! The Butterfinger cupcake is my all time favorite but this past trip I went and got the Halloween cupcake instead. It was very good! I don't remember without checking my photo but it was either a pumpkin cupcake or a carrot cupcake......regardless it was delicious. Hubby had the banana split custard item. Very good too! We ended up splitting a mocha.....but we should have gotten our own. I had forgotten how small that was!

jabead said:
They did the Fantasmic! Dinner Package here, which included the same amount of food (appetizer, entree, dessert, and non-alcoholic beverage) as with their Deluxe Dining Plan, but with one limitation. So in other words, for the same 2 DxDP credits (each) they were able to get the same food (with one exception, which I will explain later) plus get vouchers for the reserved seating area for Fantasmic! This was done at my suggestion when I saw on their schedule that they were having dinner at HBD anyway and planned to attend Fantasmic! that night.

Normally at Hollywood Brown Derby you have your choice from about 6 different desserts when you order their Mini Dessert Trio, but apparently when dining with the Fantasmic! Dining Package that is not the case.

I was a bit disappointed that we weren't able to choose our 3 mini-desserts here too! I had it all figured out that dh would get the 3 I didn't get so we could taste them all. It had been 20 years since I had dined at HBD and it was very very good! I chose the appetizer cobb salad without the blue cheese and I found it delicious.....i still think about that one!

jabead said:
The soup at Le Cellier just looks SO GOOD.. I would need like 3 of those pretzel breadsticks though. Yum. The sides do look delicious! Sorry your filet wasn't as good as in previous visits. We will be sampling the cheese soup and filet at F&W (we loved them last year!) which is why we passed on Le Cellier this time around.

The F&W serving of cheese soup is definitely something you don't want to share.....and I still think they should have sold a pretzel bread stick as another option at that booth.....I was satified with the filet and cheese soup there.

auntfrannie · Oct 11, 2015

MP is amazing! It's been two years since I've been there but I still remember having the best dessert there: the Moelleux au chocolat. So decadent and absolutely delicious!

kastoney · Oct 11, 2015

Looks like your nephew has a couple of great meals. Kicking myself for not trying the carpaccio at HBD. I haven't done Paul's in a long time and didn't recall it being all that great, but those pictures are making me think otherwise. Can't wait to see what you think of it. When is your next trip?

I'm going to have to get to le celler one of these days just for that soup. I've read about it for years but the rest of the menu never excited me too much. Maybe some soup and a side is in order for me too ; )

jabead · Oct 12, 2015

jedijill said:
I LOVED MP when I dined there. The food is as luscious as the French waiters.

Jill in CO

I haven't been to MP for dinner since it was Bistro de Paris. I did go to the French Regional Lunch (with Champagne) there last year though but all I can remember about the waiters is that they kept my champagne glass full...the rest is kinda blurry! :lmao:

rteetz said:
I've never eaten in MP but we are trying Chefs de France next time. My sisters are picky eaters by decided to open up a little bit.

I hope you all enjoy it! Bon apetit! :thumbsup2

ksromack said:
The F&W serving of cheese soup is definitely something you don't want to share.....and I still think they should have sold a pretzel bread stick as another option at that booth.....I was satified with the filet and cheese soup there.

Selling the pretzel bread sticks at the Canada booth would be great!! I guess you could get a pretzel from Germany and take it over to Canada to have with the soup, but at Epcot World Showcase Germany is almost as far from Canada as it is in the real world. :laughing:

auntfrannie said:
MP is amazing! It's been two years since I've been there but I still remember having the best dessert there: the Moelleux au chocolat. So decadent and absolutely delicious!

Oh, I just found that your dessert is still listed on MP's online menu and it sounds wonderful. I might have to try that when I have dinner there if I still have room for dessert. Thanks for the tip Fran! :thumbsup2

kastoney said:
Looks like your nephew has a couple of great meals. Kicking myself for not trying the carpaccio at HBD. I haven't done Paul's in a long time and didn't recall it being all that great, but those pictures are making me think otherwise. Can't wait to see what you think of it. When is your next trip?

My next trip is coming up very soon. I leave in just 11 days! :banana:

jabead · Oct 12, 2015

A few hours after our dinner at Le Cellier we were ready for some dessert. And what better place to have dessert than at the Beach Club's...

We were seated at one of the 3 or 4 booths that they have in this small restaurant. We tried to get the jukebox on our table to work but no luck...

The dessert section of the menu...

Tempting, but no one got a banana split.

Emily ordered a Strawberry Ice Cream Soda...

Andrew had a Rootbeer Float...

And Allison helped me with my favorite Beaches & Cream ice cream treat...

No Way Jose Sundae - A Peanut Butter and Hot Fudge Delight featuring Chocolate and Vanilla Ice Cream, Peanut Butter and Chocolate Morsels, Whipped Cream and a Cherry (smaller, 2 scoop version)

While both the soda and float were good and received a rating of 4, my sundae was and probably always will be the winner here for me. If you like the combination of Peanut Butter and Chocolate and haven't yet tried the No Way Jose then be sure to get yourself over to Beaches & Cream...ASAP!!!

Next up: Breakfast from the Boardwalk Bakery

rteetz · Oct 12, 2015

We have been to Beaches and Cream for the Kitchen Sink. It was a great experience. I haven't had a no way Jose but we are staying at the yacht club in January so I definitely want to try it.

vettegirl · Oct 12, 2015

MP looks devine!! I have a short solo trip in Dec and I need to get myself there.

auntfrannie · Oct 12, 2015

The strawberry float looks so light and refreshing! No calories, I'm sure!

suse66 · Oct 12, 2015

Just booked a dessert night at Beaches and Cream for our March trip. I can see DH and I splitting the No Way Jose with the boys going for the rootbeer floats or strawberry sundaes....mmmmmm!

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