DDW does Disneyland! - 6/28 Complete w/ Grand Finale of WDW Food Photos!

[DonaldDoleWhip]

The following morning, I raced back into Cars Land to squeeze in another ride on Radiator Springs Racers.

Since I hadn't eaten breakfast, I decided to grab some sustenance after riding RSR. There are two options in the land with warm food (including the breakfast cones at the Cozy Cone Motel).

However, I wanted real silverware and air conditioning, so I chose to dine at Flo's V8 Café.

The details in Flo's are fantastic. The restaurant contains several dining rooms, and they all have their own quirks. Wherever you sit, you'll feel like you've been transported to the 50's or 60's.

Picking a dish was really tough here (here's the AllEars menu). I was strongly considering the Brioche French Toast with Salted Caramel Sauce and Bananas, but in the end, it sounded a little too dessert-like.

My actual choice was the Chicken Tamale Breakfast with Scrambled Eggs, Salsa Verde and Pico de Gallo. It was saltier than the average breakfast, but I still enjoyed the tamale with the fluffy scrambled eggs and zesty salsa.

Plus, the view from my table was fantastic (this pic is from inside the restaurant!).

Flo's was definitely a great choice for breakfast. The menu is limited, but it has something for everyone: a basic American breakfast, a unique tamale, a lighter fruit plate, or even dessert. Plus, the atmosphere and views are top-notch. I would recommend trying this place for the atmosphere alone.

 

[Dizneydaz]

I keep wanting to eat at Flo's but haven't gotten around to it yet. Thanks for the review.

You can't beat that view. Glad to hear you like it, I love the decor, inside and out!

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

I keep wanting to eat at Flo's but haven't gotten around to it yet. Thanks for the review.

You can't beat that view. Glad to hear you like it, I love the decor, inside and out!

Whenever you make it back to DCA, I hope you can try Flo's! From the pics I've seen, their lunch/dinner food also looks quite good (and agreed on the decor!).

 

[jecskc]

Longtime lurker stopping in to say that I just love your reviews !! All of your photos are amazing and your writing style is so lovely and intelligent. Your reviews are a delightful mixture of food porn and brain candy and I just love that about you. I always enjoy anything you post. Looking forward to reading more !!

Susan

 

[emmysmommy]

Mr. DDW I'm still excited to read your updates... you would have had me pouncing on your updates sooner but I was in CT most of the week!

Your cocktail at Napa Rose sounds refreshing and sweet! I need to expand my cocktail horizons so I'm glad you are paving the way for my choices! I have to say that the pizza sounds like a nice choice despite so many other "finer" options. Sometimes you just crave a pie!

I've never eaten breakfast at Flo's but what an original concept (at least to me since I've never see it) for a chicken tamale scramble. Too bad about the saltiness. Even if the food was mediocre, the view of RSR was awesome! What is the breakfast cone at the Cozy Cone Motel?? I'm trying to picture a breakfast choice in a souvenir cone.

Looks like a great morning at DCA.

 

[MissPrice]

Napa Rose looks fabulous. What beautiful presentation. The sorbets look especially delectable! I think I may have to try that French toast from Flo's. Although the food cones are somewhat intriguing. lol

I have a random DL question that is not necessarily food related but I thought you may know since you were just there. I just cancelled my Carthay Circle WOC package dinner (switched it to a lunch since it changed to pre-fix). I was wondering if you can pull a WOC fast pass and still pull fast passes for other attractions. ANy ideas? Thanks in advanced!! -Amanda

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

Longtime lurker stopping in to say that I just love your reviews !! All of your photos are amazing and your writing style is so lovely and intelligent. Your reviews are a delightful mixture of food porn and brain candy and I just love that about you. I always enjoy anything you post. Looking forward to reading more !!

Susan

I'm so glad you're enjoying the reviews! Just one more to go, and then it's all over.

Mr. DDW I'm still excited to read your updates... you would have had me pouncing on your updates sooner but I was in CT most of the week!

I hope your CT trip went well!

Your cocktail at Napa Rose sounds refreshing and sweet! I need to expand my cocktail horizons so I'm glad you are paving the way for my choices! I have to say that the pizza sounds like a nice choice despite so many other "finer" options. Sometimes you just crave a pie!

Agreed on the cocktail (it's worth trying!) and the pizza - my mom was definitely in the mood for a pie, and Napa Rose's hit the spot.

I've never eaten breakfast at Flo's but what an original concept (at least to me since I've never see it) for a chicken tamale scramble. Too bad about the saltiness. Even if the food was mediocre, the view of RSR was awesome! What is the breakfast cone at the Cozy Cone Motel?? I'm trying to picture a breakfast choice in a souvenir cone.

Cozy Cone has two breakfast options - one of them has scrambled eggs, bacon, and 'plastic cheese'. The other has scrambled eggs, salsa verde, and queso fresco. The second one sounds much better to me, but I'd still probably choose the tamale breakast over it.

Looks like a great morning at DCA.

It definitely was a great morning. Just one more update to go, then we're done with DL!

Napa Rose looks fabulous. What beautiful presentation. The sorbets look especially delectable! I think I may have to try that French toast from Flo's. Although the food cones are somewhat intriguing. lol

The French Toast at Flo's was really tempting - if you go for it, I hope you enjoy!

I have a random DL question that is not necessarily food related but I thought you may know since you were just there. I just cancelled my Carthay Circle WOC package dinner (switched it to a lunch since it changed to pre-fix). I was wondering if you can pull a WOC fast pass and still pull fast passes for other attractions. ANy ideas? Thanks in advanced!! -Amanda

You can still get your World of Color FP at the Grizzly River Run distribution location, and you're correct - it won't stop you from getting FP's at any other attraction!

 

[BlovesC]

And while you're at it, stop by San Francisco, and Portland, and...wait a minute, this is your trip. Seriously, from what I've seen of the West Coast, it's amazing. And I think Pacific Northwest cuisine really rocks (so much fresh seafood!). Best of luck with your goal

Thank you! And you know, I'd love to visit Portland, but I'm a big fan of the show Portlandia and I'm afraid it's potentially set me up for major disappointment!

Also, I thought you lived over on the West Coast somewhere, so I seem to have muddled up my DDW mythology!

Back on topic: Flo's has such a great look to it! I'm ashamed to admit I've never seen Cars, but I need to get on that. I was tickled pink just by the how its section at AoA looks...but the real deal in DL is gorgeous!

A shame about the eggs, they sound delicious and that is totally something I'd order, but I hate when good food is overly salty! I always want to shake my TV when I watch Chopped because the judges are constantly saying "needs more salt!"

 

[Smiling Cheshire Cat]

I'm so sad that the review is almost over. Please say there will be a review of Steakhouse 55 before you're done.

I think my favorite part of your whole report was your analysis of both Tomorrowlands. I totally agree with you. It seems that when Disney was able to add Pixar character themed attractions they didn't know where to put them so they stuck them in Tomorrowland.

And Alien Encounter- scariest Disney ride ever!

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

Thank you! And you know, I'd love to visit Portland, but I'm a big fan of the show Portlandia and I'm afraid it's potentially set me up for major disappointment!

That sounds like a reasonable enough excuse to skip Portland. Do Disneyland first!

Also, I thought you lived over on the West Coast somewhere, so I seem to have muddled up my DDW mythology!

Sadly no. I'm stuck in the suburbs of NYC, and I'll probably still be in NY after graduating next year. Maybe we'll both end up on the West Coast one day!

Back on topic: Flo's has such a great look to it! I'm ashamed to admit I've never seen Cars, but I need to get on that. I was tickled pink just by the how its section at AoA looks...but the real deal in DL is gorgeous!

You should definitely watch Cars (at least the original), even if the only reason is to see how accurately DCA's Cars Land re-creates Radiator Springs! Cars isn't one of my favorite Pixar movies, but a lot of the scenery in the movie is great.

A shame about the eggs, they sound delicious and that is totally something I'd order, but I hate when good food is overly salty! I always want to shake my TV when I watch Chopped because the judges are constantly saying "needs more salt!"

Honestly, the salt wasn't a huge issue - I still happily finished everything! But you're so right about Chopped. Even on Top Chef, "bland" food seems to be one of the cardinal sins on the show.

I'm so sad that the review is almost over. Please say there will be a review of Steakhouse 55 before you're done.

Nope, we still haven't tried it.

I think my favorite part of your whole report was your analysis of both Tomorrowlands. I totally agree with you. It seems that when Disney was able to add Pixar character themed attractions they didn't know where to put them so they stuck them in Tomorrowland.

I'm glad you enjoyed the Tomorrowland discussion, since I almost felt bad including it. Tomorrowland's weaknesses stand out more at DL because the other lands are so cohesive and beautifully designed, but there are rumors that the land will receive an update/new attraction soon. Let's hope the rumors materialize!

And Alien Encounter- scariest Disney ride ever!

Agreed! It lived up to its name (the ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter), and my first time seeing the show was absolutely terrifying! Every time after that, I still enjoyed it for its amazing special effects, storyline, and script. Stitch's Great Escape isn't in the same league, and because of the 40-inch height requirement, it still alienates any younger viewers who would probably enjoy it most.

 

[CaliBear]

I'm sad the review is almost over too, but 4th of July trip is around the corner. Will we get another dining report? I hope so! The sorbets look great, especially your kiwi yuzu one. Great photos, as always.

I have never eaten at Flo's either. I have had it on the to-do list because I finally reached saturation point with the Storyteller's Cafe last trip. Prior to that, I always ate there on a DCA day. Nothing will ever replace my Mickey House pancakes at the River Belle Terrace on a DL day though. Too much history.

Chiming in on how close thing are at DLR, my husband and I were beyond shocked our first trip to WDW at how far apart everything is. Even having read about the shuttle buses, we expected things to be closer and more walkable so we way overplanned. I'm sure that's common with people whose home park is DLR.

If I don't post before then, have a great time at WDW over the 4th!

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

I'm sad the review is almost over too, but 4th of July trip is around the corner. Will we get another dining report? I hope so! The sorbets look great, especially your kiwi yuzu one. Great photos, as always.

Nope, no more full dining reports. Among other reasons, the time commitment is just too large - but I will be contributing to the Live Update thread in July.

I have never eaten at Flo's either. I have had it on the to-do list because I finally reached saturation point with the Storyteller's Cafe last trip. Prior to that, I always ate there on a DCA day. Nothing will ever replace my Mickey House pancakes at the River Belle Terrace on a DL day though. Too much history.

I think Flo's would definitely be worth a try! Still haven't tried Storytellers Cafe, but I had breakfast at River Belle Terrace on my first trip! It's definitely a DL classic.

Chiming in on how close thing are at DLR, my husband and I were beyond shocked our first trip to WDW at how far apart everything is. Even having read about the shuttle buses, we expected things to be closer and more walkable so we way overplanned. I'm sure that's common with people whose home park is DLR.

You're so right about the size - it takes some getting used to! Perhaps because it's my home resort, I've always loved the scale of WDW. Whichever way you look, you're surrounded by Disney's forests, lakes, beaches, hotels, and park icons in the distance. Still, DL's intimacy and convenience is a huge plus in its own right, and it's great that you can take a break in the middle of the day without losing too much park time.

If I don't post before then, have a great time at WDW over the 4th!

Thanks so much! I hope you also enjoy your Fourth of July weekend.

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

After breakfast, I returned to the room so we could pack and check out. Once we had left our bags at bell services, we headed back into DCA and continued touring the park.

Since she hadn't eaten breakfast, it didn't take long before my mom wanted something to eat. I knew there was a quick service location with a menu that we'd both like, so we headed over to Paradise Garden Grill. This relatively new location offers grilled skewers with a Mediterranean twist. Here's the AllEars menu.

My mom chose the Lemon-Oregano Chicken with Tandoori-Spiced Yogurt Sauce. It's also served with Rice Pilaf, Cucumber Salad and Pita Bread. She enjoyed it very much.

She also had some Baklava for dessert. I tried some and liked it as well - it wasn't overly dry or sweet, and it came with plenty of pistachio pieces.

I wasn't hungry for a full meal yet, so we continued exploring the park (and rode the Little Mermaid attraction again).

Here's a queue detail on the ground - it looks like Sebastian!

Pretty soon, we headed back to Paradise Garden Grill so I could get my lunch. I chose the Lemon-Oregano Chicken with Moroccan Chili Sauce. While the chicken and pita bread were a bit too charred for my liking, I still enjoyed this dish (primarily because of the Moroccan sauce - it's been too long since I last had Moroccan food!).

We also split a Greek salad this time, so we could get some greens into our system. Against my usual instincts, I don't have a full picture of it.

Overall, we really enjoyed Paradise Garden Grill, and I love all the enhancements that Paradise Pier received. The area isn't perfect yet, but it's a significant improvement over what I experienced in early 2008.

To wrap up my Disneyland reviews, here's the plaque commemorating Disney California Adventure's rededication.

That's it! I really hope you've enjoyed all the updates and reviews. A highlights post will be coming soon.

 

[jeaneg]

I've really enjoyed your report. Thanks for all the wonderful pictures and details!

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

I've really enjoyed your report. Thanks for all the wonderful pictures and details!

Thanks so much for the kind words! I'm happy to hear you enjoyed the report - this one has been especially fun to write.

 

[emmysmommy]

I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed this DR since it is filled with some of my favorites and a few that I have never tried and it is so close to home! So sad this has come to an end but I do look forward to your live contributions.

I've only eaten at Paradise Garden Grill once and it was ok... nothing remarkable but I did like the steak with the chimichurri. But the baklava looks amazing!! Yum!

Your photo of the boardwalk area and the Mickey wheel is awesome! Glad to see you ending your trip with an attraction featuring your favorite princess!

9 more days!!!!! (Or is it 8?)

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed this DR since it is filled with some of my favorites and a few that I have never tried and it is so close to home! So sad this has come to an end but I do look forward to your live contributions.

I'm so happy that you enjoyed this report! One thing I was worried about was that this report would be boring to all DL locals - thank goodness that wasn't the case.

I've only eaten at Paradise Garden Grill once and it was ok... nothing remarkable but I did like the steak with the chimichurri. But the baklava looks amazing!! Yum!

The reviews I've read of Paradise Garden Grill are mixed, but I'm sorry that your experience wasn't great. The baklava is definitely worth a try! It's not a must-do for me, but it's nice to have something relatively healthy that isn't just another salad.

Your photo of the boardwalk area and the Mickey wheel is awesome! Glad to see you ending your trip with an attraction featuring your favorite princess!

Thanks! And yep, Ariel is still my favorite. I probably mentioned this before, but last year a bunch of college friends and I had a debate over whether Ariel or Belle was the better Disney princess.

9 more days!!!!! (Or is it 8?)

9 more days at this point - I'm so excited to check into CR soon!

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

Just like in my last report, I wanted to include a highlights post. These pictures are my favorite dining-related photos of the trip.

Bayside Fish Tacos (Cove Bar)

The view from my table:

Bread Basket (Napa Rose)

Passion Fruit and Tahitian Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée, with Marinated Mango accented with Lime and Coconut Sorbet (Napa Rose)

One more Napa Rose shot:

Matterhorn Macaroon (Jolly Holiday Bakery)

A beautiful window inside the bakery:

Duck Confit Sliders with Apricot Conserve, Watercress, Crisp Onions, and Taleggio Cheese (Carthay Circle Lounge)

The upstairs ceiling mural:

The Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Rum - Reserve Rum, Cream of Coconut, and Pineapple and Orange Juices dusted with Cinnamon and Nutmeg (Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar)

Craft Raised Salmon Trio (Napa Rose)

Kiwi Yuzu Sorbet and Creamy California Strawberry Ice Cream (Napa Rose)

Finally, the view of Cars Land from Flo's V8 Café:

Coming up - final thoughts.

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

Well, that's it for this report. I've really enjoyed sharing my perspective on Disneyland and my photos with all of you. As you can imagine, writing a report like this is extremely time consuming, which is one of the reasons why I'm not going to continue with these full-length reports anymore. It's been fun, though (and you might occasionally see a standalone update)!

There's one more thing I wanted to say, and it doesn't apply to most of you. I've tried my hardest to include decent photos in all of my updates. Since I don't have a DSLR, I do what I can with my point-and-shoot and (occasionally) my iPhone 4S. Whether the photos are good or underwhelming, I take a lot of pride in the fact that they're my photos. That's part of the fun of writing these reports, and many of you can understand this sentiment.

That's why I have to make a request - if you enjoy any of these photos enough to use them somewhere else on the internet, please give credit. Or, at the very least, don't take credit.

Why am I asking this? It has something to do with my August 2012 report. One of our best meals on that trip was at Jiko, where I absolutely loved my dish. The review can speak for itself:

And my entree? Well, it's finally time for you to meet the chermoula-roasted head on Nigerian prawns with english pea nage, saffron rice, and orange and olive salad.

Look at all the beautiful olives scattered across the plate.

Prawn heads!

Wow. Wow. Wow! This is one of the best dishes I've had at WDW. Everything about it was delicious. The prawns were rubbed with plenty of spice and were large and succulent. The rice wasn't overpowered by the saffron (which can be a problem in saffron-based rice dishes, such as paella), and there were sweet golden raisins scattered throughout the rice. Combining all of the components in one bite (the prawns, rice, creamy and buttery pea nage, zesty citrus, briny olive, and sweet fennel) was sheer food bliss.

Omar told us that the prawns are flown in from the coast of Nigeria. Somehow, this sparked an interesting discussion between my mom and I - we began wondering what the prawn heads might tell me if they could talk.

I hypothesized that they were probably singing "Under the Sea" just before being caught off the coast. I mean, we all know those lyrics were written by a singing crustacean (who was in a much happier place in his life).

We what the land folks loves to cook
Under the sea we off the hook
We got no troubles
Life is the bubbles
Under the sea!​

This review is one of my favorites that I've ever written, and my entire August '12 report is named in honor of the prawn dish. That's why I was somewhat irritated when I saw one of these prawn pictures appear in another Jiko review. Not only did this Diser use my picture without asking, but she claimed that her phone camera took the picture.

I understand 'borrowing' pictures for a report. Sometimes, you don't have a picture of what you want to show, or you simply don't like the picture you have. Whenever this applies to me, I try to provide links to an alternate site (such as Disney Food Blog) instead of including their photos next to my own. However, this person claimed that the photo was hers. That's not cool.

Sorry to end the report on a low note. I still want to thank everyone who's been following along and participating. These reports wouldn't have been nearly as much fun to write without hearing your thoughts along the way - thanks for everything!

 

[Happy 2 B Me]

I see some reviewers add their name to the photo's before posting. You have some wonderful photo's so maybe it is time to do that with your prints. But at the end of the day who ever took credit for a photo you took needs to have a rasssssie.

Love your reviews