And finally, here are the pictures I'm the most excited to share. As a gift for my 30th birthday, my sister surprised me with a "Dine with an Imagineer" lunch at the Hollywood Brown Derby. It was an INCREDIBLE experience - an intimate group of 10 (my sister and I, a young couple, a family with 3 teenage children and 1 solo diner) plus our wonderful imagineer in a private room at the Brown Derby with a gourmet 4-course meal served over a leisurely 2.5 hours full of inspirational and fascinating conversation. Our imagineer just happened to be one of the main people working on the brand new Frozen attraction in the Norway Pavilion which was opening the day after our lunch (and of course we got to ride it!!). Imagineer aside, strictly speaking of the food, this was by far the best meal I've ever had at Disney, and perhaps one of the best meals OF MY LIFE. I was so, so full by the end but I was going to be damned not to eat every last morsel of this meal.
first course -
Zellwood Triple-Sweet Corn Bisque - rock shrimp beignets, chive oil, and sriracha (good GOD this was delicious!):
second course -
Famous Cobb Salad - with finely chopped greens, turkey breast, egg, bacon, tomatoes, crumbled bleu cheese, avocado, chives and Cobb dressing:
third course - we had our choice of 3 entrees (one fish and one vegetarian, I believe) I chose
Charred Filet of Beef - forest mushroom and white truffle oil mashed potatoes, sauteed rainbow carrots, haricot verts, red wine reduction (this is probably the best filet I've ever eaten):
fourth course - mini dessert sampler, including grapefruit cake, double vanilla bean crème brulee, and Chocolate Sphere with hazelnut praline chocolate and orange white chocolate mousse
and a close-up of the cute little chocolate derby hat: