10 Days in October: Argle-Bargle or Foofarah? UPDATED: POSTS #984 & 995!!!

[WDW Poly Princess]

Aww, Plankton looks like he had fun!!! Stitch doesn't have much in the ways of facial expression, so I never quite know how he feels about the whole thing!

 

[A fat english gent]

Now i tried being nice Missy,either get writing or the plankton gets his.....


Ps...I was going to say the grimace gets hers but i don't do freebies

 

[oybolshoi]

I believe Plankton was spotted near Beaches and Cream attempting to misappropriate frozen-type-comestibles from unsuspecting patrons....

Guy...were you following us around on our vacation or something?

"Hey you! Pencil-neck! That's right, I'm talking to you! Surrender that ice cream cone or every waking moment for you will be a swirling torrent of pain and misery!"

I love Plankton! I'm forced to watch Spongebob due to my daughter's addiction. It used to drive me nuts, but I like it now because of Plankton and Squidward. I loved seeing him get into trouble in WDW. The one of him in the property golf cart was the best!!

And, for all the GWTW/Civil War lovers here, The History Chanel has a new documentary about General Sherman's march. It's on Sunday, it looks really good.

http://www.history.com/shows.do?episodeId=217335&action=detail

I didn't care much for Spongebob when I first started watching it, but it's grown on me over the years. And Plankton just cracks me up every time he makes an appearance.

Thanks for the heads up on the History Channel program - I hope I remember to to watch it!

 

[oybolshoi]

Plankton looks like he is having so much fun enjoying his independence.
Sorry about "Report" meant "Affair".
I had a good vacation, thanks. (Have to write that in case one of the nieces is reading this board)
Looking forward to no kids trip for F&W.

Well if this trip didn't go exactly the way you wanted it to I'm glad that you have a F&W trip to look forward to this fall.

Wife?? Great! There goes my idea for Plankton when (if) he is turned over to this Konked Kruiser in October.

Nancy I thought you were going to be responsible for bring Plankton home?

I loved the Plankton episode. He looks so funny in all those settings, especially wearing the Mickey Mouse ears hat! Anyone who would would think of doing a Plankton photo shoot is one zany, fun person. Being able to relax, be silly, and have fun is a great way to reduce stress and stay young.

Hi Kay! I'm glad you liked the Plankton spot - there will definitely be more in the segments to come. I was very proud of Jay for doing that photo shoot on his own - I knew there were hidden depths of silliness inside of him just waiting to come out! After this group of pictures we ended up going a little crazy taking shots of Plankton all over WDW.

Wait, if Plankton has a wife, that means he cheated on her with that towel floosey!!

I didn't even know he was married until Cass posted that.

My thoughts exactly! Then I thought "no wonder he doesn't have friends" and then I find out he does!! Thanks for raining on my parade Cass.

I'll have to have a good talkin' to Mr Plankton when I get my hands on him in Oct. No one likes a cheater.

It's not really about "cheating" as far as Plankton is concered - he is building an army to help him take over the World...he'll get supporters any way he has to.

I'm a bit behind here, but I have to throw my support to the Jasper Fforde material. I'm sure Brenda's fine, but here's a warning though for anyone else feeling inspired by this turn of conversation - if you aren't a complete book worm, you may want to brush up on Jane Eyre before The Eyre Affair and Great Expectations before Lost in a Good Book (only if you liked the first one, of course).

Thanks for the book recommendation - if so many of you here like it I will definitely have to get my hands on it.

Now, back to Plankton. I'm not as familiar with his past as some of you, but he looks like a darn evil nemesis to me. I'm glad it seems the authorities have caught up with him. I wouldn't want him running loose while I was down there. Just look at the kind of crowd he attracts--towel floozies at Disney World!

Plankton is truly evil - he wants to take over the world and make it the Unhappiest Place on Earth. Wait until you see some of the other stuff he got into during the week!

Heheheh. And don't forget to brush up on Wuthering Heights, too. But that's not until the later books.

Duly noted!

Look what happens when you make us wait Missy

AFEG...sometimes I don't know whether to laugh or just run screaming in the opposite direction!

Egad. Those smileys look like a precognitive warning about my upcoming trip!

Brenda, we're impatient.

Also noted - I'll be adding V&A tonight with lots of pics! It will be a repeat for some of you but the dinner was so good it's worth repeating, don't you think?

This one scares me! I couldn't figure out what it was - I sat here staring at the computer like an idiot for about three minutes. I thought it was some kind of alien, or a fish like on Heathcliff!

Not only is it a little scary, but I don't like turkey!

Aww, Plankton looks like he had fun!!! Stitch doesn't have much in the ways of facial expression, so I never quite know how he feels about the whole thing!

I bet Stitch is having just as much fun as Plankton! Could you imagine the chaos if the two ever got together?

Now i tried being nice Missy,either get writing or the plankton gets his.....


Ps...I was going to say the grimace gets hers but i don't do freebies

AFEG...see my earlier response!

 

[oybolshoi]

Monday, October 23rd - If You Promise to Behave We'll Have an Extra Pack of Lottery Tickets for You Tonight!

**I feel honor-bound to alert those of you who have been through this episode on the food porn thread that much of it will sound the same. But I look at it like this: pictures of dinner at V&A are worth seeing more than once! So let's all drool together, shall we?**

Ahhhh, it's time for dinner at Victoria and Albert's - the meal that Jason and I have been looking forward to for months. It was supposed to be a romantic evening for two, but I knew that Jon would love to get his teeth around this place so I extended an invite to the parents and they decided to come along. Oh well, it just gives us an excuse to go back again. And we are, baby! I'm talking about the Chef's Table next month (May 2007) for our big bad anniversary! It will be my pleasure to supply you with even more food porn come June.

Now, where was I before I interrupted myself with dreams of the gluttony to come? Oh yes...for some time the gold standard in our dining passport has been Commander's Palace in New Orleans. We had an anniversary dinner there in Spring of 2005 that consisted of ten courses, with wine pairings.

Fabulous!

Incredible!

The bread pudding souffle with whiskey cream sauce? To die for, and I don't even like bread pudding.

Who knew food could taste that good? And who knew that in New Orleans it's something of a tradition for people to finish dinner as well-sauced as their food?

Somehow I didn't think that would fly at the Grand Floridian and I knew that I'd better be on my good behaviour for this dinner - I sternly told myself to save the giggle fit that always comes with too much wine for the ride back to Beach Club.

Here's a picture of Jason and me before leaving for dinner - you know it's a big deal when I wear my contact lenses. And for those of you following the hair-do story, the back of my head is a mass of tightly wound curls; it was really cool looking but we totally forgot to take a picture for future reference. D'OH!

Here is the entrance to the restaurant:

And here are my parents - they actually look like they might be thinking about having a good time!

Do not attempt to adjust your monitors - you are not having a hallucination nor have your retinas detatched.

Your brain is processing the image correctly - Grimace is actually smiling!

Is she looking forward to an evening of leisurely fine dining with her husband of 20+ years, her only surviving child, and her wonderful son-in-law?

Bwahahahahahahahaha!!!!

What have you been drinking?

Grimace is smiling because I bribed her to be on her best behaviour this evening. If she didn't fidget, roll her eyes, sigh dramatically at each course, or look at her watch every ten minutes I promised to give her a bonus pack of scratch-off lottery tickets once we returned to the villa. Nothing makes a cranky gambling junkie behave like the promise of easy money, and since her daily allocation of lottery tickets for today had been, in her words, "a dud," she had real incentive to look happy during this photographic misty, water-colored, memorable moment.

For those of you who are curious, Victoria & Albert's is Central Florida's only 5-star restaurant and it is located on the second floor of the Grand Floridian. You can make dining reservations up to 180 days in advance if you want to spend months dreaming about your upcoming meal like I did. The menu prices at the time of our dinner were $115 per person for dinner (non-alcoholic beverage included) plus an additional $60 per person for the wine pairing.

The restaurant's interior is lovely, very dim and elegant - decorated in soft beiges, pinks, and golds (at least I think those were the colors...it was hard to tell because the lighting was very soft). The female wait-staff all dress in psuedo-Victorian garb while the waiters go formal. Here's a picture of my place setting, just to give you an idea of what the table looked like.

V&A also have a harpist in the dining room who plays periodically throughout the night and she's so good she takes requests! Sadly, when we were first seated I was too timid to take many pictures - I didn't want to distrub any of the other patrons and I didn't want to look...gauche.

*I deserve a mocha for being that nakedly honest about how intimidated I made myself feel when we were first seated, don't you think? Excuse me for a moment while I go see if the man will make one for me.**


TBC...

 

[tiggerbell]

I love your dress... and, wow, Grimace can be real subtle with that smile, huh? I almost didn't see it...

 

[BriarRosie]

Woot! I get another serving of your Vicki and Al's Diner experience!

Is it me, or do the doors to the restaurant appear to be "looking" at you?
Maybe it's me. I just thought they seemed creepy. And no, I haven't been
drinking.

And when you mentioned the harpist taking requests, what should pop into
my head as the song most likely to crack me up if I heard the harpist playing
it? In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida. I had a gigglefit just thinking about
it. Imagine what I'd be like after a few of the wine pairings.

I know you won't have any hang-ups taking pictures at the Chef's Table in
May. I think it's practically expected, now.

I'm on finding a new installment of the report. Woot!

 

[oybolshoi]

Monday, October 23rd - Bring on the Food!!!

**It's like he was reading my mind, man. I went out into the great room and he was already in the kitchen grinding espresso beans. Now that I have my Friday night mocha with sugar and brandy I think I can go on...**

In just a moment I'm going to list out the entire evening's menu so that you can see for yourselves exactly what our choices were for each course. Between the four of us we managed to try a lot of different things, so the rest of this review is apt to get a little messy - just hang on to your napkin and you'll be fine.

The meal started with an Amuse Bouche, served with Heidsieck Monopole "Blue Top" Brut Champagne. I don't speak French so I'm sure that I'm probably off the mark, but someone once told me that amuse bouche roughly translates to "happy mouth." While that may not be exactly accurate, I do like the way it sounds, so that's just how I'm going to think of it. Usually the amuse bouche is not listed on the menu - it's just a little treat from the chef to rev you and your tastebuds up for the joy to come.

A friendly heads up to those of you like me, who really love the bubbly: if you don't order the wine pairings with your meal, you will not receive any champagne with your amuse bouche to help make your mouth even more happy.

Can you guess which member of our party opted out of the wine pairings?

Here, have a look at what made my mouth start singing Happy Happy Joy Joy...

It's a mini creme fraiche salmon roll with a dollop of caviar, hidden by that artfully placed snip of greenery. I don't know the formal name of this offering but it was wonderful, and did it taste even better with champagne? Well, doesn't everything?

Now for the menu....and FYI, there are some items that come with an additional charge if you really feel like splurging.

First Course (choose one):

Ohio Tomatoes and Costa Rican Hearts of Palm with Blue Fin Tuna; paired with King Estate Pinot Gris, Oregon 2005

Long Island Duck with Tuscan Melon, Grains of Paradise and Minus Eight Vinegar; paired with Von Buhl Maria Schneider "Jazz" Riesling, Pfalz 2005

Iranian Osetra Caviar with Traditional Garnish; paired with Stolichnaya Vodka Elite - $115 for 1/2 ounce serving, $230 for a 1 ounce serving

Second Course (choose one):

Quail with Black Mission Fig Jam and Turnip Kraut; paired with with Chappellet Merlot, Napa Valley 2003

Jamison Farms Lamb with Wild Mushroom Ragout, Porcini Pasta and Truffle Foam; paired with La Baronne Rouge "Montagne d'Alaric," Corbieres 2002

Pan Roasted Foie Gras and Fuji Apple Tart with Mostarda di Cremona; paired with Royal Tokaji Aszu 5 Puttonyos, Mad Tokaj-Hegyalja 2000 - $10 surcharge

Third Course (choose one):

Tempura Crab Stuffed Squash Blossom with Violette Moustarde; paired with Chateau Sancerre, Loire 2004

John Dory with Green and White Asparagus, Beurre Noisette; paired with Propser Maufoux Vire-Clesse Chardonnay, Macon 2005

Seared Wild Turbot with Toasted Capers and Meyer Lemon; paired with Terruzi & Puthod "Terre di Tufi" Vernacchia di San Gimignano, Toscana 2004 - $20 surcharge

Fourth Course (choose one):

Kurobuta Pork Tenderloin and Belly with Florida Corn and Cipollini Onions; paired with Perez Cruz Reserva Carmenere, Maipo Valley 2002

Minnesota Elk with Potato Gnocchi and Veal Sweetbreads; paired with La Colombaia Valpolicella "Ripasso" 2003

Duet of Prime Angus Beef and Short Ribs with Natural Jus; paired with Waterford Shiraz, Stellenbosch 2003 **A pairing of Opus One, Napa Valley 2000 was also available for $70**

Seared Australian "Kobe" Beef Tenderloin with Shrimp and Artichoke Risotto, $25 surcharge. Hmmmmm...there is no wine pairing listed on my menu but I know I had one; I guess it was a surprise.

Fifth Course (choose one):

Comte Saint Antoine, Fourme D' Ambert and Fleur de Lis; paired with Heredias Special Reserve Ruby Porto

Coconut Gelato with Micro Garden Mint; paired with Fairview La Beryl Blanc, South Africa 2004

Sixth Course - Dessert (how can I choose only one?)

Pyramid of Tanzanian Chocolate Mousse
Poached Pair with Cassis Mousse and Spiced Cake
Hawaiian Kona Chocolate Souffle
Vanilla Bean Creme Brulee
Grand Marnier Souffle

Served with Celebes Coffee.

Ready? Let's go!

First Course:

Grimace and I ordered the Ohio Tomatoes and Costa Rican Hearts of Palm with Blue Fin Tuna.

I fear that my comments are going to end up sounding repetitive because everything tasted so good, but I'll try my best to make it interesting. This first dish was quite tasty with tremendous flavor - as much as I love tuna fish I'm pretty sure I've never had tuna other than from a can or a vacuum sealed pouch. What a novel idea: fresh tuna.

And do you see that crispy thing standing up in the center of the tomato? I'm going to send a picture to the folks at the F&W Festival Ireland booth so that they will know what a "crisp" is supposed to look like.

Jason and Jon ordered the Long Island Duck w/Tuscan Melon, Grains of Paradise and Minus Eight Vinegar.

Jay really enjoyed this dish but he did recently comment that the grains of paradise do not appear to be working since we had to leave WDW, come home, and go back to work.

As for my take on this dish - I am not a fan of duck, so it's a testament to the culinary skills of the chefs at V&A that I actually thought it tasted pretty good. There was a lot of food sharing going down between Jay and I so that we could taste as much as possible. My parents not so much, with us or with each other; their attitude was more like: No Sharing!!

Second Course:

I ordered the "luxury" item on the menu for this course: Pan Roasted Foie Gras and Fuji Apple Tart w/Mostarda di Cremona.

For one thing, when I ordered this I forgot there was a surcharge - it just sounded like something good to try. For another thing, I think this was the first time in my life that I tried foie gras and it was gooooood! The foie gras was melt-in-my-mouth tender and I liked it paired with the apple tart - it made for a really interesting mix of taste and texture.

Grimace ordered the Quail with Black Mission Fig Jam & Turnip Kraut.

She must have liked it because her plate was wiped clean by the time the next course arrived. There was no offer of a shared taste, so I guess Jay and I will have to go back another time and try the quail for ourselves.

Jason and Jon both ordered the Jamison Farms Lamb w/Wild Mushroom Ragout, Porcini Pasta and Truffle Foam.

This offering met with much approval on the part of the men at the table - I'm sure it was good, but I don't like mushrooms so I didn't sample it. Just looking at that dish covered with 'shroom-foam makes me gag. As some rather astute readers pointed out on the food porn thread - it looks like someone in the kitchen hawked a loogey right into the middle of that pasta.

Third Course:

Grimmie and I both ordered the Tempura Crab Stuffed Squash Blossom w/Violette Moustarde.

This was excellent! The crab was light and sweet, the squash was crisp and a wee bit salty, and the moustarde was a great complement - very flavorful with just a hint of heat.

Jon ordered the John Dory w/Green and White Asparagus, Beurre Noisette.

Our waitress highly recommended this dish and actually said that it was one of her favorite items currently on the menu.. It's a fish, by the way, in case you didn't know or can't tell from the picture. Jon said it tasted very good, but again, there was that no-sharing thing so I have no personal taste experience or opinion to offer.

Jason decided to splurge on this round and he ordered the "luxury" item - Seared Wild Turbot w/Toasted Capers and Meyer Lemon.

This is also a fish and was it ever good! But I couldn't help marveling at the size of the dish it was served in. If there are mice in the kitchen who like to skateboard I bet they love this bowl!

A note on the wine pairings - they were all excellent. We are not wine experts by any stretch of the imagination but we do know what we like. All the white wines I had with dinner were unbelievable - I wish I could tell you more but my memory is a bit fuzzy in that regard.

TBC...

 

[Nynaeve]

V&A also have a harpist in the dining room who plays periodically throughout the night and she's so good she takes requests! Sadly, when we were first seated I was too timid to take many pictures - I didn't want to distrub any of the other patrons and I didn't want to look...gauche.

*I deserve a mocha for being that nakedly honest about how intimidated I made myself feel when we were first seated, don't you think? Excuse me for a moment while I go see if the man will make one for me.**

You look beautiful! I'm trying real hard not to be jealous of your tiny waist. And failing.

And, my hubby was the chef (back of house, cooks manager) of a few fine dining resturants before his promotions. He likes to go to places like that, when we can afford it. And every time we do, I feel like I have a sign on my forehead that says "does not belong here". I know exactly how you feel!

 

[cntkg1]

And here are my parents - they actually look like they might be thinking about having a good time!

Note to self: Must wear glasses when using computer so that I don't confuse the windows in the doors with Grimace wearing a funny hat.

 

[cntkg1]

Monday, October 23rd - Bring on the Food!!!

As some rather astute readers pointed out on the food porn thread - it looks like someone in the kitchen hawked a loogey right into the middle of that pasta.

 

[oybolshoi]

Monday, October 23rd - Bring on Even More Food!!!

Had enough yet?

I hope not because there's three more courses to get through plus some really good coffee. Pace yourselves...it'll be OK.

Fourth Course:

It was my turn to splurge again...I ordered the Seared Australian "Kobe" Beef Tenderloin with Shrimp and Artichoke Risotto.

I'm not usually a big beef person - I enjoy it now and then, especially a good steak, but I am not one of those people who live and die by red meat. But in reading past reviews of V&A, I had come across a lot of very positive statements about this dish and I was eager to give it a try. I also knew that Jay would enjoy trying this, too, and by ordering it for myself I freed him up to choose something different.

This was the best beef tenderloin I've ever eaten - so tender it just about melted in my mouth and tasty doesn't even begin to describe it. Fabulous, fabulous choice. And the shrimp risotto...how can you go wrong with shrimp? This selection really lived up to all the hype!

Grimace ordered the Duet of Prime Angus Beef and Short Ribs w/ Natural Jus.

Again, I have no personal experience with this dish but it looks pretty tasty, doesn't it? I especially think those mashed potatoes look like they need eating. Grimmie ate every bite and said it was delicious - that's high praise from her!

Jon and Jason copied off of each other (again) and ordered the Minnesota Elk w/ Potato Gnocchi and Veal Sweetbreads.

They were both very pleased with their choice - I did try Jason's and it was pretty good, but still a bit gamey for my taste.

Fifth Course:

Jason and Grimace both ordered the Coconut Gelato w/Micro Garden Mint. This course was designed to be an interlude before dessert. If they had offered a sorbet in a flavor I liked I would have jumped on it. Sadly the only choice was coconut, and the only time I like that is when it's mixed in a colada with rum, baileys, and kahlua.

Jay really enjoyed this and I did take a taste just to give it a chance but this was one of those instances where no level of culinary skill was going to mask the coconut flavor and I couldn't get past that. Does anyone else think that V&A is using old windows for their serving dishes in this course or is it just me?

Jon and I opted for the cheese plate. Cheese is yummy and it comes with a glass of port! Oh, right about now my mom is wishing she'd ordered those wine pairings because if there is anything left in this world that she loves more than gambling it's a glass of port. Check out the cheese and then we'll talk more about port.

Surely you're not surprised that I can't remember which cheese is which in this picture? I can tell you that they were all very good except for the one that looks like Blue Cheese and I just don't like those types of cheese so it never even touched my fork.

One other thing about this selection of cheeses - one of them was really firm, and when I tried to cut a piece with my fork it went flying off the plate and landed on the floor about five feet behind me. This, due to the amount of alcohol that had been consumed at our table, was really funny to at least three of us and we all started laughing. Because the dining room is so hushed we probably sounded like a bunch of braying Midwestern donkeys, but we were having fun and I don't think there were too many patrons left in the restaurant at this point - hopefully we didn't disturb anyone too much.

I've found myself wondering since then if the ten-second rule applies at Victoria and Albert's?

The port served with the cheese course - Heredias Special Reserve Ruby Porto - was excellent. I mention this because I usually prefer a tawny port: ruby tends to be too sweet for my taste. When I asked the waiter to bring some port for my mom he actually brought two glasses - one ruby and one tawny - so that she could try both. She opted for the ruby (I knew she would) so I ended up with a second glass of port that I could enjoy with my dessert...pretty sly, huh?

Before dessert was presented there was coffee...Celebes coffee...which I've heard people say is just the bomb. They're right - best coffee ever. And check out how they brew it right at the table for you:

This picture begs an explanation that I'm not technically proficient enough to provide. So let's just leave it at this: watching someone brew coffee in this thingy is really cool, especially when you're pleasantly squiffed.

Sixth Course - Dessert:

Jon and I both ordered the Grand Marnier Souffle.

A huge serving and very good - I couldn't finish it and I feel much shame in admitting this.

Jason ordered the Hawaiian Kona Chocolate Souffle.

This was also excellent and kind of made me wish I'd chosen something different for my dessert option. Why, oh why can't we order them all???

Grimmie ordered the Pyramid of Tanzanian Chocolate Mousse.

She did let me try a taste of this and let me tell you fine people, I kind of wished I had ordered that instead. It looks like it would be a really thick, dense dessert but it was super-light and just wonderful. Next time we go back I may just have to order this instead.

And then, as if all of this wasn't enough, they brought out a little plate with with some chocolates and little cookies, and jelly-type things. Somehow we managed to eat these, too.

Some additional thoughts now, if you don't mind humoring me for a moment or two. At the conclusion of the meal each of the ladies in a dining party are presented with a long-stemmed red rose. It was really a nice touch and mine lasted all week.

Grimace's anti-vacation stance killed hers within 24-hours.

The restaurant will contact you about one week in advance to confirm the reservation and to find out if anyone has any allergies. They will also make sure that they have the correct spelling of the names of everyone in your party - this is because they will give you a personalized menu to order from and keep as a lovely momento. And they'll ask if you are celebrating a special occassion. Since I made the reservation and was the contact person I decided that we should celebrate my birthday (again!). This trip was like a 10-day birthday for me - does life get any better? Anyway, I ordered a cake that I knew we wouldn't be able to eat that night - but we ate it later (all of us) and it was tremendous!

When the staff brought it out they had the harpist play Happy Birthday. I felt so special! Take a look at this cake...I wish I was eating it right now.

Yep, Jay was feeling the alcohol when he snapped this picture.

For those of you who like to know these things, it was a white cake with a white chocolate mousse filing frosted with white chocolate ganache and covered with that lovely white and dark chocolate shell. And it tasted divine.

Before we left, our waitress brought me a little pound cake that they had made in the kitchen as well, so we got to take even more yummy stuff back to the villa. I don't know if they do that for all the guests there or if it was just my lucky day, but it was another delightful taste treat and we really appreciated the gesture.

I can't say enough good things about our experience at Victoria and Albert's. It was incredible - worth every penny that we set aside over the summer to cover the cost. If you are able to budget enough for a special dinner during a visit to WDW, I highly recommend going to V&A some time for a truly memorable evening.

Grimace ended her evening on a happy note: her bonus packet of lottery tickets yielded a $10 winner! Her winnings total for the first two full days of the trip now stands at $17 - she's pleased.

And... did you know that Plankton likes birthday cake?

 

[disgrits]

Love it! Love it! Love it! Loved your dress! (Jay looked nice, too.) Loved your folks! Loved the food! And last but definitely not least.....LOVED THE STORYTELLING! Great job, Brenda.

That foam does look like spit. Those boys are brave to try it.

 

[oybolshoi]

I love your dress... and, wow, Grimace can be real subtle with that smile, huh? I almost didn't see it...

Thanks Tiggerbell - I love that dress, too!

Yeah, that's about as broad a smile as the Grim gives unless she's won a jackpot at a casino.

Is it me, or do the doors to the restaurant appear to be "looking" at you? Maybe it's me. I just thought they seemed creepy. And no, I haven't been drinking.

I never noticed that until you pointed it out, but now I'm kind of weirded out by the Amityville Horror vibe those doors are giving off. It's probably best not to think about it.

And when you mentioned the harpist taking requests, what should pop into my head as the song most likely to crack me up if I heard the harpist playing it? In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida. I had a gigglefit just thinking about it. Imagine what I'd be like after a few of the wine pairings.

How about Stairway to Heaven? Or, for a nice bitter touch: Love Hurts. The In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida reference reminds me of the Simpsons episode where Bart substitutes sheet music for that song, re-titles it In the Garden of Eden, and then the entire congregation spends 18 minutes singing it. Cracks me up every time I see it.

I know you won't have any hang-ups taking pictures at the Chef's Table in May. I think it's practically expected, now.

I'm on finding a new installment of the report. Woot!

It is safe to assume that I no longer have any photographic food inhibitions! I will be taking pictures like crazy.

Thanks for reading Lori - always good to hear from you!

You look beautiful! I'm trying real hard not to be jealous of your tiny waist. And failing.

Thanks for the compliment! As for my waist...I was sucking my gut in when that picture was taken and remember - I was wearing black!

And, my hubby was the chef (back of house, cooks manager) of a few fine dining resturants before his promotions. He likes to go to places like that, when we can afford it. And every time we do, I feel like I have a sign on my forehead that says "does not belong here". I know exactly how you feel!

I guess there must be people out there for whom that kind of experience is the norm, but if we're lucky we get to dine like that once a year. It's always when we're on vacation because STL has no 5-star dining. I always end up feeling a little out of place but for the life of me I don't know why.

Note to self: Must wear glasses when using computer so that I don't confuse the windows in the doors with Grimace wearing a funny hat.

Awwwww...poor Grimmie. It's not her fault she's shrinking!

I take it this means you liked the mushroom commentary?

 

[oybolshoi]

Love it! Love it! Love it! Loved your dress! (Jay looked nice, too.) Loved your folks! Loved the food! And last but definitely not least.....LOVED THE STORYTELLING! Great job, Brenda.

That foam does look like spit. Those boys are brave to try it.

Thank you Paige - I was thinking about you while I was posting this, trying to make sure I included as many pictures as possible so you'd know what you have to look forward to the next time you're at WDW. You and Rob need to have a nice romantic dinner together - just don't order the mushroom spit.

Thanks for reading and thanks for the compliments! I'm all warm and fuzzy now - and hungry!

 

[oybolshoi]

A brief interlude, if you will...

Do you remember an earlier post I made regarding those cool hand sculpted, painted wood animals that are for sale in Epcot's Mexico pavillion?

I thought I'd share with you some pictures of the three that we had before taking this trip. I wanted to do it now because Day 7 (coming "soon" to a thread near you!) will include Jay and I purchasing some new ones.

Here's the first one we bought on our June 2002 trip (the last time, by the way, the parents had been to WDW).

Ooooohhhhh - a scary, psychedelic kitty:

We bought this next one in October 2003, and that's when we made the decision to purchase one for each trip we would make to WDW.

That's one angry turtle:

By the time we returned to WDW in October 2004, we needed a peace-maker because the cat and the turtle didn't like each other one bit.


Gummy Joe - the Gator with No Teeth:

On a completely unrelated topic, I am a very happy vacation planner because I was able to snag all the ADRs we wanted for our October trip! Woo Hoo!!!


Thanks for reading everyone - have yourselves a great weekend!!

 

[DISNEYDUET]

Yummy!!! Everything looked wonderful. Well off for a run and Special K!

 

[pierresgirl]

I am totally loving your report! My kids keep asking why I'm rolling on the floor in laughter! I am also a full fledged member of the coke bottle glasses club. -8.5 baby! I just recently broke my glasses and had to get new ones. I picked kiddie frames (Barbie, to be exact) so the lenses don't look too bad! You should bring Grimace to CT, we have 2 of the largest casino's in the world here)

 

[Karen Mouse]

If there are mice in the kitchen who like to skateboard I bet they love this bowl!

TBC...

By the way I love your dress - you look so elegant and beautiful in that photo. Jason scrubs up well too

 

[jusmom]

Brenda,
Love the new installments, V&A looks awesome, I wish we could go there...but DH wears shorts year round (only busting out the suit for weddings.) so we are doing Citricos for our anniversary.
Keep it coming!!