A tale of breakfasts and snacks from an Italian perspective! (with pics) - FINISHED!

[butiflfeet]

Great reviews so far! I'm considering trying breakfast at Kouzzina during our next trip and I appreciate your review of it

 

[hotcarib]

Before we get serious, here is an amuse bouche of airline food.

Last year in January I flew Frankfurt – Orlando with Lufthansa for the first time (there are no direct connections with Italy, and this time I found Frankfurt connections were better than London) and I was enthusiastic about everything: from punctuality, to service, to food. This year, the flight was perfectly on time again, but the food left a lot to be desired.

Yes, I know, airline food… but they had spoilt me and my expectations were high!

This is supposed to be Moroccan chicken with couscous and vegetables. Actually, it was not couscous, rather orzo pasta or something similar, and it was grossly overcooked anyway. The chicken was rubbery.

Breakfast wasn’t better: the bread and croissant were very good, but the cheese, bacon and tomato omelet was frankly inedible.
So this review is not off to a good start… but it gets better, I promise!

Actually, it is couscous Looking at the photo it appears to be Israeli couscous...there are many variations in size. Most Americans are familiar only with the very tiny grains. Also, couscous is semolina, so it is pasta....somehow many think it's a grain
Anyhow, looking forward to your reviews!!

 

[Alby]

Actually, it is couscous Looking at the photo it appears to be Israeli couscous...there are many variations in size. Most Americans are familiar only with the very tiny grains. Also, couscous is semolina, so it is pasta....somehow many think it's a grain
Anyhow, looking forward to your reviews!!

You know, I recently had Israeli couscous (which tasted quite different from the Lufthansa dish anyway) and realized that this was a possibility... but according to the menu it was supposed to be Moroccan couscous, which has the tiny grains, right?
Anyway, I am not going to order it again anytime soon

 

[nanienamou]

Yep, I make moroccan couscous at home and the grains are much much smaller. It might be Israeli couscous. When I took a Moroccan cooking course, they used the tiny grains, too.

I had the chowder at CHH too and I really liked it.

 

[MinnieM21]

Loving your reviews!! The brownie from the Main Street Bakery looks soooo good. I can't wait to try one in December!

 

[chocolateMinnie]

loving your reviews - very interested as we are staying at BC for first time and have booked Yachtsman dinner and Cape May and Kouzzina breakfast. Thanks for posting.

 

[Alby]

loving your reviews - very interested as we are staying at BC for first time and have booked Yachtsman dinner and Cape May and Kouzzina breakfast. Thanks for posting.

Beach Club is my favorite resort! Mainly because of its location, although it is also beautiful...
I keep wanting to try AKL, but being so close to Epcot (and DHS) can't be beat and everytime I choose the Beach Club again!

 

[Alby]

During the day in Epcot I got a bad migraine, and at 12 I finally gave up and decided to spend the rest of the day in my room… actually in my bed, with a book.

But first I stopped at Boulangerie Patisserie on my way out, and got some food to take out. This is one of my favorite CS places in Epcot: it is too small (they are going to enlarge it significantly), but it’s a great place to buy something to eat elsewhere, either in the park or out (they give you great takeout boxes… which is not so common in the parks).

Most people buy Napoleons or eclairs here, but I prefer their sandwiches: their ham & cheese croissant is fantastic, if you haven’t tried it, please put it on your list!

This time I chose something different: the vegetable and the ham and cheese quiches. They were not bad (the ham and cheese one was tastier), but there are better options, they were a bit bland.

In the evening, I felt even worse, and I ate only a fruit salad I bought in the Beach Club Marketplace. It was fresh and ripe and hit the spot!

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

Ugh, it is never fun to feel lousy on vacation, especially one in WDW!

It's a shame that those quiches were bland, they look really tasty!

Looking forward to more!

 

[Mom&RN]

I'm really enjoying your dining reviews! I would love to ask you how you like doing solo trips to Disney? My son and I have gone together for years but he is going to be in his last year of high school this year then will be going off to college so I see our trips coming to an end. I, however, am not ready to give up my Disney trips so wonder if you enjoy doing Disney solo, what are the upsides and the downsides of solo Disney?

 

[Alby]

I'm really enjoying your dining reviews! I would love to ask you how you like doing solo trips to Disney? My son and I have gone together for years but he is going to be in his last year of high school this year then will be going off to college so I see our trips coming to an end. I, however, am not ready to give up my Disney trips so wonder if you enjoy doing Disney solo, what are the upsides and the downsides of solo Disney?

Well, as this is a dining review, I'd say the main downside is that I don't like having dinner alone in restaurants, and I therefore miss all those delicious signature dinners!

For me, this is the main downside, but I think I should explain something. I have a very demanding job, with lots of people depending from me, and as I have little free time, I spend absolutely all of it with my family, and I mean every single minute. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
For example, the only reason why I have the time to write this review now is that I currently am on maternity leave (and everyone in the house is asleep anyway).

As a consequence, as I haven’t had any really free, or spontaneous, time for like 10 years, these solo trips for me are fantastic because I get to be on my schedule, I can decide when I wake up or where I eat, I have the luxury to stay in bed if I have a migraine, etc. I guess it would be the same for every mother who usually needs to maximize her time with her children (and husband).
I also find it fantastic to have no responsibilities at all (although I can't unfortunately switch my mobile off).

I am used to travel and to stay in hotels alone, and to find my way around, and don’t mind to stay alone for a while. Depending on your personality, you could feel different.

On the other hand, what I miss from my family vacations is sharing. NOT sharing the bathroom, but sharing fun, wonder and excitement, and building memories together.
But these trips are “accidental” for me, they don’t replace our family vacations, so I know that there will be soon other chances to build memories.

 

[Alby]

May 4

May 4 was my “slow” day and I had planned to spend it in Downtown Disney. Actually, given I already had it slow on the day before, I spent the morning in DD and the evening in Epcot.

But first, I had breakfast at 1900 Park Fare. It was my first visit to the Grand Floridian and I found it beautiful (despite the construction), but stuffier than Beach Club or the Poly.

1900 Park Fare was definitely the richest breakfast buffet I visited; it was a bit more chaotic than the others but also very cheerful, with several little girls dressed like Mary Poppins who were very excited about meeting her!
I was hungry, after the very light dinner I had had the day before, and I found plenty to eat!

First of all, I got 1900 Park Fare’s version of the juice you can find also at Ohana, Boma, Kona Café etc., a mixture of orange, passion fruit and some other juice. It was good.

I then had (clockwise from top) carved ham (delicious!), breakfast pizza (very good), scrambled eggs with cheese (very good), bacon and sausage (the usual), hash browns, lobster eggs benedict and biscuits and gravy (good).

The carved ham in particular was IMO much better than Boma’s and Kona’s, which I don’t like very much (heresy, I know!). On the other hand, I did not like the lobster eggs benedict: I found no trace of lobster in them, and they had not much flavor.

My second plate was sweet: Mickey waffles with Banana Foster sauce (the winner! Sweet but not too sweet), bread pudding, French toast, grits (flavorless) with watermelon (good). The bread pudding and French toast were good, but honestly I had had a bit too much by the time I got round to try them!

I finally had some of 1900 Park Fare’s famous strawberry soup. I expected it to taste simply like a strawberry shake, but I was mistaken: it had a peculiar taste (in a positive way), it was very good!

All in all, I really liked this restaurant. Characters are plenty (Pooh, Tigger, Mary Poppins, Alice and the Mad Hatter) and seemed to really take their time to play with people… some of them made a real effort to find someone who could take a picture of me with them.
It is cheerful but not too chaotic (I went there at opening, but it opens at 8.05, so it was later than usual) and food is good and varied. I’ll be back for sure!

 

[Alby]

I had planned to have a lunch ADR on my Downtown Disney day, as I expected to need a break from walking and heat at some point, but did not want to go back to the Beach Club. It was a good idea!

I entered Raglan Road at 1.30, and the place was half empty. There were quite a few free servers, and service was prompt and kind.
My main reason for booking RR was trying Ger’s Bread and Butter Pudding, and that was a pity, because I had nearly reached the point where I was not interested in food, and especially in desserts, anymore (it is usual for me to reach it in Disney, and it lasts for a while. Food is too rich for me… or simply I eat too much!) and could not do it justice.

Anyway, I started with a Forest of Scallops appetizer: fried scallops and tartar sauce. I was not enthusiastic, only one or two of the scallops were really good. I did not try the sauce.

I wasn’t hungry enough for an entrée, and I ordered a side of fries with garlic, parmesan and truffle oil. I tried to order them without the truffle oil because I like truffles only in specific dishes, but it was not possible… but I could not perceive the taste anyway.
These were fabulous! Seasoning was perfect, and they were also good fries.

Finally, I tried the famous pudding. It was very good, particularly with the crème anglais, but I unfortunately had to leave most of it. Such a pity, I took the decision that this was my last dessert for this trip!

 

[t_daniels]

That sounds amazing. Been wanting to try 1900 Park Faire....

 

[hotcarib]

I'm so sorry, migraines are horrid!! Have you ever tried peppermint oil on your temples and the base of your neck? I find if I catch it early the oil really helps (especially the oil combined with ice!) Those little quiches look pretty tasty
I don't know about bland as my husband always douses them in Tabasco
Oh, I think (IIRC) Moroccan couscous is the smallest, Israeli medium and then Lebanese is the largest but I've seen varying sizes in between

 

[Alby]

I'm so sorry, migraines are horrid!! Have you ever tried peppermint oil on your temples and the base of your neck? I find if I catch it early the oil really helps (especially the oil combined with ice!)

No, I haven't, but I think I will. Thanks for your suggestion!

 

[Alby]

In the evening, I toured Epcot for a while, and before watching Illuminations I bought dinner at Tangierine Café. I wasn’t hungry yet, but they give you styrofoam containers that work perfectly to keep food warm.

But first, I visited Club Cool and I had…

The famous Beverly! Well, it IS a drink, isn’t it?
Beverly isn’t actually on sale in Italy, but some similar drinks are. I must say that I quite liked it… must be a cultural thing!

Later in my room, I had the chicken schawarma platter, with couscous (Moroccan couscous! ), tabouleh, hummus, yogurt and pita bread. I am not a fan of hummus, but the rest was wonderful as usual; I especially appreciate the meat seasoning.

 

[t_daniels]

Keep meaning to try food in Morocco. And always chicken out!

 

[Alby]

Keep meaning to try food in Morocco. And always chicken out!

IMO it truly is not too strange. Maybe tabouleh (parsley salad) can be considered exotic, but chicken and couscous are not too different from, say, chicken and grits.

 

[Mom&RN]

Thanks for your take on solo Disney! I appreciated the input. I love eating in Morocco while at Disney and try not to miss it. Enjoying all your reviews.