A Whole New World - Was Live, Now complete, catch me again DCA F&W all six weeks!

[Linda67]

Wonderful reviews, many thanks
The meals that you are preparing in the Villa look delicious

 

[klacey1]

Thanks for sharing-- want to come to NY and make me French toast?? Please?

 

[butiflfeet]

I love live reviews and I think its great to see what you've cooked in your villa! Thanks for sharing!

 

[GraceO'Malley]

I'm enjoying your report very much and I would LOVE your recipe for Mushrooms Berkley!

Thanks so much!!!!!

 

[ickeynickey]

Great updates. Looks like your having a great time. Have a blue margarita for me. Better yet, have two!

 

[franandaj]

Sunday was a day of relaxation. We had things like Yogurt for breakfast, used the leftover chicken for chicken salad sandwiches, so really no need for pictures when we're just making sandwiches.

After lunch DM and I went to the Spa at SSR, I had the Swedish Massage and this wonderful Hydro Therapy Tub thing you wouldn't believe! Once we got home we noshed a little on the cheese and crackers you saw the other day before taking the boat to DTD.


We had 7:00 PM reservations at Fulton's and it was incredible. I'd been wanting to come here since it was the Empress Lilly, and we'd had reservations before, but it never worked out. I was so thrilled when we walked through that door and I was FINALLY getting to sample the cuisine here that I had heard so much about.

Again, we brought our own wine. A BV Reserve Chardonnay 2006, two bottles.

Our waiter described the Oyster selection and when he said, "Malpeque" I gasped in esctasy! We ordered 18 of them and wolfed them down within minutes of being put down on the table.

Most everyone in the party ordered the Lobster and Crab Bisque as an appetizer and I ordered the Caesar Salad. I got a taste of the Bisque and it was VERY rich. I'm not sure I could have eaten a bowl of that, but I forgot to mention that I had some "problems" last night which made me worry about dinner tonight, but I think the massage "cleansed" me from those toxins, so I was OK to eat.

BTW the Bread and Butter was yummy, and in addition they gave us this boursin crab spread with crackers that was also great.

DM got the Crab Cake and House Salad for her Entree, but she couldn't eat either because she ate too many Oysters and the soup.

I got the King Crab legs and split them with DP

Our waiter Michael took the crab out of the shell for us expertly

DD got the Flounder

We skipped dessert at Fulton's because there was Ghiradelli just around the corner....

DD got something that was basically all chocolate except for the whipped cream

DP and I split a totally decadent sundae with butterscotch and chocolate toppings with whipped cream and almonds, YUM!

Tomorrow Coral Reef at Epcot

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I am seriously considering trying Turf Club this fall, that steak looks wonderful.

 

[franandaj]

Today we left our home at the THV to settle in at Kidani Village. While we were homeless, we decided to go to Epcot. I had made a reservation for lunch at 1:30 at the Coral Reef.

Me and DD had the Lobster Ravioli. Why someone would cover up the great taste of Lobster with a red sauce I will never know. The ravioli were tasty and if they had served it with a beurre blanc, it would have been superb. This was just tomatoey and spicy.

DM got the Mushroom Lasagne, which was actually lasagne noodles wrapped around some filling and the noodles were so cooked that they were hard and crunchy.

DP got the Crab Cakes Appetizer and Squash Soup. The sauce on the crab cakes was too spicy, but the Soup was good.

All in all, as much as I have liked this restaurant, and how I did not want to believe others when they said the quality had gone downhill, it really has. I don't think I will be coming back to this restaurant, unless something drastically changes.

For dessert, DP and I got an Apple Strudel in Germany (sorry forgot to take a picture!), it was good, but not nearly as good as the one they served during F&W. DM & DD went to Italy and got Tiramisu and Cannoli, they had wolfed theirs down before we found them waiting on a bench.

After this we headed back to the room at Kidani via Soarin' to settle in for a home cooked meal.

 

[Pooh&OurHunny]

Thanks for wonderful updates. We took have been tryign to go to Fulton for the past 2 years but usually we changed our minds b/c my son is too tired that night we plan so we end up not going. This time we will go on our first night.
Last time we tried Coral Reef it was bad. My son grilled chicken was not cooked and our dish smelled and took one bite and it was not edible. After we left Coral Reef we had to go to Sunshine Season to feed our son something and we had a great grilled salmon there. My husband said we will never return to Coral Reef.

Love your food review and can't wait for the next installment

 

[franandaj]

Wonderful reviews, many thanks
The meals that you are preparing in the Villa look delicious

I love live reviews and I think its great to see what you've cooked in your villa! Thanks for sharing!

Thanks! I love having home cooked food on vacation, it is so comforting!

Thanks for sharing-- want to come to NY and make me French toast?? Please?

Brrrrr....too cold there!

I'm enjoying your report very much and I would LOVE your recipe for Mushrooms Berkley!

Thanks so much!!!!!

It's really easy:
1 stick butter
1 lb mushrooms quartered
1/2 green pepper
1/2 onion

1/2 cup decent red wine
1 tbl dijon mustard
1 tbl worcesteshire
1/2 cup brown sugar

Melt butter in saucepan, add mushrooms, pepper & onion and cook until tender. Mix remaining 4 ingredients in a bowl and add to saucepan. Cook 45 minutes or so until liquid is reduced.

See! Very simple and Oh so Tasty!

Great updates. Looks like your having a great time. Have a blue margarita for me. Better yet, have two!

I'll have to do that next time at Epcot, but believe I've hit that Margarita stand more than a few times!

I am seriously considering trying Turf Club this fall, that steak looks wonderful.

As I said the FOOD was great, others highly reccomend it, so I'll go back and hope for another server!

Thanks for wonderful updates. We took have been tryign to go to Fulton for the past 2 years but usually we changed our minds b/c my son is too tired that night we plan so we end up not going. This time we will go on our first night.
Last time we tried Coral Reef it was bad. My son grilled chicken was not cooked and our dish smelled and took one bite and it was not edible. After we left Coral Reef we had to go to Sunshine Season to feed our son something and we had a great grilled salmon there. My husband said we will never return to Coral Reef.

Love your food review and can't wait for the next installment

You MUST go to Fulton's I've tried for several years as well and was NOT disappointed. Well the only disappointment was that I don't have two stomachs and couldn't eat more!

Thanks everyone!

 

[franandaj]

Monday Night

After a long day at Epcot and being homeless we came back to the room and made tacos. I was so tired, that I forgot to take a picture of the whole dinner, but we made up little bowls of all the topping and everyone made their own tacos at the table. Imagine all those little bowls and here is the last taco shell that I had as a leftover, so imagine nine others like this being eaten on Monday night.

Tuesday morning

For breakfast on Tuesday I made everyone in the villa who was feeling up to eating Bacon, Eggs, Toast and Hash Browns. DM got sick the night before so she didn't have any breakfast, and she had to bow out of dinner (which was V&A's). DP took her place, and DP was originally planning on bowing out!

Here is breakfast

 

[ems_mom]

Love your reviews and so impressed with your cooking skills! I would like to try cooking but alas we are only two and usually stay in a studio to save points. We have stayed at HHI in a 1 bedroom and your recipes would be perfect. (If time allows, post the recipes on the community board.)

Koudos on a happy family vacation!

 

[disneyfav4ever]

Can't wait to hear about V&A. The food you'll made in the room looks good to. I'm sorry your DM had to miss V&A, hopefully she felt better after that day.

 

[franandaj]

This was the dinner I had been waiting for. Three years ago we dined at the Chef's table, and it was DIVINE. I am not a stranger to fine dining. We do eat somewhat often at the Napa Rose in the GCH and I have been lucky enough on occasion to have some fabulous dinners at Club 33 in DL. But since V&A's is so far away and it is always such an elegant experience, I always look forward to dining here.

We pulled up at the GFH and gave the car to the valet. I love that old Cadillac they have parked out front, so I went over to snap a picture of it before we went into dinner. I HAD NO MEDIA CARD IN MY CAMERA! The dinner I had been waiting for all week, and I left the !@#$%*&! thig in my computer! DP was so sweet and told me to go to the gift shop and buy a new one. So a few $'s later and new media card in camera we headed upstairs, a small price to pay if you think about it, much cheaper than coming back and second time with the media card.

I tried to take a picture of the doors, but they were waiting for us.

We were seated immediately, the place settings are always elegant.

They prepare a special menu for each guest

They even brought me this "purse stool" so I wouldn't have my purse on the floor!

This was the Amuse Bouche, a four parter! It was paired with a Tattinger Champange, and it was some special cuvee, although I do not remember the specifics, you'll see why after the next few posts!

I started with the one that had the spoon. It was a celery root purree with tomatoes, and chives and some other micro greens. Everyone else had salmon chunks instead of the tomatoes.

For me this was a fennel mousse, for the others it was a salmon mousse

Next came the fried mozarella ball with the light tomato sauce, and when I say light I mean faint whif, but it complemented this so well and it wasn't over powering for the champagne or the next bite.

Sorry these are a little out of focus, I'm using my point and shoot camera rather than the fancy SLR camera (it doesn't fit so well in a dainty purse and might look sort of weird at a restaurant like this to haul out a beasty camera to photograph such dainty food, although it sure deserves that treatment!).

The next was a bellini with caviar, and I have no idea what the other two ingredients are, but DP & DD got salmon roe while I got sturgeon, I guess....

We all ordered the same first course which was Maine Lobster with Watermelon Radish, Kohlrabi, and Vanilla Aioli. This was served with a Baileyana Chardonnay, Edna Valley 2006. It was wonderful, there was a chunk of lobster outside the roll and then inside was a lobster salad that was just wonderful.

This was the last thing that we ordered the same, and where I must break part 1 it's late and I may have to put this TR into over time since we're nearing the end and I'm falling behind, but I'm making a valiant effort!

Part II will include Day Boat Scallop, Sake-Soy Marinated King Salmon & Monterey Abalone!

Thanks for reading!

 

[franandaj]

Seafood Course

Here is where we begin to have some variety. I ordered the first item on the seafood course menu, the Day Boat Scallop with Zellwood Corn and Chorizo Sauce. As expected this was crispy and tasty on the outside, soft and creamy on the inside. The corn sauce and garnishes were sweet and savory all at the same time. It was really good!

DD ordered the second seafood course offering which was a Sake-Soy-marinated King Salmon with Bok Choy and Soy Sauce. This was served with sake instead of a wine pairing. Since I don't like Salmon, I didn't taste it, but DD seemed quite pleased with this course.

DP ordered the Montery Abalone with Toasted Capers and Meyer Lemon. Since Abalone is very rare, she was thrilled to have this, they sliced it thin, lightly breaded and sauteed it and it was evidently excellent. I let her enjoy it all to herself.

The next course was the appetizer course. We couldn't decided between Lobster Bisque

Poulet Rouge with Mushroom-Truffle Ragout, Black Trumpet Mushrooms and English Peas

Duck Breast, Duck Sausage, and Confit with Salsify and Pomegranate Sauce

So we ordered an additional split Lobster Bisque and both the other appetizers. I could have used more of the duck, the chicken was good too. The Lobster Bisque was creamy and subtle yet intense. I liked it better than the taste I had of Fulton's. They were all superb.

Coming next, meat course....

 

[Poppinsme]

WOW I am so in!

 

[Pooh&OurHunny]

yummy updates on Victoria and Albert's...I'm drolling over the pictures and can't wait to read and see more yummy food.

 

[franandaj]

Sorry for the gap in postings, the report isn't live any more, but I will definitely take you through until the end.

Onto the meat course!

Since there were three of us, I was able to get pictures of three of the different entrees. There were actually five offered, but the last two were Kobe Beef and some other Beef even more pampered than Kobe, there was an additional charge of $35.00 & $80.00 respectively. We were plenty happy with the choices that had no additional surcharge.

DD got Kurobuta Pork Tenderloin and Belly with Baby Beets and Sherry-Bacon Vinaigrette.

I ordered the Colorado Lamb with Fresh Cannellini Bean Cassoulet

DP got the Marcho Fams Veal Tenderloin with Marble Potatoes and Sauce Soubise

We traded back and forth on the two entrees so we each got to eat some of both. The lamb was very tender and really tasty, the veal was good too, but I liked the lamb better.

The next course my DP got the White Chocolate Gelato with Tableside Shavings and Micro Orchids.

I didn't try any of this because I ordered the cheese course and the two just would have clashed on my palate. Below you will find: Thomas Hoe Stevenson Stilton, Coach Famr Goat, 36-Month Aged Parmigiano-Reggiano, and Thomasville Tomme.

For Dessert DD & DP had the Tanzanie Chocolate Pyramid with a Champagne-Chambord Truffle and Macerated Pomegranate Seeds

The dessert was served with coffee

I had the Grand Mariner Souffle, now there was a choice for a Chocolate Souffle, but I always find those disappointing unless it is a triple chocolate souffle, but this one was incredible. Notice our server adding the Grand Mariner Whipped Cream here...

I had her leave the dish of cream and everyone ended up putting some on their plate!

The last thing that they gave us was a plate of Petit Fours, but I was in such a food coma, I forgot to take a picture!

Oh well!

 

[klacey1]

Drooling. I. Am.

 

[franandaj]

After a dinner at V&A's you sort of need a break. Our plan was to visit the Animal Kingdom and come back to the Villa to make hot dogs today, but DM still wasn't feeling well and we had so many other leftovers we scrapped that idea. DP, DD and I headed out to the MK, and after about 45 min waiting (the monorail went down) we finally got into the park. I rode Space Mountain (since it wasn't down today), and we decided that we were hungry.

We went to Cosmic Rays Starlight Cafe and everyone ordered burgers. I do have to say that this is one awesome place to get a burger. I should have taken a picture of the toppings bar! They had sauteed mushrooms, grilled onions, raw onions, tomatoes, lettuce, pickles, relish, plus all the condiments like mayo, ketchup etc.

DP and I split a cheeseburger and I loaded it up with just about everything that had over there. Between the burger and the fries that was just enough to fill me up.

We rode the Haunted Mansion and did the Tiki Room show, and based on feedback from another Disney list I'm on, I figured that I had to try a Dole Whip. DP got the traditional Dole Whip

I'm not so big on just a cup of ice cream, so I got the Dole Whip Float

The pineapple juice was not as sweet as I would have liked, but when I mixed the two together to form kind of a pineapple shake it was pretty good. I'm not sure that I'm all that crazy for these, but it was good. I think given the choice, I probably pick the bacon wrapped asparagus skewer that you can get at DL over something sweet!

As part of our free for all dinner. I took the crab meat (which you saw earlier at the dinner at Fulton's) and made up a Hot Crab Dip with some of the Cream Cheese that we had to go with the chips we had left from taco night.

I made some Pasta Carbonara, but it wasn't pretty, so I didn't take a picture of it...

That's it for today, 3 days left!