Belly Up to the Bar With Bendy and Her Friendies!!! Button Pics & New Thread Started!

[PNO4TE]

What's wrong with Virginia wines? What does Virginia taste like? I've got two here and am going to drink from one later.

Where's this winery anyway? I probably couldn't try it because I'd have to drive there.

Elin, thanks for the wonderful description and slideshow of your birthday wine / bistro visit - what a lovely day!

I'm curious about the taste of VA wines now, too, since you made that comment. Should the state change its tourism slogan? VA is for lovers without tastebuds?

Hmmmm.... maybe I was a bit misleading. No, not really! I am not often a fan of sweet wines and (in the past) many native Virginia grapes made better sweet wines in the past. Add to this that I think VA wines from the Blue Ridge area taste like dirt, especially Cab Francs. And I think that wines from the Tidewater area taste like sand. Obviously not all of them and I wouldn't put my taste buds up against a pro, but 9 times out of 10 I can pick it correctly.

HOWEVER, they are getting better and better and better and the wines from Potomac Point Winery really blew me away this time. They have a new Italian winemaker with good sense and taste so I see even better things in the future.

The winery is located in my county, Stafford, so Catherine... you would have to drive. Or something could be arranged depending on just how far outside the Beltway you are! It is near the Potomac, so maybe you can float down!

What wineries are represented in your cellar, Catherine? I am curious! And, Brenda... we will not be giving up our 40 year old tourism slogan anytime soon. We are still passionately pro Virginia, and that includes the wines (sometimes).

 

[TDC Nala]

Tink ... are you implying that CA Grill has brought back foie gras? I didn't see it on the All Ears menu ... where did you see it?

You can't go by the Allears menu. They change too often for them to keep up.

 

[TDC Nala]

Elin, I'm in Fairfax county but my wineries are in Fauquier - my parents live near there. The parents and I are considering doing a winery tour over more of Virginia someday but one of them will have to drive. I feel sorry for my dad, he always drives and then doesn't get to have wines.

Pearmund Cellars and Winery at LaGrange (they're sister wineries operated by the same folks) are our home vineyards. My parents live very close to there (if you see Lake Manassas on your map that's where they are) so we are always running over to pick up wines. My mom and I did a wine dinner at Pearmund once and we really liked it. But we're stuck with the designated driver thing about future events.

As for me and the beltway, it's right on the other side of my condo. I am smack between the Beltway and Rte 66.

I never liked the Virginia tourism slogan, we always changed the bumper stickers to Virginia is for Losers (I wasn't born here but have been here since I was 1 except for some years off at school - my brother was born here - so it was kids being wise and not anything against our home state, excuse me, commonweath)

 

[PNO4TE]

We are not so far apart then, Catherine. I have not been to either of those wineries but get LaGrange's newsletter and updates regularly. They were represented at the VA Wine Expo in Richmond in the winter. I liked their wine! Some time when you are planning to head over there let me know. Maybe we can work out a meet & greet!

Oh, and I am not a native Virginian either. I come from another Commonwealth... PA! But I came to Virginia in 1969 for college and have decided it is my home.

 

[oybolshoi]

Heads up on the buttons ...

I submitted a request this weekend with the artwork and hope to hear back from the company tomorrow. Jay thinks they will turn down the request because of copyright issues but I'm hopeful that it won't be issue since we're not trying to sell them.

I will let you guys know what happens when I get back from the office tomorrow night. Keep yer fingers crossed!

 

[TigerKat]

Keep yer fingers crossed!

Will do!!

 

[Tink rules]

Lipitor is one of my best friends. You gotta live a little, right?

Coming to a medicine cabinet near you...

Tink ... are you implying that CA Grill has brought back foie gras? I didn't see it on the All Ears menu ... where did you see it?

I will go and look for it... it was in a TR...

Heads up on the buttons ...

I submitted a request this weekend with the artwork and hope to hear back from the company tomorrow. Jay thinks they will turn down the request because of copyright issues but I'm hopeful that it won't be issue since we're not trying to sell them.

I will let you guys know what happens when I get back from the office tomorrow night. Keep yer fingers crossed!

Where are you ordering them from? I will check the place we did the stuff for the PC repo and see if they can do anything...

 

[kabuki]

Heads up on the buttons ...

I submitted a request this weekend with the artwork and hope to hear back from the company tomorrow. Jay thinks they will turn down the request because of copyright issues but I'm hopeful that it won't be issue since we're not trying to sell them.

I will let you guys know what happens when I get back from the office tomorrow night. Keep yer fingers crossed!

No matter what happens with the buttons Brenda - thanks for all the work on it and setting up the whole meet!

 

[Tink rules]

Bendy.... it's on the menu and this is a recent TR... check out the menu... (these people didn't have the frois gras...)

I can't guarantee it.. but it looks like they may have put it back...

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/diningdetail.cfm?Restaurant.ID=105#menu

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=32664609&postcount=3314

 

[oybolshoi]

Bendy.... it's on the menu and this is a recent TR... check out the menu... (these people didn't have the frois gras...)

I can't guarantee it.. but it looks like they may have put it back...

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/diningdetail.cfm?Restaurant.ID=105#menu

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=32664609&postcount=3314

I appreciate the links but I'd be willing to bet those pics are from an earlier trip. The menu link you provided from here at this DIS is dated October 2008 ... we were there in October 2008 and foie gras was most definitely not on the menu because we went so far as to ask our waiter about it.

I even checked the WDW menu scan of CA Grill on the official website and it's not being listed as an appetizer as of July 2009; same sad state of affairs per the All Ears menu update from this month.

Looks like we're just going to have to wait until we get to Vegas next year for some of the good stuff.

 

[PNO4TE]

Bendy.... it's on the menu and this is a recent TR... check out the menu... (these people didn't have the frois gras...)

I can't guarantee it.. but it looks like they may have put it back...

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/diningdetail.cfm?Restaurant.ID=105#menu

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=32664609&postcount=3314

I appreciate the links but I'd be willing to bet those pics are from an earlier trip. The menu link you provided from here at this DIS is dated October 2008 ... we were there in October 2008 and foie gras was most definitely not on the menu because we went so far as to ask our waiter about it.

I even checked the WDW menu scan of CA Grill on the official website and it's not being listed as an appetizer as of July 2009; same sad state of affairs per the All Ears menu update from this month.

Looks like we're just going to have to wait until we get to Vegas next year for some of the good stuff.

It is from last year, I am sorry to say. In an earlier post on the same thread she had photos of their group dressed for MNSSHP.

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

It is from last year, I am sorry to say. In an earlier post on the same thread she had photos of their group dressed for MNSSHP.

Your right. I blew up the picture and it looks like there is a September 2008 date at the bottom of the menu. I like looking at that thread for the food porn, but have noticed a lot of people post very outdated photos so its totally unreliable most times.

 

[oybolshoi]

Had to do a last minute ADR restructure last night thanks to Guests X & Y ... they've now decided that the fewer meals they share with us the better because they're not taking this trip for food but to enjoy our company.



Ummmm ... the best way to enjoy our company (if enjoy is really the right word, and I'm not sure it is ) is to sit down over some food and drink.

I don't know if money is an issue or if something else is at work here. I do know that all of the places that the nephew really wanted to try are suddenly (pardon the expression) off the table. So they're going to wing it except for the couple of meals that they are going share with us.

I tried to warn them that the winging it approach doesn't always work well at WDW in October but they are determined to do it.

Here's hoping it all works out for the best.

How's everyone else's ADR setting going so far? Our 90-day is Thursday ... I'm looking forward to getting it out of the way so that I can re-work it again when the F&W details are released.

 

[oybolshoi]

Guest X doesn't even want to try afternoon tea. How many women do you know who don't want to partake in afternoon tea at the Grand Floridian???

Auntie Crohn and Uncle Bubba were even willing to pay for the whole thing but no dice.

I'm not sure I can take a trip to WDW and bypass afternoon tea.

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

Had to do a last minute ADR restructure last night thanks to Guests X & Y ... they've now decided that the fewer meals they share with us the better because they're not taking this trip for food but to enjoy our company.



Ummmm ... the best way to enjoy our company (if enjoy is really the right word, and I'm not sure it is ) is to sit down over some food and drink.

I agree with you Brenda...best way to spend time with us is to break bread with us also. Hard to have any quality time when your in line for things or traipsing around the parks.

Guest X doesn't even want to try afternoon tea. How many women do you know who don't want to partake in afternoon tea at the Grand Floridian???

Auntie Crohn and Uncle Bubba were even willing to pay for the whole thing but no dice.

I'm not sure I can take a trip to WDW and bypass afternoon tea.

Do you think that maybe their are worried about being showcased again in your food reviews? I can't understand why they all of a sudden want to skip all the dining adventures with you guys-especially with some on your dime! I'm totally bewildered.

I made our ADR's yesterday for our first F&W weekend. We are taking a much lighter approach to dining this time. This time we are leaving ourselves with an empty night so we can just enjoy nothing but the food booths at Epcot. In years past we always jammed ourselves up with ADR's every night AND did the booths during the day. Way too much food so we're taking a new approach. I think we've got another week to wait to book trip #2 and then the end of the month we can do trip #3. I'll probably revert to my old ways for the other trips and if we like the more relaxed dining from the first trip I can cancel dining on the other trips later on.

 

[oybolshoi]

I agree with you Brenda...best way to spend time with us is to break bread with us also. Hard to have any quality time when your in line for things or traipsing around the parks.

That's exactly what I said to Jay.

Do you think that maybe their are worried about being showcased again in your food reviews? I can't understand why they all of a sudden want to skip all the dining adventures with you guys-especially with some on your dime! I'm totally bewildered.

You and I are obviously on the same wave-length right now. That's exactly what I thought ... we were willing to go wherever they wanted and would have picked up the tab or provided the DDE discount and there were no signature meals planned except for the last night which will also be picked up by Jay and me.

Yep ... I'm confuzzled.

I made our ADR's yesterday for our first F&W weekend. We are taking a much lighter approach to dining this time. This time we are leaving ourselves with an empty night so we can just enjoy nothing but the food booths at Epcot. In years past we always jammed ourselves up with ADR's every night AND did the booths during the day. Way too much food so we're taking a new approach. I think we've got another week to wait to book trip #2 and then the end of the month we can do trip #3. I'll probably revert to my old ways for the other trips and if we like the more relaxed dining from the first trip I can cancel dining on the other trips later on.

Sounds like a good plan ... we're teeting back and forth about how we want to approach our dining this fall. I can never really get it straightened out until the F&W booking is completed.

Not long now, right?

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

Sounds like a good plan ... we're teeting back and forth about how we want to approach our dining this fall. I can never really get it straightened out until the F&W booking is completed.

Not long now, right?

I hate having to wait on the F&W events and I'm sure that'll throw a monkey wrench into our current plans, but we don't exactly have a choice. I'll just be interesting to see if there's anything that will really pique our interest this year. Me and Fred are kinda over PFTS unless they start doing something spectacular with it. As intriguing as that new premium bar and cheese thing sounds (it totally appeals to the cheeseaholic in me), the extra $60 per person has me rolling my eyes. My hopes for the offerings this year are in the gutter, so I may be pleasantly surprised when they finally do announce things. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

 

[whogirl'smom]

Had to do a last minute ADR restructure last night thanks to Guests X & Y ... they've now decided that the fewer meals they share with us the better because they're not taking this trip for food but to enjoy our company.



Ummmm ... the best way to enjoy our company (if enjoy is really the right word, and I'm not sure it is ) is to sit down over some food and drink.

I don't know if money is an issue or if something else is at work here. I do know that all of the places that the nephew really wanted to try are suddenly (pardon the expression) off the table. So they're going to wing it except for the couple of meals that they are going share with us.

I tried to warn them that the winging it approach doesn't always work well at WDW in October but they are determined to do it.

Here's hoping it all works out for the best.

How's everyone else's ADR setting going so far? Our 90-day is Thursday ... I'm looking forward to getting it out of the way so that I can re-work it again when the F&W details are released.

I'm sorry that X and Y are causing such a commotion on the trip planning. Do you think that they are really not wanting to go to WDW with you guys, but don't know how to back out? I feel just the opposite as they do on how to spend quality time together at a theme park. If you are together at a meal, you are in air-conditioned comfort to talk about your day, not in a line or walking in the blazing sun getting grumpy because someone is not keeping up. They do seem to have been more distant this year, don't they?

I can't even fathom not wanting to go to tea...

Would they be offended if you asked them if they truly wanted to still go? That's an awkward question, I know. You've done so much for them, I hope things clear up soon.

 

[TarzansKat]

Guest X doesn't even want to try afternoon tea. How many women do you know who don't want to partake in afternoon tea at the Grand Floridian???

Auntie Crohn and Uncle Bubba were even willing to pay for the whole thing but no dice.

I'm not sure I can take a trip to WDW and bypass afternoon tea.

Wow. I love afternoon tea. I can't even fathom not going. I've had such wonderful experiences there!

You had asked earlier how everyone was doing with their ressies, and I wanted to chime and say pretty good here.

We actually added two days onto the front of our trip, and my whole (mom, dad, nana, fil) family will arrive on the third day. For the first two, it's just the three of us. There are a ton of ressies I'd love to score for those days, but no dice.

Here's our line up so far.

Monday, Sept 28, Grand Floridian Cafe Breakfast (I think 1000am)

Tuesday, Sept 29, The Captain's Grille Dinner

Wednesday, Sept 30, The Crystal Palace - the only place I could get around the MK area for our party size, and we're doing lunch

Thursday, Oct 1, Tea at the GF

Friday, Oct 2, Sci Fi Dine In Lunch

Saturday, Oct 3, Brown Derby Dinner

Sunday, Oct 4, Chef Mickey's Late Breakfast before we leave

Bendy, have you been to GF Cafe and Captain's Grille before? I thought I might have read favorable reviews form you, but I can't remember.

 

[TigerKat]

Bendy - I'm confuzzled too, makes no sense to me.

I've got my list ready...

The Turf Club (L)
Flying Fish (D)
California Grill (D)
Mama Melrose (L)
Citricos (D)
Liberty tree Tavern (L)
JIKO (D)
Grand Floridian Café (B)