Delish Dining, May 19-May 25

[catne]

Who: DH (52), me (52), DD (19) her BFF (18)

Details: On DDP, had dinner ressies for all dinners Monday 5/19 through Saturday 2/25. Couple of general notes...I got all of our ressies in February 2008 for this May 2008 trip. Got every restaurant we wanted, at the times we wanted (between 5 & 6 p.m.) We had ressies at restaurants in the parks with late EMH (and split ressies on Wednesday- DH & I at DHS for Fantasmic Package, and DD & BFF at MK because they were doing the P & P party) So, we got what we wanted at less than 180 days out. Now, we did not try for breakfast at castle, or Chef Mickey's (no little kids in our party.) But we did get Le Cellier...and frankly, I think every single place was taking walk-ins the whole time we were there. We checked in early a couple of times with no problems, and there appeared to be empty tables everywhere. Including Le Cellier & Cindy's Royal Table. So...

Anyway, here's my reviews (sorry, no pics...)

Monday, 5/19 we arrived at AK around 11:00, got Fast Passes for Safari, and wandered over to Flame Tree Barbeque. Loved it! DH & I both had Ribs (de-lish), cornbread (outstanding) and Baked beans (he liked them, me, not so much.) Plenty of food-we thought the portions were very generous. Had ice tea to drink. DD got pulled pork sandwich (liked it). BFF had some sort of salad with grilled chicken-he finished it all, so must have like it. We all had Min Maid frozen lemonade for dessert...really liked that, thanks to the Disboards for the suggestion of getting that for dessert! (It was a very hot & humid day.) Service was fast, effiicient. Lines looked bad when we first got there, but they went very quickly. We ate on the back patio (again, thanks for the suggestion!) at a table right next to a pond--very scenic & peaceful (and yes, there were birds all over, but we did not see any overly-aggressive birds, but then they didn't have to be since so many were throwing them food despite all the signs asking you not to.) Would we go back to Flame Tree Barbeque: in a flash! Good food, good service, scenic location.

Dinner- EMH at Animal Kingdom, so our Dinner Ressies were for 5:30 at the Tusker House. We enjoyed this restaurant, and like the food. So many choices on the buffet tables, we all found plenty to enjoy. Especially liked the carved beef (had rare, which we love) and the chicken (I think it was Greek.) We liked trying out the various salad offerings that we would not ordinarily encounter (couscous, ghanoush (sp?), etc.) Tried some very hot/spicy dishes. Suggest you take small servings of new dishes...we all did, and found some new things to like, and some not (I discovered I do not like curry! But then I'm a wimp on spicy foods.) Loved the bread pudding with vanilla sauce -very rich, along with several other dessert choices. Service was very good, waitress was friendly & explained all the food stations' offerings. Foods on buffet tables were constantly replenished; cold things were cold & hot items were hot. The place was very busy, but lines moved very quickly. All in all, we liked it. Would we go back: probably, but would try other restaurants first.

Special Note-in regard to the big tip debate, and whether or not service is "off" due to the DDP: Hollywood & Vine was the only place the tip was even mentioned...our served apologized for mentioning it, but pointed out that she was supposed to tell us about the little pre-printed card in the bill folder which explained, in 5 or 6 different languages, that a 15-18% tip was considered customary, and was no longer included in the DDP. That was it. Not even mentioned at the other restaurants. No pressure to tip, no suggested amounts on the receipts, no hands-held out for tips. We had generally excellent service everywhere at both counter service & table service. We paid cash for all tips, tipping 20-25%.

Next: Tuesday, lunch at French Quarter Sassagoula Factory & Food Works; dinner at Garden Grill, Epcot.

 

[iluvpluto27]

Great start! Looking forward to more.

 

[John's Mom]

Count me in!

 

[phabric]

Enjoyed your review. Will be looking for more.

 

[Avojeo]

Cannot wait to hear more!!!

 

[TigerKat]

I'm in......

 

[catne]

So, on Tuesday, even though we planned on eating cereal bars in the room, we just had to try the signature pastry at French Quarter. DH went over very early to the Sassagoula Floatworks (Port Orleans French Quarter counter service) to get us the beignets for breakfast (pronounced "ben-yay", by the way. Although silly DD & her BFF called them "ben-gay" all week. Didn't stop them from eating them, of course.)

What are these things? Well, best I could describe them as a 3" x 4" x 2" rectangle of puff pastry, like the kind of pastry hot pockets are made of. Except these are plain with no filling, and then tossed in a deep fryer. They puff in the fryer, then are taken out & "sprinkled" with powdered sugar (sprinkled is a gross understatement.) Yes, they are wonderful.

And relatively inexpensive, per the DDP. For some reason, an order of 3 or an order of 6 both are considered one snack. We found the order of 6 looks like a lot, but keep in mind the things are puffed pastry, so there's a lot of air in the finished product. DH & I would have the 6 pack for breakfast; DD & her BFF also split 6 packs and found that to be about the right amount. And they are very, very messy to eat -- covered with about a pound of powdered sugar (not exaggerating!) So don't eat these things in dark clothing!

Your first bite is like this "O.K., this is alright, I guess, but what's the big deal?" Then you find yourself reaching for another, and another...they are absolutely 100% addictive. After that first order, we were hooked for the rest of the week. DD called them cocaine ben-gays. She wasn't kidding.

The beignets are available from 6 a.m. until midnight...and we saw people ordering them every time of the day & night. They do not keep well, by the way...plan on eating them the same day (we kept some over night once--end up very chewy--think leather--not good the next day.)

later...Tuesday Lunch & dinner

 

[MickeyNicki]

Sign me up!

 

[honeybee30]

DD called them cocaine ben-gays. She wasn't kidding.

That's too funny. I'm so calling them cocaine ben-gays from now on!

 

[TigerKat]

We love our ben-gays down here!!

 

[lisaj]

subscribing, enjoying so far.

 

[Jakesmom1]

I'm in, cant wait to hear more.

Only 9 days left till we see the mouse

 

[catne]

O.K., before I continue, I should clarify something: DH & I had been dieting strenuously since December - I’ve lost 50 lbs, he’s lost quite a bit also.…so we decided we were going to experiment & really enjoy the DDP at Disney. To pass time while we were dieting through the winter, we deliberately researched Disney restaurants & menus (and lots of marvelous food porn on this board to keep you going through the dark deprived days of dieting!) and then we would try some things we’d never heard of…so…

Tuesday, after mainlining beignets, we went to the early EMH at MK…had a grand time using the UG plan to get in 11 rides in less than 3 hours, including taking a break & getting our favorite Dole Whips at Aloha Isle for a mid-morning snack. Before, we’d always got the Dole whip cones, but following suggestions found on these boards, we tried the floats this time: DH & I absolutely loved ‘em (the floats are pineapple soft serve with pineapple juice. We thought it was a refreshing contrast of sweet & tart.) DD & her BFF disagreed: they both decided the next time they would just get the pineapple soft serve cones. They thought the juice in the floats was too sour & the end product was just too much pineapple flavor (although DD loves pineapple.)

We left MK around 11:45 to head back to our resort for lunch & swimming.

At Sassagoula Floatworks/POFQ, following our plan to experiment, DH & I got the muffaletta sandwich, with sides of potato chips & fountain soft drinks. (The Floatworks has vanilla coke on the fountain…yum!) The muffaletta is a New Orleans specialty sandwich, originally sold by Italian immigrant street vendors, kind of the Italians’ answer to the local Louisiana Po’Boy sandwich. The Sassagoula version is served on a warm round specialty bread, huge layer of ham & cheese, drenched with a sort of Italian dressing with chunks of olive in it. Keeping in mind we don’t especially care for green olives at home, we loved these sandwiches. The flavor combo was just right. Guess it’s just the Disney pixie dust at work on the food. The chips were also yummy, although pre-packaged, they were the kind that taste like home-made, thick sliced & fried crunchy.

Since they have a bakery at Sassagoula, the desserts are not the little pre-packaged kind, which was nice because it meant there was always a greater variety to choose from. I had plain cheesecake for dessert (very rich.) DH had carrot cake (he liked it, but was just too full to finish it.) DD had the chicken club wrap with a choc milkshake for dessert; BFF had chicken Caesar salad and hand-scooped ice cream for dessert. Both liked their food, and thought the serving sizes were generous.

Service was fast, polite & efficient, lines moved very quickly. Although the place looked very busy, there seemed to be enough tables for the crowd there (some people left with their food trays to go eat at outside patio tables, or at the pool, or in their rooms.)

Would we eat here again: YES, and we’d definitely order the muffaletta sandwiches again.

 

[Mom2JPL]

Can't wait for more!

 

[TigerKat]

Tuesday, after mainlining beignets, we went to the early EMH at MK

At Sassagoula Floatworks/POFQ, following our plan to experiment, DH & I got the muffaletta sandwich

We love our muffaletta's down here too!

 

[lyn9856]

Agree re the mess those Ben-yays make! DH ate his in a black Tshirt lol...we were both covered in powdered sugar! Nice though! I also loved the Muffaletta. Great report!

 

[catne]

TigerKat, I'm sure the Dis version of Louisiana food is not near as good as real hometown version, but we sure found it to be a tasty alternative to the same old lunch foods & snacks...

Someday, we'll get the real thing in New Orleans...it's on my list of things to do before I die!

 

[mom2fivecs]

Great job so far...keep them coming!!

 

[catne]

We spent the afternoon at the resort for some R & R, then headed to Epcot for dinner ressie at The Garden Grille, in the Land building. We were seated about 2 minutes after we checked in, on the upper tier (not right next to the windows overlooking the land) but we could still see the upper parts of the Land ride as the restaurant revolved. Was fun to go do the ride right after we had watched the top of it from the restaurant.

We haven’t been in the Garden Grille for about 10 years, so were pleased to find that other than minor changes on the menu, it was much the same as we remembered. DH & I both got beer (I had a Corona, don’t remember what brand he ordered…I was disappointed that mixed drinks were not available here, just wine & beer. I prefer my adult beverages to be thick, fruity & frozen…a la umbrella drinks! Oh well, I was able to suffer through the beer.)

Anyway, all 4 of us loved, loved,loved the cornbread in the bread basket- it was so sweet & moist, it could almost have been a dessert; however, the biscuits did not impress. The salad was good & fresh but just a basic tossed salad.

The main entrée part of the meal is served family-style with a big platter of food brought out to the table & each person helping themselves. DH & daughter’s BFF enjoyed all the fried catfish (the girls are not fans!) All of us loved the flank steak…it was very tender & juicy, with a really good flavor in the gravy - tasted like a wine or whiskey-based sauce…but we found the rotisserie chicken to be about grocery-store-deli quality - it was tasty & moist, but nothing special. The green beans were take-em-or-leave-em, but we just about fought over the potato casserole, it was that tasty. We asked for more cornbread, flank steak & potatoes. The dessert was absolutely scrumptious…a layered sort of flaky puff pastry with a creamy filling, and topped with strawberries & whipped cream. Very rich…we could not finish it all.

Service was very good, with plates & such cleared on a timely basis, refills on drinks as needed and waiter quickly brought out 2nds when requested. Characters (Farmer Mickey, Pluto, and Chip & Dale ) came around one at a time to our table during the course of the meal, and posed for pics with all of us (even though we were basically all adults at the table.) This is a very good restaurant for families wanting to get in a relaxing character meal…not the hubbub of the character buffets, the whole experience much more sedate, and much, much quieter. But kids will still get excellent character interaction. And parents can have a well-deserved beer, too, which is not available at most of the character meals. (We really don't drink that much, but when we're vacationing, we enjoy our beverages.)

We thought there was enough variety in the foods offered family-style to cover most people’s tastes…unless you’re a very picky eater, you’ll come away full & satisfied.

After dinner, we did some of the Epcot rides, then DH & I split a Fiesta margarita at Mexico's Margarita stand before Illuminations. Have to say, this really is a very beautiful looking drink with 4 layers of different colors/flavors, but taste-wise: we were not really thrilled with it. Don’t know if it was just the wrong combination of flavors that was off-putting to us, or what, but we wouldn’t do that again. (This drink flunked the true test for a really good frozen beverage: no brain-freeze from slurping it too fast! We did finish it, eventually, though…can’t waste perfectly good alcohol just because it doesn't taste great.)

We really intended on trying some of the bakery offerings from France & Norway that night, but we were so stuffed from The Garden Grille, we never got around to it even though we ate dinner early (5:30) and stayed for most of the late EMH at Epcot. The bakery items looked absolutely luscious…I did gaze extra longingly at them…but just couldn’t work up an appetite for more food that night, and didn’t want to mess with carrying around bags of delicate bakery goodies for the rest of the night (they should offer a food delivery service like they do with the package delivery in gift shops!)

 

[suzimar57]

enjoying your reviews!