After a night of such gastronomical bliss, I wasnt sure how I was ever going to eat again unless, of course, I was eating at the California Grill. I truly pitied the next restaurant on our ADR list because I knew it had little chance of comparing with the virtual food-gasm Id had the previous night (can you say that on the DIS? Oh well, I just did.)
Our ADR schedule had todays lunch listed at Liberty Tree Tavern. I took heart in this because I knew LTT was a good choice for post-CG greatness. Despite the fact that neither of us had dined at LTT before, I knew it would succeed for one reason: LTT knew its purpose and stuck to it. So often the downfall of restaurants is pretentiousness; I think this is why so many attempts at the gourmet diner fail when you want diner food you want grease and heartburn, not field greens and foie gras.
But I digress. We arrived at LTT and the lobby was quite packed. I have to say, I really enjoyed the little announcement speech they do when they call you for your table. It reminded me of CRT in the old days (or possible something they still do at CRT?). Of course, the lobby was really loud so Im not exactly sure WHAT they said; I think it was something along the lines of Here ye, here ye, the Liberty Tree Tavern would like to welcome the Rooks family from the colony of Ohio, but it just as easily couldve been Here ye, here ye, weve identified the source of that funky smell, the Rooks family from the colony of Ohio!
We started with the menu item that had drawn both of us to lunch at Liberty Tree: the Tavern Fried Cheese appetizer (I told you I liked cheese!). The appetizer comes with three different types of cheese (2 mozzarellas and one cheddar) and is batter fried, as opposed to breaded and fried like your average TGI Fridays. The breading was done perfectly, nicely golden in color, ever so slightly crunchy on the outside, yielding to a soft doughiness that gave way to the cheeeeeeeeeeese. The mozzarellas were very similar in flavor. The longer, stick shaped one was very traditional of cheese sticks and offered that wonderful stringiness; the ball shaped mozzarella was softer, chewier, more along the lines of fresh buffalo mozzarella. The cheddar was mild, really mild. I prefer a nice sharp cheddar myself and I think it really wouldve brought the dish to another level.
We were barely half-way through the Fried Cheese when our entrees appeared. You could tell they were really trying for quick table turnover, a stark contrast to the pace of our meal the night before. I had the Colony Salad: Washington apples, sweet pecans and applewood smoked cheddar and grilled chicken tossed with field greens in honey shallot vinaigrette. I was impressed with the overall presentation.. The dressing was light but very sweet and the chicken was
well, chicken. The stars of the dish were the crisp, tart pieces of Granny Smith apple, the sweet pecans with their subtle fiery-cinnamon kick and the smoky-sharp cheddar. My only complaint was how tiny the pecans were chopped, I ended up needing to scoop them up with my fork because they were too small to spear.
Jeff had the Tri-Corner sandwich, which was roast beef and swiss cheese with liberty slaw, horseradish cream sauce, and arugula served on herbed focaccia with tavern fries. First of all, this is a monsterous sandwich. We couldve easily shared it had I been born with tastebuds that accept horseradish as a valid flavor. The roast beaster beef was wonderful. A little pink and juicy, its the closest thing Ive found to Arbys! The tenderness of the beef was paired with the creaminess of the horseradish and the cole slaw, the former boasting its not-so-subtle kick in the finish (which Jeff liked, but I actually soured my mouth too
I just dont do horseradish).
For dessert we ordered the Caramel Apple Tart, which was appropriate for me, seeing as it came with its own entourage. Okay, it was actually accompanied by our waitress and another CM ringing a bell and loudly notifying the entire restaurant, God and Walt himself that it was my birthday. They might have sang or said something special, but I confess that I couldnt pay attention: I was far too excited by the card they gave me. It took every last ounce of self-control in my body to not be rude and grab the card and excitedly show Jeff.
Its VINTAGE!! Cmon, when is the last time youve seen Disney advertise Roger Rabbit ANYTHING?! How COOL is that?!
Yeah, I know.. paper isnt edible, you dont care, on with the food.
The Caramel Apple Tart was goooooood. I kind of wish I had one now. In contrast to the pear tart the night before, this one had a buttery, firm shortbread crust wrapped like a little octagonal package containing gooey caramel-apple deliciousness. It was warm and the vanilla bean ice cream melted over it like a heavenly waterfall. I do have to be honest and say my favorite part was the top of the shortbread tart crust itself, which was speckled with sanding sugar. I have a weakness for sanding sugar; theyre like edible diamonds.
headache: Self control, self control, must lose twenty pounds in preparation for *my* WDW trip in August!!!) 
We demand more! 
, I'll go after Jeff with the rolling pin!
. I followed Shovan here as well. She sure was right about your thread....it rocks!
I was going to post "What's for Dinner" here with all of us following Shovan...OP should join us over on that board...
I've had to agree to let my BF 
)
