In-A-Gadda-Da-Eata - Dining Report 7/27/08 - 8/2/08 w/ Pics - Updated 9/2

[donald&daisy]

Sign me up for more, very entertaining!

 

[DC_Tink]

Blockhead forever! NKOTB 2008

OMG! I saw this in your signature and almost died. I admit it, I have tickets to their upcoming concert in DC and I am still in love with Joey (it's ok, I think DH still loves Debbie...sorry, Deborah...Gibson).

It is also making me rethink the offer DW and I made to her 15 year old sister to take her with us at some point this year, lol.

As many issues as there were at the beginning, it was still a great experience. I learned so much about my brothers and it was a great bonding experience. They might not admit it, but I think they had a good time.

I will be cancelling my H&V Fantasmic package tomorrow. I've read the reviews & just figured it wasn't all that good, your photos proved me wrong!

My unappetizing pictures of melted mousse have worked their magic. I am on a mission to help people everywhere!

Oh my gawd girrrrl.. you and me were seperated at birth! Its like, every 80's/90's reference you make just gets my heart fluttering. And please, you ate the pap like Augustus Gloop? Sheeesh, I ate it like that kid in Matilda who eats the whole chocolate cake.

At least you didn't end up saving your food like Mr. Twit!

 

[DC_Tink]

Well I had to work pretty late tonight...so I won't have time for a regular restaurant review right now. But, since I made a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory reference earlier today, I thought it might be appropriate to post some candy pictures.

So no story line tonight, just pure unadulterated food porn. Enjoy!

 

[danalee]

OMG! I saw this in your signature and almost died. I admit it, I have tickets to their upcoming concert in DC and I am still in love with Joey (it's ok, I think DH still loves Debbie...sorry, Deborah...Gibson).



Hi fellow BLOCKHEAD I love, love, love me some Donnie! He still makes me I'm going to Cleveland since still no show for pittsburgh pa
My hubby just smiles and shakes his head, he dosent get my new kid love
sorry to go off topic everyone

 

[oybolshoi]

Mmmmm, Boma looks yummy whether it's not eaten, half-eaten, three-quarters eaten, or mushed up all together like cow cud.

And while we're on the subject of pictures that shouldn't be taken but are because that's what food porn addicts do ... just how freaking big are those Mickey head rice krispies treats??? They look like they've been given a dose of human growth hormone.

 

[Paparazzimama]

Totally subscribing - enjoying your reviews VERY much so far! Oh, and due to your previous post, my keyboard is shorting out from the saliva!

 

[DC_Tink]

And while we're on the subject of pictures that shouldn't be taken but are because that's what food porn addicts do ... just how freaking big are those Mickey head rice krispies treats??? They look like they've been given a dose of human growth hormone.

They are huge. I came so close to getting one for my shelter in place stash at work. I figured I could survive at least a week off of one of them!!

 

[mom2taylorandemily]

I'm hooked, I'm loving your reviews. Everything looks so YUMMY so far!!!

 

[Plammy]

Because my kids are on the young side (7&5), I booked the H&V Fantasmic package thinking that making sure we have seats to the 9:00 show in mid-August w/o waiting for an hour plus would be a fair trade-off. I'm sorry to hear your family had such a bad experience. I hope we have a better dining experience than what you described!

PS - Love your reviews - you have a great voice!

 

[KEMdisney]

very entertaining! subscribing to hear more! this is my first dining review that ive taken the time to read, and im anxious to keep on reading!!!

 

[kelleigh1]

OMG!! You're killing me with the Goofy's picture. I'm waiting for breakfast to arrive (we get it delivered to the office on Friday's) and I'm absolutely starving. Why did I open this thread before eating?? What was I thinking.

 

[Minnie Squeaks]

Thanks for reviews and nice pics

 

[TPCShauna]

Loving the reviews. I felt the same way about H&V and I especially don't think the "reserved" seats are all that great anyway. Of course, I'm spoiled by Fantasmic! at DL.

Very funny so far. Thanks for sharing!

 

[SkyGirl]

I'm really enjoying your reivews! Can't wait for more!

 

[Tink3Bell]

Is that chicken wrap on page one the size of a sleeping bag? It looks huge.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

Mmmmm, Boma looks yummy whether it's not eaten, half-eaten, three-quarters eaten, or mushed up all together like cow cud.

Boma is yummy though.

 

[HonnyDipp]

This is a yummy thread, thanks for sharing the pics!

 

[DC_Tink]

Questo piccolo piggy è andato a Italty

Ahhh....Italy. David and I went there for our honeymoon, and I have to say that WS does an excellent job of recreating the Doge's palace in Venice. It is just spectacular. But you all don't want to hear me talk about some old Doge's palace...no you want food. And I am happy to oblige because I am starving right now and just thinking of this meal makes me happy.

After a great breakfast at Boma that morning, and throwing out our plan by canceling the ADR at Chef Mickey's and going to AK in the AM instead of Epcot....I was now back to the plan. (What? I am an addict. Relapses happen.) I had ADRs at Tutto Italia. Enough said.

(off topic, please indulge me....Epcot was really busy that night! We got there at 4 pm and every single ride was out of FPs. The wait for Soarin' was insane, 2 hrs. I think).

Back to Tutto:

The inside of the restaurant is a little dark, somewhat formal, and there are renaissance style paintings on the walls. A little cheesy, but I like cheesy. After I checked in, I noticed the manager (I am assuming it was the manager since he worked there but was also wearing a REALLY nice suit) speaking with the hostess. They were arguing about something, but since my Italian isn't very good...I didn't know what. I figured as long as they didn't make me an offer I couldn't refuse, dinner would be ok.

Our waiter was great. I was worried that we would receive Italian service, since everyone who worked there was from Italy. What do I mean about Italian service? Well, things just move at a slower pace in Italy. People linger over their food and wine. Dinner is an experience to be shared with friends and good conversation. This means that dinner can take forever (Il conto per favore is a crucial phrase to know in Italy....it means "the bill please"). But I don't know what I was worried about, this was WDW and they want you out so they can fill the table again. Our waiter practically stalked us during dinner.

Onto the food, first they bring you a basket of several different kinds of bread and a bowl of olives. The bread was good. This picture is of our second basket of bread, and it was 1/2 gone before I could even take a picture. They put olive oil on a plate for you to dip the bread in. I was not partial to this. The olive oil tasted like Bertolli's and not like a good expensive olive oil meant for dipping. Plus I like cracked pepper in my dipping olive oils. Without it you just have greasy bread and where is the fun in that?

I ordered the Lasagna al Forno. It was heavenly. Ok so it doesn't photograph that great, and the pasta could have been warmer, but it was rich and creamy and oh so good. David took a bite and said he wished I could cook like that. (Note to self: check recipe board to see if the recipe has been posted) I think the reason everyone liked it was because it was made with béchamel instead of ricotta and David hates ricotta with a passion.

David ordered the Tagliata di Manzo (again I have got to give credit to the Italians, what a cool way to say steak with salad). David was torn between getting the steak and the lasagna, but once I promised to share my lasagna he decided he would go with the steak. He gets so happy when he can have his cake and eat it too! He thought the steak was excellent. It was perfectly cooked (medium). And he enjoyed the potatoes and salad that came with it.

The Tweedles both ordered the Sacchetti. They were both worried about it since they had never heard of it. Tweedle Dum in particular was quite concerned about what a Pomodoro sauce was. Quite frankly, they only know what Prego and Ragu are, so trying to explain a sauce to them was pointless. For some reason, I tried anyways (total Sisyphus moment). Then I made the unspeakable error of saying that the sauce might have chunks of tomatoes in it. Why can't I learn to not talk? Of course they freaked out to this idea. After 5 minutes of assuring them that IF there were any chunks they would be large enough to be be removed, they finally agreed to order that dish. This is also when I agreed (with myself) to order a Bellini (oh wonderous sparkling wine drink that is a bellini. I love drinking sparkling wine/champagne. It always makes me feel fancy and about 2 glasses does me in.....mmmm....bubbles).

Well as you can see above, the Tweedles were worried for naught! The pomodoro sauce was pretty thin, and it (thank goodness!) did not contain any identifiable pieces of tomato. To be honest Tweedle Dum said he liked it better than regular pasta sauce because it "was a bit sweeter."

David devoured his steak. And the boys had a hungry hungry hippo time with their sacchetti. I, alas, could not finish the lasagna. While superb....it was huge and rich and I had to save room for dessert. (I think the DDP is determined to turn me into a denizen of the Axiom.)

Speaking of dessert, it was heavenly. I had the Tiramisu. Which always makes me think of Sleepless in Seattle. You know, the part where Rob Reiner is giving Tom Hanks dating advice. Tom Hanks doesn't know what tiramisu is and he says (paraphrasing) "tell me what it is because some woman is gonna want me to do it to her and I'm not gonna know what it is."

All 3 boys got the profiteroles, which were cream puffs filled with vanilla ice cream. They were brought out completely plain and then the waiter, who had this gravy boat full of melted chocolate, poured the melted chocolate over top. David, proving yet again that he is really a plain vanilla kind of guy, had his without any chocolate. I think it looks sad and lonely that way.

The boys had tons of chocolate on theirs. Tweedle Dum even asked the waiter if he could keep the chocolate at the table. The waiter agreed and Tweedle Dum proceeded to bathe his dessert in it. In fact, after finishing his dessert, he then ate the chocolate with a spoon out of the gravy boat! You can tell he and I are from the same genetic tree, because I would have done the same thing!

(after the waiter poured the chocolate, but before Tweedle Dum soaked them in a lake of additional chocolate)

All in all, an excellent meal. It was also the most expensive meal of our trip ($188.51 prior to tip)...so I would highly recommend saving this one for the dining plan, unless you don't mind splurging.

As for the rest of the night, well we walked the world a bit. I got a 2nd drink (mmm.....France) and then David and I decided to ditch the Tweedles and let them stay at Epcot for EMH. We were too tired and we needed a break. We figured we would rearrange the schedule and hit Epcot again the next AM when hopefully the lines wouldn't be as long.

 

[DarlingDumbo]

I'm Hooked!
Your reviews are wonderful!!

 

[Bev J]

Boy that lasagna looks soooo good! My DH will be very happy that they have a good steak too!
Thanks for posting, I will keep reading.

Bev