Live Report: Roving Reporter in Orlando Oct 27-31 [Update: Photos Added]

[Mouse Skywalker]

Good Morning Everyone: Quick update before I continue with my trip report. I'm going to be able to come to DAP afterall. Very excited to see all my friends again, and hear Lee Cockerell and Marty Sklar speak. OK, back to your regularly scheduled update.

 

[aspen37]

Good Morning Everyone: Quick update before I continue with my trip report. I'm going to be able to come to DAP afterall. Very excited to see all my friends again, and hear Lee Cockerell and Marty Sklar speak. OK, back to your regularly scheduled update.

That's great news Dave!!!!

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

After sitting in my conference all day yesterday, I finished up between 4-5pm, and I was hungry. Why was I hungry after just sitting around all day? I barely moved or exerted energy. Oh well, what should I do to eat? I decided to head over to one of my favorite places on Disney property: Animal Kingdom Lodge. I thought I'd see if I could get a walk up at Jiko with no ADR.

I got to Jiko's check-in desk around 5:30pm, and again the restaurant was empty. They said they would have no problem taking me, and sat me at the "Cooking Place". The bar at the cook's station where they make the flatbreads, appetizers, and salads. I love this spot, and was able to eat here once before when I was on a solo-trip for a conference in March 2008.

My original plan was to record my dining experience for an on-the-spot in-restaurant dining report, but that was nixed by the restaurant manager. Oh well - maybe next time. The cooks at the station seemed dissapointed they weren't going to be interviewed.

My server, Karim, from Casablanca, Morocco came over. Explained Jiko was the Swahili word for "Cooking Place", went over the menu with me, made some recommendations, and took my drink order. I was ready for a tall, cool one: Tusker Beer from Kenya.

 

[kab407]

Good Morning Everyone: Quick update before I continue with my trip report. I'm going to be able to come to DAP afterall. Very excited to see all my friends again, and hear Lee Cockerell and Marty Sklar speak. OK, back to your regularly scheduled update.

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Next, I ordered my favorite appetizer the "Taste of Africa". Three dips with breads and naan made in the wood-burning ovens.

The dips are (from left to right) curry pesto, bonamasala (tomato base, cumin, peppers), and hummus with kalamata olive.

These dips were all so good. The bonamasala (red one) definitely has a kick to it, and the bread was delicious too. Warning though: lots of garlic in all of the dips and breads.

While I'm sitting at the counter, I strike up a conversation with the cook working the station, Andy from Namibia. This is probably my favorite part of sitting here. I love talking with the people from Africa, and learning more about their countries, foods, and customs. Andy, was a recent college grad in hotel management, and told me that Namibia is a relatively young independent country. It was originally a German colony. Andy's relatives are from Germany. After World War II, it became part of South Africa, and achieved its independence in 1990.

Here's a picture of Andy with the "donut-like" desserts he was also making.

 

[MenashaCorp]

Good Morning Everyone: Quick update before I continue with my trip report. I'm going to be able to come to DAP afterall. Very excited to see all my friends again, and hear Lee Cockerell and Marty Sklar speak. OK, back to your regularly scheduled update.

Woo Hoo!!!!

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

I was so engrossed in my conversation with Andy that I kept forgetting to look at the menu for my entree. When I've been at Jiko, I always get the oak-grilled filet mignon with macaroni and cheese. Karim kept coming over and I figured I should order. However, since I hadn't looked at the menu, I decided just to go with Karim's recommendation instead of my "usual". I got the Barbecue Beef Short Ribs with roasted Yukon gold potatoes, onion garlic sauce and bacon.

Wow, this was good and surprisingly big and filling. Underneath the greens was a really big hunk of meat almost as big as my fist. The meat was slow-roasted, so tender, and the bone just slipped right out of it. Delicious. I actually couldn't finish it, and that's a rareity for me.

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

While I was talking with Andy, he was making up tons of the "crispy Savana roll" appetizers. Next thing I know he brings one around for me to try.

These are filled with sweet corn and goat cheese. Wrapped in a flaky phillo dough and fried. The corn was amazingly sweet and the goat cheese was light and delicate. It was good, but boy it filled me up. I couldn't get dessert.

It was a great meal, and a great way to dine solo. I learned so much from Andy, and he was happy to talk about his country, Africa in general, and how the food at Jiko was or was not similar to Namibia. He was a great dinner companion. If you find yourself in WDW solo, try out the bar at Jiko. I don't think they take ADRs for it, so it should be open.

 

[aspen37]

I was so engrossed in my conversation with Andy that I kept forgetting to look at the menu for my entree. When I've been at Jiko, I always get the oak-grilled filet mignon with macaroni and cheese. Karim kept coming over and I figured I should order. However, since I hadn't looked at the menu, I decided just to go with Karim's recommendation instead of my "usual". I got the Barbecue Beef Short Ribs with roasted Yukon gold potatoes, onion garlic sauce and bacon.

Wow, this was good and surprisingly big and filling. Underneath the greens was a really big hunk of meat almost as big as my fist. The meat was slow-roasted, so tender, and the bone just slipped right out of it. Delicious. I actually couldn't finish it, and that's a rareity for me.

This was my favorite meal of my May trip. The short ribs were sooo good. I'm glad you enjoyed them.
Have a good day Dave.

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

It was a gorgeous night last night. So I decided to stroll out to the "savana" outside Animal Kingdom Lodge, and see what animals were out. I've never done this before. Wow, it was breathtaking. I would love to stay here sometime. Watching the animals was amazing. Here are some of the animals I saw.

It was a great evening. By the time I got back to my hotel, I was beat. Since Glee wasn't on, I read for a while, and fell asleep.

OK, off to my meeting. Thanks for reading along everyone.

 

[AnneR]

You're making me hungry!

 

[aspen37]

It was a gorgeous night last night. So I decided to stroll out to the "savana" outside Animal Kingdom Lodge, and see what animals were out. I've never done this before. Wow, it was breathtaking. I would love to stay here sometime. Watching the animals was amazing. Here are some of the animals I saw.

It was a great evening. By the time I got back to my hotel, I was beat. Since Glee wasn't on, I read for a while, and fell asleep.

OK, off to my meeting. Thanks for reading along everyone.

Kim and I did this before our meal at Jiko in May. I just stood and watched the animals for at least 30 minutes. While we were standing there watching the animals I told Kim that I would love to stay here. So when her and I decided to room together for DAP she knew I wanted to stay here, so she got us a great AP rate for AKL. I am so excited about staying at AKL.

 

[maroo]

Good Morning Everyone: Quick update before I continue with my trip report. I'm going to be able to come to DAP afterall. Very excited to see all my friends again, and hear Lee Cockerell and Marty Sklar speak. OK, back to your regularly scheduled update.

Woo Hoo!!!

Congrats!

 

[alebisi]

I was so engrossed in my conversation with Andy that I kept forgetting to look at the menu for my entree. When I've been at Jiko, I always get the oak-grilled filet mignon with macaroni and cheese. Karim kept coming over and I figured I should order. However, since I hadn't looked at the menu, I decided just to go with Karim's recommendation instead of my "usual". I got the Barbecue Beef Short Ribs with roasted Yukon gold potatoes, onion garlic sauce and bacon.

Wow, this was good and surprisingly big and filling. Underneath the greens was a really big hunk of meat almost as big as my fist. The meat was slow-roasted, so tender, and the bone just slipped right out of it. Delicious. I actually couldn't finish it, and that's a rareity for me.

This looks yummy!

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

That meal looks delicious!

 

[TXYankee]

Good Morning Everyone: Quick update before I continue with my trip report. I'm going to be able to come to DAP afterall. Very excited to see all my friends again, and hear Lee Cockerell and Marty Sklar speak. OK, back to your regularly scheduled update.

Yea!!! I am looking forward to becoming a new friend! See you at DAP

 

[Cyrano]

Great report and food review Dave

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Good Morning Everyone:

Yesterday was pretty much a "work" day for me. I was at my conference all day, and when I finished for the day I was pretty beat. I had no plans for dinner, and wasn't sure what I wanted to do. I wasn't really hungry because I'd been eating much more than I'm used to on this trip. I decided to head back to the Animal Kingdom Lodge, pick up something light to eat, and just soak up the atmosphere.

I arrived at The Mara around 5:30p, and found something light to eat.

Mmmmm rabbit food...

I was really surprised to see the wide selection of wine you could purchase here too. I knew Jiko had the largest selection of South African wine in the US, but I didn't know you could purchase bottles at The Mara. Might be good to know for some of our wine lovers.

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

I took my dinner/snacks, and headed over to the Arusha Rock Fire Pit to listen to the African Folktales. It was a great evening as the sun started to set. The temperature was starting to decline, and it was very pleasant out.

There were maybe 6 people gathered around the fire pit (3 children and 3 adults), and Jasmine the story teller from Cape Town, South Africa. Jasmine told a cute moral tale about a boy who frees a caged lion, and then the lion turns to eat him. It was cute, and reminded me of one of Aesop's Fables. The whole story lasted 10 minutes, and then Jasmine and the children went off to their next activity.

I sat outside and enjoyed the rest of my dinner. The yogurt with granola was very yummy.

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

I decided to wander around the grounds of the lodge some more, and see what there is to see. The lobby of the AKL is gorgeous, and there are so many details to be seen here - animals everywhere.

They were having a Cast Member pumpkin carving contest. I really liked this one of Timon and Pumba.

I wandered around the pool, and saw the animals around the pool and the Uzima Overlook. I had a great conversation with a Cast Member from Botswana who was at the savanna overlook. She made me laugh when she said she was looking at the Eland (second picture) and saying (after asking me if I ate meat) it was making her hungry for steak.

On my way out I did some souvenir shopping, and picked something up for DW. That was it for me yesterday. I headed back to my room so I could watch Survivor at 8pm. Called DW and the girls [DD8 and DD11 ] to say good night, read for a while and went to sleep.

More meetings today, and then I'm heading over to EPCOT this afternoon to check out Food and Wine.