Mom & Son Going Back with Dad + 1 - 10/3 - Rose & Crown and now Complete!

[GoofySon'sMom]

A&J met back up with us for dinner at La Hacienda.







I had an iced tea and an avocado margarita ...



I really love these margaritas. They seem to be loved or hated here. I don't really taste avocado, more of a banana-y flavor.

This was Julia's but I do not remember what it was. Maybe a virgin pina colada?



Chips and Salsa



Julia and I shared the Crema de Elote - corn cream soup served with Julianne spicy tortillas, roasted corn kernels and Mexican sour cream





Again, corn soup done well. This was a bit spicier than the one at HBD. It was really good with the crunch of the tortillas.

We all share the guacamole



And the queso which is the main reason Andrew wanted to come here ...



I have to say that even though Jay and I weren't super hungry. A&J were starving. They went to TL with only their Magic Bands and there was an issue with the computers at TL and only cash was being accepted for food. So they had nothing to eat or drink all day.

DH had the Carnitas Yucatan - pork confit (carnitas Yucatan style), with pico de gallo, cabbage, citrus juice and avocado salsa;



I tried a bite of the pork and it was good - well seasoned and super tender.

Andrew was the winner of the evening with the Costillas en salsa de Chile - Braised short ribs topped with chimichurri (parsley, oregano, garlic, olive oil, vinegar), served with potato puree and chile de arbol sauce



This was AMAZING. Again, I only had a small bite but the meat was super tender and flavorful and the potatoes light and creamy.

J and I both had the Taquiza - taco sampler featuring grilled chicken with green tomatillo sauce, grilled steak with roasted chipotle sauce and rajas poblanas, pork chilorio served with queso fresco, and a battered fish served with a mayo-chipotle sauce topped with



These were good but I wasn't real hungry. I only ate the pork one as a taco and just picked at the other two. I would definitely try these again though if still on the menu the next time we go

Dinner also came with rice and black beans but none of us ate much of those.

All in all it was a really good meal and we had the perfect few of Illuminations. I thought J had taken some pics but I don't see them. We had a perfect view though.

 

[vettegirl]

After a bit of time in DHS, DH and I headed over to EPCOT for some beverages!

First up, a Welsh Dragon from Rose & Crown!



I have had these over the past several trips and loved them. This one not so much. It was much sweeter than I remember. Course it could have been because I was missing Off Kilter!

We enjoyed watching this guy with his snack!



Then it was off to France for a Grey Goose Slushie!



Still my favorite WDW drink!

Next up - Spice Road Table. We weren't all that hungry but I really wanted to sit here for a bit ...







Beautiful view ....



Jay had a beer and I tried the white sangria



I really enjoyed this sangria. Not super sweet. Very refreshing.

We shared the Brie Fondue



This was the perfect snack. Cheesy was nice & melty and the honey added a touch of sweetness.

We watched them prepare for Illuminations ...



The restaurant was empty - one other table was in use while there. The waiter said that it fills up around 7 for the fireworks. It is really a great place for an afternoon snack or drink. Not sure why no one was stopping in.

We will definitely go back.

The Welsh Dragon looks delicious! Everytine we walk by Spice Road it's empty. Their menu looks fantastic.

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

The Welsh Dragon looks delicious! Everytine we walk by Spice Road it's empty. Their menu looks fantastic.

I agree on the menu but I am afraid it may be too "weird" for many which could be why the place is empty so often.

 

[jabead]

Wow, it looks like La Hacienda has made some menu changes. The tilapia entree that I usually get is gone and they now have snapper, steak, and short ribs. Very interesting. Oh, and your avocado margarita looks great. I've had zero luck at La Hacienda in getting a good avocado margarita. Twice I've had it there (once it was on the menu, and once it wasn't but I asked for it anyway) and both times it was mostly ice and tasted nothing like the ones I've had at both SAI and La Cava. But your margarita has given me renewed hope that maybe LH can make a good avocado margarita after all.

 

[momof3princes]

I love appetizers and Spice Road looks like a great place to take an afternoon break. I am still trying to talk my family into La Hacienda...I need to show them your review. Your animator lunch sounds like so much fun and a great menu too!

 

[emmysmommy]

Hi there Vicki! Reading through all your reviews reminds me of some great dining memories! It's like a sentimental journey for some of these places - Via Napoli and 50s PT, and of course the Illuniations cruise! I'm glad that you had this great family trip.

I've never read a Bongos review so yours is a first. That empanada has my name on it. Mmmmm maybe I need to explore the dining options in DTD more.

Your Imagineer lunch sounds like a dream. I'd love to do something like that. I may need to convicne Michael that he really wants to do that too!

I am now having a craving for the LC Mushroom filet. It's been a few trips since we've been back there. I love the maple creme brulee as well.

Despite the wet weather at the beginning of the trip it sounds like it was a memorable and fun time for all.

 

[ibcindyb]

I agree on the menu but I am afraid it may be too "weird" for many which could be why the place is empty so often.

I tried Spice Road Table on my own, it was different but not weird at all. I had the seafood trio (no longer on the menu) and everything was cooked perfectly and delicious. Service was way above and beyond. Recommend to all.l

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

Wow, it looks like La Hacienda has made some menu changes. The tilapia entree that I usually get is gone and they now have snapper, steak, and short ribs. Very interesting. Oh, and your avocado margarita looks great. I've had zero luck at La Hacienda in getting a good avocado margarita. Twice I've had it there (once it was on the menu, and once it wasn't but I asked for it anyway) and both times it was mostly ice and tasted nothing like the ones I've had at both SAI and La Cava. But your margarita has given me renewed hope that maybe LH can make a good avocado margarita after all.

I thought some things on the menu had changed. I knew the fish had changed. The short rib was really awesome. The margarita was good!

I love appetizers and Spice Road looks like a great place to take an afternoon break. I am still trying to talk my family into La Hacienda...I need to show them your review. Your animator lunch sounds like so much fun and a great menu too!

We have always had pretty good meals there. And if you luck out, it can be a great view for Illuminations!

Hi there Vicki! Reading through all your reviews reminds me of some great dining memories! It's like a sentimental journey for some of these places - Via Napoli and 50s PT, and of course the Illuniations cruise! I'm glad that you had this great family trip.

I've never read a Bongos review so yours is a first. That empanada has my name on it. Mmmmm maybe I need to explore the dining options in DTD more.

Your Imagineer lunch sounds like a dream. I'd love to do something like that. I may need to convicne Michael that he really wants to do that too!

I am now having a craving for the LC Mushroom filet. It's been a few trips since we've been back there. I love the maple creme brulee as well.

Despite the wet weather at the beginning of the trip it sounds like it was a memorable and fun time for all.

BRENDA! How are you!? Missing you around here! Bongos was a very pleasant surprise for us. I will go back for sure. I didn't give Jay much of a choice on the Lunch with an Imagineer. I don't know that he was as excited to go as I but he had a good time as well. He said he would definitely do it again on a future trip. Tell Michael to give it a go!

Le Cellier was a good meal ... its not an every trip for us but I was really glad we went this trip.

I tried Spice Road Table on my own, it was different but not weird at all. I had the seafood trio (no longer on the menu) and everything was cooked perfectly and delicious. Service was way above and beyond. Recommend to all.l

Its not too weird for me at al ... but maybe too weird for some. I agree on the service. Everyone was really great there.

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

So Thursday was AK day and hot ... like surface of the sun hot! I had debated doing the sit down lunch at Y&Y and ended up super glad I had booked it!





We shared the fried green beans -



And eggrolls ...



And two orders of the potstickers ....



All were very good. Crispy and not too greasy.



I tried something new the menu - the chicken kabobs ...



I am sorry for the blurry pictures! This was really quite good. The chicken was slightly sweet, very tender. I really enjoyed it.

Julia had the Seafood Curry ...



She really enjoyed this. I am not a curry fan but did try a bite and thought it was pretty good. I wouldn't eat a whole bowl, but I did enjoy the couple of bites I had.

Andrew had his usual - ribs ...



He enjoyed these but thought they were a bit different and not as good as previous trips.

Jay had the lo mein ...



He enjoyed this but did find it a bit salty.

Julia was chilled (it was cold in the restaurant) and ordered hot tea after our meal. Loved the pot ...



And of course, we had to have the wontons. I refused to share so A&J got their own order



These are truly one of my favorite snacks/desserts any where. I dream about them. I love the warm cream cheese filling, the grilled fruit and the vanilla sauce.

Our upcoming March trip will be short so we have talked about skipping AK. I just don't know that I can skip those darn wontons!

 

[vettegirl]

Love seeing a Yak & Yeti review and I love that seafood curry! I love it so much i have the recipe and I've made it here at home!!

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

For some reason my pictures downloaded in a weird order so I am going to do my best with this review ...

We split up for dinner Thursday night. A&J went to Andrew's favorite - Artist Point. I booked them the horse drawn carriage ride thru Fort Wilderness before dinner ...




I love this one with the horse ....

On to dinner ...

They each had the Smoky Portobello Soup ....

This is probably DS's favorite WDW food. He has actually ordered two bowls at the same meal on a previous trip. He was not disappointed.

I believe they also shared the cheese plate but I can't find the pic.

For her meal, Julia had scallops ...

Andrew the buffalo ...

Sorry no menu pics so I am not sure of the exact presentations. I know they both really enjoyed their meals. This was DS's favorite meal of the trip.

They shared the donuts with tea for J and coffee for A for dessert ...

They definitely enjoyed their meal!

 

[happy2012]

What unique choices & great info! So many things in the updates I wanna try.

 

[vettegirl]

I am dying to try that mushroom soup, nice review

 

[Dislover1991]

We were at Yak & Yeti the day after you! We really liked our meal, but I think we'll try Boma for dinner next year.

The teapot is a really cute presentation! I ordered green tea and loved when it came out in a teapot

 

[kastoney]

The soup was as good as always. Especially with the famed pretzel bread. The scallops were very good with the browned butter cauliflower puree but the granola was an odd accompaniment. The poutine was soooooo good. Salty goodness with the crispy fries. We just about licked the plate.

These all sound wonderful. I've yet to do Le Cellier and am dying to try the soup and now I know there is poutine too. Sounds like a great meal to me ; )

The sweet corn bisque was one of the best things I ate all week

So regretting not ordering this on our last trip.

his is one of my favorite things on WDW property. I love the small chopped ingredients. I had to be careful not to eat it all because our waitress warned us that the portions were all full size even with the four courses.

And this. Why oh why didn't I read your review before we went to HBD? ; ) Upside is I did read the plaza so I could order some of that delicious soup you recommended.

As good as the mushroom filet was at Le Cellier, this was even better. The meat literally melted in your mouth. It was decadent with the melting butter. The beans still had a nice crisp bite to them. Really a nearly perfect plate of food.

Sounds amazing.

This was such a great experience. Sally was very informative about the things she could talk about (she would not at the time confirm Star Wars Land despite our repeated attempts to break her! LOL!), the meal was excellent and I got to share it with three other women as Disney crazy as I am! One woman was there opening day and has been every year since. She even got to over turn a shovel of dirt at EPCOTs groundbreaking.

This sounds like an amazing experience. Will have to work it into our plan sometime as I know my hubby especially would love it.

The restaurant was empty - one other table was in use while there. The waiter said that it fills up around 7 for the fireworks. It is really a great place for an afternoon snack or drink. Not sure why no one was stopping in.

I've never done spice road, but always think the menu sounds great but like you I'm confused as to why there aren't many folks in there.

I really love these margaritas. They seem to be loved or hated here. I don't really taste avocado, more of a banana-y flavor.

Ahh, my all time favorite disney treat. And I'm totally with ya on the banana flavor. I think it comes from the melon liquor so maybe melon + avocado = banana ; )

Andrew was the winner of the evening with the Costillas en salsa de Chile - Braised short ribs topped with chimichurri (parsley, oregano, garlic, olive oil, vinegar), served with potato puree and chile de arbol sauce

This looks and sounds amazing indeed!

So Thursday was AK day and hot ... like surface of the sun hot! I had debated doing the sit down lunch at Y&Y and ended up super glad I had booked it!

Y&Y is always a great escape from the heat of AK and of course the perfect excuse for the wontons!

We split up for dinner Thursday night. A&J went to Andrew's favorite - Artist Point. I booked them the horse drawn carriage ride thru Fort Wilderness before dinner ...

Their meal looks great and that carriage ride amazing!!!! Some goofy son certainly has a great Mom ; )

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

So while the kids were at AP, Jay and I indulged in the Flying Fish Chef's Table!



DS and I enjoyed this experience a few years ago and I knew one day I wanted to get back with DH. I think I may have enjoyed this trip even more! In part that was due to the sous chefs in front of us. Both were much more talkative and engaging despite being crazy busy and literally playing with fire!





The gentleman cooking the steaks is from the town next to where I group up and where my Dad lives now. He said I am the only person he's met from anywhere near where we grew up.

Here's our menu ...

There was another group of 4 dining with us. They are DH had lobster rather than the scallop. I received an email a few days prior asking about allergies. I replied that we do not have allergies but I do not like lobster, crab or shrimp. So they subbed the scallop for mine. Also, when presented with the menu I told them I preferred not the eat veal so they said they were sub steak.

First the bread with salted butter ... I had one piece and it was fine. I wanted to save room for the meal!



Our first course was served with a sparkling wine ...





Our sommelier actually offered us a second glass .... yes please!

This was a nice bubbly. Not too sweet but not super dry. And it went perfectly with the first course ...



Look how beautiful it is! The scallop was perfectly cooked and the fennel ice cream was tasty. I don't normally like fennel but this presentation of it was really good.

Second course came with a Spanish white wine ...





I love oysters and the Asian veggies underneath were perfect. They were still a bit crunchy, seasoned well. And the wine was spectacular with it. Again the sommelier offered a second glass and there was no way I could stay no. This was a perfect course of foo
The fish course came with an oakey chardonnay ...



I mentioned to my husband while the wine was poured that I do not generally like oakey wines. The sommelier asked that I try it and if I didn't care for it, he would get me something else. What service! I didn't care for it and was brought a wine I have actually had at home ...



And our fish course ...



I was asked to try the chardonnay with a bite of the food to see if it changed my opinion of the wine. I admit that it did make it a bit more palatable for me but I enjoyed the pouilly-fuisse much more.

I had never had turbot before and am always nervous trying fish because I do not like fishy fish. This was perfect. A nice light white fish perfectly poached in the butter. The sweet potato risotto was out of this world. This was probably my favorite course.

Our palette cleanser was a citrus sorbet with the chef's homemade pomegranate 'limoncello'



OMG! The drink was soooooo good. I guess the chef only makes it once a year. I am so glad I was there for it. Not super sweet. Just perfect.

Continuing in the next post .....

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

Our next course came with an oakey red wine. Right away the sommelier told me that he would get me something else to try ...

I tried both with and without my meal and definitely enjoyed the second wine much better ...

My steak course ...



After sitting in front of and smelling the wood fired steaks cooking all night I was very happy I had asked for the replacement for the veal. I like a good char on my steak and this was cooked to a perfect medium. The veggies were all cooked perfectly and the couscous was a great accompaniment.

The dessert wine was an ice wine ...

I have to honestly say that I don't remember much about this wine ... you will see why in a minute ...

First, our dessert ...




The perfect end to the meal. I love strawberry and orange flavored together. The cake was light and airy.

So, while having dessert, the sommelier asked if I would be willing to try an extra wine. Huh? Well, twist my arm, of course I would!

And he brought this ...



ERMIGERD! It looked like red wine in the glass but tasted like chocolate. I know that sounds weird but if you ever have a chance to try it, please do! And the reason the sommelier wanted me to try it? It is aged in oak! Well, I'll be darned!

All in all the perfect meal. We enjoyed talking to our dinner mates. Loved the sous chef interaction and the sommelier was spot on.

One of the sous chefs mentioned the refurb to us. I guess it has been announced that day but we hadn't heard it. I couldn't help but say that I was unsure because the food at Cali seems to have taken a step back since their refurb. He told me the difference will be that Cali completely turned over their kitchen staff while all at FF will be coming back. I am hoping DH and I can take a Food & Wine trip next fall and if offered would love to do the Chefs Tale again. If not, we will definitely check out the new menu.

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

What unique choices & great info! So many things in the updates I wanna try.

That's what makes this board so great ... it is always making me want to go back & try something.

I am dying to try that mushroom soup, nice review

I can't wait to get back to AP so I can have it again myself!

We were at Yak & Yeti the day after you! We really liked our meal, but I think we'll try Boma for dinner next year.

The teapot is a really cute presentation! I ordered green tea and loved when it came out in a teapot

We are not Boma fans. Wanted to like it and just didn't. I would love to have one of those tea pots!

These all sound wonderful. I've yet to do Le Cellier and am dying to try the soup and now I know there is poutine too. Sounds like a great meal to me ; )

Ahh, my all time favorite disney treat. And I'm totally with ya on the banana flavor. I think it comes from the melon liquor so maybe melon + avocado = banana ; )

Their meal looks great and that carriage ride amazing!!!! Some goofy son certainly has a great Mom ; )

The poutine is truly amazing. Ruined regular ole disco fries for me!

Hadn't thought of that melon/avocado/banana math! LOL

Thank you so much for the nice comment. I wanted them to have a special date night and I think I succeeded!

 

[auntfrannie]

I always enjoy the Flying Fish but your meal at the chef's table looked amazing!

 

[vettegirl]

FF looks amazing! We are dininf there next week for the first time