Monsieur Paul - Champagne Regional Lunch - F&W Event 2014

[ehagerty]

Never too late to share a great meal ....

Sunday, October 26th, 2014
Speaker = Wayne Ballard (Champagne Wayne)
Chefs de Cuisine = Francesco Santin (love his food)

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Meandering our way through the obligatory photo-ops - between Future World and the boulevard to World Showcase

Bumping into Marianne Hunnell at the Festival Center - Marianne is the beverage manager for Epcot and very integral to F&W events - she is always cheerful and interested in feedback (and we know I am always full of it - feedback, that is). Posting her picture here so y'all will be able to spot her and approach her with your own deep insights into your F&W experience!

... and the

Table setting (with my Canon lens cap)

... and the first Disboarder to come up and say hello (great fun) - and since she posts her own picture here, I will do the same!

Champagne Wayne, providing introductory comments ...

Amuse-Bouche

Nicolas Feuillatte, Brut, N.V.

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[ehagerty]

Croustade d'eoeufs de caille, petite salade mesclun
Quali eggs croustade, mixed green salad.

Nicolas Feuillatte, Brut Chardonnay, Blanc de Blancs, 2005​

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[ehagerty]

Filet d'agneau, viennoise de truffe et parmesan, gnocchis aux herbes,
Lamb tenderloin with truffle and parmesan crust, Herb gnocchis.

Nicolas Feuillatte, Cuvee 225, Brut, 2005​

Champagne Wayne, tirelessly making the rounds, informing and entertaining, making sure the guests are having fun

.... which Kim and her husband were ...

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[ehagerty]

Mille-feuille de choclat blanc et framboise, compote framboise maison, glace vanilla framboise
White chocolate and raspberry Napoleon, homemade raspberry jam, vanilla and raspberry ice cream.

Nicolas Feuillatte, D'Luscious, Demi-Sec Rose, N.V.​

Francesco, taking a well-deserved turn around the dining room, with his team

... and the photo op on your way out - picture of Monsieur Paul, each dish plated, bottles of champagne served, and the guests

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[ehagerty]

Took me awhile to get around to posting. Part of my slowness had to do with the lesser quality of my photos - I usually toss pictures that I don't think do the subject justice - but then I wouldn't have been able to share the meal with you.

My main purpose for posting - on any forum - is to make information (usually in the form of pictures) available for fellow travelers to make informed (or at least slightly-better-informed) decisions. In this context, it is related to whether you, the reader, might want to attend a FRUNCH next year.

So, my standard Q&A
1) Would I go again?
2) Would I recommend you going?
3) What, if changed, would make it better?

1) Yes, I always attend whatever FRUNCHes I can get into while I am in WDW for F&W. Fortunately, they are held twice a week, each week with a different theme, so the chances are pretty good. That said, reservations go quickly, so I have to queue this one high up the list on F&W special-call day
2) Yes - assuming you like this type of food (who doesn't?)
3) Can't think of anything

What stands out in my mind 2 months later (without notes)
1) The wine is always very good - each course, each menu (I think the French would be embarrassed to serve mediocre wine and that is all to the good here)
2) The wine is always plentiful - no stingy pours here (or, in the words of the GM, "we would never disappoint our guests")
3) The company is always good - the manager does a good job trying to build a table. I always end of with business cards and email contacts - people really connect.
4) The venue is bright and elegant
5) The staff is always attentive and professional
6) I cannot get a comparable meal elsewhere for the same money

See you next year!!

 

[ehagerty]

Inevitably, I offer to take pictures of people - some are emailed directly to avoid the public nature of the disboards - some are right here, because their pictures are already on the disboards - so here's to Kim!

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[StayAwake]

Thank you for posting this- the meal looks amazing!

It's one of my big regrets that our schedule didn't allow time to try a regional lunch during F&W. I guess that means another reason to go back sometime!

 

[BGK]

Ms. H, your review disappoints yet again. There are no out-of-focus, flash-overexposed pictures, half-eaten Mickey bars, or post-apocalyptic radiation-burn sandwiches anywhere. You must also format your reviews into ordered lists with justified text.

I had an almost physically painful time getting my reservation for the Burgundy lunch, but it was, again, so worth it. It looks like the regional lunches are all degrees of greatness. I think I should forget everything else and just reserve one of each in 2015.

 

[ehagerty]

Thank you for posting this- the meal looks amazing! It's one of my big regrets that our schedule didn't allow time to try a regional lunch during F&W. I guess that means another reason to go back sometime!

You are welcome! And yes, do come back!

Ms. H, your review disappoints yet again. There are no out-of-focus, flash-overexposed pictures, half-eaten Mickey bars, or post-apocalyptic radiation-burn sandwiches anywhere. You must also format your reviews into ordered lists with justified text.

I had an almost physically painful time getting my reservation for the Burgundy lunch, but it was, again, so worth it. It looks like the regional lunches are all degrees of greatness. I think I should forget everything else and just reserve one of each in 2015.

BGK - usually I spot a disboards update sooner, but was on DCL cruise with family and then pre-occupied with them at WDW. That said - I agree with your assessment - that is, attend as many FRUNCHes as you can get into (assuming you like the region well enough)!