Newbie does DxDDP for 11 days! Lots of pictures, loads of signatures (COMPLETED!)

[rubysparkles]

This was the green tea plum wine cooler from China's stand at food and wine. I thought I'd love this, but it was a little sweet for my taste. Really good, just a little sweet for MY taste. I think most people would love this though.

Now onto Tutto Italia.

I didn't think I could eat anything heavier than a salad to start! This was okay, the Caesar dressing was great, but the parmesan was disappointing. It did not taste like the lovely strong parmesan I'm used to. Very wishy-washy. It was okay, but I would be annoyed at the price if I was paying OOP.

Then I got the short ribs. Now, I really liked this dish. But it didn't seem Italian at all, in fact the reason I liked it so much is because it tasted very much like my mum's home made stew. Very English. It was very yummy, maybe I'm being completely stupid, I just thought it was really weird eating something that tasted like my mum's stew in an Italian restaurant.

I didn't take a picture but I then had my second favourite dessert of the trip. Some lovely lemon sorbet. God it was good. I love lemon sorbet and this is the nicest I've had. It almost tasted creamy! I don't know how. But it was gorgeous, especially after the heavy braised short ribs.

It was a good meal. I'd say try it, I wish I'd have gotten to go to Via Napoli as well to compare. (Also pizza, my favourite!)

 

[rubysparkles]

I guess with the airports and customs it can be hit or miss - when I was on the other end and flew into England and had to go through customs I waited over an hour as well! So it's not just these crazy American airports

You're completely right. Usually there's a really short line at Gatwick for non-EU passports. But the line was ridiculous, and it wasn't moving at all when I got back. The EU passport one was long but constantly moving.

I thought it's because there's just been a scandal about it in the UK, with border patrols being relaxed when they shouldn't have been. Maybe it's all the time. I guess usually I'm so tired when I get back to the UK in the morning I don't really notice.

 

[H20DogsNDisney]

great update what was the sauce on the the braised shortribs was it beef broth. Looks so yummy. Thanks for updating

 

[rubysparkles]

great update what was the sauce on the the braised shortribs was it beef broth. Looks so yummy. Thanks for updating

It was red wine and beef broth, I think.

 

[rubysparkles]

On my AK day, I had to check out Yak and Yeti. Even though I'd heard bad things about it.

I started with the seared Ahi Tuna. I thought it was pretty rubbish and wish I'd have gotten the pot stickers, which looked really delicious.

Then I got the beef and broccoli, which I would recommend. Very tasty.

The pudding I got was three types of sorbet, mango with strawberry sauce, lemon with a mint leaf and raspberry with coconut sprinkled on top. I liked all of the different flavours, but the mango one was the one I liked the most.

 

[rubysparkles]

Onto the brilliant Jiko. Right from walking in the service was great. I was early for my reservation, so I sat and read my book and got a nice glass of red wine. The bread here was really good. And the butter is sensational. I preferred the Ethiopian bread, that stuff was brilliant.

I'd never had wild boar before and this app was amazing. Totally blew me away, the spice combinations they used were brilliant. I was really happy with my choice of app and would highly recommend this to anybody.

I was equally impressed with my main course which was duck. The description is "Seared Barbarie Duck Breast - Potato and Spinach Masala, Royal Trumpet Mushrooms and Port Emulsion". Every part of the dish was exceptional and I'd rank it as one of the best main courses I've ever eaten. Very memorable and different dish.

I opted for parsnip creme brulee. This was good, but very unusual. I didn't love it, but the dessert isn't as crazy as it sounds.

I would urge you to try Jiko when you next visit The World. Really a great place to eat. Don't be put off by some of the more unusual items on the menu, even if you don't like spicy foods. Nothing I ate was hot, just had a lot of flavour.

 

[H20DogsNDisney]

another great review the duck looks very good. Jiko is on my list.

 

[saintstickets]

I totally agree with your review of Jiko's and DW and I did not have any of the dishes you were served! The menu has something for everyone and the flavor is excellent. We had the roasted butternut squash soup and bbq chicken flatbread for appertizers, grilled marinated lamb loin and braised beef short ribs for our entree and we split the amarula creme brulee for dessert. For more details see the TR below.

Loving your TR and the food porn. Keep it up.

 

[Tinkerbellah]

Oh my gosh that cheesecake looks amazing!! I wish they would have had that @ the CBR. It was the exact dessert I was looking for. So simple but no berries.

 

[Pinkgirl]

Oooh keep it coming. You had me at half price margarita

 

[TanzUnited99]

Joining in and am loving the reviews so far!

Yay on taking a solo trip! The grilled swordfish at Artists Point looks very yummy!

 

[Geordietyke]

Hi from another Brit I love these kinds of posts (my fav subject - food!!)

Am enjoying reading about and seeing the food, another fan of the swordfish - looks scrummy

 

[rznhal]

Enjoying your reviews! Looking forward to hearing about Jiko's...that's our big splurge meal for our upcoming trip

Glad you liked the mango sorbet at Yak and Yeti....you should try their mango pie next time....it's awesome!!!!!!!

 

[mommy.foster.6]

great reviews and pics!

 

[Linda67]

Just caught up with your excellent reviews

I love the look of your entree at Artist Point

 

[rubysparkles]

Thanks for all the encouragement! I've lurked and read so many reviews, which helped me so much. And the food porn, I HAD to add to it.

Unfortunately I did have a BAD meal. The breakfast at POR. I had it twice (second time out of ravenous hunger!) and it really was a waste of money. I knew I'd have extra credits and trying to get to other resorts for breakfast is a lot of effort really sometimes. I think I made two breakfast ressies that I never got to.

This was probably my worst day, food wise. Unfortunately. And it starts with this.

Just as a side note, one day I wanted a bagel with a side of bacon. The side of bacon was priced at nearly $4 (I think) and it was the smallest portion of bacon I have ever seen. It was two tiny rashers. I asked if the server was joking at first (I'm usually pretty reserved and would never say that to someone, I was just so shocked), and had to say I didn't want it. I love streaky US bacon, so I was pretty disappointed in that.

 

[rubysparkles]

Can I say before I write this review. I'm usually not very picky about service, as long as I get a couple of refills of diet coke and the server is polite, I don't really care. Also, I saw a lot of great service from other waiting staff.

But my GOD, I had such a rude server! He just seemed to try to ignore me as much as possible. When I ordered, he seemed to just look down on me and not want to serve me. I'm going to take a wild guess and say that he saw my table as half a table because he would be getting half a tip. In a signature restaurant, that's pretty unacceptable. Especially as with DxDDP, I actually was leaving pretty generous tips as I almost felt like I wasn't paying (I know, screwy logic).

Anyway, onto the food. I started with the crab spring rolls.

I enjoyed these quite a lot. The little crab claw with it was a very yummy touch. I was really disappointed to see the tuna tartare was off the menu, because it was one of the main reasons I wanted to eat here. Still the spring rolls were good enough.

I then got the salmon entree. Which is not the salad one posted on allears, the official site or here. I think it said it came with autumnal veggies. It definitely has corgettes in it (I think Americans call them zucchini but not sure). None of this dish went well together and the salmon really was not cooked well. It really wasn't great. Unfortunately, I don't think this was a 'personal taste' thing, because I like all the ingredients individually. I just think this was a bad dish.

I then had the grapefruit cake, again I didn't take a picture. There's so many of this dessert and I know I'm not a talented photographer. It was okay. I didn't particularly like it, but I'm not fond of grapefruit.

The whole thing was really disappointing. But it is the only signature to serve lunch, so it was pretty easy to squeeze in.

 

[rubysparkles]

After a quick walk through Epcot, going single rider through Test Track and doing my first ride (I know!) on Spaceship Earth, I already knew I would be early to Yachtsman, even if I took my time to get there.

I went through World Showcase to get my first look at the Boardwalk. Gorgeous. If I had the money, I don't know what deluxe I would have chosen, but the Yacht and Beach Club would be high on my list.

I got a Boardwalk Blizzard as I walked the length of the Boardwalk, stopping to look at the restaurant menus, a wedding going on and the lovely sunset.

It was quite a nice icy drink, I would have enjoyed it a lot more if it wasn't as chilly that night.

I was so early, I even went and sat on the "beach" and watch a little bit of Finding Nemo. Still I was feeling exhausted and was hoping if I turned up early, I'd be seated soon. I got to the Yachtsman and it was really crowded, when I walked up they said I wouldn't be seated early. Shame. I waited in the bar, and waited and waited. I ended up being seated an hour after my reservation time and it was a pretty late seating I'd booked. I was knackered! I just wanted to sleep! So I haven't really got a review here.

This is the cold lobster "salad". It was good.

I also got the rib eye (rare), but subbed paprika fries. I didn't get a picture. Sorry. The small amount I tried wasn't up to much, however I did feel terrible! My taste buds weren't really reliable. No dessert, I ran out of there, got a cab and had a nice, long snooze.

 

[rubysparkles]

All I can say is, I needed this...

I got the pepperoni pizza (without peppers). It was delicious. As a counter service, this was better than most table service restaurants. This pizza was WAY above average. The thing that set it apart from lesser pizzas was the quality of the pepperoni. Mmmmmmmmmmm.

I got the key lime pie for dessert, which again was extremely yummy. It was nice to sit in Downtown Disney, watching people go by eating food that was really bad for me.

That pizza really was my kind of pizza. I wish I could get one right now.

 

[erinscreen]

rubysparkles, thanks for your incredible pics and reviews! When I head back in Dec 2012, I will most likely be alone so the food will definitely be a big factor for me as well