Oh Sweet Mother of Bread Pudding...What have I got myself into? 9/26 Update!

[tlenzendorf]

Thanks for the kind words. I am still struggling with his death. This was the guy who was the life of the crowd. The guy who walked me down the aisle when I got married. I totally loved my grandpa and hadn't seen him in about 3 or 4 years just due to plain laziness about not getting over to see him so I have guilt to deal with on top of the sadness. But I do have lots of memories to hold onto.

For the cupcakes we are going to start from the top left and go down the first row. Cupcake #1 White Midnight Magic, cupcake #2-4 are all wedding cake. Middle row starting at the top working down, #1 and #2 Strawberry Shortcake, #3 Texas Milk Chocolate and #4 Cherry Limeade. Right Row #1 Pretty Princess, #2 and #3 Orange Dreamsicle and #4 Caramel Sugar Mama.
I would definitely like to try the Margarita, Birthday Cake and Champagne cupcake.

Strawberry Shortcake OH MY GOODNESS!!! That is quite possibly one of the best things I have ever ate in my entire life. Orange dreamsicle was just kind of meh in my opinion. Wedding cake was very yummy. I may have given orange dreamsicle a higher rating except it didn't taste like real oranges. The strawberry shortcake was ah-mazing. It had real hunks of strawberries in the cake and the frosting was FANTASTIC. If you have one close definitely go visit!

We are debating a trip back there Friday because Mariah wants to try the Smores and they have one of the lemons on the menu I wanted to try. Then we'll have to go again on a weekend so I can get a champagne one

 

[rndmr2]

Just getting caught up and was so sorry to hear of your sad news. I watched that news clip, heartbreaking.

I know what you mean about important events for those families and seeing pictures that are short important people. My sister passed away at 38 in 2000 and my mom at 59 in 2002. I got married in 2003 and there is this one picture of me with my dad and 2 brothers that made me cry when I got the pictures back, still makes me a little teary now to look at it because all I see is that they should be in that picture too.

I will keep all those families in my prayers, especially your friend Vicki and pray that she is kept as comfortable as possible in her last days/hours.

 

[sue and co]

There just seems to be so much of this at the moment - two people I know have also gone suddenly and way before their time in the last couple of weeks. Sending {{{HUGS}}} and my prayers will be with you and their families.

Just to add we have also chosen the memories with our kids over the new kitchen, the immaculate house etc and I am so glad we did.

 

[Dizneydawn]

We were so beyond full after Yak & Yetti that we had no room for even contemplating The Wave at 5:25 p.m. for our reservation. Originally we planned on dining there for dinner and then eating a late snack at Raglan Road at 9:30 p.m. of an app and at least one bread pudding.

Then we rolled out of Y&Y and there was not a chance we could have appreciated food before 8:00 p.m. Instead we called the Dining number and got an earlier reservation at Raglan, cancelled The Wave and were hoping we could find something to eat and like without much research.

We took the boat over from POFQ to DTD as our mode of transportation. Just an FYI for those thinking they want to do this: Plan on a 45 minute process. The boat from POFQ meanders to the docks at DTD all the way to the East by Rain Forest. Then you either have to walk all the way to Raglan which is close to the old Pleasure Island or take another boat to Raglan which strictly runs between the three docs on the lagoon that services DTD, Pleasure Island Area and West Side. The boat stops at West Side first and is about a 10-15 minute ride, depending on loading/unloading. Walking will take you easily the same amount of time.

We arrived at 8:00 p.m. (time of the resie) for our reservation and were seated within 15 minutes. We were given a buzzer and wandered the shop attached, finding some amazing Irish jerseys for soccer and rugby.

We had a male seater/greeter who had been here for only 1 month and loved it. Huge smile, attention to detail in conversation and he quickly weaved us through the main dining area and sat us literally next to the stage where dancers can be, as well as where the band plays. Great seating and we could not miss the action!

Sarah was our waitress and she too, had been here only a short time but was a pro. Waters were filled all the time and she was not pushy, nor AWOL. It was here I decided I was going to try and be brave with my eating of red meats and order the steaks medium well vs. my usual, well done to the point of being non-mooing and usually almost charred all the way through. I am squeamish about bloody meat and yet I know that everyone says I orderer it cooked to the point of shoe leather and no flavor.

So, "Medium Well" was my new motto and I made sure Sarah understood this was a new concept for me so if the chefs error on the side of Well Done, I was okay vs. Medium. The fact it was night and Raglan is a darker motif restaurant, helped me know I would not be able to obsess over any pink.

My Dad was a professional hunter, taking people like Roy Rogers, Hulk Hogan out with hunting parties and Jacque Cousteau's son, bear tagging in the winter. Being a borderline vegetarian growing up was not an accepted concept in my home which meant I ordered anything but meat when we went out. Until my twenties I never, ever ordered a steak at a restaurant. I have eaten almost every type of wildlife you can imagine, some you should not and some that would make Andrew Zimmern squeamish! If I did not like what was on the table I was forced to sit there until bedtime. Staring at the plate and facing my arch enemy. My Dad always plated the food and the fact I was 109 pounds vs his 300, did not matter nor the fact I may gag and literally throw up. I can't tell you the plethera of nights I sat, watching TV through our China Hutch as it reflected the view from the living room. Uusually the worst night was my Dad and Mom's favorite meal. French bread with au jus sauce on it and then roast beef piled on top of the soggy mess left underneath. The more I waited, the colder it got and the gigglier the coagulated concoction became and I was doomed!

Don't get me wrong, my Dad is a fantastic chef and taught me much of my love of the kitchen. I adopted the policy with my kids that they need to try everything but my house is not a clean plate home and if they do not want what is available for dinner, they can have a quick sandwich but there is no option to not eat dinner and then snack all night or have dessert if you did not eat your veggies etc.... It worked well for our house and I have three kids who loved unique things to most American toddlers like egg rolls. Two love spicy foods and they all have plenty of options when we eat at home or out. They never ate just chicken nuggets and mac and cheese and I hope they do not have the aversions to food like I had with my Dad's strict food policy.

Our first taste of Raglan was Soda bread and the dipping sauce of oil and whiskey reduction. This is complimentary and wonderful!!

Now this is totally unique to any Soda Bread I had in Ireland. That said, it was hearty, nutty and fabulous. The bread was thickly sliced and soaked the sauce instantly without letting it go as you transferred it to your mouth. You did not have to worry about having your shirt wear most of what you thought you might taste. I liked it better than with butter actually and those who love Paula know butter makes everything beter! The reduction was sweet and the oil gave it an earthy counterpart. The whiskey is from Bushmills Distillery and after touring there, we tasted a whiskey flight to try the difference between American whiskeys and the Irish variety, I can tell you two things. #1 Irish whiskey is smooth and does not taste like finger nail polish remover IMO like American whiskeys do. #2 I hate whiskey. So I was surprised how much I liked it reduced and need to incorporate using more varieties of reductions in my recipe sleeve!!!

I will try and find my recipe for Soda Bread from our friends. It is lighter and not the abomination we find here in the USA with raisins in it! That is not Soda Bread according to the authentic bakers I asked!

While we enjoyed the bread, a visitor from NJ who was part of a piping band from a police force, offered to show of his talent! He was really great and the crowd loved his bravery. I dated a guy all through high school from Canada, who played bagpipes and my affection for these beautiful tones never left. When we were in Ireland, we saw a bag pipe band practice in a huge gazebo on the sea wall and it is to this day, one of my favorite memories. I could listen to pipes all day.

So what did we order? Well we decided to split two meals and did not order any app! Again, Dan cannot eat beef and neither of us enjoy sea food, so most options were not on our radar. Also, anything with blood sausage, which I tried in Ireland in 2003, is not passing these lips!


Serious Sirloin Steak - 10oz sirloin topped with Irish whiskey glaze, and drizzled with fresh basil oil. Served with mashed potatoes and topped with crispy fried onion strings. - $27.00

Too bright for the potatoes!

Took too fast and came out blurry!

Pie In The Sky - Chicken and wild mushroom pie served with a rocket lettuce salad. - $18.00

The steak was melt in your mouth done and had a buttery glaze sauce that was liquid heaven. The potatoes were smooth but not mushy like baby food as can happen if instant or over whipped. It had a bit of a hard outer crust like it had been baked once whipped and that was glorious. I love the variety of textures in a dish. Nothing needed salt/pepper and Baylor had his portion gone before I could blink. I tried to slow down and savor the flavor and really think about the flavors rotating on my palette. You could really taste the fresh basil oil but it did not make the steak greasy/slick at all.

The onion rings were done to perfection allowing the crunchy batter to stay with the whole onion and did not pull off on the first bite! It really let you have a bit of crisp to your meal without the full plate of rings you might order at a bar & grill.

For those who are pot pie lovers, the chicken dish was not what you would expect. There was no creamy gravy like Americans are so used to. Yet it was not dry at all. The chicken was very moist and the boys said the mushrooms were soft and full of flavor. The pastry puff was out of this world. Like a pop-over married a croissant and made a baby of carb bliss.

Buttery, crusty good on the outside and soft, airy, tender and the texture of cotton candy on the inside. The puff was literally on top of the baking dish it came out in, not surrounding the filling like a normal pot pie. On the bottom of the dish was a layer of mashed potatoes and it was a glorious combination which allowed you to mix and match your flavors and consistency. Sage and rosemary taste were sprinkled throughout. You took a small piece of the top with every bite and the meal never cooled down completely and was still warm at the last bite.

The salad had a lite dressing and Dan enjoyed it very much despite the fact he would not normally order a salad. Not a wilted piece to be found and it did not taste dirty like it had not been washed properly. He said the pie was the best he ever had anywhere.

Then there was dessert.

I had read and fantasized about the bread pudding. Would it be better than Ohana?

Ger's Bread & Butter Pudding - Like no other pudding you have ever tried. - $6.99

This is the Holy Grail. I am not kidding!!! I could never have another dessert again and would be just fine knowing I have had the best. Without containing any chocolate!!!!

Seriously this makes me care less about Ohana's bread pudding which I had thought was the best dessert on property before. It comes with a vanilla sauce which is thicker like a heavy half & half and a butterscotch sauce, thin due to heating it. I preferred eating it with the butterscotch with just a hint of vanilla. The bread itself was hot and stayed warm to the end because it is served in a coffee cup sized dish and does not loose heat like something spread in a bowl. It was crusty throughout and had bits of white raisins that normally might have thrown me off but here, was a nice touch.

Throughout the meal, we had the band/dancers entertaining us and it was awesome having a show without having to pay the 2 TS credits similar at the music shows through Disney normally, like Hoop de Do.

Hmmm...How did I get the dancers best assets???

Dunbrody Kiss - Chef Dundon's gift to America. Chocolate, add chocolate, and then add some more. - $6.99

Dan went for the chocolate and Baylor ate almost all of it! The cake was soft and moist and had bits of Snickers in the base! Presentation was a huge hit and Baylor kept wondering how people decided to make art of chocolate! I thought it was divine but really could not be torn from my dessert selection for more than a bite and again, I bleed chocolate on most days! The raspberries were huge and very tart! Nice balance to the dark chocolate richness.

So what do we give Raglan Road?

Yes.....it is a Paula through and through!!! Service spot on, food beyond expectations and the entertainment was something I would gladly pay for but happy not to. There is not one complaint I could give this meal and it is a place we will be going back to at least once in October. I was sad we had to forgo the Wave but this steak and meal was as good if not better than the steak I had at California Grill and proof you do not need to go broke to have good food at WDW.

I think this place is a good option for kids as it has a lot to see and do and if they might be tired or cranky, it is not a place where a small outburst would disrupt the quaint atmosphere of some locations. Not that I want you to bring your crabby kid out to a dinner but if they get to a point they will not be calm, you would have time to remove them from the restauraunt without having evil stares darting your back as you left!

Our total for the meal was:
I do not know!!!

I know I had the darn receipt but cannot find it! Kids share the same computer and they may have moved my receipts! Once I do I will write it in but all we had to drink was two soft drinks and water so the totals above should help those who need a guesstimate!

 

[PrincessOliviasMom]

We were at Raglan Road with 2 other families so it was a group of 14 of us and we also had amazing food and service! The kids had the fish n chips and loved that as well.

The bread pudding was definitely the clincher though! My husband really enjoyed it and he's not normally a fan of bread pudding! Can't wait to go back!

 

[jedijill]

"Like a pop-over married a croissant and made a baby of carb bliss."

Best. Line. Ever.


Jill in CO

 

[MyTalula]

Ohhhhhhh your Raglan Road review just reminded me why I definitely must go back in February!!!

Love your reviews!!

 

[tlenzendorf]

Mmmm that review makes me want to totally rework the schedule so we can go there in October!

And BTW woman, when are you going in October???

 

[Dizneydawn]

Mmmm that review makes me want to totally rework the schedule so we can go there in October!
So worth it!!!!

And BTW woman, when are you going in October???

Just figured out when a few hours ago! We will fly in the night of the 17th and be there through the 23rd. Five days at the parks and one just catching up on other things. Then to Tampa area we go for three days, back to Orlando to fly to Greenville, SC and see Treyner & Carsyn at school for parents weekend, then fly home! Tickets to MCO and then from MCO to Greenville and then back to MSP are running about even to driving! Plus after driving to SC for the wedding and then back to SC to drop off Carsyn a month later for college I think I will have enough of road trips!!!!!!

 

[CreightonsMomma]

I have GOT to try Raglan Road. I'm putting it on my must do list right now!

 

[Stacybaeasm]

Just figured out when a few hours ago! We will fly in the night of the 17th and be there through the 23rd. Five days at the parks and one just catching up on other things. Then to Tampa area we go for three days, back to Orlando to fly to Greenville, SC and see Treyner & Carsyn at school for parents weekend, then fly home! Tickets to MCO and then from MCO to Greenville and then back to MSP are running about even to driving! Plus after driving to SC for the wedding and then back to SC to drop off Carsyn a month later for college I think I will have enough of road trips!!!!!!

OMG!! I fly in on the 15th and leave on the 23rd!!!!! We are there at the same time again. Is it sad that the only time I get to see a fellow Minnesotan is when we both go to Disney?

Oh, and that review of Raglan Road? I have never tried it but now I want to. I may have to give that a thought for October.

PS - are you doing MNSSHP again? If so, what night?

 

[pinkle]

Raglan Road sounds delish!!! We have it booked for September, and we are also not seafood or 'blood sausage' eaters..............I was hoping that there would be some worthy options!!!

 

[tlenzendorf]

Just figured out when a few hours ago! We will fly in the night of the 17th and be there through the 23rd. Five days at the parks and one just catching up on other things. Then to Tampa area we go for three days, back to Orlando to fly to Greenville, SC and see Treyner & Carsyn at school for parents weekend, then fly home! Tickets to MCO and then from MCO to Greenville and then back to MSP are running about even to driving! Plus after driving to SC for the wedding and then back to SC to drop off Carsyn a month later for college I think I will have enough of road trips!!!!!!

AAAAAAAAAAAHHH we will have 2 days of overlap!!! We are going the 21st-30th!

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Regarding your sad news You have written some wise words. You and all the families are in my prayers. Sometimes we just have to enjoy life and appreciate our families. That's what I tell people when they ask why and how we take so many trips. We are making memories!

Re: raglan road- you are about the third person lately to rave about it. I am going to have to try it! I think that steak looks awesome - is it on the DDP?
I take it that this was the place where you got the title of this thread?

We had breakfast for dinner tonight!!! It happens often when I don't know what to make! Omelettes anyone?

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

I'm sorry to hear about your friends. I'm with you on breakfast for dinner - my family likes it too - something about pancakes and bacon with syrup that makes you feel better

I'm really enjoying your reviews, thank you!

 

[GoofyWife]

Dawn - love your review of Raglan Road - I will definitely have to try it on our next trip - DH is a steak fan and that steak looked incredible .. and I love bread and butter pudding - my mother used to make it for us in the winter when we were kids. I googled Gigi's and there is one in Raleigh, NC about an hour or so south of us .. as soon as DD is home from college this spring, she and I are going on a road trip for cupcakes (I will definitely have to divorce Mr. Adkins for the weekend for this carb overload!). Keep the reviews coming!!!

 

[wdwdasiy]

I wish I had something wonderful and uplifting to say.
I will be saying lots of prayers for your friends, their families and for you.
One of my friends lost her grandson only a few days before he was due to be born. Her daughter called and said she hadn't felt the baby move all day so she was going to the doctor. There was no heart beat. He was going to be delivered in just 3 days. I cannot imagine the pain they are feeling.
I feel so blessed to be able hold my children, to watch them grow.

Thank you for sharing your friends with us...and know you all are in our prayers and surrounding you with love.

 

[lizzyb]

Raglan Road sounds great! Can't wait to go there on our upcoming trip.

 

[sbprincess]

So glad to hear great things about Raglan Road! We have an ADR at both RR and Ohana (never been to either). I LOVE bread pudding so I cannot wait to compare the two. Although, RR will be first so I hope I'm not completely disappointed when it comes time for Ohana's version.

Also, wondering what are your thoughts on Yak and Yeti CS. Last time I went I didn't like it at all. But maybe I ordered the wrong thing. Have you ever been?

 

[Dizneydawn]

I just wanted to post part of the update from Vicki's sister tonight. She asked for us who may have groups of friends we are a part of to ask for prayers or good wishes and I thought of you all. It breaks my heart for her family and it makes me blessed I knew you guys would understand.



As the day has gone on her breathing has grown more shallow and she is not awakening at all. Terry, the boys, her step-daughter Rachelle and Terry's mom were able to spend some time with her and it was a blessing for all. We have laughed and shared our funny stories of the past few days and I know Vicki is just happy to have us together and loving.

Earlier our friend and pastor Susan stopped by and her and her husband prayed that I would be able to see the angels around Vicki and hear their singing. I did not get to see anything, disappointingly so. Tonight Rachelle, Terry and my mom were sitting there and Rachelle saw something white and Terry felt something pull his coat at the same time. The angels are showing themselves and what a very special gift for Terry on this 21st Anniversary....to see the angels that love on his wife as she waits for her time.

Mom will be with her tonight and my aunt Pam has volunteered to stay for a late night as well. Our prayers for a miracle are still there, we want her healed....whatever that takes! Please join us tonight in praying for that healing and for an amazing annointing and blessing on her home with her boys tucked snugly inside.