Uncleromulus
Plain grey will be fine
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2001
- Messages
- 15,529
This has now become a tradition for us--dinner the final night of the trip at Jiko. We've been coming to Jiko since they first opened (and when the servers were dressed in long robes!) and on one of those early trips, Jiko was our last meal. We enjoyed it so much we decided to end every trip that way. Now, for those of you familiar with the restaurant, here are two items you might not know--1). Chef Anette Gray is from Switzerland! Sure enough!!
And 2). There are just over 20 sommeliers on staff at Jiko and on any given night, you're likely to find 2 managers and about 10 servers who are sommeliers. That's pretty impressive. And it's one reason (I learned) why Jiko dosen't have traditional "wine pairing" suggestions on the menu. Chef Gray leaves it up to the individual servers to make wine suggestions, based on the menu item and what each guest might have as a particular preference to begin with.
Preliminaries over--now our dinner. Our ADR's were for 6:00 and after the obligatory viewing of the animals (and Mrs U's obligatory visit to the gift shop) we arrived at the restaurant little before 6:00. There was a pretty good crowd at the front podium when we got there, and we were actually given a beeper!! But the wait was only about 5 or 6 minutes and we were soon seated. I should note that there were a LOT of kids at Jiko that night--in fact, there were was a table with at least 6 kids just "above" ours, and two couples with two kids each just nearby. So when folks ask if kids are OK at Jiko, the answer seems to be "Yes".
We were most fortunate in having Ron as our server this night--he'd been our server many times in the past and we always ask for him. He knows the menu and he knows wine. He has helped Mrs U on any # of occasions with her wine selection--and I think he's still a bit puzzled why I still insist on ordering beer!!
Anyway, Mrs U started with a fine reisling, while I had a Tusker beer (they also have Casa and Windhoek lager on the menu). For our appetizer we each ordered a flatbread from the "Cooking Place"--mine was the Kalamata Olive, with 4 cheeses and Laura Chennels soft goat cheese. Mrs U went for the Bacon-argula-tomato flatbread, with midnight moon goat cheese and Cilantro Yogurt drizzle. Both were very good--but I'm afraid I still prefer my old favorite (and probably the best flatbread at WDW)--JIko's Kenyan Coffee Barbecued Chicken with grilled onions, apple julienne and 4 cheeses.
Since I took the step to switch flatbreads, I went even a step further and decided to NOT get my favorite entree--the Braised Lamb Shank. Every time at Jiko I vow to get something else but I always wind up with the Lamb Shank anyway. But not this time. Ron had indicated that the popular Monkfish they used to serve had been replaced with Pacific Halibut. Maize-crusted and served with a Tomato-butter sauce, it sounded good--so that's what I ordered. Mrs U went for the wood-grilled pork tenderloin which came with sweet potato dumplings and mushroom ragout. Both were excellent! But will I never again order lamb shank?? One never knows----
From an excellet dessert menu we both decided to stick with an old favorite--the pistachio creme brulee. Just a hint of pistachio, and a chocolate layer bottom. Wonderful. And then we decided on after dinner drinks (heck--it was our last night). I had a glass of Port, while she had a dessert wine that is one of her all time favorites--Klein Constantia Vin De Constance, Constantia '00. This is said to have been Napolean's favorite,wine, served while he was in exile after his downfall. Maybe so. Maybe so.
But all good things must end and so we left Jiko knowing it was our last nite at WDW---but knowing we'll be back in September!!
Next up: Victoria and Alberts
And 2). There are just over 20 sommeliers on staff at Jiko and on any given night, you're likely to find 2 managers and about 10 servers who are sommeliers. That's pretty impressive. And it's one reason (I learned) why Jiko dosen't have traditional "wine pairing" suggestions on the menu. Chef Gray leaves it up to the individual servers to make wine suggestions, based on the menu item and what each guest might have as a particular preference to begin with.
Preliminaries over--now our dinner. Our ADR's were for 6:00 and after the obligatory viewing of the animals (and Mrs U's obligatory visit to the gift shop) we arrived at the restaurant little before 6:00. There was a pretty good crowd at the front podium when we got there, and we were actually given a beeper!! But the wait was only about 5 or 6 minutes and we were soon seated. I should note that there were a LOT of kids at Jiko that night--in fact, there were was a table with at least 6 kids just "above" ours, and two couples with two kids each just nearby. So when folks ask if kids are OK at Jiko, the answer seems to be "Yes".
We were most fortunate in having Ron as our server this night--he'd been our server many times in the past and we always ask for him. He knows the menu and he knows wine. He has helped Mrs U on any # of occasions with her wine selection--and I think he's still a bit puzzled why I still insist on ordering beer!!
Anyway, Mrs U started with a fine reisling, while I had a Tusker beer (they also have Casa and Windhoek lager on the menu). For our appetizer we each ordered a flatbread from the "Cooking Place"--mine was the Kalamata Olive, with 4 cheeses and Laura Chennels soft goat cheese. Mrs U went for the Bacon-argula-tomato flatbread, with midnight moon goat cheese and Cilantro Yogurt drizzle. Both were very good--but I'm afraid I still prefer my old favorite (and probably the best flatbread at WDW)--JIko's Kenyan Coffee Barbecued Chicken with grilled onions, apple julienne and 4 cheeses.
Since I took the step to switch flatbreads, I went even a step further and decided to NOT get my favorite entree--the Braised Lamb Shank. Every time at Jiko I vow to get something else but I always wind up with the Lamb Shank anyway. But not this time. Ron had indicated that the popular Monkfish they used to serve had been replaced with Pacific Halibut. Maize-crusted and served with a Tomato-butter sauce, it sounded good--so that's what I ordered. Mrs U went for the wood-grilled pork tenderloin which came with sweet potato dumplings and mushroom ragout. Both were excellent! But will I never again order lamb shank?? One never knows----
From an excellet dessert menu we both decided to stick with an old favorite--the pistachio creme brulee. Just a hint of pistachio, and a chocolate layer bottom. Wonderful. And then we decided on after dinner drinks (heck--it was our last night). I had a glass of Port, while she had a dessert wine that is one of her all time favorites--Klein Constantia Vin De Constance, Constantia '00. This is said to have been Napolean's favorite,wine, served while he was in exile after his downfall. Maybe so. Maybe so.
But all good things must end and so we left Jiko knowing it was our last nite at WDW---but knowing we'll be back in September!!
Next up: Victoria and Alberts
