Please join me in celebrating my 50th Birthday...Deluxe Style! FINALLY COMPLETE

[danalee]

Oh.... My.... Goodness.... that.... PB&CHOCOLATE CUPCAKE I was thisclose to licking my computer screen

So glad I found your cupcake...er I mean reviews

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

Great reviews so far! I had to comment that the stingray thing also happened to me during my lunch at Coral Reef two days ago. And I agree with you on the fried shrimp and chocolate wave...I would say I've had better food at Applebee's. Coral Reef is a shell of its former self, and I can't believe it was a signature restaurant at one point.

 

[LuvLuvLuv]

our lunch was at 12:45 we probably just missed you at coral reef!

i'm jealous you got the shrimp appy... we got the appy for 2 and fought over the shrimp, lol. i loved them

i think in the future i'll ask not to be by the tank. everyone was right about how people take over your meal standing up against your table. glad you had a good time!!

 

[Disney_Mama]

Great pictures and reviews. Can't wait for the rest.

 

[MickeyNicki]

I fainted when I saw that cupcake!! That looks right up my alley, I love anything peanut butter and chocolate!

The shrimp at Coral Reef sound very yummy....I wish I could convince DH to go back there but he says there are much better places to eat at in Epcot

 

[jabead]

Oh.... My.... Goodness.... that.... PB&CHOCOLATE CUPCAKE I was thisclose to licking my computer screen

So glad I found your cupcake...er I mean reviews

I'm glad you found my cupcake too. Stay tuned for much more "lick-worthy" food and beverages.

Great reviews so far! I had to comment that the stingray thing also happened to me during my lunch at Coral Reef two days ago. And I agree with you on the fried shrimp and chocolate wave...I would say I've had better food at Applebee's. Coral Reef is a shell of its former self, and I can't believe it was a signature restaurant at one point.

Hmmm...I wonder if the stingrays are trained to do that???

Btw, I just read your review from your most recent visit to Artist Point. The Copper River salmon looks and sounds amazing. I had the regular salmon there last Nov. and really enjoyed it...one of my favorite entrees of that trip. I can only imagine how good the Copper River salmon was. Almost makes me want to plan an early June visit sometime...until I remembered how hot it is there in the summer! Anyway, I'm looking forward to hearing about your experience at Coral Reef.

our lunch was at 12:45 we probably just missed you at coral reef!

i'm jealous you got the shrimp appy... we got the appy for 2 and fought over the shrimp, lol. i loved them

i think in the future i'll ask not to be by the tank. everyone was right about how people take over your meal standing up against your table. glad you had a good time!!

Shoooot, we did just miss you!!! I looked at our receipt and it was suspended at 12:43 so we probably passed you on our way out the door. How did you like your lunch at Coral Reef? I'm looking forward to reading your review. The shrimp was definitely the better of the two new appetizers. They were good, just not as good as I was expecting I guess. And I was a little nervous about sitting by the tank but it worked out fine for us...no strangers joined us at/near our table. Well, not unless you count the stingray!

Great pictures and reviews. Can't wait for the rest.

Thanks Disney_Mama and welcome to my celebration!

I fainted when I saw that cupcake!! That looks right up my alley, I love anything peanut butter and chocolate!

The shrimp at Coral Reef sound very yummy....I wish I could convince DH to go back there but he says there are much better places to eat at in Epcot

You should definitely give the PB cupcake a try! :

As for Coral Reef...it is a "hit or miss" kind of place I suppose. But then again, I can't really think of an Epcot restaurant where I haven't had at least one disappointing meal. In most cases though, that hasn't stopped me from returning. So I say, you and Todd should give Coral Reef another try sometime.

 

[Tinker12]

Wow! I didn't know that there were changes to the Coral Reef menu. I'm disapponited with the Chocolate Wave. It looks different than before. I was hoping they would add sometype of surf and turf. Wishful thinking.

Your reviews are wonderful!

 

[jabead]

Wow! I didn't know that there were changes to the Coral Reef menu. I'm disapponited with the Chocolate Wave. It looks different than before. I was hoping they would add sometype of surf and turf. Wishful thinking.

Your reviews are wonderful!

Thanks Tinker! My next review will be up shortly.

 

[jabead]

For those of you who aren’t already familiar with it, there is a great website called PARTY THROUGH THE PARKS. Their motto is… “We love theme parks. We also love a good drink. A good drink at a good theme park is even better.” I really love this website!!! In the Theme Park Games section they have a game called DRINK AROUND THE WORLD AT EPCOT’S WORLD SHOWCASE. Basically, with this game you receive points for having a drink/flight, eating a snack and/or meal, and riding the ride/watching the movie (we added watching the live entertainment) in each of the countries of Epcot’s World Showcase. Here is the link in case you want more details:

http://partythroughtheparks.squarespace.com/fun-games-park-style/

Anyway, DD and I decided this was something we had to try! Luckily, it doesn’t say in the rules that you only have one day to complete this game, ‘cause it took us 4 days…mostly because I am pretty much a wimp. Being a college student, DD can hold her liquor much better than her dear old mom. Therefore, I decided that this should be a joint venture (with us sharing everything) rather than a competition between us. So anyway, for your viewing pleasure, here is our…




DRINKING (AND EATING) AROUND THE WORLD–PART I

We began our adventure in one of our favorite WSC countries, Mexico. Now there are quite a few places in Mexico in which to get the required drink/food…and we went to most of them! But not all in one day of course.

Our first stop today was at…

La Cantina de San Angel




Where we shared this tasty frozen drink…

Lime Raspberry Margarita (I think???)



Now on their menu (see pic below) this was listed as a Frozen Wild Berry Margarita so that is what I asked for when ordering. However, our receipt lists it as a Lime Raspberry Margarita and that is what it tasted like, so that’s what I’m going with on this one. Anyway, this was good but didn’t make it into my top 3 favorite margaritas of this trip.

Also in Mexico, we caught a performance by Mariachi Cobre. However, I didn’t award us points for it because we also ride the Gran Fiesta Tour on our last day.

Mariachi Cobre




OOP cost - $9.99 (including tax)
Points earned – 10



Next, we decided we wanted to do the Wine Walk so headed to the closest country in which to purchase a wine passport, Germany. However, as we were on our way to the wine shop we were enticed by a wonderful smell to make a slight detour into another shop in Germany.

Karamell Kuche


Here is some of what we saw there:

The wonderful smell came from the freshly made caramel corn, so even though we were still pretty full from our Coral Reef lunch we couldn’t resist getting this…

Small Bag of Freshly Made Caramel Corn



1 snack credit used (Value approx. $3), 12 more to go
Points Earned – 10



With our caramel corn in hand, we went next door to…

The Weinkeller (from the outside)

The Weinkeller (from the inside)


Where for $20 we received a wine passport which entitled us to six 2-oz. wine samples from the countries of Germany, Italy, and France (2 per location). So at the Weinkeller, along with getting our first passport stamp, we tasted samples of these two wines…

Valckenberg Madonna Spatlese and Liebfraumilch (along with our passport)


We liked both of these, but I preferred the Spatlese and DD the Liebfraumilch.



Then it was on to Italy and the…

Enoteca Castello



Where we sampled these two wines:

Castello Banfi San Angelo Pinot Grigio and the red sparkling wine, Rosa Regale
(also pictured is our caramel corn from Karamell Kuche)



We’ve had Rosa Regale many times before and it continues to be a family favorite. Of the six wine samples, this was definitely the one we liked the most. Although it pairs very well with chocolate, we had ours with caramel corn. And believe it not, they tasted pretty good together. The caramel corn did not however go very well with the Pinot Grigio wine. Neither of us liked this one very much, but we finished it anyway.



Last on our Wine Walk was a visit to the wine shop in France, Aux Vins de France (sorry I forgot to take any pictures of this shop). For our wine samples here we received…

Chateau Tour de Segur (Bordeaux) and Georges Duboeuf Pouilly Fuisse (Chardonnay)



I only liked the white wine (Chardonnay) and DD the red (Bordeaux), so sharing worked very well here.



OOP Cost for Wine Walk - $20
Points earned – 15 (I counted as a Wine Flight from Italy)



That concludes our drinking and eating around World Showcase for Day 1.



GAME TOTALS FOR DAY 1

OOP Cost - $29.99
1 Snack Credit Used
Points earned – 35


NEXT UP: Dinner at Narcoossee’s

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

I had never heard of the wine passport until about a month ago. Great seeing your review of it! Can't wait to try it with DH in August!

 

[chocolateMinnie]

Never seen pictures of the wine passport - love that idea and will definitely try it next trip.

 

[jabead]

There are a variety of ways to get to this evening’s dining destination, located at the Grand Floridian Resort. If you are coming from the Magic Kingdom, you can take the small boat that runs between the MK, Grand Floridian, and the Polynesian. (I think in that order)

This is very convenient, as it docks right next to this restaurant.

However, if you arrive by bus (like we did) or by the Resort Monorail then you must exit the main building of the Grand Floridian Resort (where the lobby and all the rest of the resort’s restaurants are located). You do this from the doors located near the Grand Floridian Cafe on the first floor and then follow this path toward the water…

Until you arrive at this lakeside restaurant.

For Dinner at NARCOOSSEE'S

THE SHORT VERSION


Highlights – Shrimp & Crab Chowder, Calamari, Whole Maine Lobster, Almond-crusted Cheesecake, Table Location, and Personalized Birthday Menu

Disappointments – Surf & Turf


Would we Return? – Yes



THE LONG VERSION

We arrived on time for our 7:40 p.m. reservation and I asked if we could wait for a table by the window. We were given a pager and then waited outside on the deck until it went off about 20 minutes later. My request was granted and our table was located next to the window and had a lovely view of Cinderella’s castle. (sorry no pic)



After looking over the wine/cocktail menu, DD decided to go with the Red Sangria ($8.00). This was a blend of Red Spanish Wine, Mediterranean citrus fruit, and Contreau, a French orange liquor. I spotted a wine on the menu that I had tried for the first time at a Christmas party last year and really enjoyed, so that is what I ordered. This was Eroica Reisling from Chateau Ste. Michelle, a Washington State winery. My only complaint regarding my wine was that the size of my pour was rather small for $13, especially when you compare it to the amount of wine I received (3 glasses, each nearly the same amount as this one) at Flying Fish for $17.

Red Sangria and Eroica Reisling




We were then served a basket of sourdough bread.

For my appetizer, I again went with the Shrimp & Crab Chowder. I had enjoyed this on my last two visits to Narcoossee’s and it was again very good…rich and creamy and full of pieces of shrimp and crab.

Shrimp and Crab Chowder with Dill Crème Fraîche, Chives, and Narcoossee’s Oyster Crackers




However, I think I actually liked DD’s appetizer even more than the chowder. She orderd the Rhode Island Calamari with Pepperoncini Relish, Tomato Coulis, and Extra Virgin Olive Oil. The breading of the calamari was especially delicious.

Rhode Island Calamari





DD loves lobster so she was not about to pass up the opportunity to have this…

Steamed Whole Maine Lobster with Baked Sherry-Cheddar Orecchiette Pasta and Delta Asparagus


She really enjoyed her lobster and ate every single bite of it, with the exception of the small taste that I got to have.




I couldn’t decide what to order for my entrée because there were several things on the menu that sounded really good to me…Shrimp & Scallop Fettuccine, Crispy Whole Snapper, and Crab-crusted Flounder, to name a few. So what did I do? Being on the DDP, I ordered the most expensive entrée on the menu, just as I had done on my two most recent visits to Narcoossee’s (also while on the DDP). The first time I had the Surf & Turf (March 2010) I thought it was really good. Last time (Nov. 2010) though, it wasn’t as good. This time it was better, but IMHO still not worth anywhere close to $59 (if paying OOP). The two filet medallions were good, but not nearly as good as the filet mignon at Yachtsman Steakhouse. The lobster tail seemed fine at first, but then I tasted DD’s lobster, which was much better. And then there is the Duchess Potatoes…these are truly a waste of plate space! This time I knew better than to even touch them. So I know what you are all probably saying right about now…”It’s your own darn fault, jabead. You caved under the pressure of the DDP.” To which my only response is, “Yes I did and I’m truly sorry. I promise to try and order better next time.”

Surf & Turf - Medallions of Filet Mignon with Béarnaise Sauce , Lobster Tail, Duchess Potatoes, and Wax Beans




On a more positive note, not long after our entrees were served the Magic Kingdom fireworks began (at 9:00).

And now on to dessert. DD went with the Gelato Sampler which consisted of one scoop each of four different flavors…(clockwise from the top) cappuccino, pistachio, chocolate, and strawberry. She said the gelato was just okay, but I think this was because she was too full from eating all her lobster to really appreciate it.

Gelato Sampler




As for my dessert choice, I of course ordered one of my favorite desserts at Disney World…

Almond-crusted Cheesecake finished with Lambert Cherry Sauce


This was again delicious and I couldn’t stop myself from eating the whole thing despite the fact that I was very full.




For our included non-alcoholic beverage, we both had with our dessert the Vanilla Rooibos tea, which on the menu was described as being Caffeine-free, rich and full-bodied with a creamy vanilla finish. This was so good that we ended up ordering it again at one or two other meals.

Vanilla Rooibos Tea





One more thing that I forgot to mention earlier. I was presented with a personalized Birthday menu here, which the server took from me after I placed my order. He said that he would place it in an envelope to help keep it nice and return it to me before we left. Well, sadly he forgot to give it back to me and I forgot to ask for it. Other than this small thing (and maybe the small wine pour), our waiter provided us with good service throughout our meal.



So all in all, this meal had many more positives than negatives. If I’d only ordered a different entrée, this could have potentially been an excellent meal. So lesson learned…I hope.




Now for the numbers...

Total cost of meal (not including tip and wine) - $159.58 (or $39.90 per Dining Plan credit)

And so I can do a DDP vs. TIW Cost Comparison at the end...

Total cost of meal (again not including tip and wine) if we had used my Tables in Wonderland discount of 20% instead of the DDP - $127.66

20% TIW Discount on Wine and Sangria - $4.20

4 Deluxe Dining Plan Credits used, 14 Remaining



NEXT UP: Breakfast at Sleepy Hollow

 

[Tinker12]

I'm craving surf and turf. It's a disppointment to hear that you did not enjoy it. The potatoes did look like they were over cooked or baked.

Overall, the appetizers and whole main lobster looks good. I'm glad you got to enjoy them as well as the dessert. Oh, sorry, you only got a small bite of the whole lobster.

Looking forward to the rest of the food report!!

Thanks for sharing.

 

[jabead]

We decided to start this day at Magic Kingdom and arrived early enough to see the opening ceremony/show.

After riding a few of our favorite rides, we decided we needed a little breakfast snack to hold us over until our early lunch. We headed toward Main Street Bakery, but on our way through Liberty Square we walked by Sleepy Hollow. Now oddly enough, in all the times that we have been to Magic Kingdom, not once have we ever gotten anything to eat/drink from Sleepy Hollow. I had seen many pictures of their food offerings here on the DIS and had thought they looked delicious…especially the waffles and funnel cakes. So I suggested that we skip the bakery (which I’m sure had a very long line at this time of the morning) and we got in the very short line (only one person ahead of us) at Sleepy Hollow. I told DD about their waffles and funnel cakes and let her decide which of the two to get for us to share. She chose the funnel cake, along with an Iced Cappuccino.

Funnel Cake dusted with Powdered Sugar and an Iced Cappuccino from Sleepy Hollow



The funnel cake was delicious, but with all that powdered sugar it was very messy to eat. DD made fun of me when after a few bites, in an attempt to keep my clothes clean, I took a napkin and tucked it into my shirt underneath my chin. As for the Iced Cappuccino, there seemed to be more cream than coffee in it. This was fine with me, but DD didn’t like it…she likes her coffee drinks much stronger.




2 snack credits use (Value approx. $8.75), 10 more to go


NEXT UP: Lunch at Sanaa

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

I'm glad your meal at Narcoossee's was mostly positive. Sometimes I feel crazy for liking Narcoossee's, as it seems most people on the boards consider it one of the worst signatures! Of course, I usually avoid the surf n' turf, but one time on the DDP I ordered it too. Mistake. At least next time, you'll pick something else, as it sounds like the rest of the food was good.

And I'm so happy you enjoyed the vanilla rooibos tea! My family is South African, and rooibos has been part of my life forever. It's not only healthy, but very tasty - I never feel the need to add milk or sweetener to it. But a few years ago, I never saw it anywhere in the States (besides Jiko). Now it's growing in popularity, and I can find it in places ranging from the other Disney signature restaurants to Whole Foods!

 

[jabead]

We arrived at the Animal Kingdom Lodge – Kidani Village a few minutes early for our lunch reservation so after walking through the beautifully decorated lobby…

We went outside to the animal viewing area where we saw some giraffes

and several zebra.

Soon it was 11:30 and time for our…


Lunch at SANAA

SANAA (Pronounced suh-NAH and means “Work of Art” in Swahili)





THE SHORT VERSION

Highlights – Birthday Card & Complimentary Dessert, Cocktails, Potato & Pea Samosas, Many Tea Choices (including Vanilla Rooibos)

Disappointments – Table Location, Rest of Food

Would We Return? – Maybe sometime



THE LONG VERSION

Since the restaurant was just opening for the day, I decided to ask if we could be seated by a window. Well, we were seated by a window (in a small room just inside the restaurant and not in the main dining room), but unfortunately our view of the savanna was nearly completely blocked by a fence. So be forewarned that not all of the tables by the windows here have a good view. I guess you need to specifically ask for a table by the window where the animals can be seen.

As you can see by the picture that I took of the main dining room shortly after we were seated, the restaurant was not full so there were several tables available with good views of the savanna. I guess I could have asked to be moved, but I decided just to let it go. So let’s move on to our meal.

We started by each ordering a cocktail. DD chose the Malawi Mango Margarita, a frozen blend of Tequila, Van der Hum Tangerine Liqueur from South Africa, Mango Purée, and Freshly Squeezed Lime Juice ($ 9.50). I went with the Kande Coconut Cooler, a combination of Starr African Rum, Coconut, Vanilla Ice Cream,and Orange Juice ($8.25). Both of these drinks were very good, but if I had to choose one I would choose the Kande Coconut Cooler.

Malawi Mango Margarita (left) and Kande Coconut Cooler





The lunch menu here is divided into 7 sections; Indian-style Bread Service, Appetizers, Salad Sampler, "Slow-Cooked in Gravy, Simple and Well-Seasoned”, From the Tandoor Ovens, Sanaa Vegetarian Sampler, and African Cooking with Indian Flavors. With the Deluxe Dining Plan, for our appetizer we could order anything under the first three sections. We went with the Indian-style Bread Service (serves 2, but counts as only one appetizer) and got to choose three breads (from I think 4) and three accompaniments (from 8 choices). For our breads, we chose Naan, Onion Kulcha, and Paneer Paratha. Mango Chutney, Cucumber Raita, and Roasted Red Bell Pepper Hummus were the accompaniments we selected. All of the breads were equally good, but the hummus was our favorite of the accompaniments followed by the chutney. We thought the Cucumber-Yogurt Raita was kind of boring. Although I’m glad we got to try the Bread Service, it’s probably not something I would order again if paying OOP.

Indian-style Bread Service



For our second appetizer we chose the Appetizer Sampler for Two. It consisted of two Potato and Pea Samosas (with mango chutney), two Lamb Kefta Kebobs (with mint chutney), and three pieces of Roasted Cauliflower (with tomato sauce). We both really liked the samosas, thought the lamb kebobs were okay, and disliked the cauliflower. This really surprised me because I like cauliflower and thought this would be my favorite of the three.

Appetizer Sampler



For my entrée, I chose from the “Slow-Cooked in Gravy, Simple and Well-Seasoned” section of the menu. There are five choices (two each of chicken and shrimp, plus beef short ribs) from which to choose two. You also get to choose between Basmati Rice or Five-Grain Rice Pilaf. I chose the Shrimp with Green Curry Sauce, the Beef Short Ribs, and the Five-Grain Rice Pilaf. These are served in three small square bowls (small portions) on a rectangular plate. The size of the portions was perfect for me, but for some this could be an issue I suppose. Anyway, I was again surprised as I was expecting to prefer the Short Ribs, but they were actually kind of dry and lacked flavor (despite them being served in gravy and supposedly well-seasoned). Consequently, I preferred the shrimp.

Srimp with Green Curry Sauce, Five-Grain Rice Pilaf, and Beef Short Ribs




For her entrée, DD had the Tandoori Chicken listed under the “From the Tandoor Oven” section of the menu. This was served open-faced on Naan Bread with Minted Greens, Tomato, Onion, and Cucumber-Yogurt Raita. Although this looked really good, she said it was just okay and barely ate any of it.

Tandoori Chicken




We decided to order just one dessert to share and chose the Dessert Trio, which included small portions of three desserts: Tropical Fruit Kulfi, Chai Cream, and Chocolate Cake. DD loved the Chai Cream, but I didn’t really care for it. Neither of us liked the Tropical Fruit Kulfi.

Dessert Trio of Tropical Fruit Kulfi, Chai Cream, and Chocolate Cake (from left to right in picture)





My favorite of the trio was the chocolate cake, which is a good thing because that is what I received as a complimentary dessert for my birthday. The cake was served with Raspberry-Mint Sorbet and was good, but not really remarkable in any way. Also, I forgot to mention that I received a birthday card here signed by the restaurant’s staff.

Complimentary Birthday Dessert



And finally, for our included non-alcoholic beverage, we both again had Vanilla Rooibos Tea with our desserts. They had a pretty extensive list of teas on the menu here, including several flavors of Rooibos. (mango, hazelnut, and pina colada, to name a few). Unlike at Narcoossee’s, where the tea was served in a pressed pot, our tea was served in a regular tea pot here. However, to me anyway, it tasted the same…both times very good and an excellent accompaniment to our desserts.

Vanilla Rooibos Tea




In conclusion, although our meal at Sanaa had a few shining moments, overall I would have to say it was a little disappointing. Since this was our first experience here, we will probably give it another try sometime but it was definitely not good enough to warrant being added to our must-do list.




Now for the numbers...

Total cost of meal (not including tip and cocktails) – $82.57 (or $41.28 per Dining Plan credit)

And so I can do a DDP vs. TIW Cost Comparison at the end...

Total cost of meal (again not including tip and cocktails) if we had used my
Tables in Wonderland discount of 20% instead of the DDP - $66.06

20% TIW Discount on Cocktails - $3.55


2 Deluxe Dining Plan Credits used, 12 Remaining



NEXT UP: Drinking (& Eating) Around Epcot’s World Showcase – Part II

 

[MickeyNicki]

Ah nuts...I finally convinced DH to try this place for dinner on our next trip. I really want to try Sanaa

 

[jabead]

Ah nuts...I finally convinced DH to try this place for dinner on our next trip. I really want to try Sanaa

Oh, please don't let our review change your mind about trying this restaurant, as we in no way regret our decision to dine there. I probably should have said that in the review. And as I did say, I would probably try it again sometime, but order differently. For our first experience though, I'm glad that we ordered the various samplers, as that was a great way to try several different things from their menu. So now that we know what we like/dislike here, we should have greater success with our choices the next time around.

The lobby, savanna, and restaurant were beautiful...heck, even the restrooms were pretty! And if you and/or Todd like Pina Coladas, then you should definitely try the Kande Coconut Cooler. And then there are the samosas...very yummy!!! So by all means, I think you should give Sanaa a try. And I look forward to hearing about your experience.

P.S. After reading the next post from Deena, I guess I should add this...Stay away from that devil cauliflower! It's so not worth the risk of getting sick over.

 

[LuvLuvLuv]

ahhh those are the devil califlower that made me sicker than a dog

just looking at them make me cringe, lol. sorry you had a disappointing meal! i think i would have loved my club sandwich for lunch there if there wasn't an immediate reaction from my appy.

i may have to try the whole lobster at narcoossee's. i was underwhelmed by the surf and turf, but that looks really good!!

 

[jabead]

ahhh those are the devil califlower that made me sicker than a dog

just looking at them make me cringe, lol. sorry you had a disappointing meal! i think i would have loved my club sandwich for lunch there if there wasn't an immediate reaction from my appy.

i may have to try the whole lobster at narcoossee's. i was underwhelmed by the surf and turf, but that looks really good!!

Sorry to hear about your bad experience with the cauliflower at Sanaa. And I didn't remember there being a club sandwich on the menu, so just looked online and saw it...the Turkey Club Sandwich served on Multigrain Bread with Turkey Bacon, Vine-ripened Tomato, and Mayonnaise. That sounds really good! I might have to try that next time, if they still have it.

As for the Whole Maine Lobster at Narcoossee's, it is definitely better than the lobster tail that is part of the Surf & Turf. DD has had it there twice and really enjoyed it both times.