Princess Auroras Food Porn w/ Pics - Wrapping Things up - V&A Chef's Table Pt 4 of 4

[tmkdmom]

I just stated my decision as a parent not to allow my dd to look like that!

...I wasn't aiming my comment at what you said, but on that note...do you really think that the girls that come out of BBB look terrible?? Over-done maybe, but how can a little girl look terrible?

 

[wilma-bride]

Great review of Akershus (sp?) - not sure it's my cup of tea though.

I don't really want to continue the whole Bibbidi Bobbidi discussion but just wanted to add my agreement with the previous poster - yes, the littel girls from BBB can look a tad overdone (depending on what package and how liberal the CM was with the glitter) but I agree that all little girls are princesses and how can they possibly look terrible. To me, they remind me a little of the Girls World I used to have.

tmkdmom, I am so sorry that those ladies made that terribly insensitive remark about your DD - it is horrible to hear someone say something derogatory about one of your children. I think you were incredibly mature in not responding - I don't think I could have held my tongue. Some people just don't think - thank goodness your DD didn't hear them.

 

[tmkdmom]

Thank you.

 

[PrincessAurora]

Before I go off on my new reviews I wanted to add something to the Noodle Station that I found in some notes:

“The best way to deal with these dishes is to treat it like Vietnamese Pho. Add sweet chilli hot sauce, lime and a little soy sauce. This adds a little spice without being overpowering and brings out the flavors more.

Also they need a better variety of desserts. The pre-packaged chocolate cake is a heart attack waiting to happen. Get this – that little cake is technically TWO SERVINGS and is 440 calories. However the frosting has THREE TIMES the calories of the cake. So I just scrapped the frosting off and ate the cake. The cake by itself without the processed lard topping was actually good.”

So here are a few snacks that we had that I felt were worth commenting on:

ANIMAL KINGDOM BAR BY TUSKERS
Pina Colada – This is a good place to get a drink, grab a table and watch the acrobats. The only issue is that most of their frozen drinks are from machines or not very fresh. I am spoiled since I have a tiki bar by me that makes their drinks with only premium boze, fresh squeezed juice and no mixes. It was OK but next time I will have a beer. That way you always know what you are getting.

MAGIC KINGDOM:
Dole Whips – I love these but only with the pineapple / vanilla swirl. I think the pineapple straight is a bit too tart and the vanilla mellows this out. This is one of the few snacks I inhale so fast I get brain freeze. The other good thing is that you can now use a SNACK CREDIT for one!

Mickey Bar: I’m not fan. I think they are OK but not my favorite. To me there is nothing to separate it from any Eskimo Pie aside from its shape like Mickeys head.

Mickey Ice Cream Sandwich: Now we’re talking. I really like these but I am a pushover or any kind of ice cream sandwich even when the cookies is all soft and bendy like 99% of them are. Problem is they are limited to only a few places. I know MGM has them and MK but this is about it that I have found.

Popcorn: Is Evil. It tempts you with its smell, it makes you think how happy you would be if you had some so you break down and buy it. Then you discover that Mickey and his Uber Larger salt shaker was already there. No real butter, just artificial butter flavored solids (which I am sure has 50,000 chemicals in it). The popcorn is a bit chewy, VERY salty and just not worth it once you were drawn to it’s siren song and found yourself wrecked upon the rocks.

THE BAR @ THE POLY:
Pineapple Mohito – Nice. It was not as refreshing as a regular Mohito and wasn’t too sweet. A nice afternoon by the pool drink - $7.00
Pina CoLava – Amazing! It is a Pina Colada with Raspberry Puree that makes the “lava”. It is soooooooooo yummy and refreshing - $7.75

Next: Final Misc Items, then Chef's Table

 

[IAMaGR8DISMOM]

I agree with the comment regarding the mickey bar and the mickey sandwich, they do taste like any other ice cream bar, however our family feels that it is the atmosphere and the ice cream combination that make it worthwhile. ie.. if we are eating a mickey bar, we we must be at Disney World, and thats always good!!! Always a tradition for us.

Great reviews

 

[SuzieN]

The 1st thing my 5-year old daughter wants when we get to WDW next week is a Mickey bar! I can think of better things to use my snack credits on but she loves 'em!

 

[PrincessPoohsMom]

Popcorn: Is Evil. It tempts you with its smell, it makes you think how happy you would be if you had some so you break down and buy it. Then you discover that Mickey and his Uber Larger salt shaker was already there. No real butter, just artificial butter flavored solids (which I am sure has 50,000 chemicals in it). The popcorn is a bit chewy, VERY salty and just not worth it once you were drawn to it’s siren song and found yourself wrecked upon the rocks.

For the most part, I totally agree with you. However, for some reason, MK popcorn is a must-eat for every trip. I don't know what the deal is, but every time I eat MK popcorn I think to myself "This is the best popcorn ever!" I'm very tempted to swipe the mix sometime and run it off to a lab to find what addictive additive the Mouse puts in there. I just know there must be something.

Can't wait for your V&A review. I will make it there someday!

 

[Sandy321]

just want to add that I do not think it's right for others to judge another parents decision. I am just talking about my negative experience with my child. I met a few mothers in the boutique that were so happy, their girls were happy...and that's what Disney is all about isn't it????
oh, and for those of you that feel the need to bash a mothers decision about their child and have the answer to being the perfect parent, will you let me know how it's done?????

Thank you!!!

That is just terrible - you should class and restraint not to defend your choice and your dd!! Mommy guilt is the worst!!! (I will add that I was surprised dd wanted to wear her Aurora dress for BBB - she was almost 11 - so its a memory I treasure as she has now out grown the dress up stage - 11 1/2 yrs old now!! ) Thank you for sharing your experience!!

Princess Aurora - LOVE your reviews!!

Didya know that the Mickey Bars are Dove Bars?!! Milk Chocolate Dove!! Yet, the times I've had them they were so soft, you couldnt enjoy them!! We went in Jan - and I couldnt believe how melty they were - I'll stick with the gelato!!

 

[TigerKat]

For the most part, I totally agree with you. However, for some reason, MK popcorn is a must-eat for every trip. I don't know what the deal is, but every time I eat MK popcorn I think to myself "This is the best popcorn ever!" I'm very tempted to swipe the mix sometime and run it off to a lab to find what addictive additive the Mouse puts in there. I just know there must be something.

ITA... I even took a picture of it.....

 

[PiperGirlInWondrland]

ITA... I even took a picture of it.....

If only I could eat thet through the screen!!!

 

[PrincessAurora]

“lava”. It is soooooooooo yummy and refreshing - $7.75

MISC - PART 2
EPCOT – MEXICO
Layer Margarita – too sweet for me. This combo, lime/strawberry/mango drink is from a machine rather than made from fresh fruit. Tons of chemicals and not enough booze. Looks pretty but you can get better drinks elsewhere.

EPCOT – NORWAY
Rice Cream – I can’t say enough about this. Soft, creamy rice. Sweet Strawberry Sauce. Perfection in a cup.

School Bread – I really want to like this. I think that it is just a different texture than Americans are use to. When you look at it you think of a Krispy Kreme donut covered in coconut. The custard is really good, the coconut is good but the cake is not soft like a raised donut or even like a cake donut. The cake is more dense and dry. It is not sweet like an American donut. As long as the custard holds out, fine but the bread by itself needed something. Like I said, I think our American tastes are so skewered with too much sugar that this doesn’t work for us as much. Europeans would probably like it better.

Cloudhorn – Very nice. Not overly sweet but still nice. A crispy pastry horn with large sugar crystals on the outside with cream piped inside. Yummy.

EPCOT - ITALY
Rosa Regale – This sparkling wine is amazing. It has a deep rose color, is slightly sweet and tastes faintly of rose petals. Really wonderful. $6

Cannolli – I am really picky with my cannolli. I don’t put any neon fruit inside mine. Their cannolli taste wise was really rich and good. The ricotti cheese was fresh and very creamy. The only problem is the size vs. the price. I think they should either be larger for the same price or same size but less money. They are only about 3 inches long which is just not big enough. Yes, it is about size. - $6

EPCOT – JAPAN
Kaki Gori – OK, they are snowcones and who doesn’t like a snowcone? However their rainbow / 3 flavor one is the best. Three strips of Tangerine, Honeydew Melon and Strawberry. Total Yum! The Melon especially was very refreshing on a hot day. You can get the flavors seperatly as well.

EPCOT – MOROCCO
Baclava – this phyllo dough pastry with nuts and honey is always yummy. At the back of the tangerine café you can get a choice between many different kinds. Some less sticky, some with chocolate, some with crushed pistachio nuts but all good.


EPCOT – FRANCE

I know people are all about the bakery here but I think the bakery in Norway WAAAYYY surpasses this one. I find these offerings way too sweet for my taste. I had the chocolate mousse here once and it was a bit dry and kinda nasty.

The wine shop did offer some nice cocktails like the Kir Royal and the Pomegranite Kir along with other champagne drinks. I’ll take these over dry mousse any day.

EPCOT – CANADA

I really wanted to try the ice wine but after the dinner from hell, my hopes of this faded as fast as Illumination fireworks. The beavertails are gone so all that is left to me is maple fudge which was again, too sweet.

 

[bangzoom6877]

Wow, chocolate baklava! Already told my husband we are definitely doing lunch in Morocco! We love that kind of food, and I heard from the boards that the food there is very ethnic, which we prefer. We are HUGE fans of baklava too! I love the chocolate kind the best. We have a middle eastern restaurant about 45 minutes from our house that serves a wonderful brunch on Sundays (buffet) with all that food, and all different types of baklava. The pistachio one is also very good! Can't wait to try this one on our trip in July! Looks like a wonderful value on the dining plan too, which we will have!

-Bonnie

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

If only I could eat thet through the screen!!!

Can I have a little of that popcorn too? OMG! I LOVE WDW popcorn...there's nothing like it!

Great review! Loving the pictures and the commentary!

 

[mermaid&cinderella]

“
EPCOT – CANADA

I really wanted to try the ice wine but after the dinner from hell, my hopes of this faded as fast as Illumination fireworks. The beavertails are gone so all that is left to me is maple fudge which was again, too sweet.

What was your dinner from hell? Was it LeCellar?

 

[PrincessAurora]

Yup, that was the first review in the thread. I really wanted to like this! When I first went for dinner in 2001 I was sick and really couldn't enjoy it. I couldn't choke down the soup because of the pepper and me being sick it just made me cough non-stop. Not their fault but I wanted to enjoy it and couldn't.

Have had 2 lunches here that were OK but not anything to write home about at all. Norway, Morocco and even France are TONS better for lunch than Le cellier.

So I figured I would give it one more try for dinner and had everything just suck. I figure when I'm coming across the continent only once every other year I can't afford to keep giving chances to places that have been consistently sub-standard when there are so many other great places and places I haven't tried yet. So it will be a long time before this goes back in the rotation if at all which is a shame.

Will try to post the first round of V&A tomorrow but I have Super Bowl blog to do for another board, a meeting and my taxes to organize. grrrr.

Thanks y'all!

 

[TigerKat]

EPCOT - ITALY
Rosa Regale – This sparkling wine is amazing. It has a deep rose color, is slightly sweet and tastes faintly of rose petals. Really wonderful. $6

Love the stuff. It's amazing with chocolate!!!!

 

[disneynan]

Subscribing. Can't wait for the review of V&A. I have to read all the reviews there as we will never be able to go! Love your review style, very thorough. Hope V&A has lots of pics.

 

[PrincessAurora]

I was going to start my Chefs Table reviews but Photobucket is down for maintenance and I am unable to post pictures until they fix the site. Hopefully later today or tomorrow.

 

[TyRy]

Loving the reviews Aurora - can't wait to hear about V&A.

Ty

 

[PrincessAurora]

CHEFS TABLE @ V & A – Part 1 of 3
So we snagged ressies for Chef’s Table! I was sooo happy! Catwoman and I are huge foodies and I knew this would be a special treat. When you check in, you let them know you are there for Chefs Table. They send your server to escort you through the dining room and into to the kitchen. The server then announces that a guest is coming through to alert the staff.

Jack & Sherry were our servers and they are also a married couple. Once you go through the kitchen, you find there is a dining room “set”. The dining room is a paneled “room” that exists like a show box was set on its side across from the kitchen. So you have 3 paneled walls, a table, sideboard and one wall is open into the kitchen. A low wrought iron fence separates you from the kitchen. You are told that the only rule is that you can not leave the table alone. You must alert your server to escort you through the kitchen. So if you are going to the ladies room, they take you through the kitchen and restaurant then wait for you at the podium. When you return, they return you to your seat.

Here is a view of our table from my chair:

The dome covers the butter, there is salt with a spoon above it and my glass of champagne. Yes we did have all the wine pairings and we tried but sadly had to leave some wine behind. That killed me.

This is what you would see if you left the table for the little boys/girls room and returned:

I sat at the chair farthest away, Catwoman at the closest chair. You can see that we still have 2 wines. This was at the end of the meal. I know I polished off the sweet wine (amber colored) before we left.

If you were sitting at the table and then turned to your left, you would see the sideboard. The exit to the kitchen it to the right of the picture:

Your server has the extra glasses, condiments, etc here.

So we are seated and once the rules are explained by Jack, we are served our amouse bouche.

Top Left: Deviled Quail Egg with Iranian Osetra Caviar – the little dots are crème fraiche with a chive. The best way to eat this is just to drag it through the crème and eat it. A quail egg is small and does not taste very different from a chicken egg. The white is a little firmer and the yolk is a little sharper.

Top Right: Seared Raw Yellow Fin Tuna with Hijiki Salad. The tuna is sitting on a slab of pink salt. I cut it in half, made sure it sat full on the salt rock, then drug it through the soy/light Cajun dots and had some of the greens on the fork as well. Excellent! The tuna was tender and just melted in your mouth. The light salt with the slight tang from the sauce was just perfect.

Bottom Left: Lobster Sausage. A piece of poached lobster with a small amount of binder. Delicate but flavorful. You can get this on your fork in one bite.

Bottom Right: Lobster Bisque. Just sip out of the cup. So creamy and smooth with full lobster flavor.

These small bites set the stage for things to come.

Next: 6 main dishes!