Raniroo's Solo Disneyland Trip 2013

[raniroo]

soooooo......6 months later it has just occurred to me that I never posted my dining trip report from November last year. I know...how un-disney of my...Why I didn't post I do not know. Why it just occurred to me I do not know.

These are questions that I cannot answer....but I will tell you..better late than never So forgive me for my lateness

Not only am I Disney Nut I am a Disney Foodie Nut (alongside being a foodie). I'm a food blogger, food photographer (amateur) and interested in all things food related. When in any Disney world it's all about the food (firstly and mostly) it sort of just all blends in together for the holiday.

Last November I was lucky enough to travel for a month around the Caribbean and the USA and ending my trip with 7 days at Disneyland. Any trip to the USA will end with a Disney (or WDW) trip. I had a 5 day pass and I was super excited to be there at the beginning of the Holiday season. Disneyland all decked out in Holiday cheer is wonderful.

I was staying at the Howard Johnson (the Hojo going forward) and it was very comfortable and very accessible to Disney. A great, reasonably priced, hotel at the doorstep.

So please join me on my foodie trip report (with a couple of off site foods thrown in).

 

[raniroo]

Hungry Bear
Carthay Circle
Bengal BBQ
French Market
Cafe New Orleans
Napa Rose @ California Hotel
Plaza Inn
Disneyland Snacks
Minnie Mouse and Friends Breakfast @ Plaza Inn
Trader Sam's Enchantered Tiki Bar @ Disneyland Hotel

 

[raniroo]

Over in Critter country the Hungry Bear counter service dishes up some great sandwiches and burgers, but it's the Fried Green Tomato Sandwich that's got me sold. Cornmeal crusted fried green tomatoes layered with two slices of fresh heirloom tomatoes, topped with havarti, remoulade, jicama-mango slaw and served on a multi-grain roll. Serve with fries (or upgrade to sweet potato fries as I do).

This was a great sandwich. I love fried green tomatoes and the crispy cornmeal coating gives it extra crunch. The jicama mango slaw is tangy and crunchy too. I did find the roll to 'bready' but that is because I don't really eat a lot of bread. It fills me up to much...but I did eat all the filling. The sweet potato fries are cold (they were warm when served) but they retained some crispiness to them and were very delicious regardless.

 

[raniroo]

Another fine dining experience today at Carthay Circle. I had been looking forward to dining here. There had been some great reviews.

I was early for my reservation, I was waiting in the Bar area and started with a glass of the Iron Horse Fairy Tale Cuvee Brut from Green Valley - Anything that has Fairy Tale in the name is going to be a winner. Intense apples and ripe pears, with citrus acidity, a toasty and bright sparkles. Okay, okay I got the wines description that from the menu (I'm no wine connoisseur).

Fairy Tale Sparkles

The menu looks good but I had pre-selected at least two of my choices months before dining here....as any Disney Foodie does.



For starters I had the Signature Fried Biscuits, stuffed with white cheddar, bacon, jalapeno and served with an apricot honey butter.

crispy cheese filled biscuits

These were hot and gooey with cheese and I really liked the apricot honey butter.

Closely followed by the Fire Cracker Duck Wings with soy, lime, and sriracha chili sauce. These were not crunchy like I was expecting. They were tasty, but the coating was soggy and yes they were drenched in sauce, but still.

Big duck wings

I really wasn't hungry, hungry, and I felt something 'lighter' so I went with something off their Autumn lunch menu that I hadn't seen online.

The Harvest Apple Salad - duck confit, tuscan Kale, frisee, radishes and cider vinaigrette.

duck confit - harvest salad

Now this was fantastic. The duck confit was so tender and moist and shredded throughout the salad of crispy and well dressed salad leaves. I only managed to take a few mouthfuls and took the rest to go (for dinner a bit later).

Overall, I found the service and the food were good, just not up to par for what I was expecting for a fine dine Disneystyle restaurant. I don't know if I would necessarily go back again on future trips.

 

[raniroo]

Headed over to Andventureland for some meat on sticks!

I'll have one Safari Skewer which is bacon wrapped around asparagus and then grilled and one Outback Vegetable Skewer which includes onion, zuchinni, potato, mushroom and capsicum (red pepper) . The Safari skewer is fabulous. Still slightly al dente asparagus wrapped in salty bacon and thrown on the barbie.

The Outback veggie skewer was tasty but a little more on the al dente side than I would have preferred (but I also needed some veggies!).

I know I said I don't eat bread very often but the Jalapeno Cheese-Filled Pretzel just sounded so good. Hot and oozing cheese in the middle, the spiciness of the jalapeno just a hint in the cheese, it didn't disappoint. Even though I only had a few bites over a few hours!

 

[raniroo]

A nice little lunch at the French Market Restaurant had me drooling over the Market French Dip.

Lots of slow roasted beef with crispy onions straws on a freshly baked potato roll, served with cajun chips on the side and a bowl of Au Jus to dip (or pour over) your roll.

I also grabbed a New Orleans Mint Julep (non-alcoholic). Very minty and very sweet!

It was nice to sit in the shade and people watch around the lake on a sunny day.

 

[raniroo]

Lunch time in Cafe New Orleans restaurant can be very busy but I managed to get an outdoor patio seat. Quaint patio seating in the typical New Orleans/French style, again people watching and digging into yummy New Orleans Gumbo filled with chicken, andouille sausage and tasso ham and dirty rice.

The one item on the menu that I was here for though is the Pommes Frites - french fried potatoes with parmesan cheese, garlic and parsley with a side of Cajun remoulade. Hot, crispy and packed with garlicy goodness. Winner!

 

[raniroo]

Disney Dining has many options to suit all wallets from counter meals all the way to fine dining. During my stay I really wanted to do one fine dining meal and based on reviews, friends recommendations and a seasonal menu I choose Napa Rose at the Grand Californian Hotel.

I arrived earlier than my reservation time, but that wasn't an issue and I was seated straight away. The dining room is moody and dimly lit and the ambiance is soft and exquisite. Hush tones surround me and I feel like I'm in for a real treat. I was seated just near the open kitchen, offering great views of the chef's hard at work over the hot stoves. There is also a chef's table and a bar/counter area where you can also be seated (which was full when I arrived).

The only way to go here for me was the Vintner's Table. Yes I was splashing out! A four course tasting menu paired with wines. This restaurant is definitely on the expensive side (it is Disney after all) but I think it's worth doing at least one fine dining Disney style while visiting.

A beautiful basket of various breads and crispbreads arrived at table side. I nibbled on the crispbread, not wanting to spoil my appetite. However, the crisp bread was crispy, garlicy and with Parmesan and very moreish.

The first glass was served and it was bubbly, crisp Gramona, Gran Cuvee Brut 2008 from Spain (the only photo of wine I got). I sipped on this while people watching and gazing around the restaurant.

The chef sent me an Amouse Bouche.

A perfect bite size (or maybe two) arancini of goats cheese and chorizo fritter with romenesco and chilli sauce. This was a flavour bomb as far as amouse bouche go and my taste buds were starting to party. A sign of great things to come........

It wasn't long before my first dish arrived.

Cedar plank roasted Canadian black sablefish with apple creme fraiche panna cotta, satsuma tangerine and almonds. I have never tasted black sablefish before and I was amazed at the soft, fleshy fish. The fish was cooked to perfection, flaky , moist and deep hints of satsuma and tangerine. The apple creme fraiche panna cotta was smooth and refreshingly tasty.

The staff are very attentive but not intrusive. Everything is timed perfectly.
The second course was interesting. Rabbit and Dumplings -fricassee of Sonoma rabbit, pot roasted vegetables and rich rabbit stew with bacon and cheddar dumplings

Not a big rabbit eater, I was concerned this may have been a too heavy dish for a tasting menu. The tasting serve is rather on the large side, with three big dumplings. The rabbit is rich and meaty, the sauce is rich and deep in flavours and it's a hearty delicious dish, unfortunately the dumplings were dense and heavy. I love the presentation in a cute copper pot.

I was looking forward to the third course - Grilled Diver sea scallop and braised Angus beef cheeks with harvest squash puree and lobster essence. I love scallops and paired with beef cheeks can only be a good thing in my books.

Oh yes, this dish is a winner. The scallop is cooked and the caramelised char marks are great. The beef cheeks are again rich and meaty and so very tender. The lobster essence offers a hint of the sea.

The fourth and final dish is of course dessert. Best Hot Chocolate Ever - warm world class chocolate with orange and hazelnut homemade filled doughnuts (seriously that's what it's called) big call!

I was rather full by this stage and ended up getting this to take back to my room...but I did drink the best hot chocolate ever. Creamy, thick hot chocolate - this was awesome. There was only one donut filled with the orange and hazelnut filling, but they are rolled in cinnamon and sugar. They were good, but I have had a better cinnamon donut before.

Overall, I am very pleased that Napa Rose was everything that I expected. It's a wonderful restaurant for celebrations and romantic dates ...or for me....someone who just wants a bit of a special dinner when travelling on their own. The staff will go out of their way to make your dining experience a fantastic one!

 

[raniroo]

I cannot pass up dinner at the Plaza Inn. I always have to have the Plaza Inn Specialty Chicken. Three pieces of fried chicken, mash, gravy, veggies and a buttermilk biscuit. Huge portions are just far to big for me but it was worth it (even though I had leftovers). Sitting outside in the patio area you can people watch on Main Street and even get a glimpse of the parade.

 

[raniroo]

Disneyland is really the most magical place on earth (in my opinion).

Over the week that I spent at Disney I indulged in quiet a few snacks, along with some Holiday specials.

Needing something warming (it was cold when I was there in November) I had to partake in the Hot spiced caramel apple cider and pumpkin squash fritters with an spiced apple butter.

The cider was warm and lovely with hints of spicy undertones. A little on the sweeter side of a cider (obviously non-alcoholic) than I would normally like...but good.

Who doesn't like hot fried dough? The fritters were fresh out of the fryer, piping hot and rolled in cinnamon sugar. Each had a chunck of pumpkin inside each bite.

You can't go to Disney (or any theme park or fair for that matter) without a corndog. This corndog is from the Little Red Wagon in Disneyland. Hot, crispy fried cornmeal coating with a decent size dog inside. Perfect with a dollop of ketchup

The one thing I always have a 'few' of over the course of my visit is the famous Mickey Mouse Ice cream Sandwich. Ice cream sandwiched between two Mickey Mouse shaped cookies. There is something magical about these. I'm an addict.

Over to California Adventure Park, there are plenty more eats to have. Ghiradelli's ice cream in a waffle cone. Oh yeah!

Disney popcorn is truly magical. It's up there with movie popcorn (if not better).

Over at the 'new' Carsland, the Cozy Cone Motel serves up a variety of snacks and beverages.

Here I had the chili cone queso....chili con carne, cheese, fritos in a bread cone.

Washed down with a serve of Red's Apple Freeze. Definitely a Lightening McQueen moment.

Back over in Disneyland, recently Starbucks arrived in Disneyland. I suppose it was going to happen eventually. Pumpkin spiced latte with whipped cream, hit the spot and warm the tummy while waiting to watch one of the parades.

Dole Whip. Pineapple flavoured ice cream. Getting into the 'tiki' spirit in Adventureland.

You can't go past the many bakeries that make rice crispies, pretzel rods, caramel apples and fudge. Just browsing the counters is making me drool. There are so many to try!

Tigger Tails and Mickey marshmallows.

There are plenty of snacks and treats that are character shaped to take home (if they last that long)...it's hard not to nibble at Disney inspired snacks!

 

[raniroo]

A lovely friend of mine had given me a wonderful birthday present for my trip to Disneyland....money towards a character meal. I took the opportunity to enter the park before opening and headed to Minnie and Friends Character Breakfast.

I was one of the very few lucky ones that were greated by Eeyore 9and got to have my 'official' photo taken with Eeyore. Dream!

I was then seated in the perfect spot to meet all the characters before the dining room filled up.

Sadly I only got a photo of my mickey waffle....but met plenty of characters (which is the whole reason for this breakfast).

 

[raniroo]

I spent a an hour or two over at Trader Sam's for some R&R from the parks.

Trader Sam's is a tiki style bar. Perfect for a little break.

I ordered a 'snack' of the Ahi Poke with avocado, wasabi yuzu, sriracha aioli and Wonton Chips. this dish (after tasting it at Epcot F&W Festival in 2010) has became a favourite dish when I'm in the USA (this is not something I have found in Sydney). The freshness of the tuna, paired with the rich oily avocado is scrummy delicious.

To sip on I had the Hippopoto-Mai Tai.

Fruity, cold and intoxicating!

 

[petals]

joining in. Going this November for the first time need to study all about it