Shaken, Not Stirred, With a Twist of Pixie Dust! A Food and Wine Trip!NEW! Pgs.75,76

[jordanyosh]

You didn't book bounceback?

I need to book a trip soon, too. As soon as the holidays are over, I am all over it.

Will it be another June trip for you guys?

 

[Charleston Princess]

Will it be another June trip for you guys?

Well, I have narrowed it down to three prospective sets of dates. The trip will either be a June trip OR a July trip (for Chelsea's 13th birthday) OR a Christmas trip. I am just having a really hard time deciding when I want to go the most.

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Go in June or July...not because I'm biased or anything but I think 2012 would be a really good time for a Christmas trip don't you...

(Anytime is a good time... I just am hoping to talk Hatter into a Christmas trip and I know there's no one for next year (short of a miracle...) because of Paris in March and then Em's bday in October...but the following year...

Well now that's a whole different story isn't it?...

 

[punkin413]

Charles toenails reminded me of something....

My dh has something against clipping his toenails...some sort of wierd phobia. So, I bug him alot about it because the get to be more claw than nail if I don't.

One day last summer, he had worked overnight and was asleep durring the day. I just happened to notice his foot sticking out of the sheet. I thought if they're going to be long, they might as well be pretty. so, I painted them a nice shade of hot pink.

After he got up I was just waiting for him to notice...preparing to run for my life. He went in to take a shower about 5 minutes later I heard him yell from the shower " Cherie!! That is NOT funny!"

personaly, I thought it was hillarious!

that is great!

now i have to go dig up the pictures i have of ray getting his toenails painted.

 

[punkin413]

found 'em! okay, a little back story. this was in june 2001. we had rented a cabin for the weekend in maggie valley, north carolina with about 10 other friends. so, as you can imagine, lots of fun had been had and a good bit of adult beverages had been consumed. well, i walked into the living room area of the cabin to find my friend annie painting ray's toenails....

what was so funny about is that he just let her do it! he was like....sure....whatever. everyone thought it was SO hilarious because normally ray would NEVER have let anyone do that but i guess he was just in an agreeable mood. i'm thinking alcohol may have played a small part in that!

this is his "anonymous" picture. i can't remember who took it because i'm in it!

sorry for the hijack but i just thought those were too funny not to share!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Go in June or July...not because I'm biased or anything but I think 2012 would be a really good time for a Christmas trip don't you...

(Anytime is a good time... I just am hoping to talk Hatter into a Christmas trip and I know there's no one for next year (short of a miracle...) because of Paris in March and then Em's bday in October...but the following year...

Well now that's a whole different story isn't it?...

Did you mean 2011 or 2012 on the Christmas trip for you? Today, I am leaning towards Chelsea's birthday trip, but that could change by lunchtime.

that is great!

now i have to go dig up the pictures i have of ray getting his toenails painted.

found 'em! okay, a little back story. this was in june 2001. we had rented a cabin for the weekend in maggie valley, north carolina with about 10 other friends. so, as you can imagine, lots of fun had been had and a good bit of adult beverages had been consumed. well, i walked into the living room area of the cabin to find my friend annie painting ray's toenails....

what was so funny about is that he just let her do it! he was like....sure....whatever. everyone thought it was SO hilarious because normally ray would NEVER have let anyone do that but i guess he was just in an agreeable mood. i'm thinking alcohol may have played a small part in that!

this is his "anonymous" picture. i can't remember who took it because i'm in it!

sorry for the hijack but i just thought those were too funny not to share!

This is great, Dawn!!! I got a good chuckle out of seeing Ray getting his toenails painted.

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Did you mean 2011 or 2012 on the Christmas trip for you? Today, I am leaning towards Chelsea's birthday trip, but that could change by lunchtime.

Well, I was actually thinking that 2012 is a more doable possibility although if I come into some money from a long lost relative I never knew I had ...2011 would be lovely...

I just have a little Disney Christmas envy right now...

 

[If U Had Wings]

You didn't book bounceback?

I need to book a trip soon, too. As soon as the holidays are over, I am all over it.

I was hoping to, but no. I'm still trying to figure out the dates, and since I did a bit of upgrading while down there I only need a room only ressie.

After the holidays I'm going to have to start seriously picking dates.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Well, I was actually thinking that 2012 is a more doable possibility although if I come into some money from a long lost relative I never knew I had ...2011 would be lovely...

I just have a little Disney Christmas envy right now...

I have a little Disney Christmas envy as well. I even have snow envy because what is about to become a winter storm on the East Coast is just icky, cold, flooding rain right now. I will have to curl up with a big mug of hot chocolate tonight to survive.

I was hoping to, but no. I'm still trying to figure out the dates, and since I did a bit of upgrading while down there I only need a room only ressie.

After the holidays I'm going to have to start seriously picking dates.

You and me both!

 

[Charleston Princess]

After naptime, Charles and I debated our evening plans. We had two choices.

We could add Park Hoppers to our tickets and head to the Magic Kingdom for the evening, or we could stick with our original plans and head back to Epcot for dinner at Tutto Italia.

We were quite torn, but, in the end, we decided we wanted to have a nice, quiet, romantic anniversary meal in Italy.

By evening, World Showcase had become packed with people. Even when we were there for Christmas in 2004, I had never seen so many people along the promenade, and they weren’t your garden variety tourist types most often spotted in the theme parks of Central Florida.

These were drinking and partying packs of people. All of them had a drink or two in one hand and were carousing away. I have been to River Street in Savannah, the infamous Buckhead in Atlanta, and Bourbon Street in New Orleans, but I have to say that those places paled in comparison to World Showcase on a Saturday night during the Food and Wine Festival.

It was a relief to finally reach the comparative quiet and elegance of Italy.

Tutto Italia was waiting for our starving selves.

Stepping inside, I fell in love with the décor of our restaurant. Even the restrooms were quite posh looking.

Mural in the lobby.

A light fixture for LL.

Dinner was beyond excellent.

For starters, we were brought a basket of delicious bread with an olive oil dip and a plate of olives, mushrooms, and artichokes.

Charles ordered a Ceasar salad which was crisp, chilled, and crunchy. My favorite kind!

When it came time to order entrees, I knew I wanted the spinach cannelloni. Charles was torn between the lasagna and the cannelloni. I suggested that if he ordered the lasagna, we could split our two entrees. His reponse?

“I am done sharing on this trip. I am eating every last bite of my meal.”

Well, alrighty then.

He ended up ordering the cannelloni as well.

When my waiter (which let me just digress for a minute and wax rhapsodic about the yumminess of Italian waiters – they were all gorgeous with beautiful Italian accents and were so solicitous ), brought my plate, he warned me that it was extremely hot. His exact words may have been something along the lines of, “It is like hotter-than-the-center-of-the-sun hot.” I could not help but giggle and promise to be careful.

The plate may have been hot, but the cannelloni was divine. I just sank into the creaminess of the ricotta and spinach. I am not kidding when I say I have been craving it ever since.

For dessert I told Charles to order the Chocolate Torta so I could try it. For myself, there was never any doubt that I was ordering the Mocha Tiramisu. I know my plate was cleaned afterwards.

Chocolate Torta

Mocha Tiramisu

After a truly exceptional and delicious meal, we slowly back into the melee of World Showcase.

 

[MeMom]

I can't even see the pictures (here at school) and my mouth is watering. I know I'm going to be ready for some Italian tonight as soon as I see the pictures!

So sorry to hear that WS was less than a fun place to be as far as crowds and carousers. Good thing you could go into the sanctuary of the nice restaurant and enjoy the peace and quiet.

Does my typing look anxious? I wondered if you could tell through the screen that I am chomping at the bit to get out of here in a few short hours and get started on this Christmas break?!?!?

I don't know that I've ever noticed this smilie before. Is it new?

 

[MRYPPNS]

That dinner looked excellent! I can't for the life of me remember what I had for dinner that night....but I'm sure about one thing, it wasn't anywhere as good as yours!

All this talk of "next" trips is killing me. I have no idea when I'm going back but after my day this morning I need one soon!!!

 

[Charleston Princess]

I can't even see the pictures (here at school) and my mouth is watering. I know I'm going to be ready for some Italian tonight as soon as I see the pictures!

I should have planned it better and made sure I was making some from the Italian family for dinner. Instead, I am making meatloaf tonight.

So sorry to hear that WS was less than a fun place to be as far as crowds and carousers. Good thing you could go into the sanctuary of the nice restaurant and enjoy the peace and quiet.

If we hadn't, I think we would have changed our plans and added Park Hoppers. It was madness.

Does my typing look anxious? I wondered if you could tell through the screen that I am chomping at the bit to get out of here in a few short hours and get started on this Christmas break?!?!?

I can tell how anxious you are to leave -- maybe because I am just as anxious. I don't have a Disney trip to look forward to, but I can't wait to be able to throw myself wholeheartedly into Christmas preparations, and maybe even wear my pajamas until lunchtime a couple of days in there somewhere.

I don't know that I've ever noticed this smilie before. Is it new?

I don't think I have noticed him before either, but he is kind of cute.

That dinner looked excellent! I can't for the life of me remember what I had for dinner that night....but I'm sure about one thing, it wasn't anywhere as good as yours!

You were at DHS in the morning, right? Did you stay there all day or head somewhere else?

Tutto Italia was so good we are planning on eating there again soon.

All this talk of "next" trips is killing me. I have no idea when I'm going back but after my day this morning I need one soon!!!

I am sorry that you had a crummy morning! What happened?

I won't really feel like I have another trip planned until I put down the deposit.

 

[jenjolt]

Hola!! Well reading this has helped the day go by a bit faster...I have 1 hr 25 minutes left ....only a few more minutes LOL!!!!!

Italy sounds amazing I will defintely have to try to eat there someday!!! Maybe I can convince Leslie for October that we should eat there!!!!! So yummy!!!!

Have a great Christmas Vacation!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Hola!! Well reading this has helped the day go by a bit faster...I have 1 hr 25 minutes left ....only a few more minutes LOL!!!!!

About an hour for me!

Italy sounds amazing I will defintely have to try to eat there someday!!! Maybe I can convince Leslie for October that we should eat there!!!!! So yummy!!!!

It was amazing! You would love eating there! The food (and the serving staff) are delicious!

Have a great Christmas Vacation!

Merry Christmas, Jen! Have a great time in Houston!

 

[DWGal210]

Your dinner looked divine!! And I know what you mean about those Italian fellows...I swear they could read the phone book to me and I would swoon.

I have wondered about the carousing of people at F&W...Disney + drinks + perfect fall day I have a feeling = craziness!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Your dinner looked divine!! And I know what you mean about those Italian fellows...I swear they could read the phone book to me and I would swoon.

Maybe next time I will ask a bunch of questions about the menu choices.

I have wondered about the carousing of people at F&W...Disney + drinks + perfect fall day I have a feeling = craziness!

I think because it was a Saturday night, it was worse. Next time, we will do Food and Wine on weeknights.

 

[MEK]

Wow! Your dinner sounds great. I can't see your pics but I bet everything looks so yummy. What a nice way to spend your anniversary. Do you have any pictures of crazy, drunk people????? I want to see them because that is going to be me next year!

 

[manntra]

Mmmmm your dinner looks scrumptious! I haven't been there since it was Alfredo's. I do remember some very solicitous waiters though!
I remember the olive oil that they served with the bread too....I have never been able to find a good dipping olive oil that was comparable. Of course I don't sit around having lavish Italian meals at home either.

Tracy

 

[jillyb]

what is about to become a winter storm on the East Coast is just icky, cold, flooding rain right now.

Yeah...no snow here either. It's been nothing but cold rain with a little sleet now and then. The roads are clear. The school district dismissed school at 11:00 today because of the "storm". Heck...it hadn't even started raining when I got the phone call! There was really no need for early dismissal today.

Tutto Italia looks very nice. That cannelloni looks sooooo good!

When it came time to order entrees, I knew I wanted the spinach cannelloni. Charles was torn between the lasagna and the cannelloni. I suggested that if he ordered the lasagna, we could split our two entrees. His reponse?

“I am done sharing on this trip. I am eating every last bite of my meal.”