betterlatethannever
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Apr 7, 2002
Since nobody has posted about this dinner, youre stuck with me and my review. I was hoping that somebody else would post because they would do a better job in describing how special this dinner was. Im more of a Jack Webb person (Just the facts maam).
This dinner was the Piemonte Chocolate Dinner at the American Adventure. It was added after the original Signature dinners were announced. The other dinner on this date was at the California Grill and it sold out within 35 minutes (probably much sooner) of going on sale (I was on hold from 7-7:35 that morning).
Anyway, I thought they added this dinner because of all the calls I made during the next two weeks to see if there was a cancellation at the CG.
However, this was one special event dignitaries from Italy, the VeeP of Epcot, and others. Photographers roaming around throughout the dinner, recording the event.
We were staying at the BWI and got to the IG at about 5:20. A CM was there to check us in. We took a towncar from the IG to the back of American Adventure. When we exited the car, a CM asked if we were there for the media portion of the dinner
MEDIA PORTION. No, just the dinner. Since it was threatening to rain, we each got a complimentary Mickey umbrella. We walked through the wooden gate next to AA and waited in the front until the doors opened at 6:00.
As we entered we were offered a glass of sparkling wine (not allowed to call it champagne). We had assigned tables, and we claimed a couple of chairs. There were 14 tables of 10 chairs each set up on the main floor in the rotunda. I would say that four of the tables were for the special guests.
(For those that were wondering, the American Adventure show was still open. Guests entered through the exit.)
Shortly afterwards, hors doeuvres were served a chilled salmon on a cracker; breaded mushrooms?; a miniature tomato, cheese combination on a rosemary skewer; and mozzarella & cheese on a cracker. All the appetizers were very tasty. But a tip, make sure you bite the whole tomato or else the juice squirts all over.
(You just cant take me anywhere )
As was previously mentioned, the dinner was sponsored by Piemonte the sweetest region of Italy. There were wrapped candies all over, at each place setting, at the registration table, on the side tables off the rotunda. Gooooood chocolate.
There was a three piece band playing Italian songs (what else?) throughout the evening.
Before each course, a gentleman from Banfi talked about the wines, and a lady from Piemonte talked about the food. They were introduced but their names arent in the program and I can't remember them.
Here is what was served:
1st Course - Foglie di baccala e patate al cioccolato (In English Salt Cod and Potato Leaves with White Chocolate)
A white wine was served Principessa Gavia 2002
This was very good and there really only was a hint of chocolate that added to the flavor.
2nd Course Filetto di pesce persico al cacao amaro (Perch Fillet with Bitter Cocoa and Almonds)
A white wine was also served with this course - Principessa Perlante 2001
It was very good. The perch was very thick. It was Lake Perch. Im from Cleveland and I know Lake Erie perch and it is nowhere near that thick. I asked the waitress where the fish came from (Italy?). She asked the chef. It came from a Florida lake.
3rd Course Agnolotti di selvaggina al cacao amaro (Wild Game Agnolotti with Bitter Cocoa Powder)
The wine was a red wine LArdi Dolcetto dAcqui 2002
This was chocolate ravioli stuffed with wild game. The ravioli were all hand made. Very very good. Our table had a little contest going on guessing what was the wild game. Road kill was mentioned (no not by me). Anyway we asked the waitress and she went back and asked the chef. It was rabbit and venison.
4th Course Spallotto di bue brasato vecchio Piemonte al cioccolato fondente (Braised Ox Shoulder with Dark Chocolate Old Piedmont Style)
The wine was a red Borgogno Barolo riserva 1995
The chocolate was in the gravy. Actually, I think it was the gravy. Very unusual but everything worked well together.
5th Course Bonet al Gianduja (Gianduia Bonet) (Yes that was the English translation
)
the wine was a sweet sparkling red Banfi Rosa Regale
The course (dessert) was an ice cream cone shaped bitter dark chocolate with vanilla ice cream, white chocolate, a small chocolate cake. A perfect ending to the meal.
After the meal, we headed out to watch Illuminations where? (come on, you know) in front of the Italian pavilion (where else). There was coffee, and cognacs and other liqueurs, and more chocolates.
At the end, each of us got a gift basket. It contained.
A box of chocolates
A Piemonte T shirt
Brochures about Piemonte and Banfi
AND CHOCOLATE TOOTHPASTE AND TOOTHBRUSH (you think the Piemonte dignitaries have a bunch of nieces and nephews coming to the US to set up dental practices? )
All in all a great time. The couple we sat next to changed their reservation from the California Grill Signature dinner to this one and they were a little concerned. But after the meal they were glad they came to this dinner.
Sorry it was so long and boring, but I warned you.
Ed
This dinner was the Piemonte Chocolate Dinner at the American Adventure. It was added after the original Signature dinners were announced. The other dinner on this date was at the California Grill and it sold out within 35 minutes (probably much sooner) of going on sale (I was on hold from 7-7:35 that morning).
Anyway, I thought they added this dinner because of all the calls I made during the next two weeks to see if there was a cancellation at the CG.
However, this was one special event dignitaries from Italy, the VeeP of Epcot, and others. Photographers roaming around throughout the dinner, recording the event.We were staying at the BWI and got to the IG at about 5:20. A CM was there to check us in. We took a towncar from the IG to the back of American Adventure. When we exited the car, a CM asked if we were there for the media portion of the dinner
MEDIA PORTION. No, just the dinner. Since it was threatening to rain, we each got a complimentary Mickey umbrella. We walked through the wooden gate next to AA and waited in the front until the doors opened at 6:00.As we entered we were offered a glass of sparkling wine (not allowed to call it champagne). We had assigned tables, and we claimed a couple of chairs. There were 14 tables of 10 chairs each set up on the main floor in the rotunda. I would say that four of the tables were for the special guests.
(For those that were wondering, the American Adventure show was still open. Guests entered through the exit.)
Shortly afterwards, hors doeuvres were served a chilled salmon on a cracker; breaded mushrooms?; a miniature tomato, cheese combination on a rosemary skewer; and mozzarella & cheese on a cracker. All the appetizers were very tasty. But a tip, make sure you bite the whole tomato or else the juice squirts all over.
(You just cant take me anywhere )As was previously mentioned, the dinner was sponsored by Piemonte the sweetest region of Italy. There were wrapped candies all over, at each place setting, at the registration table, on the side tables off the rotunda. Gooooood chocolate.
There was a three piece band playing Italian songs (what else?) throughout the evening.
Before each course, a gentleman from Banfi talked about the wines, and a lady from Piemonte talked about the food. They were introduced but their names arent in the program and I can't remember them.
Here is what was served:
1st Course - Foglie di baccala e patate al cioccolato (In English Salt Cod and Potato Leaves with White Chocolate)
A white wine was served Principessa Gavia 2002
This was very good and there really only was a hint of chocolate that added to the flavor.
2nd Course Filetto di pesce persico al cacao amaro (Perch Fillet with Bitter Cocoa and Almonds)
A white wine was also served with this course - Principessa Perlante 2001
It was very good. The perch was very thick. It was Lake Perch. Im from Cleveland and I know Lake Erie perch and it is nowhere near that thick. I asked the waitress where the fish came from (Italy?). She asked the chef. It came from a Florida lake.
3rd Course Agnolotti di selvaggina al cacao amaro (Wild Game Agnolotti with Bitter Cocoa Powder)
The wine was a red wine LArdi Dolcetto dAcqui 2002
This was chocolate ravioli stuffed with wild game. The ravioli were all hand made. Very very good. Our table had a little contest going on guessing what was the wild game. Road kill was mentioned (no not by me). Anyway we asked the waitress and she went back and asked the chef. It was rabbit and venison.
4th Course Spallotto di bue brasato vecchio Piemonte al cioccolato fondente (Braised Ox Shoulder with Dark Chocolate Old Piedmont Style)
The wine was a red Borgogno Barolo riserva 1995
The chocolate was in the gravy. Actually, I think it was the gravy. Very unusual but everything worked well together.
5th Course Bonet al Gianduja (Gianduia Bonet) (Yes that was the English translation
)the wine was a sweet sparkling red Banfi Rosa Regale
The course (dessert) was an ice cream cone shaped bitter dark chocolate with vanilla ice cream, white chocolate, a small chocolate cake. A perfect ending to the meal.
After the meal, we headed out to watch Illuminations where? (come on, you know) in front of the Italian pavilion (where else). There was coffee, and cognacs and other liqueurs, and more chocolates.
At the end, each of us got a gift basket. It contained.
A box of chocolates
A Piemonte T shirt
Brochures about Piemonte and Banfi
AND CHOCOLATE TOOTHPASTE AND TOOTHBRUSH (you think the Piemonte dignitaries have a bunch of nieces and nephews coming to the US to set up dental practices?
)All in all a great time. The couple we sat next to changed their reservation from the California Grill Signature dinner to this one and they were a little concerned. But after the meal they were glad they came to this dinner.
Sorry it was so long and boring, but I warned you.
Ed
) said she throught they were something else. And, since I had all that wine and food the previous two days (food & wine pairings, Party for the Senses, hitting each food stand around the lagoon, some twice) I couldn't be sure of anything
