Victoria & Albert's 10th Anniversary Celebration

[Conservative Hippie]

This is the story of our 10th anniversary. DH and I moved to Central Florida 6 years ago when he started working at Disney. At that time, we decided that we would go to Victoria & Albert's for our 10th anniversary. Now, he's a programmer and I am a SAHM, so while we are not struggling financially, we are still a single-income family and have to budget. So this trip to V&A's was very special for us. I almost cancelled our reservation several times just thinking the cost was way too much, being wasteful, etc, but I didn't. And I'm so glad!

I made our reservation back in February or March for our anniversary, June 7, at 5:30. I had my choice of times but we don't really like to eat late, plus we had to think about childcare for our two little ones. The Monday before our reservation someone called to confirm, and asked about allergies (I am allergic to cashews, pistachios, mangoes, and kiwi). Then Friday came! Our babysitter arrived at 4:00 and we were off to the Grand Floridian!

It sounds pretty corny but we were a little thrilled to get the car valeted. Honestly...we are 30-something and had never had a car valeted.

 

[Conservative Hippie]

BTW....before I finish the rest of it...someone please tell me if my photos show up!

 

[DisneyHardin]

Yes - I can see your pictures. Can't wait for the rest of your story.

 

[bowbat]

BTW....before I finish the rest of it...someone please tell me if my photos show up!

Photos show up. Can't wait to hear about it... and love your dress.

 

[Tinker12]

Great start! Really looking forward to the review! What a wonderful picture of the two of you!

 

[Conservative Hippie]

We walked around the Grand for a little bit before heading over to Victoria & Albert's. DH says he told the CM at the door our name, but I didn't hear him and it sounded to me like they knew who we were...so I was impressed! They took DH's umbrella and we were seated. I had a perfect view of the harpist, which, being a musician, made me very happy! When we were seated she was playing "Send in the Clowns" from A Little Night Music, and shortly after that played "Think of Me" from Phantom, and "On My Own" from Les Mis.

My bag got its own seat!

Beautiful surroundings...

About my photos...I only brought my iphone. The flash was on auto and sometimes it flashed and sometimes it didn't. I didn't see anyone else taking pictures, so that made me a little self-conscious, even though our server assured me that I could take as many pictures as I want. I also took a little video of the harpist playing some of my favorites.

 

[MissPrice]

Great start. Can't wait to read more. -Amanda

 

[Conservative Hippie]

We were seated and got our menus. Rather than try to block my name out of the menu, I just typed it up. Click here for the full menu.

On one side of the photo was our personalized menu, on the other side was the vegetarian menu. Our server explained we could choose either one, or pick from each side. It took us a long time to decide! Especially since we kept getting distracted by the harp, the gorgeous decor, and pretty much everything...

DH and I do not drink alcohol. For beverages I asked for a sweet tea and DH got root beer. The root beer was root beer. The tea however...

...was AWESOME! I am from Alabama. I know sweet tea. Being in Florida now I am used to being disappointed in the tea (except for at Chick-Fil-A). This was the best sweet tea I have ever had in my life. Really. The ice cubes were frozen tea. I went through about 6 glasses, I just could not stop drinking it. And I want some right now. After going through an entire glass of tea in about five minutes I was chilly and started to put DH's jacket around my shoulders...and our server brought a cashmere wrap for me instead! (Did not get a picture though.)

After we made our decisions, our server brought out the Amuse-Bouche. Vietnamese-style tuna spring roll, soba noodles, and tuna. Neither of us is very enthusiastic about tuna, and DH is even less enthusiastic about eating something so rare, but we both ate every bite. And it was GOOD.

 

[Conservative Hippie]

The first bread course was a warm French baguette with unsalted butter.

For salads, DH chose the Roasted Duck with Radish and Lavosh, and I chose the vegetarian salad, which I do not have a description of, but I remember something about artichokes and quinoa with black garlic aioli.

The duck was one of DH's top two courses of the night. It was topped with mangoes and the yellow on the plate is also a mango sauce. I was assured that it could be served to me without the mango, but DH and I had made a pact to never chose the same thing so we could try lots of dishes.

 

[darnheather]

Great thread!

 

[rachel09985]

great review so far! That tea IS amazing!

 

[Conservative Hippie]

Seafood course...this was a tough choice. In the end, DH chose the halibut, and I chose the asparagus from the vegetarian menu. I love seafood....but I also really love asparagus and could not pass up a chance to have some awesome asparagus in awesome butter. I don't have the full description, but it was truly awesome asparagus in awesome butter with capers. On one end is a caperberry. I've never had a caperberry and wasn't quite sure if it was for garnish or meant to be consumed...so DH consumed it...and made a face and quickly took a drink!

DH had the Alaskan Halibut with Yellow Tomato Bouillon and Almonds, which I tried and it was so good I had to keep from eating all of it! There were sliced white grapes!

Next came another bread. I had read here about an incredible black truffle brioche, so I was slightly disappointed when our bread was described to us as herb brioche with thyme and lemongrass and herb butter. But one bite and I was no longer disappointed. It was heaven. By far our favorite bread of the night! So buttery and soft with the most delicate crust...So good I ended up googling how to make brioche when I got home.

 

[Conservative Hippie]

The next course was an easy decision. DH got the Braised Oxtail and Cherry Ravioli with Roasted Red Peppers.

I chose the Veal Tenderloin and Cheek with Petite Celery. This was probably my favorite course of the night. Meat so tender you didn't need a knife at all. Although I did have to keep from morbidly giggling when the server described it with fava beans...

Third bread -- a dark multi-grain with salted butter. The server described this bread as made with grains the pastry chef brings over from his hometown in Austria. I was so full at this point I tried a bite and gave the rest to DH.

 

[Crew-JTA]

Great thread! You've convinced me. I'll make my ADR in the morning! It'll be a surprise for my DF (who will then be my DH) on our honeymoon. Getting married at WDW in December! Can't wait to read more about your magical dinner

 

[Conservative Hippie]

Before the main course I had to take another photo of the most delicious sweet tea of all time.

DH chose the Onion Ash Niman Ranch Lamb with Sause Soubise and Ramps. And, as described by our server, you can see it is topped with adorable baby turnips!

When we were going over previous menus we found online at home, DH had commented on this choice, "Meh, I can get lamb in Morocco" (referring to Epcot Morocco, not Morocco Morocco). But this lamb was soooooo much better! This was his other favorite of the night (along with the duck). I do not like lamb, it is too gamey, but this was GOOD. I also got a baby turnip! Now there are little lamb sausage thingies around the edge of the plate and I did not like those, but DH did.

I chose the Poulet Rouge with Hen of the Woods Mushrooms and Gnocchi.

This was described as free-range chicken from Virginia. It was boneless, but still had skin. Here is a tangent about me a bones...I do not eat meat on the bone. I was prepared to have to suck it up for this dinner, but not a single dish had bones!!!!! The chicken was rather large and I gave half of it to DH. Not because it wasn't good, but because I knew a souffle was coming later. I loved the mushrooms, especially the morels, and more white asparagus.

 

[darnheather]

Your chicken photo isn't showing up.

 

[Conservative Hippie]

Your chicken photo isn't showing up.

Thanks, I fixed it.

 

[asc]

nice. i certainly love V&A's. our little one still needs to get a little older until she can come with us again....our friend has worked there for years and i know he eats, sleeps and lives customer service and has done an outstanding job over the years....a true benefit to Disney. i would probably out myself if i dropped some names..

 

[Cricket05]

My DH and I went to V&A for my 30th Birthday and loved it. It truly is a special experience.

 

[christinou]

Can't wait to see the rest of your dinner, it looks wonderful