Day 3: Viva (Tutto) Italia!
After Coral Reef, we headed over to the Seas with Nemo because it was the only ride with less than a 10-minute wait. After Nemo, I guess between the heat and the crowds and the heavy meal, DGM just wanted to go back to the room and nap, so DM took her back to the GF while DSis and I went on TT...again. I wanted to venture over to WS, but DSis HATES WS (which causes many disagreements between us because it's my favorite part). She won this time by promising me a full afternoon there without complaining on our last Epcot day. DM joined us after getting DGM settled back in the hotel and we did a few more go-rounds on SSE and one on Soarin' before it was time to head over to WS for our 6:30 ADR at Tutto Italia.
I think Italy is one of the most gorgeous pavilions at WS. Tutto Italia was no exception. The oil paintings in the waiting-area reminded me of the paintings in DGM's old condo and the dining room was just as gorgeous (it reminds me of the Walnut Room, one of my favorite restaurants back home in Chicago). We checked in a bit early and were handed a beeper. It wasn't too busy (they were accepting walk-ins, but only for the small outdoor seating area, as the main dining area was accounted for with a full evening of ADR's) and we were quickly seated.
Our server was a very lovely lady from Sardinia. We talked about how we'd love to visit Italy and she told us of how she'd love to visit Chicago and is trying to get out there next year! As I've mentioned before, every restaurant has different "rules" on what you can order to drink on the DP and while we were able to order anything non-alcoholic at Coral Reef, here, it was soft drinks.
Out with our soft drinks (Diet Coke, of course, for DSis, DM mixed it up a bit and ordered an iced tea with me) came some bread, oil, and marinated vegetables. We saw another table with butter, but eating buttered bread at an authentic Italian restaurant is like...ordering steak at a seafood restaurant (oh, wait...
). The oil was the good kind that you typically are served with bread at mid- to upscale Italian restaurants. The veggies were delicious, but was a very small portion and we were not offered a refill (but, then again, we didn't ask, either).
DSis and DM both started with the Fresh Mozzarella (vine ripened tomatoes, basil and Tuscan olive oil). They both thought it was very good (the tomatoes were perfectly ripe, the oil was not too heavy and the basil didn't overpower the dish) and that the portion was more than ample.
I ordered the Proscuitto di Parma (ham with thin slices of seasonal melon). It was a layer of very flavorful and soft Parma ham served on top of an ample portion of thinly-sliced cantelope. It was very good. But it was also $18 if we weren't on the DxDDP and it wasn't really enough to be a starter for two or more people.
For her dinner, DSis had the Penne Caprese (crushed tomatoes, mozzarella cheese and basil) and thought on this, the basil was a bit too overpowering. She enjoyed it, otherwise. But, again, this entree was $24 if we weren't on the plan and it was just some penne with some tomatoes, cheese, and some basil.
DM had the Cannelloni al Forno (baked with spinach, ricotta, bechamel and parmesan cheese) which was very heavy. It was rich and delicious, and it looks like a small portion, but it's so heavy that she couldn't finish it.
I had the Bucatini Gratinati (with Italian prosciutto ham, peas and parmesan cream) because it sounded like a dish one of my favorite Italian haunts that left Chicago this past winter (RIP Tucci Benuch) and Oh.My.Gosh was this not one of the most delicious things I ate on this trip. The top was baked and crunchy but underneath it was creamy and sinfully rich. I didn't care how heavy it was or how full I was from lunch, I ate until I really couldn't eat much more. My only complaint on this was that the ham was cubed a bit thicker than I would have liked (I don't like ham other than prosciutto and this was thick enough that it tasted like regular ham and not the delicate kind of prosciutto that I enjoy so much).
We had a bit of a conundrum when it came time for dessert: we were all full, but the table next to us had gotten their desserts already and they all looked so good that not only were we full, but we wanted dessert anyways and we couldn't decide what we wanted! We decided to all order different things and share.
DSis ordered the Tiramisu (mascarpone cheese, espresso coffee, savoiardi biscuits and chocolate). It was surprisingly light and very tasty.
DM ordered the Zuppa Inglese (trifle cake with candied fruit, vanilla cream and meringue) and it, also, was very light and flavorful.
I ordered the Chocolate Torta (chocolate and hazelnut torte with whipped cream and raspberry sauce) and it was just too heavy. It reminded me of a flourless chocolate cake, but much more rich. The chocolate really overpowered the cake and I really didn't taste the hazelnut at all, which was a shame because that was one of the reasons I ordered it.
Overall, we thought Tutto Italia offered delicious food in a beautiful restaurant with a very personable staff. We're a bit upset that it probably won't be there on our next trip. The only qualm I have with Tutto Italia is that it has some of the highest prices in all of WDW for some of the smallest portions. Our pasta dishes were all $24 and the desserts were $9-$10 each for portions that aren't big enough to eat family-style and offset the prices. If we weren't on the dining plan, the prices would probably drive us to another restaurant. But we all agreed the food was VERY good, probably some of the best we ate on our trip (on a side note, my best friend was in Italy while we were in WDW and when we both got back, we were talking and looking at pictures and we agreed that she got the better scenery in Real Italy, but I got the better food in WS Italy).
After we finished, we walked along the WS Lagoon until we found a good viewing area for Illuminations. DSis only likes Wishes and never wants to see Illuminations. We've been to WDW three times since our last "big" trip there in 2001 and somehow, she's always talked me into going back to the hotel and I was determined to see it this time. We settled between Mexico and the WS entryway and it was the perfect viewing area.
After Illuminations, we made our way back to the GF to get some dinner for DGM if she was awake from her nap. We ended up saving the dining credit and buying her Roast Beef sandwich from Gasparilla's because she was tired and wasn't that hungry (she only made it through half the sandwich). But speaking of Gasparilla's, I think it's the most disappointing Grab-and-Go in all of the Disney Resorts. It's not nearly as nice as any of the other Grab-and-Go's (there are G-a-G's in Mod's that are much nicer and bigger than Gasparilla's) and the options there are really limited (not to mention the fact that there's constantly birds flying in and out and pooping on the tables!).
DM and DGM settled in for the night while DSis and I explored the resort a bit more. This is usually when we'd head out to the beach for some moonlit hammocking, but our hammock was gone
With that, we headed to bed, too.
Up next: A Very Merry Un-Breakfast at 1900 Park Fare!
I have no problem spending the money on Fine Dining, but $24 penne? I don't think so. Definitely would try it if on the 
in NOV
I had no idea they had it on the breakfast buffet, ok didn't know they had brownies at breakfast either. I'm thinking this is my kind of breakfast 
