SATURDAY OCTOBER 3
The Mostly Un-Festival Festival Weekend
Yes, I had a place reserved for the culinary demonstration scheduled to be done by Suvir Saran this afternoon. Dropped by there to see what was going on since it was reported that he had cancelled his appearance at the last minute. They did still have a demo, and it was going to be Indian, but I asked if it was possible to have my $5 refunded. It was doubtful, but to find out it would be necessary to stand at a very long line at the one desk manned by one person in the entire Festival center that deals with such things.
Wasnt going to stand in the line, so I thought Id see what was going on closer to 2:45.
I do not know what the moral implications are of skipping a pre-booked culinary demo because the chef cancelled and youre now not all that interested. (Not sure I care all that much either.) Sure, someone else may have wanted the ticket. But its only one ticket. And by the time the demonstration was to begin I was all the way across the park in Canada watching some men in skirts play guitars and bagpipes. So no, I did not go to the demo, and nobody got my ticket. Disney got $5 off me that way. This could be an issue with having demonstrations prebooked. I did decide at first I would not be booking any ahead of time just to have something to do only if I was interested in the presenter. But if the presenter cancels or doesnt show up or something, theres still the issue, because the schedule will continue without the presenter.
FREE DRINK, COLONEL: THE SAM ADAMS BEER TASTING
This is held outdoors and its surprisingly stuffy in the presentation area and they cram everyone in like sardines, but free beer is a draw. I think much of the audience had already been sampling Jim Kochs wares at the Hops & Barley booth anyway.
The four beers offered are Sam Adams Boston Lager, Sam Adams Light, Sam Adams Oktoberfest and Sam Adams 14th Anniversary Festival Brew. The 14th Anniversary brew is one of those beers with a hint of citrus and spice and some blackberry. It is not a wheat beer but it does look a bit like one. Went out and bought 12oz of this after the tasting. Its actually pretty good on a hot day. This was a really hot day. And in case you're thinking you will use that fancy beer tasting placemat to fan yourself while the beer guy talks, don't bother, it's glued to the table. But you do get a handy dandy Sam Adams bottle opener that doubles as a key chain, absolutely free.
for free beer. Free beer is always good.
CORK, IRELAND
This is pretty much the gamut in Ireland except for the lobster and scallop pie which I am still avoiding because of the lobster.
To the right: Warm Chocolate Lava Cake with Bailey's Ganache $2.7
(no it isnt a meatball)
Its actually really good. But its tiny. If not a quarter size, its no larger than a half dollar. Dont expect to share this unless really all you want is a taste.
It gets Lisa. It might have gotten a Burns but the size knocks it downward.
To the left: Kerrygold Cheese Selection: Aged-Irish Cheddar, Dubliner and Ivernia Cheese with Apple Chutney and Brown Bread $3.75
I think in contrast to the microscopic cake this has actually grown since last year. There are three types of cheeses included in big pieces. Plus fruit chutney, a slice of bread and some Irish butter. Unfortunately the butter was hiding under the cheese and I didnt get to put it on the bread, which is too bad because I think the bread was stale. It certainly wasnt that hard last year.
Once again, just misses the Burns because I didnt like the bread. I do like the chutney and thats a freakin lot of cheese.
Stuck in the middle with you: The glass is Bunratty mead (honey wine). Mead is pretty strong stuff and compared to a lot of festival pours this one was pretty generous. Cost: $4.25.
LA CAVA DEL TEQUILA: WHOS AFRAID OF THE BIG BAD CHIPOTLE
I can say that you can grab a margarita at The Ditch while the food and wine festival tasting event is going on. But be prepared to wait in a very long line. And they have everything for the tasting set up a good bit previously to its 3 pm start time so be aware if you want a margarita. Youll also get your marg in a plastic cup automatically because they want you to take it outside.
Ordered the naranja roja (blood orange) but noted that the pina y chipotle is missing the chipotle and is now only pina. The bartender I asked said there was no longer any chipotle on the menu because it scared people. So if you didnt try the pina y chipotle or the other marg that featured chipotle flavors within the last month, its now gone. I am glad I was able to try one before the chipotle disappeared.
So heres a Release the Hounds
for whoever banned the chipotle.
A TALE OF TWO DINNERS
One of the good thing about not being on any dining plan is that you can go for two dinners with two different sets of friends if you want to.
#1 San Angel Inn
Waterside table score! The view:
This is a Sopa de Azteca (Aztec soup). It is a chicken based broth with a lot of lime and maybe a hint of chipotle
poured over tortilla strips, cheese (I think jack cheese), some avocado and what I think might be some poblano pepper.
I really like this soup. I like the lime and peppers, and the melted cheese and avocado mingling in the bowl with crunchy tortilla. But I am sure it is not to everyones taste, so buyer beware.
Next: the duck taco. This was a dilemma as a bite was taken before the photograph. Its either: dont show the duck taco or commit one of the original sins of food porn and post a picture of food thats already been partially consumed. Add to that the fact that the pulled duck looks sort of messy. However, it tastes quite good, so here it is.
Chips & salsa: if you order them in The Ditch theyre $3.50 but they come with dinner in the Inn.
Also had a limon y jalapeno margarita. This one had a little heat to it, unlike the one I had last month. Id get that again to make up for the just plain pina back at the Ditch.
for this new version with more heat! Thats what kept it from getting Burnsed last time.
#2 Wolfgang Puck Café
This is the chefs sushi special spicy tuna roll with whitefish and salmon roe. Its really good! Had this with a glass of the old reliable MacMurray Ranch pinot noir which is turning up on a lot of the drink menus.
My friends who were on the dining plan walked out of there with tons of pretty desserts that they were too full to eat there, but me? I just had the sushi.
TOP OF THE WORLD LOUNGE
I have friends in high places (Bay Lake Tower) who could get me into the Top of the World Lounge even though I am staying at Old Key West myself.
The lounge is restricted to Disney Vacation Club members staying at Bay Lake Towers and their guests. And its really just beautiful. I mean, worthy of Vegas beautiful.
This is the drink I ordered: it is called a Vanilla Blossom. It does not taste like vanilla much. More like lemon. Id actually love it if theyd stick a vanilla bean in it but that would probably make it stinkin expensive. The lemon taste is quite clean though and not bad.
At least it didn't look messy. 
It is Valparaiso tho.... Indiana - not South America!! I know, my home town, and Orville!! We had a parade every Labor Day - he was Grand Marshal - even when he moved to sunny CA he came back for it!! Not Chile - NW Indiana!! 
Thank you for the pic!! I could care less about the bite mark!! Not that I'm a vampire or anything!! 
