Foodie Guide to Lunar New Year Delights 2023

Foodie Guide By January 12, 2023 No Comments

Happy (almost) Lunar New Year! The Year of the Rabbit on the Chinese calendar and Year of the Cat on the Vietnamese calendar are just around the corner and to celebrate the exciting occasion, Disney Parks across the globe are serving up delightful dishes in honor of the new year. Be transported with each bite and sip as you taste the delicious flavors and traditions of Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese cultures.

From sweet indulgences to savory snacks, there’s something for everyone to enjoy at Disneyland Resort, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, and Shanghai Disney Resort. With the help of this Disney Eats Foodie Guide, you’ll get a sneak peek at all the Lunar New Year items that will help you and your stomach start off the new year on a happy (and full) note.

You can also taste your way through the Lunar New Year Celebration from Jan. 20 through Feb. 15, 2023. This returning favorite at Disney California Adventure park features six marketplaces, including two new ones – Bamboo Blessings and Wrapped with Love – with can’t-miss delights you’ll love! The festival fun also extends into the Downtown Disney District and the hotels of the Disneyland Resort with limited-time menu items.

And we don’t just have the food and drink items for you. We’ve got a special surprise for you – exclusive Disney Eats recipes from Hong Kong Disneyland Resort and Shanghai Disney Resort made by talented culinary masterminds, including Chef Damon and Chef Kevin. The Smiling Sesame Balls are a delicious dish to make for your very own celebrations at home! These popular bites are a traditional Lunar New Year snack in Guangdong and will leave you wanting more. They’re perfect for the whole family with a crispy outside and soft inside, making them delightfully addictive!

The Eight Treasure Rice Pudding from Shanghai Disney Resort combines traditional Chinese culture with an iconic Disney twist. This dish is typically served amongst families on the eve of the new year, with each element symbolizing harvest and blessings. Once you try this dish, you’ll be making it again and again.

Now the moment you’ve all been waiting for… Foodie Guide to the Lunar New Year celebrations!

Dessert offerings in Hong Kong Disneyland Resort
Hong Kong Disneyland Resort 
Disneyland Park 
Main Street Bakery (Available Jan. 13 through Feb. 12)
  • Duffy Mango Mochi Dessert Cup: Fresh mango, milk pudding, mochi, and edible gold leaf (New) 
  • Shellie May Red Bean Mochi Dessert Cup: Red bean, milk pudding, mochi, and edible gold leaf (New) 
Lo Hei dish and Iced Sweet Purple Potato Milk
Main Street Corner Cafe Hosted by Coca-Cola (Available Jan. 13 through Feb. 12)
  • Lo Hei served with Sesame Sauce and Chili Soy Sauce: Smoked salmon, cooked shrimp, abalone, carrot julienne, cucumber julienne, seaweed, Japanese turnip, Japanese ramen, crispy fritter, and deep-fried shallot served with sesame sauce and chili soy sauce
  • Iced Sweet Purple Potato Milk: Purple potato powder, fresh milk, honey, and milk top (Non-alcoholic) (New) 
Kyoto Grape & Hokkaido Milk 5.0 Soft-serve, Chinese Treasure Pot, Chinese New Year Platter with Peach Soda, and Golden Salted Eggs Flavored Popcorn.
Midtown Delights (Available Jan. 13 through Feb. 12)
  • Kyoto Grape & Hokkaido Milk 5.0 Soft-serve: Swirl soft serve in Kyoto Grape & Hokkaido Milk 5.0 flavor topped with a Stella Lou Lunar New Year-themed chocolate plate (New) 
Royal Banquet Hall (Available Jan. 13 through Feb. 12)
  • Chinese Treasure Pot: Abalone, sea cucumber, smoked duck breast, roasted chicken, shrimp in tomato sauce, broccoli, mushroom, fish ball, pork skin, and turnip with steam rice and Chinese tea (New)
Starliner Diner (Available Jan. 13 through Feb. 12)
  • Chinese New Year Platter: Seafood spring roll, pork dumpling, deep fried scallop, chicken wing, and nacho chip (New) 
  • Peach Soda: Peach, peach syrup, and soda water (New)
Outdoor Food Carts (Available Jan. 13 through Feb. 12)
  • Golden Salted Eggs Flavored Popcorn (New)
Prosperity Year Dinner Set and Chinese New Year Seasonal Dishes
Disneyland Hotel 
Crystal Lotus (Available Jan. 13 through Feb. 12)
  • Prosperity Year Dinner Set: Honey-glazed Iberic barbecue pork; roasted goose with lotus seeds, chilled beef shank with plum wine; double-boiled with sea whelk, cordyceps sinensis and maitake mushroom soup; baked king prawns with toasted cashew nuts; abalone with sea cucumber, black moss, dried oysters and shiitake mushrooms in casserole; steamed-spotted garoupa; crispy chicken served with preserved red bean curd; wok-fried sticky glutinous rice with abalone cubes and diced chinese air-dried meat; red bean sweet soup with glutinous rice dumplings; and lava custard sesame balls (New)
  • Chinese New Year Seasonal Dishes: Pan-fried candied golden oyster; braised fresh crab claw with shrimp mousse in supreme soup; wok-fried scallop with kale in preserved olive sauce; baked king prawns with toasted cashew nuts; and Mickey lotus seed paste bun (New) 
Candied Fruits Cookie
Shanghai Disney Resort
Shanghai Disneyland
CookieAnn Bakery Café (Available Jan. 13 through Feb. 10)
  • Candied Fruits Cookie (New) 
Spring Festival Afternoon Tea for Two and Spring Festival Family Feast Set
Mickey & Pals Market Café (Available Jan. 13 through Feb. 10)
  • Spring Festival Afternoon Tea for Two (New) 
Royal Banquet Hall (Available Jan. 13 through Feb. 10)
  • Spring Festival Family Feast Set (New) 
Disney StellaLou Train Popcorn Bucket and Donald Duck Tumbler
Outdoor Vending Carts (Available Jan. 13 through Feb. 10)
  • Disney StellaLou Train Popcorn Bucket (New) 
Quick-service Restaurants Throughout the Park (Available Jan. 13 through Feb. 10)
  • Donald Duck Tumbler (New) 
Eight Treasure Duck with Glutinous Rice
Shanghai Disneyland Hotel 
Lumière’s Kitchen
  • Mickey Pork Jelly (New) (Available Jan. 4 through Feb. 10) 
  • Eight Treasure Duck with Glutinous Rice (New) (Available Jan. 21 through Feb. 24)
Mickey Mouse-shaped Hot Dog Bun
Disneyland Resort 
Lunar New Year Celebration at Disney California Adventure Park 

For some added flavor to your celebrations, you can purchase the Sip and Savor Pass, which provides six coupons, redeemable for select food and nonalcoholic beverages at participating Lunar New Year Marketplaces and dining locations.

Bamboo Blessings
  • Mickey Mouse-shaped Hot Dog Bun: Brioche-style Mickey Mouse-shaped buns stuffed with hot dog and finished with sesame seeds and scallions
  • Mickey Mouse-shaped Purple Sweet Potato Macaron: Red macaron filled with purple sweet potato buttercream and a crème fraîche center
  • Young Master Brewery Pale Ale with mandarin and bergamot zest
  • Korea Four Sons Lunar New Year IPA
  • Master Gao Brewery Baby Jasmine Tea Lager
  • Three Weavers Brewing Co. Moon Rabbit: Golden stout with vanilla and Vietnamese cinnamon (New)
  • Stereo Brewing Co. Gingerine: Ginger wheat ale with tangerine, honey, and lemon juice (New)
  • Brewery X Green Tea Rice Lager (New)
  • Anderson Valley Brewing Co. Black Rice Ale (New)
  • Tsingtao Premium Lager (New)
  • Tsingtao topped with a frozen mango beer foam (New)
  • Lucky Flight: Tsingtao, Young Master Brewery, Stereo Brewing Co., and Three Weavers Brewing Co. (New)
  • Prosperity Flight: Four Sons Brewing Co., Master Gao Brewery, Brewery X, and Anderson Valley Brewing Co. (New)
  • Lotus Flower Glow Cube
Quesabirria Egg Roll and Mandarin Mousse Cake
Lucky 8 Lantern
  • Quesabirria Eggroll with Guajillo pepper consommé filled with Oaxaca cheese, beef birria, and a side of guajillo pepper consommé (New)
  • Mandarin Mousse Cake: Layers of mandarin mousse with vanilla cake and clementine compote finished with white chocolate crunch balls and a tangerine glaze (New) 
  • Coconut-Lavender Matcha Foam Iced Coffee: Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Co. French Bistro Blend, coconut milk, coconut cream, and white chocolate sauce garnished with lavender matcha, coconut foam, sea salt, and purple sanding sugar (Non-alcoholic) (New) 
  • Lotus Flower Glow Cube
Gochujang Elote, Red Spice Fried Chicken Bites, Guava Ginger Whiskey Cocktail, and Dancing Firecracker
Red Dragon Spice Traders
  • Gochujang Elote: Steamed corn on the cob rolled in gochujang aїoli and cotija cheese drizzled with spicy gochujang sauce (New)
  • Red Spice Fried Chicken Bites: Fried chicken chicharrones in spicy red chile sauce (New) 
  • Guava Whiskey Cocktail: Whiskey, ginger liqueur, guava nectar, coconut cream, and lime juice garnished with a lime wheel (New) 
  • Dancing Firecracker: Pineapple and lime juices, guava nectar, spicy honey, and house-made hibiscus syrup garnished with a lime wheel (New) 
  • Lotus Flower Glow Cube
Pork and Shrimp Wontons, Bok Choy & Mushroom Dumplings, Pineapple Baijiu Cocktail, and Grapefruit-Melon Wine Cocktail
Wrapped With Love
  • Pork and Shrimp Wontons with a black garlic sauce (New) 
  • Bok Choy & Mushroom Dumplings with a black garlic sauce (New) (Plant-based item)
  • Pineapple Baijiu Cocktail: Dark Rum, baijiu, Allspice Dram, pineapple and orange juices, and falernum syrup garnished with a dried red pineapple chip (New) 
  • Grapefruit-Melon Wine Cocktail: Sauvignon blanc, grapefruit liqueur, watermelon purée, rock melon syrup, and lime juice garnished with skewered grapes (New) 
  • Lotus Flower Glow Cube
Pepperoni Pizza Bao Bun, Char Siu BBQ Port Bao, Peach Yuja-Ade, and Lychee Celebration
Prosperity Bao & Bun
  • Pepperoni Pizza Bao Bun served with marinara (New)
  • Char Siu BBQ Pork Bao with pickled red onion and jalapeño
  • Peach Yuja-Ade: Yuja-lemongrass purée, dragon fruit and peach syrups, lemon juice, and butterfly pea flower tea garnished with a lemon wheel (Non-alcoholic)
  • Soju Peach Yuja Ade: Soju, yuja-lemongrass purée, dragon fruit and peach syrups, lemon juice, and butterfly pea flower tea garnished with a lemon wheel
  • Lychee Celebration: Gin, prosecco, lychee syrup, yuja-lemongrass purée, and grapefruit juice garnished with an edible purple orchid
  • Lotus Flower Glow Cube
Garlic Noodles, Spicy Pork DanDan Noodles, Raspberry Oat Milk Tea, and Lotus Flower Glow Cube
Longevity Noodle Co.
  • Garlic Noodles: Long noodles tossed in zesty garlic butter with parmesan
  • Spicy Pork DanDan Noodles: Pan-fried noodles with ground pork and spicy tri-chile sauce
  • Raspberry Oat Milk Tea: Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Co. Ceylon Tea, raspberry and demerara syrups, and oat milk garnished with skewered raspberries (New) 
  • Lotus Flower Glow Cube
Milk Tea Taro Cheesecake
Lunar New Year Offerings Throughout Disney California Adventure Park 
Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta
  • Milk Tea Taro Cheesecake: Milk tea cheesecake with a taro mousse (New) 
Surf & Turf Fried Rice, Sesame Seed Donuts, Pork Dumplings, and Lamplight Lounge Lunar New Year Cocktail
Lamplight Lounge
  • Surf & Turf Fried Rice: Five Spice-rubbed New York steak, sautéed shrimp, fried rice, ginger pea purée, and chile oil topped with a carrot salad (New) 
  • Sesame Seed Donuts: Donuts topped with sesame seed brittle and served with a kaya jam dipping sauce (New) 
  • Three Weavers Brewing Co. Seafarer Kolsch-style (New)
  • Lamplight Lounge Lunar New Year Cocktail: Han Soju, Aperitivo Aperol, carrot and orange juices, and cream of coconut garnished with a raspberry and mint (New) 
Lamplight Lounge – Boardwalk Dining
  • Pork Dumplings with Chinese broccoli, roasted mushrooms, Fresno chiles, and fried shallots (New)
  • Lamplight Lounge Lunar New Year Cocktail: Han Soju, Aperitivo Aperol, carrot and orange juices, and cream of coconut garnished with a raspberry and mint (New) 
Mango Sticky Rice
Lucky Fortune Cookery
  • Mango Sticky Rice: Taro and coconut sticky rice with mango gel, toasted coconut, and fresh mango (New) 
  • Lotus Flower Glow Cube
Magic Key Terrace
  • Pork Spare Ribs with peanut-chile sauce, Asian slaw, toasted peanuts, and crispy noodles (New) 
Green Tea Horchata and Dalton Coffee Bundt Cake
Pacific Wharf Cappuccino Cart (Mobile order available) 
  • Green Tea Horchata (New) 
  • Dalgona Coffee Bundt Cake: Coffee Bundt cake filled with sweet milk and topped with dalgona foam (New) 
White Chocolate Apple Bread Pudding
Pacific Wharf Café
  • White Chocolate Apple Bread Pudding: Granny Smith Apples and white chocolate with crème anglaise and whipped topping (New)
Kimchi Bokkeumbap, Shrimp Lo Mein, Dak Bulgogi, Tiger Milk Boba Tea, and Blackberry Soju Cocktail.
Paradise Garden Grill (Mobile order available)
  • Kimchi Bokkeumbap: Kimchi, potato, carrot, and onion fried rice with egg and Korean chili paste topped with crispy sweet and sour tofu and black sesame seeds (New) (Plant-based Item) 
  • Shrimp Lo Mein: Lo mein noodles tossed with shrimp, mushrooms, onions, carrots, and bok choy (New) 
  • Dak Bulgogi: Korean BBQ chicken served with rice and kimchi
  • Bánh Mì: Grilled pork belly with pickled carrots, cucumbers, daikon, and jalapeños with a spicy mayo
  • Sweet and Sour Whole Fish served with steamed rice and stir-fried vegetables (served family-style for two) (New) 
  • Tiger Milk Boba Tea with brown sugar (Non-alcoholic) (New) 
  • Hite Beer
  • Blackberry Soju Cocktail: Soju, blackberry purée, and lemon juice with a hint of ginger (New) 
  • Lotus Flower Glow Cube (
Sonoma Terrace (Mobile order available)
  • Pad Thai Spring Roll: Shrimp with scrambled eggs, noodles, crushed peanuts, and Thai basil served with tangy slaw and pad Thai sauce (New) 
Almond Cookie Churro and Baked Coconut Almond Nian Gao.
Goofy’s Churro Cart 
  • Almond Cookie Churro coated in cookie crumble and topped with almond icing (New) 
Chicken Bao and Teriyaki Turkey Leg
Outdoor Food Carts (Available Jan. 19 through Feb. 12) 
  • Chicken Bao: Steamed bao with chicken, butternut squash, and lime served with a spicy red curry sauce (New)
  • Teriyaki Turkey Leg (New) 
  • Baked Coconut Almond Nian Gao: Baked sticky rice cake topped with coconut and almonds (New) 
  • Purple Grape Cotton Candy
  • ACE High! Hard Cider Imperial Apple Cider
  • Master Gao Brewery Puffed Rice Chinese Pale Ale
Disneyland Resort Hotels
Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa 
Hearthstone Lounge
  • Rabbit Firecracker: Spiced rum, orange brandy, lemon oil, honey, and black tea garnished with star anise and pink peppercorns (New)
Lunar New Year Cookie and Assorted Pretzel Cookies
GCH Holiday Cart 
  • Lunar New Year Cookie (New) 
  • Assorted Pretzel Sticks
Storyteller’s Café 
  • Offering Lunar New Year-inspired offerings such as fried rice and spring rolls
Disneyland Hotel
Goofy’s Kitchen 
  • Offering Lunar New Year-inspired offerings such as fried rice and spring rolls
Year of The Rabbit CrazyShake, Pork Belly Bao Bun, Kung Pan Paella, and Lunar Eclipse Cocktail
Downtown Disney District 
Black Tap Craft Burgers & Shakes (Available Jan. 20 through Feb. 15) 
  • Year of The Rabbit CrazyShake: Vanilla-frosted rim with red and gold sixlet, Chinese zodiac rabbit vanilla cupcake, red and gold rock candy, whipped cream, red sprinkles, and caramel drizzle
Catal Restaurant (Available Jan. 20 through Feb. 15)
  • Pork Belly Bao Bun: Pork belly, soy Gochujang glaze, baby mixed greens, spring onions, spicy mayo, and charred lemon (New)
  • Kung Pao Paella: Valenciano paella rice, kung pao chicken, lemon vinaigrette, spring onions, water chestnuts, roasted peppers, roasted peanuts, and chiles (New) 
  • Lunar Eclipse: Gin, cherry liqueur, triple sec, lime juice, pineapple juice, grenadine, and bitters and topped with soda and gold glitter (New) 
Mad Dumplings Food Truck (Available Jan. 13 through Feb. 5, starting at 3 p.m. daily) 
  • Food truck serving unique dumplings and rice dishes (New) 
Firecracker Chicken Pizza and Lunar New Year Margarita
Naples Ristorante e Bar (Available Jan. 20 through Feb. 15)
  • Firecracker Chicken Pizza: Hoisin, mozzarella cheese, marinated chicken, carrot strings, and a firecracker sauce drizzle topped with a sliced green onion garnish (New) 
  • Lunar New Year Margarita: Tequila blanco, pomegranate juice, lime juice, agave, and simple syrup with a pinch of salt (New) 
Lunar New Year Red Box and New Year Sunrise
Sprinkles (Available Jan. 16 through 29)
  • Lunar New Year Gold Bunny Almond Red Velvet: Red velvet cake with slivered almonds lined with an almond cookie crust and topped with almond cream cheese frosting (Available while supplies last.) 
  • Lunar New Year Red Box: Three Lunar New Year Gold Bunny Almond Red Velvet cupcakes, Three Almond Red Velvet cupcakes, Three Dark Chocolate cupcakes, Three Strawberry cupcakes, and Eight Limited-edition red envelopes (Available while supplies last.)
Tortilla Jo’s (Available Jan. 20 through Feb. 15)
  • Asian Tuna Nachos: Tuna marinated 24 hours in a Vietnamese-style sauce with diced tomatoes, green onions, cilantro, sesame seeds, avocado cream, Asian spiced aïoli, and Vietnamese-style glazed sauce (New)
  • New Year Sunrise: Rum, grenadine, lime juice, orange juice and pineapple juice (New) 
Uva Bar & Cafe (Available Jan. 20 through Feb. 15)
  • Lunar Eclipse: Gin, cherry liqueur, triple sec, lime juice, pineapple juice, grenadine, and bitters topped with soda and gold glitter (New) 

There you have it – the Foodie Guide to Lunar New Year 2023! I hope you’re as excited as I am to be transported into different cultures through flavor during the Year of the Rabbit.

Be sure to check out our Disney Eats Topics Page to stay up-to-date on all the other foodie news going on at Disney Parks. And don’t forget to use #DisneyEats and follow us on Instagram to share your own culinary favorites.

Happy Lunar New Year!

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Review: Chipotle Chicken Flautas Frontera Cocina Disney Springs

Restaurant Reviews By January 11, 2023 Tags: , , , , , , , No Comments

Have you ever had a craving for some cheese-filled, sour cream-covered Tex-Mex food? What about some chips and salsa? Some queso sounds good with a side of rice and beans, too. If you have lived in areas with a prominence of Tex-Mex style food, you can relate a little. However, when I crave Tex-Mex-style cuisine, I never think I am enjoying authentic Mexican cuisine. Authentic Mexican food shares some traits with Tex-Mex, but it looks and often tastes very different. Rick Bayless, the celebrity chef, knows this difference very well. His Disney Springs restaurant, Frontera Cocina, offers authentic Mexican cuisine. During a recent visit, I ordered the “Chipotle Chicken Flautas” from there.

Frontera cocina

Rick Bayless could be declared famous in the culinary world for many reasons. His primary connection with the theme park world would be his restaurant, Frontera Cocina, in Disney Springs. This restaurant offers flavors from all over the regions of Mexico. A dining experience at Frontera Cocina Mexicana allows guests to explore all types of Mexican food. Guests will also experience that the cuisine here will look different from the Tex-Mex described earlier. Guests should expect more upscale Mexican dining. While I appreciate the world of Tex-Mex Dining, a meal here will be at a different level and price point.

Frontera cocina

On one trip to Disney Springs, I looked for a table service option for a light meal. After examining my options this weeknight, I decided to visit Frontera Cocina. Being a solo diner, I found a seat at the bar. I perused the appetizer menu for a light meal. I ordered the Chipotle Chicken Flautas for $15. These consist of crispy chipotle chicken tortilla flautas, Chihuahua cheese, red beans, and roasted tomatillo-avocado salsa. They are then garnished with crema, Cotija cheese, and fresh herbs. A serving of salsa verde accompanies these flautas also.

Frontera cocina

Like most items here, the presentation earns high marks. When this plate arrives, you know you are not at some average Tex-Mex place but an authentic Mexican restaurant. These flautas come with plenty of extra toppings. One should expect something other than a basic flauta when ordering here. Due to the toppings, these flautas might be challenging to eat without silverware.

The salsa verde tastes excellent. Yet, guests who expected a red Tex-Mex style salsa might not enjoy this. You receive three flautas with your order. These flautas will be corn tortilla based. Some guests dislike corn tortillas in terms of texture and taste so prepare for that. I found the corn tortilla flavor to be enjoyable. The flautas contain a well-constructed flavor-bursting filling. Mixing the cheese, sauce, tortilla, and other components displays solid Mexican table service quality. The right amount of crunch and creaminess balances these out nicely. One should not have complaints about the multiple excellent flavors with these flautas. The topping, tortillas, and filling create a wonderfuil dining adventure.

Frontera cocina

The critical issue with Frontera Cocina rarely involves the quality of food. The price point raises questions about the value of the meals here. For example, I received three flautas. Do those offer enough value for $15 plus tax and tip? When you factor in that these might not be easily sharable, one wonders about the worth of purchasing these. Frontera Cocina struggles with this price point negative image since they charge $5 for chips and salsa. Most people associate this type of cuisine with complimentary chips and salsa, so for first-time guests, this creates confusion. However, everyone around me ordered chips and salsa on the night I went. In a previous review, I purchased chips and salsa.

 

The dining experience at Frontera Cocina always succeeds in being a good event. However, I cannot assess if dining here is good value for you. Yet, if you are looking for authentic Mexican food, you will have a tough time beating this place. The question involves whether you desire authentic Mexican cuisine or if “Americanized” Mexican food will suffice. If you are looking for the flavors of the regions of Mexico, these flautas will provide that. Just be prepared to pay more than you do in your local town for Mexican cuisine. As always, eat like you mean it!

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Downtown Disney District Welcomes Back Earl of Sandwich this February, More District Updates

News By January 10, 2023 No Comments

This year is set to be another full of magic here at the Disneyland Resort with so much to see and do. In just a few short days, the Lunar New Year celebration kicks off at Disney California Adventure park (Jan. 20 – Feb. 15, 2023), followed by the Disney100 Celebration at the Disneyland Resort beginning Jan. 27, 2023, and so much more! Over in the Downtown Disney District, they’re also gearing up for some amazing projects on the horizon.

Earl of Sandwich

For those of you who crave delicious, handcrafted sandwiches, you will be delighted to learn that the fan-favorite Earl of Sandwich will be returning to the Downtown Disney District this February! Soon you can once again look forward to one of their hot sandwiches on artisan bread, with grab-and-go options at Earl of Sandwich or table service options at Earl of Sandwich Tavern, both of which will be temporarily located at the La Brea Bakery location. La Brea Bakery is exiting the restaurant business after two decades of partnership in the Downtown Disney District. Keep your eyes peeled for Earl of Sandwich opening in the coming weeks!

And that’s not all for the east side of Downtown Disney District – as we previously shared at D23 Expo, Porto’s Bakery will be bringing their famous Cheese RollsCalifornia-Cuban cuisine and more to the district. Plans are underway to design and construct an all-new Porto’s location near the Esplanade on the footprint of the La Brea Bakery location. We look forward to sharing more about these exciting plans in the future.

As we look to the heart of the Downtown Disney District, Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen continues the evolution of their location into Jazz Kitchen Coastal Grill & Patio. Soon, you’ll be able to enjoy the open, warm and welcoming ambiance across the outdoor patios, veranda and dining rooms. In fact, recent diners have already begun to enjoy the updated second floor space! Jazz Kitchen’s “all-day” menu will feature the popular Pasta Jambalaya and Gumbo Ya-Ya, plus fresh riffs using coastal-inspired ingredients like the new open-faced Grilled Lobster BLT Po’ Boy, pictured above. Signature hand-crafted beignets will continue to be a staple, with an expanded menu including specialty glazed beignets that are dipped, drizzled and sprinkled in jazzy signature and seasonal flavor combinations. Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen is closed for a short time to accommodate continued work in the first floor dining space and will debut its exciting new look and menu soon!

Disney Home and WonderGround Gallery are temporarily closed to accommodate some behind-the-scenes interior construction. But don’t worry, you can easily head over to World of Disney to pick up some favorite home decor, and enjoy a temporary pop-up WonderGround Gallery location near Star Wars Trading Post for fantastic artwork and prints!

Concept art for the Din Tai Fung restaurant coming to Downtown Disney District

And to end this Downtown Disney District update on one more delicious note, we’re super excited to reveal another look at concept art for the Din Tai Fung restaurant, which will open on the west side of the district in the future. I for one can’t wait to enjoy some dumplings in this incredible new space!

The Downtown Disney District continues to evolve and add amazing new locations and exciting offerings. Stay tuned for even more tasty treats and big reveals later this year!

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Review: Fried Chicken & Doughnuts Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ Disney Springs

Restaurant Reviews By January 8, 2023 Tags: , , , , , , , , No Comments

On Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ website, you can learn important information about the Disney Springs restaurant. On that website, they declared that “THE COMFORT FOOD IS CALLING YOUR NAME. OR MAYBE IT’S THE MOONSHINE.”  If it is comfort food, then the chicken here calls to many people. Since this is Walt Disney World, we know “the magic is calling.” I suspect some version of Disney magic happens with the Homecomin’ kitchen. Clearly, Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ generates some delicious chicken. If you desire comfort food, they also offer their own play on chicken and waffles. Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ offers “Fried Chicken & Doughnuts.”

Photo courtesy of Main Street Magic podcast

Yes, you read that correctly. The concept of fried chicken & doughnuts can be found in many places. Yet, one of the best versions resides at Homecomin’. Of course, people claim the comfort food style at Homecomin’ calls their name. Once again, that could just be the moonshine talking. The “Fried Chicken & Doughnuts” entrée here consists of two pieces of Chef Art Smith’s famous fried chicken served with house-made sugar doughnuts and a choice of side item. This item comes with a price tag of $32.

The server suggested side usually is mashed potatoes. I recommend mac and cheese, but you have numerous choices here. This entrée comes with syrup mixed with your chicken and Everglazed doughnuts. I have also seen it come out with some sawmill gravy, especially when having mashed potatoes as a side. Depending on when you order this, you may get one large doughnut or two small doughnuts.

Fried Chicken & Doughnuts

Okay, before discussing the pros and cons of this entrée, I need to mention an essential detail for your planning. Always be careful since Disney’s online menu for this place tends to lag far behind the actual in-person menu. For example, I know one appetizer no longer appears on the menu at the beginning of August. Yet, I can still find it on Disney’s online menu as of mid-December. I suggest always going to the official Homecomin’ website for menu information, especially pricing. That one tends to be very accurate.

So how does this version of comfort food taste? As you might expect here, the meat brings high-quality preparation and flavor. The breading offers excellent flavor based on the preparation method. In addition, the skin remains light and crispy. For fried chicken, this variety creates a limited greasy feeling. Sure, there is some greasy feeling but less than you would expect. The breading is light and crispy. The doughnuts bring the desired Everglazed flavor. They arrive soft and warm. Some guests like to combine a bit of chicken, some doughnut, and syrup in every complete for a whole experience. Whichever way you choose to enjoy this entrée, expect plenty of flavors.

Fried Chicken & Doughnuts

On a less positive note, the price point might lead one to doubt if this is worth it. In fairness, I generally choose other entrées here over this one based on price point. Still, the high quality and uniqueness of this entrée might be worth the price point. In addition, everything comes out very warm. I struggle to decide which part t, fearing it might cool down too much. Maybe that explains why people suggest eating all components of this savory and sweet entrée together.

I have three other reminders for when you visit Homecomin’.  First, the service here is very polite and thoughtful but can be slow even by southern USA levels. Second, this place offers a military discount, even on alcohol. Third, reservations can be tough to get here. Please be ready at 5:45 am Florida time 60 days in advance and/or use an advance dining reservation service like MouseDining..

Fried Chicken & Doughnuts

Sure, the moonshine could be calling you. Yet, comfort food like Fried Chicken & Doughnuts attracts many people also. Whatever calls you here, enjoy your time at Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’. As always, eat like you mean it!

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Foodie Guide to the 2023 EPCOT International Festival of the Arts

Foodie Guide By January 5, 2023 No Comments

Calling all festival fans and foodies! The EPCOT International Festival of the Arts presented by AT&T is just around the corner. From Jan. 13 through Feb. 20, 2023, this festival will celebrate the creation and beauty of cuisines, music, and, of course, art.

This year, the chefs and mixologists have crafted works of art for you to indulge in. With nearly 15 Food Studios, there are plenty of returning favorites, like the classic Wild Mushroom Risotto, as well as new treats premiering on the foodie stage, like the Hummingbird Cake from The Artist’s Table. As you eat your way around the World Showcase, be sure to pick up a Festival Passport to take part in the Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine, a returning food stroll featuring culinary delights. With each bite, collect stamps by purchasing five of these decadent dishes to redeem a special prize from Deco Delights to enjoy.

Fruity Fig Bar Figment Disney Munchling and Figment Popcorn Bucket

If you love Figment, you’re in luck, because the festival is giving our favorite imagination fan some extra love. New this year, you can explore Figment’s Inspiration Station at the Odyssey: Art, Food, and Little Sparks of Magic. And not only that, but you can bring home Figment with the brand-new Fruity Fig Bar Figment Disney Munchling. This adorable, limited-edition Disney Munchling features the sweet smell of berries and can be found both at the merchandise locations at the festival and on shopDisney. And the Figment Premium Popcorn Bucket is back, but this year with a new EPCOT 40thAnniversary strap! As you can see, there’s plenty of Figment to go around.

I think you’ve waited long enough. I present to you the Disney Eats Foodie Guide to EPCOT International Festival of the Arts presented by AT&T!

Tomato Soup with grilled cheese, and Almond Frangipane Cake layered with raspberry jam and Belgian chocolate.

Pop Eats (Near Port of Entry)

Food Items:

  • Tomato Soup with grilled cheese
  • Tomato Soup with pimento cheese, bacon, and fried green tomato grilled cheese (New) 
  • Almond Frangipane Cake layered with raspberry jam and Belgian chocolate (Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine Item) 

Beverages:

  • Brooklyn Brewery Pulp Art Hazy IPA
  • Bleu Spectrum: Blanc de Bleu Cuveé Mousseux with boba pearls
Deconstructed BLT and Deconstructed Key Lime Pie

The Deconstructed Dish (Near Port of Entry)

Food Items: 

  • Deconstructed BLT: Pork belly, soft-poached egg, onion bread pudding, watercress espuma, and tomato jam
  • Deconstructed French Onion Soup: Beef broth ravioli, gruyère cream, onion bread pudding, and onion textures
  • Deconstructed Key Lime Pie: Flexible Key lime curd, “Key lime” mousse, graham cracker cake, and meringues (Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine Item) 

Beverages:

  • Deconstructed Apple Pie à la Mode: Apple-cinnamon gelato, cinnamon apple cider, apple pie filling, and streusel (Non-alcoholic)
  • Wicked Weed Brewing Blank Canvas Belgian Blonde Witbier
Dulce Chocolate Mousse and Orange Mousse

Deco Delights (Near Port of Entry) 

Food Items:

  • Dulce Chocolate Mousse with chocolate crémeux and dark chocolate truffle
  • Decadent Valrhona Chocolate with dark chocolate mousse, chocolate brownie, and cassis mousse
  • Orange Mousse with Lemon Cake and Raspberry Meringues (Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine Item) 

Beverages:

  • 3 Daughters Brewing Strawberry Blonde Nitro
  • 81Bay Brewing Co. Vanilla Porter
  • Playalinda Brewing Co. Milk Stout
  • Espresso Martini featuring Boyd & Blair Potato Vodka (New) 
  • Neapolitan Beer Flight
Beef Wellington and Cast Iron-roasted P.E.I Mussels

The Craftsman’s Courtyard (Near Creations Shop)

Food Items:

  • Beef Wellington: Mushroom duxelles, prosciutto, and puff pastry with red wine demi-glace and baby vegetables
  • Cast Iron-roasted P.E.I. Mussels with sautéed tomatoes, garlic, and fresh herbs

Beverages:

  • BrewDog Jet Black Heart Nitro Oatmeal Stout (New)
  • Cold Fashion Coffee Cocktail
Plant-based Bratwurst with spicy turmeric aïoli, coffee barbecue jackfruit, and slaw

Refreshment Outpost

Food Items:

  • Plant-based Bratwurst with spicy turmeric aïoli, coffee barbecue jackfruit, and slaw (Plant-based item) 
  • Artist Palette Jumbo Chocolate Chip Cookie
  • Soft-serve Waffle Cone: DOLE Whip, salted-caramel soft-serve, or swirl

Beverages:

  • Ivanhoe Park Brewing Co. Berries & Cream Sour Berliner (New) 
  • Left Hand Brewing Co. Wook Bait IPA (New)
  • Central 28 Beer Company Wall Art Brown Ale
Red Wine-braised Beef Short Rib and Black Forest Cake

Pastoral Palate (Germany) 

Food Items:

  • Red Wine-braised Beef Short Rib with parsnip purée, broccolini, baby tomatoes, and aged balsamic
  • Wild Boar Cassoulet with duck confit, ham hock, and wild boar sausage
  • Black Forest Cake: Chocolate Mousse with morello cherries and Chantilly cream (New) 

Beverages:

  • 3 Daughters Brewing Rosé Hard Cider
  • 81Bay Brewing Co. Rosé Blonde Ale
  • Frozen Rosé
  • A Play on Rosé Flight
  • Marietta Old Vine Rosé
Three-Meat Meatloaf and Hummingbird Cake

The Artist’s Table (The American Adventure)

Food Items:

  • Three-Meat Meatloaf with “Peas and Carrots”: Green pea pudding, carrot ketchup, shaved carrot salad, and snap peas (New)
  • Duck and Dumplings: Smoked duck breast, ricotta dumplings, petite vegetables, and duck jus (New) 
  • Hummingbird Cake: Banana cake with pineapple, coconut, pecans, and cream cheese frosting with banana sorbet (New) 

Beverages:

  • Sipping Chocolate Flight: White, milk, and dark chocolates (Non-alcoholic)
  • Boulevard Brewing Co. Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale (New)
  • Parish Brewing Co. South Coast Session Amber Ale (New) 
  • Brewery Ommegang Three Philosophers Belgian Quad (New) 
  • Lange Estate Winery Pinot Noir
  • Symphony in Chocolate Flight: Mozart Chocolate Liqueurs paired with sipping chocolates
  • Beer Flight
Carrots Three Ways and House-made Crispy Almond Phyllo Pockets

Tangierine Café: Flavors of the Medina (Morocco)

Food Items: 

  • Carrots Three Ways: Chermoula-spiced grilled carrots, pickled carrots, and carrot ginger purée (Plant-based item) (Gluten/ Wheat Friendly) 
  • House-made Crispy Almond Phyllo Pockets with white chocolate pomegranate and milk chocolate orange

Beverages: 

  • Chai Tea Mint Sparkler featuring Twinings Chai Tea with Sprite (Non-alcoholic)
  • Stem Ciders Flockstar Hard Cider
  • Blake’s Hard Cider Co. Mule de Pomme: Pomegranate, ginger, and lime hard cider
  • 3 Daughters Brewing Chai Hard Cider
  • Chai Tea Mint Mimosa featuring Twinings Chai Tea with Key lime sparkling wine and mint
  • Cider Flight
Spicy Ajiaco Soup and Passion Fruit Mousse

Vibrante & Vívido: Encanto Cocina (Between Morocco & France) 

Food Items:

  • Chorizo and Potato Empanada with turmeric aïoli and annatto aïoli (Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine Item) 
  • Spicy Ajiaco Soup with guajillo and árbol chili-spiced chicken, potato, avocado, corn, and crème fraîche (Gluten/ Wheat Friendly)
  • Passion Fruit Mousse with dragon fruit jam (Gluten/ Wheat Friendly) 

Beverages:

  • Coconut and Passion Fruit Smoothie (Non-alcoholic)
  • Frozen Piña Colada
  • Passion Fruit Daiquiri
Artist Palette Jumbo Chocolate Chip Cookie

Refreshment Port (Near Canada)

Food Items:

  • Gnocchi Poutine with red wine-braised beef, cheese curds, basil, and burrata
  • Artist Palette Jumbo Chocolate Chip Cookie
  • Soft-serve Waffle Cone: DOLE Whip Strawberry, DOLE Whip Lemon, or swirl

Beverages:

  • Blood Orange Cosmo: Boyd & Blair Potato Vodka with blood orange, cranberry, and lime
  • Boulevard Brewing Co. Quirk Blueberry Lemon & Lavender Hard Seltzer (New) 
Blood Orange-braised Beet and Roasted Bone Marrow

Gourmet Landscapes (Canada) 

Food Items: 

  • Blood Orange-braised Beet Tartare with mustard vinaigrette, pickled clamshell mushrooms, and golden beets (Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine Item) (Plant-based Item) (Gluten/ Wheat Friendly) 
  • Roasted Bone Marrow with onion marmalade, pickled mushrooms, and petite lettuce
  • Wild Mushroom Risotto with aged Parmesan, truffle shavings, and zinfandel reduction

Beverages:

  • Whole Hog Brewery Raspberry Chéret Double Radler
  • Schlumberger Cuvée Klimt Brut
  • The Meeker Vineyard Winemaker’s Handprint Merlot
  • Frozen Rusty Nail Cocktail
Compressed Watermelon Tataki, Angry Crab, Pan-seared Scallops, and The Tropics

Moderne (Near Test Track)

Food Items:

  • Compressed Watermelon Tataki with pickled watermelon rind, yuzu pearls, watermelon foam, and wasabi (New) (Plant-based Item)
  • Angry Crab: Whole crispy soft-shell crab with green papaya salad, mango-sriracha fluid gel, and coconut-lime foam with pomegranate and mango crush pearls (New) 
  • Pan-seared Scallops with vanilla-butternut squash purée, brown butter cauliflower purée, and lime foam (Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine Item) 
  • The Tropics: Lilikoi mousse, guava cake, coconut crémeux, compressed pineapple, and mango gel (New)

Beverages:

  • Watermelon Mary featuring Boyd & Blair Potato Vodka (New) 
  • J. Lohr Riesling (New) 
Pop’t Art: Sugar Cookie and Rainbow Cake

Figment’s Inspiration Station at the Odyssey: Art, Food, and Little Sparks of Magic

Food Items:

  • Fruit Pizza: Watermelon, compressed cantaloupe, berries, and berry balsamic (New) (Plant-based Item) (Gluten/ Wheat Friendly)
  • Pop’t Art: Sugar Cookie with blueberry filling (Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine Item) 
  • Rainbow Cake with freeze-dried SKITTLES bite sized candies
  • Figment Premium Popcorn Bucket with rainbow popcorn (Limit 2 per person) 

Beverages:

  • Grape Smoothie with freeze-dried SKITTLES bite sized candies (Non-alcoholic) (New) 
  • 3 Daughters Brewing Black Cherry Hard Cider (New)
  • 3 Daughters Brewing Blood Orange Hard Cider (New)
  • 3 Daughters Brewing Passion Fruit Hard Cider (New)
  • Rainbow Cider Flight (New)
  • 81Bay Brewing Co. Green with Envy Blonde Ale (New)
  • 81Bay Brewing Co. Blue Butterfly Lager (New)
  • Urban Artifact The Gadget Raspberry & Blackberry Midwest Fruit Tart (New)
  • Rainbow Beer Flight (New)
Figment Liege Waffle and Dusk ‘Til Dawn

Connections Café 

Food Item: 

  • Figment Liege Waffle (New) 

Connections Eatery

Beverage: 

  • Dusk ‘Til Dawn: Three Olives Blueberry Vodka, lemonade, and orange juice with cotton candy
Crème de Brie en Petit Pain,	Croissant à la Truffle Noir d’Hiver, Mille-Feuille de Betteraves, and Moelleux aux Noisettes et Chocolats Valrhona

L’Art de la Cuisine Française (France)

Food Items:

  • Crème de Brie en Petit Pain: Warm creamy brie in a house-made bread bowl
  • Croissant à la Truffle Noir d’Hiver: Black winter truffle croissant
  • Mille-Feuille de Betteraves aux Herbes et Noix de Cajoux: Plant-based napoleon with beets, cashew-herb filling, pepper-pine nut sauce, and balsamic vinegar caviar (New) (Plant-based Item) 
  • Moelleux aux Noisettes et Chocolats Valrhona: Molten chocolate and hazelnut cake with pure origin Valrhona chocolates and passion fruit-mango sauce

Beverages:

  • Frozen French Martini: Grey Goose Vodka, vodka, chambord liqueur, pineapple, orange, and grape juices with lemon-lime foam
  • Charles Lafitte, Brut Rosé Prestige, Méthode Traditionnelle Champenoise, French Rosé Sparkling Wine
  • Domaine Raphaël Sallet, Mâcon-Uchizy Les Maranches 2020, Chardonnay, Mâconnais, Burgundy (New)
  • Cîroc Sunset Citrus Vodka Spritz (New) 
Carne Asada and Flan de Coco

El Artista Hambriento (Mexico)

Food Items:

  • Carne Asada: Chipotle-marinated beef sirloin, sweet potato purée, and crispy-fried onions (New) 
  • Huarache de Champiñones: Guajillo chile and corn masa huarache with pinto beans, oyster mushrooms, Nopales, queso fresco, and pea tendrils (New) 
  • Flan de Coco: Coconut flan, guava sauce, and whipped cream (New) (Gluten/ Wheat Friendly) 

Beverages:

  • Mexican Craft Beer: Cielito Lindo Artisanal Mexican Craft Beer
  • Bombon Margarita “Marshmallow”: Ilegal Mezcal Reposado, marshmallow cordial, lime juice, agave nectar and a hint of coffee and elderflower served with a toasted marshmallow (New)
  • Las Californias: Tromba Blanco Tequila, strawberry-lime purée, and Las Californias Citrus Mexican Gin (New)
Rainbow Katsu Sando and Ichigo Daifuku

Goshiki (Japan)

Food Items:

  • Rainbow Katsu Sando: Pork cutlet sandwich with tangy tonkatsu sauce and cabbage in rainbow sweet bread (New)
  • Sushi Donut: Donut-shaped sushi featuring salmon, tuna, shrimp, cucumber, and sesame seed over a decorated plate of wasabi aïoli, sriracha aïoli, and eel sauce
  • Ichigo Daifuku: Mixed berry mochi, sweet azuki bean paste, and mascarpone (New)

Beverages:

  • Sui Sui Watercolor Lager (New)
  • Masu Sake in a traditional personalized wooden cup
  • Purple Yuzu Sake Lemonade: Sake cocktail infused with butterfly pea flower and yuzu lemonade (New)
General Tso’s Chicken Shumai and Char Siu Pork Bun

The Painted Panda (China)

Food Items:

  • General Tso’s Chicken Shumai
  • Char Siu Pork Bun

Beverages:

  • “Panda” Bubble Milk Tea with black tea, milk, chocolate, and tapioca boba pearls (Non-alcoholic)
  • Lucky Foo Pale Ale
  • Silk Road Hard Lemonade with Smirnoff Vodka, lavender-coconut syrup, and lemonade (New)
  • Sea Butterfly: Butterfly Pea Flower-infused cocktail with Smirnoff Vodka, light rum, lychee syrup, and magic boba pearls
Mozzarella Fritta and Ravioli ai Funghi

L’Arte di Mangiare (Italy)

Food Items:

  • Mozzarella Fritta: Flash-fried breaded fresh mozzarella with artist palette condiments (New)
  • Ravioli ai Funghi, Perle Tartufate: Wild mushroom-stuffed pasta with truffle butter and truffle pearls (New)
  • Budino al Cioccolato: Chocolate pudding with colorful chocolate décor (New)

Beverages:

  • Peroni Pilsner
  • Chianti
  • Prosecco
  • Italian Sangria Red or White
  • Italian Margarita with tequila and limoncello
  • Amaretto Bellini: DISARONNO Originale Liqueur, white peach purée, and prosecco
Mocha Funnel Cake

Funnel Cake

  • Mocha Funnel Cake: Mini Funnel Cake with cappuccino ice cream topped with chocolate whipped cream and M&M’S chocolate candies (New)

Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company

World Discovery (Near Mission: SPACE) 

  • Amber Frost: An artistic blend of frozen lemon ice, a splash of Minute Maid Premium Lemonade, blood orange, and orange popping boba pearls (New) (Alcoholic version available with Grey Goose Vodka)

Near Canada

  • Magenta Frost: An artistic blend of frozen lemon ice, a splash of Minute Maid Premium Lemonade, dragon fruit, and dragon fruit popping boba pearls (New(Alcoholic version available with Grey Goose Vodka) 

Showcase Plaza (Near Disney Traders) 

  • Jade Frost: An artistic blend of frozen lemon ice, a splash of Minute Maid Premium Lemonade, green apple, and green apple popping boba pearls (New) (Alcoholic version available with Grey Goose Vodka)

The American Adventure 

  • Cerulean Frost: An artistic blend of frozen lemon ice, a splash of Minute Maid Premium Lemonade, blue raspberry, and blueberry popping boba pearls 6.39 (New) (Alcoholic version available with Grey Goose Vodka) 
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Rock and Roll Brunch at City Works Disney Springs

Restaurant Reviews By January 2, 2023 Tags: , , , , , , , , , , No Comments

With the demise of the ESPN club in the Boardwalk area of Walt Disney World Resort, guests ponder where they can find a place to watch the game when on property. Though many options exist, the best one currently resides in Disney Springs. The City Works Eatery & Pour House restaurant offers plenty of screens to view whatever game you desire. This sports bar-style table service dining option often goes unnoticed based on its location on the West Side of Disney Springs. During my most recent trip to Orlando, I decided to review some weekend brunches. The Rock and Roll Brunch at City Works earned a visit.

Due to my primary profession, that opportunity eludes me often. With an unexpected change in my work schedule, I found myself available for a weekend in the Orlando area. City Works, like many Disney springs restaurants, offers a weekend brunch menu. Thus, I decided to scope this out and explore the environment of this sports bar.

 

 

City Works offers indoor and outdoor seating. The outdoor seating provides a pleasant dining setting. However, these seats will not be able to view the large screens within the restaurant. When I visited this location the following week when my trip received an extension due to Tropical Storm Nicole, I scheduled another visit here seated indoors. Yet, for this brunch dining review, my dining companion, Seth Kubersky of The Unofficial Guides, elected to dine outdoors for brunch. The pleasant outdoor setting increased the quality of the dining experience.

Rock and Roll Brunch

Chimi Hendrix
Photo By Jon Self

The City Works brunch menu is available from 10 am to 3 pm on weekends. A wide variety of options appear on this Rock and Roll Brunch menu. The menu reflects a “Rock N’ Roll” theme with items such as the “Jon Bun Jovi” cinnamon roll and “Sweet Child O’ Mine” French toast. We asked our server, Jenna, for recommendations. She recommended the “Chimi Hendrix”, the French toast, breakfast tacos, and “Mother’s Little Helper”, a “hangover bowl.  Being a sucker for any merging of breakfast items and Tex-Mex style food, I went with the Chimi Hendrix.

The Chimi Hendrix costs $19. This chimichanga also comes with a side of cheesy potato casserole. That casserole makes a nice addition to the entrée. However, the flavor of it serves more as a cheesy palate cleanser when enjoying the chimichanga. The “Chimi Hendrix” features scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, green onion, pico de gallo, smoked cheddar, and chipotle salsa Roja. This fried flour tortilla looks and tastes as you would expect. The appearance matched my expectations for this style of entrée. The chipotle sauce provides some kick and real flavor though. Some guests will find this sauce a bit too spicy. The rest of the components simply serve their role in this chimichanga.

Rock and Roll Brunch

Photo by Jon Self

This chimichanga falls in the category of a good brunch meal. Yet, this entrée should also face the criticism of some Americanized Mexican food where it’s just a bunch of stuff thrown on top to mask ingredients. As a fan of Tex-Mex food, I enjoyed this. However, this chimichanga consists of several powerful ingredients carrying the show. Yet besides the chipotle salsa roja, nothing qualified as a high-quality component. This does, however, make a solid breakfast burrito if not looking for Rick Bayless Frontera Cocina-level cuisine.

Rock and Roll Brunch

Seth ordered the “The Clash Smash.” This avocado toast presented several strengths. The eggs came well prepared, and the avocado tasted fresh creating a delicate taste balance. The pickled red onions make sure you know they are there also. Yet, those same onions with their acidity perk up the corn and radishes. Though this could have been better, the major flaw, on this day, relates to the toast. The challah bread offers a reasonable flavor. Yet, this morning, the bread was cold even though toasted. This preparation error hindered the overall quality of this entrée during the Rock and Roll Brunch. “The Clash Smash” costs $17.

Rock and Roll Brunch

Overall, my evaluation of our brunch leads to a very non-specific conclusion. This brunch makes a good option. Yet, nothing that we experienced classifies as a great meal. Still, this is a brunch at a table service sports bar after all. I would gladly visit again. Still, Disney Springs offers so many quality brunches. I suspect I will prioritize the other ones before coming back here again for the Rock and roll Brunch. Well, that is unless I crave a “Jon Bun Jovi.” As always, eat like you mean it!

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New Britton’s Chicken Salad Sandwich from Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ Disney Springs

Restaurant Reviews By December 28, 2022 Tags: , , , , , , , , No Comments

Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ often pays homage to his ancestor, Britton Smith. Britton Smith might be known more for his moonshine recipes, but apparently, he also had some solid food recipes. In a recent addition to the menu, we found one of those recipes being used. Britton’s Chicken Salad Sandwich would be the name of that new menu item. During a December visit, I ordered this unique sandwich. This sandwich started being served along with several other new menu items at Homecomin’.

Britton's chicken salad

Britton’s Chicken Salad Sandwich costs $19. The menu description informs guests that the recipe includes pulled chicken, celery, grapes, Duke’s Mayo, and savory spices. This chicken salad mix also comes with lettuce and tomato on artisan bread.

Britton's chicken salad sandwich

 

This sandwich comes standard with BBQ chips. Those chips tasted solid, as usual. I prefer more sauce drizzled on them, however.

Britton's chicken salad sandwich

The presentation of this sandwich reflects what you would expect from Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’. As you might have expected, the portion size of this sandwich exceeds standard sandwiches.

Britton's chicken salad sandwich

Yet, in unexpected fashion, my sandwich came with some circumstances that should be considered. I sat at the bar and ordered this sandwich to avoid my name coming up in the Walt Disney World reservation service. Yet, I failed to consider how often I walk into this place to have my refillable sipper cup filled with diet soda. That gave me away.

A guest sitting near me stated, “Your sandwich came out fast! You must know what to order.” They ordered well before me, and their appetizer arrived after my sandwich. When the talented server knew I preferred Coke Zero Sugar over Diet Coke, I realized I had been made and probably got my meal moved up in the kitchen queue. If you do not know, Diet Coke is behind the bar, so easy to provide. The bar does not have Coke Zero Sugar, so the server must go to another station for that.

Britton's chicken salad sandwich

However, I do not think the staff knowing me as a theme park food blogger influenced the quality of my sandwich. Yet, it never hurts a restaurant to avoid having a food blogger wait too long.

Britton's chicken salad sandwich

 

So how was the sandwich? As mentioned, the portion of chicken salad overflowed from the bread. You will need a fork for this one at some point in your meal. A new food challenge would be eating this sandwich without any chicken salad falling out. The bread must be sturdier to support a large amount of chicken salad between the two slices. Still, I enjoyed the flavor of the bread. The bread compliments the chicken salad nicely.

britton's chicken salad sandwich

However, I expected a more robust flavor in the chicken salad mixture. In fact, with Duke’s Mayo listed in the menu description, I expected far more “twang” with this sandwich. In this case, I did not find that.

Britton's chicken salad sandwich

Despite that, I found the chicken salad provided a great texture. In addition, the flavor of the chicken salad was consistent and pleasant. Britton’s chicken salad offers a positive experience for your taste buds.

britton's chicken salad sandwich

My initial reaction to this sandwich did not match my expectations. Therefore, I often only read menu descriptions after a review. Yet, I had already written about the list of new menu items, so I expected “twang.” This chicken salad recipe focuses on the chicken more than depending on the mayonnaise.

Britton's chicken salad sandwich

 

The tomatoes tasted very fresh. The lettuce was good quality and helped balance the sandwich.

On the negative side, this sandwich will make a mess as you eat, so be careful with the chicken salad falling out. Also, they gave me two pickle spears. They may know I write food reviews but did not appreciate my preference for no pickles. Yet, as a food reviewer, I tasted them. They were good-quality pickle spears, for the record.

Britton's chicken salad sandwich

This is what fell out of one half of my sandwich

 

Overall, this sandwich matches the high expectations for one at Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’. The portion size surpasses other comparable sandwiches. Even without the expected excessive mayonnaise, the chicken quality brings excellent flavor. The bread could hold up better, but this sandwich would be worth your time if you are not looking for fried chicken here. If you are looking for more than the Thigh High Chicken Biscuit appetizer, this sandwich might be large enough to be shared. As always, eat like you mean it!

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Foodie Guide to New Year’s Eve 2022 at Walt Disney World

Foodie Guide By December 27, 2022 No Comments

Can you believe that 2022 is already coming to a close? This year has been filled with delicious goodies and even the launch of Disney Eats! It should come as no surprise that Walt Disney World Resort is ending the year in style – foodie style that is – with plenty of treats to ring in 2023 with a satisfied stomach.

We don’t know about you, but we think the best way to celebrate is through food. All across the resort, there are multiple delights for you to indulge in. From the Clock Strikes 12 dessert from Toledo – Tapas, Steak & Seafood to the 2023 Celebration Mickey Piñata at the All-Star Resorts, and the Champagne Beignet at Scat Cat’s Club – Café, your tastebuds will be so excited to welcome the new year.

And if you don’t have a dining reservation at a table-service restaurant, there are plenty of quick-service locations at the Disney Resorts with delicious dishes and sips to enjoy!

It’s time to countdown the treats coming to Walt Disney World Resort this new year in 3, 2, 1 …

Celebration Charcuterie & Cheese

Available at Various Resorts

  • Celebration Charcuterie & Cheese featuring cured meats, duck confit, aged cheeses, savory cookies, and accompaniments (Available Dec. 31 and Jan. 1); Available at the following:
    • World Premiere at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
    • Intermission at Disney’s All-Star Music Resort
    • End Zone at Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort
    • Landscape of Flavors at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
    • Centertown Market at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
    • Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter
    • Riverside Mill Food Court at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside
    • Everything POP Shopping & Dining at Disney’s Pop Century Resort
2023 Celebration Mickey Piñata

Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort, Disney’s All-Star Music Resort, and Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort

World Premiere Food Court, Intermission Food Court, and End Zone Food Court (Available Dec. 31 only)

  • 2023 Celebration Mickey Piñata: Chocolate Mickey Piñata filled with white chocolate mousse, chocolate sponge cake, and fresh strawberries (New)

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

Jiko – The Cooking Place (Available Dec. 24 through 31)

  • Holiday Feast: Bone-in ribeye, preserved lemon, and almond haricot verts with herb-roasted potatoes, roasted radicchio, and tart cherry wine reduction
Pomegranate Trifle Salute

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort and Disney’s Pop Century Resort

Landscape of Flavors and Everything POP Shopping & Dining (Available Dec. 31 only; mobile order available)

  • Pomegranate Trifle Salute: Trifle layered with pastry cream, yellow cake, pomegranate prosecco sauce, gold confetti, and shimmering pomegranate boba (New)

Disney’s Beach Club Resort

Beach Club Marketplace (Available Dec. 30 through Jan. 1; mobile order available)

  • Strawberries and Champagne Tart: Champagne panna cotta, crisp pearls, and strawberry mousse with strawberry gelee topped with strawberry whipped cream, white chocolate décor, and strawberries (New)
Mickey Brownie

Disney’s BoardWalk

BoardWalk Deli (Available Dec. 27 through Jan. 1)

  • Mickey Brownie: Brownie with ganache, sparkly sprinkles, and chocolate décor (New)

Trattoria al Forno (Available Dec. 31 only)

  • Steak al Forno: Yukon potatoes, cipollini agrodolce, and chianti reduction
Millionaire Shortbread Bar

Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort

Centertown Market and Spyglass Grill (Available Dec. 31 through Jan. 1; mobile order available)

  • Millionaire Shortbread Bar: Shortbread cookie topped with caramel, chocolate ganache, toffee pieces, and salty pretzels (New)

Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort

Dahlia Lounge (Available Dec. 27 through Jan. 1)

  • Moondust: Freixenet Blanc de Blancs Cava, lemonade, house-made cherry berry simple syrup, and gold ‘moon’ luster dust (New)

Toledo – Tapas, Steak & Seafood

  • Filet of Beef & Pil-Pil Prawns with Manchego-potato purée, forest mushrooms, and Rioja wine-fig jam (New) (Available Dec. 31 only)
  • Clock Strikes 12: Chocolate hazelnut mousse with orange sauce and champagne foam (New) (Available Dec. 31 only)
  • Moondust: Freixenet Blanc de Blancs Cava, lemonade, house-made cherry berry simple syrup, and gold ‘moon’ luster dust (New) (Available Dec. 27 through Jan. 1)

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

Cítricos (Available Dec. 31 only)

  • New Year’s Eve Enhancements: Siberian Sturgeon Caviar, Royal Osetra Caviar, house-made fettuccine with truffle butter, sunchoke purée, and choice of white alba or black Perigord truffles (New)
  • New York Strip of American Waygu: Potato confit, root spinach, wild mushroom, and trio of steak sauces (New)
  • Midnight Marquise: Chocolate torte, raspberry, and champagne sabayon (New)

Disney’s Polynesian Village

Pineapple Lanai (Available Dec. 30 through Jan. 1)

  • New Year’s Float: DOLE Whip Float with passionfruit, orange, and guava juice topped with a 2023 white chocolate medallion, popping candy, boba balls, and a cocktail umbrella (New)
Champagne Beignet

Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter

Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory (Available Dec. 31 through Jan. 1; mobile order available)

  • Millionaire Shortbread Bar: Shortbread cookie topped with caramel, chocolate ganache, toffee pieces, and salty pretzels (New)

Scat Cat’s Club – Café (Available Dec. 31 through Jan. 1)

  • Champagne Beignet: Classic Mickey beignet topped with a champagne glaze and starry quins (New)

Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside

Riverside Mill Food Court (Available Dec. 31 through Jan. 1; mobile order available)

  • Millionaire Shortbread Bar: Shortbread cookie topped with caramel, chocolate ganache, toffee pieces, and salty pretzels (New)

Disney’s Riviera Resort

Topolino’s Terrace (Available Dec. 31 through Jan. 1)

  • Coffee-rubbed Venison: Butternut squash, cherry jus, Honeycrisp hash, pickled mustard, and kale (New)
  • Opera Cake: Almond joconde, mocha Italian buttercream, dark chocolate ganache, and Morello cherry (New)

Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa

The Turf Club Bar and Grill (Available Dec. 31 only)

  • New Year’s Eve Dinner with Hoppin’ John, collard greens, truffle macaroni & cheese, and house-made cornbread (New)

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

Roaring Fork (Available Dec. 30 through Jan. 1; mobile order available)

  • Bear-y Happy New Year!: Strawberry mousse, champagne gel, vanilla cake, mirror glaze, and chocolate décor (New)
Strawberries and Champagne Tart

Disney’s Yacht Club Resort

The Market at Ale & Compass (Available Dec. 30 through Jan. 1; mobile order available)

  • Strawberries and Champagne Tart: Champagne panna cotta, crisp pearls, and strawberry mousse with strawberry gelee topped with strawberry whipped cream, white chocolate décor, and strawberries (New)

Yachtsman Steakhouse (Available Dec. 31 only)

  • Midnight Kiss: Chocolate mousse, strawberry curd, and chocolate cookie with a strawberry sauce (New)
After Midnight drink

Available at Various Lounges through Resorts (Available Dec. 28 through Jan. 1)

  • After Midnight: Licor 43 Spanish Liqueur, chocolate liqueur, and espresso dusted with cocoa powder (New)

Take a look back at all the foodie delights that have come to Disney Parks this past year with our Disney Eats topics page and continue to check back to see all the ones to come in 2023. And use #DisneyEats to share your favorite dishes from the past year!

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How Would I Describe the Vegan Breakfast at Ohana Restaurant?

Restaurant Reviews By December 18, 2022 Tags: , , , , , No Comments

I have a confession to make. I listen to lots of podcasts. Some of them are faith-based podcasts. However, most of them revolve around theme park discussions like dining vegan at Ohana for breakfast. As you might imagine, I tend to focus on the theme park podcasts that discuss theme park food the most. My confession relates to something more embarrassing than that obsession with podcasts. Apparently, I accidentally deleted a podcast during a rather hectic week in my life, when it was released. In between returning from a “work” trip to Orlando and discovering an employment change regarding my “real job”, I deleted an important podcast in my tiny little world of theme park food. I discovered after checking my social media feed that I must have deleted a podcast episode released on September 28th, 2022. I accept all the blame and criticism for this debacle.

If you are still reading this, you must wonder if I will ever get to talking about theme park food. Please stay with me. The reason this deletion possesses great embarrassment revolves around the fact that the guest for that show mentioned that Ohana, at the Polynesian Resort, recently became the most searched-for advance dining reservation according to users of his product. What product would that be? I suspect you can guess. Yes, Dustin Checketts, co-founder of MouseDining.com served as a guest for that episode. I joked in a social media group that this mistake would lead to an awkward conversation.

Since Ohana serves as focus of this dining review, I should mention that I noticed the same change that Dustin mentioned on the podcast about Ohana being most searched for advance dining reservation via MouseDining. Obviously, that relates to the fact that I use data supplied to me by Dustin to plan dining reviews. Based on that data, I have been testing over the last few days whether the reservation demand at Ohana involves just dinner or breakfast also. Using MouseDining, I saw some very limited reservation availability for breakfast as well as for dinner at Ohana. In fact, I have a reservation alert set with MouseDining right now or Ohana for breakfast and dinner. Because of that data, I wrote a recent article suggesting Sebastian’s Bistro as a less expensive alternative. Also, on MouseDining blog, I previously wrote about my recent experience at Ohana for breakfast.

During my most recent all you care to eat dining adventure, I ordered every vegan dining option available. Yes, I knew at some point I would write about the vegan breakfast at Ohana. This article serves as the fulfillment of that plan.

So how was breakfast at Ohana in terms of vegan dining? As someone who often dines vegan when doing theme park food reviews, I found the breakfast quite good. Of course, some weaknesses emerged as evident during that segment of the meal.

The vegan breakfast version here opens with fruit as the standard option does. Yet, instead of pineapple-coconut breakfast bread, vegan diners get a vegan/gluten free cinnamon sugar donut. I enjoyed the donut. However, many of my vegan and gluten free friends do not think highly of this donut.

Vegan Breakfast at Ohana

The vegan skillet comes with scrambled “eggs”, “sausage”, fried island-style potatoes, and character-shaped waffles. Overall, I enjoyed this vegan skillet. Yet, my dining companions disliked it considerably. The vegan eggs came well prepared but lacked the cream that the non-vegan ones possess. The “eggs” worked fine in combination with everything else though. The vegan waffles tasted about as good as the non-vegan waffles. However, on this day, the vegan waffles only came in Stitch shape not Mickey. There seemed to be confusion about if that was always the case. I found the potatoes with the vegan skillet offered more flavor than the ones within the non-vegan skillet. The “sausage”, a vegan chorizo, functioned as only true disappointment for my dining experience.

Vegan Breakfast at Ohana

All in all, even as someone not dining exclusively vegan, I felt this breakfast offered enough merit to be considered for vegan diners without hesitation. In fairness, I have several vegan exclusive dining friends that do not have as high of an opinion of this vegan meal as myself. I apologize for that detail adding confusion but want to state all facts available at the time.

One last note, character breakfast with Stitch and friends returned in September. When I visited, character dining had not returned for breakfast. My meal cost $25 plus tax and tip before characters. Now, the price has risen to $45 with characters included. If considering this solid breakfast option bear that in mind. If it were me, I would opt for Topolino’s Terrace breakfast over this one at that price point. Also, if expecting the old-style parade where your kid joins in with the characters, they currently do not do that. If going for a character breakfast, expect about a minute each with Mickey, Pluto, Stitch, and Lilo during the breakfast.

Could the return of characters be a reason for high demand in terms of advance dining reservations at Ohana? Does the variety of breakfast and dinner options lead to demand? Could it be some combination of both? I think all these work as factors. I would gladly go back and pay for breakfast here without characters at $25 I struggle to be thrilled to pay $45 for this breakfast no matter how cool Stitch and friends might be. However, if someone in your family is a big Lilo and Stitch fan, then the money may well be worth it. Stitch qualifies as a hard-to-find character in the parks, except for special events. Lilo pretty much only appears here. I hope this helps you understand the situation if searching for Ohana reservations. As always, eat like you mean it!

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Review: Eggs Benedict Grand Floridian Cafe at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

Restaurant Reviews By December 13, 2022 Tags: , , , , , No Comments

Have you ever walked into a place wondering if you belong there at all? This could be because you feel under-dressed. Maybe you feel underqualified. Perhaps you feel you made a wrong turn and accidentally entered a restricted area. Did you know any person may visit a deluxe-level Walt Disney World Resort hotel? I feel most readers will know that, but I am always surprised by the number of people that do not realize resort hopping is a real thing.  I hear Walt Disney World visitors state that they do not belong at those deluxe resorts. However, sometimes I relate to that feeling of not being worthy when doing dining reviews at Walt Disney World Resort deluxe-level hotels. The hotel that gives off that vibe to me the most would be Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. Can you imagine eating eggs benedict at the Grand Floridian Cafe one morning?

Grand Floridian Cafe

See, they will let anyone visit at Grand Floridian Resort

Trust me, they will let anyone dine there. Of course, as Walt Disney World’s website says, “Victorian elegance meets modern sophistication at this lavish Disney Resort hotel.” When you read those words, what do you think? Do you hear fancy and maybe too elite for you? Okay, maybe that is just me. In fairness, this hotel features some of the best and highest prices restaurants on Walt Disney World property. However, the Grand Floridian Café offers elegant dining that will not damage your budget quite as much. During a recent Orlando area trip, I dined for breakfast at this table service option. An advance dining reservation eluded me for a few weeks. Yet, eventually, MouseDining set me an alert for breakfast here.

Grand Floridian Cafe

I showed up for my early morning breakfast reservation time. My server Jenny greeted me at the entrance and guided me to my table. As usual, I scheduled several other food and beverage reviews for this day. Thus, I preferred not to partake in a full breakfast. I decided to order the “Traditional Eggs Benedict” for $17. Grand Floridian Café also offers a Lobster Benedict for $5 more. Based on my plans for the day, I decided to play it safe with the traditional version. Of course, I faced temptation since the Lobster Thermidor Burger here might be the best burger on the property.

grand Floridian cafe

Menu November 2022

Speaking of burgers, Grand Floridian Cafe offers a hybrid breakfast and lunch menu each day. In other words, you can buy a traditional lunch menu like a burger at 7:30 am for breakfast. The breakfast and lunch hybrid time happens from 7:30 am to 2:00 pm each day.  For the record, they do not call it brunch here but breakfast and lunch have separate times according to their online menu.

grand Floridian cafe

Back to my breakfast, my meal started with complimentary USA-style biscuits. I found these to be a great start to my morning. These small biscuits did arrive at my table smelling quite good. They were very soft and warm for my early morning dining experience.

Soon after, my breakfast entrée arrived. The “Traditional Eggs Benedict” consists of two poached eggs, Canadian bacon, and hollandaise sauce served on toasted English muffins. This entrée also comes with a marinated tomato salad. The eggs benedict arrived at my table very warm and fresh looking. Grand Floridian Cafe should earn high marks for that. Though when I ordered it, I was perplexed about how the salad would balance with the eggs benedict. However, the salad brought light refreshing flavors to this entrée. The salad fails to be the star of this breakfast but makes a good sidekick. Still, the dressing and onions in the tomato salad may be a little off-putting to some theme park resort diners. Yet, I enjoyed it.

grand ffloridian cafe

My reaction to the eggs benedict creates a mixed review. My notes say in bold letters that the portion size rates as small. However, the hollandaise sauce tasted almost perfect. This sauce will make or break an eggs benedict dish. The skill of doing this properly should not be undervalued. Those factors canceled each other out in my opinion.

However, the worst part of this entrée by far involved the English muffins. They tasted just okay. In my opinion, they did not complement the rest of the entrée. After eating half of my entrée, I decided to experiment. I asked my server for some more biscuits. I moved everything off one of the English muffins onto one of the biscuits. Maybe I lived in the southern portion of the United States of America for too long, but this made the entrée eight times better. The English muffins, on this day, failed to provide a strong enough starch to balance the other components. Yet, the biscuit fit that role perfectly.

Yes, I know eggs benedict should not be made with biscuits. However, after this experience, I would vote we try that for a while. The excellent flavor combination this way enhanced the meat, sauce, and egg dramatically.

This made a wonderful breakfast in an elegant setting. Clearly, this breakfast would not pass the test if desiring a full hearty breakfast for a long theme park day. In my case, this well-balanced meal worked perfectly (even if I prefer it with a biscuit) for my “work” day. Under similar circumstances, I would order this again. Yet, I cannot give this a full endorsement since many theme park resort guests will want a larger breakfast than I did on this day.

Even though I often wonder if I belong when visiting Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, this breakfast option provides a pleasantly relaxing dining experience. Advance dining reservations here rate as sometimes hard to get like the morning I visited. You should plan accordingly.  Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa offers so much to see. Your group could have a fun morning visit here, especially during the holiday season with the large gingerbread house display. As always, eat like you mean it!

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