WORDLESS WEDNESDAY!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

MICKEY MOUSE MONDAY!

FOODIE FRIDAY! My Selections From the Epcot Food & Wine Festival.

Before my trip I talked about all the food booths I wanted to try while I was at the Epcot Food & Wine Festival on my trip in September.  My eyes were bigger than my stomach ahead of time, so I wound up only trying about half of the places I wanted to go.

That being said, I was still able to experience quite a few things that I will discuss below.
I was going to cover a breakfast at Whispering Canyon Cafe today, but I changed my mind.  My Food & Wine Festival Day occurred first, so I would rather talk about that today.

First off, I tried the Energy Bite from Active Eats.  It was two small squares jam packed with flavor, and energy!  I used this for my "breakfast".  This is what is included in the item: 

• Active Eats Energy Bar Bites: a mixture of Chocolate, Nuts, Dried Fruit and Dates (V) (KA)

The next item I picked was from the Almond Orchard booth hosted by Blue Diamond Almonds.  The item I chose was the Banana Almond Soft Serve:

• Banana Almond Soft-serve Sundae with Fresh Berries and Chocolate Almond Streusel (KA) (V)

This was super tasty and very refreshing as it was already getting really hot outside!  I was with my friend Stan from Canada and he got one too as it looked so good!

The next item I got was the Moqueca, which is the Brazilian Seafood Stew!  Oh my!  This was very tasty and I am so glad I was able to get it.  I kept seeing photos that were posted on blogs by some friends, and it looked too good to pass up. 

• Moqueca: Brazilian Seafood Stew featuring Scallops, Shrimp and White Fish with Coconut-lime Sauce and Steamed Rice.

Next we stopped at Hops & Barley.  I always go to this booth as they have one of my favorites!  The Lobster Roll.  It was totally up to its usual standards, and did not disappoint!  Packed with Lobster meat for sure! 

• New England Lobster Roll: Warm Lobster with Fresh Herb Mayonnaise and Griddled Roll.  I also got a glass of wine to go with!  
• Mer Soleil Reserve Chardonnay, Santa Lucia Highlands.

After this I headed to the wine seminar.  While I was in the festival Center, I went to the Simmering Sips Mimosa Bar as I just had to try something there.  I had the  

• Blood Orange Mimosa with Sparkling Wine and Blood Orange Juice
• Almond Croissant: Flaky Croissant topped with Toasted Almonds.  

Both were delicious!!!

Next was the  Marinated Chicken in Peanut Sauce from the Taiwan booth.  This was really delicious!  

• Marinated Chicken with Peanut Sauce and Stir-fried Vegetables (KA)

After this I hit the booth at China and got something absolutely delicious!  I was almost tempted to get a second one, but I knew I had a dinner coming up at Tokyo Dining (which I talked about last week)

I ordered the Beijing Roasted Duck and Jasmine Beer.

• Beijing Roasted Duck Bao Bun with Hoisin Sauce  and the 
• Jasmine Draft Beer.  Both were really good!  

At the end of my day at Epcot, I was not staying for Illuminations, so I started heading out, and I had almost forgotten to stop at the Ireland booth for my "dessert".  I am so glad I was able to get this before the booth closed for the evening!!  This was such an awesome treat!  This is the Guinness-Baileys Shake!  Small, but packed a powerful punch!

Well, there you have it.  My food tour around World Showcase has come to a close.  I lost three pounds on that trip, but I was expecting to gain five!  I guess my stomach could only handle so much food in a day!

See you all next week!  We will cover my breakfast at Whispering Canyon Cafe then!

THROWBACK THURSDAY! Halloween Time on the Disney Wonder, 2014

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY!

MICKEY MOUSE MONDAY!

              How can you not love this guy?                                    

FOODIE FRIDAY! My Dinner at Tokyo Dining and my Eat to the Beat Concert Experience with Sugar Ray!

This week we take a look at my experience at Tokyo Dining, and my night at the Eat to the Beast Concert by Sugar Ray!

As I have stated before, I absolutely love Tokyo Dining.  The food, the service and the atmosphere bring me back every visit to Walt Disney World.

This experience was no exception.  My server was absolutely adorable!  Unfortunately, my notes from the evening were lost on my trip back as my luggage was inspected and papers that I had in my checked back were messed with, and some were missing. This is my first experience with Southwest where this happened, and I am extremely disappointed.  Look, I get it.  They have to do random checks on bags, but at least try not to let papers fall out of the bag in the process.

 I know her name started with an M, but at this point, that is the only note I have.  If staff at Tokyo Dining are reading this, please accept my sincere apologies.
This does not take away from the fact that I had another great experience here.

This trip I did not order sushi!  Surprising, I know.  I made the decision to try the tempura instead.  It was delicious!

I ordered the Iced Blood Orange which had Gin, Blood Orange Extract, and Sparkling Water.  It was totally delicious!

This meal  of Lobster and Vegetable Tempura was delicious!

Now for my experience at the show!  During the Epcot Food and Wine Festival there are concerts that happen nightly by different artists during Eat to the Beat Concert Series.  The night I was there, Sugar Ray was playing.  If you remember back in the 90's, Sugar Ray was a really good band, and had some really good songs.  If you don't remember, Google them and it will bring back some memories.  

I really did like them, and really enjoyed seeing and hearing them.  They put on a great non-stop show for the hour or so that they played.  

I had the dining package booked to see the show, so I was in the front row!!

Join me again next week as I talk about my breakfast experience at Whispering Canyon Cafe at Disney's Wilderness Lodge!

THROWBACK THURSDAY! A delicious Sushi Dinner at Tokyo Dining, August 2015

Tokyo Dining at in Epcot's World Showcase is one of my favorite places to have a meal.  The service is excellent, I love the setting and the service is fantastic.  

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY!

MICKEY MOUSE MONDAY! Mickey in the 1990's

FOODIE FRIDAY! Happily Ever After......AFTER Fireworks Dessert Party!

This was my first experience with a dessert party of any kind at Magic Kingdom.  It was also my first time to experience the Happily Ever After show.  I loved both!!!

Since you have a "preferred" viewing area, it made the entire experience even better.  I was late arriving into the area as the cast member who checked me in earlier said to me and one other person, "be at the viewing area by 8:30."  Well.........I should have been there by 7:30 to get a prime spot because the show actually started at 8pm!  
I snuck in right before everything was getting ready to start, so I was a bit bummed about that, but we all make mistakes, right?  (the worst part was that I was at the Tangled area in line to get my photo taken with the floating lantern when the announcement came over the sound system that the show was starting in 10 minutes!!  This 60 year old woman had to RUN.........and I mean RUN over to the viewing area before it started.  For those of you who know how far that is............I made it in 4 minutes!  (just sayin'! and I already had 22,000 steps on my fitbit for the day!)

Still, I was able to see without anyone holding their kid on their shoulder, or being blocked by some big dude right in front of me.  

I loved the show, and spent most of my time in tears watching it.  I am mega-emotional, and cry watching every Disney movie I have ever seen, so this is not really surprising that I had that kind of reaction.  I could never be a professional singer and try to sing a Disney song, because I would end up blubbering like a baby while I was trying to belt it out!  

The After Fireworks Dessert Party for Happily Ever After was amazing!  I really think I liked it more than I would one BEFORE the show, because we got to linger around all we wanted, eating how much we wanted, and not being rushed to get done and get to the show.  The best part was that there were Extra Magic Hours that night, so I was in no hurry to bolt out of the park.  This made it even more enjoyable.

Here are some of the photos from the different areas of the "dessert buffet". the "Smores on a Stick" area, my table, and the things I picked to taste.  My hostess asked me if I was celebrating anything special, and I said........"well, is turning 60.5 anything special?"  She said "of course it is!" and came back with a Happy Birthday plate with two special chocolate covered strawberries on the plate!

                                                                    YUM!!!








Please join me again next week when we take a look at my dinner at Tokyo Dining and my Eat to the Beat Concert series package!

THROWBACK THURSDAY! Four Years Ago!

One of my favorite Photo Pass shots, ever!

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY!

MICKEY MOUSE MONDAY! Mickey in the 1980's!

FOODIE FRIDAY! Dinner Night #1 - Sci-Fi Dine In Theater!

Very sad here..........having severe "After-Disney-Trip Depression".  I can't believe I'll be home a week tomorrow already!  Where did that trip go?  When can I go again? Unfortunately, that answer is probably not for a while.  I must savor every memory, and flavor of every bite of food I had and remember it for quite some time.

My day of arrival was Monday 9/24 and I was able to check in to my resort room early.  I had requested building 1, river view, and 3rd floor.....and I got all of the above including early check-in at Port Orleans French Quarter.  I absolutely love that resort.  It's my second favorite on Disney property, with Wilderness Lodge still holding the top spot in my heart.

I changed my shoes to my Sketchers I packed in my carry on, and off I ran to Hollywood Studios.  The bus pulled up right as I got down to the depot area.  I said to myself, "self?.........is the rest of the trip going to go this smoothly?  Don't jinx it........just go with it!"  Not everything worked out this well, but all-in-all, it was a pretty great trip!

I had fast passes for Muppet Vision 3D, Alien Swirling Saucers and Star Tours.  I went to Toy Story Land first as I had time to kill before my first Fast Pass.  I went and took some great photos over there,  Then I headed over to the Star Wars Launch Bay to get my picture taken with BB-8.......I just love that little Droid!  I then headed to my Fast Pass for Muppets.

Weather was overcast, but warm with some dark clouds rolling in.  I ran over to my next Fast Pass, and as I was on "swirling saucer" I could see it start to rain.  Well........it didn't just rain!  The heavens opened up, and it was pouring!!

Out in the open, and having to head to my dinner reservation (which was quite a walk!) I power walked my way through the rain, and by the time I got to Sci-Fi, I was drenched!  Even my underwear was soaked!
 I got seated and proceeded to freeze as my shirt was soaking wet, and there was an air conditioning vent right above me.  My teeth chattered as I drank my Oreo Cookie Milk Shake.

I dove into my sandwich that I ordered.  It was the Smoked Prime Rib Sandwich.  It was super delicious!  I would have enjoyed it more if I was not freezing!!  I ordered onion rings instead of fries.  They were really good as well, and complimented the sandwich well.

Smoked Prime Rib Sandwich

Pastrami-style Smoked Prime Rib served on Grilled Marble Rye with Grain Mustard Coleslaw, Caramelized Onions, and Swiss Cheese

 

$17.00

As I was on the dining plan, I got dessert too.  I literally had not eaten all day except for some crackers on the flight down, so I was hungry, and had already walked a lot that day.  I ordered the House Made Sci-Fi Candy Bar!  Beautiful and delicious I must say!!

House-made Sci-Fi Candy Bar

Cookies and Cream Mousse, Chocolate Ganache, Chocolate Sauce

$9.00 

By this time, my top was almost totally dry from the blower over my head!  After I got my bill, and left my very generous tip (my server was fabulous as always), I went outside.   The rain had thankfully stopped, but it was even more humid.  

Oh well...........I was at Disney World!

I went to my last Fast Pass for the day which was Star Tours.  After that, I headed back over to Toy Story Land to get some evening photos (it really does look totally different at night!) and try and get on Slinky Dog Dash, and Midway Mania. 

 I am glad to report that I got on both with very minimal wait time.  My strategy worked out well to do  that after 7:pm when most people were getting situated for the Star Wars Fireworks (which I have already seen) I took advantage of that (and the fact that a lot of people left when it was pouring!)

I totally loved Slinky Dog Dash, and so happy I was able to experience it!

Well, that's it til next week!  I will talk about The Epcot Food and Wine Festival and my experiences with Food Booths and the Wine Seminar, etc.

See ya real soon!