the disney food blog

DFB Podcast Episode 15: Unique Disney Snacks!

AJ — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:00:27 +0000

Howdy, Disney food aficionados! Exciting news today for all you hungry commuters, walkers, runners, gym-goers, Disney summer road-trippers, and other assorted podcast listeners!

The DFB Podcast is back with another great show! The 15th episode of our DFB Podcast is now up and ready for downloading!

In this episode, AJ and Brad cover the latest Disney food news and discuss unique snack finds at each Disneyland and Walt Disney World theme park. We also answer a couple of great listener questions, and reveal the answer to our Episode 14 trivia question (and stump ya with a new trivia question)!

Here’s the Podcast page for Episode 15. And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast via RSS or on iTunes!

Take a listen and as always, let us know what you think! Please rate and review the podcast on iTunes, follow @DFBPodcast on Twitter, and leave your comments below!

Disney Food Blog Fans, be sure to:

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My New Favorite Disney Pastry: Lemon Meringue Tart at BoardWalk Bakery

AJ — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 04:55:42 +0000

OK…I’ve been patiently waiting to share this with you and I just couldn’t wait any longer!!

The NEW Boardwalk Bakery -- three times the size of the old one!

My hands-down FAVORITE new treat at the newly refurbished Boardwalk Bakery is… .

This incredible Lemon Meringue Tart!!

Lemon Meringue Tart

I know. It looks totally innocuous, right? Maybe even a little too fancy? A substantial shortbread crust encases bright lemon curd. (LEMON CURD!!!!) Just a small amount of meringue garnishes the tart.

And I have to tell you… they have achieved lemon curd perfection with a strong (strong enough for me, which is saying something!!) sour flavor to balance the richness and sweetness of the shortbread. So good. SO SO GOOD!

Lemon Meringue Tart -- Cross Section

This one was to die for…and I wanted another immediately after I finished it.

When’s your next visit to the Boardwalk Bakery? Be sure to check out our full review of the new Boardwalk Bakery and make your choices before you get there!

Are you a lemon-y goodness fan like me? Let us know in the comments below!

Disney Food Blog Fans, be sure to:

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Disney Recipe: Clam Chowder from Disney World’s Liberty Tree Tavern

AJ — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:00:33 +0000

One of my husband’s fa-vor-ite dishes in Disney World is this super creamy clam chowder from Liberty Tree Tavern in the Magic Kingdom!

Liberty Tree Tavern in Magic Kingdom

It’s a New England style clam chowder, which means it’s made with milk and ends up creamy instead of brothy in the end. This delicious goodie has been a staple on the Liberty Tree Tavern menu for years, and it’s a guest favorite.

Clam Chowder from Liberty Tree Tavern

But here’s a DFB Tip: don’t have time for a long lunch? Head on over to Columbia Harbour House nearby to get a similarly delicious chowder fix, counter-service style!

Let’s get cookin’…

Ingredients (Makes 8 Servings):
1 lb margarine
3/4 lb all-purpose flour
1 (23 ounce) can clam juice
1 (25 ounce) can clams, chopped
1 1/2 cups diced celery
1 1/2 cups diced onions
1 1/2 cups diced green peppers
1 2/3 quarts hot milk
1 2/3 ounces salt
1/4 teaspoon white pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground thyme
1 1/2 cups diced potatoes (1/2 inch cubes)

Directions:

1. With melted margarine, combine celery and onions, cook for 5 minutes or until transparent.
2. Add flour to make roux and mix until smooth.
3. Let it cook for a few minutes, then add hot clams and juice and half of the hot milk. Mix until all the flour lumps are smooth.
4. Continue cooking for about 10 minutes.
5. Add green peppers, potatoes and seasonings.
6. Combine, cook until potatoes and peppers are soft and cooked through, then add the remainder of the milk.

Recipe Credit: Food.com

Disney Food Blog Fans, be sure to:

Orlando Restaurant Picks

Review: Dinner at Boma in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

AJ — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 04:55:09 +0000

Boma…Flavors of Africa is a tried-and-true Disney fan destination.

Learn About:
Boma

Animal Kingdom Lodge
Disney World Restaurants

Many guests number it among their must-have advance dining reservations for it’s fun atmosphere, unique menu, and cult favorite dishes.

On a recent visit to Walt Disney World, we had the pleasure of eating at Boma not once — but twice…in the SAME DAY! Yep — we had breakfast and Boma AND dinner at Boma!

While I’ll be sharing the details of our Boma breakfast in a later post, today we’re taking a look at the rockin’ spread available for dinner.

Atmosphere

Located at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, Boma is just one of three incredible restaurants at this resort — it’s a true food-lovers haven here.

Boma Sign

You’ll find Boma on the ground floor beneath the lobby level, adjacent to both The Mara and Jiko. (Sanaa is located in nearby Kidani Village.) And while The Mara is the resort’s counter service location, Jiko is a signature restaurant, and Sanaa features a table service fusion of flavors, Boma serves as the resort’s buffet offering.

But while many Disney buffets are more about character interaction than cuisine, a trip to Boma is all about the food. A sign in Animal Kingdom’s lobby provides a little background on the meaning of the restaurant’s name — and encourages you to make your ADR for Boma well in advance!

Boma Background Information

The term boma loosely refers to a fence fashioned of sticks, and you’ll see this motif throughout the restaurant’s interior. A wrought-iron version of a boma borders either side of the wide, winding path into the restaurant.

Walkway into Boma

Here, the fence borders a low wall separating the seating area from the buffet. You also see the oversized stacked “jars” that function as pillars throughout the space, as well as the thatched roofing over the service area.

Wide Shot of Restaurant

Colorful swaths of African prints are draped across the ceiling to soften the look, and to mimic the sun-blocking tents that you might find in an African market.

Ceiling Detail and Decor

Beautiful statuary of African animals adorn this low wall at the entrance to the seating area.

Decor

Chairs are wooden, yet comfortable, and are carved in various rustic patterns. There is a “mix and match” informality to the sets. Here, the chairs are fully wooden and heavy, complementing the thick, free-form wooden tables.

Seating

The smaller tables next to the boma, however, are more delicate, and are made of iron and wood. The tables here are more colorful as well. Don’t forget to look for hidden Mickeys in the chair backs here!

Seating 2

The sections of tables located closest to the windows actually feature mixed seating with combinations of chairs and banquettes that encircle posts. I’d want that banquette seat; it looks like a comfy spot to curl up!

Seating 3

Serving stations are located to the left side as you enter the restaurant and appear under the roof of the “huts”, while seating is in the open-air, boma-bordered enclosure.

Serving Stations

And now that I’ve shown you around a bit, we have an enormous amount of food to cover! So let’s get to it.

Eats

Boma works like most other table service buffets in Disney parks and resorts: once your party is seated, a server takes drink orders. Meals come with a complimentary soft drink selection and free refills, but you can always choose from a selection of premium drink options (for an added cost). This includes some cocktails, but the more interesting choices are the array of options from Africa.

Since Animal Kingdom Lodge is home to the largest collection of African wines outside of the continent, there’s a pretty good selection available at Boma. There are African beers as well as liqueurs and coffee.

Beverage Menu -- Click to Enlarge

Posted pricing for the dinner meal gives you an idea of just what you can expect when the check comes.

Boma Dinner Pricing

If you’re interested in learning about African wines, one of Boma’s wine flights might be just the right fit for you. I think they sound pretty interesting.

Wine Flights -- Click to Enlarge

Concerned about just how “exotic” the dishes at Boma might be? A list of some of the possible buffet offerings will provide you with a look at what you’ll most likely find for breakfast and dinner.

Breakfast and Dinner Offerings at Boma

Because there are so many foods to show you, I’ve broken them up into broad categories for ease of viewing.

Breads and Salads

Even though you’ll want to pace yourself, there are many items that are considered “must try” flavors at Boma, beginning with the bread. Mealie Bread is a mild cornbread, and I can never skip having at least a taste of it!

Mealie Bread

And while I’m not partial to hummus, lots of folks can’t get enough of the Lavosh and Pita with the three house spreads: Hummus featuring White Beans, Black Olives, and Sun-Dried Tomatoes. (You can also pick up some of the hummus at The Mara next door if you’d like to take some back to your hotel with you!)

Lavosh and Hummus with (l-r) White Bean, Black Olive, and Sun-Dried Tomato Hummus

You’ll find a couple of different greens options if you’d like a traditional salad, but the vinaigrettes are freshly made in house and offer bright, interesting flavors.

Salad Greens with (l-r) Balsamic, Chili-Cilantro, Mango, and Apple Vinaigrettes

Other Mixed Greens

There’s also a good assortment of fresh fruit — always a welcome addition to the buffet for children, picky eaters, or guests looking for healthier options.

More Fresh Fruit Options

Kool Slaai may look — and sound — suspiciously familiar. It should, since it’s basically coleslaw.

Kool Slaai

With the Lentils and Hearts of Palm Salad, you’re seeing a fairly common ingredient used in an interesting way.

Lentils and Hearts of Palm Salad

I expect that the peppery arugula was a good match for the citrus notes in this Orange, Olive, and Fennel Salad.

Orange, Olive, and Fennel Salad

And the Papaya, Avocado, and Grapefruit Salad sounded really refreshing, and was a beautiful pink color. Really, Boma is a fantastic choice if you’re looking for healthy, interesting options.

Papaya, Avocado, and Grapefruit Salad

Curried Pasta Salad highlights one of the more common flavors that you’ll find in the fusion cuisine of the African continent.

Curried Pasta Salad

And another favorite staple, couscous, gets a cold treatment in this Tunisian Couscous Salad, inspired by the flavors of North Africa.

Tunisian Cous Cous Salad

Since watermelon is actually native to southern Africa, it’s natural that you’ll find it on the buffet here. Watermelon Salad is made by slicing the fruit paper thin, and it features the entire fruit, rind and all.

Watermelon Salad

Lovers of this sweet fruit will also find it paired with tomatoes and bleu cheese in Watermelon and Tomato Salad.

Watermelon and Tomato Salad

Had your fill of salads and cold choices?? Let’s check out the hot food offerings!

Soups

One thing you can always count on: there will be lots of soup during your dinner visit to Boma. And most of the time, they are fantastic! It’s one of the most raved about courses available for the evening meal.

Folks who’ve been to Boma multiple times are always hoping that they’re favorite soup will be on the menu on their next visit! Check out the recipe for the Coconut Curry Chicken Stew here!

Coconut Curry Chicken Stew

Carrot Ginger Soup

Harira Soup

Lentil and Sausage Soup

Pearl Cous Cous Seafood Soup

It’s feast or famine with the soups at Boma, it would seem. Another DFB Staffer happened to have dinner around the same time we did and snapped these photos of the soup selection on that evening. According to her, it was hard not to fill up on soup, because every single one of these selections was a winner!

Zanzibar Crab Soup

You can never go wrong with a good Disney Tomato Florentine Bisque, but with the other more interesting selections, you might want to be a little more adventurous.

Tomato Florentine Soup

The Sambal Chicken Corn Chowder got very high marks for its rich, spicy consistency.

Sambal Chicken Corn Chowder

The group really liked the medium heat of the Curried Coconut Seafood Soup, and the mussels were a really nice addition.

Curried Coconut Seafood Soup

And I can vouch for the Butternut Squash Soup — it’s always amazing!

Butternut Squash Soup

I hope you aren’t full yet, because we have a lot more food to go!

Sides

The exotic flavors continue as you move toward an array of interesting side dishes. You’ll also encounter lots of things that you may have never heard of. Fortunately, helpful cast members are available behind the line to answer your questions about the dishes.

Chakalaka, a spicy relish originating in South Africa, is a traditional accompaniment to Pap, which is similar to a soft polenta.

Chakalaka and Pap

Matar (or Mater) Paneer is a popular North African dish consisting of Paneer cheese served in a spiced tomato yogurt sauce with peas. It’s normally served with bread or over rice.

Mater Paneer

You’ll also find steamed Basmati Rice on the buffet to eat with several of the spicy dishes.

Basmati Rice

Peanut Rice and Roasted Root Vegetables also use flavors common to Africa, and complement the hearty meats and stews nicely.

Peanut Rice and Roasted Root Vegetables

Couscous makes another appearance. Here, it’s served warm with dried fruit and nuts.

Couscous with Dried Fruit and Nuts

Normally Fufu has a more dough-like consistency, but at Boma, it’s more of a combination mashed white and sweet potato, seasoned with coriander and cinnamon.

Fufu

As with all Disney buffets, there’s also an area devoted to the kiddos, with some mainstream options.

Kids’ Buffet

On the kids’ buffet, you’ll find crowd pleasers like Macaroni and Cheese and Mashed Potatoes.

Macaroni and Cheese and Mashed Potatoes

There’s also Penne Pasta with Meatballs and Marinara. I swear, if there weren’t so many other incredible dishes to try, I would totally be having a big plate of this!

Penne Pasta with Meatballs and Marinara

Baked Chicken Legs can be dressed up with the various sauces at the carving station — more about those in just a second. These seem to have replaced the fried chicken nuggets we used to see on the kids’ buffet at Boma — just an FYI, folks!

Baked Chicken Legs

And now…on to more meat!

Main Dishes

While many of the sides, soups, and salads would serve nicely as main courses, there are also several meat dishes to choose from.

There is always a version of Bobotie, a South African egg and meat dish, in the spread at Boma. You’ll find it at both breakfast and dinner. On the night we visited, they were featuring a Beef and Lamb version. The dish is flavored with curry, so if you’re a fan, you’ll probably like this.

Beef and Lamb Bobotie

There is also always a selection on the carving station. Beef lovers will enjoy the African Carved Strip Loin.

African Carved Strip Loin

Pungent horseradish is available as a condiment to the beef.

Horseradish

Normally there is a pork selection as well, and sweet and tender Ancho Barbecue Pork Ribs were found at our seating.

Ancho Barbecue Pork Ribs

Fans of the Durban Chicken from Animal Kingdom Lodge’s Sanaa might be disappointed in this version; it’s not braised and has none of the spice of that restaurant’s dish. Still, with some condiments, it’s perfectly good.

Durban Spiced Chicken

And this is where it can get really interesting! The sauces at Boma are fantastic, especially if you like a bit of zing with your meal.

Masai Mara and Boma Mustard

My favorite, hands down, is the Sambal. I wish I had some right now!

Tamarind Barbecue Sauce and Sambal

There’s also always a fish option, and the Salmon with Orange-Almond Rice with its creamy sauce looked pretty good.

Salmon with Orange-Almond Rice

So many choices! It’s really hard to make selections and narrow it down with such fantastic variety, but we managed to do it! And after a bit, we headed back to check out the fantastic sweet options.

Desserts

Boma normally features a couple of warm desserts, in addition to smaller bite-sized pastries. During our visit, the featured warm desserts were Apple Cobbler and Banana and Butterscotch Bread Pudding.

Warm Apple Cobbler

Both are fantastic, of course!

Banana and Butterscotch Pudding

And what’s a warm, comforting dessert without a rich sauce to pour over the top? Both the Vanilla Sauce and Rum Sauce are delish, so mix and match here, my friends. You’ll be happy you did.

Vanilla Sauce and Rum Sauce for the Cobbler and Bread Pudding, Respectively

Once you pull yourself away from the comfort food, you’ll see a beautiful spread of miniature pastries. I think I could make a meal of these alone — they all look so good.

Cinnamon adds a complexity to this Chocolate Mousse.

Chocolate Cinnamon Mousse

One of my absolute favorites, though, are these tiny Coconut Cheesecakes. They’re amazing! I sooo wanted to eat more than I had room for!

Coconut Cheesecake

I skipped the Kenyan Coffee Tarts, but others at the table said they were awesome.

Kenyan Coffee Tarts

The fruity Passionfruit Panna Cotta was a nice departure from the other flavors…in theory, anyway. You guys know how I feel about milk jello.

Passionfruit Panna Cotta with Apricot Gelee

But stop the presses! There’s peanut butter here, too! (Seriously, I can’t stop writing about it these days!)

As an avowed PB lover, no way was I skipping this creamy Mousse, which also featured a Peanut Brittle Base and a Butterscotch Ganache! It was deeeeeelicious!! Save room for these!

Peanut Butter Mousse with Peanut Brittle and Butterscotch Ganache

However, no meal at Boma is complete without at least one Zebra Dome.

A Herd of Zebra Domes

These little gems, made of a mousse spiked with Amarula liqueur, have attained something beyond cult status. They’re more like legendary at this point. (And remember, if you can’t secure that ADR, you can always pick up a package of them at The Mara. Or try your hand at making them at home with our recipe!)

Zebra Dome -- Inside

If your tastes run to simpler fare, have no fear. There are always a delicious assortment of cookies and brownies as well. Hmmm — brownies and Vanilla Sauce…

Chocolate Brownies

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Sugar Cookies

And with that, another memorable Boma meal came to a close. And we rolled ourselves back to our room!

Overall

Boma is a fantastic choice for just about everyone. Those who like to explore a bit and are adventurous with their palate will enjoy the African flavors and influences here. And those who’d rather stick with the basics will find plenty of food here to satisfy as well. I think the only problem that I can find with Boma is that there’s entirely too much good food to enjoy in one meal. In a perfect world, I’d have a two day pass for the price of admission.

And here’s another tip: getting a reservation here can be easier than you might expect, especially if you’re willing to eat dinner a little earlier. Our staffer secured a table for her party of seven with one day’s notice; and the early dining hour was perfect for the group, which included kids. If you’re trying to save money, this is actually a great idea; you can skip lunch and eat an early dinner. Trust me, you’ll be satisfied.

With its astounding selection, which includes many dishes geared toward those who are less adventurous, I’m confident you’ll find something for everyone in your party. Definitely give Boma a try for dinner if you haven’t already.

Have you dined at Boma? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!

Disney Food Blog Fans, be sure to:

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New! Strawberry and Cream Cupcake Debuts at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

AJ — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 17:00:19 +0000

While hanging out in Disney’s Hollywood Studios last week, we were super psyched to see a brand new Disney cupcake that has debuted for the Summer in the park — the Strawberry and Cream Cupcake!

We first stumbled upon it while in line for lunch at Rosie’s All-American Cafe and there’s no way we could pass it up.

Just in Time for Summer -- Strawberry and Cream Cupcake

The CM taking my order let us know that the brand new cupcake had made its appearance only the day before, and that it was delish. As usual at the Studios, the seasonal offering is available in other spots as well.

I spied it at Backlot Express, and it was also available alongside other famous Hollywood Studios cupcakes like the Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcake and the Butterfinger Cupcake at Starring Rolls.

Strawberry and Cream Cupcake at Starring Rolls

Of course, it was a must-buy! Who doesn’t love a good helping of strawberry to kick off summer? But was this all a bunch of pink fluff, or did the berry flavor carry through?

Strawberry and Cream Cupcake at Rosie's

Turns out, this was more than just a pretty face.

Moist, strawberry cake gives way to a thick, creamy crown of delightful strawberry buttercream frosting. And it’s not just tinted pink — it really is full of berry flavor!

There weren’t any surprises tucked inside, sadly. But the whole strawberry garnish was a great, fresh touch.

Strawberry and Cream Cupcake -- Inside

Overall – light, flavorful cake with that rich, whipped lard-y frosting that I absolutely love. There is a chocolate drizzle garnish too, but I’m afraid that it’s completely lost in all the berry flavor. No problem though. You don’t really miss it.

If you are a strawberry fan, you are going to adore this giant pink cupcake!

Is the Strawberry and Cream Cupcake at Hollywood Studios on your snack list? Leave a comment and let us know your thoughts!

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Review: Main Street Bakery Starbucks in Walt Disney World

AJ — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 04:55:59 +0000

We shared a few inaugural images of the newly opened Disney World Starbucks in the Main Street Bakery in Magic Kingdom with you on Saturday. But I always LOVE seeing as many pics as I can of new Disney World spots, so I wanted to share a few more today!! (Don’t worry — we’ll have another great non-Starbucks food review this afternoon!)

Disney World Starbucks Window Display

Upon walking up to the shop, you’ll see both the familiar and the new. Starbucks coffee bean bags have joined the standard window display now, and Starbucks signage is prominent outside of the bakery.

Starbucks Signage is Prominent

Starbucks Window Signage Features the Older Starbucks Logo

But this newly refurbished facade still indicates the turn-of-the-century charm that we expect to see on Main Street USA.

Main Street Bakery Starbucks facade

Atmosphere

Inside the bakery, you’ll find that the dark woods and Victorian decor continues — reminiscent of the former incarnation of Main Street Bakery.

Cast members are still clad in Victorian costume, and chandeliers remain turn-of-the-century true.

Starbucks!

Main Street Bakery Starbucks ledge for coffee and new decor

Of course, there have been some changes. Example #1: the dishware has gotten a makeover!

Disney Parks Starbucks Cups

And the set-up has changed to offer better flow for a typical coffee shop…minus the indoor seating.

Main Street Bakery Starbucks

The menu features Starbucks coffees and drinks…note the Disney Dining Plan snack credit options!

Main Street Bakery Starbucks Menu -- click for larger image

When you get to the front of the line and are ready to make your selections, Cast Members dressed in Victorian costumes are ready and willing to take your order.

Main Street Bakery Starbucks

Baked goods here are now primarily Starbucks “brand,” but you will find a few Disney-made options, too.

Main Street Bakery Starbucks

Once you choose your eats and coffee, you’ll have the option to pick up some fresh fruit, grab-and-go items, or drinks from a refrigerated section.

Main Street Bakery Starbucks

Since the cinnamon rolls were not available, we chose another favorite classic Main Street Bakery treat — the Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cupcake!

Main Street Bakery Starbucks

Since seating is all outdoors now (and there’s not too much of it to go around, so plan accordingly), we took a seat outside to watch the goings-on of Main Street.

Main Street Bakery Starbucks

The cupcake hit the spot and we’re hoping it will continue to stick around! It really is one of my favorite Main Street Bakery treats!

Main Street Bakery Starbucks

I’m eagerly awaiting the official opening of the Bakery on June 18th! I’m sure there will be some changes in the first few weeks and months, so please drop us a line with your perceptions and experiences!

Will you frequent Main Street Bakery for coffee on your way to grab fastpasses? Let us know in the comments below!

Thanks Dave Manning for photos!

Disney Food Blog Fans, be sure to:

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Disney Food Post Round-Up: June 16, 2013

AJ — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 04:55:23 +0000

Happy Dad’s DAY!!! We’re raising a glass to all of your dads out there and hoping you’re having a great Father’s Day!

Starbucks has officially come to Disney World!

This week, we’ve got some awesome news to share with you, including coffee updates (Starbucks has soft opened in Main Street Bakery!), Food and Wine Festival updates, and more…

Let’s take a look at the latest!

Disney Food News

We’ve gathered this week’s food news from your favorite Disney destinations!

Check out 2013 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Special Event details, including prices, booking date, and event dates!
Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe now offers root beer slush in a souvenir boot glass in the Magic Kingdom!
Could Disney World be getting a Star Wars restaurant? Find out details here…
Main Street Bakery offers soft opening as a new Starbucks location in the Magic Kingdom!
Captain Cook’s Snack Company at Disney’s Polynesian Resort is home to a new Minnie Mouse Cupcake!
Shula’s Steak House at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotel is offering a special today for Dads!

Of course, there’s more! Check out all the latest Disney Food News — even the stuff we don’t mention in posts on the blog! — on our Disney Food News Pin Board, including a New Egg White Omelet at the Kona Cafe and a Newly Erupting Volcano at the Rainforest Cafe in Downtown Disney Orlando.

DFB Reader Finds

If you find a fun new food — or other edible awesomeness — in or from Disney, share a photo with us on facebook or twitter so we can add it to our DFB Reader Finds each Sunday!

DFB Reader Janel sent us a “plate full of goodies” from Chef Mickey’s at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. YUM!

Breakfast at Chef Mickey's!

If you’re hankering for some French Toast, DFB Reader Brian tempts us with this photo of the creme brulee version from the Pepper Market at Coronado Springs Resort. Also, watch for a DFB review coming soon!

Breakfast at Pepper Market.

Dad’s Day SALE: The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining e-Book!

The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World® Dining 2013 e-Book is fully updated for 2013 visits, and is now available for purchase and download to help you make the most of your dining opportunities while in Disney World.

The fully updated DFB Guide to Walt Disney World® Dining 2013 e-Book is an instantly downloadable PDF guide, featuring over 400 full-color pages of photographs, information, and advice about our favorite things — food and dining in Walt Disney World.

It’s guaranteed to help you navigate your way to delicious dining on your next vacation! And if you’re ready to get yours now, head on over to DFBGuide.com to pick it up!!

Don’t Forget, use code: DAD2013 to get a $4 discount in honor of Father’s Day! And at the end of this post, we have details on even more savings!

If you purchased the 2012 Guide and would like to purchase the 2013 Guide, we’ve got a special discount for repeat purchasers. Email me here to get a limited-time, one-use, exclusive discount code to purchase the 2013 Guide at a $6 discount. Please include the email address you used to purchase the 2012 Guide in the body of your email.

For more detailed information and screen shots from the e-Book, head over to DFBGuide.com! With a 100% money-back guarantee, you have nothing to lose!

On to the Round-Up!

Walt Disney World for Grown Ups names ten top Disney spots for sharing a beer with Dad!

Mickey Fix highlights an R2D2 bottle stopper!

Stuff from the Park shares a vintage 1950s menu for kids dining at the Disneyland Hotel.

AllEars shares details on an adult cooking class at the Portobello Restaurant in Downtown Disney Orlando.

Eighteen25 shares a super fun Disney savings jar with a snack-tastic surprise!

Mouse on the Mind finds a thrifty breakfast at Shades of Green’s Garden Gallery.

Disney Parks Blog shows us how to create Eggs Benedict courtesy of Steakhouse 55′s Chef Alle Thiam.

Disney Food Blog Fans, be sure to:

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FIRST LOOK! Main Street Bakery Starbucks Offers Soft Opening!

AJ — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 17:15:23 +0000

Main Street Bakery fans and Starbucks coffee aficionados — this news is for you! After a long refurbishment, the Main Street Bakery — Now with STARBUCKS! — in Disney World’s Magic Kingdom is in “soft opening”. During soft opening, guests are receiving dining vouchers for admittance. This allows Disney to test out a newly updated venue and keep control of the crowd.

Main Street Bakery -- Now with Starbucks!

As we announced earlier, the renovation made way for the FIRST Starbucks location inside a Disney World theme park. And not long ago, we showed the Starbucks signage!

Here are the magical passes that allowed guests into the bakery this morning.

Dining Voucher for Main Street Bakery's Soft Opening.

Main Street Bakery Starbucks Atmosphere

Inside, the refurbished Main Street Bakery we don’t spot any glaring Starbucks presence. However, DFB reporter Shawn B. tells us “It’s all Starbucks here. All Starbucks cups, many of the pastries in the pastry display are all from Starbucks. I recognized the coffee cakes and pound cakes immediately.”

Starbucks!

Main Street Bakery Cases.

Here are a few of the eats that were available for today’s breakfast! We see a cinnamon roll listed, but were told at the Bakery that we’d have to go to Gaston’s Tavern for a cinnamon roll today. We’ll keep an eye on that situation for you!

Starbucks at Disney World -- Eats

Drinks are standard Starbucks drinks. Note the Disney Dining Plan symbol to show that these are a snack credit.

Starbucks at Main Street Bakery -- Drinks!

The drinks are marked like Starbucks trains their baristas to do. The first Cast Member actually takes your drink order, calls it over the headset, and writes it down. If you don’t order your drink there, they will take it just as Starbucks does at the counter and mark the cup appropriately. They also take names to call out.

Main Street Bakery Taking Orders!

Main Street Bakery.

The condiment bar is the same as a Starbucks. It has

cinnamon, nutmeg, and chocolate powder for those who use them in their lattes.

Condiment Bar!

Bakery.

All the machines are from Starbucks. The blenders, the coffee brewers and the espresso machines are all the same. No NesCafe here!

Inside the Main Street Bakery!

DFB reporter Shawn sampled one of the breakfast sandwiches!

Bakery Items.

Sandwich Cross-Section.

We’ll have a full review for you soon with more photos and more FOOD! Can’t wait to share with you. We’re excited that the Peanut Butter Cupcake is back as well as a red velvet cupcake! Stay tuned!

UPDATE! Thanks to a Bakery cast member, we have the following information:

*Yes, we are all Disney Cast Members and have spent the last few weeks training to learn how to make Starbucks drinks. Many of us have been with the company for years (including myself) and are all very excited to share this renovation with Walt Disney World guests.
*We will not be selling the cinnamon rolls anymore, they will ONLY be found at Gaston’s Tavern in Fantasyland.
*All indoor seating has been removed to make the bakery larger. We are anticipating to be very busy so by making the bakery bigger we have more room and opportunity to make your drinks faster and eliminate longer wait times.

Also, here’s an update from a Main Street Bakery trainer/cast member:

I am a trainer at this location and wanted to point out that we do in fact accept Starbucks gift cards, including the application where you can pay by phone. We just do not accept the rewards you earn by using your Starbucks gift card (free drinks and such). You earn points by using your card at our location, but you can not redeem rewards. We can not reload SB gift cards, and we will not sell SB gift cards. We will only accept them as a form of payment.

Let us know what you think of the refurbishment in the comments below!

Thanks to DFB reporter Shawn Baker for many of these photos and to Dave Manning for others! More to come!

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Will Disney World Get A Star Wars Cantina Restaurant?

AJ — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 04:55:04 +0000

Welp, rumors have been circulating since Disney bought LucasFilm last year about the potential for a Star Wars themed land coming to the Disney parks. And I thought it was high time to weigh in on what would obviously be the best part of one — the potential restaurant!

Negotiations at Mos Eisley Cantina

Yep — sources are swirling about not only a repeat of Disney California Adventure’s Cars Land coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, but also a Star Wars Land of some sort!

According to one source, a Chalman’s/Mos Eisley Cantina-themed Star Wars restaurant could be on the horizon for Disney World as part of the proposed Star Wars expansion. (Though other sources put the Cantina in Disneyland Paris.)

Why would this be a totally rad idea? Well, I’m always up for more restaurants in Disney World; AND the Star Wars Cantina scenes are relatively well-known and referenced in popular culture. But that aside, here are a few of my reasons for supporting the proposal:

Characters: I have no idea how it would work, but it would rock to have a Star Wars character meal — even if it’s just for breakfast. My guess is you’re going to see Leia, Han, and Luke the most. I can’t really imagine Darth making airplane sounds while he feeds your baby and signs autographs, but you never know.

Food Options: The right chef could have a blast developing new and unique menu items for a restaurant like this. Here’s a great start. Of course guests would be able to order Blue/Bantha Milk and Blue Milkshakes.
Bar/Lounge: Right now, Tune In Lounge is a great place to kick back and relax in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, but the Star Wars Cantina would obviously lend itself to an incredible bar/lounge theme. Even if you extended a full restaurant to the back of the original Cantina, I could still see this being very popular as an escape for the grown-ups in the park. Plus, the potential for themed drinks and fun mixology is endless.

Star Wars Cantina Diorama/Model

Interactive Elements: With technology advances and magic bands, there could be lots of great interactive elements to the restaurant. Maybe guests have to pass through a Droid Detector before getting to their table?

Disney’s Hollywood Studios has long held the prize for best-themed restaurants in my estimation with Sci-Fi Dine-In and 50s Prime Time Cafe. I think the addition of the Star Wars Cantina would be a fantastic third.

Now, the one concern Imagineers might run into when developing a spot like this is how to create a sanitized, Disney-friendly, kid-friendly version of the Cantina while still staying true to the overall gritty theme of the place as depicted in Star Wars. After all, you don’t really want to take junior to the home of scum and villainy for lunch, right?

I’m sure they’d be able present something that will satisfy both the most die-hard Star Wars fan as well as the families looking for lunch before a ride on Toy Story Mania, but it’s worth spending a little time figuring out.

Of course, we’re hoping there will be no streetmosphere acts along the lines of lightsaber-inflicted arm chopping and random dismemberment while we’re eating, but we’ll leave that up to the Imagineers. Sources have a new Star Wars Land opening in the next 5 years, but this is just rumor. We’ll keep you updated if we hear anything confirmed.

What do you think about a Star Wars Restaurant in Disney World? Let us know in the comments section below!

Image Source, Image Source

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Discounted Disney Stuff! Twice Upon a Year 50% Percent Off Sale…

AJ — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 18:30:19 +0000

It’s time to score some serious Disney Deals at the Disney Store!

For a limited time, get 50% or more off of a TON of stuff at DisneyStore.com; including Disney Parks merchandise!

It’s the Twice-A-Year sale, and it’s time to go shoppin’…

Mickey Mouse Summer Fun Tumbler

First up, check out this classic Mickey Mouse Tumbler. It’s perfect for Summer picnics, and — get this — it’s only $3.50 right now during the sale!!

Mickey Mouse Popsicle Molds

Another option for Summer awesomeness are these too cute Mickey Mouse Popsicle Molds. Even if you only use them ONCE, the sale price of $5.70 is well worth it! (And we all know you’re going to use them more than once!)

Cinderella Tea Play Set

And for my “bargain of the century,” check out this Cinderella Tea Play Set. Usually this thing is about $24, but you can get it right now for $9.99! Craziness!

Get a bunch and stock up for all of those birthday parties you’re going to have to buy presents for this year!

There’s More Where Those Came From…

Head over to DisneyStore.com and check out all of the latest and greatest merch that’s on sale for big ol’ discounts right now! (It’s OK; I give you permission to take a break from work and look at Disney stuff… . ;-D)

What’s your favorite Disney item in your house? Let us know in the comments below!

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