by Sean | Mar 5, 2019 | Uncategorized
It looks like work on the new entrance to Epcot is beginning. A permit filed just the other day mentions demo work on “1400 Avenue oftheStars#A,Bay Lake,FL 32830″ which is Innoventions West.
This is just a permit filing so it will take some time before the work begins, but this will demo Character Spot, Starbucks, and Club Cool. Characters from Character Spot will likely relocate to ImageWorks at the exit to Journey Into Imagination With Figment. Starbucks will find a temporary home. But, no rumors yet on if Club Cool will return, so you might want to get your fill of Beverly.
by Sean | Oct 26, 2018 | Favorite Food Friday, Uncategorized
Our Favorite Food This Week: Frontera Cocina – Oaxaca Menu
Location: Frontera Cocina – Disney Springs
Price: $ Varies
Welcome to Favorite Food Friday where we share our favorite foods. This week we headed to Frontera Cocina in Disney Springs to sample some of their new menu items.
As you walk into Frontera Cocina, the scent of fresh flavors greets you, and you can’t help but be excited for the experience ahead. The unique thing about Frontera Cocina is that they have a special menu that changes every 3 to 4 months, so there is always something new to try. Currently, celebrity Chef Rick Bayless is introducing authentic Mexican flavors with his new Oaxaca (wuh-HAH-kuh) inspired menu.
The meal started on an interesting note when Chef Bayless introduced us to one of the favorite snacks of the area. Nope, not a Mickey Bar or even a Mickey Pretzel… grasshoppers. Yes, you read that correctly…grasshoppers. Before you turn your nose up at the idea, people living in Oaxaca have been snacking on fried grasshoppers forever, and they’re actually pretty nutritious. So we dove right in, trying the guacamole topped with fried grasshoppers. I have to say I have never had grasshopper guacamole, but it wasn’t bad. The grasshoppers had the flavor of a sunflower seed, adding flavor and texture to the guacamole. If you’re bold enough to try this authentic experience, give it a shot!
The rest of the meal might not have been quite as adventurous, but it was absolutely delicious. Chef Bayless did what he does best…offered a unique menu full of fresh flavors and only the best ingredients. I sampled the Harvest Salad, Beef Short Ribs, Oaxacan Mole Chicken, and the Grilled Swordfish. All of them were amazing, but if I had to pick favorites, it would be the Short Ribs and the Swordfish.
The short ribs are slow roasted for 12 hours making the meat so tender, it falls apart on your fork and melts in your mouth. The ribs are served with roasted peanut mole, Cotija mashed potatoes, sautéed Swiss chard, crispy onions and toasted peanuts. Just talking about this makes me want to head back to experience this dish again.
The swordfish was another favorite. It is grilled to perfection, with a slightly crisp outside and a flaky moist center. Its complemented by plantain rice, roasted tomatillo serrano aioli, and sautéed Swiss chard. Seafood lovers can’t go wrong with this dish.
Frontera Cocina not only introduces you to the food of Oaxaca, but also to some drinks in a limited-time menu. If you enjoy drinks of the adult persuasion try the Mexcalita (pictured in the upper right corner at the top of the page). As I sampled this drink, I was told the story behind one of the ingredients: the banhez mezcal. Banhez Mezcal is the product of Oaxaca farming families working together to produce this handmade, organic, 100% agave mezcal. It’s has an amazing light, fresh taste and was my favorite of the night.
We finished the meal with a couple amazing desserts. For those of you wanting to stay within the Oaxaca inspired dishes, you will love the Bunuelitos. Buñuelos are large fried sweet dough, served sprinkled with cinnamon sugar. It can be found in Oaxaca during the holiday season. Frontera Cocina puts a little bit of a spin on this tradition by adding cajeta-carmel mousse, red wine drizzle with raw sugar and Mexican cinnamon, dark chocolate shavings, mezcal-infused cranberries and roasted almonds. Oh so good! They also offer a fall favorite pumpkin cream tart.
The experience at Frontera Cocina is second to none and it’s always a favorite stop. The staff takes their time to explain everything on the menu, as well as information about the culture. I can’t complement Frontera Cocina and this new Oaxaca inspired menu enough. You have to experience it! The restaurant continues to be one of our favorites in Disney Springs and I look forward to returning again. The full limited menu is available below. Enjoy!
by Sean | Sep 28, 2018 | Favorite Food Friday, Uncategorized
Our Favorite Food This Week: Epcot Food and Wine Festival
Location: Epcot – World Showcase
Price: $ Varies / some qualify as snacks
Welcome to this week’s Favorite Food Friday where we share our favorite foods with our friends. Well it’s that time of year where the weather is cooling down in all parts of the country except for Florida. Weatherman said it’s the hottest September of all time. But even with the heat, it’s the best time of year to visit Epcot and the International Food and Wine festival. The festival runs until Nov 12 and features food and wine booths throughout the park each themed to a particular country or area. So, grab a fork and check out some of our favorites pictured above…..
- In the upper right, you have our favorite Le Cellier Wild Mushroom Beef Filet Mignon with Truffle-Butter Sauce – Canada – $8.00 and yes its DDP Snack Eligible. It will melt in your mouth.
- In the middle left,Warm Chocolate Pudding with Irish Cream Liqueur Custard – Ireland -$4.25 and it’s (DDP Snack Eligible)
- In the middle right, Coconut Rice Pudding served with Mango Coulis – Mexico – $4.25 (DDP Snack Eligible)
- On the bottom left, Ropa Vieja Empanada with Tomato Aïoli – Islands of the Caribbean – $5.25 (DDP Snack Eligible)
by Sean | Mar 15, 2017 | Uncategorized, Wordless Wednesday
This week’s theme: Disney in the Details
For this week’s theme I went back to our last trip to Disney World and our stay at the Coronado Springs Resort. As you walk in to the El Centro you are greeted by a large fountain, but take a minute and look up to the ceiling. Yes it is beautiful. Happy Wordless Wednesday!!
by Sean | Mar 11, 2016 | Uncategorized
Our Favorite Food This Week: Barbecued Pork Sandwich
Location: Fairfax Fare, Hollywood Studios
Cost: $8.79
Welcome to this week’s Favorite Food Friday where we share our favorite foods with our friends. So many changes are brewing at Hollywood Studios, but one place still stands and that’s Fairfax Fare. Recently Fairfax received more covered seating along with covered ordering areas. Though we don’t frequent this quick service much in the summer as all the seating is outdoors, this is a great spot in the spring. I do love my BBQ, so anytime I see this on the menu I have to give it a try. The BBQ Pork Sandwich is topped off with with coleslaw and served on a Kaiser roll. I am not a huge coleslaw fan, but this added a bit of sweetness to the sandwich, overall I did enjoy it. If you are a BBQ fan, then this is the place to go when you are at Hollywood Studios.
by Sean | Aug 12, 2015 | Uncategorized
Do you have a starving artist in the family – here is an opportunity to put your best work forward and Awaken the Force to Win. Winners will have their art featured in the professional gallery exhibit and have the opportunity to be flown out to Los Angeles to attend the VIP opening night, among other prizes from HP. Want more details? Read on, or Click here….
In celebration of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Lucasfilm and HP proudly present “Art Awakens.”
“Art Awakens” is an exciting new program for Star Wars fans old and new, across the country to revitalize creativity by “Bending the Rules” of the Force, themed around a galaxy far, far away.
“Art Awakens” kicks off August 11th with the launch of a two-month-long nationwide fan art competition across the US. Amateur artists can submit their Star Wars: The Force Awakens inspired art on ArtAwakens.com for a chance to be showcased in an upcoming professional art exhibit later in the year.
Additionally, coming this November to Gallery 1988 in Los Angeles is a three-day Star Wars: The Force Awakens art exhibit featuring top professional and emerging contemporary artists. All new original pieces will be auctioned off in the name of Star Wars: Force for Change to benefit UNICEF Kid Power, which gives kids the power to save lives. By getting active with the UNICEF Kid Power band, kids earn points which unlock food packets for malnourished children around the world.
Five lucky winners of the Star Wars: The Force Awakens Fan Art Contest, chosen by a judging committee that includes members from Disney, Lucasfilm and the legendary visual effects house Industrial Light & Magic and others, will have their art showcased in the professional gallery exhibit. The winners will also have the opportunity to be flown out to Los Angeles to attend the VIP opening night, among other prizes from HP.
Additionally, an HP “Bend the Rules” Award will be granted to one of the five grand prize winners upon completion of a questionnaire with the highest score in the Innovative Use of Technology category. The HP “Bend the Rules” Award winner will receive an HP Notebook Computer to help them push the boundaries of art and creativity.
Official “Art Awakens” URL: www.ArtAwakens.com
Official Art Awakens hashtag: #ArtAwakensContest
No Purchase Necessary. Void where prohibited or restricted. Open to legal residents of the 50 US and DC, who are at least 18 years old at time of entry with a Tumblr account in good standing. Ends October 11, 2015 at 11:59:59 am PT. Subject to Official Rules at: ArtAwakens.com. Sponsor: ABC, Inc. d/b/a Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Burbank, CA
