Sugar Factory Orlando is now open!

Sugar Factory Orlando is one of the latest wonderful additions to IDrive 360, located right next to The Orlando Eye. It lists itself as an American brasserie but it really is the ultimate place for sweet treats, gourmet food and world famous smoking goblet candy-infused cocktails!

Sugar Factory Orlando

We had the opportunity to get a sneak peak of the menu before it opened to public, and get a taster of what was to come! We were treated to many samples of what would be on the menu for food, and while everything was so delicious, our favorite were the red velvet pancakes with white chocolate chunks and orange zest! They were just sweet enough and would make either the perfect late morning snack, or a tasty dessert after a meal here. In Fact they have a whole page on their menu dedicated to pancakes and waffles, so there really is something for everyone.

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Speaking of sweet things, which is pretty much everything on the menu, another one of our favorites were the milkshakes! We got to try the Very Berry Blast and the Chocolate milkshake, which left us wanting more. They have a large selection of milkshakes on their menu and personally i want to go back and try The Barbie, it’s garnished with pink rock candy crumbles!

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Ok so maybe that wasn’t quite sweet enough for you? If this is the case, then you might want to try their ultimate signature dessert, the WORLD FAMOUS Sugar Factory King Kong Sundae!

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Why yes, those ARE sparklers in the sundae! Other ingredients include… are you ready? 24 scoops of ice cream covered with hot fudge, caramel and strawberry sauce, sliced bananas, toasted marshmallows, Reese’s Pieces, chocolate chip cookies, crushed waffle cones, gummi bears, white chocolate strawberry shavings and toasted walnuts with whipped cream, giant lollipops and aforementioned sparklers blaze away on the top! You can close your mouth now! As you can tell, it’s meant to be shared, they suggest 12 people share this $99 dessert show! When ordered the servers make a fuss, dim the lights and everyones attention is on this dessert! Perfect for birthday parties, bachelorette parties and more!

Now we know desserts can make you thirsty, so what about their drinks? They actually have quite an extensive cocktail and martini menu, but it is their smoking goblet signature drinks that make them famous!

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We actually got to try 4 of them, pictured above, and each one can be made non alcoholic upon request also, and they all feature dry ice for that mystical look.

The blue one was Ocean Blue, which contained Hpnotiq and featured gummi sharks swimming within its deep blue sea!

The orange one was the Mai Tai, which blended fresh orange and pineapple juices with coconut rum topped with a float of Dark Myers rum.

The yellow one was White Gummi, so fresh and fruity and features gummi worms floating around in the goblet!

The green one….well best until last they say, this one was the Lollipop Passion and is their signature goblet. It blends together melon, coconut and pineapple and is garnished with lollipops and necklace candy!

Whether getting one for yourself or to share, I don’t think you could be disappointed with any of these flavors, but just in case…Lollipop Passion!

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After dinner be sure to check out the store side and candy factory amazingness. Whether you are craving one of their famous Couture lollipops, or some gummi bears and chocolates, head to their pick and mix selection. Here you can get everything from trail mix, to spicy hot pepper gummies (take our word for it) and a snake gummi that is so large, when you select it from the container you will be pulling and pulling and pulling until you finally remove it’s 3ft body!

(Disclaimer-We have no confirmation on actual size due to the fact that he got eaten too fast, RIP Gummi Snake, your sacrifice was not in vein!).

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So whether you are on a girls night, bachelorette party, birthday party, or date night, Sugar Factory is perfect for any occasion. On weekends they even have a special brunch menu from 11am-4pm…remember the red velvet pancakes? They also have free parking and valet parking is also available nearby. They are open now, so be sure to stop by when you can and let us know what YOUR favorite drink or menu item was!

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Krispy Kreme Holiday Doughnuts And Deals

Krispy Kreme Logo

KRISPY KREME® SHARES HOLIDAY JOY WITH SEASONAL SWEET TREATS 

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc. is making the holiday season a little more joyous with an assortment of sweet treats perfect for sharing with family and friends. The Santa Belly, Snowman and Red Velvet Cake doughnuts are available now through Dec. 27 at the following Central Florida locations:

1031 S. Orlando Avenue (17-92), Winter Park, FL  32789

Open 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. (Sunday–Thursday) and 5:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. (Friday and Saturday)

4080 Millenia Blvd., Orlando, FL 32939

5310 W. Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway
(192 / Mile Marker 11.5), Kissimmee, FL  34746

This season’s treats include:

Krispy Kreme Holiday Doughnuts 2015

  • Santa Belly Doughnut: A yeast shell filled with Chocolate Kreme™ filling and hand-decorated with red and milk chocolate icings and a sugar piece belt buckle resembling Santa’s jolly belly.
  • Snowman Doughnut: A snowman-shaped yeast doughnut with white icing and hand-decorated with chocolate and red icing.
  • Red Velvet Cake Doughnut: A glazed, red velvet traditional cake doughnut decorated with burgundy chocolate icing, topped with a blend of Kreme and delicious cream cheese filling, and delicately sprinkled with red velvet cake crumbles.
  • Peppermint Mocha (available only at Krispy Kreme Millenia): Rich espresso, dark chocolate and frosty peppermint, finished with whipped cream and a cheerful peppermint bark topping. Available hot and iced.

Krispy Kreme Original Glazed Dozen

In the spirit of the season, Krispy Kreme will celebrate the Day of the Dozens Saturday, December 12 (12/12/15). Guests will receive one FREE dozen Original Glazed® doughnuts with the purchase of a dozen Original Glazed® doughnuts.

Print your #DayOfTheDozens coupon at http://www.krispykreme.com/DayoftheDozens.

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Ten Fun Facts About Raglan Road

Raglan Road Bar Disney Springs Walt Disney World

Ten Fun Facts Celebrate Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant’s 10th Anniversary at Walt Disney World Resort

When it opened 10 years ago at Downtown Disney in Walt Disney World Resort, Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant was the new kid on the block with a culinary reputation to build.  Ten years later, the iconic Irish pub thrives in its original but renamed Disney Springs location at Walt Disney World Resort with a loyal following among locals and travelers from around the world.

Here’s what pub regulars know and first-timers learn: Celebrity Master Chef Kevin Dundon stars in his own popular PBS cooking series; the award-winning Raglan Road Irish Dancers perform daily to the tunes of top Irish bands; much of the restaurant’s interior was built from furnishings shipped directly from Ireland; and you can’t visit the pub without having a rollicking good time.

Raglan Road Bar Disney Springs Walt Disney World

To celebrate its 10th anniversary, Raglan Road shares 10 fun facts that even its most loyal guests may not know:

  • Raglan Road Master Chef Kevin Dundon won Irish Dish of the Year for his Glazed Loin of Bacon with Colcannon Mash, a Raglan Road staple.He has published six cookbooks and has cooked for luminaries like Queen Elizabeth II, President George Bush and Bono.
  • One dish you won’t find at Raglan Road is corned beef and cabbage.Contrary to what many people believe, it’s a New York dish, not an Irish one!
  • The three founders and owners of Raglan Road – Paul Nolan, John Cooke and Kevin Dundon – have commuted a combined total of nearly 2 million miles to and from Ireland to Orlando in the past 10 years.That’s equal to about 78 circumnavigations of Earth at its equator.  Or eight trips to the moon.

Raglan Road Bar Disney Springs Walt Disney World

  • Nolan, Cooke and Dundon each engage in secret (until now) pastimes: Nolan is the pub “tweeter” (@RaglanRoadPub), Cooke is a bass guitar geek, and Dundon might be spotted at the Kentucky Fried Chicken drive-through when he thinks no one is watching.
  • Raglan Road sells more Guinness than any other pub in the United States.Nine Fine Irishmen in Las Vegas, the previous pub owned by Raglan Road’s founders, sells the second greatest amount of Guinness.
  • It takes 250 staff members to keep Raglan Road running daily operations.The pub, with 500 seats inside and on the patio, serves the equivalent of half the number of Americans who travel to Ireland each year.
  • Raglan Road coincidentally opened its doors 10 years ago on the birthday of Patrick Kavanagh, the Irish poet who wrote “On Raglan Road.” The poem became a song by Luke Kelly of The Dubliners and since has been sung by the likes of Sinead O’Conner, Van Morrison and U2.
  • The celebrated Raglan Road Irish Dancers perform on stage daily and also on a platform that is an old Irish church pulpit located in the center of the Grand Dining Room.Cabinet displays in the pub’s Music Room include century-old items from Ireland including a period phonograph and a fiddle.
  • There is a Hidden Mickey that has never, to our knowledge, been discovered.Try finding it in a “grand” location.  And don’t miss the signed portraits of Bono and other celebrities on the pub’s walls.
  • The official Raglan Road cookbook is “I’d Ate the Back Door Buttered, Ma!” which translates to “I’m so hungry I’d eat the back door if it were buttered, Ma!”The book features Dundon’s Raglan Road recipes but also the story behind Raglan Road: “There is a “road” to Raglan Road that crosses several continents and centuries – a journey involving brewers, publicans, singers, statues, gold rushes, a chef, a poet, yeast, several fishermen and an ex-priest.  In short, our story is part of the larger Irish story of misfortune, emigration, hard work, ingenuity and eventual success outside mother Ireland.”

Raglan Road features inventive cuisine by Irish celebrity chef Kevin Dundon, host of the TASTE Award-winning PBS and Create TV cooking show, “Kevin Dundon’s Modern Irish Food.”  The show also won a Silver World Media for “best culinary program” in the 2015 New York Festivals Best TV & Film awards.  The second season of Dundon’s TV series, “Kevin Dundon’s Back to Basics,” premiered nationally March 13 on public television’s Create TV.

Kevin Dundon Raglan Road Bar Disney Springs Walt Disney World
Kevin Dundon

Owned and operated by Irish partners Paul Nolan, John Cooke and celebrity chef Kevin Dundon – famous for his five-star hotel and cookery school in Ireland and his award-winning PBS and Create TV cooking series – Raglan Road features traditional Irish dishes and new creations with a Celtic twist.  The restaurant’s warm interior of aged walnut and mahogany woods from old Irish bars and churches was built in Ireland and shipped to Orlando.  Guests can enjoy live Irish bands and performances by The Raglan Road Dancers nightly and during the Rollicking Raglan Weekend Brunch.  Live music is also scheduled nightly on the pub patio.  Lunch is served 11 a.m.-3 p.m.; Dinner 3-11 p.m.; Bar menu 11 p.m.-late; Weekend Brunch 10 a.m.-3 p.m.  Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant is located at Downtown Disney in the Walt Disney World Resort, 1640 E. Buena Vista Dr., Lake Buena Vista, Fla.  Visit www.raglanroad.com or call 407/938-0300.

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Gearing up for Thanksgiving at Disney World

Disney Vacation Club Thanksgiving
Image copyright Disney

This week marks a shift from Halloween to Christmas in the Disney parks, but let’s not forget about Thanksgiving in between. Although the decorations may be overlooked, or at least overshadowed by Christmas, Thanksgiving still has a presence at Walt Disney World.

In the parks and at several of the resorts, Disney has a wide variety of restaurants that are offering Thanksgiving meals for lunch and/or dinner. Here are the restaurants that are offering meals on Thanksgiving that vary from their regular menus:

Animal Kingdom

Tusker House

 

Epcot

Akershus Royal Banquet Hall

Biergarten

Coral Reef

Le Cellier

Restaurant Marrakesh

Rose & Crown

Tutto Italia

Via Napoli

Hollywood Studios

50’s Prime Time Cafe

Hollywood & Vine

Disney Springs

Fulton’s Crab House

Planet Hollywood

Portobello Country Italian Trattoria

Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant

The Dining Room at Wolfgang Puck Grand Cafe

Resorts

Artist Point

Boatwright’s Dining Hall

California Grill

Cape May Cafe

Captain’s Grille

Chef Mickey’s

Citricos

End Zone Food Court

Flying Fish Cafe

Fresh Mediterranean Market

Garden Grove

Grand Floridian Cafe

Jiko

Kona Cafe

Mickey’s Backyard BBQ

Narcoossee’s

Olivia’s Cafe

Sanaa

Shutters at Old Port Royale

The Turf Club

The Wave

Trail’s End

Trattoria al Forno

Victoria & Albert’s

Whispering Canyon Cafe

Yachtsman Steakhouse

 

Most of these restaurants are offering both lunch and dinner meals special for Thanksgiving. As always, things are subject to change and it is best to contact Disney Dining directly with any questions or to make reservations at 407-939-3463.

 

A few of the resorts will also be having special recreation activities for Thanksgiving if you are staying there as a guest on November 26th.

Bay Lake Tower at the Contemporary is hosting an Autumn Festival from 3:30 – 8:30pm. They will have “fun games, crafts, giveaways and more” according to the recreation calendar.

Disney’s Old Key West Resort will have activities starting at 12:30pm with Football Fun. This is followed by a pool party, “Gobble ’til you Wobble,” design your own turkey themed cupcake, s’mores, and then Pocahontas will be the Movie Under the Stars at 7:00pm.

Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa is following the same schedule as Old Key West at the High Rock Spring Pool. At the Paddock Pool starting at 12:30pm also will be Make Your Own Turkey Hat. After that will be the pool party, Football Fun, Pine Cone Turkeys, and then the Disney Junior pool party.

 

If you happen to be at Walt Disney World this Thanksgiving, check out some of these great offerings!

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Halloween Party Ideas On The Go: Gigi’s Cupcakes

Gigi's Cupcakes Halloween Header

Halloween Party Ideas On The Go:

Gigi’s Cupcakes

Disclosure: I was given a Ghost Pull-Apart Cake for review purposes, however all opinions are my own.

Now while I absolutely pride myself on my baking skills, sometimes you have to give it up for the professionals and when we need to get cupcakes favorite place to go is Gigi’s Cupcakes.

Daily Gigi’s Cupcakes offers several types of delicious, gourmet cupcakes in two sizes, but during Halloween they make some truly wonderful cupcake creations!

Gigi's Cupcakes Halloween

For my gathering, I tried the Ghost Pull-Apart Cake and it was awesome! The cake was made of 24 cupcakes, and I got to choose three cupcake flavors (I chose white, strawberry, and pumpkin) and an icing (I chose my favorite frosting…Cream Cheese).

What I enjoyed most about the Ghost Pull-Apart Cake was that it was really convenient for my littlest guests to grab a cupcake, and I didn’t have to have an extra serving utensil to clean at the end of the party.

Gigi's Cupcakes Halloween

If you want to grab a super quick Halloween treat for your family or as a hostess gift for a party, you can pick up a Halloween Boo Box with a dozen mini Gigi’s Cupcakes that feature your favorite Gigi’s Cupcake specially decorated for Halloween.

Gigi's Cupcakes Halloween

Gigi’s Cupcakes definitely has the right cupcake for you, so what are you waiting for?

Gigi's Cupcakes Halloween Logo

Make sure you keep up with Gigi’s Cupcakes on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest as they are always sharing their latest news, ideas, and offers!

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Halloween Party Ideas On The Go: Vampire Krispy Kreme Doughnut

 

Halloween Party Ideas On the Go Vampire Krispy Kreme Doughnuts

 

Zoe’s classroom Halloween Party is on Friday, and during the party the students will be going from activity to activity and in working with the other Room Parents we found a really easy snack that the kids are sure to love making!

Vampire Krispy Kreme Doughnut

What you’ll need:

– Original Glazed Krispy Kreme Doughnut (One per Child)

– Plastic Vampire Teeth (One per Child)

– Milk Chocolate Chips

How it works:

Halloween Party Ideas On the Go Vampire Krispy Kreme Doughnuts

1. Pinch Plastic Vampire Teeth until they fit in the Doughtnuts’ center

Halloween Party Ideas On the Go Vampire Krispy Kreme Doughnuts

2. Gently push 2 Milk Chocolate Chips into the Doughnut above the teeth for eyes

Halloween Party Ideas On the Go Vampire Krispy Kreme Doughnuts

3. Enjoy!

Tips…

– Working with Doughnuts can be messy, so have the students work over paper plates or napkins and have wipes available for simple clean-up.

– For even more fun, use a Sprinkle Doughnut instead of an Original Glazed Doughnut

– Make sure you pick up the fun Krispy Kreme hats for the class to wear

Halloween Party Ideas On the Go Vampire Krispy Kreme Doughnuts

If you love this idea, make sure you pin it on your Pinterest Board!

Halloween Party Ideas On the Go Vampire Krispy Kreme Doughnuts

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Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar Movie Tie Ins

movie tie ins
Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar

Shelley and I went to the grand opening of the Indiana Jones movie themed Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar a few weeks ago. You can check out her post on it here. Today I’d like to focus on a few of my favorite details that tie in to the Indiana Jones movies. I will focus primarily on the original trilogy of movies. If you aren’t familiar, Jock was Indy’s pilot in the first movie in the series, Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark. Jock helped rescue Indy in the opening sequence from the South American tribe that was chasing him when he finds the idol. When the adventurous Dr. Jones jumps into Jock’s plane, we first learn of Indy’s fear of snakes, when he is introduced to Jock’s pet snake, Reggie.

Reggie is one of the more prominent characters, or evidence of the snake is rather. You can see this is the slightly pryed open cage that Reggie once resided in, as well as the potent looking libation glowing in a container on the bar labeled “Reggie’s Revenge.”

Reggie's empty cage
Reggie’s empty cage
Reggie's Revenge drink
Reggie’s Revenge drink
Reggie's Revenge in the menu
Reggie’s Revenge in the menu

Much of the menu itself is inside jokes taken straight from the Indiana Jones movies. In addition to some of the more overt things like the menu items themselves, there are a bunch of hidden gems in Jock’s notes on the edges of the menu pages, and a few others I’ll point out.

Loosely translated to: Mr. jock , Your friend is in a very dangerous and full of deceit way. The idol Chachapoyan awaits those who come through their ancient temple , but beware, the natives are welcoming and the French is worse
Loosely translated to:
Mr. jock ,
Your friend is in a very dangerous and full of deceit way. The idol Chachapoyan awaits those who come through their ancient temple , but beware, the natives are welcoming and the French is worse

This post card might raise some red flags for anyone who can read Spanish and who has seen the opening of the Raiders of the Lost Ark. In the movie, Indy is betrayed when he is looking for the idol and the Hovito tribe is loyal to the Frenchman Belloq, who is a longtime rival of Dr. Jones. I wonder if Jock got this in time and that’s why he was there to rescue Indy with his plane?

The allergy menu has the list of food items, many of which have direct ties to the movies
The allergy menu has the list of food items, many of which have direct ties to the movies

 

Good Dates refer to the bad ones eaten by the Nazi monkey in Cairo in Raiders. Air Pirates refers to the shirt in Jock’s plane in Raiders when he rescues Indy. Rolling Boulder Sliders refer to the opening of Raiders when Indy escapes the rolling boulder while trying to procure the idol. Snack of Ra refers to the Staff of Ra used the help find the Lost Ark. Tanis is the lost city where the Holy Grail is located in Last Crusade. Dr. Elsa Schneider is the Nazi who seduces Dr. Jones Jr. and Sr. in Last Crusade. Brody’s Brats refer to Marcus Brody who appears in both Raiders and Last Crusade. Lao Che’s Revenge is in reference to the owner of the Obi-Wan Night Club in Temple of Doom. Squid! Why’d it have to be Squid?! is a play on Indy’s same line replacing snakes with squid (probably at Reggie’s request).

 

This refers to when Indy and Short Round are stuck in the tunnels in the Pankot Palace in Temple of Doom
This refers to when Indy and Short Round are stuck in the tunnels in the Pankot Palace in Temple of Doom
Anything Goes signature drink and glass refer to Willie the night club singer at Club Obi Wan in Temple of Doom
Anything Goes signature drink and glass refer to Willie the night club singer at Club Obi Wan in Temple of Doom
Hovito Mojito is named after the tribe of natives chasing Indy at the beginning of Raiders
Hovito Mojito is named after the tribe of natives chasing Indy at the beginning of Raiders
Pretty sure the Bitter Barkeep is referencing Marion Ravenwood, but also good advice at the top of the page
Pretty sure the Bitter Barkeep is referencing Marion Ravenwood, but also good advice at the top of the page
German Mechanic bites the dust in Raiders by way of the plane propeller
German Mechanic bites the dust in Raiders by way of the plane propeller
The Scottish Professor is in honor of Dr. Henry Jones Sr. in Last Crusade
The Scottish Professor is in honor of Dr. Henry Jones Sr. in Last Crusade
Cool-Headed Monkey must taste better than the monkey brains they tried to serve in Temple of Doom
Cool-Headed Monkey must taste better than the monkey brains they tried to serve in Temple of Doom

Above the bar you can see Jock’s beloved New York Yankees hat hanging from a shelf. On another shelf you’ll see the voodoo dolls of Indy, Willie and Short Round from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. Just below that is the lighter that Indy used in the Last Crusade movie where he was tied up with his dad in the castle with the Nazis.

Jock's Yankees hat he wears in Raiders
Jock’s Yankees hat he wears in Raiders
Voodoo dolls
Voodoo dolls
Indy's lighter
Indy’s lighter

The map behind the bar shows stamps and trails and Jock’s expeditions around the globe with and without Indy. For instance, you can see a depiction of the Shankara stones from the Temple of Doom movie seen near Nepal on the map.

Map of Jock's adventures
Map of Jock’s adventures
See the Shankara Stones from Temple of Doom?
See the Shankara Stones from Temple of Doom?

Beside the bar in the locked up lost and found cage are a few more nods to the movies. The headpiece from the Staff of Ra from Raiders of the Lost Ark is sitting near the bottom left. There are a slew of keys labeled for characters like Marcus Brody, Willie, etc. on the half empty key rack. I’d also like to think that one of the umbrellas in the stand is one that Henry Jones Sr. used to scare away the birds into the propellers of the Nazis trying to attack him and Indy in Last Crusade.

Lost and Found
Lost and Found
Headpiece from the Staff of Ra in Raiders
Headpiece from the Staff of Ra in Raiders

There are three posters in the bar representing the original trilogy of movies and some of their locations with one for Cairo in the loft above the main entry doors. There’s another one for Pankot Province around the corner to the left after you enter. The third is at the end of a bookcase marking the end of the fuselage of the plane on the left that has a poster of Iskenderun.

Cairo poster representing travel there in Raiders
Cairo poster representing travel there in Raiders
Pankot Province poster with the tagline "You'll Leave Your Heart In Beautiful Pankot" subtly referring the fact the Mola Ram will remove your heart
Pankot Province poster with the tagline “You’ll Leave Your Heart In Beautiful Pankot” subtly referring the fact the Mola Ram will remove your heart
Iskenderun poster with the headline "Choose Wisely Fly There" referring to the knight's advice to Indy to choose wisely when picking the Holy Grail in Last Crusade
Iskenderun poster with the headline “Choose Wisely Fly There” referring to the knight’s advice to Indy to choose wisely when picking the Holy Grail in Last Crusade

In addition to the Indiana Jones movies, there are a couple of other movies that get nods in Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar. One is the Iron Man on the loft above the bar. The other is a mention of R2-D2 from Star Wars and Captain Rex from Star Tours 1.0. Supposedly there’s another Star Wars reference that I missed, but I’ll have to go back again and search for that.

The Iron Man
The Iron Man
Star Wars references
Star Wars references

I’m sure there are many more movie tie ins, but I don’t want to spoil them all for you. It is fun to discover some on your own, plus the cast members are usually all too willing to share if they know some hidden secrets that the Imagineers have snuck in the decor. There are even things that reference the Jungle Cruise, Hall of Presidents, and the Adventurer’s Club, but I will let you find those yourself. Definitely make a trip for yourself to Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar in Disney Springs to check out this fantastically themed new addition.

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French Family Meal Traditions Lunch

French Family Meal Traditions
Monsieur Paul

New this year to Epcot’s International Food and Wine Festival is the French Family Meal Traditions Special Event. This lunch is hosted by Eric Weistroffer, manager of the French Pavilion at Epcot, and takes place in the restaurant Monsieur Paul. This premium event is a nice leisurely lunch that lasts from about noon until 3:30pm. The five course meal is accompanied by Eric describing how the meal correlates to the French Family Meal Traditions. I had the opportunity to experience this incredible French meal on the day it started and I highly recommend that you book this special event if you can.

The meal started with an aperitif cocktail and cheese sticks. We were also presented with fresh baked bread and butter which helped to cleanse the palate between courses. The cheese sticks were twists of cheese baked over bread and were crispy on the outside, but nice and soft on the inside. The cocktail we began with was called Cocktail La Presse and was made from Grand Marnier Titanium, lemon juice, simple syrup, raspberries and sparkling wine. It was a light and refreshing drink to start the meal with and just had hints of the orange, lemon and raspberry together.

Cocktail La Presse
Cocktail La Presse
Allumette au fromage
Allumette au fromage

For the traditional French Hors d’Oeurve we sampled a Traditional Quiche Lorraine and a side salad. The quiche was so light and flaky on the outside and inside the eggs, cheese and ham were so perfectly cooked. I am not usually a fan of quiche, but this was simply delightful. The salad was a nice complement to the quiche with a nice vinaigrette dressing. This course was paired with a French Vouvray wine, which was clean and crisp and matched the food amazingly.

Quiche Lorraine
Quiche Lorraine
Side Salad
Side Salad
Inside the quiche
Inside the quiche
Vouvray
Vouvray

The main course, or Plat de resistance, was a phenomenal white veal ragout served with rice, carrots, mushrooms and baby onions. I do not care for veal, but I tried it for the sake of being adventurous. This course was my favorite and I was pleasantly surprised. The white wine in the ragout was a nice balance to the vegetables. I especially enjoyed dipping my bread in the sauce along with the mushrooms and rice. What would appear to be a very heavy course was beautifully balanced. With this course, they served a red Chinon wine, which I found a little Earthy for my taste, but paired well with the entree.

White veal ragout
White veal ragout
Ragout with rice
Ragout with rice

One of the things I enjoyed most about this meal, aside from the food of course, was that it was a nice slow pace. We had time to talk with the other guests at our table and it felt much like you were sitting around a family table sharing a meal. At one point, Eric even slowed down the servers because he felt that we needed a bit more time in between courses to enjoy the conversation and to digest. This was perfect because I never felt over satiated during the meal, just sated. It was a fantastic to embrace the French way of enjoying a meal and to slow down and appreciate the surroundings.

Eric explaining how nice it is to slow down
Eric explaining how nice it is to slow down

The cheese course was next, with a nice Brie, walnuts, grapes, and more freshly baked bread. The Bordeaux that was paired with this course was very nice and a bit more fruity and full bodied than what I traditionally expect from most Bordeaux.

Cheese plate
Cheese plate

Dessert was a presentation to be seen and tasted just a fabulous as it looked. The light almond macaron, with bitter chocolate mousse, vanilla and chocolate sauces, and hazelnut ice cream was awesome! The sparkling white wine served with it was a JCB  21, and was a slightly dry wine, which I really liked. The dessert macaron was flaky and soft, not the more dense and hard macaron that I am used to, but it was very good. It was a bit rich, but the flavors melded together so well.

Almond macaron
Almond macaron
Inside the macaron
Inside the macaron
Sparkling wine
Sparkling wine

All in all this was a fantastic French meal between the fantastic setting with the view of World Showcase Lagoon below, to the impeccable service, wonderful food with wine pairings, and the great conversations with new friends. The lunch is still available for booking over the next few weeks of the Food and Wine Festival at Epcot. The French Family Meal Traditions special event takes place on Friday and Sunday afternoons from now until November 15th, 2015. The cost is $95 plus tax per person including alcohol for those 21 and up. I will say when I first saw the price I was a bit skeptical, but having been now, I would have easily paid almost double that at many restaurants. The alcohol cost alone makes up more than half to two thirds of the cost if you were purchasing the drinks separately. For a five course meal with drinks included, this is really a good value for all that you are getting.

Monsieur Paul lobby
Monsieur Paul lobby
Place setting
Place setting
Monsieur Paul dining room
Monsieur Paul dining room
View of World Showcase Lagoon
View of World Showcase Lagoon

If you have a few hours available to enjoy this or one of several of the other premium special events during Epcot’s International Food and Wine Festival, I recommend that you book sooner rather than later as many of these events are filling up as word gets out as to how great they are. As of the time of writing this, there are still spots available for the French Family Meal Traditions as well as special events in Mexico, Italy, and Morocco. Please call 407-939-3378 for more information or availability and pricing.

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Blue Jasper Restaurant Review

Blue Jasper exterior
Blue Jasper exterior

Last week I discovered a new breakfast and lunch restaurant, Blue Jasper, quite by accident. My mom and I were out running errands and were hungry for breakfast, but not in the mood for our usual breakfast place or any chains. I took to Yelp and stumbled upon a new place I’d never heard of that had only been open a few months.

I pulled up the reviews for Blue Jasper, which numbered almost twenty and average 4.5/5. I looked at the menu and found an article from the local paper from April when Blue Jasper opened. It talked about how they wanted to use local produce and resources as much as possible, and ran through the impressive resume of the owner/chef. My mom and I were sold.

Showing up only minutes later, we weren’t disappointed. Being mid morning in the middle of the week, it was relatively quiet with only four or five of the twenty or so tables being occupied. The server, Hillary was very friendly, attentive, but not overly so, and was knowledgeable.

After taking a long time to peruse the Blue Jasper breakfast menu, and decide we were coming back for lunch later in the week, we placed our orders. We decided to order a few different things to try and share.

First, we started with the lox and three herb cream cheese on a bagel with tomato. We opted for no onions and the capers on the side. The lox was perfectly sliced and nice and thin with a nice smoked salmon flavor. This was complemented very well with the herb cream cheese.

French Toast
Bagel and lox
Bagel and lox
Corned beef hash
Corned beef hash
Blue Jasper interior
Blue Jasper interior

To balance out the savory bagel and lox, we decided to order the crunchy fruit compote French toast brioche with the whipped cream on the side. We both agreed that this was quite probably the best French toast we’d ever had. It didn’t need butter, we used a touch of syrup, and I used a little of the whipped cream, but the berry compote was perfect served cold over the warm French toast. I am assuming the crunch came from cereal or oatmeal on the brioche toast added after an egg wash.

I also chose to give a side of corned beef hash a try. Now, I am very particular about my hash. I do not like salty things, and oddly enough, corned beef is very salty by nature. So I don’t ever want salt added, and I’m not a fan of peppers in my corned beef hash, which a lot of places like to try to sneak in for some reason. This corned beef hash at Blue Jasper again was possibly the best I’ve ever had. It was perfectly seasoned, not salty at all, but still flavorful. I felt a little bad trying some with a dab of ketchup like I usually do.

The food was all fantastic with great flavor and nice presentation. As promised, we returned to Blue Jasper for lunch over the weekend and were not disappointed! We had the duck confit sliders, and their extraordinary grilled cheese. The sliders are served on sour dough bread with brie, arugula, sweet orange rinds, and bacon aioli. Served with tomato bisque, the grilled cheese has smoked bacon, apple butter, grilled apple slices, and smoked cheddar on brioche. Neither made it home for leftovers, but we did have some extra of the yummy sweet potato fries that made a great snack later.

Duck confit sliders
Duck confit sliders
Grilled cheese and tomato bisque
Grilled cheese and tomato bisque
Tables
Tables
Blue Jasper
Blue Jasper

All in all this is a great new spot, and I’m so glad we found it. We will now be adding it into our regular rotation of restaurants. They are open Tuesday through Sunday 7am – 3pm, and also offer catering. There are vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free options, as well as vegan/gluten free options. If you are in the Sarasota or Bradenton area any time soon, make sure to hit up Blue Jasper for either breakfast or lunch.

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Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto Soft Opening Visit

Trader Sam's Grog Grotto
Entrance to Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto

This past weekend, a few friends and I were lucky enough to experience the soft opening of the brand new Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort.

We were in the first group to enter this tiki bar located in the Great Ceremonial House next to Captain Cook’s. For those of you familiar with Disneyland, this lounge is the counterpart to Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar.

Trader Sam's Grog Grotto
Being welcomed into Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto as the first guests

The atmosphere at Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto draws inspiration from a great combination of Disney classic attractions like the Enchanted Tiki Room, Jungle Cruise, and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Imagineers have hidden lots of great references to these rides as well as many other Disney characters and films. If you keep a keen eye open, you may find the Orange Bird, a nod to the Rocketeer, and even my favorite nefarious Toad, J. Thaddeus.

Trader Sam's Grog Grotto
Bartenders ready to serve … even a cephalopod

Also, be on the look out for fun audio animatronics like a tentacle swinging from above the bar with a tight grip on a bottle, Uh Oa, the tiki goddess of disaster on the opposite wall, and tons of fantastic blacklight effects.

Once you’ve marveled over the fabulous decor and theming inside Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto, it is time to decide which beverages and food you want to experience. Similar to the vibe of the lounge, the small plates and drinks offered have a South Seas flair, heavy on the seafood and rum. We sampled all of the appetizers between our group and found everything to be quite tasty.

Trader Sam's Grog Grotto Disney's Polynesian Village Resort Disney's Polynesian Villas and Bungalows

I definitely had a favorite in the Headhunter Sushi Roll, which if I recall is a beet rice roll with tuna, salmon, cucumber with an awesome hibiscus sauce. This roll was so good we killed it within just a couple of minutes between a few of us. I highly recommend it as a great combination of flavors that is different from any other roll I’ve had before.

Trader Sam's Grog Grotto Disney's Polynesian Village Resort Disney's Polynesian Villas and Bungalows
Headhunter Sushi Roll

 

Other popular choices in our group were the Chicken Lettuce Cups that you assembled yourself, which were really nice with the kimchi, and the Kalua Pork Tacos.

Trader Sam's Grog Grotto Disney's Polynesian Village Resort Disney's Polynesian Villas and Bungalows Lettuce Wraps
Chicken Lettuce Cups

As far as what I didn’t particular care for, or feel I will order again in the near future, I’d say skip the Corn-Battered Portuguese Sausages. To me, these tasted kind of like corn dogs with a ketchup infused with curry.

Corn-Battered Portuguese Sausages Trader Sam's Grog Grotto Disney's Polynesian Village Resort Disney's Polynesian Villas and Bungalows
Corn-Battered Portuguese Sausages

 

The other items that we felt left a bit to be desired were the Pan-Fried Dumplings with soy-sesame dipping sauce. These were pork and shrimp combined, but seemed a bit light on the filling as far proportionally to the dumpling dough. I’d say the Salmon Oshizushi, Chicken and Pork Bahn Mi, and the Hawaiian Poke fall in the middle. I’d get them again, but maybe not as frequently as the Headhunter Roll or Lettuce Cups.

Hippopotomai-Tai Trader Sam's Grog Grotto Disney's Polynesian Village Resort Disney's Polynesian Villas and Bungalows
Hippopotomai-Tai

I took one for the team and was pretty much the designated drinker, ordering the Hippopotomai-Tai since it came with a new souvenir glass specific to Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto. This was a really good Mai Tai, with the obligatory “two shots of rum” offering a special effect.

Trader Sam's Grog Grotto Disney's Polynesian Village Resort Disney's Polynesian Villas and Bungalows
Polynesian Pearl

Another in our group tried the Polynesian Pearl, which is a signature drink new for the Grog Grotto. It comes in a plastic “pearl” with a fun presentation from the bartenders each time one is ordered. This drink, which I just tasted, came across like a creamy version of Cinnamon Toast Crunch in beverage form.

Trader Sam's Grog Grotto Disney's Polynesian Village Resort Disney's Polynesian Villas and Bungalows
Polynesian Pearl Presentation

 

For the non-alcoholic folks out there, we also sampled the Schweitzer Fall, which mostly tasted like pineapple juice and sprite, and the Skipper Sipper, a bit more refreshing and slightly less sweet combo of tropical juice with mint and lime.

Trader Sam's Grog Grotto Disney's Polynesian Village Resort Disney's Polynesian Villas and Bungalows
Photo: Mike Beckerman

Several of the alcoholic beverages at Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto can be purchased in souvenir glasses, which you can pick up on your way out already wrapped up for you. This is really nice to not have to wait for your used glass to be cleaned out and brought back to you. Our server simply highlighted my receipt, then I showed it to the Cast Members at the door where the glasses are on display. The Polynesian Pearl is plastic, which they will rinse out for you to take if you’d like. The Hippopotomai-Tai souvenir and the Kona beer flight are glass, and the others offered are all ceramic.

Trader Sam's Grog Grotto Disney's Polynesian Village Resort Disney's Polynesian Villas and Bungalows Nautilus
Nautilus

As of this time, the only souvenir glass not available is for the Nautilus, which will run approximately $52, but is currently around $34 for just the alcoholic drink. According to the Food and Beverage Cast Member with whom I spoke, they said it may be months before those arrive. I also asked, and souvenir drink glasses are not for sale independently of the alcohol.

Trader Sam's Grog Grotto
Trader Sam’s Tiki Terrace

Here are a few quick things to keep in mind for your visit to Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto:

  • All prices, menu items, and drinks are subject to change as Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto is still in soft opening.
  • No discounts are available currently at Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto.
  • The lounge can hold about 50 inside, and the Trader Sam’s Tiki Terrace outside can seat an additional 80 guests.
  • If you are looking to sit inside the Grog Grotto, there is a pager system since seating is so limited. There are a limited amount a pagers available, and wait times did go up to 4-5 hours on the first day of soft openings. Also, your wait time will depend on the size of your party.
  • The full menu is available both inside and out, with a nice area for musicians and a dancer on the terrace. I really enjoyed this additional entertainment aspect and can see myself spending lots of time here in the future, especially in the warmer summer evenings here.
  • Hours for Trader Sam’s, once they officially open in late April, will be from 4pm until 12am, with the lounge being 21 and up only from 8pm.

Trader Sam's Grog Grotto Disney's Polynesian Village Resort Disney's Polynesian Villas and Bungalows

Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto met and exceeded my expectations based on my experiences at the West Coast version of Trader Sam’s at Disneyland. The Imagineers have done very well to echo the feeling of the lounge in California, while still making it unique enough to make me want to visit both locations. Like Disneyland, I am sure over time I will be spending hours inspecting all the fun pictures and memorabilia adorning the walls, ceiling, and shelves. This lounge is a much needed addition to the nightlife at Walt Disney World.

Trader Sam's Grog Grotto
Diver’s mask behind the bar
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