Wendy | the disney food blog

Review: Tiramisu at the Gelato Stand in Epcot’s Italy Pavilion

Could it be true? We’re stopping by the Gelato Stand in Epcot’s Italy Pavilion and not having gelato?!

Epcot Restaurants
Disney World Restaurants

If you’re not familiar with this understated kiosk, the main draw here is, obviously, gelato 😉 . You can have your choice of flavor served in a cup or cone, or enjoy one of the “Gelato Creations” like the Coppa Delizia or the Espresso Gelato Affogato. There’s also the gelato sandwiches, made with chocolate chip cookies. And a selection of wine and beer is also available, along with a few specialty coffee beverages and Italian sodas.

But there are a couple of sweet concoctions here that tend to fly under the radar against all that gelato goodness, so we thought we’d shine a light on one of those today: the Tiramisu.

Italy’s Gelato Stand

Alongside the Cannoli also found at this spot, Tiramisu is a well-known Italian dessert featuring layers of mascarpone cream and Savoiardi biscuits (ladyfingers) dipped in espresso and dusted with cocoa.

Tiramisu

This tiramisu is light and creamy, but packed with flavor thanks to the espresso and the layer of cocoa on top.

Side view of Tiramisu

I don’t think there’s [Read more…]

2014 Grand Floridian Gingerbread House and Beach Club Gingerbread Treats

By Wendy 7 Comments

There’s more gingerbread in store for you at Walt Disney World now that the season is in full swing! Let’s take a look at a couple of the most anticipated displays of the holidays…

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort Gingerbread House

The Grand Floridian Gingerbread House is open for the season!

Grand Floridian Gingerbread House 2014

Just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday, the Gingerbread House began celebrating its 16th year.

Grand Floridian Gingerbread House operating hours

It’s always fun to see the massive ingredients list!

Gingerbread House ingredients

Open daily for the remainder of the year from 10 am to 10 pm (though it will likely close early on New Years Eve), the unique thing about the Grand Floridian’s gingerbread display is that it is a fully functioning snack stop, with Cast Members serving up gingerbread and other sweet treats through this cheerful window.

Treat window

The traditional Gingerbread Shingles return, along with some other familiar seasonal treats like Peppermint Bark and boxes of Stollen Bread (with a printed history of the traditional German treat attached).

GF gingerbread shingle

Stollen Bread and Peppermint Bark

Mickey Pop

The beautifully detailed Gingerbread Ornaments are probably my favorite things to look at.

Large Gingerbread Ornament

Mickey Gingerbread Ornament

Red Velvet Cupcakes are available alongside White Chocolate Snowmen.

White Chocolate Snowman and Red Velvet Cupcake

Gluten-free choices include Gingerbread Men, but also Ginger Chocolate-Chip Bread, Cinnamon Toastie Bread, and Brownie Bites.

Gingerbread Men

And if you had any doubt whether the cast of “Frozen” could be found at the Grand Floridian Gingerbread House, too, then doubt no more! You can find [Read more…]

Food Truck Park Now Open in Downtown Disney’s West Side!

By Wendy 17 Comments

The construction walls are down at long last, and Food Truck Park is open in Downtown Disney’s West Side!

Learn About:Disney Food Trucks

Disney Springs
Disney World Restaurants

Nestled between Bongos Cuban Cafe and the West Side Starbucks, Food Truck Park provides a home base for the four Disney Food Trucks.

The cuisine of each food truck reflects that of a Disney Park, with Superstar Catering representing Hollywood Studios, and Namaste Cafe for Disney’s Animal Kingdom. World Showcase of Flavors bring tastes from Epcot’s annual International Food & Wine Festival to Disney guests year round, while Fantasy Fare features dishes from “Magic Kingdoms Around the World,” most notably the Hand-dipped Corn Dogs in honor of Disneyland.

Originally slated to open this past summer, Food Truck Park is open at last!

Entrance to Food Truck Park

Atmosphere

The actuality of Food Truck Park differs somewhat from the original artistic renderings.

Food Truck Park concept art

The elevated structure that serves as a de facto entrance to the area was anticipated to provide raised seating that guests would reach via a glass elevator.

Elevated structure

What has come to pass (at least, at this point in time) is a bit more low-key, but still an attractive and open space providing nice waterfront views nonetheless.

Food Truck Park

Waterfront views

View of Characters in Flight Balloon

Standing tables abound, along with more traditional tables and chairs for those wishing to linger and relax awhile.

Standing tables

Standing table

Tables with seating

There are two cool bonuses, I think, that come along with this dedicated space for the food trucks. First, let’s say you were [Read more…]

What’s New Around Walt Disney World: November 18th, 2014

By Wendy 10 Comments

Ready for another trip around the World? We’re heading to three parks and a few resorts to check out holiday treats, gingerbread feats, and new menu eats! And which Counter Service location is now serving up steak? Just read on to find out and see What’s New!

HOLIDAY TREATS

Red and green aren’t the only colors taking over Disney World now that the holiday season has launched around here… hues of blue decorate the festive snacks at this year’s brand new “Frozen” Gingerbread Display at the Contemporary Resort!

Contemporary Resort Gingerbread Display

We tried the Blue Raspberry Cake Gelato…

Blue Raspberry Cake Gelato

Read our review and see all the other treats available at the new display here!

Get ready for all your favorite Disney World bakery items (we’re talking Krispy Treats, Candy Apples, and Mickey Macarons) to be dressed up for the holiday season in spots like the Main Street Confectionery, Seashore Sweets, and Big Top Treats.

Holiday Bakery Case

Ornament Candy Apples

More candy apples!

Holiday cupcakes

Red and Green Mickey Macarons

And now let’s look into some ways the Parks are getting into the [Read more…]

New “Frozen” Gingerbread Display Debuts at Disney World’s Contemporary Resort

By Wendy 16 Comments

It’s time to ring in the season with the famous Disney World Resort Gingerbread Displays!

While displays throughout various resorts are in different stages towards completion, the Contemporary Resort has debuted its brand new 2014 Gingerbread Display themed to (shocker, I know) Frozen!

Contemporary Resort Gingerbread Display

This impressive display brings together current and classic as the Frozen characters are designed in the vintage style of Mary Blair, as is fitting for the Contemporary. And the whole thing (which looks a lot like a Norwegian Stave Church) is set against a pretty familiar looking background. It’s Arendelle meets “it’s a small world.”

Contemporary Resort Gingerbread Display sign

Frozen Friends

“It’s a Small World” design

As always, there are some great fun facts regarding the ingredients that make up this enormous display!

Ingredients!

And those 14 Hidden Olafs? Just look among the characters to locate a few.

Olaf… and teeny tiny Olaf

See the sliver of silver on the bottom left? That’s one!

Directly next to the display is a counter topped with gingerbread selling [Read more…]

News! Festive Treats Returning to Epcot’s Holidays Around the World

By Wendy 20 Comments

Every year we look forward to the return of Holidays Around the World in Epcot! Beginning November 28th and running through December 30th, this yearly celebration features special events like the Candlelight Processional, a special ending to the IllumiNations spectacular, and unique opportunities to listen to storytellers share holiday traditions from around the globe in each Pavilion.

Holidays Around the World Passport

We’re happy to share that a more recent “tradition” will be returning this year as well… Holidays Around the World will once again feature tastes of holiday cuisine from the countries represented in World Showcase! If you’d like to get even more of a start on your holiday snack planning, check out our review of several of these treats from last year’s celebration! (Please note: prices on signage in the pictures below may differ this year from last.)

The Sugar and Spice Holiday Bakery in the American Adventure Pavilion will once again be THE place to grab a gingerbread, chocolate chip, or sugar cookie while waiting in line to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus! This will also the place to grab some peppermint bark or warm up with some hot cocoa.

Sugar and Spice Holiday Bakery

Cookies at the Sugar and Spice Bakery

Epcot American Adventure Peppermint Bark

Also among the treats that will be returning this year is the beautiful Bûche de Noël au Chocolate (Chocolate Christmas Log) to Les Halles Boulangerie Patisserie in France.

Chocolate Christmas Log

And Gingerbread Ice Cream will [Read more…]

Review: Lunch at ABC Commissary in Disney’s Hollywood Studios

By Wendy 10 Comments

Let’s say you’re in Hollywood Studios. It’s about a million degrees or freezing outside, and you’re hungry. You need some A/C (or heat) and food stat. So, you head right into ABC Commissary.

Learn About:ABC Commissary

Disney's Hollywood Studios
Disney World Restaurants

More often than not, I think, that’s the drill for ABC Commissary. The theme (that of… well, a basic studio lot commissary) isn’t altogether exciting, and mostly it has a reputation for being a great place — above anything else — to score an easy seat in the air conditioning, and maybe grab a burger and a Coke.

But there are a few dishes here we hadn’t paid much attention to previously that get a fair amount of love from DFB readers. So here we are at the Commissary, ready to try a couple of choices unique to this spot… and do a little exploring while were at it.

Atmosphere

The name tells you just about everything: ABC Commissary is themed as a cafeteria on a studio lot — in this case, that of the ABC network.

ABC Commissary Sign

ABC Commissary Entrance

Entering ABC Commissary

ABC logo

And this completely explains the decor: a very basic collection of insane amounts of seating, peppered with props, pics, and posters from ABC shows.

ABC Commissary seating

And plants and stuff.

ABC Commissary seating

Costumes from “Nashville”

Signed pictures from cast of “The Chew”

Props from “Revenge”

Oh, and some palm trees, while we’re at it 😉 .

Palm tree in seating area

Clips from ABC shows are looped on high-hanging screens throughout your meal.

TV screen

For my part, I got a kick out of seeing this display of props from [Read more…]

Review: Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Treats

By Wendy 7 Comments

I can say this much about our pal, Mickey Mouse…

“Celebrate the Season” with Mickey and Minnie!

He sure knows how to throw a Very Merry Christmas Party!

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party

Celebrate the Season stage show

Once Upon a Christmastime Parade

Jack Skellington Sandy Claws character meet

Jack Skellington as “Sandy Claws” character meet

Frozen Holiday Wish

From the Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, to Holiday Wishes Fireworks, to all the fun in between, including character dance parties and appearances, special stage shows, and a whole, huge [Read more…]

Review: Chef Gale Gand’s Culinary Salted Caramel Brownies Demo at the Epcot Food and Wine Festival

By Wendy 3 Comments

Epcot Food and Wine Festival

fans always anticipate the announcement of the Culinary Demonstrations: low-cost events where guests can enjoy presentations by a Disney or celebrity chef.

Food and Wine Festival demonstration kitchen

This year, I took the opportunity to purchase a $15 ticket to see Chef Gale Gand: pastry chef, author of cookbooks, 8-year host of the Food Network’s “Sweet Dreams,” as well as a founding partner of the restaurant Tru in Chicago (among a bajillion other accomplishments!).

I chose Chef Gand’s session because I love to bake. But I still consider myself a novice with just a few trusty recipes under my belt, and I don’t tend to stray from those. So, I was interested to find out upon arrival that Chef Gand would be sharing her recipe for Salted Caramel Brownies with those of us in the audience.

Before Chef Gand came to the stage, we enjoyed a presentation by a Master Sommelier who spoke about the choice of wine that we would enjoy with Chef Gand’s creation.

Master Sommelier

It really was interesting to hear him speak about the incredibly intense learning and examination process that it takes to become a Master Sommelier. But even with his depth of knowledge and expertise, I was happy to hear him share his favorite piece of advice when it comes to wine selection: “Drink what you like, when you like, with whom you like.” Works for me!

Viognier from Cambria Winery

In this case, what we were drinking was the Tepusquet Vineyard Viognier from the Cambria Winery. Our Master Sommelier led us through the process of picking up the tropical, fruity notes in the aroma, and the floral notes in the flavor. I can’t claim to have picked up on all that on my own ;). As someone who prefers white wines over red, I can just say I enjoyed the glass.

When Chef Gale Gand arrived on stage, she greeted the audience with a smile and immediately continued in the personable, light-hearted tone set by the Sommelier.

Chef Gale Gand

She also greeted us with a surprise: today, she would be demonstrating two recipes. Even though this was a pastry demonstration, Chef Gand started with [Read more…]

Review: Hawaiian Shaved Ice at Kona Island in Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

By Wendy 14 Comments

Even if you’ve paid a visit to Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, you may not be familiar with Kona Island.

Learn About:Kona Island

Polynesian Resort
Disney World Restaurants

This pleasant little stop upstairs in the Great Ceremonial House sits directly next to a much larger restaurant: Kona Cafe. So it can be pretty easy to pass by — unless you are in the know of its reputation for being one of the places on property where you can enjoy some sushi, or even a press pot of Kona Coffee, brewed to order.

Kona Island was closed for a while in the late summer to accommodate some of the construction going on at the Polynesian (among those changes, the eagerly-anticipated addition of Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto to the resort).

Kona Island sign

But it reopened by the end of September, and more recently I finally had a chance to stop by and sample something I’d been curious about.

Kona Island

Hawaiian Shaved Ice is now part of the offerings. You can get all one flavor (“Kumau”) for $3.99, or a combo of two flavors (“Haukalima”) for $4.99.

Koan Island Hawaiian Shaved ice sign

While flavors may vary due to available syrups, I was able to choose from eight on the day of my visit: orange, passion mango, cherry, coconut, blue raspberry, strawberry, pineapple, and pina colada. I could’ve happily tried all eight flavors (and many thanks to the extremely patient Cast Member who waited while I took a crazy long time to decide!). But I ultimately chose a combo of pina colada and cherry.

Hawaiian Shaved Ice, cherry and pina colada

The swirl of white (you can see it much better on the red cherry side) is [Read more…]

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Review: Tiramisu at the Gelato Stand in Epcot’s Italy Pavilion

Food Truck Park Now Open in Downtown Disney’s West Side!

Atmosphere

What’s New Around Walt Disney World: November 18th, 2014

HOLIDAY TREATS

New “Frozen” Gingerbread Display Debuts at Disney World’s Contemporary Resort

News! Festive Treats Returning to Epcot’s Holidays Around the World

Review: Lunch at ABC Commissary in Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Atmosphere

Review: Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Treats

Review: Chef Gale Gand’s Culinary Salted Caramel Brownies Demo at the Epcot Food and Wine Festival

Review: Hawaiian Shaved Ice at Kona Island in Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

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Author: Wendy

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort Gingerbread House

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