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Category Archives: Food
Drink Around the World Showcase – UK Pavilion
If you’re touring Epcot for Chip & Co.’s Drink Around the World Showcase (DAWS) challenge Epcot’s World Showcase offers both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages for adult guests seeking do a global tour of the various tastes of its 11 pavilions. At the United Kingdom, guests who like both beer and liquor can quench their respective thirsts, while cocktail lovers will find some Disney specialties.
The Rose and Crown Pub and Dining Room is one of my favorite places to stop for a drink year-round. The dining area offers a full bar, perfect to go with a hearty meal and – if the timing is right – a view of IllumiNations.
But if you’re mostly interested in a Drink Around the World Showcase (DAWS) experience, I highly recommend the Rose & Crown Pub. This cozy place captures a pub atmosphere, from the friendly staff bustling around a full bar of patrons to crowded nooks to its dark woods and brass finishes. And its motto, “Otium Cum Dignitate” conveys the Rose & Crown’s overall feel – “Leisure with Dignity.”
There is a limited Rose & Crown Pub menu for food – something to take advantage of on your World Showcase tour. It’s a good idea for guests who enjoy small meals and to avoid drinking on an empty stomach.
Beers at Rose & Crown Pub.
At the Rose & Crown Pub, beer lovers order from a selection of beers – ales, lager, and stouts – with such familiar names as Bass Ale, Boddingtons English Pub Ale, Harp Lager, and Guinness Stout and Stella Artois Pilsner – and Strongbow and Woodpecker ciders. The bartenders will also serve up blends, including the Black & Tan (Half Guinness and half Bass) or the Snake Bite (cider topped with Harp).
Debra’s DAWS recommendations: Harp or Bass. The menu offers many solid beer choices, but for a full Drinks Around the World Showcase experience, stick to something lighter.
Like lingering over your liquor? The Rose & Crown is the place to go for scotch whiskey, my drink of choice at the United Kingdom. You can get a 2 oz. pour of such quality labels as Glenkinchie, Johnnie Walker, Macallan, and Oban. Cognacs and ports are also on the drink menu.
While a 2 oz. pour is sufficient for a Drink Around the World tour, a more leisurely stop at the United Kingdom for whiskey drinkers calls out for my favorite: the single-malt scotch flight, with three 2 oz. pours: 12-year old Glenkinchie, a mild, light scotch; a 14-year old Oban, a rich, smooth scotch; and a 16-year old Laguvilan, a strong, peaty scotch.
Debra’s DAWS recommendations: Try the Macallan 12 year or Glenkinchie 12 year scotch.
Prefer cocktails? The pub serves such classics as an English Rose and Pimm’s Cup as well as the Leaping Leprechans cockail with rum, vodka and Jameson Irish Whiskey mixed with melon liqueur, sweet-and-sour and Sprite.. But the signature drink is the Welsh Dragon, with peach schnapps, melon liqueur, Crème de Menthe, orange juice and pineapple juice.
Debra’s DAWS recommendation: The Welsh Dragon.
Wine drinkers can also enjoy a glass at Rose & Crown, with a variety of wines from around the world. The choices aren’t representative of United Kingdom, which isn’t known for its winemaking, but there are several good wines for those who choose to indulge.
Debra’s DAWS recommendations: Your personal favorite of what’s available.
Non-alcoholic beverages at the Pub include sodas, featuring Coca-Cola products and ginger ale.
DAWS Alternative – Yorkshire County Fish Shop
Although the Rose & Crown Pub is my recommended stop on a Drink Around the World Showcase tour, or any walking tour of Epcot’s World Showcase, those on a tighter schedule might consider stopping at Yorkshire. The quick-service shop serves Bass and Harp, and coffee, tea and soft drinks. It’s also a quick stop for fish and chips or shortbread.
Worth noting: The Rose and Crown Pub and Dining room have different menus; to enjoy the Rose & Crown Dining Room menu, Advance Dining Reservations are recommended.
Related articles
- Drink Around the World Showcase – China Pavilion (chipandco.com)
- How to tour the Parks – Splitting up Epcot (chipandco.com)
Orange Bird Returns to Adventureland in the Magic Kingdom
Great news this morning! D23 representatives announced the return of the historic Orange Bird character live in Adventureland before a small group of D23 members and on twitter.
In case you aren’t familiar, Orange Bird was a character who was developed specifically for Magic Kingdom Park in the 1970s. This cheerful bird originally greeted families at Sunshine Tree Terrace in Adventureland, where guests could also enjoy citrus drinks like the Citrus Swirl and buy Orange Bird gifts. At one time, the character even had his own record, which was released in 1971 to feature “The Orange Bird Song” – a tune penned by the Sherman Brothers (composers of the songs in “Mary Poppins” and “The Jungle Book”).
Beginning today, Orange Bird will return to Sunshine Tree Terrace signage and quirky drink cups, and a new line of Orange Bird merchandise has already appeared on the shelves!
Photo credit Disney Parks Blog
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- Family Magic Tour at Walt Disney World (chipandco.com)
- My Top 5 Magic Kingdom Traditions (chipandco.com)
Drink Around the World Showcase – China Pavilion
China's Joy of Tea at Epcot
If you’re touring Epcot for Chip & Co.’s Drink Around the World Showcase (DAWS) challenge, China is a promising quick drink stop. China provides two convenient locations for drinks and a nibble, the Lotus Blossom Café, the pavilion’s counter-restaurant, and the Joy of Tea stand.
While either place works well for DAWS, I’m partial to China’s Joy of Tea stand. Not only is it one of the most attractive kiosks in the World Showcase, with a picturesque view of both the lagoon and the China pavilion, but Joy of Tea offers some satisfyingly unusual flavor combinations. Equally refreshing is its variety, as the stand serves several different alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages to appeal to different tastes.
Green Tea Plum Slush, Epcot's China pavilion.
Although I’m not convinced a slush cocktail is particularly authentic to China, I recommend trying the Green Tea Plum Slush, made with plum wine. The plum wine itself earns authenticity points even if it’s not unique to China. Plus, the slushie has the advantage of letting you say that you enjoyed an alcoholic beverage with green tea, a combo which is bound to provide some health benefits.
While the slush mix itself isn’t incredibly thick or sticky, the Green Tea Plum Slush is a very sweet drink. Its taste alone almost earns the “sticky” descriptor and its plum wine creates the drink’s predominant flavor. If you prefer, try plum wine on its own as a less expensive and smaller DAWS drink option.
Another cocktail I would recommend for those who like their drinks with more spice to balance the sweet – admittedly more to my personal taste – is the Mango Gingerita. The drink, made with vodka and rum and served over ice, features the taste of (you guessed it) sweet mango and the bite of ginger. If you like a strong ginger flavor, this is a must-taste.
I’ve also had the opportunity to taste-test two other specialty slushie cocktails available at the Joy of Tea: the Canto Loopy, made with vodka and cantaloupe juice, and the Peach Snap! made with schnapps and Oolong tea. The former is lightly fruity, while the latter is definitely for those who like their drinks on the tooth-achingly sweet side.
More joy at the Joy of Tea may be found in its non-alcoholic slushies – pleasant options for those who don’t drink alcohol or who simply want to balance their round-the-world consumption on a DAWS tour. The stand offers both the Strawberry Oolong Tea Slush and the Mango Green Tea Slush. Of course, iced and hot teas are available here for lighter, less filling, non-alcoholic beverages.
While my DAWS days generally don’t include beers, beer drinkers can order Tsing Tao (Tsingtao), a smooth and easy-to-sip lager that tastes of malt and hops. It’s light and a solid option on a hot day or with spicy food.
Speaking of food, remember the Chip and Company DAWS challenge includes food as well as drink, with points earned for each. The Joy of Tea offers some fitting snacks to accompany your DAWS beverages: Chinese BBQ pork buns, curry chicken pockets, and pork and vegetable egg rolls. Of these, try the curry chicken pockets, unless you’re a vegetarian or want something more substantial. Then I recommend heading over the Lotus Blossom Café.
One last note for the Disney foodies who are doing the full-on DAWS with dining experience. The Joy of Tea also has two flavorful ice creams, Strawberry Red Bean and the Caramel Ginger. They are both well worth sampling, but don’t go particularly well with the specialty cocktails or beer. Enjoy them on their own.
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Drink Around the World Showcase – Japan Pavilion
Sake at Japan, Epcot's World Showcase. D.K. Peterson
If your tour of Epcot includes participating in the Chip and Company’s Drink Around the World Showcase (DAWS) experience – our drink and food challenge – Japan is always a welcome stop. Especially if you’re participating in the spirit of an international DAWS day by sipping some sake, or another Japanese beverage.
A convenient stop for DAWS is Japan’s outdoor food cart. It offers three drinks in addition its cold Kaki-Gori treat (see below for more on Kaki-Gori). There you may order
- a glass of plum wine,
- Kirin Draft Beer (Japanese Rice Lager), or
- Ozeki sake (sake is rice wine that is brewed, like beer, rather than fermented) that the Cast Member will serve either hot or cold.
These are some of the same options you’ll find at the restaurants in the Japan pavilion.
Japan’s sake bar at the Mitsukoshi Department Store
For me, though, DAWS is as much about the entire experience as it is about the drinks. So I’d bypass the outdoor drink stand and head straight to the sake bar inside the Mitsukoshi Department Store. There, you can be served a variety of sakes from aperitifs to traditional sakes as well as their recommended sakes. It’s an intimate experience, and educational, and a stop there always results in a new discovery each time I visit.
The bar’s descriptive menu and Cast Member can help you select a sake for your preferred tastes, from a light sparkling sake to versions more akin to bourbon. Be sure to ask about alcohol content as sake can be much stronger than people expect – my recent tasting of three sakes featured examples that ranged between 7% – 15%, with the higher end being more representative of the beverage (to, say, 20%).
Suggestions: Never tried sake or don’t drink much wine? Try a sparkling sake as they’re very mild. Enjoy whiskey? Go bold. Or consult this guide to sake for beginners.
Or if you’re in the mood for another other stand-out option at Japan’s sake bar, try the plum wine at the bar (don’t forget to eat the plum).
And if you’re not doing a full-on DAWS day, but focusing on one or two stops around Epcot’s World Showcase, I highly recommend trying the sampler at the sake bar. The small bar, located in a corner near the back of the store, offers guests a three-sake sampler that’s well worth the $17 (current) price. Offerings that change on a regular basis.
Japan's sake bar, Epcot.
Explore at eat your way through the Japan pavilion on an Epcot DAWS day
In addition to the sake, why is Japan one of my favorite stops for DAWS?
First, it’s a good location to explore with a drink in one’s hand, whether that’s to enjoy serenity of the koi ponds and streams outside in the beautifully landscaped grounds or to take advantage of the air-conditioned comfort of the Bijutsu-kan Gallery or Mitsukoshi Department Store.
Touring in the afternoon and early evening, which are the times you’ll likely be moving through this pavilion, also means there’s a good chance to see some of Japan’s entertainment. While I enjoy the Matsuriza, the Japanese Taiko drummers, Miyuki the Candy Artist remains my personal favorite. And Japan’s overall atmosphere makes a DAWS day seem more like a stroll in the park than a binge-drinker’s dream.
Second, Japan’s location and its food options make for a good place to enjoy the dining aspect of our challenge. (Remember, you earn points for both drinks and food in our game.) Japan is home to
- a Disney fan favorite, Kaki-Gori (a shaved ice dessert flavored with fruit syrup that tastes noticeably different than an American snow cone – my flavors of choice are melon or rainbow).
- Epcot’s largest selection of candy – even more expansive than Goofy’s Candy Company in Future World – and certainly its most diverse.
- Japan offers three choices for more substantial meals: Teppan Edo (teppan-yaki steakhouse– tableside preparation- and its sushi), Tokyo Dining (sushi and tempura at a table-service atmosphere with a great view), and Yakitori House (familiar food, think take-out or strip-mall quality, in a beautiful quick-service restaurant).
The next time you’re in Epcot for me, stop by Japan and raise a glass of sake for me. Kanpai!
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Disney’s California Grill to Close for Refurbishment?
Sonoma Goat Cheese Ravioli from Disney's California Grill
According to disneycontemporary.com, the California Grill may be closing for a lengthy refurbishment in 2013. The restaurant would close on January 1, 2013 for a 4 to 6 month refurbishment. Rumors have been circulating about roof work but it seems the restaurant may be getting a face lift.
I visited the California Grill for the first time in January and had an amazing meal. I didn’t see any signs of wear and tear but I may have been too preoccupied with my food! If you have an upcoming trip to Walt Disney World you may want to go ahead and make a reservation at the California Grill just in case the refurbishment rumor is true.
Stay tuned to Chip & Co for the latest details about the possible refurbishment.
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