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Category Archives: Top Eats
Make your own Disney’s Kona Cafe Breakfast
Many times we get home from Disney World and wish we would have eaten at a specific restaurant just one more time. Or we find ourselves craving certain foods from our favorite WDW eateries.
As our Disney World vacation gets closer I have been craving Tonga Toast and POG Juice. So having spent most of the morning looking around the internet I was able to locate a the best Tonga Toast and POG Juice recipes. I attempted to make Tonga Toast in the past without much success unlike POG juice that was quite easy and made up a large batch that lasts all week long.
Quick Tip – Did you know you can get Tonga Toast at Capt Cooks Quick Service Restaurant in the Polynesian Resort for a fraction of the cost of Kona Cafe?
If you have made Tonga Toast that has been close to the original please let me know what you did in the comment box below.
Here is the recipe:
Tonga Toast
Ingredients:
2 slices sourdough bread, cut 1 to 1 1/2 inches thick (Softer the bread the better)
1 banana
1/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 egg
1/4 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
oil or shortening for frying
whipped butter and/or syrup
Method:
Cut a 1-inch pocket in one side of each bread slice. Cut banana in half crosswise, then split each piece lengthwise. Remove peel and stuff two pieces of fruit in each pocket of bread; set aside. Mix sugar and cinnamon; set aside. Mix together well the egg, milk and vanilla.
Heat about 4 inches of oil in a pan to 350º F. Dip stuffed bread into egg/milk mixture and let it soak a few seconds to let penetrate bread. Fry bread on both sides in hot oil until lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Drain on paper towels or wire rack. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar and serve.
POG Juice
If you lived in Hawaii you could drive down to the corner store and pick up some POG juice, but here is the recipe I was able to find around the interwebs so you can make it at home.
Basically it is Passion Fruit Juice, Guava Pineapple, and Orange juice mixed together.
Ratios say 1/3 each but I am sure with some trial and error you could get to to your taste.
Let us know some of the foods you crave in the comment box below.
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My Top 5 Favorite World Showcase Pavilions
World Showcase is one of the most popular areas at Disney World and at the top of my list when I visit. Who doesn’t like traveling around the world in an afternoon, experiencing different cultures, cuisine, products, architecture, and dining experiences! Of the nine different World Showcase pavilions, which are packed full of things to see and do, everyone has their own favorite; but today, I am listing my own Top 5 favorite pavilions!
1. Norway-This pavilion is my favorite because there is so much great stuff here! Norway transports me to a Norwegian village and back in time to the days of the Vikings! Norway is home to Akershus Storybook Dining, it’s one of my favorite character meals and restaurants. Here adults can experience delicious Norwegian fare while their own little princesses meet a variety of Disney princesses! Norway also has an attraction, Maelstrom, a boat ride through Norway’s history and mythology. It’s actually pretty good too! In addition to this pavilions shops, there is also the Stave Church to explore; and if you get hungry, visit the Kringla Og Bakeri for some famous school bread and then enjoy it at the nearby seating area with grass growing on the roof!
2. United Kingdom-This pavilion is interesting to me because of the history and variety of architecture and detail found here, particularly in the different buildings. Also, who doesn’t enjoythe popular Rose and Crown Pub and Yorkshire Fish and Chips! I like to shop too and the United Kingdom is a great place to do just that. There is also a vast variety of merchandise available here ranging from the Beatles to perfume to British toys and even tea. Tucked near the back of this pavilion is a quiet sitting area which provides a nice escape from the crowds; and you can often find entertainers performing on the street! Also, if you’re a big Disney character fan, as I am, the United Kingdom is a great place to find a vast quantity of Disney characters such as Winnie the Pooh, Mary Poppins, Alice, the Queen of Hearts, the White Rabbit, and sometimes more!
3. France-This beautiful pavilion is full charm and detail, and who wouldn’t enjoy seeing the Eiffel Tower in the background? The shopping here is great by the way. I always have to do some browsing while I’m here. I especially like the home decor, mini-Eiffel Towers, and perfume. There’s also two table service restaurants here: Les Chefs de France and Bistro de Paris. Les Chefs de France is one of my favorite WDW restaurants; and throughout the day, Remy from Pixar’s Ratatouille stops by! Be sure to France thoroughly on your visit as it goes back farther than many realize to reveal another shop and one of World Showcase’s best bakeries, La Boulangerie Patisserie. I also enjoy this pavilion due its location next to the International Gateway, where you can hop on a “Friendship” boat to visit the Epcot Resorts or continue on to Hollywood Studios.
4. Germany-This is a popular pavilion with many guests, including myself. The Germany pavilion takes you into the pages of a classic fairytale with it’s clocktowers, turrets, and German village design. Here you can grab a meal at the Biergarten Restaurant or Sommerfest and do some serious shopping! There is a variety of German merchandise, such as Christmas ornaments, steins, toys, cuckoo clocks, soccer gear, and crystal jewelry. If you have a sweet tooth, like me, you must drop in the new Karamell Kuche for traditional caramel candies or some unique, caramel treats! Also, take some time to enjoy the minature train village nearby, kids and adults both enjoy it.
5. Canada-I like Canada because it’s different than most World Showcase pavilions. Tucked behind its shops, which represent both Canada’s rugged, Northwestern culture and elegant, European architecture, is a little piece of the Canadian Rockies. Several paths and bridges take you over little streams and by a waterfall on your way to a tribute film about Canada starring Martin Short, and it’s totally cool that the theater is nestled inside of a replica mine! For fellow shoppers, like myself, be sure to spend some time exploring The Northwest Mercantile; and everyone should walk through the peaceful and picturesque gardens. Need another reason why this pavilion is my favorite? Le Cellier! This is seriously one of the best restaurants at WDW property. Plus, one of World Showcase’s most popular entertainment groups, Off Kilter, can be found here!
So those are my Top 5 choices for my favorite World Showcase pavilions. What did you think? What is your favorite World Showcase pavilion?
Related Articles:
Shop ’till You Drop: World Showcase
Oldies but Goodies – World Showcase, More Than A Bunch of Buiildings Part 2
Our British Salute! (aglassslippervacation.com)
Victoria & Albert’s Once Again Receives AAA Five-Diamond Award
For the 12th consecutive year, Victoria & Albert’s at Disney’ Grand Floridian Resort & Spa has been awarded the coveted AAA Five-Diamond Award. Victoria & Albert’s is the only restaurant in Orlando and one of only three in Florida to be honored with the highest accolade a restaurant can achieve.
Victoria & Albert’s Chef Scott Hunnel has drawn national and international applause for his preparation and delivery of American regional cuisine with classical influences at the elegant, 50-seat restaurant.
“Earning the AAA Five-Diamond Award is like winning an Oscar,” said Victoria & Albert’s Chef Scott Hunnel. “To be one of 55 restaurants in all of North America to receive this prestigious award is such an honor. It confirms our philosophy that it takes passion and a synchronized team to deliver consistent, top-quality cuisine night after night!”
All Five Diamond lodgings and restaurants are subject to unannounced annual evaluations based on extensive published guidelines while potential additions to the exclusive list undergo additional review.
A Disney cast member for more than 20 years, Chef Hunnel understands that the fundamentals of cooking don’t change, rather with time, palette’s change. He believes it’s the continuous evolution that goes into each dish that makes the cooking and the menu at Victoria & Albert’s different from other restaurants. To keep pace with the ever-changing food & beverage industry, Chef Hunnel takes gastronomic journeys to visit world-class restaurants, hotels, farms and markets for healthy and savory inspirations.
“Working for Disney has been very gratifying because the company understands that to be the best, we must never stop exploring and growing in constant pursuit of excellence.”
Take for example one of his signature dishes – the prosciutto-wrapped lamb served with cipollini onions and sherry vinaigrette – which tastefully demonstrates classical European influences combined with the culinary expertise behind the Victoria & Albert’s team of award-winning chefs.
“What makes Victoria & Albert’s exceptional is not only the incredible cuisine, but the entire dining experience,” said Kevin Myers, vice president of Walt Disney World Resort Operations. “From reservations, the very personal table-side service, sommeliers, chefs and pastry chefs…..the whole team is dedicated to delivering a memorable evening for each of our guests. We couldn’t be prouder of the entire team.”
Those memorable experiences have led to other accolades including the Orlando Sentinel’s 2011 Culinary Hall of Fame, the Forbes Four Diamond Award, Wine Spectator’s Best of Award of Excellence and Florida Trend’s Golden Spoon Award. Chef Hunnel was also a 2011 semi-finalist in the annual list of top chefs in the country by the James Beard Foundation. He has also been recognized annually since 2007 by the Foundation for his refreshingly contemporary approach in the kitchen and straightforward cooking philosophy.
Related articles
- Victoria & Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort wins AAA Five Diamond Award (chipandco.com)
- The Top 5 Disney World Table Service Restaurants – Name Them! (chipandco.com)
Date Night Disney: The search for the perfect Date Restaurant
My sister-in-law Nancy and I are collaborating on a project. In June, we’ll be taking our families to Disney’s Bay Lake Tower resort for a family vacation – as documented in “Planning the Multi-Generational Family Vacation”. Since we have nine people in our reservation party, part of the conspiring that Nancy and I are doing is to take our spouses out for an adult dinner – sans children.
We do have some prerequisites that we need to take in consideration. For starters, neither one of us want to take our spouses to a place that the kids would love, and leave us thinking all night about what fun they would be having. Second, both of us want to enjoy dinner, as well as some after dinner entertainment. The entertainment doesn’t have to be a show, necessarily, nor does it even have to cost us anything, we just want to do something else after we eat. And third, we want to choose a location that we will remember for a long time, because it will likely be a while before this opportunity presents itself again!
Nancy and I have been looking at many restaurants around the Disney World complex, everything from Le Cellier in Canada’s Pavilion, to Boma at Animal Kingdom Lodge, even The Wave at the Contemporary Resort and Coral Reef over at The Seas at Epcot. I have never eaten at any of these restaurants, so I don’t have any idea how good the food is. In our discussion, we appear to have narrowed it down to two choices, Boma and Le Cellier.
We have heard that Boma, with it’s location at Animal Kingdom Lodge, allows the visitors if they plan it correctly to view animal feedings, and to see the sunset from the terrace. Is this true? I have never been to Animal Kingdom Lodge before.
Additionally, I was thinking that if we ate at Le Cellier, we could then go through the International Gateway and walk or taxi over to the Boardwalk for some after dinner entertainment.
In the end, we haven’t come to the decision yet on where to take our spouses to dinner, but one thing that we have agreed on is this: No matter where we take them, we are certain that we will all have a wonderful time together, and the food – no matter what the cuisine – will taste fabulous.
Do any of you have suggestions as to where you would go, or if you like, feel free to post your own stories on the forums about memorable dining experiences you have had at Walt Disney World!
Mike is a Disney Fanatic that enjoys writing for Chip & Company and his own blog “My Dreams of Disney”. You can follow Chip and Company on Facebook and Twitter!
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge: Cooking the Old-Fashioned Way
Down-home cooking reflecting the spirit of the American pioneer tempts modern-day appetites at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge.
Mealtime traditions of the grand lodges of the late 1800s are captured, from the types of food and cooking methods to the dining-room ambiance of the lodge’s restaurants: chefs slow-smoking meats and serving up fresh fruit cobbler for dessert; high, wood-beamed ceilings, and dormers framing views of waterfalls, tall pines and Bay Lake.
Dining options at the 728-room lodge include: Whispering Canyon, a family-style cafe; Artist Point, the resort’s signature restaurant featuring Pacific Northwest cuisine; cafeteria-style Roaring Fork; Cub’s Den, a retreat for kids; and Territory Lounge.
Whispering Canyon Cafe
Overlooking the expansive, log-structured lobby, Whispering Canyon Cafe offers a family-style, all-you-can-eat feast in an American West motif.
“We hope to achieve a homelike feeling with old-fashioned cooking served family-style,” said Chef Lorene Vanetti. “We are using natural cooking techniques — smoking, grilling and barbecuing — which are consistent with the time period the lodge reflects.”
Aromas of breakfast meats, home fries and scrambled eggs welcome hungry pioneers to breakfast. As high noon approaches, you can choose our family-style skillet lunch or pick from our full a la carte menu featuring hot and cold sandwiches, salads and a full-choice dessert board.
Suppertime features an all-you-can-eat sampling of oven-roasted chicken, pulled pork, smoked pork ribs and smoked brisket, served with salads, vegetables and home-made breads.
Artist Point
The beauty and the mystery of the American Northwest is recalled at Artist Point — a specialty restaurant decorated with dramatic landscape art from the era. The eatery offers an elegant yet casual dining experience with a light wood design, a high-beamed cathedral ceiling, and dormer windows allowing natural lighting to illuminate. The windowed restaurant allows a panoramic view of the courtyard, waterfalls and Bay Lake.
Traditional Northwestern dinner specialties include cedar-roasted Pacific king salmon, braised buffalo short rib and pan-seared duck breast. All wines are from the Pacific Northwest.
Territory Lounge, Roaring Fork, Cub’s Den
Between Whispering Canyon and Artist Point is Territory Lounge, themed with Teddy Roosevelt in mind for his contribution to the National Park system. Territory Lounge is open daily, serving cocktails, specialty drinks and Pacific Northwest wines. Appetizers and snacks are available from 5-10 p.m.
The Cub’s Den is a children’s dining and entertainment facility offering video games, movies and fun food for kids, such as hot dogs, pizza and ice cream.
Roaring Fork Snacks and Arcade serves up grilled sandwiches and snacks — cafeteria style — 24 hours a day. Trout Pass, the resort’s pool bar, offers hot dogs and cold sandwiches.
Nestled in the back lobby is the library — a cozy retreat for reading, writing letters or relaxing by the majestic three-sided stone fireplace.
Related articles
- Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Celebrate a Decade of Delivering Top-Notch Service (chipandco.com)
- Insider Information on Walt Disney World Dining (chipandco.com)
