Yes, It IS About the Food OR Two Foodies Do WDW From Table To Table--TR - Page 11 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Glad you're home and happily in a holiday mood. I love how a Disney trip lingers long after you're home, with memories of sights and sounds and tastes floating through your mind as you go through your day.
Oh Boy - I just caught up with this thread at 1am this morning and am seriously thinking of going downstairs to get something to eat!
Can't wait for your full report. As for the teasers, with the exception of one or two surprises, sounds like our restaurant preferences are very similar (My DH had the white chocolate sphere and quite enjoyed it).
Stay tuned, everyone. Reviews coming soon...well, as soon as I can get two more loads of laundry done, those put away, luggage stored, dishwasher loaded and going, several kitchen items handwashed...and maintenance coming to fix the garbage disposal and a burner on the range.
Then, we've got to pick up two essential prescriptions and run the car in for an oil change--nearly 4000 miles put on it what with travel to Disney and then up to Jersey to in-laws will do that.
And the weather stinks today. Rain-snow mix and hazardous road warnings until late morning. Who knows after that.
Yup, we're home again for sure, St. Looey weather and all.
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“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.” —Winnie-the-Pooh
Got all the PassPorter Christmas cards written and addressed yesterday, bought Christmas stamps today, and they're all mailed.
Now that I've gotten those done, it's on to looking over our food photos and writing reviews, so the Afternoon Tea one will make its appearance very soon, delayed only by my writing a somewhat literal "bread-and-butter" note reiterating to Chef Aimee and crew how very much we enjoyed our delectable Chef's Table experience at Victoria & Albert's.
Honestly, just watching the stockpots simmer was a thrill for me, knowing that they provided the basis for some of the fantastic sauces we enjoyed.
But, Afternoon Tea first...
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“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.” —Winnie-the-Pooh
Update: The Reviews Begin! Afternoon Tea in the Garden View Tea Room, Grand Floridian
Since the Grand Floridian feels most our Disney home, it was wonderful to have our reintroduction to WDW there. And to have it be "something old, something new" since we'd never before been able to do Afternoon Tea. As a result, we were doubly thrilled before we'd even checked in for our ADR.
Can't really report on the changes wrought by the recent renovation other than the tea room seemed more spacious based upon past glances while going through the lobby. We'd hesitated in part to book there because the tables appeared to be so close together. That still was a slight issue when Drew discovered his very compact scooter hadn't quite enough room to get past the chair of the gentleman seated to my right as his lady opposite and I got the well-padded benchseat. A glitch quickly remedied when the man graciously stood, moving his chair aside momentarily.
When I observed that the lady at my right and other guests were reclining against plump brocade-upholstered pillows on the lengthy benchseat which stretches nearly the entire length of the room's open end, I thought immediately of asking our server for one. However, since the couple soon got their final course, I determined to pretend I was an elegant lady whose back would never ever touch the chair back and maintained that torturous posture until the couple left, whereupon I speedily snatched the pillow. It was blissful and essential, something to remember if you're ever seated thus. I'm average height, and that bench is simply too deep to lean against the backrest if your legs are as short as mine. Make your longer-legged companion take that infernal bench would be my advice unless you've booked late enough as we did at nearly 5:00 p.m. to catch the mid-November sunset. I was reluctant to abandon what soon became a magnificent view. Drew had the lobby view, enhanced when we were there by the gorgeous Gingerbread House.
Having recently learned that I no longer need a medication which put me to sleep within a short time after ingesting any alcohol, I had already decided that the Princess Kate Tea with its flute of Veuve Clicquot champagne was my choice. Drew selected the Buckingham Palace Tea because the Gentleman's Tea with duck confit which we'd seen on the AllEars menu is no longer offered. Duck confit has his name on it anywhere we are, so it was a slight disappointment not to be able to get that, one quickly remedied by the deliciousness of the Buckingham, he said.
My champagne arrived shortly before our chosen teas and was exquisite, neither too dry nor sweet and with a fruity topnote.
I debated between the Cassis and Keemun teas as I love black currants, but the Keemun was described as having a hint of plum which I like nearly as much. Drew chose the Keemun while I waffled over those two and then went with something else altogether, the Jade Leaf, described as a green tea with a grassy flavor suggesting Nori. I don't know about that flavor as sinus trouble dims my palate somewhat, and I was unable to detect any such subtleties. The tea was superb though, refreshingly light and a marvelous contrast to the richness of some of the courses. Another time, I would probably have the Keemun. The taste Drew gave me revealed the Keemun to have more depth and a yummy plum flavor as is typical of quality flavored black tea blends
This was my first course, potted minced shrimp with thinly sliced multi-grain bread.
The shrimp was coated with a marvelous mayonnaise and so tasty that I actually ate the remainder with my spoon once I'd finished the toast. Really, I think the potted shrimp would have been more visually satisfying if tiny whole shrimp had been used instead of minced shrimp, a wee quibble. But then, that was such a tiny pot that obtaining small enough shrimp might be impossible. It was delicious and certainly preferable to the other choice, chicken liver mousse. EEEEWWW!
Drew had a variety of tea sandwiches to start. Clockwise from the top, golden beets with goat cheese, egg salad, tomato on Italian-seasoned foccacia, caramelized onion tart, cucumber with cream cheese and center, curried chicken on pumpernickel.
He astounded me by proclaiming the egg salad delicious since he ordinarily curls his lip at the mere mention of egg salad, and he was correct, it was absolutely that. The curried chicken was fabulous, nearly as good as our benchmark, a curried chicken stuffed avocado we had at Yank Sing dim sum restaurant in San Francisco years ago. The caramelized onion tart was exquisite, too, perfectly caramelized onions in a delicate tart shell.
(Cont. below)
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“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.” —Winnie-the-Pooh
Last edited by Her Dotness; 12-06-2014 at 11:12 AM..
The second course for me was a cheese array ample for us both.
From left to right, two round scones sandwiching a thin wedge of fruitcake confit which was unusual and more like a steamed pudding than an American Christmas fruitcake. It was tastier than I anticipated as I detest fruitcake but still not a fave. Just above those, a striped Vermont cheddar and then at the right, English Stilton with a cube of Tupelo honeycomb and its superb honey in the white bowl, candied walnuts surrounding and untouched since we both hate walnuts. Then, top row, "dried grapes on the vine" (otherwise known as plump and very flavorful raisins) with a wonderfully buttery Brie in the middle and white wine poached Bosc pear slices at right.
The flavor contrasts were simply wonderful, and that Tupelo honey with either the cheddar or Stilton was so good we were tempted to take turns licking the bowl after finishing the cheeses!
Next course for us both was a cranberry scone with strawberry jam tart and l. to r. in the three-sectioned tray: a delicate lemon curd, Devonshire cream and strawberry jam, a strawberry overload, I thought. A mixed berry or blackberry jam would have done better, I thought. Drew dislikes strawberries, so I got double tarts, and they were marvelous with a richly flavored strawberry jam.
Drew's dessert course was the pastry variety.
Clockwise from left, white chocolate-covered strawberry, lemon cream puff swan which was as flavorful as it was gorgeous and a chocolate-enrobed eclair with chocolate cream filling. He offered me the strawberry, but I'm not terribly fond of white chocolate and feared I'd be unable anyway to finish my strawberries and cream which proved true. The whipped cream was delicious, very slightly sweetened, although too thick a layer topping strawberry slices which were a bit unripe and too sour for me. I was stuffed by this point and didn't mind leaving half that sizable compote uneaten.
Definitely a do-over next trip and highly recommended for a relaxing and tasty lunch-dinner as we made it.
We went off to the MVMCP feeling pleasantly full and thoroughly satisfied.
COMING SOON...Not-so-great BOG lunch with uneven Hollywood Brown Derby dinner
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“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.” —Winnie-the-Pooh
Last edited by Her Dotness; 12-06-2014 at 12:55 PM..
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Everything looked so good at your afternoon tea.! There is quite a variety of options to chose from on the menu combinations, which makes this good. I did this a few years ago and really enjoyed it!
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
Mmmmmmmm! The photos weren't showing when I read the first entry of your review this morning, but they're there in all their glory now! I don't know how people do the tea as an "extra" meal! I always replace lunch, dinner, or both with it! SO good!
Yeah, the review was probably still "under construction" when you looked at it, Laurie. Soon after posting, we discovered the photos weren't visible, and DH His Drewness had to tinker with them to get them to appear.
Btw, sorry that the photo of the potted shrimp is fuzzy. Probably got the iPhone too close when taking that one. Still shows what was on the plate which is the point, although I'd sure like to go back for a do-over, photo and tea both, needless to say.
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“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.” —Winnie-the-Pooh
Mmmmmmmm! The photos weren't showing when I read the first entry of your review this morning, but they're there in all their glory now! I don't know how people do the tea as an "extra" meal! I always replace lunch, dinner, or both with it! SO good!
I did mine as a late lunch and had a late dinner as well! You do feel quite full after this as it all adds up!
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
Back to our should-have-must-do-next-time list. There simply wasn't another night when we could make it back before shutdown at 8:00, eating well being our main priority.
We all have such a list, I'm sure, and eventually we'll see Osborne Lights. But, as excited as we were to see those after watching some YouTube videos, it was particularly galling that we hadn't the time or energy to get back to DHS to see them another night after a moderately steady rain dampened our enthusiasm for hanging around longer subsequent to a predictably disappointing dinner at HBD.
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“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.” —Winnie-the-Pooh
I did mine as a late lunch and had a late dinner as well! You do feel quite full after this as it all adds up!
I can't envision having Afternoon Tea of the Garden View's magnitude at around 4:00-6:00 p.m. which I understand is traditionally the time and then eating anything much at dinner, despite English dinnertime being 9:00 p.m. or later for the aristocracy when the Duchess of Bedford began the custom in the mid-1800's.
I'm guessing that she and her friends ate very lightly or took a vigorous walk afterward to burn off their indulgence since she reportedly invited London friends for "tea and a walking the fields" after the custom became fashionable.
I certainly had plenty to fuel our Christmas partying and wasn't a bit hungry later.
__________________
“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.” —Winnie-the-Pooh
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The photos weren't showing when I read the first entry of your review this morning, but they're there in all their glory now! I don't know how people do the tea as an "extra" meal! I always replace lunch, dinner, or both with it! SO good!
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