The Grand Poohbah Trip: Food & Wine Festival and the Grand Californian: COMPLETED 5/21/09 - Page 3 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Oh another thing I forgot to mention - when we checked in and our room wasn't ready, the CM tried his darndest to find us another room. But the hotel was sold out and he couldn't find one. But no problem - we've learned that the best place to wait for your room is out by the pool slurping on a frosty adult beverage.
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Oh another thing I forgot to mention - when we checked in and our room wasn't ready, the CM tried his darndest to find us another room. But the hotel was sold out and he couldn't find one. But no problem - we've learned that the best place to wait for your room is out by the pool slurping on a frosty adult beverage.
Hee, hee! My question is - why didn't we think of it sooner?
We'll have to keep chatting amongst ourselves because Rich is so busy reading my manuscript for Monday's submission that he can't do the Winemaker's Dinner write-up until he's done. I know, I'm a tough task master.
The focus of this trip was the Food & Wine Festival and the Grand Californian. So when we got back home, we realized we hadn't done nearly enough rides and other attractions - we felt like we hadn't really been at Disneyland. So we had to book another trip to Disneyland for next month and renewed our AP online.
And then while we were at it, we made tentative plans for more Disney trips for the rest of the year, including (we hope) the Passporter meet at Disneyland in October and the Passporter meet at WDW in December - unless we can only do one trip and then we might do the Food & Wine Festival at Epcot in October. Keeping our fingers crossed that my contract will be renewed in September so the money for travel will keep flowing...
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Winemaker: Kate MacMurray, daughter of actor Fred MacMurray Chef: Jason Martin, Executive Chef, Steakhouse 55, Disneyland Hotel
Starter: Crab Cake & Sparkling Wine
Rich’s Comments: As we entered Steakhouse 55 for our Winemaker Dinner with MacMurray Ranch, we were handed a glass of sparkling wine and led to our table for 4. The other couple at our table was already seated and introduced themselves. They were quite nice, and we had a very enjoyable time with them all through the meal.
Our waiter came by and served everyone a mini crab cake. When I informed the waiter that I am allergic to crab, he ran off to the kitchen and returned with a spiced bean cake that looked just the crab cake. It was fine, but the crab cake smelled good, and I wished I could be eating that.
Kathy’s Comments: The sparkling wine and crab was a very nice touch and set the stage for a magnificent evening. We were surprised that we were seated at a table for four, but the room was chopped up – the larger tables were on one side and the smaller tables on the other – with a bit of a divider in-between. We got lucky and were seated with a gregarious, knowledgable couple from southern California who were also familiar with Napa and the Oregon wine country – all three areas we’re also lived in – so we had a lot to talk about.
First Course: Pinot Gris, Sonoma Coast, 2007 Gravlax and Calamari accompanied by mixed baby greens with a peach & yogurt dressing
Rich’s Comments: The first course was delicious, although the kitchen got a little over-enthusiastic and left the calamari off my plate thinking I was allergic to that too. I’m not, so thankfully Kathy shared her calamari with me.
The Pinot Gris was surprisingly good. I say surprisingly, because Pinot Gris can be too sweet and cloying. But this one was quite lovely: smooth, dry, and well-paired with the first course.
Chef Martin stopped by our table at the end of this course and personally explained how he created the salmon, cream cheese, chive, and lemon zest accompaniment that was not listed on the menu. He also told us about his 10 years as a Disney chef and his work as the Executive Chef of Steakhouse 55.
Kathy’s Comments: We probably could have grabbed the waiter and explained the calamari to him, but maybe we didn’t want to make too big of a deal out of it – so busy chatting with our tablemates – yes, it felt like we were on a cruise. I agree with Rich about the Pinot Gris – not a big fan – but this was delicious – the best Pinot Gris I’ve ever had.
Second Course: Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast, 2007 Kurobuta Pork Tenderloin with Russian fingerling potatoes, baby beets, and spring cippolini shoots
Rich’s Comments: Wow! This special pork was incredible. Kurobuta (Japanese for Black Hog) is apparently prized as much in Japan as is Kobe beef. The pork was tender and flavorful, but mild, making it go well with the accompaniments and the wine. Even the beets were good, and I’m not a particularly enthusiast beet fan. The only somewhat odd part was the cippolini shoots. Probably could have lived without those.
The wine was very good with a distinct red cherry note, and was a nice pairing with the food. But it was a tad overshadowed by the yumminess of the pork.
Kathy’s Comments: The pork was amazing – tasted familiar yet different. And the wine pairing was awesome. We were enjoying sampling different Pinots since we miss that about living in Oregon.
Third Course: Winemakers Block Selection Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, 2005 Certified Angus Beef Tenderloin with portobello mushroom en croute, barley risotto and bloomsdale spinach
Rich’s Comments: This was, by far, the best wine of the night. A bold, multi-flavored, black cherry note wine that was probably one of the five best Pinot Noirs I have ever had (and I’ve had a LOT of Pinot Noirs). The grapes were chosen by the winemaker from 3 of the MacMurray Ranch vineyards (blocks) and blended impeccably.
The beef was excellent and cooked perfectly. Our table mates felt that the preparation was a bit pedestrian, but I enjoyed the wonderful texture and flavor of this incomparable Tenderloin. Could the chef have been a little more creative? Perhaps. But when you can cook a cut of beef this well, maybe you shouldn’t fool around with fancy preparations.
Kathy’s Comments: The steak melted in your mouth and this was the best Pinot Noir ever – and like Rich said – we tasted many Pinot Noirs while living in Oregon.
Fourth Course: Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, 2005 Spring cherry and vanilla cocktail with warm cherry cobbler
Rich’s Comments: Okay, a bit of a stumble with this course. First, the wine was not decanted properly, which made the first sips very bland. With time, the wine improved to very nice level, perhaps the second best wine of the night.
The dessert, while it tasted good on its own, did not go with the wine at all. We had to eat the dessert first, and then drink the wine separately. This dessert would have paired with the wine much better if there had been some chocolate in it. This was really the only disappointment of the night.
The 2 reasons I cite for this are: Reason #1 - This Pinot Noir is not really a dessert wine (MacMurray Ranch does not produce a dessert wine). While this alone does not preclude a fine dessert pairing, it turned out to be problematic because of Reason #2 - The chef relied on his own instincts to create this pairing when perhaps he should have consulted his pastry chef. While Jason can undoubtedly prepare pork and beef exquisitely, his pastry skills are a bit lacking.
Kathy’s Comments: Agreed. The dessert was yummy by itself, and the wine (once it “aired”) was tasty by itself – but they clashed together. Our table agreed what we needed was chocolate – where was the chocolate? Would have been perfect.
Next: Winemaker Summary,including the charming Kate MacMurray’s Hollywood stories
Sounds great and I did the Spain event which was pretty good but boy did they serve a strong red wine with the chicken. I do not drink but even I was stunned by that wine choice. This event is an eater's paradise and I am looking forward to the France event and wish I could do the Italy event and Taste which will have Nanta, spell check, the Korean sensation, check youtube.
I love reading food reports and yours is yummy. You are too kind by using "pedestrian" as I said my sausage was like a Slim Jim. I look forward to more reports.
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Mom calls to check on me and reminded me to pay the gardener. I love her so much.
Disneyland was fun with flag retreat and pickles. I have a home here, thank you. GAC is NOT a "front of the line pass".
She is gone but keeping signature. Laundry is getting done. My purpose in life is to help poor people in FL. Farewell, will miss you.
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