by Beth Keating
News
DisneyBizJournal.com
March 11, 2021
Theme parks are not generally known for their fine cuisine, but Disney has put itself in a category all its own when it comes to dining. In fact, there are Disney guests who travel to Florida just for the restaurants (and the Disney Dining Plan). They schedule vacations around the opening of the newest kitchens. And we’re not just talking about the much anticipated opening of Gusteau’s!
Disney isn’t the only theme park to be upping its game when it comes to gastronomic delights and food festivals. Universal and Sea World are also riding the chuckwagon when it comes to feeding park-goers. In fact, “Theme park food” is just one of more than 50 categories for which The Orlando Sentinel dishes up honors during their annual “Foodie Awards.” Disney took home eleven awards for ten of its restaurants this year.
More than 106,000 votes were cast in the 23rd Annual Orlando Sentinel Foodie Awards, a 40% increase over previous years’ tallies.
While these awards undoubtedly make the restaurant owners cheer when their venue is celebrated, I’m inclined to believe that this year’s awards might mean just a little bit more to the chefs and proprietors – this was an unprecedented year for these entrepreneurs, who not only were trying to put their best dishes on the table, but were very often struggling just to keep their doors open and their staffs employed during a worldwide pandemic. Many found themselves having to pivot and adapt more than once this year as conditions and regulations changed time and again.
So, our congratulations to the winners of this year’s Orlando Sentinel Foodie Awards, with an extra helping of thanks to all the nominees and local restaurants for doing your absolute finest under the most trying of circumstances. Bon appetit!
These are the awards that Disney plated up for 2021, including three awards in Disney Springs; two for Magic Kingdom and EPCOT; and one a piece for Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. The final two awards went to Disney resort restaurants. The entire list of Foodie Awards and categories can be found here.
Tiffins (Animal Kingdom):
Winner, Critics’ Choice - Best Theme Park Restaurant
Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie (EPCOT):
Runner Up, Critics’ Choice - Best Theme Park Restaurant
Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd. Skipper Canteen (Magic Kingdom):
Runner Up, Critics’ Choice - Best Theme Park Restaurant
Be Our Guest (Magic Kingdom):
Winner, Readers’ Choice - Best Theme Park Restaurant
The Hollywood Brown Derby (Hollywood Studios):
Runner-up, Readers’ Choice - Best Theme Park Restaurant
Raglan Road Irish Pub (Disney Springs):
Winner, Critics’ Choice - Best Irish Restaurant
Winner, Readers’ Choice - Best Irish Restaurant
Boma – Flavors of Africa (Animal Kingdom Lodge Resort):
Winner, Readers’ Choice - Best African Restaurant
Wine Bar George (Disney Springs):
Runner-up, Readers’ Choice - Best Wine Bar
Victoria & Albert’s (The Grand Floridian):
Winner, Readers’ Choice - Best Splurge
Biergarten Restaurant (EPCOT):
Runner-up, Readers’ Choice - Best German Restaurant
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Beth Keating is a regular contributor to DisneyBizJournal.
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