New Summer Menu Items at Hollywood Brown Derby

 by Beth Keating

Review

DisneyBizJournal.com

June 29, 2024

 

It’s hard for us to review new items at the Hollywood Brown Derby at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, because our love for their traditional “Famous Cobb Salad” ($25.00) means that we rarely step foot in the restaurant without ordering the historic (and delicious) dish.  Honestly, sometimes we don’t even look at the rest of the menu. 

Be that as it may, the Brown Derby has a few new items on their “summer menu,” and our cast member/server enthusiastically pointed them out to us on a recent trip.  We were convinced to try one of the offerings on our latest outing, even though the Cobb Salad is, itself, a crisp and cool choice in the heat of a Florida summer.

The new dish that caught our attention was the Pan-roasted Halibut with a Thai Coconut Sauce ($48.00).

 
The halibut was a nicely prepared fish, not too heavy for a theme park day, but still a pretty substantial meal.  The fish was crispy outside with a moist interior, and though it was billed as “pan-roasted,” it definitely came across with a grilled flavor and texture.  The halibut was served closer to a “steak” thickness (more like a salmon cut), rather than the way flakier, thinner white fish are served.

    
The accompanying Thai sauce was both sweet and spicy at the same time.  It was an intriguing flavor combination because the sauce started out sweet, but after a few seconds on the tongue, had a spicy kick to it.  It was a welcome amount of spice to the diner who chose the dish, but was a bit too spicy for the other diner who snuck a bite to taste. You can never be sure what Disney means when they say “spicy.” Overall, though, the sauce was a good complement to the milder  fish.

Diced heirloom tomatoes tossed in olive oil and braised white asparagus were served alongside the fish, and gave the plate a pretty look. Fresh green herbs garnishing the top added to the freshness.

And if you aren’t a fan of eating fish, there’s also another very summer-sounding dish on the menu right now… a Root Beer-brined Pork with Creamy Polenta, Pickled Corn, Herb Chimichurri, and Barq's Root Beer Lacquer ($40.00).  If root beer doesn’t scream summertime to you, your mom obviously wasn’t making you ice cold root beer floats with vanilla ice cream once school was out!  We’re planning on heading back to try this one before the summer is over. Root beer for grown-ups!

 

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Beth Keating is a theme parks, restaurant and entertainment reporter for DisneyBizJournal.

 

Get The Disney Planner: The TO DO List Solution by Ray Keating. More information at

https://raykeatingbooksandmore.com/shop/ols/products/disneyplanner.  A PDF version is available here.  And please listen to the Daily Dose of Disney with Ray Keating podcast. 

Seven Disney Restaurants Rank in Orlando Sentinel’s Foodie Awards for Summer 2024

 by Beth Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

June 17, 2024

 

Disney World restaurants have been honored in four of the eleven categories during the recently released Summer Quarter of the “Orlando Sentinel’s Foodie Awards.”

 

The annual awards are typically given in more than 50 categories, but this year, they are being announced quarterly because there are over 300 restaurants as part of the review process.  In order to give each category their moment to shine, and to make the process more manageable, the Orlando Sentinel is now issuing their awards quarterly, with different categories in each quarter.

In the Best Splurge category, Victoria & Albert’s at the Grand Floridian earned a runners-up slot in the Reader’s Choice section.  But in the Best Theme Park Restaurant division, it was a Disney sweep - Disney took home all four slots.  The Critic’s Choice went to Skipper Canteen at Magic Kingdom, while the Reader’s Choice named The Hollywood Brown Derby in Hollywood Studios the winner, with Yak & Yeti Restaurant at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and San Angel Inn Restaurante at EPCOT as runners-up.

Best Wine Bar in the Orlando area?  The Readers named Wine Bar George in Disney Springs their choice.  Best Japanese?  The Disney adjacent Swan and Dolphin’s Kimonos garnered one of the Reader’s Choice runners-up spots.

 
The Summer Quarter Foodie Awards named winners and runners-up in the following groupings:  Best Chinese; Best Dessert; Best Hotel Restaurant; Best Indian; Best Japanese; Best Korean; Best Splurge; Best Thai; Best Theme Park Restaurant; Best Vietnamese and Best Wine Bar.  (You can check the previous “Winter Quarter” awards here, with fourteen other categories.)

 

Here's a look at the other restaurants that were cooking up the competition in the same categories as the Disney winners for the summer session:

 

• 2024 Orlando Sentinel Foodie Awards: Best Splurge

 

Critic’s Choice

Winner: 

Camille, 4962 New Broad St. in Orlando.

 

Readers’ Choice

Winner: Bull & Bear, 14200 Bonnet Creek Resort Lane in Orlando.

Runners-up: Victoria & Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian, and Trabucco in Orlando.

 

• 2024 Orlando Sentinel Foodie Awards: Best Theme Park Restaurant

 

Critic’s Choice

Winner:  Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen in Magic Kingdom.

 

Readers’ Choice

Winner: The Hollywood Brown Derby at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Runners-up: Yak & Yeti Restaurant at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and San Angel Inn Restaurante at EPCOT.

• 2024 Orlando Sentinel Foodie Awards: Best Wine Bar

 

Critic’s Choice

Winner: Golden Hour Wine, 1560 Lake Baldwin Lane in Orlando.

 

Readers’ Choice

Winner: Wine Bar George at Disney Springs.

Runners-up: VINIA Wine & Kitchen in Winter Park and The Wine Room in Winter Park.

• 2024 Orlando Sentinel Foodie Awards: Best Japanese

 

Critic’s Choice

Winner: Sushi Kichi, 5368 Central Florida Parkway in Orlando.

 

Readers’ Choice

Winner: Seito Sushi, 4898 New Broad St. in Orlando and 8031 Turkey Lake Road in Orlando.

Runners-up: Tori Tori in Orlando and Kimonos at the Swan and Dolphin at Disney.

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Beth Keating is a theme parks, restaurant and entertainment reporter for DisneyBizJournal.

 

Get The Disney Planner: The TO DO List Solution by Ray Keating. More information at

https://raykeatingbooksandmore.com/shop/ols/products/disneyplanner.  A PDF version is available here.  And please listen to the Daily Dose of Disney with Ray Keating podcast. 

Bring Disney’s Hollywood Brown Derby Cobb Salad Home For Your Family

 by Beth Keating

Lifestyle – Recipe

DisneyBizJournal.com

April 8, 2024

 

It’s spring, and after a winter of eating veggies from the freezer section (or worse yet, the plastic tasting tomatoes that have been shipped in from elsewhere), the nicer looking greens that have started arriving for fresh salads are a welcome sight.  Particularly post-holidays, when there may have been a few too many chocolate bunnies and one too many handfuls of jelly beans, salads seem like a good idea with the approach of warmer weather.

One of the “go-to” salads that we like to make for dinner at our house is one that you may have had as well… the famed Cobb Salad from the Hollywood Brown Derby.  Over the years, there have been versions of the recipe printed in various places (including Disney Parks Blog’s Disney Eats, here), and they are all pretty identical. And all claim to be the original, original version. (We’ve shared the one we use below.)

If you aren’t familiar with this particular dish, it’s a monster-sized salad with lots of hearty ingredients that has been served up to thousands of diners over the years at the Hollywood Brown Derby ($25.00) at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida (and at MGM Studios before the park’s name change.) It’s probably the dish that the Brown Derby is most known for (or, maybe their signature Grapefruit Cake - $14.00, also a Brown Derby original - but that really is the opposite end of the spectrum, isn’t it?) The Cobb Salad is certainly the dish we order almost every visit to the Brown Derby, whether we eat it inside the restaurant, or at the outdoor lounge.

The Brown Derby's Cobb Salad

Disney’s chefs can’t take credit for the very first Cobb Salad, however.  As the story goes, it’s a nearly exact re-creation of the salad served at the historical (and famous) Hollywood Brown Derby restaurant in California, for which Florida’s Brown Derby is named and modeled, right down to the hand-drawn caricatures of star-studded guests on the walls.

  
The tale’s been told that the Derby’s owner, Robert Cobb, found himself throwing together a last-minute, late night dinner for Sid Grauman (of the equally famous Grauman’s Chinese Theater) one evening near closing time.  He grabbed whatever “leftovers” he had from the night’s meal service, and put together the tossed salad. Sid apparently loved it so much that he came back the next night, and requested it again.  Other diners saw it, and also began asking for “Cobb’s salad.”  Thus, the dish was born.

  
And in a second tie-in, the building at Hollywood Studios that initially was home to the Great Movie Ride (R.I.P.), and is now Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, is itself a replica of Sid’s “Grauman’s Chinese Theater.” It’s a nice design feature that the two historically-linked buildings are diagonally across from each other in Hollywood Studios. The California version of the Chinese Theatre is nearly 100 years old now, and does, indeed have the hundreds of handprints and autographs of the stars embedded in the cement at its entrance, just like Disney’s Florida version.  Small but important details… Thanks, Imagineers!

Beth's Version of the Cobb Salad

This recipe serves 4 to 6.

 

OLD-FASHIONED FRENCH DRESSING

• 2 tablespoons water
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1/4 teaspoon sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, or to taste
• 1/8 teaspoon dry English mustard
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

 

SALAD

• 1 cup finely chopped iceberg lettuce leaves
• 1 cup finely chopped chicory leaves
• 1 cup finely chopped tender sprigs watercress, additional sprigs for garnish
• 1 pound poached turkey breast, finely chopped
• 2 medium-size ripe tomatoes, seeded and finely chopped
• 1 avocado, peeled, seeded, and finely chopped
• 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
• 6 bacon slices, cooked crisp, drained, and crumbled
• 3 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons snipped fresh chives
• 1/2 cup Old-fashioned French Dressing
• Watercress springs, for garnish

 

FOR DRESSING:

1.    Whisk together water, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, Worcestershire
sauce, salt, garlic, sugar, freshly ground pepper, and dry mustard in
small bowl until well blended.

2.    Whisking constantly, add the vegetable oil and olive oil in slow steady
stream until the dressing is emulsified.

3.    Store covered and chilled until ready to serve. Whisk dressing to blend
just before serving.

 

FOR SALAD:

1.    Toss iceberg lettuce, chicory, and watercress together and arrange in a
salad bowl.

2.    In straight and separate lines, arrange turkey, tomatoes, avocado, blue
cheese, bacon, and eggs on top of greens.

3.    Sprinkle the chives in two diagonal lines across the salad.

4.    To serve, present the salad at the table, toss with the dressing, and place
on chilled plates with watercress sprigs as garnish.

 

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Beth Keating is a theme parks, restaurant and entertainment reporter for DisneyBizJournal.

 

Get The Disney Planner: The TO DO List Solution by Ray Keating. More information at

https://raykeatingbooksandmore.com/shop/ols/products/disneyplanner. And please listen to the Daily Dose of Disney with Ray Keating podcast. 

Fun Foodie List Released for New Jollywood Nights Parties at Hollywood Studios

 by Beth Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

October 18, 2023

 

Disney is breaking out the razzle dazzle for their first-ever “Disney Jollywood Nights,” with an impressive number of new eats and treats for the 10 party evenings. The party takes place at Hollywood Studios November 11 through December 20, 2023, from 8:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m., and is a separately ticketed evening event. And the dining offerings do look fun and festive – and there are a lot of them!

Courtesy of Disney Parks Blog

There will be entertainment going on all over the park on party nights, with uniquely themed party zones set up.  From DJs on Hollywood Boulevard; to Powerline Max and Phineas and Ferb at a “Throwback Bash” at Echo Lake; to lots of genres of music at venues throughout Hollywood Studios, there appears to be tons of activities in store, even if you aren’t looking to ride the rides.

The Holiday Fiesta en la Calle, a high-energy Latin street fair, will draw guests to Commissary Lane. Disney notes, “The streets will be filled with Latin holiday tunes, colorful décor, and plenty of eats and sips inspired by Latin holiday traditions for a vibrant and lively party.”

 

If your musical tastes run toward smooth jazz, you might prefer heading to Jazzy Holidays at The Holiday Brown Derby. There, the Derby’s party personality will be that of an old-time jazz joint, “playing holiday tunes amidst sparkling décor,”  and “featuring the smooth sounds of St. Nick.” Craft cocktails and light bites will help set the tone to this upscale locale, and the noshes will be exclusive to the location. 

 

Toward the front of the park, the Twilight Soirée at The Tip-Top Club will be in full swing in the courtyard of The Hollywood Tower Hotel. At the Tower, guests will be treated to a live band sharing holiday tunes, jukebox style. They, too, will have their own specialty cocktails.

Courtesy of Disney Parks Blog

And as if that wasn’t enough excitement for the evening, you’ll get a bit of nostalgia along with your fancy treats.  Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy will be headlining their own brand of mayhem during a musical variety show at the Theater of the Stars, with appearances from special guests, including Princess Tiana and Belle, among others.

 

For those of you who are especially fond of the nighttime spectacular “Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!”, that show will be offered on party nights to fill out your celebration.

 

Two of the Jollywood Nights have already sold out, so if you want to dance the night away at Hollywood Studios, don’t wait.  Tickets range from $159-$179 plus tax, and are sure to go quickly for those who want to be the first to experience this new offering.

 

Here’s all the entries from the official Foodie Guide to Jollywood Nights:

 

Holiday Fiesta en la Calle at ABC Commissary

 

• Chicken Empanadas with Street Corn: Chicken empanadas served with a side of street corn salad topped with chili peppers, lime, and cotija cheese
• Yuca con Chicharrón: Fried pork belly, yuca, red pickled onions, and chili pepper-lime seasoning with a yellow pepper aioli
• Mushroom Taco: Chili-roasted Mixed mushrooms, avocado crema, baby gem lettuce, and garnished with sliced radish (Plant-based Item)
• Birria Taco: Shredded short rib and Monterey jack served with beef consommé for dipping Tembleque: Coconut rice pudding with caramel rum sauce and cinnamon
• Mexican Hot Cocoa Cheesecake: Spiced chocolate cheesecake on a chocolate cookie base topped with vanilla whipped cream and cocoa powder with a chocolate handle
• Mangonada: Frozen mango beverage with mango-chili pepper-lime sauce and chili pepper-lime seasoning on top (Non-alcoholic)
• Zero-Proof Piña Colada: Lyre’s Spiced Cane Spirit, coconut, pineapple, and lime
• Oaxaca Old Fashioned: Casa Dragones Blanco Tequila, Del Maguey Vida Mezcal, agave nectar, Mexican chocolate, and orange bitters served over ice garnished with an orange

 

Baseline Taphouse

 

• Tuna Ceviche: Marinated ahi tuna, pico de gallo, and avocado cream topped with cilantro
• Charcuterie Cup: Manchego, chorizo, serrano ham, pickled vegetables, olives, and toasted focaccia bread
• Beer Margarita: Blend of Patrón Silver Tequila, Cointreau Liqueur, and lime juice topped with Scrimshaw Pilsner over Ice

 

Dockside Diner

 

• Spicy Pimento-Kimchi Dip topped with chives and served with fresh house-made wonton chips
• Roasted Eggplant Dip topped with chives and served with warm pita bread (Plant-based Item)
• Poutine Tots: Potato barrels topped with gravy, brisket, mozzarella curds, and chives
• Christmas Tree Cookie Stack: Vanilla cookie stack filled with pistachio buttercream, cranberry, and raspberry jam topped with sprinkles and a yellow candy star
• Sandy Claws Hot Cocoa: “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas”-inspired dark chocolate hot cocoa topped with cherry whipped cream (Non-alcoholic)
• Naughty or Nice: Crown Royal Whisky and ginger mixed with orange, cranberry, and grapefruit juices topped with fresh cranberries

 

Epic Eats

 

• Spicy Korean Chicken Funnel Cake: Spicy fried Korean chicken with pickled vegetables served on a mini funnel cake
• Brisket Reuben Funnel Cake: Beef brisket and sauerkraut slaw topped with thousand island dressing served on a mini funnel cake
• S’mores Funnel Cake: Giant roasted marshmallow with chocolate and marshmallow sauce, topped with chocolate curls and cinnamon cereal served on a mini funnel cake
• Samuel Adams Winter Lager: Spiced with cinnamon, ginger, and orange peel for a deep flavor and malty finish

 

Fairfax Fare

 

• Holiday Turkey Popover: Roasted turkey and creamy mashed potatoes topped with gravy, cranberry chutney, and chives in a house-made popover
• ‘Just the Sides’ Popover: Macaroni & cheese and savory collard greens with ham topped with cornbread crumbs in a house-made popover
• PB&J Doughnut: Glazed doughnut with creamy peanut butter and grape jelly dipped in dark chocolate topped with crushed house-made salt and vinegar chips
• Kermit’s Frozen Banana Bliss: Frozen banana and white chocolate with caramel swirls topped with matcha whipped cream and sprinkle (Non-alcoholic)
• Mistletoe Martini: Tito’s Handmade Vodka and St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur mixed with cranberry juice and topped with fresh cranberries and mint leaves

 

Gertie’s Ice Cream of Extinction

 

• Christmas Gertie Cookie: Sugar cookie with mint icing (Also available with mint soft-serve)

 

Market

 

• Buffalo Chicken Spring Rolls: Fried spring rolls served with a jalapeño-ranch dipping sauce and fried rice noodles
• Frozone’s Snowball Macaroons: Coconut macaroons drizzled with blue vanilla frosting and topped with white snowflake sprinkles
• Spiced Apple Cider: Apple cider and cinnamon with an apple chip garnish (Non-alcoholic)
• Zero-Proof Apple Cider: Lyre’s Spiced Cane Spirit, apple cider, Angostura Bitters, and cinnamon topped with an apple chip and cinnamon rim
• In Holiday Fashion: Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon, rosemary syrup, cranberry and lime juices, and cinnamon

 

PizzeRizzo

 

• Meatball and Polenta: Giant meatball with marinara and creamy cheese polenta
• Olive and Goat Cheese Flatbread: Olive oil-toasted flatbread, creamy goat cheese, rustic olive and tomato spread, balsamic glaze, and lemon watercress
• Antipasto Flatbread: Fresh mozzarella, salami, peperoni, country ham, olives, peppers, onions, pepperoncini, and marinara
• Tiramisù Puff: Sweet-and-savory with flavors of espresso, chocolate, and a coffee-infused custard and mascarpone cream
• Benvolio Pinot Grigio
• Banfi Chianti Superiore
• Peroni Nastro Azzuro Lager Draft
• Heineken 0.0 Non-Alcoholic Lager

 

Twilight Soirée at The Tip-Top Club

 

• The 5th Dimension Royale: Teremana Blanco Tequila, Cointreau Liqueur, desert pear, agave nectar, and lime juice topped with Domaine Ste. Michelle Brut and garnished with a dehydrated blood orange wheel
• Twilight Daiquiri: Parrot Bay Coconut Rum, ube, lime juice, and a splash of shimmer
• Sparkling Pomegranate-Apple Cider: Pomegranate-green tea topped with sparkling apple cider and pomegranate seeds
• Domaine Ste. Michelle Brut

 

Courtesy of Disney Parks Blog

The Trolley Car Café

 

• Ornament Mousse: Dark chocolate-cherry mousse

 

Outdoor Vending Locations

 

• Gingerbread Bites (Plant-based Item)

 

Bar Locations

 

• Zero-Proof Gingerbread Spritzer: Lyre’s Spiced Cane Spirit, gingerbread syrup, and club soda garnished with a gingerbread bite
• Sugar Cookie Martini: Stoli Vanil Vodka, Baileys Irish Cream Liqueur, and DISARONNO Originale Liqueur mixed with milk and sugar in a sprinkle-rimmed glass with a sugar cookie garnish

 

Courtesy of Disney Parks Blog

Jazzy Holidays at The Hollywood Brown Derby

 

• Oyster Rockefeller: Spinach foam, shaved parmesan, rocoto pepper relish, and salmon caviar
• Crispy Duck Drumettes: Spicy orange glaze, carrots, and kumquats
• Charcuterie: House-made cured meats and accompaniments, blue cheese mousse, and toasted sourdough
• Shrimp Cocktail: Classic cocktail sauce, citrus pearls, avocado mousse
• Derby Slider: Bison and pork belly blend, taleggio cheese sauce, and fig stout jam
• Tuna Carpaccio: Mezcal pickled vegetables, salsa macha, and avocado crema
• Pork Belly Bao: Korean BBQ, cucumber slaw, and soy vinaigrette
• Tofu Bao: Seared tofu, cucumber slaw, and soy vinaigrette
• An assortment of classic cocktails, zero-proof and non-alcoholic beverages, wine, and beer

 

Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company

 

• Tinseltown Tini: Toast to holiday cheer with this cold brew coffee topped with Kahlúa, Grey Goose Vodka, a hint of light cream, and a dash of whipped cream with cocoa (Available at the location near The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror)
• Round ‘Em Up Latte: A merry blend of espresso, cookie butter syrup, dulce de leche sauce, and milk topped with fluffy whipped cream, playful animal crackers, and festive sprinkles; available hot or iced (Non-alcoholic Beverage) (Available at the location in Toy Story Land)

 

To stick with the Hollywood take, these food options point to a true “boffo” night!

 

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Beth Keating is a theme parks, restaurant and entertainment reporter for DisneyBizJournal.

 

Support the Daily Dose of Disney with Ray Keating Podcast at https://www.buzzsprout.com/1724143. Subscribe at the $8 or $10 levels, and get The Disney Planner: The TO DO List Solution by Ray Keating. Remain a supporter and you'll get a FREE BOOK by Ray Keating every six months going forward. Thanks!