Culinary Series Underway At Disney Springs

 by Beth Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

July 11, 2024

 

Until August 11, 2024, Disney Springs is playing host to “Flavors of Florida,” with dozens of dishes and beverages at the Disney Springs restaurants and kiosks saluting some of the best local flavors the area has to offer – from seafood and citrus, to Key Lime creations, twists on Cuban sandwiches, and unique desserts.

To accompany the menu selections, Disney Springs is also offering a Culinary Series hosted by Kroger Delivery, where guests can attend free demonstrations from a variety of Disney chefs, highlighting some of the plates you can order during “Flavors of Florida” at the Disney Springs restaurants.

All the demonstrations take place at Waterview Park (near The BOATHOUSE), and pre-registration is required.  Registration will be available via the Disney Springs Instagram page.

There are five demo days remaining in this summer’s series.

• From Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill

 

Chef Mike Tiva, who has more than 19 years of experience with the Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining Group to Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill at Disney Springs, will be cooking up Mushroom Gnocchi, a ricotta gnocchi topped with roasted Fungi Jon mushrooms, balsamic glazed shallots, wild arugula and shaved pecorino cheese. 

   

Date: July 12, 2024, at 9:30 AM

• From eet by Maneet Chauhan

 

Celebrity chef Maneet Chauhan will be demonstrating Sloppy Joe Rock Shrimp, a Florida rock shrimp seasoned with ginger, garlic and cilantro, served with kachumber salad.

  
You may already know Maneet Chauhan as an award-winning chef, author, and television personality, including from Food Network’s Chopped and Iron Chef.  She is the first-ever two-time champ of Guy Fieri’s Tournament of Champions (2021 and 2024).  The new “eet by Maneet Chauhan” opened at Disney Springs in the fall of 2023. 

 

Date: July 19, 2024, at 9:30 AM

• From the Disney Springs Culinary team

 

Chef Georg Paulussen will be making two menu items featuring the new Sunshine Stroll Orange Pilsner that will be available during “Flavors of Florida” at a number of Springs locations. This locally brewed orange pilsner is a Disney Springs exclusive item, and comes with a “hint of citrus.”

Chef Paulussen will be demonstrating an Orange Pilsner Goat Cheese Dip, a goat cheese whipped with beer and peppadew peppers; and the St. Augustine Pepper Frites, crispy pork with datil pepper sauce, complemented by beer cheese sauce, Florida hearts of palm and chayote squash.

Chef Paulussen has been featured in documentaries on the Discovery and Travel channels, and serves as a regional executive chef at Walt Disney World Resort.

 
Date: July 26, 2024, at 9:30 AM

• From Summer House on the Lake

 

Executive Chef Josh Williams will be teaching guests how to make Key West Shrimp Tostones, a dish with Key West shrimp with tostones, chile verde, Florida citrus salsa and black beans.

 
Date: August 2, 2024, at 9:30 AM

• From The BOATHOUSE

 

The BOATHOUSE’S Executive Chef, Tampa born Bradley Warner, will be demonstrating Roasted Golden Tilefish, paired with coconut ginger rice, topped with citrus escabeche and served with a cilantro aïoli.

 
Date: August 9, 2024, at 9:30 AM

__________

 

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. 

See What’s In Store at Disney During “Magical Dining”

 by Beth Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

August 24, 2022

 

Four restaurants on Disney property are participating in this year’s Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining program, and they will be offering a wide variety of tastes and flavors for diners, beginning this week. This year’s dining program runs from August 26 through October 2, 2022. 

While there are typically close to one hundred Orlando area restaurants involved in the Magical Dining program, there are four Disney-based restaurants on this year’s list, with five more Lake Buena Vista area eateries at the surrounding hotels near Disney World. Il Mulino New York Trattoria at the Walt Disney World Swan; Jaleo and Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill at Disney Springs; and Todd English’s bluezoo at the Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel are this year’s included “Disney” eateries (though they are all independently-owned).  

 

Guests at Magical Dining restaurants enjoy a three-course, prix-fixe dinner for just $40 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Dinner includes the choice of an appetizer, entrée and dessert from a specially curated Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining menu that showcases some of the chef’s favorite dishes at each restaurant. One dollar from each meal will also benefit The Able Trust, which works to help expand employment opportunities for people with disabilities.   

 

Here’s a peek at the Magical Dining menus at the participating Disney restaurants:

 

• Il Mulino New York Trattoria (Walt Disney World Swan Resort)  

 

APPETIZERS

Pollo Fritto Di Toscana

(fried chicken, rosemary, crispy artichokes, with garlic lemon dipping sauce)

Cozze

(mussels with spicy garlic white wine sauce or spicy fra diavolo)

Insalate Caesar 

(classic il mulino caesar salad)

 

MAIN COURSE

Rigatoni con Fungi 

(rigatoni pasta with wild mushrooms, italian cherry peppers, garlic and truffle oil)

Pollo Scarpariello 

(hand cut chicken with garlic, white wine, wild mushrooms, and spicy cherry peppers)

Branzino

(seared striped bass with cherry tomatoes, garlic, pancetta and white wine served over sautéed spinach)

DESSERT

Torta di Cioccolati  

(flourless chocolate cake, whipped cream zabaglione)

Tiramisu

(layered espresso and coffee liqueur infused lady fingers coated with mascarpone cream)

Italian Gelato

 

• Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill (Disney Springs)

 

APPETIZERS

Grilled Bruschetta

(marinated tomatoes, mozzarella, pesto, ciabatta)

Caesar Salad 

(little gem lettuce, creamy garlic dressing, herb croutons, shaved parmesan)

Wedge Salad 

(marinated cherry tomatoes, bacon, blue cheese, ranch dressing)

 

MAIN COURSE

Oven Roasted Scottish Salmon 

(braised butter beans, pancetta, roasted tomatoes)

Grilled Pork Chop 

(creamy polenta, mushrooms, thyme)

Rigatoni Pasta 

(bolognese meat sauce, roasted tomatoes, pecorino)

 

DESSERT

House Made Carrot Cake 

(cream cheese icing, candied walnuts, caramel sauce)

Spanish Cheesecake with house made caramel sauce

Giant Warm Chocolate Chip Cookie with vanilla gelato and caramel sauce

 

• JALEO  (Disney Springs)

 

COURSE 1:

Traditional Pan Con Tomate 

(toasted slices of crispy bread brushed with fresh tomato)

Gazpacho de Tomate Estilo Algeciras 

(chilled spanish soup with tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers)

Croquetas de Pollo 

(traditional chicken fritters)

 

APPETIZERS

Pimientos del Piquillo Rellenos con Queso Caña de Cabra 

(seared piquillo peppers filled with goat cheese)

Ensalada Verde 

(mixed greens with tomatoes, onions and olives with sherry dressing)

Empedrat de Montgetes 

(traditional catalan bean salad with tomatoes, olives and sherry dressing)

Espinacas a la Catalana 

(sautéed spinach with pine nuts, raisins and apples)

 

MAIN COURSE

Chorizo Casero con Puré de Patatas al Aceite de Oliva 

(house-made traditional chorizo with olive oil mashed potatoes)

Pollo con Pisto Manchego 

(josper grilled chicken thigh with a traditional vegetable stew)

Paella del Dia 

(daily paella served with garlic aioli)

 

DESSERT

Flan al Estilo Tradicional de Mamá Marisa con Espuma de Crema Catalana

(classic Spanish custard with ‘espuma’ of catalan cream and oranges)

Pan con Chocolate

(chocolate custard with caramelized bread, olive oil and brioche ice cream)

Sorbetes Caseros

 

• Todd English's bluezoo (Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort)  

 

APPETIZERS

Caesar Salad 

(little gem romaine lettuce, parmesan cheese, house dressing, crouton, crispy egg yolk)

bluezoo’s New England Style Clam Chowder

(light and brothy with salt cured bacon, house-made oyster crackers)

BBQ Potstickers

(smoked pork shoulder dumplings, mustard barbecue sauce)

 

MAIN COURSE

Linguine Con Vongole

(linguine pasta, little neck clams, chorizo, sweet basil, tomato sauce, calabrian chili)

Simply Fish

(creamy risotto, seasonal vegetables, salsa verde or white wine sauce)

Crispy Skinned Chicken

(roasted chicken breast, confit thigh, warm bread & arugula salad, currants, roasted chicken jus)

 

DESSERT

Warm Chocolate Molten Cake

(chocolate cream pudding, chocolate and caramel sauce, house made organic vanilla bean ice cream)

Strawberry Angel Food Cake

(marinated strawberry, crispy tuile)

Root Beer Float

(vanilla bean ice cream, boylan’s root beer bourbon vanilla whipped cream, chocolate shavings)

 

Additional Hotel Restaurants Near Disney (click the links for their menus):

 

• La Luce  (Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek)  

 

•  The Venetian Chop House (Caribe Royale World Center Drive)

 

•  Deep blu seafood grille  (Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek)  

 

•  Four Flamingos, A Richard Blais Florida Kitchen  (Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress)

 

•  Unreserved Food Bazaar (JW Marriott Bonnet Creek)

 

You can make reservations for the restaurants under their listing on the Magical Dining website, through OpenTable, or through the restaurants themselves. Check the Visit Orlando Magical Dining website for restaurant hours, specific restrictions and availabilities.

 

If you’d like to see DisneyBizJournal’s dining reviews from Il Mulino and Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill from last year’s Magical Dining, check here and here.  

_______________

 

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

 

Please support the efforts of DisneyBizJournal.com to bring news, analysis and commentary on Disney to readers such as yourself. Make a contribution right here via PayPal. Thanks!

Magical Dining Program Returns to Orlando

 by Beth Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

July 20, 2022

 

If you are planning an early fall trip to Disney World, a bevy of new dining opportunities just opened up for you, especially if you don’t mind heading off property for a terrific meal. Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining program, celebrating its 17th year, is coming back from Aug. 26 through Oct. 2, 2022. 

The Magical Dining program typically offers close to one hundred Orlando-area restaurants at a special price for diners, with the added bonus that a portion of the cost of your meal is donated to local charities.  It’s a chance to experience some of the best restaurants making their home in Central Florida, without breaking the bank, and for the restaurants to show off their talents to new patrons.

 

Guests at Magical Dining meals can enjoy a three-course, prix-fixe dinner for just $40 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Dinner includes the choice of an appetizer, entrée and dessert from a specially curated Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining menu that showcases some of the chef’s favorite dishes at each restaurant. One dollar from each meal will benefit The Able Trust, which works to help expand employment opportunities for people with disabilities.   

 

If you are coming in from out-of-town (or even if you want a local staycation!), Visit Orlando is also featuring Visit Orlando’s Magical Nights, special discounted offers from a number of Orlando hotels, including many that host restaurants participating in Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining program.  

 

While the list of the 2022 participating restaurants isn’t complete yet (more will be added as the start date comes closer and menus are finalized), there are at least four Disney restaurants on this year’s list, with five more Lake Buena Vista area eateries at the surrounding hotels near Disney World. Others aren’t very far away either, near Universal or near I-Drive. With Florida’s recent inclusion in the renowned MICHELIN Guide, there are also several of the MICHELIN Guide’s new honorees among this year’s participants.

 

If you’d like to see DisneyBizJournal’s dining reviews from Il Mulino and Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill from last year’s Magical Dining, check here and here.  

Disney property participants so far include:

 

• Il Mulino New York Trattoria (Walt Disney World Swan Resort) 

 

• Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill (Disney Springs)

 

• JALEO  (Disney Springs)

 

• Todd English's bluezoo (Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort)  

 

Additional Hotel Restaurants Near Disney:

 

•  La Luce  (Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek)  

 

•  The Venetian Chop House (Caribe Royale World Center Drive)

 

•  Deep blu seafood grille  (Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek)  

 

•  Four Flamingos, A Richard Blais Florida Kitchen  (Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress)

 

•  Unreserved Food Bazaar (JW Marriott Bonnet Creek)

 

If you’d like to get a closer look at what the chefs are dishing up for their prix-fixe menus, click on the restaurant name and the links will take you directly to each restaurant’s specific offerings on the Magical Dining website, as well as to the detailed descriptions of the restaurant, and any pertinent information such as dress codes, parking, etc.  You can also make reservations for the restaurants under their listing on the Magical Dining website, through OpenTable, or through the restaurants themselves. Check back on the Visit Orlando Magical Dining website for future restaurant additions.

 

_______________

 

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

 

Please support the efforts of DisneyBizJournal.com to bring news, analysis and commentary on Disney to readers such as yourself. Make a contribution right here via PayPal. Thanks!

Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill: A Last Minute Pick During Magical Dining Program

 by Beth Keating

Review

DisneyBizJournal.com

October 10, 2021

 

Orlando’s Magical Dining program was extended until October 17, a fortuitous bonus for us on a recent weeknight.  We had tickets for a movie at the AMC at Disney Springs, and since the lines at Disney Springs were longer than usual due to the 50th Anniversary celebration crowds that were still around, we decided we would be better off making reservations to sit down to eat after the movie, instead of doing our usual mobile dining order at Chicken Guy! or D-Luxe Burger.

 

For the most part, we were glad we did.  To be honest, with all the great restaurants at Disney Springs, Wolfgang Puck’s wasn’t really on our radar.  We probably would have gotten around to trying it eventually, but Orlando’s Magical Dining program did exactly what it was meant to do – got us to walk into a restaurant that we ordinarily wouldn’t have patronized.

Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill is a crisp, wide open restaurant with soaring ceilings, clean lines, and an open kitchen concept. The busy kitchen was entertaining to watch, but the modern “farmhouse chic” décor with its high ceilings, while beautiful, did make conversation difficult at times as the noise level was pretty high in the room.  On the plus side, our waiter was very good, with a cheerful sense of humor.

 

For those unfamiliar with Orlando’s Magical Dining program, it runs for a few weeks at the beginning of the fall each year, with a prix-fixe price for a 3-course meal, and a portion of the meal’s cost going to local charities.  It’s a chance for local restaurants to introduce themselves to new diners, welcome back previous patrons, and showcase some of their best dishes.  This year’s Magical Dining price was $37.00, with $1.00 from each meal going to Pathlight HOME and IDignity, combating homelessness in Central Florida. The limited selection menu was designed by Tony Chi, and was selected to highlight the best of Wolfgang’s signature dishes.

At the restaurant, the appetizer choices included Grilled Bruschetta; Caesar Salad; or Calamari Fritti.  Our table chose the calamari and bruschetta. The calamari appetizer was very good – light and crunchy, without the “too chewy” problem that can plague calamari, and was served with zucchini and olives.  The amazingly fresh-tasting Grilled Bruschetta was plated with marinated cherry tomatoes and an excellent, house made, fluffy mozzarella that was closer to a ricotta texture than typical firmer mozzarella.  The basil leaves that would be traditional in a bruschetta were replaced by a very delicate and lovely pesto sauce layered on a grilled oval of ciabatta.  A drizzle of balsamic vinegar added just a touch of tang to pull the dish together.

 

The Magical Dining menu offered a choice of three main courses, a Rigatoni Pasta; Oven Roasted Scottish Salmon; and Chicken Wienerschnitzel. We chose the salmon and the chicken.

 

The salmon dinner ranked as a big disappointment, however, and those who had waffled between the salmon and the chicken before ordering were happy they’d chosen the chicken instead. The salmon flavor was weak, and whatever distinctiveness it possessed wasn’t exactly a plus. The combination on the menu of Aguachile, Zellwood corn, avocado mousse, and cilantro sounded intriguing, but the execution failed the taste test.

On the other hand, we would come back again for the Chicken Wienerschnitzel, wonderfully crisp on the outside, yet still moist on the inside.  The cutlet was huge, and served with a yummy mustard sauce on the side, and as is traditional for schnitzels, a wedge of lemon to squeeze over the top.  The accompanying fingerling potatoes were sliced super thin, and prepared with a vinegar dressing, and dill cucumbers were served julienned, almost in a slaw format.  A marinated tomato mix finished the plate.  We are still talking about that Chicken Wienerschnitzel several days later, and would go back just for that dish.

 

Three choices were also available for dessert.  Spanish cheesecake, house-made carrot cake, and an ice cream cookie sundae were offered up.  We picked two of the three at our table.  The carrot cake dessert was some of the tastiest carrot cake we’ve ever had, and was quite a pretty presentation, too. The cake was airy, and the icing – always a biggie with carrot cake – was light and creamy, with the caramel sauce adding to the flavor treat. Candied walnuts were an unexpected addition to the presentation.

Speaking of light… the Spanish cheesecake was incredibly light as well, perhaps the fluffiest cheesecake we’d ever eaten.  It was not overly sweet, so the house made caramel topping added a nice balance to the selection.  It was an excellent choice to finish the meal.

 

All in all, we were glad we’d taken advantage of Magical Dining, and happy to have given Wolfgang Puck’s a try.

 

__________

 

Beth Keating is a regular contributor to DisneyBizJournal.

 

Please support the efforts of DisneyBizJournal.com to bring news, analysis and commentary on Disney to readers such as yourself. Make a contribution right here via PayPal. Thanks!