First Look at Tiana’s Palace Menu at Disneyland Park

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Dining, Disney Parks

We are almost there because the grand opening of Tiana’s Palace over at Disneyland Park is coming soon. On Sept. 7, the doors to this new establishment will be opening to feed hungry guests a little taste of New Orleans inspired by Tiana herself. Nestled on Orleans Street, this soon-to-be hotspot will be serving up can’t-miss classics like gumbo and beignets with a tasty twist. Guests can even use mobile order to get all the new bites on the way.

With flavors and ingredients coming right out of New Orleans, guests won’t need to chat with Dr. Facilier’s “friends on the other side” to know that this new spot is going to be the place to be on their next visit to Disneyland Resort.

Gumbo-lovers are in for a treat because this spot will feature a couple different options to try. The 7 Greens Gumbo is a must-try plant-based option. It features white beans, okra, yams, sweet potatoes, and heirloom rice. Those looking for something a little extra can feast upon the 7 Greens Gumbo with Chicken & Andouille Sausage. And of course, we’ve got the House Gumbo. This dish is a New Orleans staple combining braised chicken, andouille sausage, and heirloom rice into a mouthwatering delight that’ll leave guests coming back for more.

For those wanting a little extra spice from down in New Orleans, the Cajun Spice Half Chicken is the dish to try. The chicken is brushed with a house-made chicory BBQ sauce and served with baked macaroni and cheese & coleslaw.

The Muffuletta Sandwich stacks mortadella, salami, rosemary ham, cheddar, provolone and house-made olive relish on toasted New Orleans sesame seed bread. Another staple, the Beef Po-boy Sandwich features some slow-cooked beef perfectly coated with gravy and fully dressed with shredded lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise atop a toasted New Orleans French bread. Both tasty bites are served alongside red beans and rice and house-made pickles.

Tiana is also serving up Gulf Shrimp and Grits! Grilled to perfection and tossed in a Creole sauce, the shrimp are then paired with cheesy grits to form a classic dish that will transport you down the bayou with each bite.

The chefs have put together a lovely array of classic sides, like the Buttermilk Cornbread, Baked Macaroni and Cheese, Red Beans & Heirloom Rice, Coleslaw, Cheesy Grits, and plant-based Heirloom Rice.

For the little ones, there are also some kid meals they’ll love. The Roasted Chicken Drumstick is served with a sweet BBQ sauce and heirloom rice, while the Toasted Ham & Cheese Sandwich is topped with savory ham and provolone. Also, a classic Baked Macaroni and Cheese is on the menu for the kids too! All three of these are accompanied by a Cuties Mandarin Orange and applesauce with choice of DASANI Water or small lowfat milk.

Now onto the star of the show … No restaurant inspired by Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “The Princess and the Frog” could be complete without beignets, and at Tiana’s Palace, dessert is always first. But these delights aren’t your average beignets. The House-filled Beignet features a delicious lemon ice box pie filling topped with lemon glaze for the perfect bite.

A specialty sip is also on the menu. The Joffrey’s Coffee Chicory Cold Brew topped with sweet cream is a must for those coffee lovers out there. The Ray Firefly Glow Cube* is also available with the purchase of a beverage. This adorable addition will light up the drink just like Evangeline lights up the night sky.

Last but certainly not least, those wanting to take home a piece of Tiana’s Palace will love the Lily Pad and Lotus Cup Ceramic Set**. And it even comes with a House-filled Beignet.

With exciting new openings like Tiana’s Palace, there’s no limit to the foodie fun to be had at Disney Parks.

(Note: All offerings are subject to change and availability. *Limit 10 per person, per transaction for the Ray Firefly Glow Cube.**Limit two per person, per transaction for the Lily Pad and Lotus Cup Ceramic Set)

Seasonal Menu Debuts at The Hollywood Brown Derby

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Dining, Disney Parks, Hollywood Studios, Uncategorized

The Golden Age of Hollywood has gotten some additions because The Hollywood Brown Derby at Disney’s Hollywood Studios recently launched its seasonal menu. The culinary team has masterfully put together dishes featuring the freshest of ingredients for the summer and created a menu that will leave Guests and their taste buds wanting more.

This fan-favorite location nestled within Hollywood Boulevard is quite the popular spot, and for good reason. The contemporary American cuisine speaks for itself, and this summer menu is no different. With several delicious additions from the kitchen, your Clients will want to come back again and again to try them all.

Whether they’ve been here before or want to try this restaurant for the first time, The Hollywood Brown Derby has something for everyone to enjoy.

The appetizers have several eats that are packed with flavor. Starting off, we’ve got some seafood options resurfacing. The Crab Louie features crispy olive bread, citrus blend, fried capers, and Louie sauce. For those shrimp fans out there, the Shrimp Cocktail is topped with shaved fennel cucumbers and a traditional cocktail sauce.

For cheese lovers, there are two items that will spark interest. The Heirloom Tomato and Burrata Salad combines shaved onions, Thai basil, gremolata, and a delicious citrus vinaigrette into a can’t-miss dish, while the Charcuterie Board features the Chef’s selection of cured meats, cheeses, and accompaniments.

For the more adventurous eaters, the Escargot is accompanied by roasted garlic béchamel and crispy prosciutto and the Roasted Bone Marrow is composed of braised beef, pickled mustard seeds, and a fig bread crostini. How delicious do these all sound? And we haven’t even gotten to the main course yet!

The entrée menu is packed with flavorful delights with a variety of options for everyone to enjoy. Let’s start with some new ones for the land lovers out there. The classic Filet Mignon is paired with glazed carrots, potato pave, horseradish cream, and a tasty peppercorn sauce to finish it off. The Lamb Shank is accompanied with summer vegetables, harissa vinaigrette, and nasturtium chermoula.

For Guests that love chicken and dumplings, the new Free-Range Chicken and Dumplings is the dish for them. It brings together these two classics with a lemon-ricotta Gnudi, shishito cream, and a gooseberry jus. If Guests like pork, the recently added Grilled Pork is right up their alley with a mouthwatering lavender-sage polenta and local corn salsa, complete with a huckleberry barbecue sauce. Now that’s a dish!

The seafood aficionados have a couple options to choose from as well – the new Sustainable Fish and the Seafood Cioppino. The Sustainable Fish with white bean ragout, derby summer vegetables, and roasted tomato emulsion is a lovely addition to the menu while the Seafood Cioppino brings together favorites from the sea with shrimp, sea scallops, seasonal fish, mussels, a toasted baguette, and aromatic tomato broth.

Last, but certainly not least for the new items, we have The Hollywood Brown Derby’s latest rendition of a classic comfort food dish – Shepherd’s Pie. This option combines roasted garlic mashed potatoes, mushrooms, peas, corn, and carrot Romesco into a plate that will warm your soul and ignite your taste buds. Did we mention this one is plant-based?

For those repeat diners, don’t worry, because some fan-favorites are still here to stay for both lunch and dinner. The Famous Cobb Salad is a classic, and for good reason. This famous dish is made up of spit-roasted turkey, bacon, egg, tomatoes, blue cheese, avocado, and a classic dressing. If Guests want to enhance this dish even more, they can add chicken or shrimp.

The sweet tooths out there will be pleased to know that the sweet staple, the Grapefruit Cake, isn’t going anywhere. This Brown Derby original combines a moist vanilla sponge cake, grapefruit syrup, and cream cheese icing into a dessert that’s as delicious as it is beautiful.

We can’t wait for your Clients to drop on into The Hollywood Brown Derby this summer to try their fair share of these eats!

New Menu Items Coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Dining, Disney Parks, Hollywood Studios

Heading to Disney’s Hollywood Studios soon? You’ll want to check out the new menu items coming to the park.

From a Disney Cast Member;

I hope you’re ready for some foodie news that’ll rock your taste buds’ world because I’ve got some exciting updates that are coming soon to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. From sweets to the savory, there are plenty of new items joining the treats roster at the park, and they are not to be missed.

Your foodie adventure is about to begin. Let’s get into this edition of What’s Cooking, shall we?

Whether you’ve been to Sci-Fi Dine-in Theater Restaurant before or have always wanted to drive into this retro classic, the new menu premiering June 2 is not to be missed. This “theater” is debuting some super tasty offerings including appetizers, entrées, and desserts. Start off your meal with the Sci-fi Smoked Wings tossed in a porter barbecue sauce with a house-made pineapple and poppy seed coleslaw or the Spinach and Artichoke Dip, a plant-based blend of spinach, artichoke, red peppers, cauliflower, cashew cheese, and oat milk served with house-made chips.

You can also enjoy the Black Garlic Caesar Salad, a petite romaine, grilled hearts of artichoke, chopped Applewood smoked bacon, shaved parmesan covered with house-made black garlic Caesar dressing and served with a tasty, toasted crostini. Or the Grilled Chicken Citrus Saladthat perfectly combines romaine lettuce, spinach, and arugula with rainbow tomatoes, candied pecans, cranberries, and feta cheese topped with a house-made citrus vinaigrette and grilled marinated chicken.

If you’re interested in some burgers, this new menu has got you covered. The Feature Film Burger – Surf & Turf is a unique twist on a classic with a signature blend of beef and house-made seasoning served on a brioche bun and topped with a shrimp and crab cake, pepper jack cheese, chipotle hollandaise sauce, grilled onions, heirloom tomato, arugula, and house-made vinaigrette. A previous “featured” item, the Pork on Pork Burger has been awarded a permanent spot on the new menu. This dish includes a grilled house-made pork patty topped with roasted pork belly, white sharp cheddar cheese, caramelized onions, cabbage slaw, and a house-made Carolina mustard sauce.

The grand finale of the meal, dessert, is also getting a revamp. The Red Planet is a delicious white chocolate cheesecake with blueberry compote on a graham cracker tart with a matcha sponge and gold candied pecans. How yummy does that sound? For a more tropical option, you have the Out-of-this-World Sci-Fi Swirl. This dish features a pineapple mousse with passion fruit cosmic swirl and a spiced lime spaceship garnished with space dust and blood orange coulis.

You better get the whole family together because it’s time for a good ole’ fashioned family meal at 50’s Prime Time Café. Step back in time with some of their new plates that bring TV dinner to a different level that feels just like home, beginning June 7. If you love a little kick to an adored dish, then you simply must try the Jalapeño Popper Deviled Eggs. On the other hand, if spice isn’t your thing, don’t worry, because there’s another classic starter for you – the Creamy Tomato Soup – yes, please! After you’ve enjoyed these tasty plates, get ready for a return that is here to make your taste buds very happy. Grandpa Jean’s Chicken Pot Pie has made its official return to 50’s Prime Time Café. This has a traditional pastry crust filled with chicken, potatoes, carrots, celery, onions, corn, and peas.

I hope you save room for dessert after these eats, because there are a few sweet treats making an appearance at this retro joint. The Pineapple Upside Down Cake features yellow cake soaked in pineapple juice topped with caramelized pineapples and maraschino cherries and garnished with whip cream and caramel sauce – wow! Also joining the menu is the Lemon Meringue Pie, a lemon curd in a flaky pie shell topped with a toasted meringue and garnished with a raspberry sauce. The sweets don’t stop there because there is also the Grasshopper Bar! This dessert is a mint white chocolate mousse with chocolate chips on a chocolate chip cookie and is topped with whip cream and chocolate chips. It is a mint chocolate chip lover’s dream.

And rounding out these exciting additions is the Stained Glass Dessert. This treat, made for the little ones, sees a whipped pineapple fluff studded with cubes of strawberry, lime, and orange gelatin to look like stained glass. How adorable?

Few things are more fitting in the summer than ice cream, and not many flavors are more Florida than Key lime. But do you want to know what’s even better? Combining both ice cream and Key lime into a milkshake, and that’s exactly what you’ll find at Hollywood Scoops. Starting tomorrow, they’ll be serving up the new Key Lime Milkshake, a Key lime vanilla cream shake topped with lemon lime doughnut garnished with a sweet graham cracker crumb.

Take a trip to another world when you step into Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge where you’ll discover two tasty beverages at Kat Saka’s Kettle. The Cold Brew Black Caf features Joffrey’s Cold Brew, sweet cream cheese, and cocoa puffs and is a delicious non-alcoholic treat! For a more adult version, the Spiked Cold Brew Black Caf has an extra ingredient – Godiva liqueur. Talk about galactic goodies!

Menu Updates at California Grill

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Dining, Disney Resorts

The fan-favorite California Grill restaurant will soon have a newly updated menu featuring a lot of plant-based menu items. 

From a Disney Cast Member;

For this edition of What’s Cooking, I’ve got some exciting, and delicious, news to share about California Grill at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. This rooftop location sits atop the 15th floor of the resort and offers stunning views overlooking Magic Kingdom Park and Seven Seas Lagoon. From witnessing an unrivaled firework viewing or simply taking in the sights from above while enjoying an exquisite meal, it’s clear that California Grill is much more than your average restaurant.

And starting May 26, it will be offering an expansion of diverse plant-based dishes for you to enjoy! Whether you live a plant-based lifestyle or simply want to try something new, all of these new items are sure to satisfy you and your tastebuds.

Chef de Cuisine Daniel Sicilia, Chef Matthew Birch, and their culinary team have brought the flavor to these vegetable-centric courses. With inspirations from their backgrounds with fresh ingredients and farm-to-table menus, these chefs have embraced and encouraged creativity, innovation, and the rich history of this restaurant to create a true culinary experience that can’t be missed.

Without further ado, let’s get to the new plant-based menu at California Grill, shall we?

Now onto the entrées. First, we have the House-made Bucatini Cacio e Pepe, a fresh take on spring flavors with sunflower, allium, crispy sunchokes, charred green onions, toasted onions, and a sunflower seed-ramp pistou along with delicious house-made bucatini topped with a luxurious cashew cream sauce – wow!

The other new plant-based entrée is the Peas and Carrots Risotto with heirloom carrots, English peas, green garlic, confit onion, and sweet carrot foam. This elevated take on a classic dish enhances fresh flavors and ingredients in different and creative ways by the chefs, particularly Chef Matthew Birch who crafted the dish to look like everything is sprouting up from the ground. What a way to grow the menu.

Last but certainly not least, we have desserts! For a sweet finish, the Peanut and Banana Torte is a twist on the classic PB&J. It combines shortbread, peanut ganache, miso-caramel, nut crumbles, and caramelized bananas. I don’t know about you, but this dish sounds, and looks, incredible.

A spin on the “Banana Fritters” that were featured at the restaurant back in 2013, the Lavender Sugar Donuts is a special 50th Anniversary item that is now home on the plant-based menu, featuring some updated fresh ingredients in season. It has a coconut frozen dessert, blueberry gin jam, and pistachio crumble. And not to mention the presentation is beautiful!

Don’t forget, the anniversary celebrations and treats will continue through March of 2023, so you’ve still got time to enjoy them. Be sure to use #DisneyWorld50 to share your favorites, like the Lavender Sugar Donuts!

Not only does California Grill have this exciting plant-based menu, it also has new seasonal dishes, two of which include the Florida Rock Shrimp Salad and the EARidescent Crème Brûlée. The Florida Rock Shrimp Salad has a history with California Grill, paying homage to former Chef de Cuisine Brian Piasecki’s signature salad for the restaurant. This updated version has similar flavors while lightening it up and adding texture with hearts of palm, petite lettuce, yuzu, avocado, jicama, and crisp rice crackers topped with a ginger vinaigrette.

The EARidescent Crème Brûlée serves up a pineapple-mango compote, hibiscus meringue, hibiscus crystals, and coconut and has become quite the fan-favorite with its glimmer and shimmer celebrating the 50th Anniversary. Pastry Sous Chef Amber Vega took inspiration from California with the hibiscus and tropical flavors that lighten up the taste for spring and summer! Who doesn’t love a little sparkle with some fresh flavors?

There you have it, the new plant-based menu and exciting updates coming soon. If you’re a foodie, California Grill is ready for you with all these enhancements to the ever-evolving menu! And if you’re a wine lover, don’t forget to take advantage of pairing suggestions from the experts for these new dishes. Enjoy!

Menu Updates at Sanaa at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Dining, Disney Resorts

Sanaa, one of the fantastic restaurants at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is getting an update to its menu. The new items look fantastic and we can’t wait to try them out.

From a Disney Cast Member;

I’m excited to feature one of my favorite spots to indulge in a meal at Walt Disney World Resort – Sanaa at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. If you’re looking for delicious dishes that let you take a step into another culture, Sanaa is a must-try. This restaurant is not one to be missed, and for good reason. With offerings featuring African-inspired cuisine and techniques, this location gives you bold flavors meticulously crafted by its chefs.

Beginning today, these talented culinarians are serving up some exciting updates to their already tasty menu that are sure to intrigue you and your stomach. Chef Sahib Bhatti, who you may have read about for Cooking With Soul, has incorporated his roots from Tanzania on the Eastern Coast of Africa into these new and updated dishes filled with spices and ingredients found in the Indian subcontinent. And before you start to worry, the signature Indian-style Bread Service is still there in its tasty glory for you to indulge in!

The start date of these offerings is noteworthy, as back in 2009, the opening team began training for their culinary adventure with Sanaa! Chef Sahib and his talented team are proud to uphold this culinary legacy by sharing their updated menu with enthusiastic fans as well as those who will experience Sanaa for the first time.

Without further ado, it’s time to find out what’s cooking in the kitchen over at Sanaa!

Let’s kick things off with an appetizer available for both lunch and dinner. First, we have the Lamb Kefta, a returning fan-favorite but now with a refreshing twist. Chef Sahib and his team have infused traditional North-African flavors with spices like cumin and cayenne pepper to this char-grilled ground lamb with Tunisian couscous salad and ginger pear chutney.

For an entrée, the Potjie-inspired Slow Cooked Dishes are made in a potjie, a traditional cast-iron pot that dates back to the Dutch during the spice trade. The popular Butter Chicken is here to stay, with Chef introducing authentic pork selection and multiple plant-based additions to this “Harvest.” The Pork Vindaloo has origins from Goa and features inspiration from Portuguese cuisine. This tender pork is cooked with paprika, garlic, tomato, vinegar, and a house-made spice blend – how delicious! The Lentil Daal is typically found in the Indian subcontinent and is made with yellow lentils and cooked in fragrant spices.

At Sanaa, Sukuma Wiki, which was featured by Chef Sahib for Cooking With Soul, is delightfully enjoyed with rajma masala. The chef wanted to ensure this plant-based offering had a permanent place on the menu for guests to enjoy. The Rajma Masala is a dish from the Indian subcontinent that features red kidney beans and a delicious spice blend combined with onions, tomatoes, and garam masala and braised until tender. It is also known as maharage in Eastern Africa, which translates to red beans, and is typically served with greens.

Keeping on with the main course, our next two dishes are available to enjoy for both lunch and dinner. The Zanzibari Vegetable Curry is inspired by the island of Zanzibar, also known as “Spice Island.” This plant-based dish features seasonal vegetables, fragrant rice, and a mouthwatering blend of cloves, cinnamon, and black pepper. For those who are a fan of fish, the Samaki Wa Kupaka, which means “coated fish,” is quite a unique fish. Kingklip is commonly found along the Southern African coast. This moist, white fish joins the menu as a part of sustainable seafood initiatives and is absolutely delicious with a marinade of traditional Swahili cuisine, mango and turmeric, and topped with a tangy tamarind-infused coconut gravy.

Finally, I’m happy to share with you some offerings that are only available as the sun sets on the savanna. You simply must try these dinner-exclusive offerings on your next visit. The fall-off-the-bone Pork Shank goes through a long braise process with flavors of cloves, nutmeg, and allspice before making it to your plate and is paired with one of the Chef’s comfort foods – black-eye peas simmered in a chermoula herb blend.

The Grilled New York Strip has been on the menu before, but never like this! As you take a bite of these decadent flavors, you’ll be transported to Eastern Africa with this version of “meat and potatoes.” The strip is perfectly paired with mukimo made with green peas, corn, and spinach, as well as harvest vegetables, herb emulsion, and fig sauce.

I, for one, am very excited for these authentic additions to Sanaa. I hope you all enjoy these dishes as much as I will!