Earth Day is April 22, but the entire week, April 22-28, has been dubbed Earth Week – and that gives us plenty of time to try all three of these sweet treats that are almost (almost!) too cute to eat.

Walt Disney World Resort pastry chefs have been busy outdoing each other with three versions of chocolate available only April 22-28. The Worms & Dirt tart topped with a smiling strawberry, fresh raspberries, and chocolate cookie “dirt” crumbs can be found at Tony’s Town Square and Liberty Tree Tavern in Magic Kingdom Park, Kringla Bakeri Og Café and Sunshine Seasons at Epcot, and Capt. Cook’s at Disney’s Polynesian Resort.

The chocolate Worms & Dirt cupcake topped with a teensy flower pot and gummy worms is on the menu at ABC Commissary, Pizza Planet, Backlot Express, Studio Catering Co. and Starring Rolls Cafe at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Kusafari Coffee Shop and Bakery and the espresso and coffee cart at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Another version of a chocolate Worms & Dirt cupcake features an adorable little worm made with a strawberry and fresh raspberries, and it is only at one spot: Kona Cafe at Disney’s Polynesian Resort.

All of the Worms & Dirt desserts are $4.99 and Disney Dining Plan eligible.

What’s your favorite?


Find updates on our latest extra sprinkle of pixie dust on Twitter using hashtag #LimitedTimeMagic and on our LimitedTimeMagic.com web page.

Tagged: Dining, Limited Time Magic, WDW

Filed: Disney Dining, Walt Disney World Resort

We’re enjoying the new Les Halles Boulangerie & Patisserie and Monsieur Paul, the re-imagined upstairs restaurant at the France Pavilion at Epcot. But there’s more: look for the new L’Artisan des Glaces, Artisan Ice Cream & Sorbet to open by mid-June in the pavilion’s former bakery space.

This delightful little shop will offer 16 different flavors – 10 ice creams and six sorbets are on the menu (still a work in progress). “Everything will be made in-house with the simplest, fresh ingredients – milk, sugar, cream, eggs and fruit,” says general manager Eric Weistroffer.

The frozen treats will be available by the scoop in cups or cones – and for grown-ups, there’s the option of adding liqueurs, says Weistroffer.

Meanwhile, you don’t have to journey to Disneyland Resort to try one of the super-popular, savory cones from Cozy Cone Motel in Disney California Adventure park at Cars Land. They’re now on the menu at Marketplace Snacks in front of Team Mickey at Downtown Disney Marketplace at Walt Disney World Resort. Take your pick of the meaty Chili Cone Queso topped with shredded cheese and crispy corn chips (our favorite), or the hearty meatball cone. Both are served in a thick bread “cone” suitable for strolling while you enjoy.

Tagged: Dining, Epcot, WDW

Filed: Disney Dining, Epcot, Walt Disney World Resort

It’s the one day of the year mom really shouldn’t have to cook. So, whisk her away like a Disney princess to one of these spots for a Mother’s Day meal to remember.

The big event on May 12 is “Join Cinderella and Her Princess Friends for Disney’s Royal Buffet for Mother’s Day.” It’s an all-you-care-to-eat feast from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Disneyland Hotel Grand Ballroom, with visits by Cinderella and live musical entertainment.

The menu is over the top, starting with a glass of bubbly and expansive buffet: salads, artisan cheese, seafood, fish and meats. And, of course, divine desserts for mom including housemade pies. Little ones get their own buffet with salads, fresh fruit, chicken, pizza, mac ‘n’ cheese and “kid-approved desserts.”

Cost is $71.99 (not including tax and gratuity); $20.99 for ages 3 to 9. Premium Annual Passholders get a 15-percent discount, and all other annual passports get a 10-percent discount. Four hours of parking is free (then it’s $6 an hour).

In Disneyland park, three restaurants are creating special mom’s day meals. Blue Bayou in New Orleans Square is offering prosciutto-wrapped halibut with forbidden rice and a corn chowder ($39.00). Carnation Café has honey-mustard, lemon-roasted chicken with mashed potatoes and glazed baby carrots for $16.99, and Plaza Inn is serving fruit-glazed salmon with mango-kiwi relish, rice pilaf and baby carrots for $16.99

Over at Storytellers Café at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, the brunch buffet has extra goodies for Mother’s Day, from seasonal berries and made-to-order omelets to beef au jus, brioche French toast and roasted salmon. Cost is $31.99.

For reservations, call 714-781-DINE.

Tagged: Dining, Disneyland Hotels, DL, DLR

Filed: Disney Dining, Disneyland Resort, Hotels & Resorts

After a family trip to Ireland, we jumped at the chance to re-live the experience over a shared meal at Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant at Downtown Disney – and not just any “order-off-the-menu” experience, but a traditional Sunday roast, much like families enjoy so much on the Emerald Isle.

With a minimum of six guests, Raglan Road’s “Host the Roast” is one of a kind in Central Florida – there are plenty of Sunday brunches and buffets, but Raglan’s is the only one that lets your host do the honors and carve tender prime rib, roast pork, roast chicken or roast leg of lamb (OK, you can just relax and let the chef do it).

My husband played along and put on the toque and apron to carve the perfectly roasted rib of beef served with Yorkshire pudding, horseradish cream and rosemary jus that we chose for our Sunday lunch. The food flows to the table – generous cast-iron bowls of balsamic-glazed carrots, tiny potatoes roasted super-crisp in duck fat, crunchy green beans, gooey potatoes au gratin with an extra bit of Dubliner cheese. If a side runs out, the server quickly replenishes. No one goes hungry.

Best of all, the champion Irish dancers and Creel, the house band imported from Ireland, bring a real joy to the place, a happy combo of tradition and flair. It’s hard to imagine such skilled, synchronized movement, especially while you’re sitting still, enjoying crispy potatoes and thick cuts of meat. Beautiful costumes and engaging Irish tunes are like a fancy bow around the family gathering.

We could have chosen the roast pork loin with cider port jus, applesauce and apple chutney (with an added side of decadent pork cracklins’). Or the roast leg of lamb stuffed with sage and onion, served with mint sauce and red wine jus. Or roast lemon thyme chicken with chicken and wild mushroom pie.

But that prime rib was just right – and the traditional Irish Sunday lunch favorite. And we finished with a generous Gran Marnier fruit and custard trifle (a strawberry and apple crumble is the other option, offered gluten free if desired). But the whipped cream and cool fruit seemed like the perfect ending – and segue to an afternoon nap!

Cost is $55 per person for roast rib of beef, $47 per person for roast pork loin, $45 per person for lamb and $35 for chicken. An 18 percent gratuity will be added.

To reserve a table for your family and friends, call 407-938-0300 at least 24 hours in advance. Hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays.

Tagged: Dining, Downtown Disney, WDW

Filed: Disney Dining, Downtown Disney, Walt Disney World Resort

If you are looking to venture to a celebrated local restaurant, Zagat, the quintessential dining guide, this week released their list of “America’s Most Iconic Restaurants.” These restaurants “embody the essence of their city,” writes Zagat.

Victoria & Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is on that exclusive list. (The only other Florida restaurant on the list is Joe’s Stone Crab in Miami.)

“Zagat is one of the most respected food guides in the world, and it’s an honor and a privilege to be included,” says Chef Scott Hunnel, who heads a team of culinary pros in the Victoria & Albert’s kitchen.

From Zagat: Victoria & Albert’s is a “once-in-a-lifetime experience”; this Grand Floridian “celebration destination” earns “superlatives all around,” from chef Scott Hunnel’s “exquisite,” “beautifully presented” New American prix fixes to “impeccable” service – and an “über-romantic, high-end” setting where “elegance rules” (jackets are required for men); you may “need to hock one of your kids” to pay, but those “trying to impress” say there’s “no finer place.”

The Walt Disney World Resort restaurant also had the highest Zagat scores of any of the 15 notables – 29 for food; 28 for décor; 29 for service (out of a perfect 30). The scores are arrived at after thousands of people share their opinions through Zagat surveys. Zagat uses the results to create trusted rating and reviews (check it out at zagat.com).

Congrats to Chef Scott Hunnel, Manager and Sommelier Israel Perez and the entire team at Victoria & Albert’s! If you want to make a reservation at this very special restaurant, call 407-939-3862.

Tagged: Dining, WDW

Filed: Disney Dining, Hotels & Resorts, Walt Disney World Resort

One of the many Disney Cruise Line dishes that guests are always raving about is Palo’s grilled tuna. Served with truffle-infused potato risotto, garlic-marinated artichokes and tarragon-veal jus, it’s pretty easy to understand why.

Today, not only am I sharing the at-home recipe with you, I also thought you might like a demonstration of how to make this mouth-watering dish. Take a look at this video with Palo’s Executive Chef Silvio as he shows you how we at Disney Cruise Line prepare and serve this entrée onboard.

Grilled Tuna with Truffle-Infused Potato Risotto, Garlic-Marinated Artichokes, and Tarragon-Veal Jus
Serves 4

Potato Risotto
1/2 pound russet potato, peeled and cubed
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 shallot, diced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 cup dry white wine (such as chardonnay)
1 cup heavy cream
Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 tablespoon white truffle oil
Freshly grated parmesan cheese, to taste

Tarragon Veal Jus
1 1/4 cups veal stock
1 cup dry red wine (such as merlot)
3 stalks fresh tarragon

Marinated Artichokes
1/2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 shallot, sliced
4 artichokes packed in oil,* drained, cut into thirds
12 cherry tomatoes, halved
2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Grilled Tuna
4 (1/2-pound) ahi tuna steaks
Extra virgin olive oil, for grilling
Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

For marinated artichokes:

1. Heat oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat until it shimmers. Add shallot and garlic, cooking until fragrant and golden.
2. Add artichokes, tomatoes, and chives. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Sauté until tomatoes just begin to soften, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat, cover, and set aside until ready to serve.

For tarragon veal jus:

1. Combine red wine and tarragon stalks in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Simmer until reduced by 1/3, about 15 to 20 minutes.
2. Add veal stock and simmer until reduced by 1/3, about 15 to 20 minutes.
3. Strain mixture through a fine-mesh sieve and set aside until ready to serve.

For potato risotto:

1. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Cook potatoes until tender but not falling apart, about 8 to 10 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, heat oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add shallot, cooking until translucent. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds, or until very fragrant and golden.
3. Add white wine, simmering until reduced, about 3 minutes. Add cream, simmering until reduced and slightly thickened, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste.
4. Drain potatoes and return to hot saucepan to allow excess water to evaporate.
5. Gently fold cooked potatoes into cream mixture. Add additional salt and pepper to taste. Remove from heat and fold in truffle oil and parmesan cheese.

For grilled tuna:

1. Preheat grill to 400°F.
2. Rinse tuna steaks and pat dry. Brush both sides with oil and season with salt and pepper.
3. Place tuna on hot grill and sear each side 2 minutes for rare. If you prefer well done, cook an additional 2 to 3 minutes per side.

To serve:
Evenly divide potato risotto among 4 serving plates. Cut tuna steaks in half and place over potatoes. Evenly divide artichoke mixture among plates and drizzle with tarragon veal jus.

*Note: Artichokes packed in oil can be found in specialty grocery stores, some supermarkets, and online at www.williams-sonoma.com.

Tagged: DCL, Dining, Recipe, Video

Filed: Disney Cruise Line, Disney Dining

Spring is here and it’s warming up a bit, so we’re on the lookout for the most refreshing Disneyland Resort libations (that don’t involve alcohol). After we got a taste of the creative PB&J soda at Carnation Cafe, we figured that sips have moved far beyond plain sodas.

A stroll through Disneyland park and Disney California Adventure park left us nearly floating in delicious drinks. And we admit we have a penchant for drinks that involve ice cream and a straw.

Here are our Top 10 favorites. Do you have one to add to the list?

1. PB&J Soda, Carnation Cafe, Disneyland park – A tall, fizzy concoction that looks like a grape soda but has a delicious backbeat of peanut butter. We didn’t think we’d like it, but one sip and we wanted more. And more.




2. Boysen Apple Freeze, Fantasy Faire, Disneyland park – The newest treat, and we said “Boysen apple,” not “poison apple,” Snow White! Icy and apple-juice sweet with a hint of wild berry and passion fruit foam topping.




3. Dole Whip Float, Tiki Juice Bar, Disneyland park – The classic; it’s a must-have every time we visit. If we’re super thirsty, we start with a tall glass of straight pineapple juice so we can savor the float.
4. Root Beer Float, Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor, Disneyland park – When it’s parade time, you’ll find us curbside with this treat. And trust us, you won’t find root beer just anywhere.
5. Caramel Macchiato, Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe, Disneyland park – When we need a picker-upper, this sweet jolt of caffeine does the trick.




6. Rose Petal Soda, Carthay Circle Restaurant and Lounge, Disney California Adventure park – Completely different, this artisan drink features locally sourced, purified sparkling water flavored with delicate rose essence and garnished with an edible, sugar-glazed organic rose petal. Very chi-chi for sipping.




7. Ramone’s Pear of Dice Soda, Cozy Cone Motel, Disney California Adventure park – Start with Sprite, add a hint of desert pear and Mojito gourmet flavor, lots of ice and stir. Like biting into a juicy pear.
8. Mango Madness, Schmoozies, Disney California Adventure park – This is a meal in a cup: mangoes, peaches, bananas and low-fat yogurt blended with orange, pineapple, guava and passion fruit juices. Sweet and satisfying.




9. Quake Shake, Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop, Disney California Adventure park – Throw caution (and calories) to the wind when you order this; it’s worth every sip! Our preferred version of this shake involves one full chocolate bar blended with peanut butter and vanilla ice cream. There are six different versions to choose from if peanut butter isn’t your choice!
10. Twisted Cheshire Concoctions, Mad T Party, Disney California Adventure park – There are lots of drink choices at the party, but our preference is the Hatter’s Mandarin Fury, a frozen slurry flavored with mandarin oranges. Sip slowly or it’s brain freeze!

Tagged: DCA, Dining, DL, DLR

Filed: Disney California Adventure Park, Disney Dining, Disneyland Park, Disneyland Resort