Category Dining

May 30 2018

BaseLine Tap House In Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Looking for a new place to relax after fighting the crowds in Toy Story Land this summer? Head on over to the Grand Avenue area of Disney’s Hollywood Studios to check out BaseLine Tap House. Here’s everything you need to know courtesy of Disney:

BaseLine Tap House

BaseLine Tap House, a lively corner pub specializing in California beers and wines, is a part of the Grand Avenue area at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Capturing the spirit of present-day Downtown Los Angeles, Grand Avenue is home to vintage office buildings and warehouses that represent the city’s vibrant districts and cultures. In a quaint brick building, BaseLine Tap House pays homage to the Figueroa Printing Company, a mom-and-pop print house that had ties to the Disney Studios in nearby Burbank. The space features many cool architectural and mechanical details with exposed walls and old printing equipment and artifacts, blending the past and present in an inviting space. Outside is a charming tree-shaded terrace, perfect for a relaxing break in the day.

BaseLine Tap House celebrates the revitalization of Downtown Los Angeles with California craft ales, lagers and cider as the stars of the drink menu, along with California wines on tap and specialty cocktails. A gourmet non-alcoholic lemonade and soda on tap round out the drink selection. Small bites include a Bavarian pretzel with mustard and beer-cheese fondue, spiced almonds and a charcuterie board featuring California cheeses.

For full menus and current hours, please click here.

501 WaysHeading to Disney World soon?

If you are planning a vacation to Disney World, be sure to check out these valuable resources to help you save time and money:

Have you tried BaseLine Tap House yet?
Please leave a comment; I would love to hear from you!

May 25 2018

Wine Bar George In Disney Springs

Looking for a nice place to sit down, relax, and enjoy a delicious glass of wine during your Walt Disney World vacation? Head on over to Disney Springs to visit the elegant Wine Bar George. Here’s everything you need to know courtesy of Disney:

Master Sommelier George Miliotes brings his renowned wine expertise to Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort with his new venture, Wine Bar George, that opened May 19, 2018. Wine Bar George is the only Master Sommelier-led wine bar in Florida.

Miliotes is no stranger to Walt Disney World Resort – he was part of the opening team of the California Grill restaurant at Disney’s Contemporary Resort and managed the venue from 1995 to 2002. While there, he created an award-winning wine list and one of the first “100 wines by the glass” lists in the country.

“Disney Springs is the perfect place to open a wine bar and share my passion with the world,” Miliotes said. “Having the opportunity to train and hire my own team while sharing my 40-plus years of knowledge is truly incredible.”

As one of only 249 worldwide industry professionals certified by the Court of Master Sommeliers, Miliotes features wines from acclaimed and well-known wineries as well as growing regions and wineries that are up-and-coming. The location offers an unparalleled wine list including more than 130 selections by the ounce, glass and bottle.

“The wine list features more than 130 wines all served by the ounce, glass or bottle,” Miliotes said. “The list includes more than 40 varietals from regions around the world. We use the Coravin, the Vinfinity system and wine on tap to ensure each wine is enjoyed to its fullest extent. Servers adeptly pair a range of small plates, cheese and charcuterie, shareable entrees and dessert with each wine. If you are looking for an awesome $9 glass on tap or a few ounces of Château Margaux, we have wines for you to enjoy.”

Guests have the opportunity to explore endless food and wine pairings at Wine Bar George. Executive Chef Ron Rupert and Miliotes have worked closely to create a menu that pairs with the extensive wine list.

“Offerings feature seasonally relevant items, and everything is made in-house,” Rupert said. “I’ve worked jointly with George to develop a menu that represents both global and local cuisine. Guests can enjoy food that is familiar, yet new all at once.”

With a team hand-selected by Miliotes, guests can expect their experience to include wine education, which will be served up in an approachable and fun manner. Joining Miliotes as General Manager is George Vavalides who brings more than 30 years of experience in the restaurant industry including nearly 20 years with P.F. Chang’s. Jamie Irizarry is part of Miliotes’ team as Restaurant Manager. Irizarry has more than 15 years in the industry working with restaurants such as Seasons 52, Eddie V’s and The Capital Grille. Robyn Cohen joins as Bar Manager with 15 years of bartending experience including, most recently, at Flying Fish on Disney’s BoardWalk. Cohen and Miliotes worked jointly to develop the featured cocktails at Wine Bar George, all of which will include a grape-based spirit. In addition to the extensive wine list, the wine bar offers a variety of cocktails, a selection of beer and cider and frosé.

For full menus and current hours, please click here.

501 WaysHeading to Disney World soon?

If you are planning a vacation to Disney World, be sure to check out these valuable resources to help you save time and money:

Have you tried Wine Bar George yet?
Please leave a comment; I would love to hear from you!

May 17 2018

Enzo’s Hideaway Tunnel Bar In Disney Springs

Looking for a new watering hole to check out during your Walt Disney World vacation? Head on over to Disney Springs to the unique Enzo’s Hideaway Tunnel Bar. Here’s everything you need to know courtesy of Disney:

Enzo’s Hideaway Tunnel Bar

A speakeasy inspired by Roman aperitivo bars, located in the storied rum-runner tunnels that adjoin Maria & Enzo’s. Inspired by Florida’s true history of rum running, Enzo’s Hideaway pours Prohibition-era cocktails and serves a casual menu of hearty Roman dishes, such as the city’s legendary Bucatini alla Carbonara (hollow spaghetti with creamy egg and pancetta sauce) and Tonnarelli Cacio e Pepe (square-cut spaghetti with pecorino and black pepper). In honor of the weekly dinners Enzo hosted for family and friends, the tunnel bar hosts Sunday Supper, a family-style meal each week.

The backstory tells the tale of Enzo and Maria discovering a long-hidden cavern below the terminal that connected to abandoned sections of the next-door power plant (which today is called The Edison). To Enzo’s astonishment, he came across a Prohibition-era hideaway where a team of flying rum-runners once gathered. Evidence of smuggler activity was everywhere, untouched for decades. Bottles and casks of rum were found along with a roster of flying operatives and their code names. It was a fascinating glimpse at an unknown chapter of the town’s past. Enzo shared his discovery with the local historical society and also decided that the space might make an irresistible spot for dining and socializing. Now it is a cozy gem of a hideaway for Enzo to highlight the family recipes he grew up on, featuring specialties from Rome and nearby regions.

For full menus, current hours, and to make reservations, please click here.

501 WaysHeading to Disney World soon?

If you are planning a vacation to Disney World, be sure to check out these valuable resources to help you save time and money:

Have you tried Enzo’s Hideaway Tunnel Bar yet?
Please leave a comment; I would love to hear from you!

May 11 2018

Maria & Enzo’s Ristorante In Disney Springs

Looking for a new place to get your Italian food fix during your Walt Disney World vacation? Head on over to Disney Springs to dine at the warm and friendly Maria & Enzo’s Ristorante. Here’s everything you need to know courtesy of Disney:

Patina Restaurant Group recently opened the doors of the stunning new Italian restaurant located at the reimagined Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort — Maria & Enzo’s Ristorante.

The new dining destination brings to Disney Springs the warmth of Italy and the dreamiest Italian cuisine this side of the Atlantic, courtesy of Executive Chef Theo Schoenegger. 

Disney restaurants often have a backstory, part of the company’s tradition of immersive storytelling. Mirroring that tradition, Patina Restaurant Group collaborated with Walt Disney Imagineering to create the story for Maria & Enzo’s.

“The story behind Maria and Enzo is one of travel, food, love and friendship, all steeped in Italian tradition,” said Valenti, referring to the backstory of Maria and Enzo, an Italian couple that immigrated to Central Florida in the 1920s. “Their story is set in a long-forgotten sea-plane air terminal that became the setting for the restaurant.

“We couldn’t be happier to have a chef as talented as Theo Schoenegger,” Valenti continued. “A native Italian with an incredible repertoire, his cooking has a delicious authenticity that brings the story to life.”

Maria & Enzo’s Ristorante

An intimate Italian trattoria set in the once-abandoned Disney Springs airline terminal from the 1930s, now transformed into a restaurant. The dining room is open and airy, featuring 50-foot ceilings with views of Lake Buena Vista. The restaurant interiors showcase artifacts that recall air travel of the time, with brightly illustrated pictographs, reimagined air terminal boarding gates and a First Class Lounge where randomly selected guests are upgraded upon arrival. The menu, created by Michelin star-rated Chef Theo Schoenegger, features a variety of handmade pastas including Busiate con Granchio (spiral pasta with crab), Rigatoni all Norma (eggplant, chile, tomato, ricotta salata) and ‘Ncasciata al Forno(Sicilian baked pasta) – served tableside. Other highlights include Braciola di Maiale (Berkshire pork chop, plum mostarda), Nodino di Vitello (grilled veal chop) and Tonno (grilled ahi tuna steak, pistachio pesto) all served with rosemary potatoes and tempura fried vegetables. The spectacular wine list of more than 100 bottles is – lovingly — primarily Italian.

The backstory is that the restaurant was the dream of Maria and Enzo who met in Italy before moving to Florida and wanted to introduce Italian cuisine to the townfolk of the bustling Disney Springs. An airline pilot, Enzo was drawn to an abandoned airline terminal, which became the spacious setting for the restaurant.

For full menus, current hours, and to make reservations, please click here.

501 WaysHeading to Disney World soon?

If you are planning a vacation to Disney World, be sure to check out these valuable resources to help you save time and money:

Have you tried Maria & Enzo’s Ristorante yet?
Please leave a comment; I would love to hear from you!

Star Wars Weekends
May 4 2018

Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About The Star Wars Guided Tour At Disney’s Hollywood Studios

If you are a Star Wars fan, you are probably already thrilled by the upcoming addition to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the currently under construction Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, slated to open in 2019. But to get your Star Wars fix in the meantime while you are patiently (or not so patiently) awaiting opening day, Disney is offering a guided tour that is sure to be a hit with the entire family! So here’s everything you ever wanted to know about the Star Wars Guided Tour at Disney’s Hollywood Studios…

This five and a half hour tour begins at 8:00am (check in at 7:45am) at Guest Relations inside Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The cost is $99 per person (adult or child) including tax plus a separate admission to the park is required. The Star Wars Guided Tour is one of the most popular tours in all of Walt Disney World and is currently being offered every day Monday through Saturday. Reservations can be made up to 60 days in advance by calling 407-939-7529 and do book up quickly.

According to Disney, here’s what you get for your $99…

This guided voyage will have you:

So is the Star Wars Guided Tour really worth the high cost of the ticket? Keep in mind you and the rest of the tour group will be able to skip the lines at Star Tours and to meet the characters without using your own Fastpass+, guarantee your kids age 4 through 12 one of the coveted spots in Jedi Training, have the best location in the park to see the Star Wars shows and fireworks without having to wait, receive a personalized name tag in addition to another special souvenir, dine on a Star Wars themed entrée and drink of your choice, all while being entertained and educated on the Star Wars Universe by one of Disney’s top-notch guides. For die-hard Star Wars fans, I would say the answer to that question is a definite YES!

Curious about your lunch options? Here are a few of the current selections (for the full menu, please click here)…

Royal Guard Burger – 1/3 lb Angus Beef Burger, topped with Barbecued Brisket, Pepper Jack Cheese, Lettuce, Tomato and Pickles served with Carrot Sticks or French Fries

Dark Side Chicken and Waffles – Darth Vader Waffles topped with Chicken Breast Nuggets served with Maple Syrup

Galactic Chicken Salad – Mixed Greens topped with Grilled Chicken Breast, Crisp Wonton, Black Bean Relish and Avocado served with Vinaigrette Dressing

Want to add even more Star Wars to your trip or maybe you’re not ready to spend $99 per person for the Guided Tour? How about considering the Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular Dessert Party? For only $79 per adult or $45 per child (price includes tax and gratuity) in addition to your regular park ticket, you can enjoy an endless array of desserts, specialty drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), reserved viewing spot for the nighttime fireworks event, as well as receiving a special Star Wars themed souvenir. For more information or to purchase dessert party tickets, please click here.

501 WaysHeading to Disney World soon?

If you are planning a vacation to Disney World, be sure to check out these valuable resources to help you save time and money:

Are you a Star Wars fan? Will you be taking the Star Wars
Guided Tour or attending the dessert party? Please leave a comment!