Coming backAs I sit here at my laptop, I think ... "How am I going to do this?" Where do I start? What am I going to talk about? HOW am I going to even begin writing about the journey that I have been on?
Countless times have I started typing and set aside a few words, a paragraph or two, or even a whole page. Though, I never did post. I didn't think I was ready. Thoughts, feelings, insights, etc... entries in my email or journal, in personal texts, on scraps of paper, or swimming in my mind. And I am finally deciding to bring it all together. To share my burdens, my joys, my strengths and weaknesses, my insights, ... my life; this blog is no longer just about food. And if there's an ear out there, I am blessed. And perhaps I can bring truth to your world, as God has brought it to mine. Truth. About our purpose here. Truth. About my struggles. Truth. About my joys. Truth. About health. Truth. About our world. There are so many lies we were born or taught into believing and their manifestations are far beyond UgLy. But when we learn the Truth, we can make the changes we need to be better for our Lord and Savior. The changes that perfect us and make us new. I am becoming new. It is no easy journey and I am certainly not through, but I will no longer let the waiting period dictate the postponement of sharing my story. And so let it begin. This is my story... |
"Food is an infinitely rich subject, and there's always something about it to understand better, something new to discover, a fresh source of interest, ideas, and delight." |
Let me first preface this post with the fact that it will not include a review of a specific restaurant, but rather a few statements of a combination of several restaurants. Since it has not yet been 3-4 weeks, my time for a more detailed and rather elaborate review has not yet arrived (and my life has been pretty busy with the holiday season coming up). To give you a quick rundown (in no specific order), my weeks have been filled with work, a bachelorette party, a wedding, dates, Disney, Christmas, and all things food. I've been enjoying the season of Christmas through neighborhood lights, Disney events and shows, restaurants, shopping, and a bunch of truly great friends. The pictures really tell the story, as pictures are worth 1000 words, right? Apart from the Osborne Christmas Light Show at Hollywood Studios, Christmas around the World Showcase and the Candlelight Processional with Whoopi Goldberg and Edward James Olmos, Christmas shopping, and Christmas celebrations to come, I've been going out to a few restaurants (actually more than usual: Maggiano's, Raglan Road, Macaroni Grill, Epcot's Japanese Quick Service, Cracker Barrel, Chuy's...). And why am I not posting everything and anything about them on here? Because there's just too much to share, and that time can be useful for other (non-electronic driven) things, but also I'm here to share with you some part of my life but to reveal every detail would be excessive and unnecessary. But back to dining... For the Bachelorette party, we went to Raglan Road, at Downtown Disney. The front entrance looks like an Irish Pub of sorts, with a large Christmas tree set off to the right of the room with the front desk. There's all sorts of green and gold colors spread throughout the restaurant. Inside, the restaurant is broken into rooms of different sizes and shapes. Once entered, the bar is off to the right and there is a stage to the left where Irish dancers leap, singers chant, and the instrument-driven play. We were situated in between the bar and the stage, in a cozy room off to the right (all 18 of us). To preface the meal, we were given their Guinness Irish Soda Bread with a dipping sauce consisting of a reduction of Guinness and sugar. I'm not one for beer, but this combination was quite spectacular. My actual meal was simple, yet made well: a cheeseburger with a tomato chutney and a side of mashed potatoes. Given the temperature of the meat (medium rare) and the creative assembly of the burger, it was juicy and full of flavor. I also ordered a pear cider, since I rarely come across pear cider. For dessert, we were all stuffed, but since we were celebrating, our waiter was so kind as to light a candle in a complimentary golden raisin bread pudding served with creme anglaise and caramel with a small dollop of whipped cream and a strawberry. The bread pudding was anything but mediocre and dry. There's always room for dessert, right? Afterward, we walked around Downtown Disney, working on a scavenger hunt the bridesmaids put together. Fast forward to two days ago, and we're already on the day of the wedding, in my Florida church. Prior to, I went out to Cracker Barrel for brunch and I highly recommend it. Despite being in FL (though it has been cold the past few days), they had a large fireplace with a blazing fire contained within. The food offered was of the good and hearty type. I typically crave sweeter foods in the morning, but with a healthy balance of protein. So I ordered their french toast and eggs dish (see below). After the beautiful wedding, followed the reception at a gold resort (what non-Disney resort here doesn't revolve around golf?). As with most weddings, there was dancing, singing (even if to ourselves), eating, and a whole lot of laughing and smiling. The next few days I will be working, but also enjoying time with friends and co-workers, celebrating the Christmas season. I'm not sure when my next venture out to a resort will be, but you'll be sure to know about it. Until then, friends.
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(From yesterday) Today officially launched the starting of my assignment: reviewing a Disney resort restaurant. Three guesses as to where I went? Well if you looked at the title, you should already be in the know. If not, you might want to re-think the way you look at things. But who knows, maybe you look at the small details first rather than the big picture. I dunno. Anyway, yes, I went to the Wave at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. It’s located on the first floor on the left side of the main lobby. The entrance is simple, yet cool with blue lit-up waves circling the walkway to the restaurant. Upon entering you see a quaint waiting area, with a decorated Christmas Tree, to the right of the hostess stand. The actual interior of the restaurant has a very autumny color scheme to it, with several shades of reds and oranges, yet hints of other colors to add a contrast to the room. From the ceiling hang white lamps whose shades look almost like the tentacles from a paper-made jellyfish. There are also wavy fixtures that stretch from on end to the other of the restaurant to add shape to the room. The tables are made with a soft wood, with dark brown circles or squares (depending on the table's shape) laid within and more within those circles or squares. And the chairs are typical wooden chairs, yet with flat, wavy, metal bars as the backing on each chair. On the walls are pictures up close of fruits and vegetables, though capturing the pulp, pit, or seed of the grapefruit, tomato, papaya, orange, corn, or onion - among many others. Then your eyes drop to the floor and you notice that the carpet also has fruits and vegetables, but captures only those which are round. It was a very comfortable restaurant, with drapes hung on the walls as well. Once inside and set, I was approached by my server Jennifer and started off with a simple glass of ice water and a few wedges of lemon. (Fewer calories in your drink permit more space for calories from food). Jennifer immediately guided me along the menu, mentioning her favorite dishes and some special facts about the restaurant. Such included that all of their food there was locally sourced and sustainable and so healthy that there wasn't even a fryer back there! I was instantly swayed toward liking the place before having even tried the food! Speaking of which... I decided to order their appetizer for two, since it featured two of their appetizers: two rock shrimp crab cakes and two mahi mahi tacos. The crab cakes were of a nice, warm, seafoody (for lack of a better word) taste, yet delicate texture. The combination of shredded crab and chunks of rock shrimp provided a nice contrast in texture. The cakes were laid atop a lemon terragon aioli to add a creamy flair with a corn salsa and microgreens. There were also bits of candied bacon pieces to add a smoky undertone to the sweet, yet light aioli and salsa. But then the cilantro microgreens added an earthy taste... Once all combined, it was a symphony of flavorful notes. The mahi mahi tacos were not as complex, but still fairly good. The fish was seasoned simply, but was then topped with a nice and tart apple slaw, spicy mayo, and cilantro microgreens. All of this was inside of a warm tortilla too. To save room for dessert, I ate only half of my appetizer and soon after ordered Jennifer's recommended Indulgence Trio (all of their desserts came in trios). This trio was made of an olive oil chocolate truffle mousse, pumpkin creme brulee with biscotti, and then an organic coffee bean cheesecake with kahlua ganache. Starting with the brulee: it was served cold with a light and creamy taste, but with a hint of pumpkin and nice touch from the scorched top. It just adds that much more flavor. The mini biscotti was packed full of crumbly crunch, with a few pumpkin seeds within. The mousse was rather fascinating. When cutting into a rather dense, almost cake-like form that instantly melts in your mouth. The bottom had a wafer-like crunch with lingering notes of hazelnut. Oh and there was a garnish of real gold that tasted like ... chocolate liquid gold. O but the best for last. This coffee bean cheesecake was so good that it tasted like that moment of inhaling freshly ground coffee. But add some dairy and some sugar.... It was too good. So my experience there was so good that I could easily see myself going back with perhaps some friends to join in on the fun. In my slideshow of pictures, you'll see other pictures from other fun times spent here in Florida. One of those involved a trip out for lunch with friends to try Filipino cuisine. We had fried pork meat, milkfish, oxtail soup, goat, oh and the list goes on! I felt pretty good after eating such a meal. Nothing like that terrible feeling after eating American-Chinese food. Nuh-uh. Later in the day I went to Epcot with some friends to see Neil Patrick Harris narrate the Candlelight Choir. It was really great, but honestly I get more out of performing than I do watching. My first performance is this Friday with Whoopi Goldberg! That night we went to The Rainforest Cafe for dinner and then called it a good night after a great, long day. Since then - other than my day today - I've decorated my Christmas tree, made cranberry muffin bars, and have been living life to the full. My muffin bars were made from this recipe: http://theblondegirlblog.com/2014/11/17/cranberry-orange-muffin-tops/ with the addition of kefir and raw milk, lemon zest and juice and extract, as well as almond extract. Oo and some crushed candied pecans. Can't forget those. They seemed to be a big hit at my church group tonight and the few remaining were immediately claimed by my roommate. So maybe you should make them too ;). |
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February 2017
"Food is an infinitely rich subject, and there's always something about it to understand better, something new to discover, a fresh source of interest, ideas, and delight."
From Pennsylvania to France to Washington DC to Florida, I've had myself many an adventure. Now it's time to indulge in the life of a Floridian. With great food, great friends, and great experiences, I offer you stories and pictures to take you away, into my world at Disney. Categories |