Jose Eber’s 3/19/09 WDW Mini-Report

WDWNT on March 19, 2009

WDWNT reporter Jose Eber has sent us another short report featuring some of his newsworthy findings from around the Walt Disney World Resort. Let’s take a look:

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At Disney’s Contemporary Resort, a sign for the Concourse Steakhouse remains. Notice the new signs above the Outer Rim bar, Chef Mickey’s, and the Contempo Cafe

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This computer-printing station has appeared at the Contemporary

Here is a video of continuing construction on the Kidani Village addition to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

The Cat’s Out of the Bag (and Spoodles Out of the Boardwalk)

WDWNT on March 17, 2009

Famous chef Cat Cora (who some of you may know from the few mini-shows she has been a part of for the Disney Travel On-Demand Network) is bringing a new restaurant to Walt Disney World and the popular “Spoodles” restaurant at the Boardwalk will be leaving to make room for it:

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (March 17, 2009) — Chef Cat Cora and Disney are joining together to open an exciting new family dining restaurant at Disney’s BoardWalk Resort. Kouzzina by Cat Cora will feature a menu of Mediterranean-style cuisine that pays tribute to the chef’s Greek roots.

The restaurant, to be owned and operated by Disney, is scheduled to open by fall 2009 in the space currently occupied by Spoodles.

“I am pleased to welcome Cat Cora and her engaging new concept for Kouzzina to the Walt Disney World Resort,” said Jay Rasulo, chairman, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “This collaboration between Cat and Disney represents a significant step in our ongoing commitment to offer unique culinary experiences and choices for our guests.”

As a Mississippi native born to a family of Greek restaurateurs, Cora grew up immersed in two different and flavorful cultures , and has taken from that unique background the kitchen “know-how” handed down through generations. The cuisine at Kouzzina (Greek for “kitchen” and pronounced “koo-zee-nah”) will showcase Mediterranean cuisine and Chef Cora’s philosophy to create simple yet sensational meals.

Cora said that the new restaurant will feature “time-honored recipes passed down from my ancestors, as well as my favorite Greek and Mediterranean dishes that my family loves.”

She began working with Disney in 2008 by creating a Disney Video on Demand series to showcase ways to help families develop more healthy eating habits. “I’m extremely excited about this latest extension of my relationship with Disney,” she said. “Together, we’re going to develop a truly amazing contemporary Mediterranean restaurant.”

The first and only female Iron Chef on Food Network’s hit show “Iron Chef America,” Cora is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in New York. She also is Executive Chef for Bon Appétit magazine. In addition to hosting the instructional cooking demonstrations for Disney Video on Demand, Cora has been a featured chef at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival and at Disney’s California Food & Wine Festival at Disneyland Resort.

Jose Eber’s 3/14/09 Mini-WDW Update

WDWNT on March 15, 2009

WDWNT Photographer and Videographer Jose Eber has provided us with a video and a number of photos from around the Walt Disney World Resort. Let’s take a look at some of his findings:

Here is a video featuring progress on the Bay Lake Tower addition to Disney’s Contemporary Resort

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Online Check-In Service Key Pick-Up desk running at Fort Wilderness

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The McDonald’s near Disney’s All-Star Resorts is getting remodeled

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Construction walls surround the front of the building while the restaurant remains open

Sanaa Restaurant Coming with Kidani Village

WDWNT on March 13, 2009

When the Kidani Village building containing the villas at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge opens on May 1, 2009, so will a new Walt Disney World table service restaurant:

Sanaa Restaurant serves African cuisine with Indian flavors for lunch as Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village in Walt Disney World Resort. Just as its name – in swahili – means “artwork,” Sanaa offers its Guests beautifully prepared food in an artistic atmosphere.

Before dinner, relax in the comfortable lounge beside the spacious dining room. Once you are seated, choose from an array of delectable dishes that are slow-cooked, grilled over a wood fire or roasted in a traditional Indian clay oven.

Reservations are available now by calling (407) WDW-DINE

Portobello: “We’re Open!!!”

WDWNT on February 23, 2009

Even though it has been open for a few months now, the remodeled Portobello restaurant at Downtown Disney’s Pleasure Island has now launched its own updated website. The website features the story of the restaurant and their chef, as well as complete lunch and dinner menus and wine lists. The site can be found at portobellorestaurant.com and reservations can be made by calling (407) WDW-DINE.

Celebrate Eating at Tutto Italia

WDWNT on February 20, 2009

Even though I strongly dislike the restaurant, I applaud the effort to keep the experience at the “Tutto Italia Ristorante” in the Italy pavilion at Epcot fresh with special dining events like this one:

Carnevale di Venezia is February 23 to March 4 at Tutto Italia Ristorante at Epcot

A special lunch and dinner menu will be available to guests featuring scrumptious Italian cuisine. During the celebration, guests can choose one of two pre-selected appetizers, entrees and desserts. Lunch is served daily from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with dinner from 4:30 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. A special performance by “Viva Venezia” will occur each evening during dinner inside the restaurant – see weekly times guide for show times. The musical trio, known as the “strolling musicians”, will serenade guests with traditional Venetian music. Call (407) WDW-DINE for dining reservations.