Lotus Blossom Cafe (Epcot)

Epcot, like the other Disney parks, has lots of dining choices.  Epcot hosts the World Showcase, too; meaning there’s food from 11 different countries available so narrowing down a choice isn’t always easy.  One key thing to keep in mind is that there are essentially three types of places to get food.  The first category is small kiosks and stands, where you can get a quick bite to eat, the second category is your more reasonably priced sit-down restaurants, some using the cafeteria line method showcased in a few of my earlier Disney restaurant reviews, and then lastly, the nicer higher-priced upscale dining establishments.   Lotus Blossom Cafe falls into the second category, and is right nearby Nine Dragons, one of the aforementioned expensive places.  Lotus’ menu contains only a handful of items and is ideal for lunch or to get some fuel to keep your park trekking energy up.

We went to Lotus Blossom Cafe on our first Disney visit in ’06.  The pictures above are from our first trip.  The food was uniformly good, and in comparison to other, less expensive eateries the character of the food, people, and atmosphere here was more than enough to make it one of the only restaurants we made a return visit to on our second trip.

This time we both opted to get the Orange Chicken with steamed rice.  We had dinner reservations later that night and figured this would be a fun, quality lunch.  Chinese food has been bastardized by shopping malls and culturally plundered, but still in America, you can find both good and bad examples of it.  As far as mall and similar fare goes, Lotus’ Orange Chicken would rank up near the best that I’ve ever had.  It’s not fancy but rather simple and straightforward, but the taste is incredible, and the texture of the crispy chicken, thick, sweet sauce, and rice is unbelievably satisfying.

We tried what I believe they referred to as a “Choco Bubble Drink”, hoping it’d be similar to the boba tea phenomenon we’d recently been introduced to.  For the uninitiated, boba is generally little black round balls of tapioca that have a chewy texture, and are put in the bottom of tea and other beverages.  So, when you’re drinking, you’ll occasionally suck up a couple through your straw.  Writing it out sounds rather ridiculous, but when done correctly, it can be fun and quite addicting.  This beverage however was a pale imitation.  It tasted like generic chocolate milk, with crushed ice, and thin, rubbery square pieces that were their answer to boba.

A few small birds joined us for lunch.  I don’t think the employees were real thrilled we were feeding them bits of rice, but how could we refuse such delicate, beautiful creatures?

In closing, I really do enjoy Lotus Blossom Cafe.  I’ve been there twice, and next time I’m in Orlando, I’ll definitely be there again.  If there were a franchise of these and one was within driving distance, I’d make the trip regularly.  But, being that this is the only one, gives it so much more charm.  It’s located right in the heart of the China section of World Showcase, and really one of the best lunch options in all of Epcot.

Overall Grade: B+ 

Portobello Yacht Club (Downtown Disney)

So, I’ll be honest, forthright, and just get this right out of the way – this was the only negative dining experience we had while spending a week in Orlando.  Incidentally, our original agenda didn’t even include this restaurant; Amanda’s a fan of Italian, so upon checking in at our resort, I snagged us two reservations for dinner later that night.

It’d been a long day for sure, with the traveling, settling in at the resort, and some theme park action of course.  So, when it was finally time to eat that night, we were famished and ravenously hungry.  This was to be our first official Disney meal.

We ordered an appetizer, opting to try the fried calamari.  While not the best plate I’ve ever had, these milk-marinated tender rings of crispy fried calamari still managed to be a scrumptious way to start our dinner.  With some freshly squeezed lemon juice and homemade marinara to add to the equation, this was a flavorful and fun appetizer.

I can’t be quite sure, but I believe the drink I ordered, on the left, was called a Bibita Modo Tuo.  I choose the raspberry version.  Sadly, I was rather unimpressed; it tasted exactly like Kool-Aid with some puréed ice in it.  Don’t get me wrong, I love Kool-Aid at home, but when I’m shelling out cash for a specialty drink, I’m expecting a little more.  Amanda got a Illy Espresso martini.  It was made with some quality items, including chilled Illy Espresso shaken with Godiva Dark Chocolate liqueur, Frangelico liqueur and Licor.  But, for $8.95, it was a bit of a letdown, as upon both of us tasting it, we agreed we’d had better martinis elsewhere before.

But, in the bread accompaniment category, I’d have to rank this lovely loaf above most Italian restaurant fare.  We had no idea at first what that object is on the far right, but discovered upon a test taste it to be garlic.  It was nice to have both butter and garlic, so you could be as zesty as your heart desired.

Here we are awaiting our entrees.  The place’s décor is moderately appealing, but it’s way too bustling and loud inside if you’re anticipating a quiet, romantic Italian dinner

This is where things took a turn for the worse for me.  I ordered the veal scallopini.  Damn me, and my adventurous palate!  I’d had veal a couple times back home in Ohio, and had never been impressed.  I was hoping here, in an allegedly nicer establishment, I’d finally find my veal valentine.  Plus, it came with gnocchi, which are basically Italian dumplings, and are usually a gastronomical gift.  Something about this dish just didn’t gel, though; be it the tough and relatively flavorless veal, the uninspired “sauce” that it bathed in, or something else entirely.  I regretted not going with something safer, that I’d likely have enjoyed a lot more, like Eggplant Rollatini or Grouper Carciofi.

Upon examining their current menu now, I don’t see this dish, which Amanda selected, currently being served.  I don’t recall the exact name, but it was similar to a shrimp scampi and pasta hybrid.  While the bite I had wasn’t bad, Amanda wasn’t terribly excited by this entrée; still, it easily put mine to shame.

Overall, our experience wasn’t very favorable.  Upon leaving the restaurant, a Disney employee of some sort, who you can see clearly in the very first picture above, asked us to participate in a survey.  Questions were basic, like would you recommend this restaurant to others, etc. and we were perfectly honest when we said we just weren’t that impressed.  Could you have an amazing time here?  Surely.  I don’t think that’s beyond questioning.  Unfortunately, we just didn’t – and when there are so many extraordinary places to eat and experience nearby, I can’t see choosing this one as the best of options.

Overall Grade: C- 

Marvel Heroes Pogs

Walking through a toy store my eyes caught a glimpse of a package containing a ragtag group of superheroes with varying degrees of power, intelligence, and coolness.  Then, things got even better, as I found out this package contained pogs.  Lastly, I discovered a pack would run me only 49-cents, and my knees got weak.  This was too good an opportunity to pass up, or so I figured, as who wouldn’t want a small circular piece of cardboard depicting the likeness of Elektra?

Here’s a checklist containing all 60 pogs.  I really wanted to get #33, as not only is it of Silver Surfer, who rocks, but he’s also apparently “shredding” which baffles me to no end.

The Thing!  Not a bad first pog, I’d wager, featuring everyone’s favorite flesh-turned-rock dude in all of his glory.  I like that he’s too massive to fit on the pog, but, that may have not been intentional… we’ll never know.

Fire ‘N Ice?  Sounds like a failed ‘90’s R&B duo, but is actually Iceman and The Human Torch joined together in a curious coupling.

This is the Green Goblin’s official logo?  I wasn’t aware he had one, or, that it’d be so dull and nondescript.  Also, the series is called Marvel Heroes, but Goblin is clearly a villain, correct?  Good job, guys.

And, speaking of the devil, I mean, goblin, here he is!  And take a look at that sweet purple messenger bag, which is all the rag on college campuses across the country.  Way to stay in touch with current fashion tends, Norman, your plight has not gone unnoticed.

This one’s my favorite of the few I now own.  I just like the complete randomness and total disregard to comic continuity of the assembled groups.  Cyclops rubbing shoulders with Iron Fist is almost as puzzling and neat as Magneto keeping company with Carnage.

For only 49-cents I certainly can’t complain.  In fact, I’d like to get back to that store before these disappear forever, and hopefully get my hands on some more essential characters.  They’re terribly cheap and tacky, but make for a fun if not frivolous collectible.  If you’ve got a collection, drop me a line, and we can get our dork on together.

Overall Grade: B- 

ABC Commissary (Disney-MGM Studios)

Located at Disney-MGM Studios, the ABC Commissary is a recommendable eatery to grab lunch at.  The design definitely lends itself to the park’s theme, as it feels you’re eating at a catering mess hall on a soundstage in a studio somewhere.

This type of set-up is used by several eateries at the different Disney World parks – it’s a pretty straightforward process, and rather painless, especially for those with a little patience.

The menu’s not very extensive, but offers up a decent selection of lunch options.  I went with an ABC Special Cheeseburger (their terminology, not mine) and fries.  Now, generally speaking, a hamburger and fries is a fairly safe dish to order anywhere.  Occasionally, like this time, you’ll be surprised; as, a familiar dish can sometimes taste better than ever.  Needless to say, I really enjoyed my lunch.  The bun was ample, the lettuce fresh, and the burger hearty.  I was glad that unlike several other eateries on the cheaper end of the spectrum, ABC Commissary didn’t serve McDonald’s fries.  I much preferred this variety, as they are bigger, and texturally superior.

Amanda got a Cuban sandwich with black bean salad.  Amanda is pretty particular about what she likes and doesn’t like, so for what I suspected to be a decent yet unmemorable lunch, I was surprised that she really enjoyed her meal as well.  I thought the black bean salad was a unique side dish, one that I was glad to see offered, and had a very pleasing taste.

Here’s Amanda getting ready to take her first bite.

Here I am, cheesing out, getting ready to devour my lunch.  I really did enjoy this place.  As you can tell by my surroundings, amidst all the excitement elsewhere in the park, this place has a comforting calmness about it; or, at least it did on our visit there.  There are photos and memorabilia from past and present ABC television shows everywhere, too.  As far as a quick and inexpensive lunch goes, in the four Disney World parks, you’ll not likely find a better place than this.

Overall Grade: B+ 

Restaurantosaurus (Disney’s Animal Kingdom)

How exquisite to find delectable dining right alongside prehistoric pissers and dinosaur dig sites.  Disney’s Animal Kingdom, while being the biggest of the four Disney World parks, offers the least eating options.  If you want to grab some fossil fuels for you and your crew, but don’t want to spend too terribly much, consider stopping by Restaurantosaurus.

Inside is a hustling bustle of hungered humans craving their calories and carbonated beverages.  There’s nothing quite like ordering your lunch underneath the fossils of a pterodactyl.

Here’s Amanda picking up our order – this was a mid-day snack, so we planned to save some money and stomach space for later by sharing one meal.

Once away from the main ordering area, there’s a spot where you can personally garnish your gargantuan sandwich.  Don’t worry; you can be generous with the onions, nobody’s watching.

Our snack consisted of a vegetarian burger, McDonald’s fries with barbeque sauce, and Diet Coke with lemon.  The veggie burger was certainly edible, but still retained that particular panache that carefully crafted faux meat has.  But, the lady likes them, so I went along, and ate my ersatz burger.  The fries were your typical McDonald’s fare, slightly salty and made much more pleasant when dipped in tangy barbeque sauce.  While I don’t drink much diet soda when I’m at home, it became a companion on this trip; with prices so high, we usually opted to share beverages, and Diet Coke was an agreeable compromise.

There’s several scattered sections inside the restaurant to eat in, all decorated differently.  Ours was a small corridor, which went heavy on the archeology theme.  Overall, this was satisfying for the purposes it served, a quick meal to give us energy to continue exploring.  It’s a good spot to stop at for lunch, especially if you have kids, but definitely not a dinner destination.

Overall Grade: B- 

Kool-Aid Aquas Frescas - Mandarina Tangerine

I’ve been drinking Kool-Aid since childhood, and still, I find a cold, sweet, sugary glass of it to this day brings a giant smile across my face.  There’s been so many flavors, spin-offs, etc. and I was foolish enough to think I’d seen it all.  Then, my eyes were opened, when I stumbled upon Kool-Aid Aquas Frescas flavors.  Unfortunately, I was only able to get my hands on one, Mandarina Tangerine, but lest I forgot its beverage brethren, Mango, Pina Pineapple, Tamarindo, and Jamaica.

I was so eager to try a legitimate new flavor that I tried a quick swig before it was even put into the fridge to cool.  The opportunity finally came to have my first official glass with some food one night.  Now, I haven’t had the traditional Kool-Aid Orange flavor in awhile, so I can’t compare and contrast the flavors.  That being said, Mandarina Tangerine packs an exquisite tang.  Best served icy cold, it’s sweet and refreshing.  It’s a common fear with such sugary drinks that they might be too thick, but this has a delightfully thin consistency, and goes down pleasantly.  If you can track a pack down, I think it’d be a great addition to your summer.

Overall Grade: B+ 

Transformers Gummy Candy

So, what can I say, I'm a Transformers fan, have been that way since childhood, and nothing's changed.  No, I'm no fair-weather fan; I've stuck it out through all the various incarnations, animated series', and toy lines.

I own every single episode of the 80's series (The Transformers) and 90's series (Beast Wars) on DVD.  I'm also one of the few who can say, and publicly to boot, that they religiously watched Transformers: Robots in Disguise in 2001, as well as Transformers: Armada in 2002.  On top of all that, I've just always found the concept of cars and animals changing into robotic beings astoundingly cool.

So, that leads us to today, the United States' opening day for the new Transformers film blockbuster.  And, as a result of this movie and its mega-marketing extravaganza, there are products of all types all over the place, ripe for hungry consumers to snatch up like crazy.  On my way out of a Toys 'R Us, I too was made a sucker for this merchandise blitz, as I stumbled upon a candy concoction too insane for my brain to initially comprehend.

You mean somebody green lighted the idea to make gummy renditions of everyone's favorite futuristic transforming robots?  That is to say, that I, right now, can take a big old bite out of Optimus Prime himself?  Wow!  I immediately ran up the counter and bought this beauty, not before a quick deliberation, as they also had gummy versions of Megatron and Bumblebee to decide from.

So, we know it looks cool, that’s unquestionable.  For something that’s going to run you less than a dollar, this thing has some surprisingly nice detail.  No, it’s not high art, but it’s a heck of a recreation of our beloved Autobot leader.

But, dare to ask, how did the damn thing taste?  I can’t say Optimus treated my taste buds particularly kindly.  No, the taste wasn’t awful.  But, it was very strong, and extremely artificial tasting.  Now, as a child, I could have probably munched this thing down in a minute.  But, as a discerning adult, I had a really difficult time convincing myself to finish it off.  After a few bites, I felt I could sufficiently summarize it, but I’m the type that doesn’t like to waste, so I forced myself to finish it off in a humbling span of time that I don’t like to relive.

Bonus points for making my tongue blue, though; now kids can proclaim their power, showing they have the remnants of Optimus Prime’s corpse in their mouths.

Overall Grade: B