Fulton's Crab House at Downtown Disney

This review is going to be short and simple. I really didn't like this restaurant too much. Now don't get me wrong, the service was attentive and the setting was unique (a ferry boat that didn't move), but the food was unspectacular and uniqueness was nowhere to be found. I can honestly find better seafood choice at the frozen food section of my local supermarket. However, there was one thing that I did enjoy, the calamari. This lightly breaded appetiizer was fresh, chewy, and delicious. Overall, other than the calamari strips, this is a restaurant that I will probably never go to again. I'm going to go ahead and check this off my list of "never to go" restaurants. But this is strictly my opinion and you can go ahead and give it a try. Maybe I'm just a little picky these days...who knows.

Grand Floridian Resort and Spa and a Dinner Filled with Many "Characters"

The past week, I was at possibly the “Happiest Place on Earth,” Walt Disney World. Although this was my fifth trip to Disney World, the excitement for me was still there. I don’t know if it’s the great customer service, the thrilling rides, unique resorts, entertaining character meals, or all the fantastic characters, but something about Walt Disney World makes me so jubilant. On this trip, we decided to stray away from Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort and try a new deluxe resort called the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. Now let me tell you that this resort was amazing. When you first glance at it, it has a very neat and luxurious Victorian charm. This huge resort is very clean, spacious, and very well kept.  The Victorian theme was prevalent throughout and the employees or “cast members” were so helpful from check in to check out.

The Rooms

We booked a lagoon view room that had 2 queen beds and a sofa. Our room also had a partial view of the Magic Kingdom, more specifically Cinderella’s’ Castle. Now the rooms were OK. They we clean and well kept, but it just seemed a little out dated. After seeing the resorts opulent lobby, a little more luxury was expected in the hotel rooms. However, the rooms were big and the beds were comfy. The only complaint I had with the room was that it was near the water so literally all day and night we heard the horns of boats passing by constantly. However, this was just a minimal inconvenience.

The Service

Possibly the best impression that this resort left on me was the fact that once our Magical Express Bus arrived to the hotel from the airport, a concierge/check-in desk representative personally greeted us upon arrival and escorted us to the main lobby to get checked in. That was pretty cool if you ask me. Another thing that I really found to be very convenient was the check out service. The resort offered a baggage service that allowed us to print our boarding passes as well as check in our bags all the way to our final destination. What I mean by this is that we basically checked in our bags at the hotel, and didn’t see them until we got to our home airport’s baggage claim. This service was so helpful and hassle free that essentially allowed us to skip the checking in process at the airport and skip right to the security check in area.

Dining Options

Now to the good part- the food. This resort is home to Disney World’s finest restaurant, Victoria and Alberts. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the proper attire (suit jacked and slacks) so I couldn’t make a reservation to dine there.  However, there were other good options that I tried.

Grand Floridian Café

The first place I tried was the Grand Floridian Café. This casual sit down restaurant offered a simple menu of delicious fare. The first time I went here, I tried the Shrimp and Grits. The shrimp was plentiful and the grits were creamy and flavorful. This dish truly was a very nice meal. Now the next night, we ate here again and I tried the Grand Floridian Burger. Now this burger was possibly one of the best burgers I’ve ever had in my life- honestly. This juicy burger was topped with red onion marmalade, fresh grilled onions, a special lettuce, and juicy, succulent lobster meat. It was fantastic. Our waiter was also pretty cool. Although during our second visit to this café we had a different waitress, our waiter from the previous night came over to greet and conversate with us for a little bit. It was a very nice touch.

1900 Park Fare

My best meal experiences occurred at the popular 1900 Park Fare.  This is one of the few restaurants on Disney property that had a character breakfast. The character breakfast featured Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Alice from Alice in Wonderland, and the Mad Hatter. All the characters came around to each table and spent individual time with us to pose for pictures and conversate. This meal here was also pretty good. The breakfast was a buffet that featured a carving station, Mickey Mouse Waffles, pancakes, eggs, fresh fruits, breakfast pastries and breads, lobster eggs benedict, smoked salmon potatoes and more. It was honestly one of the better breakfast meals that I enjoyed at Walt Disney World.  This restaurant also featured a dinner buffet called 1900 Park Fare Cinderella Happily Ever After Dinner. Now let me tell you, this restaurant is one of the those places that you have to make a reservation months in advance just to get a table, but lucky me, I was able to go to the extremely helpful concierge desk and make reservations for the next night. I truly was SO lucky.  This character dinner was one of the best dinners I’ve ever experience at Walt Disney World. Not because of the food which was quite mediocre at best, but primarily for the character interaction. First of all, I got to meet and take pictures with Cinderella and other guest posed with Prince Charming. But second of all, I got to have long and interesting conversations with the Evil Step Mother and the Step Sisters. Let me tell you, these characters were something else. They were loud, obnoxious, funny, and so similar to characters in the movies. The Evil Step Mother came to our table and started telling me how wonderful her daughters were and that I should choose on of them to marry. She then grabbed me and escorted me across the dining hall to show me her available daughter. Then each sister came to the table to pose for picturing while also interrogating me to see if I was “husband material.” They then capped off the conversation with “Mother, I found my husband!” This was a very funny experience that I had so much fun with and I believe this kind of thing happens to all “available” men at the table. So ladies, watch out! Overall, this was a great restaurant filled many characters and fun, unique interactions throughout out. Highly recommended.

Cinderella <3

Step Sister 1...Future Wife?

Alice in Wonderland

The Buffet

Pastries...yum

Step Sister 2...Future Wife?

Just Food....and the Smoked Salmon that I loved

Evil Step Mother....Future Mother In-Law? 

Tigger :)

Mad Hatter...I like his nose

Cinderella

Dining Room

Gasparilla Grill and Games


This was one of the food places that I couldn't live without on my trip. This 24/7 quick service restaurant offered great croissant sandwiches for breakfasts, burgers, fries, sandwiches, and rice for lunch and dinner, and creamy soft serve ice cream and pastries all day and night. It was truly so convenient.





The Complaints

Now I do have one huge complaint with the resort- the Wi-Fi. You see I’m a huge techie so I always need my phone, laptop, or iPad around me. Unfortunately the Wi-Fi signal at this hotel was awful. I could barely connect to it and when I did, the signal lasted for a measly 2 minutes. At first I thought it was just the signal in my particular building, so I went to the main lobby to try it out. However, the Wi-Fi still sucked.  However, this problem was resolved when I called the front desk and they added my devices’ IP addresses to the resorts internet connection. 

Final Thoughts

So overall, other than terrible Wi-Fi connection, this was possibly my favorite of all the Disney Resorts that I had the privilege of staying at. I would definitely be returning to the Grand Floridian the next time I take another great vacation to possibly my favorite vacation destination in the U.S., Walt Disney World.

Until next time Walt and Mickey!

Ohana at the Polynesian Resort 2012

This was my second time to Ohana and I really enjoyed. Now the food wasn't as good as the first time, but the service was still pin point and the servers were nice and fast. The character breakfast was fun but wasn't as good as the one I went to at 1900 Park Fare at the Grand Floridian. However, the best thing about the character breakfast was being able to see Lilo, Stitch, Pluto, and most importantly, MICKEY MOUSE. I loved it. However, in terms of food, you can go ahead and pass on this for breakfast since there are a lot more better options out there. Now for dinner, that's a different story because it's a completely different set up and the food unlimited. So come with your stomachs empty and wallets full because this somewhat pricey buffet will have you leaving there in a food coma.

 

Best Dessert Ever!

To seem my previous post about Ohana during my first trip to the restaurants, click HERE

Korean Style Jack Daniel Smoked Ribs and Some Delicious Sides

Here are just a few photos of my delicious meal that I had the privilege of enjoying when I went home for the weekend. My meal consisted of prosciutto ham infused green beans, tender Korean style Jack Daniel ribs, and some creamy 6 cheese macaroni and cheese. It truly was fantastic! (p.s. I know this post is super short but there really isn't much for me to talk about because I want the photos to do all the talking for me.) Cheers!

Korean Style Jack Daniel Smoked Ribs

Creamy macaroni and cheese

Just a Little Update

Hey what's up guys! I know it's been a while since I posted on this blog. I've been very busy with college work and other business ventures I am pursuing at the moment. Plus, I haven't been able to cook any delicious meals or even go out to any notable restaurants that I could photograph and blog about. I guess really the only food blogging related thing was when I went to Georgetown again and got cupcakes from three of Georgetown's most popular "cupcakeries"- Baked and Wired, Georgetown Cupcake, and Sprinkles. Now all of these cupcakes were delicious and the experience was very sweet, but I honestly forgot to take any pictures. I think I may have had just one pic at Baked and Wired and it wasn't even that great of a picture. Anyways, I hope that I will soon be able to blog about something very awesome so that I can share it with all of y'all. Thanks for understanding and I hope you guys have a fantastic day!

P.S. This picture of the awesome gelato I had at Vegas has nothing to do with the post!

Heavenly Hushpuppies

Last month, I took a trip down to South Carolina to see my family for Christmas. During one of the days, we decided to try a local seafood restaurant called Gilligan’s Steamer and Raw Bar. Now the food here was okay and nothing really special.  You can honestly go to a local Long John Silver’s and get the same meal for a lot cheaper. However, there was one thing that I truly fell in love with- their hushpuppies. These warm hushpuppies were crispy on the outside, and soft and chewy on the inside.

The Buffet of Buffets: The Wicked Spoon at the Cosmopolitan Las Vegas

Sleek, hot, sexy, contemporary, dark, fashionable, and delicious.  These are all characteristics of one of the newest, trendiest, and best buffets on the Las Vegas Strip, the Wicked Spoon at the Cosmopolitan.

This ultra modern buffet emerge guests into a whole new buffet experience; one that strays from the typical buffet organization and set up, by serving food in individual sized portions that is jam packed with personality. You’ll find fried chicken in mini fryer baskets, macaroni and cheese in small serving pots, string beans in Chinese takeout boxes, and Asian chicken in mini woks. And this is only the tip of the iceberg.

The black and dark woods with dark yellow and amber lit glass accents throughout the serving areas, complimented with a fanciful and artful sitting area provides guests with a dining experience that is elegant, yet causal and relaxing. 

Too sweet to handle?...Jean Philippe Patisserie

I have a confession. I am in love with Jean Philippe Patisserie. I don't know if it's the artistic genius of Chef Jean Philippe Mary displayed through the creation of his pastries, baguettes, candies, and crepes, or it's just because I'm a sucker for pastries. But either way, I really enjoy all this place has to offer. There are honestly

Bouchon Bakery Las Vegas

A few days ago, I experienced possibly one of the best pastries I've ever had...and it happened by accident. As I was visiting the Venetian Resort in Las Vegas looking for the box office to pick up my tickets for Phantom, I ran into a small little shop called Bouchon Bakery. I've heard many great things about this place, especially its shops in New York City, so I decided to give it a try. After browsing their various selections, a special treat caught my eye...the vanilla macaroon. Now at first glance, this macaroon appears to be

An Intense Treat of Near Perfection

After a long exhausting day of traveling, I decided to end my night on a good note by making a pit stop at my favorite patisserie, Jean Philippe Patisserie at the Aria Resort Las Vegas. Although this patisserie displays the artistic mastery of world pastry champion Jean Philippe through the creation of his pastries, cakes, baguettes, gelato, and chocolate candies, I personally feel that the highlight of this establishment is their freshly made warm crepes.  After trying to resist the temptation of buying one of everything at this shop, I decided to settle one of their famous chocolate crepes. Now I must say that this chocolate crepe is a very luscious treat. From the first moment you sink your teeth into this warm crepe, your taste buds are greeted by an intense chocolate tang. Complimented with the chewiness of the crepe, and the cold sweetness of the whipped topping, you will find this dessert to be at its finest. Now the crepe itself is quite chewy and almost essentially tasteless, with just a small hint of vanilla. The crepe serves primarily as a base for this dessert, while the chocolate sauce, brownie pieces, and chocolate flakes truly adds the kick that this dessert needs. But with the artful combination of all these elements, this dessert is on the threshold to perfection. 

It's Been A While

I hope you guys have had a happy holiday because I know I sure did. As you can probably notice by the "deadness" of the site, I haven't been really posting anything new. Well that's probably because I haven't tried any food worth writing about....which is oddly strange because I can't seem to stop myself from going out and trying some crazy new dish that everyone is crazing about. But hopefully that will change very soon because I will be going to possibly my favorite vacation destination, behind Disney World of course, Las Vegas! This is my favorite food destination because I can basically put myself into a food coma with all the selections of fantastic restaurants, unique patisseries, and of course my fave....buffets. Now besides hitting up the famous pastry shop by renowned pastry champion Jean Philippe, or checking out the famous Frozen Hot Chocolate from Serendipity 3, I am gonna do something I like to call the Las Vegas Buffet Challenge. I am going to try to eat at a buffet for all three meals for one week. Plus, depending on how far my wallet can carry me, I'm gonna make it my mission to try all the best buffets on the strip (last I checked, the "Unofficial Guide to Las Vegas" rated 10 of their best buffets found on Las Vegas Blvd). This will be a delicious adventure that just might kill me.  But hey, I don't care because to me, enjoying a succulent and delicious dining experience for 3 hours a day is something worth dying for. So just be on the look out for my Las Vegas Series during the next two weeks...if of course I am not in that food coma. Thanks!

CopyCat Restaurant Cookbooks

Have you ever wondered what made Kentucky Fried Chicken’s original recipe so special? Or maybe you wondered how to make the famous secret McDonald’s Big Mac sauce? Or maybe you even wondered how Burger Kings makes their trademark whoppers? Now what if I tell you that you can now actually make these creations all in the comfort of your own kitchen. Well this is all possible after I recently discovered these brilliant cookbooks called the CopyCatCookbooks. These books helped me learn all the best kept secret recipes behind all my favorite fast food and restaurant dishes. I’m talking about awesome identical recreations of dishes from restaurants and fast food joints such as

John's Pizzeria at Times Square

What would fantastic New York food be without its’ famous pretzels, bagels, and deli sandwiches, and my personal favorite, New York style pizza. At almost every corner, you can find good, thin crusted, handmade pizzas, claiming that they’re the best in town. However, despite all these claims, I decided to treat myself to possibly one of the best pizzas near Times Square called John’s Pizzeria. This overcrowded, loud, and bustling pizzeria serves up some mouth-watering brick oven, New York style pizza. The moment you walk in, you are greeted by a huge swarm of people…no not the employees, but other hungry restaurant guests. You then get a number, which will probably make you wait from anywhere between 40-120 minutes. However, thankfully, the waiting area is right near

Korean Style Pork Belly

After craving some home-made Korean food for the past few weeks, my dream finally came true a few nights ago when I came home for the weekend from college.  My mom surprised me with my favorite meal, grilled pork belly, or in Korean, samgyeopsal.  This is commonly served as an evening meal and consists of thick, fatty slices of pork belly meat, which is quite similar to uncured bacon. Now to some of you this may seem unappetizing at first, but believe me, it is very tasty. For such a simply prepared dish, it truly is jam packed with bold flavors. This meal can be easily prepared from just about anywhere and it needs little to no preparation. You can honestly go to your local supermarket, buy a pack of fresh pork belly, and throw it on the hibachi grill without even having to worry about seasoning or marinading it.  Below you will find some photos of all the elements that helped make my Korean style pork belly meal so delicious. Enjoy!

Cupcake Heaven?

I love cupcakes, especially those from Georgetown Cupcake. Now although my second experience wasn't as mind blowing as my first, it still was very good.  At this moment, Georgetown Cupcakes are featuring new holiday flavors like gingerbread, pumpkin spice, and peppermint chocolate cupcakes. So if you want to try some unique holiday flavors, be sure to stop by Georgetown Cupcake during this month.

To read my post about my first experience at Georgetown Cupcake, just follow the link: Georgetown Cupcake

Washington DC Vacations

The Perfect Thanksgiving Meal to Complement the Endless Supply of NFL Games

Thanksgiving is probably one of my favorite holidays of the year, not because of an endless dosage of NFL football, but for the endless supply of delicious food. This year, I was lucky enough to enjoy a fantastic Thanksgiving meal by my mom. And I must say, it was nothing short of delicious.  The food prepared looked so good that I decided to take a snapshot. My meal consisted of fresh corn, homemade stuffing, string beans with smoked prosciutto ham, silky mash potatoes, maple glazed boned ham, and tender smoked turkey- all topped off with a creamy gravy. It truly was delicious. 

The Best Restaurants and Buffets in Las Vegas

If you are like me, then you are probably a huge foodie. And in my opinion, there’s no better place to experience some fantastic dishes and unique cuisines than in the dazzling city of Las Vegas. “Whether you love the traditional burgers and fries or you prefer the Wagyu Beef and caviar, Las Vegas has it all.  From casual and quick eats to buffets and fine dining, there’s a place for you.  Carla Pellegrino, Charlie Palmer, Wolfgang Puck, Joel Robuchon, Michael Mina, Bobby Flay and Batali Bartollota- you name it and Vegas has it. This is possibly one of the greatest places for foodies and gourmet indulgers.  So don’t be shy, go ahead and try it all!” – Under 21 Guide to Las Vegas

Well in case you were wondering, you can find the best buffets, casual restaurants, fine dining establishments, and more, all in my new eBook, the Under 21 Guide to Las Vegas. In this guide you will find the best attractions, restaurants, shopping, spas, outdoor activities, and shows that are great for those less than 21 years old.  You see, I understand that there are many guidebooks out there about Las Vegas, but unfortunately they truly only focus on the people who can gamble, party, drink, etc…Some guidebooks do talk about kids in Las Vegas but they are missing that one particular group, the 18-20 crowd.  That’s why it is my goal to provide you with the best information to help you make the most out of your Las Vegas trip.  From little kids to young adults, this book is the ultimate guide for the under 21 crowd. I even hid a few little surprises and secrets. So let’s find those surprises. Come on in!

This is the perfect travel companion for those who are looking for a different perspective of Las Vegas, as well as a nice listing of the best casual, themed, fine, and all-you-can-eat restaurants. To enter this food haven, click HERE (of just click on the picture of the book)

Things To Do
Las Vegas

Dinner Etiquette: The 10 Do's at the Dinner Table

We've all been there, sharing a pleasant meal at a fine and elegant restaurant with someone who had a tremendous lack of good manners. And we don’t want to find ourselves being “that guy” (or girl) who has no common sense when it comes to proper dinner table manners. You see, using good table manners and etiquette shows a great respect for your fellow diners. Even in today’s typical casual dining atmosphere, displaying just basic table manners is essential. You need to make sure that your manners are in check cause just your luck, you might be on a nice date or having lunch with your boss and co-worker. Therefore, you need to make sure that your eating and dining habits are deemed acceptable. Well to help make this possible, here are 10 things that you need to do to ensure that you’re practicing proper table manners.