Posts Tagged ‘Chef’s Tasting Wine Dinner’
Hooked
Walt Disney World has added another symphony of tastes to its repertoire of unique fine-dining experiences with the Chef’s Tasting Wine Dinner at the Flying Fish Café.
Many “Chef’s Table” events typically take reservations for a certain number of diners who are treated as a group to some special one-on-one time with the Chef in a private room or secluded area of the restaurant. Others, such as the Chef’s Table at Victoria and Albert at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, accept one reservation for a single party on a given night. The Chef’s Tasting Wine Dinner combines both approaches – the meal can be reserved at various times for individual parties of up to six guests and takes place at the counter of Disney’s wonderful Flying Fish Café. Think of it as a “menu with benefits.”
It’s an indulgent and delicious meal of five courses, offering lots of opportunity to chat with chefs and sommeliers during the meal. Each course and the accompanying wine are presented with an in-depth discussion of ingredients and preparation and diners can request changes to the prix-fixe menu to accommodate preferences and special dietary requirements.
Review: Not understanding that this was not a “group” event, I was a bit dismayed to be kept waiting for nearly a half-hour after my arrival at the Flying Fish Café. I began to wonder if I was the only one who had made a reservation and thinking that perhaps it would be cancelled. In fact, I WAS the only one, but it quickly became apparent that this is the format for the Dinner. I was seated next to a couple of other guests who had enjoyed an earlier reservation time for the Chef’s Tasting and who ended up remaining throughout my meal, as well, sharing their Disney dining experiences and making my evening that much more special.
Diners have the opportunity for a photograph with the Chef before sitting down at the long bar which faces the open kitchen of this restaurant. The sumptuous meal featured a variety of beautifully prepared and presented dishes paired with well-chosen wines. When the sommelier learned that I preferred red wine, he immediately substituted reds for some of the white wines on the menu. The menus are custom-printed and very much of-the-moment; mine actually varied slightly from the one enjoyed earlier that same evening by the guests sitting next to me.
While I enjoyed everything, the most memorable component of the meal was actually the smallest. I was treated to my first taste of the little fruit known as finger lime. When squeezed, the pulp pops out in the shape of tiny balls that look very much like caviar; hence its nickname, the caviar of citrus. It added unmistakable zest to the first course of miso-cured yellowfin tuna and Jonah crab roulade, and an example of the cut fruit was brought to the table so we could learn more about it. It’s one of the special pleasures of this type of dining – the opportunity to try something completely new!
The constant visits from chef and sommelier make participants feel quite special. Towards the end of my meal, a server came over to share a story with me. The party she had been serving in another part of the room spent their entire evening speculating about the stream of visitors joining me from the kitchen, finally deciding I must be a food critic. They were surprised to learn that they could enjoy the same attention by reserving the Chef’s Tasting Wine Dinner.
The best part of all? In keeping with the Café’s focus on seasonal specialties, the menu is constantly changing, allowing guests to experience this wonderful food adventure again and again! I admit it; I’m hooked!
Chef’s Wine Tasting Dinner at the Flying Fish Café
Disney’s Boardwalk
Sunday through Thursday
5:45 p.m. and 8:15 p.m.
Reservations must be made at least one day in advance; 48-hour cancellation policy
Come Fly With Me
The Flying Fish Café carries the themes of the Atlantic boardwalk into a restaurant venue, and serves it up with style. Named for one of the cars on a famous roller coaster in Coney Island, the décor is an eclectic mix of vintage carnival ride and sea-life motifs. Patrons are greeted at the entrance by winged fish leaping over a neon sea and fishy door handles. The interior is decorated with charm and whimsy, giving diners lots to look at during the meal. Pillars sport scales, fish parachute from the ceiling, metallic tiles lend their sparkle. A stylized interpretation of a ferris wheel graces a far wall and a tent lends a carnival atmosphere to an alcove at the back.
There is a limited, but well-chosen, seasonal menu with nice presentation and absolutely wonderful service. In addition to tables with chairs and banquettes, there is bar seating in front of the open kitchen where diners have a ringside seat for the culinary activity. As one of Disney’s Signature Restaurants, dinner here requires the use of two Table Service credits for those on the Disney Dining Plan.
Recently, a special dining experience has been added – the Chef’s Tasting Wine Dinner, and the first six seats at the bar are set aside for participants. With the exception of a few holiday dates, it’s offered twice each night at 5:45 p.m. and 8:15 p.m., Sunday through Thursday. The Dinner features five courses expertly paired with wines selected by the Flying Fish Café’s sommelier. Diners can expect current menu items to be presented in inspired new ways and will enjoy lots of interaction with the chefs.
Reservations are $135.00 per person, or $85.00 without wine pairings, must be paid-in-full at the time of booking, and are not included in the Disney Dining Plans or Tables in Wonderland programs.
Review: I LOVE the Flying Fish Café. The buzz always seems to be about California Grill and Le Cellier, neither of which rings any bells for me, yet there is much less mention of several of my personal favorites, with Flying Fish being right at the top of that list along with Jiko.
Although I have encountered issues with incorrectly cooked dishes, both under- and overdone, I’ve never experienced anything less than outstanding service. The servers here bring an enthusiasm and sense of humor seldom encountered elsewhere on property and though I certainly have favorite servers at several Disney restaurants, I think that, as a group, they are unsurpassed. So, whatever my issues with a particular dish, I find I always leave with a “good taste in my mouth!”
When the food is on, it is spot-on. There’s a reason their Potato-Wrapped Red Snapper is a permanent fixture; the accompanying leek fondue is a revelation. I’ve had considerably less luck with the other signature dish, a Black Angus New York Strip Steak. Both my dining companion and I ordered this one evening; neither plate was prepared as ordered and after sending the meals back twice, we never did get what we had wanted. I’ve particularly enjoyed the wonderful appetizers, including an array of bisques and calamari dishes. The beautiful cheese plate with honeycomb and raisins on the vine is truly memorable.
Menus
Flying Fish Café
Disney’s Boardwalk
Dinner 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
