Bob_and_Dawn
17 Dec 04, 05:10 AM
I will get straight to the highlight of the day and quite possibly the year and not go into detail of our shopping spree or visit to SeaWorld today.
I dressed in a suit that I had brought from home and Dawn wore a black dress and shawl that she had purchased earlier that day.
We left our villa at 4.50pm and intended travelling by Disney bus to Grand Floridian, however due to one thing and another we ended up arriving late at 6.10pm.
I was slightly wound up, as I hate being late for anything but on our entrance to Victoria and Albert’s I began to calm down.
I apologised to the receptionist for being late and they were very understanding and even asked whether we had used Disney transport to get there.
We were shown to our seat, which was to the left side of a room containing about 15 tables, and out of them tables approx 10 were being used by diners.
The setting was very intimate and exclusive plus from the start we were made to feel like we were royalty.
We were handed our own personalised menu, which set out the selection and accompanying wines.
Our female server introduced herself as Isabelle and described in great detail the menu and how the food would be cooked.
The meal consists of seven courses where there is no choice of first course but the other six are diner selectable.
We both opted for the wine pairings at $50 each. This is quite expensive but we felt that the meal would benefit from the right choice of wine.
The first course was Amuse Bouche, which in effect translates to Little Bites That Delight Before the Meal Begins.
This was a portion of Lobster with Oyster Sauce.
As an appetiser this dish was delicious and I found myself wanting more and so I got my wish, as Dawn doesn’t eat shellfish at all.
http://www.bobanddawn.co.uk/images/fordec2005tr/2695DSC01278.jpg
The starting drink was a glass of Brut, Green Valley 1995 and was absolutely delicious.
Dawn chose the Terrine of Foie Gras with Pumpernickel Curls and Sierra Beauty Apple Chutney and I choose the Jumbo Lump and Peekytoe Crab Timbale with Avocado Crouton; both came with a Kunstler Estate Riesling Rheingau 2002.
http://www.bobanddawn.co.uk/images/fordec2005tr/2695DSC01280.jpg
http://www.bobanddawn.co.uk/images/fordec2005tr/2695DSC01279.jpg
The paired wine was certainly a good accompaniment to this dish and much to my disappointment Dawn drank all of hers.
We both requested the Roasted Duck with Candy-Stripe and Golden beets with Pomegranate Vinaigrette, this came with a glass of Hartford Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast 2003.
http://www.bobanddawn.co.uk/images/fordec2005tr/2695DSC01281.jpg
The duck was extremely tender and was a joy to eat where each bit was savoured as long as we could.
There was only two choices as a forth course Dawn had the Kabocha Squash Cream with Hazelnuts and I had the Alaskan Sable Fish with Florida Corn.
The Kabocha dish came with a glass of Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout, which I though unusual and my dish came with a glass of Fort Simon Chardonnay, Stellenbosch 2003.
My dish was fantastic but I was blown away when I tried Dawns, as it was possibly the most delicious soup type dish I had ever tasted and the problem was she wasn’t leaving any.
http://www.bobanddawn.co.uk/images/fordec2005tr/2695DSC01283.jpg
http://www.bobanddawn.co.uk/images/fordec2005tr/2695DSC01282.jpg
For the main course Dawn opted for the Grilled Prime Filet with Celery Root-Potato Puree and Braised Short Ribs with paired wine; Gran Vecco Malbec Reserve, Mendoza 2002 and I had the Kurobuta Pork Tenderloin and Belly with Serrano Ham with accompaniment wine Marques de Arienzo Reserva, Rioja 1999.
http://www.bobanddawn.co.uk/images/fordec2005tr/2695DSC01285.jpg
http://www.bobanddawn.co.uk/images/fordec2005tr/2695DSC01284.jpg
Both dishes were well presented and by now we were not expecting to dislike anything and this course certainly was no exception.
By now we both had had a lot of wine so I forgot to photo the next course of Baked Sekle Pare with Gorgonzola Dolce and the other dish of Sharlyn Melon Sorbet with Micro Mint.
I found my pear dish a strange combination with cheese and did not eat it all but Dawn really enjoyed all of hers.
My dish also came with a Benjamin Tawny Port, Victoria which I didn’t really enjoy that much and left most of it.
And now it was 8.45pm and we had arrived at the dessert dishes, Dawn had the Caramelized Banana Gateau and I had the Pyramid of Tanzanian Chocolate Mousse.
Dawn loved her dish and I enjoyed mine even though I don’t have a sweet tooth.
http://www.bobanddawn.co.uk/images/fordec2005tr/2695DSC01289.jpg
http://www.bobanddawn.co.uk/images/fordec2005tr/2695DSC01287.jpg
The meal was rounded off with French Filter Coffee.
At $400.00 including tip and wine pairings the meal was far from cheap but as a one off we enjoyed every second of it and were made to feel very special. We were certainly not full when we left the restaurant but elt very content.
It would be a great romantic location to declare your undying love or make a marriage proposal or indeed like me say............................................... ........... Happy Christmas.
I would like to say I would eat at this restaurant again but certainly not for a long time when the memory of this meal has faded and is in need of refreshing.
This is also the last full day of our holiday, and to all the critics we meet who say “are you going there again, do you not get bored” then my reply would be no it only gets better every time.
Bob
I dressed in a suit that I had brought from home and Dawn wore a black dress and shawl that she had purchased earlier that day.
We left our villa at 4.50pm and intended travelling by Disney bus to Grand Floridian, however due to one thing and another we ended up arriving late at 6.10pm.
I was slightly wound up, as I hate being late for anything but on our entrance to Victoria and Albert’s I began to calm down.
I apologised to the receptionist for being late and they were very understanding and even asked whether we had used Disney transport to get there.
We were shown to our seat, which was to the left side of a room containing about 15 tables, and out of them tables approx 10 were being used by diners.
The setting was very intimate and exclusive plus from the start we were made to feel like we were royalty.
We were handed our own personalised menu, which set out the selection and accompanying wines.
Our female server introduced herself as Isabelle and described in great detail the menu and how the food would be cooked.
The meal consists of seven courses where there is no choice of first course but the other six are diner selectable.
We both opted for the wine pairings at $50 each. This is quite expensive but we felt that the meal would benefit from the right choice of wine.
The first course was Amuse Bouche, which in effect translates to Little Bites That Delight Before the Meal Begins.
This was a portion of Lobster with Oyster Sauce.
As an appetiser this dish was delicious and I found myself wanting more and so I got my wish, as Dawn doesn’t eat shellfish at all.
http://www.bobanddawn.co.uk/images/fordec2005tr/2695DSC01278.jpg
The starting drink was a glass of Brut, Green Valley 1995 and was absolutely delicious.
Dawn chose the Terrine of Foie Gras with Pumpernickel Curls and Sierra Beauty Apple Chutney and I choose the Jumbo Lump and Peekytoe Crab Timbale with Avocado Crouton; both came with a Kunstler Estate Riesling Rheingau 2002.
http://www.bobanddawn.co.uk/images/fordec2005tr/2695DSC01280.jpg
http://www.bobanddawn.co.uk/images/fordec2005tr/2695DSC01279.jpg
The paired wine was certainly a good accompaniment to this dish and much to my disappointment Dawn drank all of hers.
We both requested the Roasted Duck with Candy-Stripe and Golden beets with Pomegranate Vinaigrette, this came with a glass of Hartford Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast 2003.
http://www.bobanddawn.co.uk/images/fordec2005tr/2695DSC01281.jpg
The duck was extremely tender and was a joy to eat where each bit was savoured as long as we could.
There was only two choices as a forth course Dawn had the Kabocha Squash Cream with Hazelnuts and I had the Alaskan Sable Fish with Florida Corn.
The Kabocha dish came with a glass of Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout, which I though unusual and my dish came with a glass of Fort Simon Chardonnay, Stellenbosch 2003.
My dish was fantastic but I was blown away when I tried Dawns, as it was possibly the most delicious soup type dish I had ever tasted and the problem was she wasn’t leaving any.
http://www.bobanddawn.co.uk/images/fordec2005tr/2695DSC01283.jpg
http://www.bobanddawn.co.uk/images/fordec2005tr/2695DSC01282.jpg
For the main course Dawn opted for the Grilled Prime Filet with Celery Root-Potato Puree and Braised Short Ribs with paired wine; Gran Vecco Malbec Reserve, Mendoza 2002 and I had the Kurobuta Pork Tenderloin and Belly with Serrano Ham with accompaniment wine Marques de Arienzo Reserva, Rioja 1999.
http://www.bobanddawn.co.uk/images/fordec2005tr/2695DSC01285.jpg
http://www.bobanddawn.co.uk/images/fordec2005tr/2695DSC01284.jpg
Both dishes were well presented and by now we were not expecting to dislike anything and this course certainly was no exception.
By now we both had had a lot of wine so I forgot to photo the next course of Baked Sekle Pare with Gorgonzola Dolce and the other dish of Sharlyn Melon Sorbet with Micro Mint.
I found my pear dish a strange combination with cheese and did not eat it all but Dawn really enjoyed all of hers.
My dish also came with a Benjamin Tawny Port, Victoria which I didn’t really enjoy that much and left most of it.
And now it was 8.45pm and we had arrived at the dessert dishes, Dawn had the Caramelized Banana Gateau and I had the Pyramid of Tanzanian Chocolate Mousse.
Dawn loved her dish and I enjoyed mine even though I don’t have a sweet tooth.
http://www.bobanddawn.co.uk/images/fordec2005tr/2695DSC01289.jpg
http://www.bobanddawn.co.uk/images/fordec2005tr/2695DSC01287.jpg
The meal was rounded off with French Filter Coffee.
At $400.00 including tip and wine pairings the meal was far from cheap but as a one off we enjoyed every second of it and were made to feel very special. We were certainly not full when we left the restaurant but elt very content.
It would be a great romantic location to declare your undying love or make a marriage proposal or indeed like me say............................................... ........... Happy Christmas.
I would like to say I would eat at this restaurant again but certainly not for a long time when the memory of this meal has faded and is in need of refreshing.
This is also the last full day of our holiday, and to all the critics we meet who say “are you going there again, do you not get bored” then my reply would be no it only gets better every time.
Bob