M-I-C-K-E-Y

MOUSE

We paid a visit to the House of Mouse last weekend for a two night stay at the Wilderness Lodge. We didn't spend any time in the parks, just a relaxing visit to the lovely hotel. We were hoping for cooler weather in the Pacific Northwest, but of course we were only in central Florida. However the hotel was always chilly, so I guess we got our cooler weather after all. Nor do we have any pictures from this journey. But we did enjoy some good food, which should be no surprise to our friends and readers of this blog. 

We started the weekend with a drink in the Territory Lounge in the hotel where we enjoyed a couple of drinks and shared a wonderful cheese plate. The plate included a Rogue Creamery Blue Cheese, a Smoked Gouda, and a Drunken Goat Cheese. We enjoyed it so much we went back the next evening. Oh, and the drinks were good too.

Friday night dinner was at Artist Point, the Wilderness Lodge's Signature restaurant which continues the Pacific Northwest theme of the hotel.

We shared The Chef's Garden Heirloom Tomato Salad with a Mozzarella Foam. The foam didn't add much to the salad, but the rest of the salad was very good. For my main course I ordered the Pan-seared Alaskan Halibut and Frank opted for the Pan-Seared Scallops. Both were very good. For dessert we shared a wonderful mixed berry cobbler.

Saturday was a very relaxing day. We had a quick breakfast at Roaring Fork (walkup - no table service). We relaxed and read on the rocking chairs in front of the massive lobby fireplace, before heading out to the Contemporary Hotel for lunch at Wave, a casual contemporary restaurant on the registration level of the hotel. I ordered the Bison Burger. While it is not as juicy as a ground chuck beef burger, it was very enjoyable with a nice flavor. Frank opted for a good Grilled Chicken Breast Sandwich.


Back at the Wilderness Lodge, we spent the time relaxing and reading. Our dinner reservation at the California Grill on the top floor of the Contemporary Resort was for 9:25PM so we had plenty of time to kill. Early evening we found our way back to the Territory Lounge for a repeat of the night before, a drink and that great cheese plate.


Our reservation was late and the only time available after 8PM since I was hoping to be in the dining room in time for the fireworks at Magic Kingdom. If you are dining in the California Grill you can access an outdoor viewing area adjacent to the restaurant. Well it wasn't meant to be this day - the Magic Kingdom closed at 7 and the fireworks were cancelled. 

That was OK as we had a very enjoyable meal and could still see all the lights around the WDW property while we dined.


For a starter, we shared Sonoma Goat Cheese Ravioli with Sun-dried Tomatoes, Pesto, Shiitake Mushrooms and Basal. Very nice. Frank ordered the Grilled Red Snapper served with crab risotto (really good). I enjoyed my entree of Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Goat Cheese Polenta --- yummy. We were both so full that we passed on desert,


This was a great relaxing getaway and worked out well as Frank had a trade show in Orlando on Friday. While Frank work at the trade show, I had a opportunity to visit my cousin Carolyn and her husband, Gary, for a few hours. We had a nice visit and a casual good lunch at First Watch. Thanks guys, 


We both enjoyed the hotel, (my 2nd stay, and Frank's first). As usual we enjoyed the food, especially the two signature restaurants. No surprises there.