Julian Serrano; Aria, Las Vegas

Still Eating and Drinking - Vegas Lounge Hop, Part II

No offense to the James Beard Award winning chef Julian Serrano, but our visit to his new Vegas restaurant was really designed to be nothing more than a pit stop before the serious lounging began elsewhere. But we had some good eats and drinks while we were there and the menu was interesting enough that Jason and I would definitely consider a return visit. The cuisine is classic Spanish and features a wide array of tapas, paella, and seafood - it seems like a really great place to come with a large party and share plates of delicious food all night long. The great thing about this restaurant is that it's open for lunch as well as dinner, so you and your friends could conceivably show up at 11AM when the kitchen opens and keep the food-n-booze train chugging along for a twelve hour tour. Now that's our kind of chew-chew-chew!!

Serrano is located right smack in the middle of the Aria, and by that I mean that it's actually open on three sides to the hotel's restaurant row. If you are looking for a quiet, romantic spot for dinner this might not be the best place but if you want a casual environment with lots of energy then you've probably found a home.

You will never forget where you are ...


We arrived during peak dining hours and headed straight for the bar, which was quite large and comfortable. I really liked the decor which was bright and playful - I'm a sucker for glass apothecary jars filled with bright, pretty, colorful items that can be eaten or added to a beverage or both!

Pretty jars all in a row ...

For our beverages at this location Jason and I ordered red sangria and white sangria - both were quite good but I still prefer the red.

Red and White Sangria

Catherine ordered Tuna-Raspberry Skewers for her snack: Ahi Tuna, Molecular Raspberry, Wasabi, and Sesame Seed. She wins the award for coolest presentation in a tapas selection. Rumor has it that these tasted pretty damn good, too.

Tuna-Raspberry Skewers


Continuing my insatiable vacation fromage quest, I ordered Serrano's cheese platter (their words, not mine). While the cheeses themselves were fine, and actually quite tasty, the presentation was ... lacking. Actually as I look at the picture today I wonder if I might have been the first customer to ever order their cheese plate - that might explain why it showed up looking like the bartender's five-year old assembled it in the side kitchen. And added a quince slug for good measure.

Cheese Platter? More like Cheese Splatter!


The cheeses above in no particular, sloppy order were: Cana de Cabra (goat); Manchego (sheep); Cabrales (cow); and La Serena (sheep). As I previously mentioned, this wasn't going to win any awards for presentation but the cheeses were good and were at least products of Spain, which is more than I can say for that tragic cheese offering at Stratta.

For his snackaroo Jason selected the Mixed Seafood Ceviche: Shrimp, White Fish, Octopus, Cilantro, and Lime Juice. As is often his wont with these types of dishes he asked for, and received, extra tentacles. I didn't try this but have been told by reliable sources that the ceviche was "fargin awesome."

Mixed Seafood Ceviche


Pardon me, but your octopus is staring

So there you have it - short and sweet but a definite treat. Serrano is absolutely worth a repeat visit and the menu really deserves more time than we were able, or willing, to give it that night. Whaddya say we get a big 'ol group together and stop in a for a round of drinks and tapas in April?

Red Square; Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas

Let the Eating and Drinking Begin; Vegas Lounge Hop, Part I

Once our final Vegas Uncorked event was finished ... Afternoon Tea at Payard's which I've not yet posted ... Jay and I hoofed it down to Mandalay Bay and Red Square to meet our friend Catherine for a night of lounge hopping. This is something that we have always wanted to try but have never managed due to the perpetual food coma we eat ourselves into while visiting Vegas.

Catherine was waiting for us at Red Square's icebar, which is a unique design featuring a solid block of ice down the center of the bar that keeps drinks nice and cold. I started the night off with a Bolshevik Bellini, which was made with champagne and a choice of peach or raspberry vodka. You can tell from the picture which vodka I chose - it shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone who knows me well! This was a lovely drink - a vodka variation of a Kir Royale, which is one of my all-time favorite cocktails.

Bolshevik Bellini


Jay took Catherine's advice and ordered Red Square's version of a Bloody Mary, which was made with Red Square's infused pepper vodka, homemade spicy mary mix, and fresh lime juice garnished with lemon, lime, celery, and bleu cheese stuffed olives. He said this was one of the best bloody marys he's ever had and he really liked the heat from the pepper vodka.

Russian Mary


For snacking we decided to try the Beef Pelmeni - beef dumplings in fennel consomme with dill sour cream - and Salt and Pepper Fried Calamari - squid dusted with a five-spice blend and served with sweet and sour sauce. Jay and I have had pelmeni previously thanks to our college Russian professor - the ones from Red Square were just as good as the ones we tried at our professor's house many years ago. These tender dough pockets filled with well-seasoned meat (think ravioli for comparison) were floating in delicate meat bathwater and topped off with a dollop of sour cream lightly flavored with dill - what's not to like?

Actually, we didn't like that the serving portion only included five dumplings because they were so good we could have eaten many, many more!

As for the calamari, it's my sad duty to inform you that I don't like it and so I have no opinion to offer. Jason and Catherine, however, like squid just fine and said this was really very good - properly cooked and well-seasoned.

Pelmeni ... and a fluorescent pig???


Squid platter with extra tentacles

Before pulling up stakes to head for our next snack-n-slurp stop, we had to order some liquid dessert. On a previous visit to Red Square Jay and I ordered this for our actual dessert and we loved it so much that we convinced Catherine to give it a try with us this time. It's a really cool presentation: four two-ounce shot glasses each filled with the restaurant's liquid desserts (alcohol included, of course) and served in a Red Square ice block to keep them extra cold!

Our dessert shooters included the following, starting with the upper left-hand corner and moving clockwise: Key Lime Pie (smirnoff vanilla, keke beach liqueur, pineapple juice, and lime juice); Russkie (zone banana vodka, creme de cacao, creme de banana, and half & half); Espresso Martini (espresso, smirnoff vanilla twist, bailey's, kahlua, and creme de cacao); and Anastasia's Dream (van gogh double espresso vodka, frangelico, chambord, and half & half).

While I don't care for banana flavored much of anything (other than an actual banana) all of our shooters were tasty and well-made; they also packed quite a punch! My personal favorites were the Key Lime Pie and Espresso Martini.

You can shoot me with this any time!

This was our second visit to Red Square and it remains one of our Vegas favorites thanks to tasty and inventive food and drink options. And it has some of the most interesting and unique decor of any Sin City restaurant, featuring a mix of imperial Russian and Soviet photographs and posters. We enjoy it so much we're going back again for dinner in April 2011 ... here's hoping for continued deliciousness!

As an aside, should you like to read about our 2008 dinner experience at Red Square, just follow this link to my blog review from that trip:

http://oybolshoi-gastropodtravels.blogspot.com/2008/04/red-square-mandalay-bay-dinner.html

Table 10; The Palazzo, Las Vegas

The Last Vacation Dinner ... Again.

Jay and I have had such great experiences at Emeril's restaurants in Orlando and New Orleans that it seemed like a no-brainer for us to finally dine at one of his Vegas establishments. Table 10, located in the Palazzo, offers a menu with a wide variety of American classics with the standard Emeril / New Orleans twist that we've come to love. Couple that with strong recommendations from friends and drool-worthy pictures from Yelp, and we decided that this was a restaurant worth visiting on the final night of our trip with two of our favorite peoples in the whole wide world: Frank & Fran!

I do, however, have to qualify this review with the following: the gutworm and I were in a constant battle during this trip and he really made himself known during our last day and evening in Vegas. I pushed the envelope at Table 10, regardless, and ended up paying for it in ways that you do not want to know about; I think it's fair to say that played a definite part in my overall attitude towards the restaurant and our experience there and just wanted to be honest with everyone about it.

Don't worry, there's more than one table


Two of our favorite peoples!


While we were trying to figure out what we were going to order for eating, we were presented with a taste treat from the chef: one single nacho with lovely salsa and jalapeno cream sauce. In a word: delicious!

Nacho Happy Mouth


I agonized over the drink menu for some reason that I can't explain; most likely because my gut was telling me to back off while my brain was simultaneously giving the gut a two-fingered salute. I asked our server for a recommendation and gawd help me, he's ruined it for every server I will ever have for the rest of my booze-infused life, of this I am sure. Based on his glowing endorsement of a cocktail that supposedly won an award from people without taste buds, I ordered something so bitter and vile that I'm still not sure it wasn't tinged with poison.

A specialty drink so bad that I've forgotten its name


Now let us never speak of this "drink" again; instead let's talk appetizers, of which we ordered three! I selected the Certified Black Angus Beef Tartare with Dijon Emulsion, Crostini, and traditional garnishes. This is the first time I've ever tried beef tartare and I did enjoy it, but given a choice I think I prefer beef carpaccio.

Steak Tartare ...


Jason ordered Emeril's Grilled Jalapeno & Corn Hush Puppies with Tomato Currant Chutney - bless his heart he's a sucker for anything with jalapenos and he said these were really good with a great spicy after-burn.

Spicy Puppies


And one final appetizer for good measure: Summer Sweet Corn Popovers with Orange, Onion, and Petite Arugula with Basil Cream. I was surprised at how good these were - very light pastry with a wonderful blend of flavors that seemed to scream SPRINGTIME!!!

Popovers


In a last ditch effort to to try one more "something different" I ordered the Free Raised California Buffalo with Red Wine Marinade, Gruyere Cheese Potato Gratin, and Red Wine Demi Glace. This was the other big disappointment of the evening - it was tasteless and drowning in sauce, no doubt because the buffalo was so over-cooked as to resemble shoe leather. As for the cheesy potato gratin ... it was thick and congealed and gacktackular. This dish was an epic failure on the part of the kitchen which is not something we are accustomed to experiencing at an Emeril restaurant.

Buffalo, are you there?


Jason chose the Salt & Pepper Crusted Texas Farm Raised Striped Bass - it was a skin-on whole fishie stuffed with lemons and herbs and served with Gremolata sauce. Pardon the expression but this really was the catch of the night! The preparation, the presentation, and the taste were spot on and Jason relished every bite.

Now that's a plate of fish!


Fran selected the other item on the menu that I seriously considered ordering and in retrospect I wish I had. She went with the Seared Maine Scallops with Jumbo Lump Crab, Lima Bean and Tomato Succotash, Creole Tomato Glaze, and Parmesan Cheese. The plate looks a little messy to me, but apparently this was a tasty, tasty entree. And really, with scallops and crab how could it not be good? The kitchen would have had to have been dedicated to failure to screw this one up!

Scallops


Last entree of the evening; Frank ordered the Slow Roasted Prime Pork Tenderloin with Mashed Sweet Potatoes, Green Chili Mole, and a Rum Brown Sugar Glaze. Again, I think the presentation was lacking ... it actually looks a bit disgusting ... but from all accounts this tasted very good and as I've said before, that's the most important thing!

Pork


We decided not to order dessert but because we were celebrating a birthday (which I must have mentioned when I made the reservation months in advance) they brought out a little something special for the hubba: White Chocolate Malassadas Rolled in Cinnamon Sugar with Vanilla Bean Cream Anglaise.

Malassadas is a fancy name for donut holes.

Enjoy; Tuck in; and Eat it already! are Jay and Bendy terms that, loosely translated, mean: watch your fingers because we are remorseless eating machines when it comes to dessert donuts! These were amazing, deep fried, warm little balls of dough dusted with sugar and they sang a beautiful song when dipped in that creamy vanilla bean sauce. They would have been spectacular with some boozy coffee but unfortunately that wasn't on the agenda this evening thanks to the worm. Still, this was a terrific dessert option that was great for sharing and one we would love to have again!

Donuts!


Once we were finished with our meal, Frank and Fran walked back over to the Encore with us to say goodnight. What happened as we rode the escalators down to Las Vegas Boulevard is a powerful reminder as to why mom always said don't speak to strangers ...

There was a dude dressed like a pirate headed up the escalator with a parrot riding his shoulder. I thought he was part of the show over at Treasure Island and was on his way to work for the night; Fran saw him and being the friendly sort, greeted him with the universal pirate salutation, "Arrrrrr!"

That was all it took. He reached the top of the pedestrian bridge linking the Wynn and Palazzo and immediately turned and rode the escalator back down, catching up with us so quickly it made my head spin. Before we knew what had happened he and his parrot were posing for pictures with all of us.

Note that everyone had to wear a special hat: Fran got the pirate hat; I got the court jester hat because I couldn't stop laughing; Frank looks to have been given a soft, stovepipe hat, and Jason received the captain's hat. You will also note that the parrot, whose name was actually Polly, really seemed to like Jason and she gave him a kiss in one picture. She also seemed to like my laugh because she kept repeating it, which just made me laugh even more ... a truly vicious cycle!











It was a fun and unexpected way to end our evening and it's really the kind of thing that doesn't happen in many places outside of Vegas. Trust me when I tell you this certainly doesn't occur in Stinktown - wahahaaa! As for Table 10, I seem to be the only one of our group who wasn't all that impressed, so I'm going to give this a "try at your own discretion" rating. My hope is that you will have a better overall experience there than I did ... and whatever you do, don't ask for a drink recommendation from the wait staff!!!

Il Mulino; Walt Disney World Swan

Il Mulino New York ... in Orlando? We're Confused, but Everything Tastes Wonderful so We Don't Care!

For years Jay and I have abided by two informal dining rules while in WDW: no steakhouses and no eye-talian. We are awash in tasty beef here in the armpit of the Midwest so there is no point in visiting a state bordered by vast oceans of succulent seafood only to order a hunk of not-so-well prepared meat; and there are dozens of great home-grown Italian restaurants in Stinktown proper, even if they do over-sauce their pasta. We were never tempted to try Il Mulino, located on the main floor of the WDW Swan, because we didn't think we were missing anything we couldn't get at home.

Were we ever wrong.

I owe thanks to many friends for suggesting on more than one occasion over the last few years that Jay and I pay Il Mulino a visit, because without their reviews and high praise we would never have had the joy of well prepared, lightly sauced pasta, complimentary salami and oily eggplant, and the amazing traveling limoncello bucket.

On this most recent trip we actually found ourselves at Il Mulino three different times: once for dinner in the dining room, once with a group of friends drinking and snacking in the lounge, and one last time for Jay and I to enjoy dinner in the lounge. Food quality and staff service were equally as good in the dining room as in the lounge, and we actually enjoyed our dinner there more than in the dining room because it was so much more comfortable and relaxed. Very few people were in the lounge that evening and we received dedicated and personal service; I also really enjoyed settling in on one of those soft, comfy sofas with the hubba - it was cozy and all romantic-like, especially with premium booze service just steps away!

Typically guests in the dining room are provided with a house appetizer of salami and roasted eggplant and peppers along with a basket of fresh bread and crostini. I loved the salami and munched on that while dragging my bread through olive oil while Jay inhaled the eggplant and peppers.

House appetizer


Jay and I shared an appetizer off the menu that for some reason isn't easy for us to find in Stinktown: Carpaccio di Carne ... thinly sliced Tuscan-style beef served with arugula, extra virgin oilive oil, fresh lemon juice, and Il Mulino's original carpaccio sauce. This dish is the reason that I am now addicted to beef carpaccio ... flavorful beef sliced paper-thin served with peppery arugula and a creamy, slightly spicy sauce ... it's an upside down meat salad!

There's the beef!


For his entree on visit number one, Jay ordered a special not listed on the menu: Buffalo Short Ribs with Squash Puree, Roasted Taters, and a Melody of Vegetable Balls. This was the star of the evening - tender, fall-apart meat with just enough sauce to lend it some fat and flavor with dreamy, creamy baby-food squash. Jay and I thought this was really amazing and were quite impressed with the kitchen's ability to prepare something so outside the "norm" of what guests might expect from an Italian restaurant. Yes Virginia, these folks can cook!!

Short Ribs ... yum!


I played it safe with a half-order of Penne Rigatte and I was very happy - it was perfectly cooked with just the right amount of marinara sauce and ricotta cheese. Il Mulino allows half-orders on all their entrees, and I've found that's a great way to try a little more from their menu without loading up on potentially heavy food.

Noodle, sauce, cheese ... perfection!


Shortly after we ordered dessert the famed limoncello bucket made an appearance at the table - our server asked if we were interested in having some of the good stuff to which we replied, "Filler up!" The limoncello was scooped directly from the chilled bucket right into a glass and then we were able to sip and savor to our hearts' content. It was such a lovely blend of sweet lemon booziness and it was on the house - does it get any better?

Our shared dessert was the Tartufo, a word that I can say all day long and never get tired of, as well as a taste treat that I could eat all day long. It's Italian gelato encased in a chocolate shell and served with standard whipped cream and an espresso whipped cream ... beautiful, gorgeous, delicious ... I want one right now!!!

Tartufo


During our second visit we ordered multiple cheesy pizzas to share, choosing the whole wheat pizza with tomato sauce, mozzarella, locatelli, and parmigiano cheeses. I liked this quite a bit but would have preferred more cheese and less sauce - it would have been even better if the tomato sauce had been replaced with a garlic cream sauce. Still, it hit the spot and really paired well with the wine we were drinking that night.

Tre Formaggi


Our final visit found the two of us dining in the lounge where we started with a couple of amazingly tasty drinks: Spring Thyme and an Italian Margarita. Spring Thyme was a seasonal cocktail that may not be available right now, but it was one of the best mixed drinks I had during the entire trip - Hendricks Gin, Cointreau, Fresh Lemon Juice, Simple Syrup, Muddled Strawberries and Fresh Thyme. It was refreshing and tasty and oh-so-smooth! The Italian Margarita is an Il Mulino signature cocktail and it's also very good: Don Julio Anejo Tequila, Amaretto, Cointreau, Fresh Sour and a splash of Lime Juice ... it's like an alcoholic sweet tart in a glass!

Spring Thyme? It's Drink Thyme!!


Eye-talian margarita


Our shared appetizer this evening was one of our favorites, although we don't order it often - prosciutto and melon. We thought the serving size was just right for two people and really liked that the fruit selections included more than just melon; there were blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries, all of which tasted surprisingly good with the salty prosciutto.

Prosciutto & Melon


I dared to try something new this evening and selected a half-order of Manicotti, which when done well is one of my favorite dishes. This baked pasta with ricotta cheese and tomato sauce was just delicious - the pasta wasn't overcooked, the cheese was light and creamy, and the sauce lent it a perfect tanginess. It was so good I could have ordered another, but I didn't; I opted for a second drink instead!

Manicotti


Jay chose a half-order of Tortellini with creamy pea sauce ... meat filled pastas with peas served in a cream sauce. This is one of his favorite pasta dishes and he thought it was great - tender pasta, sweet peas, and just the right amount of sauce. I don't really care for white sauces with pasta but I did try this and I have to agree with the hubba - it was pretty damn good, even with those pesky peas.

Tortellini alla panna


Il Mulino is a clear winner as far as Jay and I are concerned. We tried them once last year and were happy enough to give them another try on this most recent WDW trip - we couldn't seem to stay away, it was just that good. They have great food and service with a varied and interesting menu; their cocktail and wine menus are terrific, too! This is one of the Walt Disney World Resort's hidden gems - if you enjoy Italian cuisine then you simply must dine at Il Mulino because there's no one at WDW who does it better than they do.

The Hollywood Brown Derby, Disney's Hollywood Studios

They're Gonna Put Us in the Movies; They're Gonna Make a Big Star Out of Wheeeee ... And All We Gotta do is Act Naturally!!!

For years Jay and I have been methodically ticking Disney's signature restaurants off of our dining "to-do" list; yet somehow we've always managed to overlook the Brown Derby, in part because of its location at Hollywood Studios which is not a park where we spend a lot of time and which is not known for the overall quality of its food. But many friends kept telling us during the last year or so that the Brown Derby was different - great food, great service, and a great bar - give it a try, they urged; you won't regret it! And so, on this most recent trip, we ventured forth with our dear friends Chelsi & Jason to have lunch at the Derby where one of the most amazing meals and experiences was waiting for us.

First up, a little background on the restaurant - as I previously mentioned it's located in Disney's Hollywood Studios and is considered an authentic reproduction of the original Brown Derby restaurant that graced Hollywood for so many years. The Brown Derby was the meeting place for the silver screen's most famous and infamous personalities and it was the goal of every one them to end up with their caricature hanging from the restaurant's walls. Disney has incorporated that design element into their version of the restaurant with great success, along with dark wood accents, sumptuous leather booths, crisp table linens, and a very professional wait staff accustomed to catering to the whims of all their stars.

Our lunch reservation was early - right at restaurant opening - and when Chelsi checked in with the hostess she asked if we wanted to be the Brown Derby celebrities of the day. None of us had any idea what that entailed, but we all know that when someone asks you that kind of question at WDW, the correct answer is always "YES!"

Now, I don't know if this is something the Brown Derby does every day or if they just thought Chelsi was so darn cute she needed a photo shoot, but it was loads of fun. Our "handler" took us outside the restaurant for some paparazzi shots and then we were brought back inside for a ribbon cutting ceremony to officially "open" the restaurant, all the while with cameras flashing and applause ringing through the lobby. We were then led through the restaurant, showered with Mickey confetti, and seated in a lovely booth away from the other guests in order to better maintain our privacy. Our waiter played along with the game the entire time we were there and he really helped make the whole experience that much more memorable and enjoyable. Shortly before we left, the manager brought us commemorative programs with all of our photo shoot pictures and the story of our arrival and how, just by making an appearance, we made the Derby famous that day.

Dining room before the celebrities enter


Dining room once more


Celebrities of the day ... couldn't have chosen better myself!


Ya know, being a celebrity is hard work and the only thing we could think of to really help us relax was a nice drink ... or six. I started the meal off with a champagne flight that included a glass of Iron Horse Fairy Tale Cuvee, Banfi Rosa Regale, and Mumm Cordon Rouge Brut. I actually ended up with a second glass of Fairy Tale Cuvee because the first glass poured was rather flat and sad; our waiter said it best, "It just won't do for a celebrity to have non-bubbling bubbly."

Champagne Flight


Jason ordered a Jack Diamond, aka Manhattan, which was the other drink choice that I considered for myself; it was made with Maker's Mark Bourbon, Sweet Vermouth, Bitters, and a drunken, drowning cherry. For anyone out there who enjoys a good Manhattan ... try this drink the next time you want to go uptown - it was awesomely tasty!

Jack Diamond


Full drink honors, however, must be awarded to Chelsi, who selected the Martini Flight of the Stars: Shelby Mayor - Grey Goose Vodka and Dry Vermouth; Honey Darling - Bombay Sapphire Gin and Dry Vermouth; and Dorma Nesmond - Ketel One Citron, Pomegranate Liqueur, and Cranberry Juice. I was lucky enough to have a taste of each of these and they were all good but the standout in my opinion was the Honey Darling. I'm not usually a fan of Gin martinis but this was flavorful and smooth and really refreshing.

Martinis of the stars ... for a star!


Coolest drink presentation of the trip!


We decided to share a few appetizers because none of us could choose just one; we started with the Spicy Sashimi Tuna Tartar with Cucumber, Daikon, and Pepper Salad, Avocado Wasabi Sauce, and Crisp Lotus Root Chips. The presentation was the first thing to grab our attention and then the taste of the tuna took over - it was a wonderful mix of sweet, spicy, and tender tuna bits with over-sized wagon wheel chips for texture. I also enjoyed the avocado-wasabi sauce - the cool creaminess of the avocado paired really well with the spicy wasabi and made the tuna sing, sing, sing!

Aerial Tuna


Tuna Profile


And because we were lunching at the Derby we had to try their "famous" Cobb Salad which includes finely chopped Greens, Turkey Breast, Bacon, Egg, Tomatoes, Crumbled Bleu Cheese, Avocado, Chives, and Cobb Dressing. This was mixed table side and then plated individually - I went light on the dressing and the bleu cheese, and was very pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this salad. Normally I don't care for a lot of stuff in my rabbit food when I do manage to eat leafy greens but this was mixed together really well and had tremendous flavor. I'm so glad Chelsi & Jason suggested that we try it!

Cobb Salad


You can toss my salad any day!


Our final appetizer - yes, we had three ... big egos require big eats - was the Blue Lump Crab Cake with Potato Crust, Green Cabbage Slaw, Cognac Mustard Sauce, and Remoulade. This was tasty and the potato crust and cognac mustard were nice touches, but I liked the tuna sashimi and the cobb salad better. Still, for anyone out there who really likes a crabby patty, Brown Derby's take on this classic dish was a good one.

C'mere, you sweet crabby patty!


Jason and I split a lunch entree, choosing a fairly new menu item that our server had high praise for: the Sam Adams Seasonal Brew Braised Short Rib with a Parsnip-Butternut Squash Puree, Crispy Rainbow Swiss Chard, and Rosemary Jus Lie. The kitchen split the dish into two serving portions for us and the size was perfect and still quite generous for only being half of one entree. As for the taste, our server was on the money - the short rib was oh-so-tender, the puree was creamy and smooth, and the Sam Adams sauce added a nice hint of Fall spice with a beery undertone. This would be a wonderful late Fall or Winter dish to serve at home - great flavors and a whole lotta comfort!

Sam Adams Short Rib


Chelsi and her Jason shared the Brown Butter Almond-Crusted Black Grouper with Golden Beets, Roasted Celery Root, Leeks, and a Lobster Beurre Blanc. The kitchen divided their dish into two serving portions as well - I have to say that the Derby's staff was exceptionally accommodating throughout our lunch and their serving sizes, even on split entrees, were very generous. Our friends shared a piece of their fishie with us and was it ever good! Flaky, mild, and tender with hints of lobster and sweet butter ... it was very tasty!!

Brown Butter Grouper


Celebrity is as celebrity does!


It was about this time, before the next round of drinks, that we decided some coffee might be in order. Two of our party ordered plain old cappuccinos which were warm and creamy and really hit the spot, while the other two ordered Cafe' Henry III - Brandy, Kahlua, Grand Marnier, and Galliano with a Cinnamon Sugar Rim. Apart from wondering which Henry III this drink was supposed to be in honor of, I can only say that this is the kind of coffee drink I'd like to start pouring into my thermos every morning before heading into the office. Damn was it ever good - strong and boozy, just the way we like our coffee drinks!

Cappuccino!


To which Henry do we pay homage with this beverage???


As if this weren't enough, we moved forward with after-dinner drink flights. One of the things on the Derby's menu that caught my attention over the summer was their Grand Marnier and Cognac flights. The price wasn't bad considering what they were pouring, and with four of us to sample the wares it seemed like the perfect time to try some new beverages! Jason and I selected the Cognac Flight which included the following for $20: Courvoisier VS, Courvoisier VSOP, and Courvoisier XO. This reminded us a little of the Remy Martin tasting we did last year at the F&W Festival - it was very good but we definitely prefer the older, more expensive cognacs, which tend to be much more smooth on the palate.

Cognac Flight ...


So shimmery and drinkable!


Chelsi and her Jason opted for the Grand Marnier Flight, which for $28 included the following: Grand Marnier, Grand Marnier 100 Year, and Grand Marnier 150 Year. It was nice to be able to try the fancy-schmancy aged Grand Marnier, but none of us are big orange fans so this was hard to choke down. And the 150 year ... good gawd, it was like sucking on an alcoholic orange fireball. Bleh ... no more for me, thanks anyway!

Grand Marnier Flight ...


Even though we didn't need it, and probably weren't even hungry, we finished off the afternoon with dessert and shared the Chocolate Three Ways: Dark Almond Buttermilk Cake Layered with Milk Chocolate Truffle Creme and White Chocolate Chambord. This was acceptable - nothing that really knocked our socks off but it paired well with the cognac. I was actually a little disappointed in the dessert selections and think that this is the one area where the Derby could use some work going forward.

Chocolate Three Ways


Chelsi & Jason went with the Brown Derby's signature dessert - Grapefruit Cake. This was made with light layers of yellow cake with fresh Grapefruit-Cream Cheese Icing. It was very pretty to look at but I don't like grapefruit at all and just couldn't appreciate the flavor. Everyone else seemed to really enjoy it, though, so that's a good thing and I guess that means it lived up to the hype!

Grapefruit Cake


We finally reached the end of our luncheon odyssey and couldn't have been more pleased with our decision to join Chelsi and Jason at the Brown Derby. Celebrity frou-frou aside, the Brown Derby provided one of the best overall meals Jason and I had during our vacation - the food, service, and atmosphere were stellar. We were really impressed with their food and beverage variety and look forward to paying them another visit the next time we make it to Disney World. Bravo, Brown Derby - you just joined Bistro Paris at the top of our WDW restaurant list!!