Disney’s Magical Dining Month Is More than Magical, It’s Enchanting Epicurean Cuisine!

Disney’s Magical Dining Month Is More than Magical It’s Enchanting Epicurean Cuisine! #magicaldining

Celebrate Orlando’s amazing culinary scene during Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining Month. Magical Dining Month special preview week began August 24 and continues throughout September, select Orlando restaurants are offering prix fixe dinners for just $33. Indulge in imaginative appetizers, entrees and desserts sure to leave you spellbound (www.visitorlando.com/magicaldining)!

Jax Free Press Urban Traveler had the scrumptious chance to preview menus at two Orlando Magical Dining Month locations, both located in the Dolphin/Swan resort. The first option was dinner on a Friday at Il Mulino New York Trattoria-Walt Disney World Swan (1200 Epcot Resorts Boulevard Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830, Phone: (407) 934-1199). For more than 20 years, Il Mulino’s chefs/founders, Fernando and Gino Masci, have delighted guests and gourmands from around the world with the vibrant flavors of Italian cuisine and an absolute devotion to exemplary service. Il Mulino’s $33 menu was superb in its presentation and its imported advantage displaying true Italian cuisine. Il Mulino New York Trattoria- Walt Disney World Swan atmosphere was swanky and comfortable with dim lights and a display of Italian cooking ingredients and bottles of wine. Overall, service was impeccable, as the restaurant was filled with singles, couples and families. For starters, from the menu my guest and I chose the Polpette Al Forno (Italian meatballs with tomato basil sauce and parmesan cheese and the Insalata Caesar (the classic Il Mulino Caesar salad). Moving on to the entrée we both selected the Salmone (Broiled salmon, light garlic, olive oil, wild mushrooms, broccoli rabe) and for dessert our mouthwatering eyelids lit up as we selected the Cheesecake All’ Italiana (Italian style cheesecake, whipped cream, zabaglione) and the celebrated dessert Tiramisu (Layered espresso & coffee liqueur, infused lady fingers & mascarpone cream). 4 stars

On Saturday evening, Orlando’s Magical Dining Month chosen eatery was Todd English Blue Zoo restaurant (1500 Epcot Resorts Boulevard Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830 (407) 934-1111). Renowned for his unique style and ability to entertain, Celebrity Chef Todd English combines the freshest seafood with coastal cuisines from around the world in a setting you won’t forget in Todd English’s Bluezoo. Designed by renowned architect, Jeffrey Beers, Todd English’s Bluezoo is truly a work of art. One of the most decorated, respected, and charismatic chefs in the world, Todd English has established one of the nation’s best-known restaurant brands and has published three critically acclaimed cookbooks. Wow! What a restaurant, the atmosphere, the décor and the cuisine was ambrosial therefore, Todd English’s Blue Zoos menu was fit for the gods: delectable, mouthwatering, heavenly, savory, delicious, tasty, and divine! The waiter was more than pleasant as he graciously brought bread to our table accompanied with butter seeped in fennel seeds. I learned the bread is called “Armenian Lavasch”. Rounding out the basket was crusted bread topped with cheese and onions. The fennel butter melted on the bread and the taste was redolent of devouring sausage butter on sweet oniony bread! In addition, the menu selection provided an option to pair each meal with wine.Todd English BlueZoo menu appetizer selection chosen was the Heirloom Tomatoe Salad (Seasonal melon, brillat savarin, tomato basil “panzanella”) and the Beet Salad (Walnut vinaigrette, goat cheese fondue). The main entree was a delicious Faroe Island Salmon (Roasted potato hash, cherry peppers, charred meyer lemon, herb vin blanc). The dessert finale “blue” us out of the water! The Blueberry Sundae (Vanilla lemon peel rice pudding, blueberry compote, blueberry ice cream, sugar ball filled with blueberry vanilla cremeux & blueberry sauce, blueberry tuile, whipped cream) was a creative magical moment filled with a blueberry sugar ball, where you crack the sugar ball with your spoon and “voila” a fresh ooze of blueberry’s come tumbling on top of the blueberry ice cream!! 5 stars