Disney’s great dining weekends

Disney says that Californian Dreams of ambrosial feasting and exquisite spirits were fulfilled during the Year of a Million Dreams at Disneyland Resort when Disney’s California Food and Wine Weekends 2007 took place from April 27 to May 20 this year.

The four extended weekends presented what is described as an abundant bill of fare for everyone from fine wine connoisseurs and skilled epicures to lovers of good food and neophytes wanting to experience and learn more about world-renowned flavors of California cuisine.

The second annual Disney’s California Food and Wine Weekends at Disneyland Resort featured culinary demonstrations, cooking and wine-tasting seminars and a “Taste of California” Marketplace in Disney’s California Adventure park.

Each weekend began with a Thursday night “kickoff event,” a lineup of exclusive Celebrity Chef Dinners showcasing the likes of Donna Scala of Bistro Don Giovanni in Napa Valley, Robert Curry of Auberge du Soliel in Napa Valley (May 3), Chef Jamie Gwen of KABC radio and KTTV Ch 11 (May 10), and Guy Fieri of Food Network (May 17).

Advance reservations were required with the dinner held in the Napa Rose Restaurant at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa.

Disney says that in recent years, with such fresh and audacious restaurants as Napa Rose, Yamabuki, Steakhouse 55, Catal and the Vineyard Room at the Golden Vine Winery, Disneyland Resort has been building its own reputation for fine dining in the parks, the Downtown Disney district, and the hotels.

At the celebrated Napa Rose in Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel, the staff has been training in the sommelier’s art as a complement to Executive Chef Andrew Sutton’s succulent creations and under the leadership of Napa Rose Manager and Sommelier Michael Jordan, some 250 members of the Disneyland Resort Food & Beverage team have been certified as Level One sommeliers, including 42 at the Napa Rose alone, the largest number at any restaurant in the world.

The Friday night Winemaker Dinners featured a multi-course meal with knowledgeable and creative wine pairings and were among the highlights of Disney’s California Food and Wine Weekends.

Each dinner was hosted by a renowned winemaker including Jeffrey Stambor -Beaulieu Vineyard, Alison Doran – Levendi Estates, and Dave Miner – Miner Family Vineyards and the location for the reservation-only dinners was Steakhouse 55 at the Disneyland Hotel. 

Each weekend a variety of complementary demonstrations and seminars were offered on a first-come, first-served basis inside Disney’s California Adventure park and they included: –

** Culinary Demonstrations – Complimentary 30-minute cooking demonstrations on topics such as classic dishes or specific spices presented by Disneyland Resort chefs each day at the Upper Terrace of the Golden Vine Winery.

** Wine, Beer and Spirits Seminars  – Noted winemakers, brew masters and Disneyland Resort sommeliers offered educational tasting seminars on the Lower Terrace of the Golden Vine Winery or at the Pacific Wharf Stage.

** “Taste of California” Marketplace at the Lucky Fortune Cookery in the Pacific Wharf district offered a delectable array of tapas-sized gourmet food for purchase. 

A highlight of each Saturday, was also the reservation-only Napa Rose Cooking School featuring Executive Chef Andrew Sutton of Disney’s award-winning Napa Rose restaurant, where Sutton led a hands-on cooking and learning experience for a small group of participants who created a themed meal with expertly paired wines.  The class was held in the show kitchen of the elegant Napa Rose at Disney’s Grand California Hotel and Spa. 

More information about the Disney’s California Food and Wine Weekends 2008, visit  www.DisneysCaliforniaFoodAndWineWeekends.com. 

Information about new attractions, the “Year of a Million Dreams,” and vacations at Disneyland Resort is available at www.disneyland.com.

A Special Disney Report by The Mole