California Grill - Picture Report - Relive the experience! ADDED MAY '09 Pics Page 23 - The DIS Discussion Forums

ehagerty · 01-20-2007, 11:44 AM

Table of Contents

January, 2007 - Starts right here, right now (continues on Page 2...)

October, 2006 - Starts on Page 2, Post #22

March, 2007 - Starts on Page 5 Post #67

June 21, 2007 - Starts on Page 8, Post #109

June 28, 2007 - Start on Page 9, Post #121

October 28, 2007 - Starts on Page 12, Post #168

June, 2008 - Meal #1 - Starts on Page 14, Post #202
Meal #2 - Start on Page 15, Post #214

September, 2008 - Part #1 - Starts on Page 20, Post #286
Part #2 - Starts on Page 20, Post #288

January, 2009 - starts on Page 21 and concludes on Page 22
- Introduction & Sunset - Post 311
- Amuse Bouche - Post 312
- Flatbread - Post 313
- Bread - Post 314
- Yoshe's Sushi - Post 316
- Entrees - Post 317

May, 2009 - contained within Post 340

In the beginning.......

Part #1 - The room

The view from the table.....

This view is from the monorail heading TO the CG - the kind of view you could see from the CG, a little later, and a little lower......

ehagerty · 01-20-2007, 11:48 AM

Eagles flying - from the balcony

Pre-dinner beverage

ehagerty · 01-20-2007, 11:53 AM

The Table

The Menus

Beverages

ehagerty · 01-20-2007, 11:58 AM

Salad

Lobster

ehagerty · 01-20-2007, 12:01 PM

Yoshe, herself, at work...

October, 2006 - Starts on Click Here for Page 2, Post #22

More to come in subsequent threads! Keep Scrolling

LVSWL · 01-20-2007, 12:41 PM

Wow! Great Pics! Love this restaurant!

MYDISNEYHOUSES · 01-20-2007, 05:56 PM

Wow, Great pictures!! We love the California Grille.

bauermj · 01-20-2007, 06:59 PM

Great thread!

Patio · 01-20-2007, 08:20 PM

Very nice!!!

mskay · 01-20-2007, 08:24 PM

Wow! I've never seen any pictures before. It looks better than it was in my imagination! Thanks!

disgrits · 01-20-2007, 09:35 PM

Love your pics! Professional-looking.............

More please.

scrump · 01-20-2007, 10:44 PM

WOW!!! We are eating there for the first time next month! Great pics, thanks for sharing!

jenr812 · 01-20-2007, 10:51 PM

You are so talented! Those pictures are amazing. I remember the beverage shot from October but never saw the others. These pics make me a bit sad we decided against CG this time around

We all enjoyed it last time.

ehagerty · 01-20-2007, 11:07 PM

The food at CG is like great wine - flavorful, subtle, complex, unique...

My thoughts on what we had this time:

They have a new chef since last October - Jens, from the Flying Fish. We followed his recommendations (lobster appetizer and cod / scallops). In response to my son's inquiry about the filet (what he usually orders), Jens hesitated, then politely noted that he preference for a beef dish at CA is the short ribs. In my (not quoting the chef) opinion, the filet IS outstanding, but it IS "just" a filet - that is, flavorful, but not terribly subtle, complex or unique.

With this guidance, we had the following:

Salad - contained pomegranate vinaigrette - and was - you got it - flavorful, subtle, complex, etc.

Appetizer - I was planning to order the duck foie gras, but it wasn't on the menu. My second choice is always the yellow fin tuna 3 ways - but Chef suggested trying the lobster - there was a LOT of lobster for an appetizer. My son had a customized sushi plate (as seen in picture) to his specifications (he likes the way they use tempura in place of seaweed). The next table was so impressed with it, they asked the waiter to order them the same thing.

Entree - The scallops were great. The only reason I didn't say "out of this world" is that I make pan-seared scallops about once a week from a good seafood supplier and scallop for scallop, mine are very close to these. However, I have not attempted the risotto or sauce you see on this dish - which was excellent. The Cod, WAS out of this world. The fish was phenomenal - tender, break-away, flavorful (not fishy). The portabella mushroom and duck ravioli - unbelievable - and the sauce - soy-like, but subtle.

Dessert - warm valhrona chocolate cake is on the menu everyday - they change the accompaying ice cream daily, but you can almost always ask for vanilla substitute. My dessert read like "bananas foster meets butterscotch brulee". It was excellent, but you need to like sweet and rich. The brulee was exceptional in texture - firmer and more melt-in-your-mouth than the texture of most brulees (which lean toward pudding, custard).

Summary - there are many excellent restaurants in Disney. For all around dining, the CG is my favorite.

Menu - they print new menus each day. I would say that 80-90% of the menu does not vary - so I am now wise to looking for "what is new / different" on the assumption that the atypical items represent (a) chef's creativity and / or (b) availability of ingredients that are not always available. In the case of this meal, the lobster appetizer and cod entree fit the bill.

Here is a picture of my son and the chef:

curiouser · 01-31-2007, 11:03 AM

Cali Grill was my choice for my birthday dinner on our upcoming trip and these photos make me sooo excited!! Also, we're buying the Cannon Rebel before our trip, ehagerty- I only hope our photos turn out half as good!!

01-20-2007, 11:53 AM	#3
ehagerty DIS Veteran Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 1,996	Part #3 - Getting Started The Table The Menus Beverages Last edited by ehagerty; 04-09-2008 at 07:06 PM.

01-20-2007, 11:58 AM	#4
ehagerty DIS Veteran Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 1,996	Part #4 - Appetizers Salad Lobster Last edited by ehagerty; 04-09-2008 at 07:10 PM.

01-20-2007, 12:01 PM	#5
ehagerty DIS Veteran Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 1,996	Part #5 - Appetizer Sushi *Yoshe, herself, at work...* October, 2006 - Starts on Click Here for Page 2, Post #22 More to come in subsequent threads! Keep Scrolling Last edited by ehagerty; 05-13-2008 at 08:12 PM.

01-20-2007, 08:20 PM	#9
Patio DIS Veteran Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: PA Posts: 2,335	Very nice!!! __________________ 2/89 - offsite 2/96 - DXL 3/99 - CBR 12/99 - Embassy Suites @ LBV 2/01 - CBR 12/01- AKL 12/02- AKL 6/04- Dolphin 7/05- Pop Century 1/08- Pop Century 1/09- Dolphin 1/11- Pop Century

01-20-2007, 09:35 PM	#11
disgrits DIS Veteran Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: a little over an hour from the House of Mouse Posts: 5,266	Love your pics! Professional-looking............. More please. __________________ GEAUX TIGERS!

01-20-2007, 11:44 AM	#1
ehagerty DIS Veteran Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 1,996	California Grill - Picture Report - Relive the experience! ADDED MAY '09 Pics Page 23 Table of Contents January, 2007 - Starts right here, right now (continues on Page 2...) October, 2006 - Starts on Page 2, Post #22 March, 2007 - Starts on Page 5 Post #67 June 21, 2007 - Starts on Page 8, Post #109 June 28, 2007 - Start on Page 9, Post #121 October 28, 2007 - Starts on Page 12, Post #168 June, 2008 - Meal #1 - Starts on Page 14, Post #202 Meal #2 - Start on Page 15, Post #214 September, 2008 - Part #1 - Starts on Page 20, Post #286 Part #2 - Starts on Page 20, Post #288 January, 2009 - starts on Page 21 and concludes on Page 22 - Introduction & Sunset - Post 311 - Amuse Bouche - Post 312 - Flatbread - Post 313 - Bread - Post 314 - Yoshe's Sushi - Post 316 - Entrees - Post 317 May, 2009 - contained within Post 340 In the beginning....... Part #1 - The room The view from the table..... This view is from the monorail heading TO the CG - the kind of view you could see from the CG, a little later, and a little lower...... Last edited by ehagerty; 05-20-2009 at 07:32 PM. Reason: new information

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01-20-2007, 11:48 AM	#2
ehagerty DIS Veteran Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 1,996	Part 2 - Patiently waiting Eagles flying - from the balcony Pre-dinner beverage Last edited by ehagerty; 04-11-2008 at 05:05 PM.

01-20-2007, 12:41 PM	#6
LVSWL I may have to rethink whether or not I want to do this I LOVE anything with goat cheese. Actually, I'm thinking about getting a goat! My aunt would give me coke and some pecans to keep me quiet Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: NC,VWL,BCV,BLT Posts: 2,645	Wow! Great Pics! Love this restaurant! __________________ When life kicks you, let it kick you forward- Kay Yow

01-20-2007, 05:56 PM	#7
MYDISNEYHOUSES Mouseketeer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 132	Wow, Great pictures!! We love the California Grille.

01-20-2007, 06:59 PM	#8
bauermj Earning My Ears Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 33	Great thread!

01-20-2007, 08:24 PM	#10
mskay DIS Veteran Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Memphis, Tennessee Posts: 787	Wow! I've never seen any pictures before. It looks better than it was in my imagination! Thanks! Last edited by mskay; 01-20-2007 at 08:25 PM. Reason: bad grammar

01-20-2007, 10:44 PM	#12
scrump so the decision has been made for me I think they are both a lot of fun and very unique Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: NYC Posts: 2,755	WOW!!! We are eating there for the first time next month! Great pics, thanks for sharing! __________________

01-20-2007, 10:51 PM	#13
jenr812 I'm wondering how outta hand you all got after I posted The TF tried to give MY post to someone else Those men can be so demanding, wanting to talk and make us get off the computer Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Rock Hill, SC (formerly Buffalo, NY) Posts: 4,328	You are so talented! Those pictures are amazing. I remember the beverage shot from October but never saw the others. These pics make me a bit sad we decided against CG this time around We all enjoyed it last time. __________________ TR: The 5 J's Went Back to Disney 5/23-6/4, 2007 DAY 4: MGM/LTT/MK EMH/Lotsa pics!! NICU Nurse & Mom to Jessica(18), Jayden(13) & Jory(9) July 2-8, 2005 @ POR - Our first family trip & we surprised the kids! May 23-June 4, 2007 @ POR - Nursing school graduation celebration! December 14-21, 2008 @ POR - Introduced the in-laws to the Magic! August 25-Sept 2, 2009 @ POP - Mother/Daughter trip for DD's Sweet 16! Up next: Jayden's 14th birthday & MNSSHP @ POR October 24-November 4, 2012 Back at The Disboards after a loooong hiatus!

01-20-2007, 11:07 PM	#14
ehagerty DIS Veteran Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 1,996	Post Script - Wherein brief text attempts to confirm visual reality The food at CG is like great wine - flavorful, subtle, complex, unique... My thoughts on what we had this time: They have a new chef since last October - Jens, from the Flying Fish. We followed his recommendations (lobster appetizer and cod / scallops). In response to my son's inquiry about the filet (what he usually orders), Jens hesitated, then politely noted that he preference for a beef dish at CA is the short ribs. In my (not quoting the chef) opinion, the filet IS outstanding, but it IS "just" a filet - that is, flavorful, but not terribly subtle, complex or unique. With this guidance, we had the following: Salad - contained pomegranate vinaigrette - and was - you got it - flavorful, subtle, complex, etc. Appetizer - I was planning to order the duck foie gras, but it wasn't on the menu. My second choice is always the yellow fin tuna 3 ways - but Chef suggested trying the lobster - there was a LOT of lobster for an appetizer. My son had a customized sushi plate (as seen in picture) to his specifications (he likes the way they use tempura in place of seaweed). The next table was so impressed with it, they asked the waiter to order them the same thing. Entree - The scallops were great. The only reason I didn't say "out of this world" is that I make pan-seared scallops about once a week from a good seafood supplier and scallop for scallop, mine are very close to these. However, I have not attempted the risotto or sauce you see on this dish - which was excellent. The Cod, WAS out of this world. The fish was phenomenal - tender, break-away, flavorful (not fishy). The portabella mushroom and duck ravioli - unbelievable - and the sauce - soy-like, but subtle. Dessert - warm valhrona chocolate cake is on the menu everyday - they change the accompaying ice cream daily, but you can almost always ask for vanilla substitute. My dessert read like "bananas foster meets butterscotch brulee". It was excellent, but you need to like sweet and rich. The brulee was exceptional in texture - firmer and more melt-in-your-mouth than the texture of most brulees (which lean toward pudding, custard). Summary - there are many excellent restaurants in Disney. For all around dining, the CG is my favorite. Menu - they print new menus each day. I would say that 80-90% of the menu does not vary - so I am now wise to looking for "what is new / different" on the assumption that the atypical items represent (a) chef's creativity and / or (b) availability of ingredients that are not always available. In the case of this meal, the lobster appetizer and cod entree fit the bill. Here is a picture of my son and the chef: Last edited by ehagerty; 03-24-2007 at 08:33 PM.

01-31-2007, 11:03 AM	#15
curiouser Keep believing, keep pretending... Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 1,676	Cali Grill was my choice for my birthday dinner on our upcoming trip and these photos make me sooo excited!! Also, we're buying the Cannon Rebel before our trip, ehagerty- I only hope our photos turn out half as good!! __________________ Morgan 5.17.10 ♥ SBP... er.. WP/Napa ♥ Our Whimsical Wedding Trip Report

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