California Grill - Picture Report - Relive the experience! ADDED MAY '09 Pics Page 23 - Page 2 - The DIS Discussion Forums

Auntie E · 01-20-2007, 09:48 PM

Thanks for posting!!! Just booked my flights for Nov 2007 and haven't been in several years. California Grill has always been one of my favorites at WDW. I planned on asking if it was as good as I remember....based on your pictures it looks like I have my answer....

purpliequeen · 01-20-2007, 09:52 PM

Thank you!!!!

ehagerty · 01-20-2007, 10:07 PM

Alaskan Black Cod on Portabello Mushroom & Duck Ravioli

Scallops

ehagerty · 01-20-2007, 10:10 PM

Chocolate Cake and peanut butter jelly ice cream

Butterscotch Brulee & Bananas

ehagerty · 01-20-2007, 10:13 PM

ehagerty · 01-20-2007, 10:21 PM

Wishes in January starts at 08:00 pm....

...and, my favorite (of this trip)

ehagerty · 01-20-2007, 10:28 PM

Quick look-back

The balcony at sundown:

A glass of house white.....

Halibut

Mickey Mouse (Shirley Temple) & special lighting effects (sundown)

Yellow Fin Tuna, 3 ways

ehagerty · 01-20-2007, 10:33 PM

Bread

Simple - and stunning

ehagerty · 01-20-2007, 10:39 PM

I have a call into the web host to see where my pictures went!! All of the others are present.....

Click here to go to next set of pictures

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:

Minniespal · 01-21-2007, 06:44 AM

Lovely piccies

Leota · 01-21-2007, 06:54 AM

OMG! I have got to say, this is the BEST food thread I have ever seen. Your pictures are so beautiful. They so perfectly capture the beauty of the dishes. They look like professional food porn. Are you a pro photog?

Thank you for putting this together. It is gorgeous & mouth-watering. It's making me want to go back NOW. But alas, I still have a few months to go.

maxiesmom · 01-21-2007, 09:25 AM

You owe me a new keyboard. I have just drooled all over mine.

It all looks great! What is the drink with the cherry floating on top?

01-20-2007, 09:52 PM	#17
purpliequeen DIS Veteran Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 1,236	Thank you!!!! __________________ Proud Cornellian ~Dec. '93 - Jan. '94~ Dolphin ~Dec. '98 - Jan. '99~ Hotel Royal Plaza ~Dec. '05~ Saratoga Springs Resort ~Aug. '06~ Animal Kingdom Lodge Concierge ~June '07~ Beach Club Villas ~Dec. '08 - Jan. '09~ Yacht Club & Grand Floridian ~Jan. '10~ Animal Kingdom Lodge Villas Concierge ~Dec. '10~ Christmas at Boardwalk Villas ~Mar. '11~ Bay Lake Tower ~Dec. '11~ Animal Kingdom Lodge

01-20-2007, 10:07 PM	#18
ehagerty DIS Veteran Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 1,996	Part #6 Entrees Alaskan Black Cod on Portabello Mushroom & Duck Ravioli Scallops Last edited by ehagerty; 04-09-2008 at 07:15 PM.

01-20-2007, 10:10 PM	#19
ehagerty DIS Veteran Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 1,996	Part #7 Dessert Chocolate Cake and peanut butter jelly ice cream Butterscotch Brulee & Bananas Last edited by ehagerty; 04-09-2008 at 07:16 PM.

01-20-2007, 10:13 PM	#20
ehagerty DIS Veteran Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 1,996	Part #8 Post Prandial Last edited by ehagerty; 04-09-2008 at 07:17 PM.

01-20-2007, 10:21 PM	#21
ehagerty DIS Veteran Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 1,996	Part #Afterglow - Wishes from the California Grill Balcony Wishes in January starts at 08:00 pm.... ...and, my favorite (of this trip) Last edited by ehagerty; 04-09-2008 at 07:21 PM.

01-20-2007, 09:48 PM	#16
Auntie E Earning My Ears Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 21	Thanks for posting!!! Just booked my flights for Nov 2007 and haven't been in several years. California Grill has always been one of my favorites at WDW. I planned on asking if it was as good as I remember....based on your pictures it looks like I have my answer....

\|
The DIS Register to remove Join Date: 1997 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 1,000,000

01-20-2007, 10:28 PM	#22
ehagerty DIS Veteran Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 1,996	Part #10 - In case you missed the October Pictures Quick look-back The balcony at sundown: A glass of house white..... Halibut Mickey Mouse (Shirley Temple) & special lighting effects (sundown) Yellow Fin Tuna, 3 ways Last edited by ehagerty; 04-09-2008 at 07:29 PM.

01-20-2007, 10:33 PM	#23
ehagerty DIS Veteran Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 1,996	Part #11 = Part #10 Continued Bread Simple - and stunning Last edited by ehagerty; 04-09-2008 at 07:25 PM.

01-20-2007, 10:39 PM	#24
ehagerty DIS Veteran Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 1,996	Part #12 - June Favorites I have a call into the web host to see where my pictures went!! All of the others are present..... Click here to go to next set of pictures Last edited by ehagerty; 05-13-2008 at 08:14 PM.

01-20-2007, 10:44 PM	#25
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	#26
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	#27
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.

01-21-2007, 06:44 AM	#28
Minniespal The Original 'Free Spirit' Who's Next?? Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 52,304	Lovely piccies

01-21-2007, 06:54 AM	#29
Leota DIS Veteran Join Date: May 2000 Location: Brockport, NY & Clermont, FL Posts: 7,666	OMG! I have got to say, this is the BEST food thread I have ever seen. Your pictures are so beautiful. They so perfectly capture the beauty of the dishes. They look like professional food porn. Are you a pro photog? Thank you for putting this together. It is gorgeous & mouth-watering. It's making me want to go back NOW. But alas, I still have a few months to go. __________________ ~ Offsite 1973 ~ Fort Wilderness Cabins 1993,1995,1998 ~Disneyland, Offsite, 1997,1998 ~ All-Star Sports 1999 ~ Beach Club 2000 ~ Wilderness Lodge 2001 ~ Polynesian/Coronado Springs 2001 ~ Dolphin 2001 ~ Swan 2004 ~ Grand Floridian, Happy Haunts 2004 ~ Dolphin/Animal Kingdom Lodge 2005 ~ PO French Quarter 2005 ~ Animal Kingdom Lodge / Swan 2005 ~ Swan 2006 ~ Swan 2006 ~ Dolphin 2007 ~Dolphin 2007 ~ Dolphin 2008 ~ Dolphin 2009 ~ Dolphin 2009 ~ Dolphin 2010 ~ Wyndham Lake Buena Vista 2011 ~ Windsor Hills 2011~ Swan 2012 ~ Bonnet Creek 2013 ~ Making our Florida Dreams Come True Move In Day: June 10th, 2013.... Finally!!!

01-21-2007, 09:25 AM	#30
maxiesmom The Mean Squinty Eye Works Wonders Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: The West side of the mitten Posts: 18,745	You owe me a new keyboard. I have just drooled all over mine. It all looks great! What is the drink with the cherry floating on top?

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