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

[Booknut]

Absolutely gorgeous photos! You take Gastro-porn to new heights!!

[natalielongstaff]

Originally Posted by Booknut

Absolutely gorgeous photos! You take Gastro-porn to new heights!!

[jenr812]

Loved the review as well! I shouldn't have read it though - that along with your stunning pics have put me in a tizzy trying to figure out if we can somehow add CG to our trip...

[FormrCastMbr]

Wow! Excellent pictures...this should be on the photography thread! I am going to try to fit the CG on my trip! Thank you!

[ehagerty]

Originally Posted by chamonix

Ah, my favorite time to eat at Cali Grill--when it's still light when you get there, and the sun goes down, and the lights come up.....it's magical. I prefer it a million times to a fireworks timed meal......

Our attachment to this dining time occurred because of happenstance - we happen to prefer eating earlier and not sleeping on a full stomach. However, we have really come to appreciate the "changing light" experience. It provides more visually memorable moments (after sundown, the scenery really doesn't change much) and allows me to take food pictures with available light (which I prefer to flash). You can always return for the fireworks - and you probably will go to the balcony anyway. In winter (January, you can get both - eat at 5:30, wrap up around 7:45 - walk on to the balcony, watch Wishes. Perfect timing....

Oh no - now we'll probably have everyone booking for our "prime time"!!! Than again, maybe not - most people prefer sticking with his/her normal eating time. I hope.

[ehagerty]

Originally Posted by Leota

They look like professional food porn. Are you a pro photog?

Someone gave me an Instamatic camera (the old "125") for my 8th grade graduation. Been a sporadic hobby every since.

For income, I manage global IT projects for a bank.

[ehagerty]

Originally Posted by jenr812

Loved the review as well! I shouldn't have read it though - that along with your stunning pics have put me in a tizzy trying to figure out if we can somehow add CG to our trip...

Have you been to CG before?

Where in Buffalo did you live? I work downtown.

[ehagerty]

Originally Posted by FormrCastMbr

Wow! Excellent pictures...this should be on the photography thread! I am going to try to fit the CG on my trip! Thank you!

Tell them ehagerty's pictures sent you!! They won't know what you are talking about, but we could start something!

I have occasionally posted to photography thread - sometimes get feedback that I should NOT be posting there, but on the food photo thread. Gets confusing. Maybe they should reorganize the FOOD PICTURES thread from one very long series of random pages to its own thread with sub-threads that can be more easily searched (by restaurant, thread starter, etc.). Just an observation. It does take some time to do this work - you'd like to think there will be enough viewers for it to be worth it!!

[jenr812]

Originally Posted by ehagerty

Have you been to CG before?

Where in Buffalo did you live? I work downtown.

We went to CG on our first Disney trip back in July 2005. We all loved it! We were going to go again but considering how much our 11 day trip is already costing us, we couldn't justify it.

I grew up in Williamsville, where my parents still live. I'm wondering if you work at a particular bank but don't want to post it here for privacy issues My SIL works at a certain large bank downtown as well as my best friend's sister.

I asked in another of your threads but figured I'd post here too - what kind of camera do you have? I realize that it's your talent and not the camera itself that takes these amazing shots. But the right equipment sure does help Thanks.

[ehagerty]

Originally Posted by jenr812

We went to CG on our first Disney trip back in July 2005. We all loved it! We were going to go again but considering how much our 11 day trip is already costing us, we couldn't justify it.

I grew up in Williamsville, where my parents still live. I'm wondering if you work at a particular bank but don't want to post it here for privacy issues My SIL works at a certain large bank downtown as well as my best friend's sister.

I asked in another of your threads but figured I'd post here too - what kind of camera do you have? I realize that it's your talent and not the camera itself that takes these amazing shots. But the right equipment sure does help Thanks.

1. California Grill - We use the Disney Dining Plan to subsidize our dining extravaganza. CG "costs" two TS credits - which I estimate at $52/pp. We usually get about double that at CG on the bill - in other words, appetizer, entree, dessert, beverage, tips and tax are about $100/pp. Now, if you are not spending $52 on dinner anyway, this doesn't represent savings. But if you spend close to that, you are getting a really very nice meal for a fair price. Of course, the dining plan is a whole 'nother thread - well documented elsewhere.

2. Geography - My husband has relatives in Wmsville (North Forest, west of Main). Yes, given that there are only two large downtown banks, I worked for the smaller-big bank for a few years, and now, the gigantic-big bank - for that last two years. My IT project is international, so I know more colleagues in London and NY than on my own floor (the 9th).

3. Camera - got my first digital last year - Canon EOS Rebel xt 350D - with image stabilizer 28-135mm lens. I had two Canon Rebels film camera starting in 1991 (before that, Konica, before that Kodak Instamatic), so it was kind of a foregone conclusion that I was going to get the digital version unless I read somewhere about another manufacturer who had exceeded Canon. I am still learning the camera and its features. Lighting and composition I have had some prior experience!

[oybolshoi]

Terrific pictures - can't wait to get back to CG in May!

Thanks for sharing with us.

[paras4ri]

Originally Posted by chamonix

Ah, my favorite time to eat at Cali Grill--when it's still light when you get there, and the sun goes down, and the lights come up.....it's magical. I prefer it a million times to a fireworks timed meal......

This is a perfect way to describe the timing of our anniversary dinner in September - we loved it.

Loved the pictures and your review.

[hmillerbarilla]

This was such a treat! California Grill was our favorite meal on our last trip & I can't wait to go back!

I also want to know what the drink is that is pink with the cherry--looks YUMMY!

I'll be sending this thread to my mom & sister so they can get excited too!

THANK YOU!!

[S.Poppins]

Wow, just added this to my must try list! Great pics!

[ehagerty]

Originally Posted by hmillerbarilla

This was such a treat! California Grill was our favorite meal on our last trip & I can't wait to go back!

I also want to know what the drink is that is pink with the cherry--looks YUMMY!

I'll be sending this thread to my mom & sister so they can get excited too!

THANK YOU!!

The drink is 7-up and cherry juice - aka Shirley Temple - although they call it a Mickey Mouse at the world..... My son is 18 and has one a trip for nostalgia.