A much delayed trip report...2/28-3/3

[Bunless]

That evening, I had arranged a spa appointment for DH at the GCH. There was a massage and something else, sort of a late valentine's day gift. He finds spas relaxing, I get bored.

However, that meant that I had an evening to myself. I was able to walk around the parks by myself for awhile, and I had a seating at Napa Rose.

One thing that I learned, I don't want to go to DL solo. I always thought that I would want to, but after one evening of wandering by myself, I realized it wasn't for me.


I've never noticed this before....



I had a light dinner at Rancho Zocolo, just a kids plate, enouch to let me last until my Napa Rose dinner that night. I loved sitting in a quiet place at night, right by Big Thunder, watching the trains coming in. So wonderful.

[Bunless]

[Bunless]

Ok, finally finishing up the day!

A couple of weeks before hand I was perusing the House of Blues website to see if there were any shows that we might want to go to. There was nothing for me, but when I saw that it was something like 'guitar legends' on Monday night, I knew my DH would be all over it. I was at my computer in my office, he was in the next room over. I yelled out 'do you know this guy?' yes, he says. "Do you know this second guy?" yes "This third guy?" Yes--and why, what is going on?!?!?!?!

Ahhhh, baby, it's three of your guitar heros, on stage at once. He was so excited. Me, however, I could care less. So on Monday night, he goes off to the House of Blues...and I go off to the Chef's Counter at Napa Rose.

Darn.

So, Napa Rose...

This was my second time dining there, the first being in January with the entire family. At that time I ordered the chef's tasting menu...everyone else had three courses while I had five...oops. At the time it was the best meal I had ever had, hands down.

I sat at the seat closest through the pass through station (with a great view of the cheese...seriously, loved it, i love cheese).

What I love about Napa Rose, other than the food, is how entirely down to earth it is. Yes, the food and wine is amazing--but the people who work there are not the snobs that you associate with similar establisments elsewhere. It's just good people who love good food and love sharing it. It makes me feel warm and comfortable, and completly able to enjoy the food for what it is and not worry about my table manners. Those feelings grow even more at the chef's counter, as you're able to see what all is going into each and every one of those dishes.

I wish I could remember every course and share with you all, but I don't, I'm sorry. I have the menu somewhere...but it's probably still in the luggage. I will say that it was wonderful, but with one exception I didn't enjoy it as much as the meal in January. Just personal taste for many of the dishes. That one exception, though, was the most memorable food moment of my adult life.

Remember in the movie, Ratatouille? when the critic is suddenly taken back to his childhood by a single dish? when he begins to cry over that dish? I've heard of that happening before, I know that sense memories are powerful, but I'd never experienced it before myself.

Backing up now, when I was a kid and my mom made bbq for dinner, it was very simple. She put the chicken in the crock pot with a whole bottle of a particular bbq sauce--let it sit all day...plus slaw and some other fixins. That was always my favorite meal, ever. Even now, that's what I want when we go visit.

So, somehow, this dish, this second course...the chef managed to distill the flavors of my mom's bbq meal. They were concentrated, they were potent, and they hit me like a ton of bricks. I took a bite, stopped chewing, stared at the food in awe, and started crying. Right there, chef's counter, I started crying (actually I am now too, remembering it). Somehow, I managed through the entire dish, but barely. I was seriously loosing it. I was going to the ugly cry place.

Everyone there was so wonderful, constantly checking on me to make sure that I was actually 'ok' and by the end everyone knew all about my mom's bbq. Through the rest of the meal, I would, on occasion, start to break down again. So glad I was facing the kitchen and not the rest of the crowd.

At the end, the chef came over and shook my hand and gave me a signed copy of the menu...saying that it was such a great compliment, my reaction.

I'll never forget that experience, ever.

What a great night, both for myself and DH...but in completly different ways.

Next up, Tuesday, departure day.

[peppermint]

Oh, wow, bunless - what a great story about eating at the Napa Rose. That is a great compliment to the chef. He'll probably always remember that. And so will you. If I get the chance I'll try to order the bbq

[kaoden39]

I love the frames on your pictures.

[Bunless]

Originally Posted by peppermint

Oh, wow, bunless - what a great story about eating at the Napa Rose. That is a great compliment to the chef. He'll probably always remember that. And so will you. If I get the chance I'll try to order the bbq

I keep wondering if I go back next week, if someone will be like "it's the crying girl!" lol. Unfortunatly, the bbq dish was on the tasting menu which changes (i think) every week, so I don't know if it will ever appear again.

Originally Posted by kaoden39

I love the frames on your pictures.

Thank you! I just like finished looks, no mess.

Ok, Day four...of which I have little memory of...

Our last day, so we packed up and took everything to the bell hop before heading to the magic morning. We had never done Nemo during magic morning, but we did this time. It was very odd, usually I think of magic morning as a time to get alot done in a short amount of time...instead it was like getting one thing done in a long amount of time. I didn't really care for that fact, so next time I think we'll just rely on trying to find the ride at a low wait time sometime during the day.

I did get this lovely photo while waiting in line, though



Doing Nemo first thing in the morning really seemed to throw us off for the rest of our time there. It seemed like we were constantly trying to figure out what to do and going here and there. Not really sure why, other than it threw us off our game. I hardly remember what we did the rest of the day, though. I think we watched the Bootstrappers, because I took this photo while they were singing, which I've wanted to do for a long time, but for some reason never had



I think we went on Winnie the Pooh, but not Splash because we didn't want to be wet when we flew home



We obviously went on Big Thunder...
this is my must-get-each-visit photo



Eventually we made our way back to the GCH and I was able to marvel a bit more at the arts and crafts



I think the highlight of my day was getting this on the first try



All in all, it was a great trip. I think we could have stayed another day easily, just to relax and enjoy the sun. We leave again in a week for another four days...I'm using the excuse that I have the ol Vitamin D deficency and my doctor has ordered me to get sun! lol
I'm looking forward to the food and wine festival as I've never been, as well as the Celebration BBQ and fireworks and finally swimming in the pool!

The end.

[lulubelle]

Wonderful report and photos Kirkland Tutu.
Thanks for taking the time and effort to post it all.
I enjoy a lot of the same things as you do.

[vettegirl]

Beautiful report so far. I would love to stay the GCH hotel next time we go. The location can't be beat!

[Bunless]

I found my signed menu! lol, just as I was starting to pack for leaving tomorrow....

So, the BBQ dish was

Ravioli filled with a Poached Egg, Fresh "Burrata" Mozzarella and Butter Leeks topped with a Frisee Salad, Applewood Smoked Bacon, Braised Radichio and Pine Nuts

paired with Sammarco, "Verve" Negroamaro, Salento, Apulia, Italy 2006



Looking at the menu I forgot all about the multi-failed Tangerine Souffle! It took the pastry chef three tries before it lasted long enough to get to me. Even then, as soon as it was set down it started falling. I thought it was funny. It was still tasty!