Welcome to Carbapalooza ~ Oct 2016 Dining Report - Completed 8/13 (Updates x18, OMG!)

[Elevationist]

Deal!
I posted some of my pictures on FB but left out all the food porn since *some* people don't want to see it. Whatevs.

It's funny, I seperate my trip report and my food porn on the DIS, but on FB, I just post it ALL!

OK I am finally caught up! Although I have seen a lot of what you did/ate on FB already so I don't think I have too much to catch up on!

Nah, I posted pretty much everything on FB except the PhotoPass pics and ride pics. Though of course here on the TR and DR, I'll be talking more in depth about stuff than I did on FB. At least that's the plan!

I shoulda gotten those dark side chicken n waffles instead of that disappointing salad earlier this year. If we ever eat quick service at DHS again that will be an option.

You really should have. It was a super fun meal!

It would be even more awesome if BB-8 fit into a cup holder, like in a car or the movies. Because that would be the ultimate drink carrier.

I couldn't agree more! Though now he lives on my desk at work, and I drink my water out of him all day long.

So glad to hear that the Dark Side meal was good - I hope it stays on the menu

I do too. I hope it stays for a long long time, since the soonest I'll get to eat there again will be probably spring of 2019! Eeek!

Regardless, I may have to make a trip to HS for a Darth Vader cupcake. I'm not usually a chocolate cake fan, but if you pair it with peanut butter I'm all in! Looks delicious - and I probably didn't need to know they have Angry Orchard cider...so yummy!

You definitely need to make that trip to HS for this one. It's a hidden gem!

 

[Mox714]

I am late to the game but I am following along! I cannot wait to hear how the rest of the trip turned out!

 

[lizzyshakuntala]

Also late over here, but I'm in for the rest of the report!

 

[Elevationist]

I am late to the game but I am following along! I cannot wait to hear how the rest of the trip turned out!

Thanks for being here! Hoping to get another update out tonight. Fingers crossed!

Also late over here, but I'm in for the rest of the report!

Hooray! Glad you're here!

 

[Enorto1]

I love how you stuck with the theme for the dessert even!

 

[Elevationist]

I love how you stuck with the theme for the dessert even!

I had to! And so that glad I did, because it was super yummy.

 

[Elevationist]

Hollywood Brown Derby
Disney's Hollywood Studios
Thursday, October 21, 2016
Dinner


Despite reading mixed reviews, this one had been on my bucket list for years, so I was super excited to finally eat here!

My server was super sweet and took great care of me for the whole meal. Of course, we started with bread service...

Nothing particularly stand-out here. I remember the butter was whipped and very creamy, which I always appreciate.

Then my beverage order arrived...

This cocktail was called Hollywood Lights: Captain Morgan Spiced Rum, Parrot Bay Coconut Rum, and pineapple juice with a splash of cranberry juice. (The menu didn't mention anything about it coming with a glow cube, so that was a fun surprise!)

For my appetizer, I chose...

The Famous Cobb Salad, of course! Finely Chopped Greens, Turkey Breast, Bacon, Egg, Tomatoes, Crumbled Blue Cheese, Avocado, Chives, and Cobb Dressing.

Here's a pic of it all mixed up:

It was okay, as far as salads go. I liked everything in it, it was just the dressing that wasn't my cup of tea. It was pretty acidic, so I wasn't a fan. But I'm really glad I finally tried it! I would actually order it again, but ask them to sub out the dressing for Ranch instead. (Because I'm so CLASSY.)

For my entree, I went with my servers recommendation and ordered the...

Charred Filet of Beef, with Forest Mushroom-White Truffle Oil Mashed Potatoes, Sautéed Rainbow Carrots, Haricot Verts, and Red Wine Reduction.

This was absolutely delicious! The truffle oil in the potatoes made them extra yummy, and the temp on my medium-rare filet was spot on...

Absolute perfection!

Then came the Dessert Trio...

I posted this photo on Facebook, and one of my friends asked what each one was. I hadn't had time yet to look up detailed descriptions, so I told her: "Yummy red ball thinger, Tasty pudding like stuff, and Nom nom citrus cakey cake." That was good enough for Facebook, but I'll give ya'll the real deal:

1. Chocolate Mascarpone Sphere, infused with Apricot-Orange Jam.
2. Amaretto Flan and Opalys White Chocolate Whip, with an Almond Cookie.
3. Brown Derby Original! Mini Grapefruit Cake.

They were all delicious, but my favorite by far was the Amaretto Flan. It was so smooth and rich, and the flavor was just wonderful (though they could have been more generous with that white chocolate whip).

 

[Elevationist]

 

[Enorto1]

Mom and I ate at Brown Derby for lunch because we had heard of the legend that is the cobb salad. We both had the entree portion and I substituted for the ranch dressing because like you I am classy AF! Mom and I both thought the salad was good, not really outstanding but not bad enough that we couldn't eat it.

Story Time:
We were sitting in the middle of the "lower room" where you are basically sitting on top of other guests. Its like a bowling alley in there and so we could barely converse with each other. The table next to us (and by next I mean I could easily take my fork and steal a bite of their food) consisted of a girl about my age(31) and two adults (a man and a woman) about moms age(60's). The girl whom I will now refer to as KIA(know it all) had ordered a cappuccino and it arrived shortly after we did. She was drinking it and talking all about her new job at Starbucks and how she enjoyed wet cappuccinos instead of dry cappuccinos so she had ordered an extra wet cappuccino and she was sure no one really knew how to achieve this request because blah blah blah.. she talked for a good 5 min about cappuccinos. The waiter returns to their table and they order dessert and he asks KIA how her cappuccino is and wouldn't you know its not right! She ordered it extra blah blah and its not extra blah blah but thats ok. Can I just say this kind of thing really annoys me. Like why would you complain about your drink if you don't want your server to fix it for you which they are willing and able to do!?!? Any who KIA and friends finish their meal and mom and I are all like "wow would love to be on vacation with that KIA". But it gets better!!!!! So mom and I try to hold a conversation and I'm telling her about doing the visa meet and great. I show her the picture and I am trying to tell her the origin story of Kylo Ren so i say "thats..." and I'm trying to think of Hans Solo's name but I'm having a brain fart so I hesitate to think and KIA says "Kylo Ren, thats Kylo Ren" I SNAPPED! I look at KIA and I am all like "I know his name is Kylo Ren. I KNOW." I didn't scream at KIA but I did snap at her because hello this is an AB conversation so C your way out of it! I proceed to tell mom that "that's Hans Solo's son" which is what I wanted to say in the first place! Mom hasn't seen the new star wars flick so she doesn't even know what happens to Hans Solo and I would have flipped of KIA had then spilled the beans, but she didn't thank god! Needless to say it was an eventful first Brown Derby experience!

Sorry if I totally flooded this comment with that story but the memory came rushing back to me when I talked about the cobb salad! Now I am super hungry for a Cobb salad and a cappuccino. I think I'll get in my KIA and drive to starbucks, i'll make sure to order it extra dry!

 

[cinderkelly]

I've always wanted to try the famous Brown Derby Cobb salad, except for I'm not a fan of blue cheese, so I'd have to leave that off. It looks really good though. I've also heard good things about the grapefruit cake, yum!

Your filet looks scrumptious because, meat!!

 

[KathyM2]

The Famous Cobb Salad, of course!

I'm sorry that the dressing for this was disappointing...but I love salads that are chopped!! You know, no big *** pieces of lettuce to slow you down lol

3. Brown Derby Original! Mini Grapefruit Cake.

This sounds soo good!!!

 

[ariane37]

We haven't eaten at HBD in a couple years, but last time we did I Had that filet and it was heavenly! Glad you enjoyed your meal there. The dessert trio selections have never thrilled me so I kind of wish they'd change them up or have more choices but otherwise we've always enjoyed it there.

 

[kastoney]

Despite reading mixed reviews, this one had been on my bucket list for years, so I was super excited to finally eat here!

Hmmm, wonder where you would have read such things

Then my beverage order arrived...

This cocktail was called Hollywood Lights: Captain Morgan Spiced Rum, Parrot Bay Coconut Rum, and pineapple juice with a splash of cranberry juice. (The menu didn't mention anything about it coming with a glow cube, so that was a fun surprise!)

This looks like Billie in a glass and sounds heavenly.

The Famous Cobb Salad, of course! Finely Chopped Greens, Turkey Breast, Bacon, Egg, Tomatoes, Crumbled Blue Cheese, Avocado, Chives, and Cobb Dressing.

Oh my that looks like a TON of dressing. I think I finally have Jason convinced that we can go back go HBD on our next trip. He's not willing to try dinner, but their burger did the trick for lunch. I plan on doing the cobb salad, but think the dressing may need to be on the side.

I would actually order it again, but ask them to sub out the dressing for Ranch instead. (Because I'm so CLASSY.)

And this is why I love

Charred Filet of Beef, with Forest Mushroom-White Truffle Oil Mashed Potatoes, Sautéed Rainbow Carrots, Haricot Verts, and Red Wine Reduction.

YUM, YUM, YUM!!!! Sans the mushrooms this looks delicious. Glad it was cooked to perfection for you.

I posted this photo on Facebook, and one of my friends asked what each one was. I hadn't had time yet to look up detailed descriptions, so I told her: "Yummy red ball thinger, Tasty pudding like stuff, and Nom nom citrus cakey cake." T

Sounds like the perfect descriptions to me. I'm especially looking forward to the nom nom citrus cakey cake when we go

 

[DonnaBeeGood]

.

 

[samsteele]

Yaay for Brown Derby! But that does look like a LOT of dressing on that Cobb Salad. Too much. Maybe someone in the kitchen had to finish off the batch (don't want to say bottle because at BD it def should not be out of a bottle). But just sayin'. Different.

I was there before the dessert trio became a thing & I had the big slice of Grapefruit Cake. It was very, very good & refreshing. Sounds like the trio worked for you, though. Who would have thought a Flan could be Fab. Thanks for giving us the scoop on this. Sounds like its worth a stop in to the BD to check it out.

 

[lizzyshakuntala]

I've wanted to try HBD during our past visits, but my boys and DH would always opted something else either quicks or fun, which I never mined actually since nothing at DHS really stood out for me. So far we've tried Sci-Fi, ABC Commissary and Starring Rolls.

That fillet might win my DH's heart tho, so I might have to add HBD into our next trip's dining list. (yes yes still more than 2 years away, but you can never plan a Disney vacay too far ahead, amirite??!!) The cobb salad (which has been my only reason to try HBD thus far) looks like it was swimming in its own dressing. But I can always ask for it to be put on the side

I'm glad your HBD experience was a solid one

 

[Elevationist]

Mom and I ate at Brown Derby for lunch because we had heard of the legend that is the cobb salad. We both had the entree portion and I substituted for the ranch dressing because like you I am classy AF! Mom and I both thought the salad was good, not really outstanding but not bad enough that we couldn't eat it.

I wanted to try it "as intended" for my first time. Had I been smart, I would have asked for the dressing on the side though, that way once I tasted it and found out I wasn't feeling it, I could have asked for my ranch instead. Oh well, live and learn!

Story Time:
We were sitting in the middle of the "lower room" where you are basically sitting on top of other guests. Its like a bowling alley in there and so we could barely converse with each other. The table next to us (and by next I mean I could easily take my fork and steal a bite of their food) consisted of a girl about my age(31) and two adults (a man and a woman) about moms age(60's). The girl whom I will now refer to as KIA(know it all) had ordered a cappuccino and it arrived shortly after we did. She was drinking it and talking all about her new job at Starbucks and how she enjoyed wet cappuccinos instead of dry cappuccinos so she had ordered an extra wet cappuccino and she was sure no one really knew how to achieve this request because blah blah blah.. she talked for a good 5 min about cappuccinos. The waiter returns to their table and they order dessert and he asks KIA how her cappuccino is and wouldn't you know its not right! She ordered it extra blah blah and its not extra blah blah but thats ok. Can I just say this kind of thing really annoys me. Like why would you complain about your drink if you don't want your server to fix it for you which they are willing and able to do!?!? Any who KIA and friends finish their meal and mom and I are all like "wow would love to be on vacation with that KIA". But it gets better!!!!! So mom and I try to hold a conversation and I'm telling her about doing the visa meet and great. I show her the picture and I am trying to tell her the origin story of Kylo Ren so i say "thats..." and I'm trying to think of Hans Solo's name but I'm having a brain fart so I hesitate to think and KIA says "Kylo Ren, thats Kylo Ren" I SNAPPED! I look at KIA and I am all like "I know his name is Kylo Ren. I KNOW." I didn't scream at KIA but I did snap at her because hello this is an AB conversation so C your way out of it! I proceed to tell mom that "that's Hans Solo's son" which is what I wanted to say in the first place! Mom hasn't seen the new star wars flick so she doesn't even know what happens to Hans Solo and I would have flipped of KIA had then spilled the beans, but she didn't thank god! Needless to say it was an eventful first Brown Derby experience!

Ughhhhh. So annoying! I was seated in the bowling alley also, by the way. I had a couple to my left who were so close I felt like I was sitting with them... Super awkward. There was a family to my right who was playing videos and stuff on their phone with the volume turned way up to entertain their toddler... Which is pretty much a huge pet peeve of mine in restaurants. Damn bowling alley seating.

Sorry if I totally flooded this comment with that story but the memory came rushing back to me when I talked about the cobb salad! Now I am super hungry for a Cobb salad and a cappuccino. I think I'll get in my KIA and drive to starbucks, i'll make sure to order it extra dry!

BAHAHAA! Too funny!

I've always wanted to try the famous Brown Derby Cobb salad, except for I'm not a fan of blue cheese, so I'd have to leave that off. It looks really good though. I've also heard good things about the grapefruit cake, yum!

Your filet looks scrumptious because, meat!!

MEAT MEAT MEAT! #teamcarnivore Definitely the best part of any meal for me!

I'm sorry that the dressing for this was disappointing...but I love salads that are chopped!! You know, no big *** pieces of lettuce to slow you down lol

I totally 100% agree!!! That was part of the appeal of the Cobb salad for me! Love chopped salads!

This sounds soo good!!!

It was pretty tasty!

We haven't eaten at HBD in a couple years, but last time we did I Had that filet and it was heavenly! Glad you enjoyed your meal there. The dessert trio selections have never thrilled me so I kind of wish they'd change them up or have more choices but otherwise we've always enjoyed it there.

I rather liked the dessert trip concept myself! Kinda wish everywhere would do it, honestly. I like the variety!

Hmmm, wonder where you would have read such things

It wasn't just your review, I promise!

This looks like Billie in a glass and sounds heavenly.

That's a pretty accurate description of it, honestly!

Oh my that looks like a TON of dressing. I think I finally have Jason convinced that we can go back go HBD on our next trip. He's not willing to try dinner, but their burger did the trick for lunch. I plan on doing the cobb salad, but think the dressing may need to be on the side.

I don't think I even noticed that it was a ton of dressing until ya'll pointed it out here. I typically use a lot of dressing. But considering this was a lot of a dressing that I didn't love, I'm sure that effected my experience!

YUM, YUM, YUM!!!! Sans the mushrooms this looks delicious. Glad it was cooked to perfection for you.

There were no mushrooms! Well, the potatoes mentioned a forest mushroom truffle oil. But since a truffle IS a mushrooms, I thought that's what they meant. You like truffle oil, I know you do!

Sounds like the perfect descriptions to me. I'm especially looking forward to the nom nom citrus cakey cake when we go

It was nom nom yummy yum!

Mmmmm, I could use some Amaretto Flan for breakfast! Looks yummy, so glad they took good care of you. And now I totally need to add the name KIA to go along with PITA in my work life...

I could use that Amaretto Flan for every meal.

Yaay for Brown Derby! But that does look like a LOT of dressing on that Cobb Salad. Too much. Maybe someone in the kitchen had to finish off the batch (don't want to say bottle because at BD it def should not be out of a bottle). But just sayin'. Different.

Since I didn't love the dressing to begin with, I'm sure the excessive amount of it didn't help my enjoyment (or lack there of).

I was there before the dessert trio became a thing & I had the big slice of Grapefruit Cake. It was very, very good & refreshing. Sounds like the trio worked for you, though. Who would have thought a Flan could be Fab. Thanks for giving us the scoop on this. Sounds like its worth a stop in to the BD to check it out.

I did like the trio concept, actually! I liked being able to sample different ones. I never would have chosen the flan normally, but it surprisingly turned out to be my favorite!

I've wanted to try HBD during our past visits, but my boys and DH would always opted something else either quicks or fun, which I never mined actually since nothing at DHS really stood out for me. So far we've tried Sci-Fi, ABC Commissary and Starring Rolls.

That fillet might win my DH's heart tho, so I might have to add HBD into our next trip's dining list. (yes yes still more than 2 years away, but you can never plan a Disney vacay too far ahead, amirite??!!) The cobb salad (which has been my only reason to try HBD thus far) looks like it was swimming in its own dressing. But I can always ask for it to be put on the side

I'm glad your HBD experience was a solid one

Yep, I'm most definitely getting dressing on the side next time! And ranch. Because I keep it classy.

 

[IowaTater]

Holy crap!! Would you like some salad with your dressing??? That would be way too much dressing for me too. I can't blame you for wanting to sub it out next time.

That drink looks wonderful! I got one with a glow cube too. They're so fun. (That reminds me, I wonder what happened to mine.)

Man, that steak though...nom nom nom. Now I want one.

I'm not too sure I'd like any of those desserts but the flan does look pretty good. I love your FB descriptions of them lol

 

[Saphire5742]

Then my beverage order arrived...

This cocktail was called Hollywood Lights: Captain Morgan Spiced Rum, Parrot Bay Coconut Rum, and pineapple juice with a splash of cranberry juice. (The menu didn't mention anything about it coming with a glow cube, so that was a fun surprise!)

Ooooooh, pretty!!!!!!!!!!!

For my entree, I went with my servers recommendation and ordered the...

Charred Filet of Beef, with Forest Mushroom-White Truffle Oil Mashed Potatoes, Sautéed Rainbow Carrots, Haricot Verts, and Red Wine Reduction

Looks delish!

Interesting sounding desserts too. I'm with you on the chocolate whip. It looks like it definitely needs more.

Glad you had a positive experience (well except for the salad, but we all know that meat and dessert are what really counts anyways)

 

[Elevationist]

Holy crap!! Would you like some salad with your dressing??? That would be way too much dressing for me too. I can't blame you for wanting to sub it out next time.

I could have handled it if it was at least a dressing I was feeling. This was not the case. lol

That drink looks wonderful! I got one with a glow cube too. They're so fun. (That reminds me, I wonder what happened to mine.)

I ended up for 3-4 glow cubes by the end of my trip, if memory serves! (I'm a big fan of that Magical Star cocktail that most places served.) Like you, I've no idea where mine have ended up. Mostly like hiding out in one of my still partially-unpacked suitcases.

Man, that steak though...nom nom nom. Now I want one.

You should have one! It was super yum!

I'm not too sure I'd like any of those desserts but the flan does look pretty good. I love your FB descriptions of them lol

I'm hard-pressed to find a dessert that I don't like!

Ooooooh, pretty!!!!!!!!!!!

"Billie in a glass," as @kastoney so aptly described it!

Looks delish!

Interesting sounding desserts too. I'm with you on the chocolate whip. It looks like it definitely needs more.

Glad you had a positive experience (well except for the salad, but we all know that meat and dessert are what really counts anyways)

You got that right, girl!