What is the best part of vacation? It doesn't matter where you are, whether you are hanging out with friends or you have gone to a completely different place, the answer is always the same... THE FOOD! I recently went to Walt Disney World in Florida and spent the majority of my time eating. For some reason whenever its vacation time I always allow myself to eat as much as I want and anything I want, and this vacation I did just that.
In Epcot, one of Disneys' four main parks, I ate at four different restaurants, each with a different theme. In Epcot, there is something that is called the World Showcase where you can walk to different themed pavilions and find yourself standing in a different country. Each pavilion has picked a different country to represent and represent it with different buildings, decorations, and foods to bring it to life.
The four pavilions I ate at were Japan, Morocco, France, and Italy. They were all very different from anything I am used to eating. The Japanese restaurant, Teppan Edo, was an amazing experience where they cook traditional Japanese dishes right at your table. The talented chefs not only cook your food but also entertain you with different tricks and small stunts making it the traditional Teppan-yaki experience. The menu includes Udon noodles, steamed rice, and various types of shellfish, meats, and vegetables that were all very well cooked and seasoned. Teppan Edo has been one of my favorite restaurants since my first time there a few years ago and is one of the many things I absolutely must do when visiting Disney.
Another restaurant that I ate at was Via Napoli in the Italian pavilion. This was my first time eating at this new restaurant and definitely wont be my last! This culinary tour through southern Italy has arranged some of the best meals that I have had in a long time. The menu includes various pastas, spinach lasagnas, chicken and steak salads, and amazing pizzas. For the restaurant to ensure the best Italian experience, Nick Valenti spent time in Naples studying the art of making pizzas and brought his knowledge to this restaurant making it the most mouthwatering pizza I have ever had. From the classic cheese to the magnificent margarita pizza, Via Napoli will always please.
Although much of the food I ate was at the best quality, not everything can always have such high reviews. Restaurant Marrakesh in the Moroccan pavilion did not quite live up to my other dining experiences in Epcot. While the setting, entertainment, and dinner servers were lovely, the food was lacking in more than one way. As expected, the food on the menu had a very different quality than I am used to, but what was strange was that the meals were all lacking in flavor. I had hoped for maybe not more spice, but more flavor all together, and it is simple to say that it was disappointing.
Last, but certainly not least, is Les Chefs de France in the French pavilion. This restaurant has been my favorite for many years now and still lives up to my high expectations. This restaurant not only offers new foods that I was delighted to try, like escargot, but familiar French dishes that are all delicious. The menu includes lobster bisque, French onion soup, roasted duck, braised short ribs, creme brulee, various fish dishes, and many other unique and delicious meals. Les Chefs de France also provides a character meal where you can meet Remy from the Disney movie Ratatouille, making a great place for kids as well. All of these restaurants are very different from each other, but Disney always finds ways to entertain everyone!
