Episode #157: Epcot's World Showcase: A Food Lover’s Paradise

Can a single park contain all the flavors of the world? We set out to answer that question with our appetizing journey through Epcot's World Showcase. Our adventure kicks off in Mexico, where we dive into the world of margaritas at Choza de Margarita. From the Top Shelf Classica with its unique black ant salt rim to the fiery El Diablo, we share our must-try picks and discuss our excitement for an upcoming lunch reservation that will be a fiesta for your taste buds.

Next, we venture to China and Germany, where culinary wonders await. At the Chinese pavilion, we explore a variety of intriguing menu options, such as crispy duck bao buns and Sichuan chicken dumplings, not forgetting delightful desserts like strawberry red bean ice cream. Germany’s Caramel Kuche is a haven for dessert lovers, with irresistible caramel toffee bars and decadent caramel beverages. These spots promise unique flavors that make them worth every visit.

Our journey continues with highlights from the American Adventure pavilion's Regal Eagle Smokehouse, featuring mouth-watering Memphis dry rub pork ribs and a smoked Angus burger on garlic toast. Japan’s Shikisai Sushi Izakaya brings izakaya-style dishes and exquisite sushi options to the table. We also share our thoughts on the hearty Shepherd's Pie in the United Kingdom Pavilion, the sweet allure of Canada's maple popcorn, and the highly recommended Liège waffle at Connections Eatery. This episode is jam-packed with insights and recommendations to make your Epcot visit an unforgettable gastronomic adventure.

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Transcript

Speaker 2: 0:21

Hello and welcome to Circle of Parks podcast episode number 157. Today we are discussing food you can only find at Epcot. There is far too much to see and do. We are here to help guide you through, but before we do that we must talk. Disney merch must talk Disney merch.

Speaker 2: 0:53

So this week on DisneyStorecom there is a spirit jersey Mickey Mouse donut spirit jersey for adults. It's part of the Disney Eats collection and it is priced at $79.99. And it is just. It's very, very cute. Why hang out at the donut shop all day when you can wear a tasty icing top spirit jersey that makes you a walking salute to Walt Disney World's Mickey Mouse donuts. Dip yourself into our all cotton top from the most magical place on earth and don't forget the sprinkles. So it's a pullover spirit jersey. Screen art mickey mouse donut. At front hem puffed, puffy, iced walt disney world logo. On the back shoulders puffy mickey mouse donut and d icon on the chest with the established 1971 text. So again, please go check that out at disneystorecom. That is this week's Disney merch. And while we're talking about merch, we have merch. Go to CircleOfParkscom. Click on merch. It takes you directly to the TeePublic website and you can find things with our logo, such as stickers, coffee mugs, sweatshirts, t-shirts and more, so please go check that out.

Speaker 1: 2:02

Thank you everybody. Episode number 157. Food. So please go check that out. Thank you everybody. Episode number 157. Food you can find in Epcot. I hope you're hungry. Yes, I had to snack before because I was just really hungry, and there's no good way to do this justice, right?

Speaker 2: 2:15

For Epcot especially yes.

Speaker 1: 2:17

So what we're doing is we're picking one or two items from each country and one quick service place from the non-World Showcase side.

Speaker 2: 2:27

Right.

Speaker 1: 2:28

And we're doing it that way because there's some cool stuff here and I'm so glad we're going and there's no festival.

Speaker 2: 2:36

Yeah, because usually you tend to do the festival booths and not the restaurants and unique items that are always there.

Speaker 1: 2:45

Yeah, so these aren't everything that we wanted. We're going to try on this next trip Right In two weeks. As they're recording this, we'll be in Epcot in two weeks.

Speaker 2: 2:53

Yes, two weeks from today.

Speaker 1: 2:54

I cannot wait. Wait times have not been that bad.

Speaker 2: 2:57

They'll probably pick up when we're there.

Speaker 1: 2:59

Been hot and rainy and I can't wait. Well, if you're new here, I'm Zach. I Hot and rainy, yeah, and.

Speaker 2: 3:03

I can't wait. Well, if you're new, here.

Speaker 1: 3:04

I'm Zach, I'm Brittany. We do this show every single week and our main goal is just to give you a break during your normal week, take you to Disney, help you plan your next trip and just bring some Disney joy to your day.

Speaker 2: 3:16

Right, it helps us out weekly to just get away from real life, you know, and when we're experiencing the disney blues, just bring a little disney to our week yeah, so wherever you're listening to us, we appreciate it.

Speaker 1: 3:27

Thank you so much, and let's go to epcot.

Speaker 2: 3:29

We're going to be starting in mexico yes, we're going to do the world showcase, we're going around the mexico, starting in mexico.

Speaker 1: 3:37

I know it's controversial which side you start on. There's some diehard people either way, though there are.

Speaker 2: 3:44

I like to start on this side, though, because that's how we've done it most of the time not all the time, but most of the time so I've just become accustomed to it yeah, so the first place we're going to in mexico is choza de margarita.

Speaker 1: 3:58

Now, if you know our travel planner, travel planner erica, this is what she rope drops gotta drink around the world she waits for that rope drop for a world showcase. No, we're kidding, Erica. So here now. I'm not a margarita person, you are.

Speaker 2: 4:13

I am.

Speaker 1: 4:14

Kind of. Yes, I don't know about this particular one, but yes, and so this is probably the most unique margarita that you may get in Epcot or in Walt Disney World altogether. So this is the top shelf Classica. How do you say that?

Speaker 2: 4:31

Yes.

Speaker 1: 4:32

Classica, you say it.

Speaker 2: 4:35

Well, and it includes Centinella, Reposado, tequila, alma Finca, orange Liqueur, fresh Lime Juice agave. But what makes it even more unique is the fact that it's black ant salt rim.

Speaker 1: 4:50

Ants on the salt rim. That's what you got there and it's $18. And people have said it's great.

Speaker 2: 4:56

Yeah, and there's some other unique margaritas here as well, just depending, you know, do you like spice or not. The El Diablo I've heard a lot of people talk about it and it's a Lalo Blanco. Tequila with Dos Ambres, mezcal, fresh lime juice, agave, cucumber, jalapeno juice, hibiscus salt rim. And then they have another one, the cucumber that. I'm not going to pronounce it all, but all the tequila. You've got orange liqueur, cucumber and lime juice, corn whiskey, agave, rhubarb bitters, tahini, chili, lime powder rim. So again, not just the, the black ant salt rim, but you have some others as well and you like tahini a lot too I do.

Speaker 2: 5:41

I just don't know if I'd want it with a margarita, though I like the classic or like strawberry, you know, but not, I don't know. I don't want spicy.

Speaker 1: 5:51

Yeah, all right. So next in Mexico, we're going to where we actually have reservations for for lunch.

Speaker 2: 5:59

Where are?

Speaker 1: 5:59

we going Brittany.

Speaker 2: 6:01

I don't have that.

Speaker 1: 6:02

You don't have it.

Speaker 2: 6:03

Oh yes, no, I do, I'm sorry.

Speaker 1: 6:06

La Cantina de San. Angel, yes, I just didn't have it open, sorry and this is in the Mexican pavilion yes, and this is where, like, you get to watch the boat ride and it's just very.

Speaker 2: 6:15

The ambiance is just very well, very nice, yes yes, and I'm looking forward to it, because it's one like every time we've ridden the three caballeros I'm like, oh, I want to eat there and so we finally will be able to experience it. And you know, it's got a lot of your classics, as far as you know tacos and queso and nachos. But do share which one caught your attention?

Speaker 1: 6:43

I'm going to get the taco trio. Do share which one caught your attention. I'm going to get the taco trio the barbacoa, polo and cameroon tacos on homemade corn tortillas. Yeah, that's what I'm getting. Is it unique? I don't know, probably not.

Speaker 2: 6:58

No, but I mean, you're getting some different flavors there, you know, in like the barbacoa. If you just get a plate of the barbacoa tacos that includes shredded beef on homemade corn tortillas topped with red salsa and cilantro, served with rice and black beans with queso fresco I just noticed something, so we're on the dining plan, the the disney dot.

Speaker 1: 7:15

Not the quick service, but the full one and we get a drink with this as well okay they have the top shelf classic on the rocks here as well oh, with the black salt. I may get that, just to say we did it.

Speaker 2: 7:27

All right, you go right, it's included with it. Yeah.

Speaker 1: 7:30

So why not Right yeah?

Speaker 2: 7:33

And then they have a tequila sundae. It is tequila 100 percent de agave, lime sorbet.

Speaker 1: 7:42

I'm a sorbet guy.

Speaker 2: 7:44

Spicy tamarind candy and chili lime rim, so that lime sorbet could be really good too.

Speaker 1: 7:51

I, I may, I'll say it now. I'm gonna get the classica on the rocks and we'll record my reaction to the black and salt rim. What, what do you think? Okay?

Speaker 2: 8:03

yeah, we can do that. We can do that, all right, yeah, so, but yes, looking forward to this restaurant, you know, again, there's not like anything, that's just like very, very unique, you know, but you do have these drinks. You have, besides, your traditional chicken and you know, chicken tacos, you have barbacoa as well and I like the fact that they're on corn tortillas, and then you know they have rice bowls and everything as well. And for the kids I like to always cover this a little bit for people when they're going to sit down restaurants. You know they have empanadas, they have chicken tacos, chicken tenders and macaroni and cheese all right.

Speaker 1: 8:41

So, moving on, we are going to norway and we're going to go to I can't even try to pronounce this britney. Why don't you go for it?

Speaker 2: 8:50

with the kringla bakery aug cafe the kringla bakery.

Speaker 1: 8:54

Yes, that's where we're going, and there's two items here. One is what they're known for and it's called the school bread. Now, we have not had this, but we are going to try it on this trip.

Speaker 2: 9:07

We want to try it. It's a sweet roll filled with custard and dipped in coconut, and I like coconut.

Speaker 1: 9:12

I'm not a coconut guy, but I'm going to give it a shot. Like this is the thing you get.

Speaker 2: 9:16

Right.

Speaker 1: 9:16

I'm going to give it a shot. And then the Norwegian Kringle, which we've had before. Yes, pretzel shaped pastry with a sort of topping. No, no, we've had the lessa the soft flatbread rolled with cinnamon, sugar and butter. That was delicious yes, the left.

Speaker 2: 9:30

So was good. Now we we may end up trying the school bread and the norwegian cringla, which is pretzel shaped pastry with a sort of topping such as almonds or chocolate. Uh, but definitely the school bread, for sure we want to try definitely going to get that.

Speaker 1: 9:44

And they have some, uh, nordic, nordic, nordic. I took nordic and norwegian and put it together the nordic draft beer. Now, if you have kids in the car, say earmuffs I don't think it's pronounced that way it's pronounced o Oosa, but it is not spelled that way. Pilsner, it's an Einstock White Ale or Einstock Toasted Porter. I've had this before. Delicious, crisp, unique. You will not find this anywhere, probably in the United States.

Speaker 2: 10:17

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 10:17

Elsewhere, I would imagine it's really really delicious as well, if you're a beer drinker.

Speaker 2: 10:23

Right Now, the Viking coffee has my attention.

Speaker 1: 10:26

Not mine.

Speaker 2: 10:29

So continue with the Viking coffee. So you can get hot Viking coffee, which is Bailey's Irish Cream Liqueur and Camorra Coffee Liqueur, or you can get it frozen, which has those two items as well as coffee, chocolate sauce and garnished with coffee chocolate crunch. It has my attention. I probably won't get it, but I do like Bailey's.

Speaker 1: 10:48

Yeah, all right. So moving on to the China Pavilion and being in the China Pavilion, we have never eaten here and, from what I've heard from other people, the restaurants in the China Pavilion are extremely underrated because most people think, oh, it's just Chinese food, I can get that anywhere.

Speaker 2: 11:08

Right.

Speaker 1: 11:09

So you usually can get a walk-up reservation to Nine Dragons Restaurant, which is the sit-down restaurant here in China. But everybody that I've talked to that's been there is like it's the best Chinese food I've ever had, and so they do have some very unique items here For the appetizers. They do have your spring rolls and chicken pot stickers, they have Sichuan chicken dumplings, which may have a little bit of a spice to it, and they have crispy duck bao buns. Now I do like duck.

Speaker 2: 11:37

And then you like bao buns too, and I like bao buns.

Speaker 1: 11:39

So this may be something that I would try. It's $15. And they have a house, I and they have a house. I can't talk today. House hot and sour soup. I don't know about that.

Speaker 2: 11:50

Well, and you get hot and sour soups at most restaurants, so it's just their house recipe, I assume.

Speaker 1: 11:53

Yeah. So for their entrees you can get crispy duck fried rice for $28, canton pepper beef for $25. I bet you that one's got some spice to it as well. Honey sesame chicken, spicy honey crispy chicken, kung pao duo chicken and shrimp with peanuts bet you that's really hot yes, because kung pao chicken tends to be regularly like on the spicier side.

Speaker 1: 12:16

So and then spicy mala happy family with beef, chicken, shrimp and vegetables, salt and pepper shrimp with spinach noodles, kowloon spare ribs and a vegetable and tofu stir fry. Now you do have the more traditional Chinese food items here, but there's a little different too there with the duck and the Canton pepper beef that I don't think you see on normal Chinese restaurant menus. Right.

Speaker 2: 12:38

Right, yeah, you don't usually see a lot of duck or some of these like the Canton pepper beef that you were saying, or it may not be as good. Right, Right and yeah, a lot of people say these dishes are very flavorful and then for their desserts they have a strawberry red bean ice cream or a caramel ginger ice cream.

Speaker 2: 12:55

I'm out and then for kids they have honey chicken nuggets and they have sweet and sour shrimp with lo mein noodles. Or you can get the kids deluxe, which shrimp, chicken carrots, broccoli and vegetable egg fried rice. So those prices are 10, 11 and 13 dollars.

Speaker 1: 13:10

Yeah all right, so moving on to germany now. This is one of your favorite places to go, britney germany.

Speaker 2: 13:16

Well, I've only been once, but it was delicious and smells wonderful. When you're in there and it's, can you say it?

Speaker 1: 13:22

caramel kush.

Speaker 2: 13:23

Yes, thank you. So it is where you can find everything caramel. It's like the werther's original uh caramel and you can get things such as, you know, caramel, german chocolate chip cookies and much more. But they are known for, like their caramel toffee bar especially, and I did try it and it is so good and it's almost like melt-in-your-mouth, but it is, at the same time, very rich and sweet as well, yeah, but it is delicious.

Speaker 1: 13:51

I'm not big on sweets, so I'm letting Brittany talk all about this, because I will try these things, but I'm not going on my way to get this stuff.

Speaker 2: 13:59

Right and I don't handle super sweet stuff like I used to. You know this was like a, let me try it. Everybody's been talking about it and I mean I would definitely recommend it. Now they have other things, such as caramel, apple, caramel, cheesecake with chocolate, hot salted caramel beverages, caramel mocha, iced coffee beverage and more. So I definitely recommend at least going and looking in there, you know, just to see what they have. And again, it smells so good when you're walking around it does All right.

Speaker 1: 14:28

So if you want to check any of these places out, you know who to reach out to Right Brittany.

Speaker 2: 14:32

Oh, is that our sponsor?

Speaker 1: 14:33

That is our sponsor, main Street Travel Company. They are just awesome. We use them for all of our Disney and non-Disney vacation needs. They can play in your Walt Disney World, disneyland Disney Cruise Line, adventures by Disney, aulani, disneyland, paris, hilton Head, disney and Vero Beach Disney Resorts. Exclusively for Circle of Parks listeners only if you book your next Disney Cruise Line with them, you'll get up to $1,000 onboard credit and several of our listeners have done that. Thank you so much. Take advantage of that, thank you Thank you.

Speaker 1: 15:05

We really appreciate you doing that. Thank you so much, taking advantage of that. Thank you, thank you, we really appreciate you doing that. If you do Adventures by Disney which they have a Southern California trip I really want to go do and you can get up to $1,000 cash back and if you book your next Walt Disney World vacation with Main Street Travel Company, they will throw a $25 gift card based on the value of your trip when you go. Also, if you book your Walt Disney World vacation with our travel planner, travel Planner Erica, she's going to throw an additional $25 gift card on top of the one you're getting from Main Street Travel. Yay, and if you book Disneyland with Travel Planner Erica, she's going to give you a $100 gift card. She loves that park.

Speaker 2: 15:42

Yes.

Speaker 1: 15:43

Loves it. It's so passionate about it.

Speaker 1: 15:45

Home park loves that park, yes, loves it. It's so passionate about home park. Home park, yes, so you can go check them out wwwmainstreettravelcocom. They're on instagram, facebook and youtube and my favorite thing about them I could say it every single time not only they're just awesome, you can call them 1-800-593-1262 monday through friday, 5 sorry, 10.m to 5 pm, central Time. Again, tell them we sent you, take advantage of special offers A lot of y'all are, and we really do appreciate that and they can plan your vacation. All the dining reservations, all of that, they'll take care of it, take the stress off of you and we're even changing things up to now.

Speaker 2: 16:23

Right, yes, but you know, we don't have to keep up with how many days out we are and everything. Like you know our travel planner, erica, she, she's great about that, and sometimes I'm like, oh yeah, we did discuss this. Yes, you're right, that's the time of day we still want to do that, so it's great to just not have that stress yeah, all right.

Speaker 1: 16:40

So where are we going to next? Next is italy italy now we haven't explored italy that much, mainly because it's always during festivals when we go, and the italian booth is usually not that good, so we usually just kind of skip it right, yes, now there is a location here for snacks called galateria tocana we'll go with that okay, or tosana I don't know okay anyway,

Speaker 1: 17:10

you picked this one out, so no, you're the one that picked it out. I don't think I did. Yeah, because you're like oh, they got gelato, so let's go with that one. Okay, so they have gelato and sorbet, because I know you like both yeah, but you can there's another place we're gonna talk about has better and we're well okay, so they have, they have different flavors of gelato.

Speaker 2: 17:33

Now they call it they.

Speaker 2: 17:35

It's not spelled like we're used to it being spelled yes, because it's italian yes it's gelati yes, yes, so make sure that doesn't throw you off when you're walking by. So you have choices of chocolate, vanilla cookies and cream, mint, chocolate chips, strawberry espresso or flavor of the month. You'll have to see a cast member when you're there. And then the sorbet flavors are lemon or mango and I'm like, ooh, that sounds really, really good. And then they also have floats and milkshakes. And then they have some unique creations as well, from a fresh Italian espresso poured over vanilla, gelato and amaretto cookies to homemade hot chocolate over vanilla, gelato, whipped cream and a picelle cookie. I'm not sure how to say that.

Speaker 1: 18:21

I've moved on.

Speaker 2: 18:23

Thanks.

Speaker 1: 18:23

You're welcome.

Speaker 2: 18:24

So anyways, but they have. You know a lot of choices of different desserts as well, so you might want to go check that out if you're welcome. So anyways, but they have.

Speaker 1: 18:27

You know a lot of choices of different desserts as well, so you might want to go check that out if you're a dessert person all right, so we're going to go to the place in italy that I wanted to put down, which we did, and this is via napoli restaurante pizzeria. Now, this is a sit-down restaurant in italy. Well, one of the sit-down restaurants in italy, and what they are known for here is the best pizza in Disney. Now we have not eaten here again, because we've always gone during festival time, and this trip we're coming up on this is where I wanted to go, but Brittany overruled me and was like we're going to Mexico. So I said okay.

Speaker 2: 18:59

And then the next time, whenever that may be. Yes, we're going here.

Speaker 1: 19:07

Two, three years years, I don't know the next. I'm kidding, we're going here. So what's so unique about this pizza? Well, it is probably the most outside of new york city in italy, the most authentic napoles pizza you can get. They import water from a place in pennsylvania that has the right ph balance to get the dough right. That this is how important this is to them right and so this is just the pieces here.

Speaker 1: 19:31

They have are going to be as authentic as they can. They're huge pizzas, and what has what I would like to get is is the meat lover pizza. It's tomato sauce, mozzarella, italian spicy sausage, pancetta, parma parmicado, ham and pepperoni.

Speaker 2: 19:48

So it's like meat lovers.

Speaker 1: 19:49

Yes, meat lovers, it's $60. It is massive, but you can also build your own pizzas.

Speaker 2: 19:55

Yeah, and they do have some like if you don't want like a large, large pizza, they do have some. Next to that, say individual.

Speaker 1: 20:02

Yes and then. So right next to it is the pizza window. It has not been open in a long time, but I've heard now that is it is opening up yeah, and I've heard mixed things about the pizza window, though that I've heard that it doesn't taste anywhere near.

Speaker 2: 20:16

It's not the same either, no, but it's still going to be better than where you get elsewhere on property right, but if you're really wanting the authentic, legit, special attention to the crust, all of that stuff, then you want to come here.

Speaker 1: 20:29

Yes. So before we move on to the next restaurant, we got some news featuring the Nutella waffles and the spicy chicken waffles at Sleepy. Hollow at Magic Kingdom Brittany. Do you care to elaborate on that of Magic Kingdom Brittany, do you care?

Speaker 2: 20:44

to elaborate on that. Well, you know there were rumors at first that those two waffles had been removed from the menu, but there was no official word or anything. Well, more and more reports were coming out and some vloggers have now been and videoed where the menu is posted as well as what they were able to order. And yes, at the moment those two waffle sandwiches I guess you could say are not currently available. No word on if they're ever going to come back or not.

Speaker 2: 21:17

So, instead of the Nutella hazelnut spread waffle with the fresh fruit, now you get a Mickey waffle, which hey, yay, mickey, love Mickey. So it's a big Mickey waffle and you still have fruit on there. Now, some of the fruit didn't look fresh. There was like a couple pieces that were fresh and then some looked more like a strawberry compote, so to speak, with whipped cream. So you're not getting that hazelnut chocolate spread anymore. And then with the chicken waffle, same. You're getting a big mickey waffle now and it's a more like heartier looking mickey waffle than what you're used to getting, like in the breakfast platters or at the buffets. But this one's just having like two like chicken tenders on it, so not the full-on sandwiches that we were used to and that we talked about a couple weeks ago so disney's usually pretty good about listening to guest outrage.

Speaker 1: 22:09

This may be one thing that they're they may listen to again, right, and if not saying it's going to come back, but just and if the big thing was bringing more mickey items in there like, hey, okay, keep the mickey waffles.

Speaker 2: 22:20

I liked how they looked, but still keep the same topping put the nutella on there, and maybe it was a supply thing either, maybe I don't know but it'd be great if they do keep the mickey shaped waffles and just add that nutella back in the fresh and all of the fruit being fresh, and then for the chicken making it like they used to, just, you know, with just change the waffle itself. But yeah, I don't know if it was a supply chain thing or what. That hasn't, I don't think, been officially said and they may not ever share that. But you know, again, I'm fine with the mickey waffle shape, just bring all the toppings back yep, yeah, all right.

Speaker 1: 22:56

So moving on to the american adventure. There's nothing special here, so we'll just skip it because britney's bringing up. No, no, I'm going blank on what I was going to say.

Speaker 2: 23:10

I'm bringing no what.

Speaker 1: 23:12

Oh, the funnel kicks. No funnel kicks, don't mention the funnel kicks.

Speaker 2: 23:15

Well, so he's talking about, for example, when I mentioned it, at what was it? Magic Kingdom and at Hollywood Studios.

Speaker 1: 23:22

Yeah, they're funnel kicks.

Speaker 2: 23:22

You can get them anywhere, no, no, no, we had some listeners that were especially the one at what was it Epic? No, epic Eats.

Speaker 1: 23:29

You're the one that read it, not me At.

Speaker 2: 23:30

Hollywood Studios with the like cookies and cream, flavoring and stuff, and so we had some people say yes, yes, so good when I put it up on one of our All right Moving on.

Speaker 1: 23:46

So American Adventure we'll just skip.

Speaker 2: 23:47

Nope, stop. So there's Regal Eagle Smokehouse, craft Drafts and Barbecue. Now I know you're thinking, okay, barbecue? Yeah, you've talked about barbecue before, but they do have, you know, some little bit unique items. They do have Memphis dry rub pork ribs, so it's not going to be what you're used to, with like barbecue sauce all over them. This is going to be more of a dry rub kind of spice to it and slow smoked in their pit, served with cornbread and your choice of side. So that's a little difference there than what some people may be used to. Also, they have a burger, but it's an angus burger on garlic toast topped with barbecue pork, lettuce, tomato, garlic aioli and a fried onion ring, served with your choice aside.

Speaker 1: 24:31

so those were a couple of different little twists and I think they smoke the burgers instead of cooking them on a grill. I could be wrong on that, though. Now, so we are going to eat here for dinner when we go in two weeks using the dining plan, and I plan on getting the North Carolina chopped smoked pork butt platter.

Speaker 1: 24:49

Oh, okay, so that's just pork, butt and cornbread, served with your choice aside, which I'll probably get fries. But again, it's just we've put off eating here before because there's just so much other, better places to eat at.

Speaker 2: 25:00

Right, and, like you said, festivals have been going on.

Speaker 1: 25:03

Festivals have been going on, but I think this time to take it, we're trying to look at how we can maximize the dining plan value If you go back and listen to the episode back in January. So this you're going to get value out of the dining plan from here.

Speaker 2: 25:17

Right. And for kids, you know, if they're not happy with some twist on some things, then you have like cheeseburger, chicken strips, macaroni and cheese and you have like cheeseburger, chicken strips, macaroni and cheese.

Speaker 1: 25:26

Yeah, All right. So moving on Brittany. Where are we going to next?

Speaker 2: 25:30

Next we're going to Japan.

Speaker 1: 25:31

Oh, so there was a lot of choices to pick from in the Japan pavilion, but when we saw this menu, we were like this, is it?

Speaker 2: 25:47

Yes?

Speaker 1: 25:53

So we decided to go with shikisai sushi. Izakaya izakaya. Yes, I love izakaya.

Speaker 2: 25:56

Yes, I'm not big on sushi, but I love izakaya, yeah, and so we'll share a little bit about that so izakaya is just, uh, skewered grilled items, not always beef or chicken.

Speaker 1: 26:06

I've had chicken hearts before, which were amazing, but they can do a lot of other things on there, but it's just skewered over hot coals on a little piece of skewer right.

Speaker 2: 26:16

So some examples of those could be like seared tuna or steamed clams or fried squid, grilled uh, and grilled salmon. You know different things like that and then they also do some a5 wagyu as well, so they have okay.

Speaker 1: 26:33

So for the izakaya menu here they have tuna, steamed clams, crispy uh. Shrimp, uh, fried squid fish, tempura salmon, grilled salmon. They have chicken nanban, deep fried, tossed in soy sauce. A5 wagyu it's four ounces and that is a hundred and twenty dollars. They have grilled wagyu goiza pan fried dumplings filled with smoky. A5 japanese wagyu beef.

Speaker 2: 26:59

I think me and ryan might, would have to try that, that's twenty dollars but he loves the dumplings they have eggplant, deep fried tofu, vegetable tempura.

Speaker 1: 27:08

So a lot of options there and from the grill. They have six of our signature skewers featuring two each of beef, chicken and shrimp for $30. And you can get just individual skewers there as well.

Speaker 2: 27:21

And they have some-.

Speaker 1: 27:22

Ooh, a Japanese savory pancake filled with bacon.

Speaker 2: 27:27

That sounds good.

Speaker 1: 27:28

We need to change our reservation.

Speaker 2: 27:30

And then they have like rice bowls and udon bowls and then they have, you know, plenty of sushi and stuff to choose from as well. You know anything from your shrimp tempura roll to a spicy tuna roll, salmon rolls, avocado rolls, and you know you have a golden philadelphia roll brian loves those yes, and you know just a whole, a whole slew of different types of sushi. So, um, definitely a place that I think, not not this upcoming trip, but maybe one in the future, after vietnam another time I don't know.

Speaker 1: 28:09

I'm thinking about saying bye to mexico and redoing it for here here's my thing with this. You, me and ryan would enjoy, but nolan not so much I'm kidding, and they also have a, a tuna boat. It's a boat of tuna, it's three hundred dollars, but it serves up to four to six people, though. So I mean, if you split it up, yeah, maybe.

Speaker 2: 28:31

Maybe, if we wait a couple years, no one will come around to this type of food no one's starting to get a little more adventurous when it comes to eating food?

Speaker 1: 28:38

now let's look at the kids menu well, that's what I was looking at.

Speaker 2: 28:40

It's either a kid's bento or a tamaki sushi set he does like noodles and stuff though well, and he really likes rice, so just finding the right dish for him to try.

Speaker 1: 28:52

Ooh, grilled strips of beef in a hot stone bowl at your table side, along with oh man.

Speaker 2: 29:00

Oh yeah, that's the.

Speaker 1: 29:02

Ishikaya's sukiyaki rice.

Speaker 2: 29:04

Yeah, but see, you don't like rice.

Speaker 1: 29:09

I do like rice yeah, right I eat like one bite doesn't mean I don't eat it, so but yes, a lot of good options here.

Speaker 2: 29:20

So, and another thing uh, in japan this isn't a restaurant or anything, but the boys really like getting some unique items from their stores as well different candies and cookies and stuff like that. And I meant to say that for the china pavilion this isn't a restaurant or anything, but the boys really like getting some unique items from their stores as well, different candies and cookies and stuff like that, and I meant to say that for the China Pavilion, because that's where the unique potato chips are yes.

Speaker 2: 29:38

So in the main store there in China you can get different flavors of like lace chips that you wouldn't find anywhere in the United States.

Speaker 1: 29:48

Right. So every time I go to Epcot even when I'm on, like my research trips Brian always wants me to bring back a couple of bags for him.

Speaker 2: 29:54

Yes.

Speaker 1: 29:54

I've got it thought, thinking about replanning stuff here. Okay, we just canceled Sci-Fi Dining for Hollywood Studios Night, right, Mm-hmm? Why don't we book this for our dinner at Epcot instead of Regal Eagle?

Speaker 2: 30:07

We'll talk about it more off the show.

Speaker 1: 30:08

So it's a yes. No, I'm telling you, Nolan doesn't is not going to eat any of this right now. We will figure it out. All right, yes, moving on.

Speaker 2: 30:17

You have all these ideas, but we're still parents, so you've got to think about whole family here. So all right moving on to. Morocco All right. Morocco all right going or me.

Speaker 1: 30:29

Uh, you go.

Speaker 2: 30:31

So I've been looking at the menu oasis sweets and sips is one of the locations we picked here and this is a like bar lounge type uh, bar menu. I guess you could say yes. So it's pastry assortments. You can get like pistachio, baklava, almond crescent cookies, sesame caloria I don't know how to pronounce some of these. I'm so sorry. There's a lot of other things listed, but they're $2.75 each if you get a pastry assortment and then or you can do like a pick three for $6.75 or a pick five for $11.50. So a lot of different types of pastries here. And then they have non-alcoholic beverages such as frozen mint tea or a frozen citrus pomegranate slushy. So if you're wanting something a little different there. And then, of course, they have some other specialty beverages as well, including that frozen mint tea where you can get it with Bombay Sapphire Gin added to it.

Speaker 1: 31:34

Nice, yes, all right, moving on from there, we're still in Morocco. We're going to go to Spice Row Table. Brittany, what are you interested in at Spice Row Table?

Speaker 2: 31:44

Well, one thing that you need to try and I have tried here is the naan spreads. Now, I don't think we got it from actually the Spice Row table. I think we also got it from Tangerine.

Speaker 1: 31:54

We got it from Tangerine Cafe, the quick service place.

Speaker 2: 31:57

Yes, but it's the same naan with different spreads such as hummus, chamula and marinated olives in za'atar for $11. Sure, and so definitely good. Some other things that have my attention, though, is the grilled lamb kefta.

Speaker 1: 32:14

That's what I would. The grilled lamb kefta is interesting me.

Speaker 2: 32:19

Yes, or even the spiced chicken or spicy shrimp as well.

Speaker 1: 32:23

Yes.

Speaker 2: 32:23

So again, we haven't eaten here. But a lot of people say, you know, if you have, have a chance, don't pass this up, or at least try that, that non-bread with the different spreads, and you won't be disappointed.

Speaker 1: 32:36

So not at all.

Speaker 2: 32:37

And then they um, they do have some specialty beverages, such as the pomegranate, mimosa, blood orange mimosa, hibiscus mimosa, a moroccan mule, uh, sahara sprit and a few others.

Speaker 1: 32:50

All right, moving on, we're going to France, and so there's a lot of amazing options here in France, right, but the first thing that came to my head was Le Halle des Glaciers, the ice cream place Le Artisan des Glaciers. Le Artisan des something, le Halle des Glaciers, and you're thinking okay, it's just ice cream, right? Yes, okay, it is just ice cream, I like sorbet. However, they have something that I've never seen anywhere else ever.

Speaker 2: 33:23

Oh, I forgot what it was. I see it now.

Speaker 1: 33:24

And it's the Croque Glacier. Yes, yes, croque Glace. Yes, yes, it is one scoop of your choice of ice cream in a homemade brioche bread and pressed warm.

Speaker 2: 33:38

Oh, and you get a sauce.

Speaker 1: 33:40

Yeah, whatever sauce you want in there. So they put the ice cream in the bread and press it with the sauce and press it warm. It's 950. I've never seen anything like that.

Speaker 2: 33:49

So it's inside this brioche bun, yeah.

Speaker 1: 33:51

Ever before in my life.

Speaker 2: 33:52

Yes, and I think only like we've maybe only seen it mentioned once. Yes, on social media or a vlog, and it looks good.

Speaker 1: 34:00

I and I. Every time we go here, I'm I would just get what I get. And then I see somebody getting this. I'm like, oh, I should have got that instead. Right, so next time I think me and you and Nolan's probably going to go back to their Jordan chill a little bit during the Epcot day.

Speaker 2: 34:12

It really depends on the heat.

Speaker 1: 34:14

But me and Ryan, I think I'm definitely doing this. I'm getting this next two weeks from now.

Speaker 2: 34:19

Right.

Speaker 1: 34:20

Definitely getting this. Okay yeah, it just looks so good.

Speaker 2: 34:23

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 34:36

So those of you are like why?

Speaker 2: 34:36

why is he keeps talking about y'all separating and stuff? So sometimes the heat just really gets to nolan and I and we're we're walking distance at this point, especially from the france pavilion side, uh, yep, so go through the side entrance to to our resort and so we. You know, if it's one of those days where it's the upper 90s and strong humidity which it probably will be we may, nolan and I may, step away for a couple hours. Yeah.

Speaker 1: 34:51

So all right, moving on now, united Kingdom is kind of like the American Adventure. Is it anything really exciting here? Not really, but there are some unique British items here besides just the fish and chips. You can get the Scotch Egg at Rose and Crown for $15. And they also have Bangers and mash and, uh, shepherd's pie yeah, so I would probably get the shepherd's pie.

Speaker 2: 35:15

And those of you that are like, what is shepherd's pie? It's ground beef.

Speaker 1: 35:18

Seasonal vegetables, english peas, mashed potatoes with irish cheddar yes, so we have not eaten at rose and crown, we've eaten at yorkshire, yorkshire county fish shop fish and at Yorkshire County Fish Shop Fish and chips. There are great, great English beers there, really good, and you can also get. The beers here are very. You can get an Imperial Pint for $11.25. It's Bombardier Amber Harp. I really like a good harp, old Speckled Hen, english Pale Ale, strongbow, cider Smith Wicks or Guinness Stout. Or you can get a Subinerin for $16.25. We can get a sampler for $14.75.

Speaker 2: 35:53

Yeah, and for kids here they have grilled chicken or fish and chips. I thought you were going somewhere else with that Nothing. Kids, kids menu Kids menu grilled chicken and fish and chips, and then for dessert they can get either a fruit salad or a plant-based seasonal gelato with mixed berries you can get flights of scotch here.

Speaker 1: 36:19

So you can get glen, kitchy, obon or lagavulin. They have a johnny walker flight, black gold and 18 wow. And then the McAllen flight for 2650, you get 12 year, 15 year and 18. I may be.

Speaker 2: 36:36

OK, you have to end your night.

Speaker 1: 36:37

That's, that's right up my alley there.

Speaker 2: 36:39

You'll have to end your night there All right and see what else they have.

Speaker 1: 36:43

Let's see.

Speaker 2: 36:44

OK.

Speaker 1: 36:45

All right, moving on to Canada. All right, uh, moving on to canada. Now. There's only one item that we saw that was very not unique, but just everybody talks about it and we're going to try it on this next trip as well.

Speaker 2: 36:59

We're gonna be gaining a lot of weight.

Speaker 1: 37:01

Yes, that day and this is the maple popcorn yes, and you're thinking popcorn, really why?

Speaker 2: 37:08

but again, a lot of people talk about it. Um, a lot of people say you know, that is the item that pops in their mind for canada and so we definitely want to try it. So the maple popcorn is priced at six dollars and fifty cents and they do have an alcoholic beverage called ottawa apple, that is crown royal whiskey. Maple apple infusion in cranberry juice. That kind of sounded interesting sounds a little.

Speaker 1: 37:32

Yeah, maybe, yeah, so that's it for canada. Now that's, we're done with the royal showcase. We're going to go to the non-royal showcase site for one place. We're not going to go to living with the land. Yeah, it's great food, but nothing unique. We did look at the what's the restaurant in the Seas Pavilion.

Speaker 2: 37:54

Coral Reef.

Speaker 1: 37:55

Coral Reef. Nothing really unique there. And then we looked at Space 220. Remember, when Space 220 was coming about, I was more excited about this restaurant than anything.

Speaker 2: 38:05

Yes, you were.

Speaker 1: 38:06

And then I saw the food and the price for the food and I was like no, yeah, no way Doesn't seem worth the price at all. And they have very cool sounding names.

Speaker 2: 38:17

Right For the items and the environment, the atmosphere of it. It seems it is unique from what we've seen.

Speaker 1: 38:27

But Not for the price. It's like $85 per adult, right, and I want to go check. I know and I know you're paying for the experience, but there's just other places we want to go to first now. Yes, when I saw the menu and the price, I was like really nah, I'm out, yeah, I, so I agree but there's a quick service place that you?

Speaker 2: 38:47

yes yes, no.

Speaker 1: 38:48

That made the list here, and it's Connections Eatery, yes, and there are several items here, brittany. You want to talk about them?

Speaker 2: 38:55

Yeah, so Connections Eatery. Now, don't get this confused with Connections Cafe.

Speaker 1: 38:59

This is not the.

Speaker 2: 39:00

Starbucks Right. Connections Cafe is more of the Starbucks, but Connections Eatery has several options of different meals to eat. Now there's a dessert that we haven't tried but a lot of people say is really, really good, and it's the. How do you say it?

Speaker 1: 39:15

Liège.

Speaker 2: 39:16

Liège waffle, and it is a brioche dough with pearl sugar, strawberries, whipped cream and chocolate sauce. Yeah, so that kind of sounds a little bit about like those waffles we were talking about earlier. Yeah so, but everyone says that this one is really really good. It goes well together. That dough is very special, so that is something unique here. And then they also had what else were we looking at?

Speaker 1: 39:44

So this has. It's called the French Bistro Burger. It's a gourmet beef blend, caramelized onions, bacon, brie on a burger. That's unique, right Mushrooms, dijon mayonnaise on a toasted brioche bun for $14.29. Now, the story that I've heard about the Connections Eatery was when they were developing this menu they wanted it upscaled a little bit than just your typical theme park burgers and pizza and hot dogs, right. So they brought in kind of like higher-end chefs to develop this menu. Okay, and from what I have heard and seen, this burger may be in the contest for one of the most underrated, most popular burgers in walt disney world as well it's very different yeah, they just have your american classic burger and a chicken sandwich.

Speaker 1: 40:30

And now they also have pizza here. Not going to be your Via Napoli pizza, but you get two slices for $11.79 of pepperoni or cheese or margarita pizza and they're big slices and they look really good they do. It is not your puffy pizza.

Speaker 2: 40:46

Right, it is not, and they do look really good. I think you get your money's worth for sure, for 11 bucks for sure, and 11 for two slices and disney, hey. And you know they have general style chicken salad and a couple other salads as well. And you know you have your french fries and cuties and coleslaw and then for the kids you have cheeseburger, chicken strips, cheese pizza, a chicken skewer. So you know a broad range of different foods here, but, like zach was saying, they put a little twist on it to make them a little bit more higher end higher end elevated.

Speaker 2: 41:20

Yeah, yeah all right, so anything else you like to talk about, for that no, no, they do have a mango coconut milkshake or an apple pie gelato shake. So if you're someone looking for sweets and you're on this side of the park, you know those are some things you can try as well.

Speaker 1: 41:37

Yeah, All right. So this brings us to this week's Disney trivia, talking about Epcot unique items in Epcot. What is the most unique item in Epcot that you can think of?

Speaker 2: 41:48

I'm making a face at you because you reshared that video.

Speaker 1: 41:50

Yes, it's a great video, but what is it?

Speaker 2: 41:53

It's a beverage that is nasty.

Speaker 1: 41:56

At the Coke store. It's Beverly, right. Yes, so what is a country of origin for the famous Beverly drink, brittany, do you know?

Speaker 2: 42:07

Well, after you reminded me then I was like, oh, that's right, it is Italy.

Speaker 1: 42:11

Italy. It is from Italy. And some unique facts about Beverly that you may not know. It was a before-dinner aperitif, so you drank it as like a palate cleanser before you ate your dinner.

Speaker 2: 42:24

Yeah, because you wanted to eat something quick to get rid of that taste.

Speaker 1: 42:28

And now you can only find it in Epcot, the Coke store in Disney Springs, the Coke store in Las Vegas and the Coca-Cola store in Atlanta. Those are the only four places in the world you can get Beverly now. It was discontinued for normal consumption in 2009.

Speaker 2: 42:48

Yeah, good.

Speaker 1: 42:49

But it was made from like 1955. I could be off in that year, but around the mid-50s to 2009.

Speaker 2: 42:56

It's just.

Speaker 1: 42:57

Now, that's just bonus stuff I'm putting in there.

Speaker 2: 42:59

Yeah, but I don't know if anyone out there has tried it.

Speaker 1: 43:03

You've got to do the Beverly Challenge.

Speaker 2: 43:05

You're welcome to share your experiences with us, but if you caught the video that Zach re-shared again earlier in the week yeah, it was.

Speaker 1: 43:14

You got to do the Beverly Challenge that was my authentic reaction. You have to do the Beverly Challenge. I did not think so. I guess I had built up in my head that it was going to be so bad. Now it was bad, but it was not as bad as I had built it up in my head to be.

Speaker 2: 43:29

And I think for me it was not as bad as I had built it up in my head to be.

Speaker 1: 43:31

And I think for me it was the opposite.

Speaker 2: 43:32

I'm like oh, how bad can it be. It's a Coca-Cola product, and then.

Speaker 1: 43:34

so the drink from the from China is just as bad, I think.

Speaker 2: 43:40

Is that the red one? Yeah, it's.

Speaker 1: 43:48

It tastes like the Rome burning scene in spaceship earth.

Speaker 2: 43:49

That's what it tastes like you can smell it and it tastes just like that. Yeah, but there's some good ones there, so everyone should try to experience.

Speaker 1: 43:56

Definitely. What is it? The Club Cool, club Cool. Yes, didn't think of the name.

Speaker 2: 44:02

And because there are some good ones there.

Speaker 1: 44:04

The Russian one. The Sprite from Russia is like the cucumber it's very crisp and refreshing.

Speaker 2: 44:10

I like that yeah that one's all right, but the Country Club one.

Speaker 1: 44:13

That's from the Dominican, I think.

Speaker 2: 44:15

I think. And then there's like the Madagascar or something like that. Yeah yeah, those two are okay, yeah yeah.

Speaker 1: 44:20

So this week's winner from X just edged out Sweeney. Uh-oh, deservations, yay, congratulations, deservations, you are this week's Disney trivia winner. Trivia coming up this week. Next week's episode we're doing trip planning. We're going coast to coast.

Speaker 2: 44:39

Yes.

Speaker 1: 44:40

It's here, it's almost here, two weeks less than two weeks away, so I'm going to try to find some trivia that may tie everything in together, okay.

Speaker 2: 44:52

I don't know, we'll see. Um, yeah, we're getting there, I know I, and I am so excited I don't mean to sound, it's just like wow and trying to think of what all to pack, because it's going to be warm in both places, but it's a different kind. You're going it's a dry heat you're going from a dry heat in california to very humid in florida and then you know there's there's that slight chance, even in California in the evenings, that you could get cool. So it's like, whew, what to pack? Yeah.

Speaker 1: 45:16

Well, we'll talk about that next week. Thank you everybody for joining us. If you want to support the podcast, the best way to do that is to book your next vacation with Main Street Travel Company. Tell them we sent you, take advantage of those special offers and again call them 1-800-593-1262. And for those of you that have, thank you so much. We really do appreciate yes, thank you and they appreciate it.

Speaker 1: 45:38

We hope you enjoy using their services again. They are completely free to use their services for booking your next vacation again. Call them 1-800-593-1262. Tell them we sent you. Take advantage of a special offer. Save some money, save some stress and just enjoy looking forward to your next Disney vacation.

Speaker 2: 45:55

I know we are yes, definitely For sure.

Speaker 1: 45:57

You can email us Circle of Parks at. Trying to take my computer out, sorry. You can email us CircleofParks at gmailcom. Our website's wwwCircleofparkscom. We're on Facebook, instagram and X, all at Circle of Parks. And again, thank you so much for listening. Next week we're trip planning baby.

Speaker 2: 46:14

Yes, talk to you soon.

Speaker 1: 46:15

Talk to you next week, thank you.