Canadian Buffoon's Exhausted Vacation - Update 09/01 - New TR link!

[pkondz]

I'm envious of this! I really want to go there, but Fran is not a fan of fancy Japanese food. She prefers the more standard Teriyaki, Tempura. Plus she can't eat sushi due to her immune system. Maybe I can convince her to go and order the sea bass. She loves that.

Oh, I hope you can convince her,
I would dine there again in a heartbeat!

I knew this would be with Liesa, I thought you might do Tiffins instead.

You know me well!
And Liesa too.
(Pretty sure she lists Tiffins
as one of her fave places.)

Not sure if it's better, but DCL, Monsieur Paul, and another little establishment in DL use a fold that makes the napkin look like a little suit jacket.

Yes, that's right!
I remember that from Mr Paul.

That's really cool!

I've had a drink served like that. I think it might have been at the Star Trek Experience in Vegas. Before it closed.

I really liked the idea.
No watering down
of your drink.

I really want to do this SOMEWHERE! Did you know Omakase means "I trust you." My manicurist is half Japanese, she told me when I was explaining to her about Morimoto Asia's version.​

No I didn't!
I really like that!
You are trusting the
chef to pair the food
expertly for you.

I think I see Sake (salmon), Hamachi (yellowtail), Maguro (tuna), Uni (sea urchin), and Hirame (halibut). But I'm not an expert.

You are more of an expert
than I am!
I had no idea.

That sounds heavenly!

That has been my experience as well.

Not surprised.
The difference is quite pronounced.

Very interesting. I'd like to try that!

I wouldn't go out of my
way for it, but it was... nice.

Wow! It would have to be pretty spectacular to take that place in my book, but I'd be happy if it was in the top 10!

Well... upon further reflection...
I'd put it in the top 3.
Victoria & Albert was pretty
incredible too.
But... also a very different experience.

 

[cindianne320]

WOW! You have me sold on that restaurant. Now to plan a kid free trip, so I can enjoy with my husband...

 

[buzzrelly]

We were seated at our table
and handed menus.
Isn't this just the best napkin
fold you've ever seen?
Tell me if you've seen better.
(And you may have.)

I don't know…Yours is pretty, but DCL has some pretty cool napkins...

(just look at the napkin here…)

But while the room was pretty,
it paled in comparison to my
dining companion for the evening.

Aw, I agree. Hi, Liesa!

I had the:

Kami - Roku Gin, Sayuri "White Lilly"
Nigori Sake, Calipco, Lychee.
Cool glass, right?
Keeps the drink cold
without watering it down
from melting ice.

Love that! I don't care what it even tastes like, that glass is so cool!

If it's not quite clear... this may
have been the best meal
I have ever had at Disney...
or anywhere.

It sounds amazing!

Coming up... The next chapter, of course!
Does anyone look at these things?
Tell me if you do.

Of course

 

[pkondz]

WOW! You have me sold on that restaurant. Now to plan a kid free trip, so I can enjoy with my husband...

Oh, that's easy.

Just buy two plane tickets.

You're welcome.

 

[pkondz]

I don't know…Yours is pretty, but DCL has some pretty cool napkins...

(just look at the napkin here…)

Okay, now you're just
showing off!

Aw, I agree. Hi, Liesa!

Love that! I don't care what it even tastes like, that glass is so cool!

Right!
No watered down drinks
for me!

It sounds amazing!

Sooooo good!!

Of course

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

As you can see from the title,
I managed to snag an ADR
for, and dine at, Japan Epcot's
newest signature restaurant.

Well, congratulations!

We've met a couple of times before,
and I just assumed she'd have learned
from her past mistakes and say "No".

However, she not only agreed to meet,
but when I mentioned Takumi-Tei,
she was very enthusiastic about it!

Maybe she was drunk?

I suspect it was the food, rather than
the company that sealed the deal.

Oh, that could be it too.

I love doing that. It makes it that
much harder when I go to the parks
with bags...

I try hard to avoid bags at all cost.

Isn't this just the best napkin
fold you've ever seen?
Tell me if you've seen better.
(And you may have.)

I can't think of a single napkin fold I've ever noticed before, so I'm going to go ahead and say yes, this is the best one.

But while the room was pretty,
it paled in comparison to my
dining companion for the evening.

Awwww...buttering her up already.

Liesa ordered:

A live canary?!

Sakurajima - Kaiyo Japanese Whiskey Sour
with Smoked Cherrywood.
It was served in this smoke filled
container.
So cool.
I've seen that before, but...
Still cool.

Oh. That does look pretty cool.

I had the:

Goldfish.

Cool glass, right?
Keeps the drink cold
without watering it down
from melting ice.

Huh. That's a neat idea.

I decided to start with the US Wagyu.


I... I'm not quite sure how to say this...
It was... stunning. By far the best steak
I had ever eaten, in my life.
It was so flavourful, so tender...
I didn't know beef could taste that good.

Wow! That sounds amazing! Sounds like I really need to try--

Compared to the Japanese Wagyu,
the US Wagyu was garbage.
The difference was so beyond
anything I could've dreamed of
as to be indescribable.

Like I was saying, why would I waste time with US Wagyu? Pshaw.

And of those 1,000,000+ places
where you could go for a bite...
Only 12 of them have Japanese Wagyu beef.

Boggles the mind, doesn't it?

Well, if you take out the Waffle House, it's only about 600,000 places.

The meal ended with a traditional tea
ceremony (abbreviated... a formal
Japanese tea ceremony can last
up to four hours.)

Whoa. Thank goodness it's abbreviated. That's some serious park time you'd be whittling away.

If it's not quite clear... this may
have been the best meal
I have ever had at Disney...
or anywhere.

Sure sounds like it! I'm glad you enjoyed it so much.

 

[Jules76126]

We were seated at our table
and handed menus.
Isn't this just the best napkin
fold you've ever seen?
Tell me if you've seen better.
(And you may have.)

This one is actually really pretty. I have seen the swans before as well as ones folded into bride dress and suit coats.

Sakurajima - Kaiyo Japanese Whiskey Sour
with Smoked Cherrywood.
It was served in this smoke filled
container.
So cool.
I've seen that before, but...
Still cool.

Love this. I have also seen it before, but it never gets any less cool.

So the beef that you had looks good. However, I don't eat Asian food so I do think we will be visiting this restaurant.

Suiren Dani (Japanese Water Cake,
Rose, Kuromitsu, Kinako Crumb).

It looked quite odd, but I can assure
you that it was quite nice and refreshing.
A very nice counterpoint to the protein
heavy meal we'd just enjoyed.

This looks odd. Glad to hear it tasted okay.

The server placed our cups
in front of us at the completion
of the ceremony and we were
left to ourselves to marvel
at the incredible meal that we
had just enjoyed.

I absolutely love tea so this would be very cool to experience.

 

[natebenma]

And "just like that" I'm back again. Just read through the updates I have missed.

General comment- I'm wicked impressed with the creative photos! Love the moving ones in AK. If there was discussion in the comments about what this is called, I missed it. Pictographs? Or something else? Whatever. They are cool! The ride photos from MK made me smile. I love the advanced planning that went in to these- having the right props, getting the right expressions from Ariel. Nicely done! What a bunch of lucky guests who are in the Splash photos with you.

How nice that you got to spend some time with Doc & Coni, at KSC and their home. It has been ages since I have been there.. Went during one of the early Florida trips with Mark. Haven't taken the kids. I don't see a lot of movies, but yes, saw Apollo 13 (no points necessary, not formally in the game, just playing with myself)

The themed Animal Kingdom chapter was incredible! Safari pictures were

Kudos on the number one spot on Mine Train. And everything else you were able to do at MK that day. Even with back issues. It's amazing what you can accomplish solo.

OMG, your meal at Takumi-Tei looked and sounded freakin' awesome! From the intriguing drinks to the bites that just got better and better.

 

[KathyM2]

Trying to catch up and make the rounds as usual!! I think I'm confused about everyone's TR's...you all go so often I can't keep track of which trips happened when lol..but so much fun reading it all! and oh...hi again!

 

[franandaj]

Oh, I hope you can convince her,
I would dine there again in a heartbeat!

I looked at the menu, and she could order the Miso Soup and the Sea Bass, and then pick up the slack for me on the beef dishes that I wouldn't be able to finish!

You know me well!
And Liesa too.
(Pretty sure she lists Tiffins
as one of her fave places.)

I figured if you were going to a signature, it was probably with Liesa, as I knew the two of you had to meet up at some point. I just thought the youngins might have been involved and Tiffins would have been a better family destination. Then again she probably didnt want to pay that much for the kids!

No I didn't!
I really like that!
You are trusting the
chef to pair the food
expertly for you.

Well... upon further reflection...
I'd put it in the top 3.
Victoria & Albert was pretty
incredible too.
But... also a very different experience.

I'd say 21 Royal would have to be the best, followed closely by the Chef's Table at Victoria & Albert's. Not far behind would be my first dinner at Remy, and the Rogue Experience, (Wolfgang Puck's Test Kitchen). There have been other fabulous meals but those stand out in my mind as among the top ones.

 

[Steppesister]

As you can see from the title,
I managed to snag an ADR
for, and dine at, Japan Epcot's
newest signature restaurant.

YAY!! This chapter! (I'll do mine next as well so readers can see both.)

But when I found out that Liesa's
(@Steppesister ) trip was going to
overlap mine by a bit, I asked if
she wanted to have a DISmeet.

I was so glad we could do this! It's been on my list since Su-Lynn posted about her dinner there.

However, she not only agreed to meet,
but when I mentioned Takumi-Tei,
she was very enthusiastic about it!

I was!! Been on my list for a while. And was so glad to have finally done it.

I suspect it was the food, rather than
the company that sealed the deal.

Silly you.

I didn't have any bags with me
this time so sailed right into Epcot
through the no-bag line.

From the photos you posted, that was not the case for me.

I made my way through Future World
and around World Showcase to Japan.
Liesa was sitting nearby, I believe.
Pretty sure she was there before me,
in any case. I could be wrong.

This is correct.

We entered the restaurant and were
immediately enchanted with the décor.

It was immediately calming, subdued, and welcoming.

These spheres represent the
themes of the five dining rooms:
Wood, Paper, Stone, Water, Earth.
And each sphere is accompanied
by a Haiku.

As we sat, chatted and caught
up on our recent mutual trips,
we also looked around and
took in the room and its décor.

A wish, of those 5 rooms, we'd been seated it the water room. Ah well... another time.

But while the room was pretty,
it paled in comparison to my
dining companion for the evening.

Aw, shucks. You were pretty dapper yourself.

Sakurajima - Kaiyo Japanese Whiskey Sour
with Smoked Cherrywood.
It was served in this smoke filled
container.
So cool.
I've seen that before, but...
Still cool.

It was super cool! And tasted great!

Kami - Roku Gin, Sayuri "White Lilly"
Nigori Sake, Calipco, Lychee.
Cool glass, right?
Keeps the drink cold
without watering it down
from melting ice.

What a fantastic concept... now if Disney would only put enough booze in their drinks to make the concept worth it.

The server asked us what we
would like to eat and we both
selected the Omakase Tasting Menu.

I'm so glad I went with this one!

We mentioned this to our server
who told us that many guests do
in fact change their minds and instead
order the sea bass.

Next time, if there is one, I'm going to get that.

I'm not at all surprised... but am very
happy we kept to our respective
choices.
Well, at least I'm happy.
And I'm pretty sure Liesa is too.

Well, I'll save some commentary for my own TR ( https://www.disboards.com/threads/t...nture-h-is-for-happy-in-harambe-1-13.3764488/ ) I was very happy I'd gone with this. But, it was a lot of food and probaby a one and done for me.

Our next course was an order
of sushi.
(Oh. Point of clarification.
I am only showing you photos
of my dishes. Liesa received the
exact same thing, so picture two
of everything on the table.
We did not have to share these plates.)

Correct, and it was a LOT of food. At least for me.

Liesa, but I devoured every
bit of it... even knowing there
was more to come.

I did.... not.

Next came a simple palate
cleanser and... it may or may
not have been terrible, wonderful
or amazing...

It was..... surprising. More on that in my own TR.

Compared to the Japanese Wagyu,
the US Wagyu was garbage.
The difference was so beyond
anything I could've dreamed of
as to be indescribable.

I would also agree with this. Really it was not even comparable.

I think we were both getting a bit
full by now,

Ding, ding, ding!! Understatement of the year award goes to PKONDZ!!!

It looked quite odd, but I can assure
you that it was quite nice and refreshing.
A very nice counterpoint to the protein
heavy meal we'd just enjoyed.

I'm not positive, but this actually may have been my favorite part of the whole meal.

If it's not quite clear... this may
have been the best meal
I have ever had at Disney...
or anywhere.

I'd still put V&As slightly above this one, but only slightly.

 

[franandaj]

I was so glad we could do this! It's been on my list since Su-Lynn posted about her dinner there.

Did you mean the Omakase she did at Morimoto Asia? Or does she have yet another TR out there that I am missing? It wouldn't surprise me as she has so many!

 

[pkondz]

Well, congratulations!

Yeah! It was really hard
to get! I had to click on
buttons and everything!

Maybe she was drunk?

No other explanation!

Oh, that could be it too.

Except that one.

I try hard to avoid bags at all cost.

Except... I write these TR
things and tend to lug around
a camera... with bag...

I can't think of a single napkin fold I've ever noticed before, so I'm going to go ahead and say yes, this is the best one.

Good enough. Counts.

Awwww...buttering her up already.

mmmm…. butter.

A live canary?!

Yes. But it came out of
the smoke disoriented,
flew straight up and knocked
its head on a rafter and fell
into someone's soup.
They just ate it.

Oh. That does look pretty cool.

Goldfish.

Um... what???

Huh. That's a neat idea.

I liked the concept...
drink doesn't get watered
down, but...
I'd hate to have to walk
around with it.

Wow! That sounds amazing! Sounds like I really need to try--

Like I was saying, why would I waste time with US Wagyu? Pshaw.

Well, if you take out the Waffle House, it's only about 600,000 places.

Actually, if any place would
have Japanese Wagyu...
you'd expect it to be the
Waffle House, no??

Whoa. Thank goodness it's abbreviated. That's some serious park time you'd be whittling away.

Sure sounds like it! I'm glad you enjoyed it so much.

I'd definitely go again.

 

[pkondz]

This one is actually really pretty. I have seen the swans before as well as ones folded into bride dress and suit coats.

It suited (no pun intended... well... maybe)
the restaurant ambiance perfectly.

Love this. I have also seen it before, but it never gets any less cool.

I had seen it before as well.
But... it is cool.

So the beef that you had looks good. However, I don't eat Asian food so I do think we will be visiting this restaurant.

Wait... so you do think
you'll go, or you don't
think you will?

This looks odd. Glad to hear it tasted okay.

It just... looks like a giant
eyeball, doesn't it?

I absolutely love tea so this would be very cool to experience.

I wonder if you could just do that?

 

[Steppesister]

Did you mean the Omakase she did at Morimoto Asia? Or does she have yet another TR out there that I am missing? It wouldn't surprise me as she has so many!

I’m almost positive it was her and Steve that went there a while back. Don’t think they did Omakasi but I was pretty sure they did this restaurant.

 

[pkondz]

And "just like that" I'm back again. Just read through the updates I have missed.

Hi again, Dee!
Welcome back.

General comment- I'm wicked impressed with the creative photos! Love the moving ones in AK.

Thank you! I took
a bit more time and
put a bit more effort
into the photography
this trip.

If there was discussion in the comments about what this is called, I missed it. Pictographs? Or something else? Whatever. They are cool!

They're GIFs.
Built them from
several high speed
photos in Photoshop.

The ride photos from MK made me smile. I love the advanced planning that went in to these- having the right props, getting the right expressions from Ariel. Nicely done!

Thanks! Glad you liked them.

What a bunch of lucky guests who are in the Splash photos with you.

I must admit... I do kinda
hope that someone will be
surprised... but I think the
likelihood is higher that
they're not even seen.

How nice that you got to spend some time with Doc & Coni, at KSC and their home. It has been ages since I have been there.. Went during one of the early Florida trips with Mark. Haven't taken the kids. I don't see a lot of movies, but yes, saw Apollo 13

That was a great day!
I hadn't been in... decades.
Really enjoyed it and would
go back, for sure.

(no points necessary, not formally in the game, just playing with myself)

I beg your pardon?????

The themed Animal Kingdom chapter was incredible! Safari pictures were

Thanks!

Kudos on the number one spot on Mine Train. And everything else you were able to do at MK that day. Even with back issues. It's amazing what you can accomplish solo.

Do what you want...
When you want...
How you want...

OMG, your meal at Takumi-Tei looked and sounded freakin' awesome! From the intriguing drinks to the bites that just got better and better.

It was soooo good!
I loved it!

 

[pkondz]

Trying to catch up and make the rounds as usual!!

Welcome back!

I think I'm confused about everyone's TR's...you all go so often I can't keep track of which trips happened when lol..but so much fun reading it all

Well, I think this might
be the last one for me
for a while, now.

and oh...hi again!

 

[pkondz]

I looked at the menu, and she could order the Miso Soup and the Sea Bass, and then pick up the slack for me on the beef dishes that I wouldn't be able to finish!

Sounds like a perfect pairing.

I figured if you were going to a signature, it was probably with Liesa, as I knew the two of you had to meet up at some point. I just thought the youngins might have been involved and Tiffins would have been a better family destination. Then again she probably didnt want to pay that much for the kids!

Now that you mention it...
Not sure where the kids were?
They would've been welcome,
but... probably out of their
price range.

I'd say 21 Royal would have to be the best, followed closely by the Chef's Table at Victoria & Albert's. Not far behind would be my first dinner at Remy, and the Rogue Experience, (Wolfgang Puck's Test Kitchen). There have been other fabulous meals but those stand out in my mind as among the top ones.

I would put V&A as my 2nd fave, I think, for meal experience. And Takumi-Tei at #3.... but it would also depend on my mood. I put the edge to Takumi for the food, actually... but just by a hair. V&A for the service. Best meal was here: Eigensinn Farm

 

[franandaj]

I would put V&A as my 2nd fave, I think, for meal experience. And Takumi-Tei at #3.... but it would also depend on my mood. I put the edge to Takumi for the food, actually... but just by a hair. V&A for the service. Best meal was here: Eigensinn Farm

I remember us having the discussion about the farm a few years back. Sounds like a neat idea. Someday we are going to go to the French Laundry in Napa. Jill wants in on that one. That should be a meal to remember as well!

 

[pkondz]

YAY!! This chapter! (I'll do mine next as well so readers can see both.)

Great! Can't wait to read it!

I was so glad we could do this! It's been on my list since Su-Lynn posted about her dinner there.

It was on my list when
I stumbled on an article
that mentioned it.
It just sounded like something
I'd really like to do.

And I was right.

I was!! Been on my list for a while. And was so glad to have finally done it.

Silly you.

Merely the truth.

From the photos you posted, that was not the case for me.

I have a photo of you
(that I didn't post)
with the bag in the
background.
You then said "Wait!"
and put the bag below
the table (or out of the shot.)

This is correct.

Ah. Wasn't sure if I was
remembering that right.

It was immediately calming, subdued, and welcoming.

Wasn't it???
I really loved it.

A wish, of those 5 rooms, we'd been seated it the water room. Ah well... another time.

Me too, but I think that's
reserved for groups of
six or more?

Aw, shucks. You were pretty dapper yourself.

Nah. Just ol' dumpy/lumpy me.

It was super cool! And tasted great!

What a fantastic concept... now if Disney would only put enough booze in their drinks to make the concept worth it.

This is a thing with you.

I'm so glad I went with this one!

Ditto.
Got a lot of interesting
flavours in one sitting.

Next time, if there is one, I'm going to get that.

Not at all surprised...
I really don't know if I
could pass up that beef, though.

Well, I'll save some commentary for my own TR ( https://www.disboards.com/threads/t...nture-h-is-for-happy-in-harambe-1-13.3764488/ ) I was very happy I'd gone with this. But, it was a lot of food and probaby a one and done for me.

Standing by...

Correct, and it was a LOT of food. At least for me.

Me too.

I did.... not.

I didn't think you did...
But wasn't positive.

It was..... surprising. More on that in my own TR.

Maybe you remember more
about that one than I do.

I would also agree with this. Really it was not even comparable.

Right?
Night and day difference!

Ding, ding, ding!! Understatement of the year award goes to PKONDZ!!!

I'm not positive, but this actually may have been my favorite part of the whole meal.

Really!
It might have been my
least favourite.
Not that it was bad,
just everything else was
so amazing and I was
pretty full by then.

I'd still put V&As slightly above this one, but only slightly.

I do too.
Depending on my mood.