This Is Worth a Vacation Post; or, Dinner Jealousy, Part One

Unless you've been living under a rock--or don't check out my Facebook or my Twitter--you know I'm posting live from sunny Florida! I've spent the last few days at the Magic Kingdom and Epcot, and have relocated from Disney's Pop Century Resort to my uncle's timeshare at Westgate Vacation Villas. All in all, the R&R has been marvelous, the parks have been stellar, and personal satisfaction is higher than it's been since, oh, April 23.

So why, you might ask, am I taking this opportunity to post a blog when a) I'm on vacation, and b) I don't really post regularly when I'm home, sitting on my ass, doing nothing? Fair point, sirs and madams. The fact is, it's worth posting just to share with you, my few dear readers, the details of a spectacular meal I ate last night.

My love for California Grill goes back to my humble days as an employee of Preakness Gourmet Deli. My old boss, John McKnight (RIP, sir, you went way too soon), heard I was headed to Walt Disney World and suggested a few choice restaurants--one of which was a very nice California-style bistro/grill located atop the Contemporary Resort. I talked my mom into going, and she graciously allowed the meal to go forward even though she balked a bit at the prices. But I learned that day that you pay for what you get--and what I got blew my young mind.

Fast forward to eight years later. I've been to California Grill a few times since, but now I am of age, and therefore capable of taking advantage of the glorious wine list. So last night, Mom and I enjoyed another highly anticipated meal.

Before I get to the meal, allow me to stress that we are on the 15th floor of the Contemporary. Which means, when you look out the window next to my table, you see this to your left:



...and this to your right:



Glorious, no? And all this before the menus even came to the table.

It's not fair to anyone involved for me to go into graphic detail about the foodgasm I experienced during the meal. But suffice to say it was so incredibly delicious that I requested a copy of the menu, so that I could share it most accurately.

Here's the rundown:

• Sushi: Spicy Kazan Roll...Crab, Shrimp, Bay Scallops, Tuna, and Fireball Sauce
• First Course: Heirloom Tomatoes with Buffalo Mozzarella, Red Onion, Micro Basil, and Minus 8 Reduction
• Main Course: Seared Ostrich Filet with Buttery Potato Puree, Wild Mushrooms, Globe Carrots, Fig, and Honeyed Port Reduction
  • paired with a 2006 Frog's Leap Napa Valley Zinfandel

Jealous?

And to top it all off, I considered having for dessert the warm Valrhona chocolate cake, with molten center, house-made salted caramel ice cream, and caramelized golden pineapple. But I resisted, just barely. I opted instead for a glass of the Glenmorangie 10, a delicious Northern Highlands scotch with a rich palate, a very smooth finish, and one of the sweetest, most glorious noses I've ever experienced in a scotch.

Bottom line, it was a dinner made in epicurean heaven. Sure, it cost a bit more than I'd be comfortable paying on a regular basis, but hey, isn't that what vacation's for?

And the kicker is this: we still have one more sexy dinner left to go! Monday night is Le Cellier--and if last night's dinner was any indication, I'll have a lot to say about that meal as well!