BFF Birthday Bash Weekend - Day 1 pt2

[chechas]

Cast:
Me (36),Nikki (40)

When:
Friday Aug 31

Make sure to read Part 1 first - LOL!

After tea and Gooding...we went back to room and laid down to rest and read and nap for our 9:50 Cali Grill ressie. I knew Wishes fireworks were at 9:30 so we were aiming to be at Cali Grill by 9:30 to watch from observation deck before dinner. Got up around 8pm to get dressed and curl hair and makeup etc. Decided not to drive as we knew we would be drinking at Cali grill so we caught a cab - Yikes!!! $11.75 one way! Oh well. We were escorted to 14th floor by CM at 2nd floor check in desk and the fireworks were just starting so we went out on the deck to watch - great view! And just enouhg of a breeze to push back the humidity.We went back inside at sat at the bar to await our pager going off. The bartender recommended a French Martini (Grey Goose vodka, Chamborg, pineapple juice and a splash of champagne). They were very good! We terrorized the bartender for a bit until our table was ready by 10pm and we were seated right next to the window looking at Space Mountain and Cindy's castle!!! So we got to watch it change colors and the end of park day quickie firework shoot off.

On the dining plan appetizer can be chosen from flat bread, sushi or 1st course section of menu. I chose the BLT flat bread and Nikki picked a Maine lobster salad. Both were good but the BLT flatbread was better according to Nikki (I have shellfish allergy so did not try both but she did). She said she would not need to get the lobster again and that. Two young ladies at the table next to us offered us the rest of thier bottle of wine as they could not finish it! We accepted - it was a Benzinger Family Winery carbernet savignon. pretty good! There was enough left for each of us to have a glass. I told Nikki it was an pay it forward moment! A couple of years ago we were at San Angel Inn for dinner in EPCOTs Mexico pavillion and could not finish our pitcher of Sangria so offered it to another family and they gladly accepted - we still had just over half the pitcher left.....so now it had come back around to us with the bottle of wine! LOL

Anyways. for entree I orderd the Oak-fired Filet of Beef with Crushed Red Potatoes with Nueske's Bacon, Green Beans, Teriyaki Barbecue Sauce - vcery very very good! I was not thrilled with the potatoes as the smoky bacon taste overwhelmed them and the green beans could have been cooked just a tad more but the beef and sauce were wonderful! Nikki had the Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Creamy Goat Cheese Polenta, Cremini Mushrooms, Zinfandel Glaze and Sage. The pork was so tender and juicy! Not dry at all and matched great with the goat cheese. Yes we shared off each other's plate! That was the whole point in ordering different entrees! LOL.

For dessert Nikki ordered the Banana and Butterscotch "Buzz" - caramelized bananas and butterscotch custard stack with coffee caramel, cocoa nib, and crunchy plantain and I had the Valrhona Chocolate and Coffee- Warm chocolate cake with molten center, house-made white coffee ice cream and cappuccino anglaise. The Banana dish was delicious!! The custard was great! Now the chocolate dish was just eh...man how can you mess up chocolate?!?!?! LOL. The "molten center" was not realy molten and probably the cake should have been heated longer so that it would not be a superthick muddy chocolate center but more of a melted center and the cake itself was dry. But the coffee ice cream was delish! The restaruant had emptied out considerably with only a handful of tables still occupied but we did not feel rushed to leave at all. Our waier was Walter from Massachusetts(my home state) so we chatted alot and joked. He was a little slow and disappeared alot and kept us waiting more than I would have liked but he let us tease him and his personality was so awesome and he made us laugh and smile so much that we left him an extra tip on top of the DDP included gratuity.

We caught a cab back to BWI ( this time it cost $15!) the guy explained that the trip back is a longer route around MK parking lot. But we won't be doing the cab thing again - LOL Lesson learned. We got back to the room around 12:45am. All in all a great day with lots of laughter and fun.

Tomorrow: Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Raglan Road,Earth, WInd and Fire and Pleasure Island.

[January-2007]

Wow, what a view from the dinner table! Thanks so much for the trip report!

[faline]

California Grill is one of my favorites! Glad you got there in time to enjoy the fireworks!

[iheartmickey]

It sounds like a delicious dinner. I have yet to try the Cali. Grill it sounds like something we'll have to do!

Thank you for sharing your trip report!

[Bethis26fan]

Sounds like a great way to end the day.

[ChipnDaleGal]

A perfect meal to end her very Disney birthday! Thanks for reporting.

[BriarRose0708]

That dinner sounds heavenly! What a great first day! Off to read more!

[pdrlkr]

Thanks for the report!

[disneydrmr]

Man - your taxi fare could've bought you a tin of tea! lol.... sounds like a very yummy dinner was had! And how great that you got a 'pay it forward' moment with the wine.