After the turkey naps are over, hopefully you have plans to see The Muppets this long holiday weekend. I know I am headed back too, I just loved The Muppets that much. Enjoy the weekend!

Coming soon to a theme park near… ME! Flower and Garden Festival 2011 opens Wednesday!

Now the Power of 10 has been brought to my attention, organized by Disney fans in an effort to raise $1 million for Give Kids the World. Here is some more info below and instructions for how you can donate today and help children and family’s dreams have a little more pixie dust.

I know Disney fans are passionate and giving, and together we can all help make some families happy, if only for a few magical moments in time. Thank you!

Day 5 has a arrived and I thought, what better way to end this week-long guide to Disney-giving than a giveaway for you? Well how about TWO giveaways??

Thanks to generous and friend on twitter who wishes to remain anonymous, I have a great stocking stuffer to give away. Phineas & Ferb: Ride Again for Nintendo DS! My family loved playing this game and now you have a chance to win a brand new copy for your family.

In addition, the wonderful folks over at Rayovac (the official battery of Walt Disney World!) have sent me some fabulous products to share with you all. Included in this gift-pack will be a Rayovac pre-charged regargable battery charger including 4 batteries, a separate pack of 4 re-chargeable AAA batteries, a medium sized LED flashlight with batteries, a small LED flashlight (in pink!) with batteries, a 4-pack of AA batteries in a “Go Pack” (perfect for taking with you to Disney parks!) and a 2-pack of D batteries. I think this should help out anyone unwrapping toys and remembering “batteries not included” on Christmas day!  Many thanks to Rayovac for these items!

So how do you enter to win these two giveaways? Simple – just comment below to enter. Extra entries may be used by “liking” ZannaLand on facebook, or if you already do – tell your friends! Just comment again to let me know if you are adding another entry. Giveaway ends December 13, 2010 at midnight EST. I’ll use random.org to choose two winners on December 14, so I’ll have enough time to get these shipped out to you before Christmas.

WINNERS have been picked! Check the comments below.

Thanks to everyone who entered!! Happy Holidays!

Be sure to check out the other 4 days of Disney Gift Guides for some wonderful holiday ideas for Disney lovers – Disney Gift Guide Day 1, Disney Gift Guide Day 2, Disney Gift Guide Day 3, and Disney Gift Guide Day 4 too!

Ok, so after 3 other days of Disney Gift ideas, I bet you’re thinking, “she couldn’t *possibly* have more great stuff to share!” Well, you’re right. No, I’m kidding. Never fear, there are still some fabulous ideas for the Disney lover in your family!

Disney DVD/Blu-rays

Friend and fellow Disney blogger Ryan Wilson of the Main Street Gazette brought you this wonderful review of The Crimson Wing and what better gift for a Disney and nature lover? Also check out DisneyNature’s other films Earth and Oceans. Right now at amazon you can save $10 when purchasing two selected DisneyNature titles. It will also prepare you for the upcoming African Cats, set to be released this coming April.

Disney Books

Thanks to twitter friend Becky aka CanyonGirl789 for this recommendation -In Service to the Mouse is the humorous memoir of Jack Lindquist and how he became Disneyland’s first president as well as his other adventures throughout his 38-year Disney career. If you order now through December 12, you’ll also receive a $1 Disney Dollar – why? Well Jack Lindquist was actually the creator of Disney Dollars! They’re also offering free shipping with guaranteed delivery before Christmas.

Another favorite of mine that I cannot pass up are of course the great works of Steven Barrett – The Hidden Mickey Guy. Check out all of his Hidden Mickey Guides. Steve and his wife are two of the most wonderful people I’ve ever met and my family just loves searching for Hidden Mickey’s throughout the park. Steve was even recently featured on ABC news too! These make great stocking stuffers!

And lastly, Lou Mongello and his detailed audio guides and trivia book. Lou is perhaps the hardest working Disney fan I know and his work shows it. Along with celebrating his 200th WDWRadio show episode, he’s somehow found time to create these amazing guides to learn the ins and outs of our favorite “lands” at Walt Disney World. These would make a great gift for any Disney fan, young, old or in-between! Here are a few links below, or you can head over to WDWRadio.com for more guides!

Other Disney items

I just found this fun set and thought I’d pass it along to any snow globe collectors out there. I love anything that you can change with the seasons (hence my very LARGE Mickey Mouse Antenna Toppers collection) so this is just perfect!

And if you’ve already picked up Epic Mickey or TRON: Evolution, how about one of these unbelievably cool accessories??

Stay tuned for Day 5 tomorrow – which will have some surprises for YOU! Check out the Disney Gift Guide Day 1, Disney Gift Guide Day 2 and Disney Gift Guide Day 3 too!

Disney DVD/Blu-rays

A couple of months ago, I shared an amazing deal on purchasing all three of these DVDs below – Waking Sleeping Beauty, The Boys, and Walt & El Grupo for only $49.99 WITH a free lithograph. This deal has actually been extended till the end of January, which makes it a perfect Christmas present, not to mention a fabulous savings! For the Disneyfile that has it all, these DVDs are Must-Haves! Click the pictures below to see more details!

Video Games

Just released yesterday is the much anticipated TRON: Evolution video game, just in time to get in the Grid before TRON: Legacy opens in theaters December 17, 2010. TRON: Evolution takes place between the original TRON film from 1982 and the 3D film TRON: Legacy.

TRON: Evolution has a story set around a series of seismic events within the Grid of TRON. Players control a security program, Anon, who must protect the digital world from Abraxas, a dangerous computer virus. Players will witness unique moments that are referenced or shown as the backstory of the thrilling “TRON: Legacy” story. The game features the iconic TRON vehicles – light cycles, light tanks and recognizers – and has high mobility combat using light discs. The multiplayer modes enable up to 10 players to take on each other online in a variety of maps with on-foot combat, light cycles and light tanks.

TRON: Evolution is available for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Games For Windows – LIVE, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system and the Nintendo DS™ family of hand-held systems. TRON: Evolution – Battle Grids is exclusive to the Wii™ console. Check them out below:

Books

Continuing in the Disney fan that has it all vein…how about some books that go in-depth to the life of Walt Disney and the stories behind Walt Disney World’s history and theming? Check out these two wonderful books below, written by certified Disney experts and fans alike:

And for a fun and interesting interview of author and Disney legend Jim Korkis, head over to Disney Dispatch to learn more.

Other Disney ideas

For the Disney collector or Vinylmation fan, check out this Limited Edition Vinylmation Billiards set!

Or these adorable Vinylmation Condiment sets – sure to be a conversation starter! I’m totally telling Santa about these!

Stay tuned for Day 4 tomorrow! Check out the Disney Gift Guide Day 1 and Disney Gift Guide Day 2 too!

Now DisneyNature is announcing its collaboration with the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF), where a portion of the proceeds from the film’s opening week will be donated to the organization through the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund. The AWF will be working to protect the Amboseli Wildlife Corridor, a passage between the Amboseli, Tsavo West and Chyulu National Parks, that is frequently used by a variety of wildlife.

Check out the gorgeous trailer:

“With its honest portrayal of life on the African savanna, ‘African Cats’ reveals the brilliance of the animals who live there,” said Alan Bergman, president, The Walt Disney Studios. “We are committed to helping the African Wildlife Foundation establish this protective corridor, building upon previous enormously successful conservation efforts from the Disneynature label.”

“The African Wildlife Foundation is proud to work so closely with Disneynature on the release of ‘African Cats,’” said Patrick Bergin, CEO, African Wildlife Foundation.  “We are celebrating 50 years of working with the people of Africa to ensure the wildlife and these wild lands endure forever; extending the Amboseli Wildlife Corridor will be a great step forward in these efforts.”

The film, which will be released in theaters worldwide, opens in North America on April 22, 2011.  Tickets for groups of 20 or more are already available in the United States by calling 1-888-DISNEY6.

MORE ABOUT THE MOVIE

An epic true story set against the backdrop of one of the wildest places on Earth, “African Cats” captures the real-life love, humor and determination of the majestic kings of the savanna.  The story features Mara, an endearing lion cub who strives to grow up with her mother’s strength, spirit and wisdom; Sita, a fearless cheetah and single mother of five mischievous newborns; and Fang, a proud leader of the pride who must defend his family from a once banished lion.  Disneynature brings “The Lion King” to life on the big screen in this True Life Adventure directed by Keith Scholey and Alastair Fothergill (“Earth”).  An awe-inspiring adventure blending family bonds with the power and cunning of the wild, “African Cats” leaps into theatres worldwide beginning on Earth Day 2011.  For more information about the movie and the “See ‘African Cats,’ Save the Savanna” initiative, check out Disney.com/AfricanCats.

ABOUT AWF

Founded in 1961, the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) is a conservation organization focused solely on the African continent. AWF’s programs and conservation strategies are based on sound science and designed to protect both the wild lands and wildlife of Africa and ensure a more sustainable future for Africa’s people.  Since its inception AWF has protected endangered species and land, promoted partnerships with the private sector for ecotourism to benefit local African communities as a means to improve livelihoods, and trained hundreds of African nationals in conservation—all to ensure the survival of Africa’s unparalleled wildlife heritage. AWF is a non-profit organization currently operating in 14 countries across the continent. AWF is a registered 501(c)(3) in the United States. Visit www.awf.org.

ABOUT DISNEYNATURE

Disneynature, the first new Disney-branded film label from The Walt Disney Studios in more than 60 years, was launched in April 2008 to bring the world’s top nature filmmakers together to share a wide variety of wildlife subjects and stories with theatrical audiences. “Earth” (opening Earth Day 2009) was the first film to premiere domestically under the new label, and garnered a record-breaking opening weekend for a nature documentary. Its “Buy a Ticket, Plant a Tree” initiative led to the planting of 2.7 million trees in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest.  Hitting theaters on April 22, 2010, “Oceans” was the third highest grossing feature-length nature film in history. Its “See ‘Oceans,’ Save Oceans” initiative helped establish 40,000 acres of marine protected area in The Bahamas, preserving essential coral reefs.  Walt Disney was a pioneer in wildlife documentary filmmaking, producing 13 True-Life Adventure motion pictures between 1949 and 1960, which earned eight Academy Awards®. For more information about Disneynature, check out disneynature.com like us on Facebook: facebook.com/Disneynature, and follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/Disneynature. For more information about the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund, please visit Disney.com/conservation.



However, not to be lost in the world of computerized technology, TRON: Legacy is at its roots the story of a father and son, which is perhaps why this next clip appealed to me so much. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still stoked to be surrounded by cool glowing costumes and light cycles set to an original Daft Punk score, but without a story, there is nothing. Press play to watch this clip below and see if you agree:

Here is the most revealing trailer yet for TRON: Legacy, out December 17, 2010:

The first video – a vignette entitled “Grounded For Life” actually made me laugh out loud. This was a great little piece put together by Disney that really endears you to Rapunzel and her plight. I’m sure kids and tweens can relate to their own not-quite-so-severe groundings!

Click the play button below to watch this hysterical little clip:

Are mimes ever not annoyingly funny??

Next up, this behind-the-scenes clip discusses the sidekicks featured in Tangled. I had heard the thugs were funny but seeing is believing. This video actually made me want to see the film even more. I love the additional scenes we get to see and how we get to know a little more about the other characters.

Click to play and enjoy!

I hope these videos get you as excited as I am about Disney’s Tangled – opening soon – November 24! Be sure to check out my Tangled Princess Pasta post and other Tangled previews!

Walt Disney World Ambassador Vanessa Rosas introduced Vice President of Epcot, Dan Cockerell who then welcomed Mickey (dressed in his sea captain outfit) and Duffy from the nearby Friendship boat landing. After singing the official Duffy song and cutting the ribbon, Duffy headed over to the first of his two appearances: 12:20pm – 2:30pm and 3:45pm – 7:00pm. Be sure to check the official times guide or with Guest Relations to see when Duffy is appearing during your visit.

Speaking with Disney Trading Project Manager and all around cool guy, Steven Miller (who let me know today he’s taking on more projects, including Duffy – awesome!), he expressed the excitement about bringing Duffy on board and the many new things to come in the next few months. He was just shown a mock-up of the promised Duffy Ear Hat and said it looks great. Can’t wait to see it!

It was a good sign for potential success that all the World Showcase-themed costumes were sold out in a matter of hours! More are on the way and “Everything Duffy” Cast Members told us there will be a Halloween costume coming soon along with the other Duffy holiday and celebration costumes we mentioned previously on ZannaLand.

You can see people waving the Duffy-on-a-stick cut outs which have replaced the masks at KidCot stations. New Duffy-themed stamps are available at each country’s KidCot station to decorate the stick.

“Everything Duffy” takes over the former Disney Traders merchandise location but as of now, Duffy only occupies about half of the store. Other Disney items are still available for purchase. 17″ Duffy retails for $25 while the 28″ Fluffy Duffy is $60. Costumes start at $15.

It’s hard to pick a favorite costume, but I do love the UK’s kilt outfit as well as Germany’s lederhosen and Mexico’s sarape and sombrero combo. Adorable!

Duffy merchandise also has a small home in Mouse Gear, where they will sell a few costumes, but not the World Showcase country outfits.

Duffy treats were available in the popcorn, pretzel and hot dog kiosk on the way to Canada. Duffy Chocolaty Cup and Duffy Crisped Rice Treat were available and we were told the Duffy molded-bear popcorn buckets will arrive in January.

Stay tuned for more photos and information as it becomes available! Welcome Duffy!

Snap, Share & Win! Rayovac Summer Photo Contest:

The Snap, Share & Win! Rayovac Summer Photo Contest will begin August 2, 2010 and will conclude on August 29, 2010.  Each week will feature a different photo theme.  Eligible contestants will be able to complete the entry form on Rayovac’s facebook page, upload a photo and specify the theme.  Contestants may upload 1 photo each week for a maximum of 3 photos.  Once photos are posted, viewers can vote for 1 photo a day and add an unlimited number of comments.  Contestants and viewers can share the contest with their friends (eighteen years old or older) utilizing the “Invite Friends” button or by sending an email.  The photos receiving the most votes for each theme will win prizes.  Rayovac Powers Fun, have fun and be creative with your photo entries! All levels of photography welcome!

PRIZES
For each of the three themes there will be:
Grand Prize - a Digital Camera Package, complete with a Photo Printer and Rayovac Rechargeables and a Digital Photo Frame for three of the Grand Prize Winner’s friends.
Second Place Prize - Photo Printer
Runner Up Prize - Digital Photo Frame Keychain.

Phase One: Submit photo entry August 2, 2010- August 22, 2010.
(Week 1: Fun with Water Photo. Week 2: Fun Pet Photo. Week 3: Summer Fun Photo)
Phase Two: Public Vote August 2, 2010- August 29, 2010.
Phase Three: Winners Announced September 8, 2010.

Be sure to check out and “like” Rayovac on Facebook too! http://www.facebook.com/Rayovac

Good luck!

It’s no secret that ZannaLand has changed since its inception. In fact, when it first started there was nary a mention of Mickey and his Florida home. Originally this was a place where I sold a zine I wrote, entitled, “Zanna, Do!” all about my life as a slacker and how I was still searching for my dream job. That was in 2004, right after the sudden death of my father, after I had just turned 30 a couple of months prior. It had been my dream to be a writer since I could first put sentences together. I still have some very funny stories I wrote in grade school, summer camp, and high school which, while embarrassing to read now, bring me back to a time when I wasn’t afraid of failure or rejection. I just wrote. Then I got to college and decided to major in Creative Writing for Children and was suddenly hit with this daunting fear of “What if I fail?”. For a long time, that’s all I thought about, and decided if I didn’t try, I couldn’t fail. I then moved on to Travel & Tourism Management and living in Florida: briefly working for Disney and moving up from travel agent to manager of an Orlando area agency. I got married, had two of my children, and my dream of writing faded even further into the distance. Suddenly I was a mom first and any other ambitions went out with the diaper genie trash.

As I mentioned above, I turned 30, and two months later, my father was gone. Suddenly the little voice I’d tried to silence for so long in the back of my head was screaming at me – “Do something!”. So I wrote that zine. It seemed like a failure-free way to start out. I was publishing it myself, mailing it out to people online that wanted to read it, and even getting some independent book store distributors to sell it. It led to me writing an essay for a book that was published in 2005 entitled “If Women Ruled the World.” My piece was very fluffy and tongue-in-cheek and published alongside serious commentary on women in the world. It was exciting nonetheless. Anyway, life took over and I once again left my writing behind to carry on as a mom first and foremost. A few years passed and we relocated to Tampa, I had our third child, and as you most likely are aware, discovered twitter.

My story from that point on is well known; embracing my dreams of writing and being involved with Disney has been the best risk I ever took. Truly, I could not have been as ambitious as I was without the almost-instant support of everyone I came in contact with online. Rather than hearing “Don’t bother, there are a million and one Disney blogs out there…” I heard “Go for it, you can do it!”. Rather than hearing “The odds are against you getting on the WDW Moms Panel…” I heard, “You’d be perfect! Good luck!” And yes, my application experience was a little different because I thought I didn’t make it to the 2nd round but then I did – but sometimes technology is unreliable. Even Laura Spencer herself thought she didn’t make it to the phone interviews until right before they happened.

There will always be those that say I was picked because I was so vocal about my dreams on twitter and my blog – and yes, I was obsessed. I don’t recommend it to anyone because it truly was a 1 in 20,000 chance that I would get chosen and the odds were against me. I thought I hadn’t  made it and yes, I was crushed. I learned during those few days that it’s great to have goals, but you have to be able to adjust them if they aren’t within your power to achieve. I couldn’t *make* Disney pick me, no matter how bad I “wanted it”. I had done my best and had just gotten to the point where I was able to move on (great thanks to everyone that I leaned upon during that time, I will never forget how you all tried to lift my spirits), when I got the 2nd email telling me there was a mistake. It wasn’t a 2nd chance – it was a mistake. Obviously, my emotions were all over the place at that point and I truly can’t say how I wouldn’t handled it if I made I then didn’t make it to round 3 or the finals. But fate had different plans and I did make it to round 3, on to the phone interviews and (obviously) the panel.

As thankful and grateful as I was after getting off that phone call, a part of me never really stopped to realize what an accomplishment it actually was and to soak that in. Part of me always had my own sense of self-doubt that I had ‘bugged’ my way onto the panel. Logically though, even I can see how ridiculous that is. Why would a multi-billion dollar company choose me out of tens of thousands of entries just to ‘shut me up’? The simple answer is, they wouldn’t. The team behind the Walt Disney World Moms Panel application process doesn’t enter lightly into their choices. And while I’m never going to be the one to say, “yeah, I’m pretty awesome” the fact that Disney thought I was worthy enough to be welcomed onto this panel, is an honor to be celebrated. It has, in fact, been an amazing journey and the friends I’ve made along the way have made it all the sweeter.

Now lets get back to the blog! Once I made the panel, I was kind of in a place of limbo with the blog. Will writing it interfere with my role on the Moms Panel? Should I step away from Disney topics and attempt to be a “mom blogger”? I chose the latter and soon found out it wasn’t for me. I have great respect for mom bloggers and the real-life topics they share with all of us trying to be successful parents. I have even greater respect for those that can be completely real, dirty laundry and all, all with amazing wit and wisdom thrown in. I tried to be involved in networks and ‘get myself out there’ as much as I could. However, I soon found that blogging the same giveaways 100 other moms were posting was not for me. I had built my community of readers up by sharing my experiences and love of Disney, and now I was trying to tell them about this exciting new product. I felt like I wasn’t being true to myself. So I again returned to Disney-centric posting.

Then a funny thing happened, my adorable little baby that was crawling around suddenly started walking and talking and running and wanting to get into everything all.the.time. My older kids had a lot going on at school too and my time to blog was suddenly reduced to maybe two hours a day…and in those same two hours I had to take a shower, keep up with laundry, clean the house and once April came around, answer questions on the Moms Panel. I know thousands of women do all this and more daily, but I just couldn’t keep up and actually get any writing done. There were (and are) multiple days in a row when I just can’t update the site. Then, of course, I get anxious. “OMG everyone’s going to delete my site from their feed, stop reading, move on, and forget about me!” And yes, I am admitting that I fear that. I am not making any money from this site and I’m not in it for ‘fame’ or ‘celebrity’ in fact it makes me cringe when I see pictures or video of myself, even though I love the opportunities that take place to hang out with the other people in those pictures and videos. What I was and am in it for is to fulfill my dream of writing. I’ve made some strides there and have been incredibly grateful for the breaks I’ve been given to be a guest author and now a contributing author at Whoa, Momma! Being on the Moms Panel has also been amazing and every time I log on to answer questions, I get a smile on my face.

So, where does that leave me? Well, I’ve never been an “information only” blog. I will share news or reviews but 99% of the time I still throw my personal spin on it. The thing about blogging is you want to share your stories with others. You want people to read and connect and interact. And once you get a little of that, it does become a little addictive. It’s hard not to think, how can I reach more people? How can I get more readers? And as noted, I do have down days where I want to give it all up. This blog will always be a personal blog for better or for worse. There are 100′s or even 1000′s of blogs and sites that will tell you the latest and greatest Disney news – and they are wonderful. ZannaLand will never be one of those sites.

What I will do is tell you how walking down Main Street, USA looking up at Cinderella Castle at night still gives me chills. I’ll tell you about my interactions with Dreamfinder in 1983 and how he and Figment wanted to connect the dots on my freckles. I’ll tell you about my when my two oldest children were little and their faces lit up at the ‘snow’ and lights at the Studios or how my youngest ran to the window of Animal Kingdom Lodge and yelled out “RAFFE!” as he saw his first live giraffe through the windows. In between, I’ll share some tips and other experiences that may make your vacation more enjoyable. Maybe I’ll give some things away. Maybe I’ll share some other bloggers with you, or other travel destinations I think you may enjoy. My point is, you’ll get me, my personal experiences and then some. And I wouldn’t have it any other way. Hopefully, you’ll find something you can identify with and share back with me, because we’re just getting started.

Thank you for reading.

I was curious as to how we’d be seated for the night, since I knew Raglan Road did not have a closed-off area and the event was for 63 people. For those who’ve not yet been, throughout the restaurant you will find antique furnishings, grand fixtures, marble adornments, leaded glass, and ornate detailing.  The entire pub was built in Ireland then shipped to Orlando. As we arrived, the Irish band was just taking the stage.

Raglan Road is pleasing to the eye and ear from the moment you step inside.

We were taken to the Raglan Room to the left of the stage and bar. This oak-paneled room was built using original woods from an old Georgian mansion in Dublin. It was nicely intimate while still enjoying the ambiance of the rest of the venue.When we were seated, we found some nice items waiting for us.

At each place setting was a rose, a souvenir menu, and an autographed copy of Chef Kevin Dundon's most recent cookbook.

There were both large and small tables throughout the room. We were seated at a table for six. Like most group seating at Disney, there is usually an instant topic of conversation because of course, we are all fans of Disney. In this case, added to that was the fact that we were all lovers of food and wine and looking forward to the evenings selections. Soon our first choices were offered – wine and appetizers.

We were given a choice of 14 Hands Merlot, 14 Hands Cabernet Sauvignon, or Terrazas Torrontes. My husband chose the Merlot and enjoyed it while I had the Torrontes and proved yet again that I do indeed like good wine. Our next choice was between an appetizer of Goat Cheese Salad with Orange and Caramelized Walnuts served on a bed of Organic greens or Crispy Filet of Fresh Atlantic Salmon served in a Saffron Broth with Stewed Grape Tomatoes. I chose the former and my husband chose the latter.

Goat Cheese Salad with Orange & Caramelized Walnuts Served on a bed of Organic Greens. Delicious.

I cannot adequately put into words how well the components of this salad worked together. Individually, they were all wonderful, but when you combined the goat cheese with an orange, it burst with flavor. With the caramelized walnuts, it was a whole new taste and with the little peppered Parmesan cheese crust, another completely different and delicious combination. Pretty much perfection in a salad!

Crispy Fresh Atlantic Salmon in Saffron Broth with basil and stewed grape tomatoes

Here I have to admit that I am not a salmon person. I have tried it so many times and I just don’t enjoy it. However, my husband insisted I had to try this, and he was right. It really was wonderful. Even the tomatoes (which I also do not usually like) just melted in your mouth.

Next up, the soup that both of us were so looking forward to – Delicate Lobster Bisque garnished with Crème Fraiche and Lobster Meat. I don’t think any of the diners were prepared for the amazing presentation of this dish:

A bowl was brought out to each diner, with some fresh lobster meat and a dollop of crème fraiche...

Soon, the waitstaff came around with pots of the lobster bisque broth and added it to each bowl...

Instantly, the crème fraiche began melting into the bisque...

Resulting in a simply beautiful bowl of Lobster Bisque - not too heavy, perfectly seasoned and delectable.

Now I have to say, I could’ve gone home at this point completely satisfied, everything was so wonderful. The entrees were soon on their way and we had another choice here: Roast Loin of Lamb with Dauphinoise Potatoes and miniature Lamb Pie or Oven-roasted Turbot with Crispy Potato Scales and Caper Vinaigrette served on a Leek Fondue. My husband chose the lamb and I the turbot.

As you can see, the presentation was impeccable. The shot glass full of lamb pie was adorable and my husband thought every item was superb.

My Oven-roasted Turbot was wonderful. A Perfect combination of flavors and textures.

And just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, dessert was individual mugs of Baked Chocolate Fondant (very similar to a chocolate souffle to my non-expert palate) with Stout-flavored ice cream. Again, presentation was all part of the experience here:

The cups of Baked Chocolate Fondue...

The stout-flavored ice cream melting into the fondue. Wonderful!

After desserts were served, we were all brought an Irish coffee which was a nice nightcap to the evening. Plates of hand-made Irish truffles were then also brought out to each table.

Our Irish Coffee to end the meal.

Hand-made Irish Truffles and Chocolates

After the final desserts, Chef Kevin Dundon came out and spoke to each person at every table. He was extremely personable and open to discussing the dishes and his work. It was a nice treat to meet the chef behind the creations we’d just enjoyed and Raglan Road Pub’s menu as well.

Chef Dundon speaking to our table-mates.

Of course I couldn't pass up a picture with Chef Dundon after we chatted. He loves Boston by the way.

All in all, it was a simply spectacular evening. I was so happy to be able to enjoy it with my husband. It has been a long time since we’ve experienced such a gourmet meal alone together. I would like to personally thank Chef Dundon and the staff at Raglan Road for the impeccable service we received. This night differed from the previous Tables in Wonderland event I’d been to in that it was a little larger and more focused on overall flavor combinations versus the one or two ingredients that the prior event featured. I’m really glad I was able to experience both and that’s just part of the benefit to being a Tables in Wonderland member!

I would have had this review posted sooner, but I had been trying in vain to get an interview from the exceptionally busy Chef Dundon. Finally I decided to just share the experience with you all and hopefully I’ll be able to post the interview sometime in the future (maybe even with a signed cookbook giveaway too!). Be sure to let the Raglan Road twitter account you’d love to read Chef Dundon’s interview on ZannaLand. UPDATE: The fine folks at the Raglan Road Pub twitter account informed me this morning that a response had been sent and to check my spam folder. I did and low and behold, there were the answers. Color me embarrassed! Stay tuned for Chef Kevin Dundon’s interview and a book giveaway next week! Interview or not, look for more unique items like those featured here when you visit Raglan Road at Downtown Disney and more events like this from Tables in Wonderland!