Patina Group AP event - May 22, 2006

[cstephens]

MousePlanet is reporting that the third Patina Group AP event is scheduled for May 22, 2006. Nice that they're actually mentioning up front that APs can bring friends. It's definitely worth the $10. It's right after we get back from vacation, but I think we're going to try to go again.

Here's the link: http://mousepad.mouseplanet.com/showpost.php?p=861806&postcount=1.

[innerSpaceman]

Even with that link, I'm thoroughly confused.

What is it you're getting for ten dollars? Certainly not food, I would think. Is it the price of the "tour" of the three restaurants? But what exactly is it that's different from wandering around Downtown Disney whilst stopping in for a nosh at Naples and Tortilla Joe's and Catal?




Except of course that, absent this kind of group thing, no APer would be caught dead stopping at Naples.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Even with that link, I'm thoroughly confused.

What is it you're getting for ten dollars? Certainly not food, I would think.If I recall that accounts of the previous two, that's exactly what you're getting. And all you can eat (in sample size portions), I believe.

[innerSpaceman]

Hmmm, that sounds kinda fun, then.












(Ya know ... without the Naples part)

[cstephens]

Here's what I wrote about last November's event. They've been doing it twice a year.

I really enjoyed being there on a Monday night. We started at about 6:45 at Catal first, since it's one of our favorite restaurants anyway. I liked the bleu cheese polenta, even though I'm not that crazy about bleu cheese so would have preferred a different flavor, but I still liked it. (Polenta dinner!) I liked the ahi sashimi and the duck, though I didn't think the duck tasted like duck. Even though I had the lamb on our last dinner visit, I still had a taste this time. (That was apparently a very popular dish as they said it was disappearing fairly quickly as soon as more was brought out.) The salads were good as usual. I liked the sangria. I don't like red wine, but I really liked the sangria. I thought the desserts were ok, but my opinion doesn't count because I'm tired of the current dessert menu, but I did like the blood orange pot au creme spoon things.

We ended up being there for about an hour, catching up with people we know who work there, with a few surprises thrown in too.

We finally left close to 8pm and headed for Naples. That had been my main reason for wanting to do this. For various reasons, we'd never eaten at Naples and never been interested in it, so this was a good opportunity for a taste. I didn't end up trying the panini. I thought the lasagna was pretty tasty. We had a few things from the meat and cheese platter. Mmmm, parmesan cube. I had a taste of the pizza, and that was ok. I also had some of the pumpkin gelato, and that was good. I don't normally drink Pinot Grigio, but I had some there, and it was ok. I guess this means we'll have to go back at some point for a real dinner when I feel like doing a review to see how that goes.

We got to Tortilla Jo's at about 8:30. I tried the ceviche, but found it to be kinda boring. I had a taste of the steak fajita and chicken fajita meat, and they were good, but by this time, I was full and not all that interested in more food. The selections were kinda normal. The margarita was good, though very strong.

All in all, I had a good time, but I'm not sure I'd do it again, given the 1 1/2 hour drive after work. I'd probably be more inclined to do it if we were bringing friends who weren't familiar with the restaurants. And we started close to 7pm, which wasn't bad, but I wouldn't recommend starting much later than that, as things do tend to run out.

It's definitely a good deal for the food that's available. We are going again this year, as I'm taking the day off anyway, so I only have to get there from home as opposed to work, and we do expect that friends will be joining us.

As for Naples, it was a good opportunity to try it. Still haven't managed to convince myself to go there for a real meal though, given everything I've heard about the place from various corners.