[MickeyLumbo]

this year's Candlelight Procession was awesome as usual, but,
before the procession began, there was dinner.

not only had i never eaten at the Vineyard Room, i have heard VERY LITTLE about it. so i felt like i was rollin' the dice.

Spoiler:

i would have been ok with a frozen banana and a turkey leg to get seats.

we arrived at the check-in with a very nice hostess greeting us by name and continued to use my name throughout the evening.

our table was the first to be ready... (this was the second seating and all tables were being prepared).

our server was there within moments to describe the menu and procedure:

eat/get your tickets/get out. LOL

don't get me wrong. the service was impeccable! i was so impressed. we had interaction with the hostess, manager, server, and three different server's assistants. all of them excellent service and utmost courtesy.

sometimes i think when you dress up you are treated with more respect. dunno if it would have made a difference in this case. the service was outstanding!

so, are you wondering what was on the menu? i sure was.

the menu was dated for Sunday's Candlelight Dinner. i don't know if Saturday night had a different menu.

as it would turn out, each course was served with the utmost care and attention to presentation

there was a surprise beginning with an individual serving of a lovely bruschetta which i think was baked garlic toast with marinated tomatoes and onions and

Spoiler:

mystery cheese. hey, your guess is as good as mine. but i loved it!

i was true to my diet and skipped the fresh bread and butter.

Spoiler:

i dived into the soft and warm loaf of bread and spread a slice with a hunk of sweet creamy butter. (i haven't had bread in awhile - unless you count friday nights corn-dog). ok. i'm busted. move along.

after the order was taken it was time to determine a wine that would compliment the meal perfectly. all i wanted was one glass. he poured only half a glass. hmmm. this must be proper ettiquette.

Spoiler:

anyway, it was some fancy named faschizzle. Poulle Fouse from ants-in-your-pants france? i can't remember, some dry California white wine. but just right. maybe he was saving the bottle for us later. heheh

i could not decide between the choice of two appetizers:

Goat Cheese Maui Onion Tart
frisee and radicchio salad with cranberry walnut marmalade

or

Parma Proscuitto
hand sliced to order with grilled marinated figs, arulula, shaved Pecorino-Toscano and agromato lemon oil

Spoiler:

don't know what it was either. but i was hungry now and we ate both! delicious!!

they* say always go with the specialty of the house

Spoiler:

*the voices, of course

there was a choice of beef, pork or fish.

well i hate fish.

Spoiler:

so i played rock-paper-scissors with the cute busboyculinary host

would it be the Rib-Eye Steak?
pan roasted medallion, spicy parmesan Yukon potatoes, shiitake mushroom ragout, white asparagus and gorgonzola butter

or the Double-Cut Pork Chop
with maple yam puree, wilted kale and tomato confit with bacon

Spoiler:

wilted kale? i think not. and despite its shape, don't care much for mushrooms.

i ordered the fish.

i know, i know, i said i hated fish. but i had already had a sip of wine and was drunk off my azz. it was called, simply, John Dory. jah-what? yep. just "John Dory". it was a lovely, light and delicate white fish sauteed with Moroccan spices, forbidden rice pilaf, chef's micro salad in a cilantro oregano vinaigrette. uh, forbidden? excuse me, not for $150. i decided on Nemo 'cuz the it was forbidden and came highly recommended. [remember the cute busboy? i would've walked the plank for him]

Spoiler:

what does it mean i was paper and he was rock?

oh, yeah, i loved the fish!

time for dessert.

i wanted to have dessert but could not jusify it with the diet. plus, being close to show time, i did not want to be late and skipped the dessert.

Spoiler:

truth be told, we had been seated first and there was nearly an hour and a half before the beginning of the show. oh, and i didn't want to be rude to the cute busboys. i tasted both. (umm, the desserts people. sheesh)

i could have ordered my choice of:

Chocolate Fondant
pinot noir sauce with peppermint gelato

or

"Allegro" Berries and Cream
vanilla panna cotta with fresh berries marinated in Martin and Weyriche's Muscato Allegro

Spoiler:

by now i had simply charmed my way out of another game of rock-paper-scissors and in a display of strength the buff young man brought both choices to the table to help decide...

the food was incredible and the service top notch!
run, don't walk to The Vineyard Room at Disney's California Adventure Theme Park!

some iced lemon water to rinse the palat and i was off to pay homage and ask for forgiveness.