T-Rex Café!

Imagine. You walk into a restaurant buzzing with excitement. Not just from the little kids running around holding their dinosaur plushies, but from the adults alike filled with the awe and joy from what they’re seeing. You proceed forward towards a jungle of dinosaur animatronics while “roars” fill the room. You have just entered into the one (and only), T-Rex Cafe in Orlando, Florida.

Located in Disney Springs at the Disney World Resort, T-Rex Café is a fun-filled restaurant where the atmosphere gives you there feeling that you just walked onto a Dinosaur themed movie. Due to limited capacity (due to Covid), my family and I made sure to make reservations a month in advance.

After we entered, we waited in line for the hostess to take down our names and a cell phone number to let us know when our table would be ready. We waited about 10 minutes before being called back to the hostess table and to our table. It was really cool looking at all of the dinosaurs, giant bugs (fake of course), and ice age sections of the restaurant.

Our waiter came to the table and placed QR codes on the table for us to scan to access to the menu. The menu had a wide range of choices from pastas, burgers, ribs, and more! T-Rex Cafe is owned by the Landry’s company and is known to be the “prehistoric” version of The Rainforest Cafe (also a Landry’s owned restaurant).

I ordered one of their special themed alcoholic drinks, the Raptor Rita which was contained Corazón Blanco Tequila, sweet & sour, and Patrón Citrónge Orange Liqueur. It was a really tasty margarita! Very yummy! I tried a bit of my mom’s drink of choice, the “Lava Flow” which was a delicious strawberry Pina colada slush! The Lava Flow contained Don Q Coconut Rum, Tropics Piña Colada, and Tropics Strawberry Purée.

As for the taste of the food, we were very satisfied with the dishes we ordered. My sister, mom, and I ordered the Prehistoric Pasta made with alfredo sauce, fettuccine pasta, sautéed mushrooms, Roma tomatoes. This was a perfect option for my sister Madison who is a vegetarian. I ordered mine with shrimp (because I love shrimp)! Although I wouldn’t call it a five star dish, it was still pleasantly delicious and I would definitely order it again. My other siblings and dad truly enjoyed their dishes overall even my brother Kellan who ordered the Boneyard Buffet which consisted of Fire-Roasted Rotisserie Chicken, slow roasted St. Louis style pork spareribs, seasoned fries, and coleslaw!

Although we were full, we knew we had to try their famous dessert, the Chocolate Extinction. This out of the world dessert had four full slices of chocolate brownies along with vanilla ice cream and your own personal volcano (for show).

The dessert was delicious and both pleasing to the eye and to the palate. The overall experience of the restaurant was fun and I would definitely go back because of the amazing atmosphere. The coolest part was the “meteor shower” that occurred from time-to-time. The ceiling would turn red and the dinosaurs would begin to ROAR in fear which really played into the feel of the atmosphere.

If you’re in the Orlando area and want to check out T-Rex Cafe, I linked the website down below! Feel free to leave me a comment, subscribe to my Food Blog for updates, and donate to my “Buy me a pretzel” fund so that I can continue exploring new eateries!

Website Link: https://www.trexcafe.com/

Buy Me A Pretzel Link: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/izzyscope

Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen: Downtown Disney District

Jambalaya. Gumbo. Shrimp and Grits. Warm and soft Beignets.

All of these amazing Cajun dishes and more can be found right in the heart of the Downtown Disney District in Anaheim, California. Featuring a trumpet-player statue and chef out front, the atmosphere of the exterior really brought the New Orleans theme come to life. The atmosphere on the inside was no exception. I truly felt as if I was eating right in the center of Bourbon street, Louisiana.

The first thing my family and I did before eating here was to ask if they could make a vegetarian version of the Pastalaya (the pasta version of traditional Jambalaya) for my sister Madison. We were informed that they could and in a matter of a couple of minutes, took us to our table. Just like the exterior, the inside matched the Louisiana style ambiance with perfect precision.

We were greeted by our waitress who gave us plastic bags for our face masks and hand sanitizer wipes. I ordered the non-alcoholic mint-julep which tasted like a slightly minty Sprite (the one inside Disneyland is a lot more minty).

As for their food, I ordered their most popular dish, the Pasta Jambalaya which states, “A New Orleans favorite and Jazz Kitchen signature dish! Gulf shrimp, andouille sausage, roasted chicken, Creole seasoning with spinach fettuccine.” I split my dish with my mom (Julia) and she split hers with me (that way we could try more than one dish). She ordered the NOLA BBQ Shrimp and Grits which is a dish I had never tried before at any Cajun-style restaurant.

Let me just say, WOW. Both of these dishes were absolutely amazing! I could not get enough of either dish and finished my half of each dish with perfect ease. Each dish had the perfect amount of flavor and was cooked to the right temperature. I was in shock at how much I loved the Shrimp and Grits. These are made of, “Gulf shrimp simmered in a “New Orleans” barbecue sauce with roasted garlic, lemon served over andouille sausage-parmesan grits.” I am a big shrimp fan however I wasn’t sure how I would feel about the “grits” portion. The grits exploded with flavor and to me tasted like perfectly cooked crab meat (even though it was not made out of crab). I would recommend either dish to anyone who is interested in eating at Ralph Brennan’s.

The rest of my family equally enjoyed their dishes which included my brother’s, Gumbo Ya-ya made of, “Andouille sausage, roasted chicken, holy trinity, simmered with Creole seasonings in a rich dark roux thickened broth, served over green onion rice,” and my dad’s Fried Chicken B.L.T. Po-Boy which is a, “Cajun spiced fried chicken, applewood smoked bacon, Romaine lettuce, Roma tomatoes, Creole mustard aioli, served with fries.” Just like my mom’s and my dishes, they devoured them down to each and every bite.

Last but certainly not least were my other three siblings dishes (including my sister’s vegetarian dish). All three of them ordered the pasta Jambalaya and subbed the pasta for Cajun-style rice. Madison ordered the vegetarian version of the rice Jambalaya. Just like the rest of us, they could not get enough of their dishes and were highly satisfied with the flavors of the Jambalaya.

Although we were all stuffed, we couldn’t leave without ordering their famous Beignets. We were each able to order our own sweet sauce to dip our beignets in which included white chocolate, blueberry, and caramel (I ordered the white chocolate). The beignets were soft, warm, and mouthwatering. They were a perfect end to a perfect meal. If you’re not looking at eating an entire meal while visiting the Downtown Disney District, you can visit Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen Express where you can pick up a to-go order of these delicious beignets.

My overall score for Ralph Brennan’s would be a solid 10/10. It was a splendid meal filled with an amazing atmosphere and delicious food. If you’re interested in trying Ralph Brennan’s I put the link to their website down below.

https://www.rbjazzkitchen.com/

Benihana- Fun Teppanyaki!

What’s better than a delicious dinner? A dinner and a show! Benihana is a popular Japanese teppanyaki restaurant found all around the United States. What is teppanyaki? Teppanyaki is a way of cooking using an iron griddle to cook, and usually in front of the hungry guests.

Last week for my brother, Kellan’s, 14th birthday, my family and I headed to the Benihana location in Anaheim, CA, just a few blocks away from the Disneyland Resort. In total there were 8 of us, my family, me, and our grandfather which was perfect since each table holds up to 8 people. We made reservations online which made the check-in process easy and a very short 5-minute wait. We were led to our table which was situated separate from the rest of the dining room which made things feel really peaceful and intimate.

Once seated, our server, Sophia, came and explained the process of ordering since the pandemic. We were told to scan the barcode on the table to pull up the menu on to our phones. Soon after, she took our drink and food orders. She was very enthusiastic and helpful with any questions we had. I ordered a drink called the ‘Benihana Punch’ which consisted of, “Myers’s Platinum Rum, Bols strawberry and peach liqueurs and tropical fruit juices.” The drink was delicious and I even got it in a souvenir cup shaped like a KOI fish.

Each dinner entrée comes in a 5 or 6 course plan. The first two courses include a bowl of green onion soup and a bowl of Benihana salad. Both of the soup and salad were delicious and they complimented each other perfectly. Kellan (the birthday boy), and my sister each ordered additional appetizer plates of sushi rolls which they both they would definitely order again.

Our personal Teppanyaki chef came to our table with a cart filled with all of the ingredients needed for our dishes and that was where the real fun began. He began by making our final appetizers: fried rice and hibachi shrimp. For my sister Madison who is a vegetarian, he made her fried rice without the egg and chicken. Our chef didn’t just cook for us but he entertained us with little food acts such as making an onion train and a rice heart.

The fried rice and shrimp were definitely some of the best I had ever tasted. My whole family couldn’t wait for the rest of our meal which he cooked next.

From my siblings Yakisoba noodle dish, to the rest of our dishes, we were all highly satisfied in taste and quality. There wasn’t one thing we didn’t like. It was that good!

Lastly, our server came to our table and sang happy birthday to Kellan with a tambourine accompanied with our dessert bowl or ice cream or sherbet. It was the cherry on top to a perfect meal.

If you’re looking for a nice, fun, family friendly, and mouthwatering meal, then Benihana is the place to eat! I attached the link below so that you can find a restaurant near you!

https://www.benihana.com/

Porto’s Bakery!

For the past couple of years I kept hearing about the popular Southern California Bakery, Porto’s. With a wide variety of bakery treats, savory meat pies, and iced coffees, it didn’t take much convincing to drive up to Buena Park, CA to try their food.

Before heading to Porto’s, my family gathered around the laptop and looked at the menu. In normal circumstances, customers can walk into the bakery and order in person, however due to Coronavirus regulations, Porto’s is only available for car pickup and delivery.

We decided to order a dozen of their meat pies, potato balls, a couple chocolate croissants, and cheese danishes. My brother and I also ordered their special iced coffee (we love trying new and popular coffees).

After placing our order, we drove to the Buena Park location where we were instructed to check in and park at a designated number. Within minutes, an employee came out and handed us our order. It smelled delicious and as soon as we got home we got our grub on.

The meat pies were really good! They are flaky pastries filled with beef, peppers, onions, and Spanish Seasonings. Simple yet absolutely delicious (a definite winner for us). The mashed potato balls had basically the same ingredients as the meat pies but with a layer of mashed potatoes and a different breading. The pastries won over my entire family due to their perfect taste and perfect bake. We were all full and highly satisfied with our entire meal. Not only were we able to eat amazing savory pastries, but sweet ones as well.

Last item to try for me was my iced coffee. The iced coffee came in a plastic bottle and I couldn’t wait to take a sip.

Just like the rest of the items in our order, the iced coffee did not disappoint. It was just the right amount of sweetness and was very easy to finish.

My family and I truly enjoyed bakery and we ended up going back a few days later because it was SO good! If you would like to take a look at the full menu, I’ve attached the link to the Porto’s HOME website down below!

Home

The Taste of Calico!

Knott’s Berry Farm!

Located in Orange County, California, Knott’s Berry Farm holds the title of being “America’s FIRST theme park.” Due to state guidelines, Knott’s Berry Farm has been closed since March, however, Knott’s became creative and created a whole new experience. The ‘Taste of Calico’ is a tasting event created by Knott’s which allows a limited number of guests to walk through the parks and try a variety of foods. Tasting cards cost $25 for adults and $15 for children (annual passholders receive a 10% discount). Tasting cards allow each guest to try 5 tastings each ( 3 for children). Now you might think that 5 is not a lot, but after my family and my experience, 5 was the perfect amount. Most of the food options were Boysenberry themed. A berry created by Rudolph Boysen and gifted to Walter Knott for his theme park.

On top of the various tasting booths set up, guests can purchase additional food and drink items separately while visiting. Select shops were also open for shopping. Although only half of the park was open to walk around (the ghost town side), extra tables were set up along the premises to ensure social distancing guidelines.

My goal was to get only food items with my card and then purchase the drink items separately (you can choose to use your 5 credits for drinks if you would like instead). We all decided to head towards the back of the park where the gumbo, chili, corn, and boysenberry sausage rolls were. A couple of us began with the Boysenberry sausage on a Hoagie roll while the others opted to begin with the steak Chili with a Boysenberry Cornbread Muffin. My sister, who is a vegetarian, went for the Roasted Corn with Butter, Cotija Cheese, and Cayenne Pepper.

The boysenberry sausage was delicious especially with the Boysenberry ketchup. Not only that, it was a full sized entree Sausage dog unlike traditional tasting events (remember when I said that 5 tastings is the perfect amount?). As for the chili, my family and I all agree that the chili was good however it was definitely lacking in spice. The lack of spice made the chili taste a little bland. Had there been some Tabasco sauce, it would have been perfect. The cornbread on the other hand was absolutely wonderful. I would have loved to have another cornbread because it was sweet and the Boysenberry flavor really popped! My sister enjoyed the corn and said it was really fresh. What’s nice is that the employees ask you how much spice you want on your corn. If you want it spicy then they’ll add more, and vice versa.

Next on our list was the Gumbo with Chicken, Shrimp, and Boysenberry Sausage on Basmati Rice. Much like the chili, the taste was good but it was lacking in seasoning and spice. I do wish there was a Boysenberry cornbread with the Gumbo because it would have been a nice addition and the gumbo would make the perfect dip.

Another popular dish that my sister ordered was the Mac and Cheese Bites with French Fries and Sriracha Ketchup. She thought they were good and had no complaints. Just like the other dishes, the portion was really nice.

The next stop on our food adventure was actually to one of the beer stands located next to the Calico Railroad entrance. Here they had Boysenberry beers and sangria. They scanned our state ID’s and placed a yellow ID band on our wrist confirming our age. My brother and I got the Boysenberry beer while my sister got the Boysenberry sangria. The beer was good and had a slight fruity taste. I tasted the sangria which was really sweet and juicy (also very delicious).

After walking around and letting some of our food digest, we decided it was time for a sweet treat. A couple of us got the Mini Stuffed Churro with Boysenberry Filling which was my favorite dessert, while a few of my siblings got the Boysenberry Jam Soft Serve Cookiewich which they said was not only big but their personal favorite dessert.

Although I had just drank my beer, I really wanted to try their Strawberry Swirl Popping Boba. The drink was a fruity Boysenberry drink with Strawberry popping boba. I am SO glad that I got one because the drink was unbelievably good (and pleasant to the eyes)!

After enjoying our treats, we ventured out for our next tasty bites. My brother and I went for the Pastrami Sandwich on a Pretzel Bun with Boysenberry Mustard and a Side of Chips, while my parents got both the Pulled Pork Sliders with Jalapeno Strips and a Mini Funnel Cake with Boysenberry Topping. Each of us enjoyed our dishes and we were all pretty full by the time we finished them.

A few of us had another tasting to use up so I ran off to try and grab one of the Boysenberry cookiewich’s for myself while the rest of my family went for the Boysenberry slushie. They all loved the boysenberry slushie and some claimed it to be their favorite tasting. Sadly for me, the cookiewich was sold out at one location and the ice cream machine broken at the second location. They ended up giving me the cookies by themselves instead. Although the cookies were good and had a true Boysenberry flavoring, I didn’t get the full experience of the dessert due to there being no ice cream inside.

All in all, The Taste of Calico was a wonderful experience and having the opportunity of being inside a theme park again was great. The Taste of Calico event has since ended, HOWEVER, Knott’s has created an all new tasting event beginning August 21st and running Fridays-Sundays through September 13th. The “Taste of Knott’s” will have a similar setup expanding through the ENTIRE theme park this time with even more food options. If you’re interested in attending The Taste of Knott’s I’ve attached the link to the website down below! Get your Boysenberry on!

https://www.knotts.com/play/events/taste-of-knotts

Chuck E. Cheese! Is Takeout Worth It Without the Arcade?

Chuck E. Cheese, “where a kid can be a kid!” Growing up I remember looking forward to our family’s fun-filled days here. The lights, the pizza, the animatronics show, and of course the arcade. The last time we went to Chuck E. Cheese was about 6 or 7 years ago to grab a quick bite on the way to a show. I remembered the pizza tasting good but with no locations near our home (at the time), we hadn’t gone back.

Due to the current Covid-19 pandemic, Chuck E. Cheese, like other restaurants were forced to seize indoor operations. In response, they decided to reduce their menu as well as the prices since their arcade section closed (their big money maker). When I heard about their full $5 and under menu, and discovered a newer local Chuck E. Cheese, I rounded up my family and placed an order.

As a family of 7, we decided on two Large pepperoni pizzas ($6.99 each), a large cheese pizza ($5), four orders of boneless wings, two with bbq sauce and two with buffalo sauce (Each order of wings were $5), a warm chocolate chip cookie dessert ($5), four orders of “unicorn churros” ($3 each), and six cotton candy’s ($1 each).

The food smelled amazing and I could not wait to dig into my meal.

They combined the wings of each flavor into two separate boxes. The taste of the boneless wings were amazing. I am getting hungry just thinking about the flavor of the wings. My favorite were the buffalo wings because they were just the right amount of heat without being too much. Both of my brothers liked the BBQ wings the most which were sweet and tangy.

The real question we wanted to find an answer to though was, is Chuck E. Cheese’s pizza worth the trip to get without the fun of the arcade? The answer to that is YES. We got simple pizzas, pepperoni and cheese and wanted to taste the pizza for their individual flavors. The pizza was delicious and it didn’t taste like pizza you get at any other popular pizza locations. Although pepperoni is my favorite, the cheese pizza had an extra spice that made it a little more special.

We were really excited to try their dessert options and I can easily say that all the desserts we bought were delicious. The unicorn churros and the cotton candy were a win for us and each very unique. Each order of churros came with 4 mini churros (2 cotton candy flavored, 1 blue raspberry, and 1 sour apple). The cotton candy also had different flavors (vanilla, raspberry, and apple). My personal favorite was the blue raspberry, while my sister loved the sour apple.

Instead of cotton candy and churros, my dad was interested in the giant chocolate chip cookie so we ordered that as well. The chocolate chip cookie was warm and gooey, the way a chocolate chip cookie should be. It was also sliced into 8 decent sized slices (perfect for our large family).

For my family, the answer was simple. Chuck E. Cheese was definitely worth ordering from even without the fun of the arcade. There was a wide variety of food options that were tasty and affordable. We look forward to our next cheesy adventure to Chuck E. Cheese! If you would like to look at the menu or find a location near you, you can check out the link down below.

https://www.chuckecheese.com/