Disney Food Affinity and Beyond: Walt Disney Studios and LucasFilm
Hello Disney fans! As one among many Star Wars fans tirelessly re-watching all the latest trailers in anticipation for December 18, I have come across an intriguing reoccurring theme in the marketing material. I have compiled all the posters and videos that suggest the symbolic importance of eyes in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, as this might even give important hints toward the plot of the upcoming movie!
To start, we see this Star Wars TV Spot blatantly focus on this eye motif, as the narrator says:
"I have lived long enough to see the same eyes in different people. I see your eyes. I know your eyes"
The female character narrating this trailer is a new character, Maz Kanata, played by Lupita Nyong'o. She is an enigmatic creature that we have yet to learn much about; However, Director J.J. Abrams told Entertainment Weekly, "I had this pitch about these goggles that she wore. Her eyes are an important aspect of her character, and you'll see how it plays out." Nyong’o adds, "As an actor for films, your eyes are a lot of the way you communicate
anyway, so it was definitely a gift to have that be the
means to her magic as a motion-capture character.” A close look at the film's theatrical poster shows off Kanata''s eyes shrouded by the aforementioned goggles.
In addition, the recently released character posters, as shown below, display all the main characters with one eye covered by his or her weapon of choice. The new and old Star Wars generations are represented, reinforcing the ideas mentioned in the above trailer.
Moreover, in a humorous SNL skit, there is a very subtle hint to the importance of eyes, mentioned by John Boyega, who will be playing Finn in the film. Go to the 2:10 mark in this video to see Boyega suggest the idea of controlling the force with ones eyes.
The symbolism of eyes doesn't seem to come as much of a surprise when considering J.J. Abrams is behind all of it. In his very popular TV show Lost, eyes were a reoccurring theme that followed through from the pilot episode up until the series finale.
The focus on this Star Wars eye motif in this promotional material seems to hint that eyes may have a large role to play in the 7th installment of this movie collection. Even thinking about the films title, "The Force Awakens", creates the
imagery of waking up, and opening ones eyes is quite important when one
awakens. With less than two weeks until this highly anticipated premiere, the eyes of Star Wars: The Force Awakens is definitely something to watch for!
While in the Binghamton area, I had a incredible breakfast at The Village Diner. Don't let the outside deceive you because this little restaurant is a culinary powerhouse. They make the classics, and they do them right.
The pumpkin pancakes are awesome. With such an intense pumpkin flavor, you can taste Autumn is just around the corner.
The french toast breakfast sandwich is another great option. The sweet syrup and toast with the savory eggs and ham was a delicious combination.
Lastly, we ordered the very special chicken and waffles. This exclusive item is no longer on the menu, but we were lucky enough to see someone else order it. I could not tell you why this was removed from the menu because this dish was the star of the meal, (and as the half eaten picture shows, it was so good it was nearly gone by the time I took my camera out.). I highly recommend ordering the chicken and waffles, and make sure you drown it in syrup and hot sauce!
There is no doubt about it - The Village Diner is a must-dine restaurant for a true breakfast lover. Happy eating!
On a recent trip to Ithaca, I stopped by Cornell Dairy Bar. I love this ice cream shop for the amount of care put into the product. From cow to container, the ice cream is entirely made locally. As a bonus for students, the Cornell Dairy Bar is located within Cornell University at Stocking Hall.
The ice cream is super creamy and very flavorful. My favorite flavor is the Sweet CORNell, which is a corn based ice cream with salted caramel swirled throughout.
If you are in the area, definitely give the Cornell Dairy Bar a try!
Disney Food Affinity and Beyond: Walt Disney World's Animal Kingdom Food and Attraction Information and Speculation
Change is coming to Disney's Animal Kingdom in the next couple of years. Additions are being made to enhance the theme park experience, especially at night, through a new nighttime spectacular (and don't be surprised if you see a dragon or two pop up here in the Rivers of Light show), a nighttime version of Kilimanjaro Safaris, and the highly anticipated Pandora: The Land of Avatar. This Avatar Land is a big undertaking, however Disney has yet to reveal all the details on this expansion. Here is what seems likely to be true so far:
Main Attraction (E-Ticket) - "Flight of Passage" (rumor)
This rumored 3D Flight Simulator is expected to give guests the experience of riding the mythical Banshee creature.While not the exact same technology, this ride resembles that of Soarin'.
Other Attraction (C-Ticket) - unnamed boat ride (rumor)
This speculated boat ride will take riders on a journey through the wildlife of Pandora, including a variety of bio-luminescent plants and animatronic Na'vi
Various Shops
If you know Disney, there is sure to be a gift shop or two in this new land. The number and nature of these shops are unknown.
Quick Service Restaurant
There has been no information on what food will be found in Avatar Land, but there are rumors of a quick service shop in the plans. I have no idea what type of food this mythical cuisine specializes in, but it would be cool if this was a molecular gastronomy restaurant. Disney World has never taken on this style of food before, but I think this strange, inexplicable world of Pandora is a great place to start.
In addition to the concept art included above, Disney has released three videos on this expansion.
While no attractions have been confirmed, the land itself looks incredible. Who wouldn't be excited for real-life floating mountains!
Now for the rest of this post I will be providing some fun speculation. Nothing below is confirmed by Disney or supported by existing rumors, but purely my own ideas - and in the spirit of Disney, I'm hoping these dreams come true.
As I previously mentioned, there are rumors of a quick service restaurant opening, but I am hoping for a full service restaurant instead. A molecular gastronomy restaurant could work as a quick service meal, but I think it would translate better as a sit-down meal.
In addition, Pandora is going to be a very exciting place to visit and I think such a heavily themed land is in need of a tour. Similar to the existing Wild Africa Trek tour, this adventure would take guests on paths through Pandora especially designed for the tour. This intimate interaction can end with a private picnic style meal, preferably in a secluded area that overlooks the magnificent waterfalls shown in the concept art. An experience like this would be unforgettable.
Lastly, I know that rumors are pointing toward the fact that there will be two new rides coming, but I believe there may be more. 3 more movies are guaranteed to come from this franchise, and that will bring audiences to experience more of Pandora. It is possible Disney is planning to add onto The Land of Avatar with rides based off of the upcoming films. Since no real details have been announced, we won't know for now. But, the D23 Expo is just around the corner, and we are sure to expect some more information soon.
Disney Food Affinity and Beyond: Walt Disney World's Hollywood Studios Food
One of my favorite quick service meals at Hollywood Studios is the Frankfurter in a Pretzel Roll. This delicious option makes for a satisfying lunch for theme park goers who want to spend more time on attractions rather than in restaurants. The pretzel roll truly completes this meal, elevating it above a normal hot dog. Not only is this frankfurter good, but it's also rare. Min and Bill's Dockside Diner is the only location in Walt Disney World where you can buy this particular hot dog.
Another fun option to try at Min and Bill's are the shakes. I like to check out the seasonal shakes offered. Truth be told, they are not always outstanding, but on a terribly hot Florida afternoon, these frozen treats do the trick.
In addition, the seating area is in a nice central location, providing a nice view for some of the shows in front of The Great Movie Ride (R.I.P. Sorcerer's Hat).
Make sure to try this Frankfurter in a Pretzel Roll and let us know your thoughts here in the comment section!
Disney Food Affinity and Beyond: Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom Food
When visiting "The Happiest Place on Earth", food -
particularly delicious food - is essential to keep everyone upbeat and
energized. While it's hard to go wrong with a steaming hot Mickey Pretzel and a
heaping pile of mustard, I have handpicked 4 incredible eats that are a true
celebration for the taste buds.
For the early birds entering the park with
breakfast on their minds, Starbucks on Main Street U.S.A. is a feasible option;
however, I can help one-up that meal. The answer is the Ham and Cheese Omelet Waffle Sandwich at Sleepy Hollow - a unique
offering that exceeds the expectations of a typical egg sandwich. An added
bonus to this quick service dining experience is the seating area.
Here, you can devour your waffles with an exciting view
of the Castle Stage Show, from the side of Cinderella's Castle. This special angle lets you seebackstage, offering some
behind-the-scenes magic!Does it get any better than eating a waffle sandwich while
Captain Hook is waving to your family right before he leaps onstage?
Later on in the day, if you are in need of
a quick and delicious meal, sail on into the Columbia Harbor House for a
Lighthouse Sandwich. There is no going wrong with this outstanding sandwich,
filled with a garlic-y hummus and a crisp broccoli slaw. And, speaking of views
again, there is a wonderful upstairs seating area that overlooks Liberty Square
on one side and the incredibly themed “Tangled” restrooms on the other (I know
it sounds wacky, but this “Tangled” area is a beautiful and fun place to visit.
I will go into further detail on these storybook bathrooms in another post!).
Also, the Liberty Square view offers a cool perspective of the Festival of
Fantasy parade at select times during the day.
With all this food, you are going to need
a drink. A refreshing option for the entire family is the Lefou's Brew at
Gaston's Tavern. This drink, on tap from the land of "Beauty and the
Beast", is composed of apple slush, mixed with toasted marshmallow, and
topped with a passion fruit-mango foam. I recommend pairing this drink with a
leisurely stroll through the heavily detailed and deeply immersive New
Fantasyland - the newest expansion to the Magic Kingdom.
And of course we can't forget dessert! Here at Aloha Isle you will find the
frozen paradise that is Dole Whip. Whether you enjoy it in a cup or a pineapple
juice float, this pineapple soft serve is a Magic Kingdom staple that cannot be
left out.
The Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World is full of culinary gems -
and I'm not talking about those in the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train "where a
million diamonds shine". These four items are among the greatest of these
culinary treasurers. I highly encourage you to try them all!
Disney Food Affinity and Beyond: Walt Disney World Speculation
New Fantasyland - the biggest expansion to the Magic Kingdom ever - brought more than new food options to Disney World. Inspired by classic Disney films such as "Dumbo", "The Little Mermaid", "Beauty and the Beast" and "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs", in came great attractions, fun gift shops, and endless detail culminating in an immersive theme park experience. During the Grand Opening of New Fantasyland on December 6, 2012 there was a very special guest - a dragon!
To me, I find this New Fantasyland dragon to be quite the mystery. The first mention of this dragon was in early 2012. Images leaked leading many to assume Disney Imagineering was test flying a dragon over Shafter-Minter Field airport in California. As Disney likes to keep their new projects top secret, I believe this leak forced Disney to make a move in order to cover up the mistake.
Leaked Photo #1
Leaked Photo #2
So, Disney had to pull out some magic. They skillfully retook control of this secret information by transforming it into a thrilling social media campaign. Social Media Managing Editor Gary Buchanan began writing a segment on the Disney Parks Blog about a dragon flying around Central Florida. In addition, Gary kept updates on this dragon chase on a Tumbler Blog dedicated to this hunt.
"Top Secret" file on the history of this dragon
Another "Top Secret" image
This all led up to the video sighting of the dragon over New Fantasyland on its Grand Opening night!
What an incredible show! This highly advanced piece of technology is yet another example of Disney Imagineering excellence. In the picture below, there are some fun facts released about this dragon (and with cooking as one of this dragons hobbies, it seems like he would fit in here at Foodie Finders NYC).
On a daily basis, this dragon would surely enchant all Disney World guests, young or old; however, this was a one night only appearance. As Gary said, "spotting a dragon is a special occasion". It was such a special occasion that it has yet to appear again two and a half years later. This tease seems to be right up this dragon's alley, since we know he "likes the occasional good-natured prank", as shown in the picture above.
The amount of money and research put into this technology could not have all been for one night. It is very possible we will see this flying dragon again, but the question is where?
In the image above, we see a cartoon of the New Fantasyland dragon in Animal Kingdom - a logical home for this beast. While a dragon is a mythical animal, it still loosely fits into the animal theme, especially with the mythical addition of Pandora: The Land of Avatar (aka Avatar Land). With some extra detail, this technology can be made to resemble a flying banshee in the film.
Also, in Animal Kingdom, we have DinoLand U.S.A. While we have seen this technology as a dragon in one incarnation, it is feasible that it can be re-themed as a flying dinosaur. And lastly in Animal Kingdom, there is a new nighttime spectacular in development called "Rivers of Light" opening in 2016. Whether it is a banshee, dinosaur or dragon, this technology would make for a wonderful enhancement to this show. I believe this is the most likely option in which we will see this technology again. Yet, we are not limited to Animal Kingdom. An update to the Magic Kingdom Firework Show may include this dragon. Furthermore, Hollywood Studios is expected to have a major expansion. It is rumored to include a Star Wars Land and a Pixar Land. Star Wars has its fair share of extraterrestrial creatures, and that includes some that fly. Plus, Pixar is releasing a new movie in November 2015, called the Good Dinosaur. There is a slim chance they have been planning ahead to create a Good Dinosaur themed land with the Pixar expansion, which could include flying dinosaurs. With all of the changes that are coming to Disney's Hollywood Studios, it would not be a surprise if a new nighttime spectacular is being created to include this technology as well.
And then of course, this dragon is not limited to Walt Disney World. We may see it pop up in any of the Disney Parks across the globe, including the newest theme park that will be opening up in Shanghai soon. The possibilities seem to be endless, so we can only hope Disney drops a few hints soon - most likely at the next D23 Expo in August. Please feel free to comment below and keep on speculating!
I am very excited to introduce the newest series of posts for Foodie Finders NYC. This page, entitled Disney Food Affinity and Beyond will provide tips and suggestions on the best eats at the Walt Disney World Resort and the Disneyland Resort. In addition, this section of the blog will delve into some other realms of the Disney Vacation experience and offer speculation on exciting expansions and renovations at the theme parks. Check back soon for some delicious Disney dishes and more!
Notice anything different about this famous quote? ;)
Welcome foodies! As the Foodie Finders NYC Crew continues our food filled road trip, we stopped off at Bar, known for their mashed potato pizza.
This unique starch-on-starch combo was excellent. Only available in full pies, customers are encouraged to customize their pizza. The most common creation is a white pizza, topped with mashed potatoes and bacon. Of course, that is what we ordered. I would recommend this thin crust specialty to anyone looking for a pizza topping twist. I'm looking forward to mix it up even more next time - I'm thinking a sprinkle of cherry peppers sounds like fun!
Hola foodies! The Foodie Finders NYC Crew is on the road again, and this time we are visiting some college food hot spots. The Yale University area is chock full of good eats. Today, we stopped off at Geronimo's for some great southwestern fare - which is worth the trip for the guacamole alone.
The guacamole was the clear star of the meal. If you want to take it to the next level, add roasted corn and Applewood smoked bacon. Sometimes I find that when it comes to guacamole, add-ins can get a little gimmicky, but in this case I couldn't be more wrong. The bacon and corn perfectly complimented the fresh and creamy avocado. With the bacon craze taking over the food community, It makes me wonder why more people don't add bacon to guacamole.
Another great offering was the selection of Navajo Frybreads. I really enjoyed the Chorizo and Fig Frybread. Flakey dough, sweet fig puree, and smokey sausage add up to an excellent appetizer.
Next up, nachos! More specifically, pork pibil nachos. Pork pibil is generally a slow roasted pork preparation, originating in the Yucatán Peninsula. This version had a rich sweetness that juxtaposed the spiciness of the raw jalapeños on top. Overall, it was a delicious dish.
Lastly, we ordered the Smoked Buffalo Brisket Tamales. The buffalo meat was very salty on its own, but when eaten with the pickled onions and tamale, the flavors meshed together well.
Time for something sweet! The Tres Leche cake was a great creamy and moist option.
Geronimo's was a fun stop on this road trip. My number one recommendation is to order the roasted corn and bacon guacamole (and get some pork pibil nachos while you're at it!)
Hi foodies! I recently enjoyed an awesome meal at Buddakan. Below I have featured the best dishes of the night. Enjoy these beautiful photos!
Edamame Dumplings
The savory edamame dumplings was a clear standout dish of the meal. They taste even better than they look.
Hoisin Glazed Pork Belly
What is better than a doughy steamed bun? A doughy steamed bun filled with sweet pork belly topped with spicy shallots for a subtle kick.
Szechuan Pork Dumplings
I love dumpling that explodes in your mouth. The rich meaty broth from these pork dumplings really hit the spot.
Chilled Udon Noodles
During an amazing meal, it is always nice for a change of pace to enjoy a cold savory dish. The chilled udon noodles served that purpose well - which only gets better when the lime sorbet on top melts into incredible peanut sauce.
Glazed Alaskan Black Cod
To restore some heat in this meal, I enjoyed the Glazed Alaskan Black Cod. The sweet and nutty miso glaze really made this a spectacular dish.
Passion Fruit Meringue
The creative architectural layout of the Passion Fruit Meringue is an excellent reflection of unique flavor and texture of these dishes. This is an absolute party for the taste buds.
Almond Bread Pudding
This "hot mess" of a dessert is a rich and warm way to end of spectacular meal. The fresh bananas cut through the rich caramel sauce perfectly.
I hope you enjoyed this review. I highly recommend Buddakan to anyone ready for a flavorful adventure. Happy holidays and happy eating!
