First up -- Disney World! The Happiest Place on Earth. I try to go back every year, and this time was special because it was to celebrate my little nephew's 3rd birthday!
Typically, when my sister and I go, we usually try to snack as much as possible -- yes, a turkey leg is considered a snack. Preferably followed by a Dole whip -- but this time we actually ate at several sit down locations.
Some of my favorites include the character dining breakfast at Cape May, located at the Beach Club resort and Akershus, the Norwegian restaurant in Epcot that does Princess dining. Mickey-shaped waffles will always win my heart, and the Norwegian place had a "salad" buffet that accompanied every entree. I put that in quotes because salad sounds lame, and this buffet was anything but. It had goodies like smoked salmon - another heartwinner - and cold cuts and awesome cheese..oh my!
We also went to Beaches & Cream to try the kitchen sink, but they wouldn't take us since it was late and we had no reservation. We got the Mickey sinks instead, which was almost better since we got to keep the little sinks. Now, for the Taiwan/Japan trip. I could go on and on about the food, but I'll just hit some of my favorite meals.
OF COURSE, the MUST HAVE meal in Taiwan -- Din Tai Fung. I dream about those 18-folded little beauties. I could eat xiaolongbao every day. And if for some reason, I were ever to get tired of it, any of their other dumplings or noodles or side dishes would do just fine, as well.
By the way. Japan has the most expensive fruit I have ever seen. But, it's also the most delicious fruit! I don't know what causes these grapes to be $30 a bunch, but it's worth it. It didn't even taste like a green grape, it tasted like the sweetest muscadine ever.
We did a hot spring tour, so we stayed mostly at onsen hotels. Which was amazing and incredibly relaxing, as we just walked around in our yukata. It basically is the life I want to live -- neverending Japanese food and no pants, ever.
I really enjoyed our sukiyaki meal, and the funny thing is, it was at some water park. It was my first time, usually I eat hot pot shabu shabu style, where you can drink the broth. Sukiyaki is where you put raw veggies and meat in a broth that's too salty to drink, but it flavors the ingredients really well. We then dipped it in fresh, raw egg and ate it over rice. YUM.
Also, in Sapporo, the piggy part of my family decided to, after our scheduled tour dinner, go for dinner #2 at Ramen Row. We walked back and forth and ended up choosing the one with Anthony Bourdain's face outside, and of course it was delicious. I was the only one to finish my bowl -- it was painful, but worth it :)
And, finally. For the Texas trip, I'm just going to post up this picture of all the fried goodies we ate at the Texas State Fair. Luckily, there were four of us, so it was generally pretty easy to try everything we wanted to try!....Until I wanted to get the BACON WRAPPED TURKEY LEG (so good).
Going clockwise: fried spaghetti and meatball, fried red velvet cupcake, mangonata (mango drink with chili powder), sriracha balls, bacon wrapped turkey leg, fried PB & J (favorite)
Going clockwise: fried Thanksgiving dinner, buffalo chicken, fried gulf shrimp boil, fried pumpkin spice oreos, luau chicken, amazeballs (chocolate cake balls with maple syrup and bacon)
Sigh, so hungry. Hope you all have a delicious and wonderful Thanksgiving!
