Thursday, August 31, 2006
Lyd and I both went to work. Bob Perry drove this week so Lyd's car was not a factor. We packed on Wednesday evening and loaded the car.  Thursday, I left work at 1430 so I could pick up Lyd when school let out at JWJ.  We were on the road before 1530 and pulled into Contemporary Resort Hotel at 1800. Neal, who was earning his ears in June when he checked us in, checked us in again today and we are in 4305 on the 7th floor. Though our reservations at the California grill are for 1930, we checked at the podium and they took us at 1830. The dinner was fabulous, as always, and we met a new friend, Allen, from Seattle. He likes Disney food as we do. The fireworks went off at 2200 with the boat parade shortly thereafter.
The Walt Disney World Entrance, near  EPCOT Lyd took this great shot of the Contemporary Resort Hotel. This is great host Neal
<<< The California Grill >>>

Tom's Dinner

Lyd's Dinner
I started with a Manhattan ($7.25) Lyd had a Grey Goose Martini ($9)

Lyd ordered (go figure) the Seared Hudson Valley Foie Gras with Dried Apricot Bread Pudding, Plum Gastrique, and Stone Fruit ($15)
Mother/Yoshi questioned me about what I like. I like tuna, eel, tempura, spicy mayo and the really neat tuna flat bread she made a few years ago. I'm not wild about a lot of rice. What she produced [on the bill it says "Maku No Uchi" ($32)] is a work of art and a fountain of flavor. Oh yeah, I had two more Manhattans Can it be possible that they were out of the Klein Constantia "Vin de Constance" 2000  (We could have brought a bottle with us!)
Saad, our server, brought her three substitutes to try, including the Royal Tokaji which she has had before.  She settled on a glass of Maragiano Late Harvest Moscato, Piedmont '00 ($10)
Lyd's next course was the Shrimp and Melon with Arugula, Hearts of Palm, Serrano Ham, Melon Gelee, and Pink Peppercorn Vinaigrette ($14)

Lyd's final course was the Oak-Fired Beef Filet with Boniato Mashed Potatoes, Blue Lake Beans, and Teriyaki Barbecue Sauce ($35) With this she enjoyed a glass of Mackenzie, Sonoma Merlot ($10.25)