Commissioner's Academic Challenge - 2008

April 10-12, 2008

Thursday, April 10, 2008

The 23rd Commissioner's Academic Challenge, Tom's 12th, was at the Contemporary Resort at Walt Disney World. This annual event is a competition among the school districts of Florida and affords us another opportunity to enjoy the fine WDW cuisine. To learn more about the tournament, click here. We secured the convention room rate and drove down to WDW on Saturday, April 5, for a few days of frolic before the tournament.

Today, the first three rounds of the tournament were held. I kept score in the 1st two rounds and then read questions to Division 3 in round 3. Duval County won it's room and advanced directly to the semi-finals. In the evening, we went back upstairs to the California Grill.

<<< California Grill >>> Jens Dahlmann, the chef de cuisine stopped by for a visit. He tells us that Matt Paisley has been transferred to Artist Point. We'll add that back to our June itinerary in place of the Yachtsman Steakhouse. I ordered from the menu! Menu | Desserts | Reserve Wines We started with a Vodka Martini (7.25) and a pair of Maker's Mark Manhattans (8) Jens presented us with a starter that combined the Potato and Green asparagus soup and the Oak-fired Zuckerman's Farm Asparagus with serrano ham, manchego cheese, arugula and aged Xeres vinaigrette. This is good stuff. As she often does, Lyd enjoyed Sautéed Hudson Valley Foie Gras with roasted apple, vanilla-date compote, and black truffle vinaigrette (16). She prefers the foie gras on the bread pudding of a few iterations ago, but that is not what they are currently serving. Lyd continued with the Jumbo lump crab and fresh Florida Citrus salad with green papaya slaw and tarragon remoulade (16) Lyd finished with Brioche crusted halibut with crushed potatoes, braised carrots, serrano ham, and spring pea cappuccino (33) Tom ordered from the menu and Ochi made Snake in the grass eel with shrimp tempura, avocado and cucumber (22). I probably should just order off of the menu and not subject Yoshie to making special stuff.