Commissioner's Academic Challenge - 2008

April 10-12, 2008

Friday, April 11, 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, we had rounds 4 and 5. I read questions in both and we were finished by 1430. We took multiple busses down to Jiko at the Animal Kingdom Lodge.
<<< Jiko >>>
At Jiko, we like to sit at the counter, or the "Cooking Place" as it is called. Anette Gray, the former chef de cuisine, has moved on to a chili place in Texes, and Kimmie left, so we made new friends. menu
Lyd started with a Vodka Martini (7.25) and Tom with a single Maker's Mark Manhattan (8) With dinner we enjoyed a bottle of Tuamara pinotage 2005 Bellevue Estate Wine (47) For a starter, we went "Down The Left Side" of the starters, enjoying a limited portion of Lamb "Patis" Pulled lamb rolled in phyllo with mint-cilantro chutney, Lentil "Pastilla" lentil-filled phyllo pockets with sweet-and-sour sauce, Maize and Sweet Potato "Tamales" Herbed maize pudding and truffled sweet potato mash with shredded goat cheese in corn husk boat, and seared "Ahi" tuna with african spices, golden beeets, watercress, zough yogurt and South African Sea Salt (20) We shared the Cucumber, Tomato, and Red Onion Salad with arugula, cottage cheese and watermelon vinaigrette (8. We have actually made this ourselves and it is not bad! Lyd opted for the Spice Crusted Pork Tenderloin with ragout of roasted mushrooms, smoked bacon, yukon gold potatoes and sweet onion jus (26) Tom selected the wood-fired lamb loin with Berbere spiced lentils, baby carots and lemon infused demi glace (28) Marike Karim Joey Ghizlane