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Panasonic
Academic Challenge - 2008 |
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The 21st
Panasonic
Academic Challenge, Tom's 11th, was at the Contemporary Resort at Walt
Disney World. This annual event is a competition among states and
territories of the United States giving us yet another opportunity to enjoy the
fine WDW cuisine. |
| Saturday, 2008-06-07 |
| This is the "travel day" for the teams.
The Readers/Coordinating Judges had a meeting at 0900 and then I spent the day in the parks with Lyd. Dinner was
at the Flying Fish. Tim Keating was gone, but he left others in charge and they were great. |
| EPCOT |
| We started the day at EPCOT, with lunch in Italy. |
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| These are current ticket prices |
Voices of Liberty |
At Tutto Italia, we each had the Chicken Caesar(19) for lunch |
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| We took a
Friendship canal boat from EPCOT to Hollywood Studios. The boat departs from the International Gateway between "France" and "England." It goes 1st to the Boardwalk area, then on to the Yacht and Beach Hotels, to the Dolphin and Swan hotels and then on to Hollywood Studios. They have a shallow draft and a 360o drive unit. |
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| Friendship Crew |
Boardwalk Area |
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| Hollywood Studios |
| We went through the Great Movie Ride and I took
low-light, no-flash pictures |
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| John Wayne warned us of the dangers ahead. |
Right away, the bank was robbed and our guide was replaced by the robber! |
As we went past the Raiders of the Lost Ark, the robber [who is now our guide] spotted a large gem. |
The guardian warned the robber not to disturb the stone |
But he took the jewel, anyway... |
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| The robber is toasted, and the guardian turned out to be our guide! |
Mickey is the Sorcerer's Apprentice |
Tarzan's Jane and Cheetah |
A scene from Casablanca |
Suddenly, we're not in Kansas anymore |
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| The munchkins sang to us |
and then... |
in a cloud of smoke.. |
the wicked witch of the west appeared to threaten us, so... |
we followed the yellow brick road. |
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| Back out in the park.. |
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| ..we ran into a few green soldiers and Lyd made a friend as this was a Star Wars weekend. |
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| Flying Fish Café |
| The Flying Fish Café specializes in Atlantic Coastal seafood like Atlantic City or Ocean City. We usually sit at the bar. Here is the Menu |
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Flying Fish
When we arrived, Keith Gimbel, Area Manager, stopped by and asked about our itinerary. |
Lyd had a pair of Scotch and sodas (6.50@) and Tom had a pair of Maker's Mark Manhattans (8@) |
Chef Bob presented each of us with a cup of Fire Roasted Poblano, Tomatillo and Zellwood Soup and a sample of Schezuan peppercorn spiced Yellowfin tuna loin |
Tom opted for the Chef's Special Pan Roasted Maryland Soft Shell Crab with sweet corn-crabmeat hushpuppies, curly mustard greens and warm bacon dressing(17) |
Lyd selected the Crisp Jonah Lump Crab Cake with savory vegetable slaw, roasted red pepper coulis and ancho chili rémoulade(16) |
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| Craig presented us with a sorbet to cleanse the pallet. |
For the main course, we both chose the Chef's Special Thunder Fish Entree Pan-seared Carolina Stone Bass with Maine lobster, Blue Lake beans, artichoke, tomato pazanella, greens and truffle-oil foam(36). Chef Tony stopped by and we praised and discussed the fish. |
When Craig, our server, learned we were retiring, he presented us with champagne and showed us Jen, who actually cooked the fish. |
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