@lvcourtneyy @TeresaNJ I will be attending the Parisian breakfast solo, so we should definitely plan to meetup prior!
All the special dinners at the restaurants I went to were always sold out. I think it was not cost effective for them as it killed profits for tables that could be turned over rather than dedicated to the event.It's kind of sad how fast the seminars have declined. Attendance dropped significantly and as a result they lessened the number of offerings. I wonder if that's why they no longer offer the special dinners at the various restaurants
Booked for the Parisian Breakfast on Nov 2! That's by far my favorite event. I'm considering the Tequila lunch but I do NOT eat octopus. Was that still on the menu last year? If so I'll skip it.
A few years back I stumbled on the list of requirements for the participating presenters & was astounded at the thousands of dollars Disney was requiring them to pay in addition to what they needed to supply to be allowed to present for a couple of days at the festival.
That actually looks awesome!! Dang, now I need to decide if I want to do this one too.No octopus last year. Here’s a (bad) photo of the menu - unlike some other events, the menu was consistent throughout the festival. The picture cuts off dessert, which was a Mexican chocolate lava cake. The food was SO good.
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Has anyone went to the Cheese Festival? Seemed different & interesting, but was wondering is it really worth it to pay $200+ for a couple? Any comments from anyone that may have attended in the past or thinking of it this year please let me know. I mean it sounds like fun, but for $200 we could get a really nice Dinner somewhere else. Thanks!
Has anyone went to the Cheese Festival? Seemed different & interesting, but was wondering is it really worth it to pay $200+ for a couple? Any comments from anyone that may have attended in the past or thinking of it this year please let me know. I mean it sounds like fun, but for $200 we could get a really nice Dinner somewhere else. Thanks!
Also interested in any reviews. I feel like I’ve heard great things about them - particularly when Max McCalman is the presenter - but can’t find recent reviews.
That explains why there are few chefs outside of Disney restaurants. Too bad - I was hoping to see some top chefs, not that disney’s aren’t but not interested in their chefs or tv chefs. I assume the cost is to keep a handle on demand. If it is free everyone shows up, if they have to pay that changes the chaos.
This came up with one wine demo. The staff started throwing away the wine that they had poured into glasses at empty seats and the company rep got up and started giving the wine to guests. I thought the woman who runs the demos was going to have a nervous breakdown (This was much more fun that the pathetic guy this company had talking about their wine). The Disney woman is hissing "YOU CAN'T GIVE THEM MORE WINE" and the rep hissing "IT'S OUR WINE AND FOR WHAT WE PAID TO PRESENT TO THIS CROWD I CAN DO WHAT I WANT WITH IT". Disney girl runs off saying something about management. That was the end of the drama, but we all got extra wine. I could tell the rep was very upset that her company had paid a lot of money for a half full crowd. She indicated as much in the discussion with the Disney staff.
I think she tested all the wine before the demonstration. Wasn't that Pam Brandon? Not Pam Brandon, it was Pam Smith. Thanks, 2xcited2sleepNot sure if it is the same person. But a few years ago there used to be what we called the Food & Wine Nazi. She ruled all the demos and duos she hosted with an iron fist. Can’t remember her name for the life of me. She was always drinking lots of wine, talking really loud, and trying to control all the events she hosted. The presenters had a hard time getting a word in sometimes. Maybe that was her and she wanted the wine for herself.
I think she tested all the wine before the demonstration. Wasn't that Pam Brandon?
I think she tested all the wine before the demonstration. Wasn't that Pam Brandon?
It was! We had her in a duo once and the chef only said about 10 sentences. She was gabbing and drinking the entire time. She really thought she was very funny.
I think Pam Smith may be who you’re thinking of. Pam Brandon authors many of the Disney cookbooks.