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Disneyland’s new magic program allows some of Walt’s oldest dreams for his theme park to finally come true

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This past weekend, theme park fans around the globe
collectively lost their minds as images of the Hatbox Ghost began to pop up
online.


The modern era Hatbox Ghost made his debut in Disneyland's Haunted Mansion
this past Saturday. Copyright Disney Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved 

"And what's the big deal with the Hatbox Ghost?,"
you ask. Well, you have to understand this gruesome ghoul was originally
supposed to have been one of the 999 happy haunts that Disneyland Guests would
encounter whenever they visited the Haunted
Mansion
. But within a week of the
official grand opening of this New Orleans Square E-Ticket, the Hatbox Ghost
had been pulled out of the Mansion.

"That was most likely Yale Gracey's doing," Kim
Irvine — Walt Disney Imagineering Art Director for Disneyland
Park
— explained during a recent
phone interview. "Yale was the guy who came up with most of the Mansion's
illusions. And while all of the other effects that the Imagineers had installed
in this then-brand-new Disneyland attraction were
performing flawlessly, the Hatbox Ghost scene just wasn't working as well as
Yale had hoped it would."

"I don't know if this was because of where this figure had originally been
positioned within that attraction's attic sequence or whether it was the angle
that Guests saw the Hatbox Ghost from, but the
head-disappearing-off-of-his-shoulders-and-then-re-appearing-inside-of-that-hatbox
gag just wasn't landing the way that Yale had hoped it would," Irvine
continued. "And being the perfectionist that he was, I'd imagine that Yale
had the Hatbox Ghost pulled so that Disneyland visitors
would then be able to talk about all of the effects inside of the Mansion that
worked, rather than the one that didn't."


Yale Gracey poses with the original Hatbox Ghost for
a pre-opening publicity shot for Disneyland's 
Haunted Mansion. Copyright Disney
Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved

But what Gracey hadn't counted on was that — because the Hatbox Ghost had been
so prominently featured in the pre-opening publicity for Disneyland's Haunted
Mansion (FYI: That's Yale himself posing with the not-quite-finished figure in
the photo above) not to mention that the Hatbox Ghost wound up being mentioned
on "The Story and Song of The Haunted Mansion" LP (i.e., that
souvenir Disneyland Storyteller album which was sold at the theme park for
years after this New Orleans Square attraction first opened to the public) — over
time, this character's legend just grew and grew.


The cover of "The Story and Song from the Haunted Mansion" LP as well as the image of
the Hatbox Ghost found inside of this Disneyland Storyteller album. Copyright
Disney Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved

"I've given a lot of talks about Disneyland's
Haunted Mansion
over the years. And whenever we'd get to the question & answer portion of
those sessions, I'd always get people asking about the Hatbox Ghost. They
wanted to know why this character had been pulled out of the Mansion. More
importantly, whether he'd ever be coming back," Kim said. "And given
that interest in this Haunted Mansion
character just grew & grew over the years … Well, given that Imagineering
always likes to give our Guests something new to see the very next time they
ride their favorite attraction, we began seriously talking about whether there
was a way that we could actually put the Hatbox Ghost back into Disneyland's
Haunted Mansion."

This tradition of plussing an attraction or adding new magic
to a pre-existing ride or show actually dates back to Walt's time. As the story
goes, the Company's founder was lingering outside of the entrance to Disneyland's
Jungle Cruise sometime in 1956 (which was just a year after The Happiest Place
on Earth had first opened to the public). And Disney was eavesdropping on what
the Guests had to say about what was then the signature attraction at his theme
park. A mom & son approached the entrance to this Adventureland ride. The
son was heard to say "Can we go on that one, please?" And the
mother's reply was "No. We went on that ride the last time we were at the
Park."

Well, Walt heard that remark. And by the Summer of 1957, Disneyland's
Jungle Cruise has a slew of brand-new scenes. People who purchased tickets for
this Adventureland attraction were now treated to a trip through a
flower-filled rainforest. Not to mention being menaced by a pair of mechanical
gorillas. The Jungle Cruise even wound up with an all-new climax, as its
riverboats first floated past through this village that featured a war party
and some dancing natives and then concluded with a comical encounter with Trader
Sam, the famous head salesman for the Amazon.


You've got to give Trader Sam some points for consistency. Nearly 60 years after
his Jungle Cruise debut, Sam's still offering Disneyland Guests the same
amazing deal: Two of his heads for one of theirs. Copyright Disney
Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved

These additions to the Jungle Cruise then gave Disneyland
visitors a legitimate reason to revisit this Adventureland attraction. Which is
why Walt then made plussing the rides, shows and attractions at his theme park
a regular practice.

"I remember when John Hench (EDITOR'S NOTE: Hench was
one of the original Imagineers. In fact, one of the very first park-related
assignments that Walt gave John was to come up with some futuristic attractions
for Disneyland's original version of Tomorrowland) used
to come down to the Park. He'd make a point of driving down from Glendale
to Anaheim at least once a month.
And John and I would then walk through Disneyland
together as he pointed out things that could use some updating or TLC," Irvine
recalled. "And during these walks, John kept saying 'You need to keep this
place fresh. You need to keep these rides and shows relevant.' That was
something that he had learned directly from Walt. And John was determined that
this tradition would continue. Which is why he kept passing along all of this
information to me."

Mind you, they don't make changes at the Disney theme parks
just for change's sake. Given that the Company was founded by a storyteller,
whenever the Imagineers are looking to add new magic to a pre-existing ride,
show or attraction, they first try and ensure that whatever changes they're
making then honor the original intent of that particular ride, show or
attraction's story.

"That's why we were confident that — when we returned
the Hatbox Ghost to Disneyland's Haunted
Mansion — we were making a smart
choice," Kim explained. "After all, here was a character that the
fans had been asking about for years. More to the point, we now had access to
technology that Yale Gracey didn't have back in the late 1960s. Which meant
that the Imagineers could finally make the Hatbox Ghost effect work the way it
was supposed to. So — by now putting this character back inside the Mansion —
we weren't just randomly shoehorning something in there. We were actually
honoring the original intent of Yale and all of the Imagineers who created the Haunted
Mansion."

Yep, even back in Walt's day, there were tech issues, time
constraints or budgetary shortfalls that prevented rides, shows or attractions
that the Imagineers had designed for Disneyland from
turning out the way Walt had originally hoped they would. Take — for example
— the Abominable Snowman that lurks inside of this theme park's Matterhorn
Bobsleds
.

According to Jason Surrell's "The Disney Mountains:
Imagineering at its Peak" (Disney Editions, September 2007), Walt had
always wanted an Abominable Snowman to part of the thrills that Guests
encountered as they zoomed through Disneyland's 1/100th scale version of the
Matterhorn:


Concept art for the version of the Abominable 
Snowman that was supposed to be installed
in Disneyland's Matterhorn when the
Bobsleds first opened at that theme
park back in 1959. Copyright
Disney Enterprises, Inc.
All rights reserved 

"In fact, (Disney Legend) Harriet Burns had gone a long
way towards a full-sized, fiberglass-and-fur-cloth mock-up of the Abominable
Snowman. The original intent was for the mythical monster to haunt the Matterhorn
on opening day, but there just wasn't enough time to accomplish everything Walt
wanted to do by then. Walt pulled the plug when he realized the attraction was
a big hit without an interior show."

It would be another 19 years before the Abominable Snowman
finally took up residence inside of the Matterhorn.
WDI's master sculptor Blaine Gibson was the one who came up with this
creature's distinctive fang-bearing / red-eyed look while it was Dennis Mecham,
an Imagineer who worked in WED's special services department, who provided the
Abominable Snowman's distinctive roar.

That version of the Abominable Snowman has been in place
since June of 1978. And while he's been roaring at and thrilling Disneyland
visitors for nearly 37 years now, as the Happiest Place on Earth neared its
60th anniversary, Kim and her fellow Imagineers wondered: Might it now be time
to add some next generation thrills to Disneyland's original thrill ride?


The 1978 version of the Abominable Snowman menaces Disneyland visitors at the
point where the two Matterhorn Bobsled tracks meet inside the mountain.
Copyright Disney Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved
 

"There have been so many advances made with digital
projection and sound technology over the past decade. So we were thinking that
— rather than have the Abominable Snowman remain as this sort of static,
stationary figure at the very heart of the Matterhorn —
wouldn't it be cool if, while you were riding through the mountain, you now got
the sense that the Abominable Snowman was running along right next to your
bobsled. That you could now catch glimpses of him moving through the Matterhorn
just ahead of you," Irvine
enthused.

And it's this new improved, newly ferocious version of the Abominable
Snowman that will be making his debut at Disneyland
Park on May 22nd as the Matterhorn
Bobsleds officially come back online after a five month-long rehab.

"Again, I want to stress here that the story that the Matterhorn
tells is pretty much the same. The big change is, of course, with the
Abominable Snowman. He's a little bit more ferocious, a little bit more
exciting," Kim said. "And if you're really paying attention as you
ride along in your bobsled, you may notice that — at various points along the
way — that there are these caves where the Abominable Snowman seems to be
hoarding things that he found out in the Park. That — if you look closely —
you may be able to see items that pay tribute to rides, shows and attractions
from Disneyland's past."


The new more menacing, far more ferocious version of the Abominable Snowman
makes his debut in Disneyland Park's Matterhorn Bobsleds attraction on May
22nd. Copyright Disney Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved 

The newly reimagined Hatbox Ghost and Abominable Snowman
will be just two of the pieces of new magic that Guests will discover when they
return to the Happiest Place
on Earth for the Disneyland Resort's Diamond Celebration. Which officially
kicks off next Friday, May 22nd with a 24 hour-long party.

This article originally appeared on the Huffington Post's Entertainment page on May 15, 2015

Jim Hill is an entertainment writer who has specialized in covering The Walt Disney Company for nearly 40 years now. Over that time, he has interviewed hundreds of animators, actors, and Imagineers -- many of whom have shared behind-the-scenes stories with Mr. Hill about how the Mouse House really works. In addition to the 4000+ articles Jim has written for the Web, he also co-hosts a trio of popular podcasts: “Disney Dish with Len Testa,” “Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor” and “Marvel US Disney with Aaron Adams.” Mr. Hill makes his home in Southern New Hampshire with his lovely wife Nancy and two obnoxious cats, Ginger & Betty.

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Jens Dahlmann of LongHorn Steakhouse has lots of great tips when it comes to grilling

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Sure, for some folks, the Fourth of July is all about fireworks. But for the 75% of all Americans who own a grill or a smoker, the Fourth is our Nation’s No. 1 holiday when it comes to grilling. Which is why 3 out of 4 of those folks will spend some time outside today working over a fire.

But here’s the thing: Though 14 million Americans can cook a steak with confidence because they actually grill something every week, the rest of us – because we use our grill or smoker so infrequently … Well, let’s just say that we have no chops when it comes to dealing with chops (pork, veal or otherwise).

So what’s a backyard chef supposed to in a situation like this when there’s so much at steak … er … stake? Turn to someone who really knows their way around a grill for advice. People like Jens Dahlmann, the Vice President and Corporate Executive Chef for Darden Restaurant’s LongHorn Steakhouse brand.

Given that Jens’ father & grandfather were chefs, this is a guy who literally grew up in a kitchen. In his teens & twenties, Dahlmann worked in hotels & restaurants all over Switzerland & Germany. Once he was classically trained in the culinary arts, Jens then  jumped ship. Well, started working on cruise ships, I mean.

Anyway … While working on Cunard’s Sea Goddess, Dahlmann met Sirio Maccioni, the founder of Le Cirque 2000. Sirio was so impressed with Jens’ skills in the kitchen that he offered him the opportunity to become sous-chef at this New York landmark. After four years of working in Manhattan, Dahlmann then headed south to become executive chef at Palm Beach’s prestigious Café L’Europe.

Jens Dahlmann back during his Disney World days

And once Jens began wowing foodies in Florida, it wasn’t all that long ’til the Mouse came a-calling. Mickey wanted Dahlmann to shake things up in the kitchen over at WDW’s Flying Fish Café. And he did such a good job with that Disney’s Boardwalk eatery the next thing Jens knew, he was then being asked to work his magic with the menu at the Contemporary Resort’s California Grill.

From there, Dahlmann had a relatively meteoric rise at the Mouse House. Once he became Epcot’s Food & Beverage general manager, it was only a matter of time before he wound up as the executive chef in charge of this theme park’s annual International Food & Wine Festival. Which – under Jens’ guidance – experienced some truly explosive growth.

“When I took on Food & Wine, that festival was only 35 days long and had gross revenues of just $5.5 million. When I left Disney in 2016, Food & Wine was now over 50 days long and that festival had gross revenues of $22 million,” Dahlmann admitted during a recent sit-down. “I honestly loved those 13 years I spent at Disney. When I was working there, I learned so much because I was really cooking for America.”

And it was exactly that sort of experience & expertise that Darden wanted to tap into when they lured Jens away from Mickey last year to become LongHorn Steakhouse’s new Vice President and Corporate Executive Chef. But today … Well, Dahlmann is offering tips to those of us who are thinking about cooking steak tips for the Fourth.

Photo by Jim Hill

“When you’re planning on grilling this holiday, if you’re looking for a successful result, the obvious place to start is with the quality of the meat you plan on cooking for your friends & family. If you want the best results here, don’t be cheap when you go shopping. Spend the money necessary for a fresh filet or a New York strip. Better yet a Ribeye, a nice thick one with good marbling. Because when you look at the marbling on a steak, that’s where all the flavor happens,” Jens explained. “That said, you always have to remember that — the higher you go with the quality of your meat — the less time you’re going to want that piece of meat to spend on the grill.”

And speaking of cooking … Before you even get started here, Jens suggests that you first take the time to check over all of your grilling equipment. Making sure that the grill itself is first scraped clean & then properly oiled before you then turn up the heat.

“If you’re working with a dirty grill, when you go to turn your meat, it may wind up sticking to the grill. Or maybe those spices that you’ve just so carefully coated your steak with will wind up sticking to the grill, rather than your meat,” Dahlmann continued. “Which is why it’s always worth it to spend a few minutes prior to firing up your grill properly cleaning & oiling it.”

Photo by Jim Hill

And speaking of heat … Again, before you officially get started grilling here, Jens says that it’s crucial to check your temperature gauges. Make sure that your char grill is set at 550 (so that it can then properly handle the thicker cuts of meat) and your flattop is set at 425 (so it can properly sear thinner pieces of meat).

Okay. Once you’ve bought the right cuts of quality meat, properly cleaned & oiled your grill, and then made sure that everything’s set at the right temperature (“If you can only stand to hold your hand directly over the grill for two or three seconds, that’s the right amount of heat,” Dahlmann said), it’s now time to season your steaks.

“Don’t be afraid to be bold here. You can’t be shy when it comes to seasoning your meat. You want to give it a nice coating. Largely because — if you’re using a char grill — a lot of that seasoning is just going to fall off anyway,” Jens stated. “It’s up to you to decide what sort of seasoning you want to use here. Even just some salt & pepper will enhance a steak’s flavor.”

Then – according to Dahlmann – comes the really tough part. Which is placing your meat on the grill and then fighting the urge to flip it too early or too often.

“The biggest mistake that a lot of amateur cooks make is that they flip the steak too many times. The real key to a well-cooked piece of meat is just let it be, “Jens insisted. “Of course, if you’re serving different cuts of meat at your Fourth of July feast, you always want to put your biggest thickest steak on the grill first. If you’re also cooking a New York Strip, you want to put that one on a few minutes later. But after that, just let the grill do its job and flip your meat a total of three or four times, once every three minutes or so.”

Of course, the last thing you want to do is overcook a quality piece of meat. Which is why Dahlmann suggests that – when it comes to grilling steaks – if you’re going to err, err on the side of undercooking.

“You can always put a piece of meat back on the grill if it’s slightly undercooked. When you over-cook something, all you can do then is start over with a brand-new piece of meat,” Jens said. “Just be sure that you’re using the correct cut of meat for the cooking result you’re aiming for. If someone wants a rare or medium rare steak, you should go with a thicker cut of steak. If one of your guests wants their steak cooked medium or well, it’s best to start with a thinner cut of meat.”

Photo by Jim Hill

As you can see, the folks at Longhorn take grilling steaks seriously. How seriously? Just last week at Darden Corporate Headquarters in Orlando, seven of these brand’s top grill masters (who – after weeks of regional competitions – had been culled from the 491 restaurants that make up this chain) competed for a $10,000 prize in the Company’s second annual Steak Master Series. And Dahlmann was one of the people who stood in Darden’s test kitchens, watching like a hawk as each of the contestants struggled to prepare six different dishes in just 20 minutes according to Longhorn Steakhouse’s exacting standards.

“I love that Darden does this. Recognizing the best of the best who work this restaurant,” Jens concluded. “We have a lot of people here who are incredibly knowledgeable & passionate when it comes to grilling.”

Speaking of which … If today’s story doesn’t include the exact piece of info that you need to properly grill that T-bone, just whip out your iPhone & text GRILL to 55702. Or – better yet – visit  ExpertGriller.com prior to firing up your grill or smoker later today. 

This article was originally published by the Huffington Post on Tuesday, July 4, 2017

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Brattleboro’s Strolling of the Heifers is a sincere if somewhat surreal way to spend a summer’s day in Vermont

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Some people travel halfway ‘around the planet so that they can then experience the excitement of the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona. If you’re more of a Slow Living enthusiast (as I am), then perhaps you should amble to Brattleboro, VT. Where – over the first weekend in June – you can then join a herd of cow enthusiasts at the annual Strolling of the Heifers.

Now in its 16th year, this three-day long event typically gets underway on Friday night in June with a combination block party / gallery walk. But then – come Saturday morning – Main Street in Brattleboro is lined with thousands of bovine fans.

Photo by Jim Hill

They’ve staked out primo viewing spots and set up camp chairs hours ahead of time. Just so these folks can then have a front row seat as this year’s crop of calves (which all come from local farms & 4-H clubs) are paraded through the streets.

Photo by Jim Hill

Viewed from curbside, Strolling of the Heifers is kind of this weird melding of a sincere small town celebration and Pasadena’s Doo Dah Parade. Meaning that – for every entry that actually acknowledged this year’s theme (i.e. “Dance to the Moosic”) — …

Photo by Jim Hill

… there was something completely random, like this parade’s synchronized shopping cart unit.

Photo by Jim Hill

And for every piece of authentic Americana (EX: That collection of antique John Deere tractors that came chugging through the city) …

Photo by Jim Hill

… there was something silly. Like – say – a woman dressed as a Holstein pushing a baby stroller through the streets. And riding in that stroller was a pig dressed in a tutu.

Photo by Jim Hill

And given that this event was being staged in the Green Mountain State & all … Well, does it really surprise you to learn that — among the groups that marched in this year’s Strolling of the Heifers – was a group of eco-friendly folks who, with their  chants of “We’re Number One !,” tried to persuade people along the parade route not to flush the toilet after they pee. Because – as it turns out – urine can be turned into fertilizer.

Photo by Jim Hill

And speaking of fertilizer … At the tail end of the parade, there was a group of dedicated volunteers who were dealing with what came out of the tail end of all those cows.

Photo by Jim Hill

This year’s Strolling of the Heifers concluded at the Brattleboro town common. Where event attendees could then get a closer look at some of the featured units in this year’s parade…

Photo by Jim Hill

… or perhaps even pet a few of the participants.

Photo by Jim Hill

But as for the 90+ calves who took part in the 2017 edition of Strolling of the Heifers, once they reached the town common, it was now time for a nosh or a nap.

Photo by Jim Hill

Elsewhere on the common, keeping with this year’s “Dance to the Moosic” theme, various musical groups performed in & around the gazebo throughout the afternoon.

Photo by Jim Hill

While just across the way – keeping with Brattleboro’s tradition of showcasing the various artisans who live & work in the local community – some pretty funky pieces were on display at the Slow Living Exposition.

Photo by Jim Hill

All in all, attending Strolling of the Heifers is a somewhat surreal but still very pleasant way to spend a summer’s day in Vermont. And that’s no bull.

Photo by Jim Hill

Well, that could be a bull. To be honest, what with the wig & all, it’s kind of hard to tell. 

This article was originally published by the Huffington Post on Sunday, June 4, 2017

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Looking to make an authentic Irish meal for Saint Patrick’s Day? If so, then chef Kevin Dundon says not to cook corned beef & cabbage

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Let’s at least start on a positive note: Celebrated chef, author & TV personality Kevin Dundon – the man that Tourism Ireland has repeatedly chosen as the Face of Irish Food – loves a lot of what happens in the United States on March 17th.

“I mean, look at what they do in Chicago on Saint Patrick’s Day. They toss all of this vegetable-based dye into the Chicago River and then paint it green for a day. That’s terrific,” Kevin said.

But then when it comes to what many Americans eat & drink on St. Paddy’s Day (i.e., a big plate of corned beef and cabbage. Which is then washed down with a mug of green beer) … Well, that’s where Dundon has to draw the line.

Irish celebrity chef Kevin Dundon displays a traditional Irish loin of bacon with Colcannon potatoes and a Dunbrody Kiss chocolate dessert. Photo by Tom Burton. Copyright Disney Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved

“Green beer? No real Irishman would be caught dead drinking that stuff,” Kevin insists. “And as for eating corned beef & cabbage … That’s not actually authentic Irish fare either. Bacon and cabbage? Sure. But corned beef & cabbage was something that the Irish only began eating after they’d come to the States to escape the Famine. And even then these Irish-Americans only began serving corned beef & cabbage to their friends & family because they had to make do with the ingredients that were available to them at that time.”

And thus begins the strange tale of how corned beef & cabbage came to be associated with the North American celebration of Saint Patrick’s Day celebration. Because – according to Dundon – beef just wasn’t all that big a part of the Irish diet back in the 19th century.

To explain: Back in the Old Country, cattle – while they were obviously highly prized for the milk & cheese that they produced – were also beasts of burden. Meaning that they were often used for ploughing the fields or for hauling heavy loads. Which is why – back then — these animals were rarely slaughtered when they were still young & healthy. If anything, land owners liked to put a herd of cattle on display out in one of their pastures because that was then a sign to their neighbors that this farm was prosperous.

“Whereas pork … Well, everybody raised pigs back then. Which is why pork was a staple of the Irish diet rather than beef,” Dundon continued.

So if that’s what people actually ate back in the Old Country, how then did corned beef & cabbage come to be so strongly associated with Saint Patrick’s Day in the States.? That largely had to do with where the Irish wound up living after they arrived in the New World.

“When the Irish first arrived in America following the Great Famine, a lot of them wound up living in the inner city right alongside the Germans & the Jews, who were also recent immigrants to the States. And while that farm-fresh pork that the Irish loved wasn’t readily available, there was brisket. Which the Irish could then cure by first covering this piece of meat with corn kernel-sized pieces of rock salt – that’s how it came to be called corned beef. Because of the sizes of the pieces of rock salt that were used in the curing process – and then placing all that in a pot of water with other spices to soak for a few days.”

And as for the cabbage portion of corned beef & cabbage … Well, according to Kevin, in addition to buying their meat from the kosher delis in their neighborhood, the Irish would also frequent the stores that the German community shopped in. Where – thanks to their love of sauerkraut (i.e., pickled cabbage) – there was always a ready supply of cabbage to be had.

“So when you get right down to it, it was the American melting pot that led to corned beef & cabbage being found in the Irish-American cooking pot,” Dundon continued. “Since they couldn’t find or didn’t have easy access to the exact same ingredients that they had back in Ireland, Irish-Americans made do with what they could find in the immediate vicinity. And what they made was admittedly tasty. But it’s not actually authentic Irish fare.”

Mind you, what Kevin serves at Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant at Disney Springs (which – FYI – Orlando Magazine voted as the area’s best restaurant back in 2014) is nothing if not authentic. Dundon and his team at this acclaimed gastropub pride themselves on making traditional Irish fare and then contemporized it.

Copyright Disney Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved

“Take – for example – what we serve here instead of corned beef & cabbage. Again, because it was pork – rather than beef – that was the true staple of the Irish diet back then, what we offer instead is a loin of bacon that has been glazed with Irish Mist. That then comes with colcannon potatoes. Which is this traditional Irish dish that’s made up of mashed potato that have had some cabbage & bacon mixed through it,” Kevin enthused. “This heavenly ham – that’s what we actually call this traditional Irish dish at Raglan Road, Kevin’s Heavenly Ham – also includes some savory cabbage with a parsley cream sauce as well as a raisin cider jus. It’s simple food. But because of the basic ingredients – and that’s the real secret of Irish cuisine. That our ingredients are so strong – the flavors just pop off the plate.”

Which brings us to the real challenge that Dundon and the Raglan Road team face every day. Making sure that they actually have all of the ingredients necessary to make this traditional-yet-contemporized Irish fare to those folks who frequent this Walt Disney World favorite.

“Take – for example – the fish we serve here. We only used cold water fish. Salmon, mussels and haddock that have been hauled out of the Atlantic, the ocean that America and Ireland share,” Kevin stated. “Not that there’s anything wrong with warm water fish. It’s just that … Well, it doesn’t have the same structure. It’s a softer fish, which doesn’t really fit the parameters of Irish cuisine. And if you’re going to serve authentic food, you have to be this dedicated when it comes to sourcing your ingredients.

Copyright Mitchell Beazley. All rights reserved

And if you’re thinking of perhaps trying to serve an authentic Irish meal this year, rather than once again serving corned beef & cabbage at your Saint Patrick’s Day Feast … Well, back in September of last year, Mitchell Beazley published “The Raglan Road Cookbook: Inside America’s Favorite Irish Pub.” This 296-page hardcover not only includes the recipe for Kevin’s Heavenly Ham but also it tells the tale of how this now-world-renown restaurant wound up being built in Orlando.

On the other hand, if you happen to have to the luck of the Irish and are actually down at The Walt Disney World Resort right now, it’s worth noting that Raglan Road is right in the middle of its Mighty St. Patrick’s Day Festival. This four day-long event – which includes Irish bands and professional dancers – stretches through Sunday night. And in addition to all that authentic Irish fare that Dundon and his team are cooking up, you also sample the fine selection of beers & cocktails that this establishment’s four distinct antique bars (each of which are more than 130 years old and were imported directly from Ireland) will be serving. Just – As ucht Dé (That’s “For God’s Sake” in Gaelic) – don’t make the mistake of asking the bartender there for a mug of green beer.

“Why would anyone willingly drink something like that?,” Dundon laughed. “I mean, just imagine what their washroom will look like the morning after.”

This article was originally published by the Huffington Post on Friday, March 17, 2017

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