Sunday Brunch: An Outing to the Rose and
Crown
Originally published 12 August 2012
Our Summer Olympics week comes to a close today,
with a look at the cuisine the 2012 Olympic athletes may be enjoying
while competing in London, England. At Walt Disney World, the food
of the Brits can be found in World Showcase's United Kingdom
pavilion at the Rose and Crown Dining Room.
Otium cum dignitate, means 'leisure with dignity,' a common Latin
phrase found on many Family shields and crests
With service for lunch and dinner,
the Rose and Crown serves up traditional British dishes. My friends
and I came for dinner, finding the meat and potatoes dishes we were
looking forward to as well as seafood favorites like Roasted Sea
Scallops appetizer, Pan-fried Fresh River Trout and the signature
Fish and Chips. The dinner menu also included such entrees as the
brisket and braised pork (Pork duo), Vegetable Pie n' Mash, and
Slow-cooked Chicken Curry, representing the strong influence of
Indian cuisine in Great Britain, London especially. Authentic side
orders included traditional mashed potatoes, Mushy peas, English
chips, and Bubble and Squeak (more on this fun dish later!).
The Rose and Crown is made up of two sections: the Dining Room and
the Pub.
Though it was a hot day, we were seated in the
shade, outside by the water. Only few restaurants at World Showcase
are by the water (Rose and Crown, La Hacienda de San Angel), so it
is a nice treat to be seated outside on a beautiful day like that
day.
Canadian Caitlin and Hidden Mickey Monday Alex
Arriving around 5 pm, the restaurant was not too
busy with guests yet, as more come in the late evening hours for
perfect views of Illuminations. Craig, our chipper young server came
right away, ready to take our order. He gladly explained the menu,
especially since we were intrigued by the Bubble and Squeak. It
actually is a dish made from the leftovers from Sunday Roast, or the
Sunday evening family dinner. It is mostly potatoes and vegetables
like cabbage, and gets its name from the sound it make while frying
on the stove. At Walt Disney World, they are not about to re-cook
guests' leftovers, so the Bubble and Squeak is made fresh. After
ordering, bread arrived to our table in a basket lined with what
looked like a British newspaper, but is actually food grade wax
paper. The Fish and Chips is also served similarly, a very nice,
little way of adding theming to the UK dining experience.
We asked Craig the significance of the '9s' on either side of the
menu title. He said it references the street number the Rose and
Crown resides on.
Our food arrived, piping hot and fresh and ready to
be consumed. Alex and Caitlin went quintessential British and
ordered the fish and chips, each receiving a large cut of
beer-battered fried fish, a smattering of chips, and ketchup and a
house-made Tartar sauce. We actually learned that Tartar sauce is
not a British thing, but most American guests have come to expect it
with fried fish.
I ordered the Cottage Pie, a sort of Shepherds pie
made with ground beef, onions, carrots, mushrooms, creamy mashed
potatoes, and cheddar cheese. While not in a pie crust, the Cottage
pie was cooked in a large ramekin, covered with a nicely piped layer
of mashed potatoes, then crusted with a delicious cheesy layer of
cheddar cheese, and Bob's your uncle! Each bite was filled with
ground beef, though I would've fancied a little more vegetables in
the mix. Still, very filling and robust.
Caitlin ordered the bubble and squeak and we all had
to try a bit of it. We were positively chuffed by the strong and
savory flavor of the hodgepodge of vegetables and meat. Not to
mention the pool of gravy it was sitting in!
The British really know how to fill you up with
calories, and still we found room for a bit of sweets. We each
ordered a different dessert, and well, pictures speak 1000 words!
Jaffa Tarts
Jaffa Tarts ' orange cream filled cakes with chocolate ganache,
raspberry sauce, and fresh oranges
Sticky Toffee Pudding
Mandy's Mess ' Freshly baked Pound Cake with Berries and Ribena
Syrup
Our dining experience at the Rose and Crown was
truly an authentic British outing. Not only did we have authentic
British food, it even rained halfway through our meal. The servers
were energetic, incredibly friendly, informative, and helpful,
pulling down the patio tarps when they sensed the rain was coming.
By the end our server did get a bit busy and we waited a little too
long for the bill. Codswallop, if you ask me, but still, we had a
jolly good time! Cheers!