PRESS RELEASE:
Renowned chef Rick Bayless is introducing Florida and the Southeast to his famous gourmet Mexican dishes with the debut of Frontera Cocina now open at Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort.



 Frontera Cocina will delight friends, family and food lovers with exciting flavors and a contemporary Mexican experience. Warm colors, an open kitchen and a lively atmosphere frame an inviting exploration of the many delights developed by Chef Bayless, a six-time James Beard Foundation winner.


Menu items include Oaxacan Red Chile Chicken, Salsa Verde Shrimp Enchiladas Suizas and freshly made salsas and guacamole. In addition, a quick-service taco counter will be added to offer guests a quick taste of Chef Bayless’ award-winning cuisine.



 “For me, it is always a thrill to share the lively fresh regional flavors of Mexico with a broader audience,” Chef Bayless said. “And what better place to do that than Walt Disney World Resort? We plan to add all the deliciousness we can to the experience for all who come to enjoy Frontera Cocina at Disney Springs.”


Executive Chef Stephen Hicks will oversee Frontera Cocina’s kitchen. Hicks has forged his career based on the basic fundamentals of simplicity, sourcing local ingredients and pursuing world-class customer service. Using these guiding principles, Hicks has served as cook and lead in the kitchens of the River Club in Jacksonville, Florida; Sapphire Grill in Savannah, Georgia; and Seasons 52 in Orlando, Florida. Hicks also spent time as a multi-unit chef in Chicago with McCormick & Schmick’s.



 Chef Bayless and Richard Debler of Vista Springs, LLC commissioned the nationally recognized, award-winning Philadelphia-based firm Daroff Design Inc + DDI Architects, PC. (DDI) to create the exciting new architectural and interior design experience for the chef’s new Frontera Cocina restaurant at Disney Springs, an exciting new waterfront district for world-class shopping, unique dining, and high-quality entertainment at Walt Disney World Resort.


Chef Bayless launched his Frontera franchise in Chicago in 1981. Since then, he has opened several more award-winning restaurants including Xoco, Frontera Grill, Toplobampo, Leña Brava, Cruz Blanca and now, Frontera Cocina.



 About Rick Bayless
 

Chef Rick Bayless is probably best known for winning the title of Bravo TV’s “Top Chef Masters,” with his authentic Mexican cuisine. His highly rated, national Public Television Series, “Mexico–One Plate at a Time,” is in its 10th season. In 2012, Chef Bayless was nominated for a Daytime Emmy for Best Culinary Host.



 Chef Bayless has launched several award-winning Chicago restaurants. He founded the casual Frontera Grill in 1987 and received the James Beard Foundation’s highest award, Outstanding Restaurant, in 2007. The 4-star Topolobampo served its first meals in 1989. And the wildly popular, LEED GOLD-certified, fast-casual Xoco launched in 2009, serving wood-oven tortas, steaming caldos, golden churros and bean-to-cup Mexican hot chocolate.

Chef Bayless’ quick-service Tortas Frontera restaurants have changed the face of food service at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, while Frontera Fresco restaurants have brought Frontera flavors to several Chicago locations. His award-winning Frontera line of salsas, cooking sauces and non-GMO tortilla chips can be found coast to coast.

 Chef Bayless is the author of nine cookbooks, including “Mexico–One Plate at a Time,” which won the James Beard Foundation Best International Cookbook of the Year award in 2001. His “Fiesta at Rick’s” is a New York Times bestseller. He has won six James Beard Foundation awards, including two for his cookbooks, Midwest Chef of the Year, National Chef of the Year, Humanitarian of the Year and Who’s Who of Food and Beverage in America.



 About Disney Springs 

Disney Springs is a one-of-a-kind Disney experience, treating guests by day and night to great dining, shopping and entertainment amid beautiful open-air promenades, flowing springs and waterfront charm. Offering an air of sophisticated grace and design that harkens to Florida’s waterfront towns at the turn-of-the-century, Disney Springs is home to four distinct, outdoor neighborhoods: The Landing, Town Center, Marketplace and West Side. Nearing completion in 2016, Disney Springs has been undergoing the largest expansion in its history to double the number of shops, restaurants and other venues for guests to explore, which will result in more than 150 establishments. Disney Springs is part of Walt Disney World Resort, the number one family vacation destination in the world, located in Lake Buena Vista.

Two great Star Wars Character Dining Experiences that debuted in 2014 will be returning to the delight of fans to the Walt Disney World Resort.  Starting on May 4th and running every day through June 15th both the Star Wars Dine-In Galactic Breakfast! at Sci-Fi & Jedi Mickey's STAR WARS Dine at Hollywood & Vine will be available to guest at Disney's Hollywood Studios.

Star Wars Dine-In Galactic Breakfast! At Sci-Fi

The Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater at Disney's Hollywood Studios will once again play host to this special Star Wars Character Dining Experience!  Guests will get a chance to meet Darth Vader, Boba Fett, Stormtroopers, Greedo, and Jawas during this special breakfast with Star Wars influenced menu items.

Here are the key details:

DATES: May 4 - June 15, 2015 (Every day, not just during Star Wars Weekends!)
TIMES: 8:00AM - 11:00AM
COSTS: $49.99/Adult, $31.99/Child (includes taxes, but not gratuity)


During the inaugural year of this breakfast, Only WDWorld had a chance to experience it first hand and we have to admit it was a lot of fun.  The Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater is not normally open for breakfast, so that made this a special treat in addition to all of the Star Wars theming.  The characters make their way to each "car" to visit with the guests and pose for pictures.  The film clips are replaced with Star Wars themed clips that include some rarely seen material from the 70's and 80's.


See more pictures and our Review from 2014:
Star Wars Dine-In Galactic Breakfast Review

Jedi Mickey's STAR WARS Dine at Hollywood & Vine

Star Wars and Disney comes together as your favorite Disney Characters portray their favorite Star Wars characters for this fun Character Dinner.  Mickey Mouse is now a Jedi, Minnie Mouse is portraying Princess Leia, Donald Duck is a Stormtrooper, Chip n Dale have become Ewoks, and Goofy has gone to the dark side becoming Darth Goofy! Add the characters to a great buffet filled with Star Wars inspired foods and desserts and you have a special dining experience that you will not want to miss.

Here are the key details:

DATES: May 4 - June 15, 2015 (Every day, not just during Star Wars Weekends!)
TIMES: 4:15 PM - 8:00 PM
COSTS: $57.99/Adult, $34.99/Child (includes taxes, but not gratuity)

Only WDWorld had the opportunity to visit and review this special dinner during its inaugural run as well.  Make sure that you bring your camera because you will have the opportunity to get pictures that you may never get again with all of these characters.  The food was great and plentiful with amusing names filled with Star Wars references.  The dessert were literally works of art that you almost were afraid to eat, but you did because they were tasty!



See more pictures and our Review from 2014:
Jedi Mickey's STAR WARS Dine Review

Disney Dining Tip

Make sure you make reservations early for these great Star Wars Character Dining meals!  They will fill up and they will turn away those without reservations.  Your best chance for reservations are to pick days that are not hosting Star Wars Weekends (Monday-Thursday).

Good Luck and May The Force Be With You!

Epcot After-Hours Wind Down

The newest Disney World semi-exclusive experiment is coming to Epcot!  It is called Epcot After-Hours Wind Down and it involves staying at Epcot after the Illuminations: Reflections Of Earth show and visiting one of four World Showcase Lounge areas for a special treat of food & drink!

This new opportunity starts on April 17th and currently is scheduled to run through September 15th. Choose either La Cava del Tequila at the Mexico Pavilion; Spice Road Table in the Morocco Pavilion; Tutto Gusto in the Italy Pavilion, or Rose & Crown Pub in the United Kingdom Pavilion. Each location will have small bites paired with a beverage flight (additional beverages can be purchased) from 9:20 – 11 p.m. It’s a magical time as the park quiets down.

This will be considered a "ticketed" event costing $35 + tax & gratuity, and if you intend to try it, you should make reservations ahead of time.  To learn more about it, go to www.disneyworld.com/spring, call 407-WDW-DINE, or check in with Epcot Guest Relations to see if space is available.