Dinner at Morimoto Asia at Disney Springs (Orlando, FL)

It is not often that you get a restaurant which so effectively combines amazing environment with equally amazing, high-quality dishes. Morimoto Asia does. I hate to say it, because I have a number of personal faves in town, but the food at this establishment is pretty hard to beat. We ordered a wide range of dishes and were blown away by each one. This is one of the rare meals I have had where the wine was of secondary importance. The flavors were were so pleasing that I wanted them to linger and be unimpeded by other influences.

The dining menu is a two-page foldout with an insert containing raw bar items. The drinks menu is presented on an additional page. The main dining menu is shown here.

While we were perusing the menu, I had the server pop open a bottle of La Closerie Extra Brut. Our first order was slightly extensive and I was concerned about the staging. But not to worry. They staged the items perfectly and brought items out when they fit into the pattern rather than based on who had placed the order.

The items ordered on this first pass were: the hamachi tartare (dashi soy with crispy shallots, chives, and fresh wasabi; edamami; hot and sour soup (egg, tofu, and vegetables in a spicy broth); from the dim sum menu, kakuni pork bao (steamed buns, braised pork belly, lettuce, spicy mayo); and five spice chicken wings (with chopped jalapeno and crispy garlic). Every single one of these items was heavenly.

The hamachi tartare was not exactly as I had pictured it (it was a little more disembodied and tower-like than I had imagined) but after a couple of tentative tastes, I dug into this gold mine of flavor. And this was the most linear of the flavor profiles presented that evening. The hot and sour soup had a thickness to its texture and was perfectly balanced between the two components. Heavenly. I split the dim sum with my friend Paul (the ladies wanted no part of it) and it was a meal in itself. The bun was tender and juicy and, in texture and flavor, was the perfect contrast to the flavor bomb wrapped within its fold. The chicken wings (not pictured here) were perfectly cooked and was spicy without being overbearing. Lovely garlic note. By this time we knew that we were in the midst of a stellar dining experience.

Hot and Sour Soup

Hamachi Tartare

Kakuni Pork Bao

The main courses are presented on the right side of the menu where the peking duck and spare ribs have pride of place with standalone boxes (according to the server they are considered signature dishes of the establishment) so, of course, we ordered both.  In addition, Parlo ordered the sweet and sour crispy bronzino (boneless Mediterranean sea bass with signature sweet and sour sauce) and spicy thai basil fried rice (egg, bell pepper, scallions, bean sprouts, and spicy basil sauce) while Debbie ordered the Morimoto buri-bop (korean-style yellowtail rice bowl served in a hot clay pot, finished on an egg yolk and prepared tableside). 

We shared the plates between us. It was a gastronomic bacchanal. The spare ribs were a handful and should only be ordered as a shared plate (or if you want to eat leftover ribs for the remainder of the week). Bountiful but also bounteous flavor-wise.

Sweet and Sour Crispy Bronzino (sic?)

Peking Duck

Spare ribs

Spicy Basil Fried Rice

Buri-Bop -- before

Buri-Bop after tableside preparation

I was shot after this. I could not eat another morsel. But my wife insisted on dessert and ordered a Mochi-Mochi (annin tofu, coconut mango soup, fruit boba, frozen mago, and lemon yogurt powder). I was a non-participant.

Mochi-Mochi -- before

Mochi-Mochi after tableside preparation

This had been an extended and extensive meal and the service was an excellent complement. At no time did we feel rushed or hurried and the server opened and poured our wine as though it was his own.

I will be a frequent visitor to this establishment.

©Wine -- Mise en abyme

Morimoto Asia at Disney Springs: A Crystal Palace of Food

It took less time than it did for Odysseus to travel back home to Ithaca after the Battle of Troy, but I am sure that it was similarly arduous. I am speaking about the effort required last night to get from my home to Morimoto Asia in Disney Springs (the new, upscale name for the old Downtown Disney). That journey is the reason why locals thank their lucky stars every day for the wealth of fine eating establishments that have sprung up closer to home, negating the need to drive to Disney, which, for a long time, was the only quality show in town. But, all the griping aside, the trip was worth it.

Back in the day, Downtown Disney was comprised of a mix of specialty shops, once-shining restaurants, and a number of night clubs, but it had grown stale in comparison to newer venues such as Universal's City Walk. To address this issue, Disney has undertaken a massive revamp and rebranding of the area to include major infrastructure improvements and the addition of new shops, restaurants, and themed entertainment areas.

One of the new restaurants is Morimoto Asia, an offering from celebrity Chef Masaharu Morimoto which features cuisine from across Asia. The restaurant is located in the Landings section of Disney Springs and opened for business at the end of September. We had received very positive reviews regarding the food from Adam and Gigi Chilvers, our friends (and proprietors of wineontheway.co after their visit so we decided to go experience it for ourselves.

I have alluded to the difficulty of fighting through Orlando rush-hour traffic and then the masses seeking to get into the Disney properties for their evening's entertainment. Disney has constructed large parking garages just north of the movie theaters and Cirque de Soleil and has also built a flyover that funnels I-4 traffic directly into the garage. You can choose to park within the structure or utilize an available valet parking service.

The restaurant is about five or six minutes (walking time) away from the parking area. Beware of high heels and fully loaded wine bags. I think I hyper-extended my elbow.

As you make your way from the parking area, you are almost not walking. It is as though you are being carried along on this wave of humanity that is moving from the parking area, all with no specific place to go and no specific time to get there. And then you happen on a quiet side street -- an island of calm in this roiling sea of humanity -- and at the end of the street you see the magic words on a vertically oriented sign -- Morimoto Asia.

You have to continue down that side street and make a right turn in order to access the Morimoto entrance. And it immediately hits you. This is Disney. These guys had to put on a show. And they did. It was stunning. This place is worth a visit just to see the type of structures developed and deployed and the use of light and incredibly beautiful light fixtures throughout the space.

The restaurant is spread out over two levels with bars and dining areas on each. The top floor is only partially built out leaving a large central "hole" through which ceiling-hung material can drape as well as through which to view the activities of the diners below.

On the top floor there are enclosed "quiet space" dining areas which are set up for four guests per table. There are larger tables set up outside of these quiet zones.

There are outside patio dining areas on each level.

A word to the wise. The restaurant is very crowded now in this early phase so make a reservation before you go. While we were standing at the reception desk they were turning people away left and right. There are a few first-come, first-served areas adjacent to both bars but you have to be lucky. Second, try to get a table on the second floor. It makes for a much more spectacular dining experience.

Well, my time is up. I will tell you about the food at another time.

©Wine -- Mise en abyme