Disneyland- Must Eat.

Every year I probably go to Disneyland at least once. A perfect place to revamp my childhood memories. However, my trip to Disneyland this year was extra special. Not only did the gent and I score sweet deals on the So-Cal Flex Tickets, but I got to go on my birthday! After entering the park I had to get my birthday pin (as seen in the photo to the left <--). Not only was I celebrating my birthday with the gent, but I was celebrating it with random strangers and characters/princesses (yes- it was absolutely the sweetest thing as people would randomly wish you happy birthday while in line, walking, etc). And to top this birthday off even more, the gent and I decided to try all these different food places that many people may not know about- the secrets. Today, on Knotuself, I want to share with you a list of must-eat foods that will make your Disneyland trip just that much more exciting and delicious. As for me, I can probably say no guilt was left after each bite because I mean you do burn it off while walking all day- am I right or am I right? As a foodie myself, this trip and adventure to Disneyland was definitely one for the books. There are still plenty of other delectable, mouth-watering bites at Disneyland that I have not mentioned yet because I myself have yet to try. But, when the time comes around again, I shall update this post with more foods you can cross off that bucket list of yours. 

L O B S T E R R O L L S  ____________________________________
Harbour Galley -   Located near the exit of Haunted Mansion, you'll find this adorable gem tucked by the water. Inside this fluffy, buttery bun is filled with fresh mayo'd lobster. And let me tell you, the amount of lobster you'll find in your bun is quite generous. This is a must try for those of you who haven't yet! 
P R E T Z E L +  H O T D O G   ____________________________________
Refreshment Corner - Okay, so you might be thinking, "Pretzel and hotdog? What's so special about that?". But let me tell you, it isn't just any pretzel and hotdog. It's a jalapeño cheese filled pretzeled and a mac n cheese hot dog! YUM RIGHT? I must say the pretzel was by far my favorite, but both are extremely delicious and a must try. You can find this delightful place next to Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe. And when it is getting cold at night, get yourself a hot-coco because it is just the perfect icing to the night. 

D O L E W H I P  ____________________________________
Tiki Juice Bar- If you are a frequent visitor at Disneyland, than you already know about the infamous Dole Whip soft serve or float. This place is so well-known/popular that it has it's own wait time visible on the Disney app where you can view how long each ride is. It's a perfect treat to compliment Cali's weather. 

D I N N E R  ____________________________________
Carnation Cafe- To end this perfect night, the gent and I decided to try Carnation Cafe for dinner. Reservations are recommended, however we didn't make one and the wait was about 45 minutes (so not too bad- if you don't mind waiting). That 45 minutes of waiting though was all worth it. For appetizer we ordered baked potato soup. And to go along with this already delicious soup, we ordered fried pickles. Yum, yum, and yum. I then ordered myself sour dough bacon cheese melt, and the gent ordered himself the chicken-fried chicken. What made the night even more special was that our waitress brought us out a cupcake with a birthday candle on it for my birthday. Not a word was said that it was my birthday, but it was that special pin on my chest that said it all- I told you this pin was magical. So, if you aren't sure what to eat at Disney, you must stop by here found on main street! 

Pesto Pizza.

There is one simple question for all you foodies. Who doesn't love pizza? It's that comfort food that never seems to fail that satisfaction-need your tummy seems to desire at any random hour of the day. Pizza is a dish of Italian origin that consist of flat, round base dough baked with a topping of tomato sauce and cheese, typically with added meat or vegetables. But in today's creative mouths, we have expanded our taste buds and went beyond just the tomato, cheese, and pepperoni.

With pizza, there just seems to be this instant chemistry my mouth has with the melted cheese, the stacked meats, the nice crunch- but still soft- crust, and the veggie delights sprinkled on top. For a more scientific understanding, this chemistry that seems to form is known as the Maillard reaction. Maillard reaction occurs mainly in most kinds of cooking where it is a specific chemical reaction between amino acids and reducing sugar that gives browned foods their desired flavor.

The gent and I decided to get our tastebud dancing and create our own Maillard reaction. We both agreed on a homemade pizza because what's better than tossing whatever-the-heck you want on your own pizza. To make our life easy, we got a store-bought pre-made pizza dough. Those who are curious, we bought our pizza dough from Vons. If you walk over to the pizza section, they will have certain flavor pizza dough that is already made and ready to be rolled.

Of course, you can put whatever you want on your pizza dough. Let your pizza dough be a empty pallet and just toss whatever you crave onto this canvas. For those of you stuck, here is a list of ingredients to guide you to make your own delicious pizza.

It's simply, fun, and absolutely yummers!

I N G R E D I E N T S _____________________________________

Not Shown: 

• Avocado 

D I R E C T I O N S _____________________________________

1. Roll out pizza dough to desire shape and length. (Tip: it helps to place some flour around the pizza dough to prevent excess sticking)

2. Spread your sauce to serve as your glue or base. Here, we used pesto (my favoooritteeee). 

3. Put your desired ingredients in any order you like. 

4. Bake in oven for 18-22 minutes (if you are using store-bought, pre-made pizza dough) or until curst is nice and golden brown. 

5. Take out of oven. 

6. Cut desire slices. 

7. Eat, eat, eat- bon appétit! 

Here is a video of the gent and me prepping some yuma! 

Smoked Salmon Snack.

Have you ever watched A Cinderella Story, staring Hilary Duff, Chad Murray, and Jennifer Coolidge? For me, it was always Jennifer Coolidge's character (the step-mother) that stuck with me the most because of her obsession with Smoked Salmon. I mean, she even had the chef at her diner work with the fish on every possible breakfast meal (like pancakes). But man, as odd as that sounds- drool, drool, lick, lick. The first few things that happen when I hear, say, see, think of the words Smoked Salmon. If it's on eggs benedict, I'll order it. If it's in a sandwich, I'll eat it. If it's on top of a cracker, I'll share it. Heck, even if it's by itself, I sneak a bite of it.

Smoked salmon is a good source of protein, which includes vitamin D, magnesium, and selenium. And as Jennifer Coolidge's character says, "I need my omega-3s".  Smoked Salmon can easily be bought at most grocery stores. My favorite so far are the ones they sell at Costco that provides three different types (peppered, traditional, and dill) in one package.

As for the cracker situation, like I said I would share it. So… I have put together a quick snack that includes crackers, cheese, greens, and (of course) smoked salmon for you guys today on Knotuself. Super easy to put together, but most importantly it's absolutely yummaaayyyy!

I N G R E D I E N T S _____________________________________

D I R E C T I O N S _____________________________________
1. Layout a few crackers out (here, I got the bagel crisp crackers). 
2. Spread some Gournay Cheese (or desired spread) on crackers. 
3. Place a good amount of greens on top of the spread. 
4. Carefully take a few smoked salmon and place on top of the greens. 
5. Finish off with a few shakes of lemon pepper (or desired seasoning). 
6. Enjoy and sing out loud humanah- humanah- humanah! 

Bacco Cafe.

Since I currently live in Seattle for school, every time my girlfriends and I decide to spend a day Downtown, we always make a stop for brunch at Bacco Cafe. My first time at Bacco Cafe was with my mom when she came to visit me. We had just finished browsing Pike Place Market and we decided to walk around to find a good place to eat. After about a good ten minutes, without yelping (surprisingly-considering my mom and I are always on yelp), we just decided to walk into the restaurant closest to us.

Now, if you ever visit Seattle or you are around the area, I highly recommend this place. Bacco Cafe colors the pacific northwest cuisine. It is simple, yet it holds a sense of satisfaction and elegance within its food and atmosphere. It is definitely the perfect meal to start any day, as their menu offers delectable delights: (indeed) multiple kinds of eggs benedict, french toast, pancakes, freshly made juice, etc.

For me there are two items that always punctuate my satisfaction. The smoke salmon eggs benedict (if you know me at all, you would know that this is one of my weakness), with its freshly cut smoke salmon, its perfectly poached egg that always oozes out, and its creamy hollandaise sauce that accentuates the flavors; the silky texture just flutters on top of your tongue. I like to smear my english muffin with the yolk as it swims out. I would too swim in it if the plate were big enough. As well, this dish includes the choice of fresh cut fruits, salads, or house-made potatoes, which I have all tried and are all satisfying. However, if you are like me and have a weakness for potatoes, I would go with the house-made potatoes. The verona juice- which includes pineapple, orange, and banana is also my favorite. Often times in the winter, (okay... all the time), I would order the hot chocolate as well- a classic.

Location:

Bacco Cafe

86 Pine St. Seattle WA 98101

(1 st. & Stewart ave.)