Foodfanataholic vs. Chocoholic - I hope you can be both!

The next stop in our Florida post is Ghirardelli in Downtown Disney.

We always make it a point to visit at least once on every trip to Orlando. You know when you are approaching Ghirardelli's because you can smell the chocolate in the air!

It was Marc's birthday so we decided that instead of a cake we'd go for ice cream. As usual, the lines were out the door, tables were full, spilling over to the outside cafe tables. Even though the lines are long, the people at Ghiradelli, have it down to a science. You place your order and pay,

grab your number, find a table,

Marc finds us a table

and voila, your ice cream appears in a few minutes.

The help is friendly, and very courteous. How could you be unhappy
surrounded by all that sweetness??

Sundaes waiting to be delivered to some lucky people...


Ice Cream cones awaiting delivery

They work hard behind the counter




Celebrating with the birthday boy...


We are practicing for our days when we will be
hitting the Early Bird Specials, lol


Marc has a Birthday Sundae


Steve a cone


Rae a cone


I ordered a single scoop sundae,
way too much for me


The menu is quite complete, they have scoops, cones, shakes, floats, chocolate treats, chocolate drinks, espresso drinks, classic drinks, and tons of sundaes.

The sundaes average in price from
7.95 - 8.95. The most expensive sundae is the Family Favorite which is 29.95 and will easily serve 6. A single scoop cone averages between 3.95 for a plain sugar cone or cup to 4.25 for a homemade waffle cone. The double scoops are 5.25 to 5.50. Toppings are 1.00 each

They have a kids menu too which includes rainbow sprinkles and a goody bag for a single scoop cone or cup it's 3.95, for a Kids S'more Sundae it's 5.95

Ghirardelli was started in San Francisco in 1852 by Domingo Ghirardelli, who left Italy to sell confections and chocolate abroad. He can during the California gold rush, was immediately successful and began the Ghirardelli Chocolate Company near the San Francisco piers. Their flagship store still greets visitors as they pass through the Golden Gate.



You get just what they promise you!!!

Take me out to the Ballgame

The next post in the Florida series is Spring Training.

We actually had gotten tickets in January to see the
Atlanta Braves play the Pittsburgh Pirates


in the Disney Champion Stadium in Orlando.


It was a beautiful day for baseball and we had great seats. This is fun especially if you are with the kids, as the prices are a lot less than the prices at a game during the season, especially in the new stadiums, where they are expecting you to pay for their excesses...are they crazy with the ticket prices today? How do they expect the average American family to take their kids to a ballpark and get to know what the American pastime is? They will soon need bailout money to do that to!

Spring season is low key, you can sit on the grass,

watch from the bleachers, just have a good time.

You get to meet the most fun and interesting people if you just say hello. We met a group of teachers from the Florida area, who were as much fun as the game itself. It was a great day!

Getting the field ready for play

Getting ready to toss out the first ball
(I confess it was some football player, but I can't remember who)

Let the games begin




Marc

Rae and Steve having a great time


Of course what would a game be without the food



A few nachos (which were served in their own bags, a nice touch)

and of course, who could go to the game and not have peanuts???


and a little cotton candy...


It was a fun day...


and the seventh inning told the story!


Of course, as much fun as we had at this game, it
didn't bode well with the two men inour lives,
Marc, the consumate Phillies fan, and Steve, the diehard Yankee.
They had tried to get tickets to the Yankee spring training game in January
only to be told the tickets were already sold out. They lied!!!!
You know the old adage, nothing venturedm nothing gained?
I though what theheck, let me go on line and see if I can get a ticket to
the Yankees because we were heading to Tampa.
Guess what, it was the last game of the season,
the Yankees were playing the Phillies, and there
were plenty of tickets left...
(It's not nice to horde tickets Ticketmaster...shame on you!)
So I got four tickets and we were off to George Steinbrenner field!



Home of the Championship Yankees
(and me a die hard Mets fan)



The park outside the stadium was very interesting
showing all the old Yankees with their numbers


and we're off...


Steve is in his glory and all his Yankee garb!


Marc and Rae getting in the spirit


Poor me, I don't root for either team :(


The vendors are awaiting their prey ( excuse me fans)



Steve and Marc watching the Phillies and Yanks taking batting practice




Whitey Ford story plays on the schorboard


Let the games begin


Sure didn't look sold out to me


You gotta love this guys shirt



C.C. Sabitha pitching

and of course, then there is the food


they even have an Outback concession here

Alas, it was a long game for the Phillies
and I hope not an omen of the season to come
they got trounced by the Yankees




On to the regular season and increased food prices, lol...

As you noticed from the pictures of the concession stands, the food choices
aren't really tremendous at the spring training games, however, the prices aren't
totally outrageous either. When you start to talk about the regular season, that is a
horse of another color. The Times Union writes about the New Yankee Stadium
where "excuse me" there is a prix fixe menu starting from only $48.00 a head.
There are lobster rolls, pork porchetta over kielbasa sauerkraut...
what happened to buy me some peanuts and cracker jacks???

Of course, leave it to the Californians to serve healthy fare
at Dodger Stadium. According to the
they will be introducing a Greek Salad, Curried Chicken Salad, and a
Turkey Wrap...
Somehow, I can't see a vendor yelling
"Curried chicken salad here, get your curried chicken salad"
You're supposed to eat a hot dog at a ballgame, lol
and what's next, a tofu dog on a bun???
Relax, I'm only kidding, that's what makes this country great
you can get anything you want, and you know what
the prices at Dodger Stadium are not even that off the wall,
the salads are only 8.75!

Kudos to the Yankees for the beautiful tribute to those
who lost their lives on September 11, 2001