Peking Duck And Cirque Du Soleil - A Perfect Combo
Orlando, Florida, USA
Cuisine Style: Eclectic Asian Fusion
Average Price: $$$$
Overall Rating: 5/5
Dined in: February 2016
By Sean Overpeck (CFE)
**A full article and index glossary of restaurants, wines, recipes and travel for
Wine Dine and Play are in the pages section above, or by following these links:
Executive Chef:
Yuhi Fujinaga
General Manager:
Paul Snyder
***
As I write this article and review of Morimoto Asia, Disney Springs, Orlando, Florida
it is with a heavy heart as my thoughts and prayers go out to the victims
and family’s of the Terrorist Attack here in Orlando on June 12, 2016,
the largest since 9-11, not far from where this
Restaurant is located. Please observe a moment
of silence to those that
America lost on that day
***
森本 正治
Masaharu Morimoto was born in Hiroshima, Japan ten years after the dropping of the atomic bomb that ended the Second World War. In American culture, his name is like a household brand. I like many others heard about him as I watched in awe as he created Japanese dishes with a fusion of American cuisine on the television show Iron Chef America, the spin-off to the Japanese cooking program Iron Chef (Ryôri no tetsujin). He received traditional Japanese multi-course entree training also known as Kaiseki, and sushi training in Hiroshima before opening a restaurant in 1980, then quickly selling it five years later so that he could fulfill a dream of traveling and incorporating fusion to Japanese cuisine with American. He traveled around and settled in New York City where he was the Executive Chef for the Sony Corporation VIP Club, and the restaurant Nobu.
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| Picture courtesy of Morimoto Asia |
He opened his first restaurant Morimoto Asia in Philadelphia in 2001. Since that time he has opened the brand name in Chelsea on the West Side of Manhattan, as well as in Florida to include the location here at Disney Springs, Orlando that my wife and I dined at, and where this review is based. Other restaurants include locations in Mumbai and New Delhi, Virginia, Napa Valley in California, a few more in New York and Morimoto XEX in Tokyo which received a Michelin Star.
Morimoto Asia will offer an entirely new experience led by the creativity of Chef Morimoto, which includes unique exhibition kitchens that showcase traditions like Peking duck carving and dim sum. Morimoto Asia has a 36-foot tall, two-story layout which includes lounges, private dining spaces, and an exhibition glass-encased kitchen that allows guests to see behind-the-scenes. The second level is the sushi bar and lounge which also has a separate entrance. The restaurant is located at The Landing at Disney Springs®, an entertainment-dining-retail district of Walt Disney World® Resort, and a one-of-a-kind experience treating guests by day and night to dining, shopping and entertainment amid beautiful open-air promenades, flowing springs, and waterfront charm.
Cirque du Soleil, or ‘circus of the sun’ is a Canadian based company founded in 1984 mixing acrobatic performances with emotion and a story making it more than a typical traveling circus, but a work of moving art. Besides there traveling shows that visit nearly every corner of the globe, they have a few permanent shows from locations like New York, Las Vegas, Macau, and here in Orlando with La Nouba. The auditorium has two shows daily, located at the front side of Disney Springs. The Springs is owned by Walt Disney World Resort sitting on the edge of Lake Buena Vista. 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.
Before going to the show we wanted to have an early dinner, so after some research and a craving we had for some Asian-specifically, some Peking duck-we chose Morimoto. We had never been to any of his restaurants, so we're really looking forward to the experience. As we entered and were greeted by the Maître d staff our jaws dropped at the magnificent architectural design of the dining room and the 36-foot tall layout mentioned earlier. As you enter they have the main bar and cocktail lounge, but once you follow your escort to the dining room, it opens up passed the stairway to the second level known as the Forbidden Lounge, you see an awe-inspiring delight of decoration blending Asian and American fixtures and chandeliers. The main dining room and second floor open up into one large space. The ceiling is black, and the chandeliers situated a few feet apart connect to the lights of the ceiling then flow downward like the representation of a waterfall, nearly twenty feet before coming to a pausing stop ten feet from the main dining room floor. The steady breeze from the air conditioning and from when the doors open cause the crystal-like pieces to sway ever so slightly. The aspects of the restaurant design were built by STUDIO V Architecture based out of New York.
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| The dining room |
The capacity of the four separate areas of Morimoto’s from the main dining, the sushi and forbidden bar on the second floor, the main bar and lounge on the first floor, private dining, and outdoor seating could hold a maximum capacity of 474 guests. Along the windows section of the restaurant were regular tables, and circular booths, then more regular tables along the wall to the opposite side, and in the center under those beautiful chandeliers. Even the restrooms were designed with such beauty and ambiance that the “wow” factor was going up before the food even came out. Before we even looked at the main menu, we both wanted to start with some cocktails, and they had an impressive list from the Morimoto Cocktail and Saké Menu:
- Specialty Drinks
- Saké
- Shochu + Soju
- Bottled Beers
- Draft Beers
- Wine Menu
- Non-Alcoholic Drinks
I started with a White Russian cocktail though was interested at first in a Saké. Their beer selection consisted of specials such as a soba ale, hazelnut brown, and imperial pilsner all with the name brand of Morimoto and all crafted in the United States. The ales section were all from Japan except for one from Sri Lanka. The regular lagers were from all over the place with your typical named brands from the USA, a Tsingtao beer from China, “33” Export from Vietnam, Tiger beer from Singapore, and two selections from the Philippines to name a few. There were also two separate Saké sections from the signature aged, and the Junmai Daiginjo style. You could also order a flight of several varieties. My wife focused on the speciality drink section where they offered a Saké Sangria, a “Morimotini” mixed with Grey Goose Vodka and Junmai Saké, a mango matcha punch with green tea vodka, mango, plus Thai lychee soda, and the item that caught her eye, the Tom Yam Siam with Ketel One Vodka, coconut rum, lychee, lime juice, simple syrup, lemongrass, and a very hot chili pepper that I was dumb enough to eat. There are twelve selections to choose from on the specialty drinks menu.
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| Tom Yam Siam |
To round up the entire menu are the non-alcoholic beverages which I normally do not focus on when writing a review for a restaurant since they are mostly the same wherever you go. Morimoto’s had selections such as iced green tea, Thai tea, house-made lemonade, and Vietnamese iced coffee. As we sipped on our cocktails we reviewed the dinner menu which was broken down by:
- Starters
- Dim Sum
- Sushi Rolls
- Soups and Salads
- Meat and Poultry
- Morimoto Spare Ribs
- Noodles and Rice
- Vegetables
- Sushi and Sashimi
- Sushi Towers
- Children's menu
- Desserts
The Forbidden Lounge Menu was a bit smaller and was mainly catered for crowds of people who were either in a hurry, or just wanted to enjoy a simple happy hour instead of a full meal with items such as:
- Appetizers
- Raw Bar
- Sushi Rolls
- Sushi + Sashimi
- Dim Sum
- Chef’s Combo’s
We bypassed the starters menu, as we had our eye on the dim sum. From their starters you could choose from edamame, crab Rangoon's filled with cream cheese and apricot sweet chili sauce, a tuna pizza, hamachi tartare or tacos, and a toro tartare to name a few. From the dim sum, they had 11 choices. We settled on the kakuni pork bao, with steamed Mantou buns, braised pork belly, lettuce, and spicy mayonnaise. Two came to the order. Mantou often referred to as Chinese steamed bun/bread, is a type of cloud-like steamed bread or bun popular in Northern China. The name mantou is said to have originated from a tale about Zhuge Liang.
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| Kakuni pork bao |
Other dim sum features on the menu include pork, chicken, or vegetable dumplings, assorted egg rolls shumai with pork shrimp and mushrooms and a few others. Under the dim sum, you, of course, had sushi rolls of eel and avocado, spicy tuna, yellowtail, and a few other favorites. Though not on the main dinner menu, their sushi menu from the bar on the second floor also had sashimi favorites and a full selection from the raw bar. The sashimi included caviar, shellfish, white fish, and egg selections as well.
As we finished the dim sum, we had also ordered a cup of miso soup from the salads menu, where they had calamari, a duck caesar, and regular house greens salad. At this point in time, our starting cocktails were finished and we ordered some wine, with my wife having the 2014 Rosé from the Coeur Clémentine, from Provence, France, which according to the winemaker was a blend of Grenache 30%, Cinsault 30%, Tibouren 30%, and Syrah 10%. Clémentine is a dry Rosé that dances along the palate while bringing freshness to the mind. I had a 2012 Syrah by M. Chapoutier, ‘Crozes-Hermitage Petite Ruche,’ from Rhône, France. On the nose according to the winemaker was red berries, blackcurrant, and raspberry, finishing on the palate fresh and round, with fruits. The entree portion of their menu was then split between three sections with meat + poultry, fish, and pork spare ribs which happens to be the top seller on the menu.
From the meat + Poultry, they had favorites such as kung pao chicken, ribeye steak, Korean kalbi short ribs, and our choice, the Morimoto Peking Duck. The duck is carved, house roasted and served with steamed flour pancakes, apricot sweet chili, and hoisin miso. We agreed to split the dish served with some Chinese steamed vegetables of the day.
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| Peking duck |
Though we didn’t have any from the menu, they had ten selections of noodles + Rice which all had meats with them, from Pad Thai, Indonesian duck “nasi goreng," Vietnamese phở gà, and assorted fried rice dishes. The fish menu also has five separate selections as well. Finally, they also have a kids menu with macaroni and cheese, orange chicken, and lo mien.
Before we ordered dessert, I had a single malt scotch from Oban Distilleries. The dessert feature is below the wine tasting information. This very nice scotch has a hint of peat smoke, combined with a salty maritime flavor. Citrus orangey notes are also present in both the nose and on the palate. Sweeter honeyed notes give the malt a smooth silky finish according to the distillers' notes.
Dessert:
Six dessert choices on the menu plus the chef choices of gelato and sorbet round up the experience at Morimoto Asia. With the menu were the choices of after dinner drinks both with and without alcohol, beginning as all menus do by having coffee. The Vietnamese coffee was the highlight followed by sweet dessert wines, brandy, cognac, cordials, and scotch where I ordered the Oban from. They also have selections of Asian whiskey like Suntory Hakushu and Nikka Taketsuru and eleven selections of herbal teas.
We both shared the chocolate cream and crunch, which was an Oreo cookie dipped in a tempura batter, and deep-fried. It was served with a mandarin orange jelly, a dark chocolate gelato, and hazelnut chocolate crumbled garnish. Other selections on their list include cream caramel, sesame balls, a cream parfait, and a churro fondue with Nutella and vanilla cream.
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| Oreo chocolate cream and crunch |
Please see these guidelines for Tipping in Restaurants and on following proper etiquette, customs, cultures, and avoiding assumptions when you dine out.
Wine regulatory’s for the tastings in this article:
European Union:
France:
VDP: Vin de Pays
A look at the Patina Restaurant Group
Patina Restaurant Group, LLC operates a multi-concept restaurant and a foodservice management company that operates 60 restaurants in five states and one restaurant concept in Tokyo, Japan (as of 2016). The company was founded in 1989 and according to Bloomberg the current Chief Executive Officer is Nick Valenti, along with the other key executive staff of Tom Dillon, Joachim Splichal, Steve Charron, and Tim O’Shea. The majority of their restaurants a spread around the boroughs of New York from Brooklyn, Midtown, Upper West Side, and Midtown West with a restaurant like Brasserie 8.5. In Maryland and New Jersey they have one restaurant each, and in California, three separate locations from Orange County, Downtown Disney, Los Angeles, and San Fransisco. In Florida, there are three with two being at the Walt Disney World Resort and Morimoto Asia at Disney Springs. They also offer private events, catering, and weddings.
Other Noteworthy Asian Cuisine Articles & Restaurants:
5A5 Steak Lounge Modern Japanese steakhouse with chic design in San Francisco, California
Ambrosia Japanese restaurant & saké bar with sushi in Key West, Florida
Basil Asian Bistro Pan-Asian favorites from China to Vietnam with sushi specials in Canton, Ohio
Blue Fugu Japanese Steakhouse Table-side Hibachi with a sushi bar in St. Pete Beach, Florida
Chinatown Restaurant Classic Chinese dishes in Chinatown, San Francisco, California
Junsui An eclectic taste of Asia with buffets at the Burj Al Arab Hotel, Dubai, UAE
Osaka Sushi Thai Restaurant - Thai and Japanese fare including sushi in Seminole, Florida
Rock 'N' Raw Asian restaurant with sushi at the Hard Rock Casino, Tampa, Florida
Simply Phở, Contemporary Vietnamese in modern digs in Tampa, Florida
Sushi Sleek Japanese eatery with sushi/sashimi at The Grand Hyatt Dubai, UAE
Tetsuya’s Eclectic French-Asian Tasting Menu restaurant in Sydney, Australia
The Lemon Grass Casual fusion of Thai and Japanese with tapas portions in St Petersburg, Florida
Zuma Contemporary Japanese restaurant, sushi, & cocktail mixology in Dubai, UAE
See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary”
A Few Florida Favorites:
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Rustic New American Fare
St. Petersburg
A top 20 on Wine Dine and Play
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Old-world classic Italian & Mediterranean
New Smyrna Beach
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Old School Rustic Tuscan
Gulfport
|
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Native American Cuisine w/Barbacoa Grilling
Tampa
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upscale locally sourced seafood eatery with ocean views
Vero Beach
|
Sanibel Island
Waterfront upscale new American cuisine
|
See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary by country”
Final notes, review basics, observations and more pictures:
Most reviews are subjective, depending on the writer; but they should also be responsible, and respectfully written, upholding the truth, and accurately conveying the experience to the best of the writer's knowledge, even if it includes metaphors the restaurant may not like to read about. My ratings are by the stars I award (from 0 to 5). The rating is calculated on a point accumulation of six separate factors based on individual experience. They include wine and other beverage selections, plate presentation, customer service, restaurant or café ambiance, food quality, and wow factor. To see more details of this rating list, read this article:
Scores are detailed in the factor chart below:
Formula Factor Conclusions and Overall Ratings
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Max Points Possible:
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Total Points Awarded:
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Total Points deducted:
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Ambiance
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10
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10
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0
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Food quality
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10
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9
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1
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Plate presentation
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8
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8
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0
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Customer service
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9
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7
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2
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Alcohol and other beverages
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10
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8
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2
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Total regular points awarded
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47
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42
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5
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Total percentage Before Bonus
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0.893617021276596
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“Wow” factor BONUS
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5
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3
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0
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Total bonus percentage
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0.0638297872340425
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Total percentage with a bonus for the final star rating
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0.957446808510638
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Stars Awarded (see chart below)
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0 - 5
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5
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**A full break down and explanation of the observations and point disbursement is available in the linked article above. To receive a detailed copy of your score, feel free to contact me at any time and I will provide it to you.**
***
Overall Star Rating:
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5 of 5 Stars:
96% Rating with a 3 point “wow” bonus
An Extraordinary Dining Experience
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Wine rating:
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6.5 of 10
Old World selections:
Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Spain
New World selections:
Argentina, Australia, California, New Zealand
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Corkage fee’s:
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This Restaurant does not list any corkage fee’s however, most American restaurants charge
$25.00 per bottle
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Restaurant style:
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Casual dining
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Cuisine style:
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Asian-fusion, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai
Allergen or dietary accommodations:
Gluten Free, Low Carb, Organic, Pescatarian, Sustainable, Vegetarian Options
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Reservations:
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Not Required, But Recommended
Walk-Ins:
Accepted, but not guaranteed
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Dress code:
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Casual attire
It’s Florida, everybody wears flip-flops!
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Child policy:
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The Restaurants reviewed on this site may have a kids menu or cater to them; however, for full enjoyment of food and wine, it is recommended that kids not to be in attendance, unless they have been trained in proper etiquette.
If not then:
Hire a Babysitter!
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Experiences:
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Place for foodies, Modern, Trendy, Lounge, Hotspot, Great bar, Great outdoor dining, Good for special occasions, Upscale, and a Neighborhood Gem.
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Payments:
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Cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express
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Parking:
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Private lot
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Wifi
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The restaurants reviewed on this site may have Wi-Fi, but do not require you to go online, because the excitement of the food and wine alone will keep you too entertained instead of checking your social media and emails.
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Noise level:
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Low to Medium
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Smoking:
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Nonsmoking restaurant, and nonsmoking patio
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Patio or terrace:
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Yes
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Food Prices
(excludes, alcohol, taxes & 20% gratuity’s)
$£€¥ - Under 50.00 (inexpensive)
$£€¥ x 2 - 51.00- 99.00 (moderate)
$£€¥ x 3 - Over 100.00 (pricey)
$£€¥ x 4 - Over 200.00 (expensive)
$£€¥ x 5 - Over 400.00 (very expensive)
**Currencies reflect the world’s major travelers, restaurant, or wine connoisseur’s**
Currency:
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Price
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United States Dollar (USD)
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$$$
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Great Britain Pound Sterling (GBP)
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£££
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Canadian Dollar (CAN)
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$$$$
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Chinese Yuan (CNY)
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¥¥¥¥¥
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European Union (EUR)
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€€€
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Alcohol prices:
$85.00 USD
Morimoto Asia:
Walt Disney World Resort
1600 East Buena Vista Drive
Lake Buena Vista, Florida
32830
Contact Information:
Restaurant website:
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Maître d or host:
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+1 (407) 939-6686
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Email Contact:
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Serving hours:
Eastern Standard Time
(GMT, Zulu, or UTC - 5:00)
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Mon-Thur:
11:30 am - 12:00 am
Sat-Sun:
11:30 am - 1:00 am
Sunday:
11:30 am - 1:00 am
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Social Media
&
Accolades:
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****
The worlds best restaurants is a subjective list of who is writing it and changes on a regular basis. The Wine Dine and Play best experiences are based on my highest rated stared restaurants, meaning that the visit was an outstanding or extraordinary experience. From cafés, chains, mom + pops, hole in the walls, to fine dining including a few Michelin spots. Visit the Top 100 page to see the entire list.
A few to tease you with…
|
Fine Indian and Pakistani Cuisine at the Burj Khalifa
Armani Hotel, Dubai, UAE
|
Fine dining Italian classics
Niagara, Canada
|
Contemporary Japanese restaurant, sushi, & cocktail mixology
DIFC, Dubai, UAE
|
Other Pictures:
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| Restaurant entrance |
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| Main bar |
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| Bar and lounge |
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| Forbidden sushi bar |
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| Dining room |
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| Kitchen |
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| Table setting |
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| Dim sum |
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| Miso soup |
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| Chinese Vegetables |
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| Picture courtesy of Morimoto Asia |
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| Picture courtesy of Morimoto Asia |
“Culinary perfection consists not in doing extraordinary things,
But in doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.”
-Angelique Arnauld (1591-1661)
Who is John Galt?
TTFN
