After listening to Taren’s insightful segment on The Importance of Food in Disneyland, I decided to share my thoughts on my meal at Carnation Cafe in Disneyland, which included one of "Walt’s Favorites".
My daughter, Grace, and I split the $8 Fried Pickles With Dipping Sauce and the $19 Chicken-fried Chicken. We also added a refreshing $7 House Salad. If I'm being honest, when we ordered, we thought the text box around the Fried Pickles on the menu indicated they were also one of Walt's Favorites. Either way, I’m glad our eyes were drawn to the pickles rather than Walt’s Chili, if it’s anything like the recipe Taren tried.
Fried Pickles can be a polarizing food. When I mention them, some people crinkle up their noses as if offended. But, If you like dill pickles and can get past the piping hot temperature of a food that is normally no warmer than room temp, I urge you to give them a try at least once. Tangy pickle spears are coated in panko crust, fried, and served with a tasty ranch dipping sauce. If they had a window where you could order just fried pickles, I think there would be a line down Main Street (with me in the front).
The Chicken-fried Chicken is a boneless breast, fried, and drenched in creamy gravy. The mashed potatoes are made with red potatoes and have skins (On purpose!) and taste like they were made with a ton of sour cream. The roasted broccoli and cauliflower are a slight step up from cafeteria mixed veggies. The meal also includes a basic roll with plenty of butter. This dish took me back in time and, while it wasn’t my cup of tea, I think it would constitute comfort food to many people.
If you have your heart set on eating at Carnation Cafe, you can make reservations up to 60 days in advance. It’s lovely to sit on the shaded patio, with a view of Main Street, listening to old-timey tunes in the background. Sharing the experience with Grace is what I remember the most, and that is probably the real "Walt’s Favorite".