Now I’m going to tap into my inner food critic and give you my two cents about Boma at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. It was simply the BOMB! I can’t believe it took us this long to try this one…and I will admit that my reluctance was the location. Given the timing of our treks through Animal Kingdom, we would always be done with the park well before dinner time. Since we were fortunate to be staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge, it was a no-brainer because of the convenience. But what really sold it was the reviews I had heard.
- Mind-blowing food.
- International ambience.
- Don’t miss it.
I’m so glad I listened to those wise people!
First and foremost, I will say my kids are rather adventurous eaters, but even the most finicky kids can find something to delight their taste buds on the expansive buffet. And even the most uptight food snobs who detest buffets will be changing their opinions after one mouthful.
What was so amazing to me were the flavors-everything was expertly seasoned or had some unique taste, and yet none of the flavors ran together. From the Durban spiced chicken to the varied hummus (what would the plural of hummus be? Hmm…) to the delicious and savory soups, it was a smorgasbord for the senses. Hands down, it is the BEST buffet we have had at Disney (or anywhere else for that matter).
And the desserts were to die for–bread pudding, chocolate mousse bites, and wait for it…zebra domes! These delectable chocolate/coffee/kahlua mouthfuls from heaven are addicting! So why not share the addiction–here’s the recipe!
Zebra Domes (courtesy of the Disney Food Blog)
1 pound milk chocolate
¼ cup espresso coffee
5 egg yolks
¼ cup + 1 tablespoon sugar
6 sheets gelatin
½ cup Kahlua Liqueur
4 cups heavy cream
¾ cup white chocolate ganache
¼ cup dark chocolate ganache
sponge cake (store-bought or your favorite recipe)
1. Melt milk chocolate.
2. Whip heavy cream to soft peaks.
3. Mix yolks with sugar.
4. Soften gelatin leaves in cold water.
5. Mix gelatin with Kahlua and coffee. Set bowl over hot water bath to dissolve the gelatin.
6. Fold ⅓ of whipped cream into the chocolate.
7. Add the yolks, then the gelatin mixture.
8. Fold in the rest of the cream.
9. Pour mousse in flexipan domes almost to the top.
10. Place sponge circle (¼” thick yellow cake cut in a circle) on top. Leave in the freezer to set.
11. Once hard, unmold and place in glazing racks.
12. Make white chocolate ganache and chocolate ganache.
13. Put chocolate ganache in a pastry bag. Ladle white chocolate ganache to cover each dome. Simultaneously, pipe a stripe design of chocolate ganache over the dome.
14. Refrigerate to allow the glaze to set.
15. Decorate the bottom edge with coffee crunch.
16. Place a chocolate covered coffee bean on the center of each dome.
Note: One sheet of gelatin is equal to one teaspoon of unflavored powdered gelatin dissolved in ¼ cup of water.
By the end of the meal, the kids were begging to eat there again the next night…high praise indeed! So get online or on the phone to add this little gem to your Disney dining reservations…you won’t regret it! (Oh, and you can pick up some extra Zebra Domes at the Mara food court before you head home–you’ll be the envy of the neighborhood!)
Happy Dining!
To keep this food conversation going, please tell me…what restaurant is a “not-to-be-missed” vacation favorite (Disney or otherwise!) We can all salivate together 🙂
Sherry