Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, I had the pleasure of dining at Disney’s Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant.  Master Chef Kevin Dundon  invited Barry and I as well as about a dozen members of the press, and he prepared a fabulous tasting menu based on recipes from his new cookbook “Great Family Food”.  Chef Kevin is world renown and has a list of clients which include the Queen of England, Bono, as well as President Bush to name just a few.

The evening began with a hearty welcome and pint of Guinness from our hosts John Cooke and Paul Nolan, the co-owners of Raglan Road.  After introductions were made we were invited to take our seats at the table where our dining experience began.  Chef Kevin came out and gave us a brief description of the evening’s culinary adventure.  It was going to be a representation of a traditional Irish meal.  He also stressed the importance of high quality ingredients, and how this is the foundation for all recipes. 

Our journey began with a perfectly seared sea scallop, which arrived fresh from Boston, served with a puree of green peas and garnished with green peas and micro greens.  This was followed by a light cream of potato and asparagus soup topped with white truffle oil and served with a light wheat beer.  Next we were served, what I always think of when I think Irish cuisine, shepherd’s pie.  This without a doubt was my favorite presentation, it was served in a spoon and topped with a tiny slice of caramelized onion, and the flavor was just as delicious as the presentation.

What could we possibly have to top these dishes….then out comes two sauces, both with scrumptious aromas.  One was an apple cider sauce and the other a heavenly red wine au jus with rosemary, what could be accompanying these incredible sauces?  And the moment arrives…..a perfectly roasted suckling pig accompanied by a standing lamb rib roast.  Oh my gosh, words can’t begin to do justice to either of these dishes.  The pork melted in your mouth and the apple cider was the perfect finishing touch.  Then, the lamb…..perfection!  The au jus was equally as perfect, light and fragrant without being overpowering.    The meats were served with family style roasted potatoes, which had been done with duck fat and rosemary and prepared perfectly, crunchy outside with the tender potato inside and a medley of fresh vegetables, string beans, pea pods, eggplant, red peppers, etc.

As impossible as it seems, dessert was as impressive as the rest of the dinner.  Chef Kevin prepared a classic sherry trifle.  The fresh fruits and cream were an outstanding finish to a perfect meal, light enough to not take you over the top full but yet rich enough to give you that guilty pleasure generally associated with dessert.  This was perfectly paired with an outstanding Irish liquor…Mead.  This was my first time to try this liquor and definitely not the last!

Chef Kevin’s new cookbook “Great Family Food” contains the recipes for most of the dishes served that evening.  The book certainly lives up to its name.  It shares Chef Kevin’s tradition of including the entire family in the process of creating dinner hence creating great quality time for the family as well as delicious food.  One of the other wonderful qualities of this cookbook is the simplicity of the dishes, they are truly easy to follow recipes with ingredients easily obtained from your local market.

Thanks again to everyone at Raglan Road and Disney World for this fantastic experience, I can’t wait to come and have another pint with you guys soon!  And Paul, thanks so much for the lovely history of Raglan Road, what a treat.

Click here to see the video I shot of dinner with Kevin Dundon.