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Costco food Food and Beverage

East Coast Seafood Japanese Hokkaido Scallops from Costco

The East Coast Seafood Japanese Hokkaido Scallops are delicious. They are tender and can absorb whatever flavor you add to them. They come in a 2-pound bag and the scallops may range in size. For best results, cook similar-sized ones together so you don't overcook small ones and undercook larger ones. 

You can find these scallops at Costco in the freezer section by other seafood. These are wild caught and a product of Japan. The packaging says that you'll get around 18 to 23 scallops per pound. 

East Coast Seafood Japanese Hokkaido Scallops from Costco

Costco Item number  1632838

The only ingredient is scallops. 

Review

I'll admit I wasn't super familiar with scallops until I bought these. But I was extremely impressed. I followed the directions exactly just because I didn't want to mess them up. They were so good. The texture was soft and tender. I added butter, salt, pepper, and lemon as directed and they were delicious. They are not fishy in any way so these are great if you don't love seafood. They absorb a lot of flavors, like butter and lemon so they aren't as fishy as say salmon.

I've also written about the Costco Royal Asia Coconut Shrimp with Sweet Thai Chili Sauce 

Nutrition Facts 

One serving is 4 ounces or 1/2 cup

Calories 90 

Total Fat 7 grams 

Saturated Fat 0 grams

Trans Fat 0 grams 

Cholesterol 30 milligrams 

Sodium 140 milligrams 

Total Carbohydrate 2 grams 

Dietary Fiber 0 grams 

Total Sugars 0 grams 

Added Sugars 0 grams  

Protein 19 grams 

Vitamin D 0.1mcg 

Calcium 10 milligrams 

Iron 0.3 milligrams

Potassium 400 milligrams 

Directions

Keep Frozen, Do not refreeze once they are thawed.

The directions on the packaging are as follows:  Heat butter and garlic in a saucepan slowly. Then discard garlic. Add the scallops and cook 3 to 4 minutes on one side. Flip scallops and cook for another 3 minutes until they reach an internal temperature of 145 F. 

Remove from pan and season with salt and pepper and serve right away with lemon.

East Coast Seafood Japanese Hokkaido Scallops from Costco

Thawing Instructions

Don't cook these directly from frozen. You will need some preparation time. Place the desired amount in a covered container and thaw in the refrigerator overnight or for approximately 8 hours. For quick thawing, place however many you want in a bag and run under cold water for 5 to 7 minutes, rotating periodically to thaw evenly. 

Price

The price for online delivery is listed at $36.19 but may vary based on your location or the season.

These scallops from Costco are a great deal and make a tasty, memorable dinner.

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food Food and Beverage Olive Garden

Black Tie Mousse Cake from Olive Garden

While you probably go to Olive Garden for the pasta, you may stay for dessert. They offer several options on the dessert menu, such as the Warm Italian Doughnuts and Strawberry Cream Cake, but you might find that some are seasonal options such as the pumpkin cheesecake. The menu will change, but they currently have a few dessert available.

Current Olive Garden Dessert Menu

  • Chocolate Lasagna 
  • Black Tie Mousse Cake 
  • Tiramisu 
  • Strawberry Cream Cake 
  • Warm Italian Doughnuts
  •  Sicilian Cheesecake with Strawberry Topping
Black Tie Mousse Cake from Olive Garden Carmen Varner san diego food and travel writer

But that’s not why you’re here. You want to learn more about the Black Tie Mousse Cake from Olive Garden! 

Flavor, Taste, and Texture of the Black Tie Mousse Cake from Olive Garden

The description of the cake says that it's rich layered cake with chocolate cake, dark chocolate cheesecake, and creamy custard mousse. I would say that this is a very dense and sweet option that makes it perfect for sharing. After a few bites, you’ll feel satiated, especially if you’re rounding out your meal. 

The Black Tie Mousse Cake from Olive Garden is a creamy dessert with visible layers. There is the cake layer on the bottom followed by  chocolate cheesecake, and then the custard mousse. It has chocolate chips on the exterior edge and a sort of ganache topping. Because of the various layers, you’ll notice different textures: the dryer bite of chocolate cake, the smooth cheesecake, and crunch of chocolate chips. 

My favorite part was the chocolate cheesecake portion, the chocolate ganache on top, and the chocolate chips. This is a great cake if you're a chocolate lover, but if you don't like chocolate, then you probably would want to get something else.

I tasted all the current options from the Olive Garden dessert menu and Black Tie Mousse Cake was one of my favorites. I preferred this much more than the strawberry cheesecake, but you might like strawberry if you want a fruity dessert. 

Black Tie Mousse Cake from Olive Garden Carmen Varner san diego food and travel writer

For Here or To Go?

The cake slice was just as tasty when I brought it home as when I ate it in the store. This is a great option if you want to a dessert to carry away or bring back with out. If you order it to eat at the restaurant, it comes on a plate with a chocolate drizzle to give it a nice decoration.

Price of the Olive Garden Black Tie Mousse Cake

The price may vary based on your Olive Garden location. I'm in the San Diego area and it was over $10 for the slice. The Olive Garden Black Tie Mousse Cake not an affordable dessert by any means, but it seems about the same price as other desserts in the area.  

Nutritional Information 

  • 750 Calories 
  • 50 Grams of Fat 
  • 290 Milligrams of Sodium

Black Tie Mousse Cake from Olive Garden Carmen Varner san diego food and travel writer

Do you like the Black Tie Cake?

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Disney Disneyland food Food and Beverage travel

Tiana's Palace at Disneyland Park: Review, Menu, Address, Hours

Tiana’s Palace at Disneyland Park is a French and New Orleans-themed restaurant that serves lunch and dinner. Located in New Orleans Square, the restaurant serves quick food that you can pick up and pay for.

Address: 1313 S Harbor Blvd, Anaheim, CA 92802

Tiana's Palace restaurant at Disneyland Anaheim has outdoor seating and allergy-friendly food options.

cajun half chicken Tiana's Palace at Disneyland Park - Review, Menu, Address, Hours

Review: Tiana's Palace Cajun Spiced Half Chicken

I went to Tiana's Palace in Disneyland on a Wednesday evening around 7 o'clock p.m. and the line was pretty long. I waited about 10 to 15 minutes to get to the front of the line. This is kind of like buffet-style dining. You get a tray, tell them what you want, and then they just place the meal onto your plate. Once you get what you need, you pay at the register.

I had the Cajun Spiced Half Chicken from Tiana's Palace and it was great. The chicken was juicy and flavorful. Sometimes chicken can be iffy (dry, chewy, gross) but this was very tasty. It had a light spice to it but I didn't find it to be too hot. The mac and cheese side was tasty but not overly memorable. Although it's kind of pricy, you do get a good amount of chicken.

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I also ordered the beignets, which are fluffy and hollow on the inside. The beignets are good but best when fresh and warm. Don't delay eating them. I didn't love them but they are worth a shot. They were mostly air with a teensy, thin amount of fried dough.

There is outdoor seating, but based on how busy it is and how big your party is, you might have trouble finding a spot. When you're done eating, you return your plates and trays. If you have leftovers, you have to go inside to ask for a box.

menu Tiana's Palace at Disneyland Park - Review, Menu, Address, Hours

Menu Options - Dessert, Entrées, Plant-Based

Dessert 

Individual Kings Cake with Kings Cake filling and colorful green, lavender, and yellow sugars with a Mickey-shaped Decoration

House-filled beignet with strawberry cream filling topped with a fruity strawberry glaze. 

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Entrées 

Catfish Po'boy - Southern-style catfish filet with lettuce, tomatoes, and mayonnaise that comes on toasted New Orleans French bread with remoulade sauce. This is served with red beans, rice, and house-made Pickles 

Jambalaya - The dish comes with chicken, Andouille sausage, heritage rice, and Creole sauce,

House Gumbo - The gumbo is made with braised chicken, Andouille sausage, and heirloom rice,

7 Greens Gumbo with Chicken & Andouille Sausage - This hearty dish is made with white beans, okra, yams, sweet potatoes, as well as heirloom rice,

Cajun Spiced Half Chicken - This dish is brushed with BBQ Sauce and served with baked macaroni and cheese and coleslaw. 

Muffuletta Sandwich - A tasty mixture of mortadella, salami, rosemary ham, cheddar, provolone, and house-made olive relish on toasted New Orleans sesame seed bread, served with red beans & rice and house-made pickles.

Muffuletta Salad - Romaine, mortadella, salami, rosemary ham, aged white cheddar, croutons, basil, and house-made olive relish. 

Plant-Based 7 Greens Gumbo - This vegan dish is made with white beans, okra, yams, sweet potatoes, and heirloom rice.

Allergy Friendly Options

Guests need to speak to a Cast Member regarding their allergy-friendly request.

  • Gluten/Wheat Allergy-Friendly 
  • Egg Allergy-Friendly 
  • Fish/Shellfish Allergy-Friendly 
  • Milk Allergy-Friendly 
  • Peanut/Tree Nut Allergy-Friendly 
  • Sesame Allergy-Friendly 
  • Soy Allergy-Friendly
beignets Tiana's Palace at Disneyland Park - Review, Menu, Address, Hours

Tiana's Palace Hours

Be sure to check in person or on the Disneyland app if Tiana's Palace is open or if the hours changed.

Monday 10  AM – 9  PM 
Tuesday 10  AM – 9  PM 
Wednesday 10  AM – 9  PM 
Thursday 10  AM – 9  PM 
Friday 10  AM – 9  PM 
Saturday 10  AM – 9  PM  
Sunday 10  AM – 9  PM 
 

Tiana's Palace is open 7-days a week. Disneyland Anaheim and California Adventure have a lot of dining and beverage options. You're bound to find something delicious. Check out my post on the QuesaBirria Tacos from Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill at Disneyland California Adventure.

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Disneyland food Food and Beverage travel

QuesaBirria Tacos from Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill at Disneyland California Adventure

Get the QuesaBirria Tacos from Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill at Disneyland California Adventure if you're in the mood for something salty and juicy.

You will need a valid ticket and park reservation for the same park on the same date required to enter the park. The Mexican eatery offers mobile orders and quick service.

Key Points on Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill

  • Fast casual dining
  • Mobile order friendly
  • Get your food quickly after ordering
  • Nearby seating
  • Lunch and dinner
  • Offers allergy-friendly options
  • Address: 1313 Disneyland Dr, Anaheim, CA 92802
QuesaBirria Tacos from Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill at Disneyland California Adventure


If you can, order using the mobile app instead of waiting in line

The lines can be quite long for waiting for food. We waited over 20 minutes because we had a larger party and the mobile app did not allow us to order as large a quantity as we needed. 

I would recommend downloading the Disneyland app and putting your order in ahead of time. That way you could pick it up at a designated time frame. This is a much better way to manage your time rather than spending it in yet another line.

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Quality of the QuesaBirria Tacos

I live in Southern California, so I've had quite a lot of tacos, especially birria tacos. These are braised beef and cheese tacos with tomatillo salsa and consomé. The consomé was rich and salty. The tacos themselves were loaded with meat and texture, from the juicy interior to the crispy, slightly fried pieces on the outside. 

I also ordered a side of beans, but I didn't find them all that tasty. They needed a bit of salt or something. As of December 2024, the QuesaBirria Tacos cost $12.49 and the beans were $4.49. Skip the beans and try something else.

While these most certainly aren't the most affordable tacos you can find in Southern California, they are surprisingly rich and flavorful, considering they come from Disneyland.

Menu

The eatery serves lunch and dinner. Menu items include:

  • Street-style Tacos and Corn 
  • Plant-Based Offering 
  • Sides like Frijoles Charros Chorizo and Bacon stewed Pinto Beans $4.49 Lime-Cilantro Rice 
  • Kid's Meal 
  • Beverages 
  • Alcoholic Beverages 
  • Gluten/Wheat Allergy-Friendly *
  • Egg Allergy-Friendly *
  • Fish/Shellfish Allergy-Friendly *
  • Milk Allergy-Friendly *
  • Peanut/Tree Nut Allergy-Friendly *
  • Sesame Allergy-Friendly *
  • Soy Allergy-Friendly *

* Guests must speak to a Cast Member about their allergy-friendly request.

View the full menu on the Disney website.

Address: 1313 Disneyland Dr, Anaheim, CA 92802

QuesaBirria Tacos from Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill at Disneyland California Adventure  side of beans

Get a taco at Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill next time you're at Disney California Adventure. 
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