Trader Sam's Chinese Long Bean Recipe

Trader Sam's Chinese Long Beans - A Disney Parks Blog Photo

I was one of those who lamented the closing of the Lost Bar at the Disneyland Hotel last year.  In the current Disneyland Hotel renovation, the Lost Bar was demolished and replaced with a new casual meeting spot - Trader Sam's.  Now I haven't been to Trader Sam's yet but do look forward to making it over there someday hopefully soon.  In the meantime, the reports of the great atmosphere, dynamite tropical drinks, and a tasty appetizer menu that make up Trader Sam's offerings are regularly posted on Disney discussion boards. Disney Parks Blog recently posted the recipe for the fried Chinese long beans served at Trader Sam's.  I'll include it in my Disney recipe collection on this blog because it looks simple to make but also reminds me of something I need to try on my next trip.

Panko-crusted Chinese Long Beans with Sriracha Mayonnaise

Serves 4

Sriracha Mayonnaise
3/4 cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon sriracha (Asian chili sauce)
1 teaspoon rice wine vinegar
1 teaspoon coarse salt
1 teaspoon cleaned and thinly sliced green onion, green part only
1/4 teaspoon fresh lime juice
1/4 teaspoon chopped garlic
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Panko-crusted Long Beans
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon seafood spice
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
4 eggs, beaten
3/4 pound Chinese long beans*, cut into 4-inch-long pieces
2 cup panko (Japanese bread crumbs)
4 cup canola oil, for frying
Coarse salt, to taste

For sriracha mayonnaise:

Combine mayonnaise, sriracha, vinegar, salt, green onions, lime juice, garlic and pepper in small bowl. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

For panko-crusted long beans:

1. Combine flour, seafood spice, cornstarch, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper in a shallow bowl.
2. Line a baking sheet with paper towels; set aside.
3. Pour oil in a deep pot to a depth of 1 inch. Heat over medium-high heat to 350°F.
4. Moisten long beans; dredge in flour mixture. Dip in beaten eggs, then roll in panko.
5. Working in batches, gently place in hot oil until golden brown about 2 to 3 minutes, using tongs or a slotted spoon to gently turn beans every 45 seconds.
6. Transfer fried beans to prepared baking sheet and season lightly with salt.
7. Serve with Sriracha Mayonnaise.

Haunted Mansion Holidays - The Argument Ensues

A few weeks back I posted an entry on MiceChat about how I preferred the overlayed Haunted Mansion Holidays attraction over the traditional Haunted Mansion.  MiceChat has tons of readers and a good amount of people who post regularly.  A few people agreed with my assessment of the attraction.  Most disagreed.  A few, as has a tendency to happen on MiceChat, jumped all over my case forcefully stating that to go with anything other than the traditional Haunted Mansion ride was somewhere in between blasphemy, heresy, and the opinion of a boob.  Hello, I'm boob.

One of the MiceChat moderators tacked on a survey poll to my post and I think, the last time I looked, those that preferred the traditional HM over the holiday version was a little over 2 to 1 favoring the traditional with about a hundred people casting votes.  Actually, the holiday version fared better than I thought with the voting the way the discussion started off.

I gave my reasons for enjoying the Haunted Mansion Holidays a little bit in a previous post on this blog.  The main reason is I really enjoy the color and life that is brought to the attraction that is mostly shrouded in various shades of gray most of the year.  Of course the MiceChat HM traditionalists jumped all over that comment with (paraphrasing) "It's a Haunted Mansion.  It's supposed to be dark and gray you boob".  Point well taken but I will stand by my reasoning.  In another thread on MousePlanet about the HM I made the contention that when I get on the traditional HM, my mind tends to wander.  I think about what me and Mrs. DisneylandTraveler might want to do next, where we might go to eat, how my dog and cats are doing back home without me.  I've been on the ride so much that it just becomes something to do rather than enjoying it for what it is.  That feeling is on me I freely admit but it's fair.  You get on the HM because most of the year, it's pretty much a walk-on, it's long, and if it's hot outside, it's nice and cool in there.

But the holiday version makes me pay attention to the surroundings, what's around the next bend, enjoying the soundtrack.  Instead of resting my eyes as I might want to do in the traditional version, the holiday version dazzles my eyes.  I'm not a fan of Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas movie - didn't care for it at all from what I can recall.  I'm not a fan of Jack Skellington and feel his presence in the park and especially the merchandise shops is a bit of an intrusion.  But I like the ride - really like the ride.

And as I mentioned before, while I'm not big on Jack Skellington, I do like his portrayal of Sandy Claus, a delightful Christmas twist.  Where does the Haunted Mansion rank as one of your "must-do" Disneyland / DCA attractions in it's traditional form?  For me it's pretty well down the list.  But when the holidays roll around, a viewing of Haunted Mansion Holidays becomes an essential.  That's the power of the holiday overlay.

Thor - Saturday Night with the God of Thunder

Mrs. DisneylandTraveler and I have an interesting relationship between ourselves and going to the movies.  Some years, we go a lot, see just about everything of note especially in the comedy, action-adventure, and whatever Disney has to offer categories at our local megla-plex.  Some years we may only go a couple of times.  This year, we haven't been to a movie theater at all.  I suppose there are various reasons for this absence with this year having me recovering from surgery for a few months at the beginning of year, our investment late last year in a large screen HDTV and blue ray player with new surround sound equipment, and going to the movies has gotten just so darned expensive especially if you go the 3D / IMAX route.  One of the local theater chains has started $5.00 Tuesdays where every seat for every showing is 5 bucks with a bit more tacked on for 3D and IMAX showings (but I've got a regular job, I work on Tuesdays).

All that being said, I really wanted to get to the theaters to see the two major Marvel releases distributed by Paramount this year - Thor and Captain America, but just never got around to it. I'm not really a huge fan of Marvel's X-Men series which are made by Fox.  I'm not a big fan of Fox period other the The Simpsons and their sports coverage.  So anyway, for those not in the know, anytime you see anything by Marvel, that is now the Walt Disney Company which owns Marvel after their 4 billion acquisition.  Paramount, Fox, and Sony remain partners in making Marvel Studios movies, but that is only until their existing production contracts are completed, then Disney gets it all starting with next year's Avengers movie.

So after a couple of days of trying to get a blu-ray copy of the very much in demand Thor out of a Redbox machine, we finally succeeded on Saturday and spent the evening with the god of thunder.  "Uh-Oh" I thought to myself as the beginning of the movie abruptly changed from an out of a control Winnebego in the New Mexico desert to frost giants in a distant galaxy - "Mrs DLT, isn't going to like this" as I glanced over at her and knowing her preference for straight-forward story telling.  But two hours later I think we both agreed that Thor was probably one of the best movies we have watched all year.  "We should buy that" she said as she got up to leave the room.  It's not worth spending a lot of time describing the movie but in the end, the performances were good, the story was complicated but you were able to follow along for the most part (unlike TRON:Legacy), the graphics were stunning, and it held our attention beginning to end without once making us feel like we were wasting our time.  Thor is a really good movie and as the summer blockbusters begin making their way on to video, they will be hard-pressed to top Thor.

Give it three and a half Mickeys out of four.

It's Here - Halloweentime At Disneyland

Well it's finally here.  For the next 6 weeks, hoards of people will descend on Disneyland to enjoy the festivities of what Disneyland officially calls Halloweentime.  For me, I'll sit this one out.  Mrs. DisneylandTraveler and I did make it to Halloweentime last year not because of the decorations or other goings on but because the time and opportunity were there for us to make a trip.  Halloweentime was just incidental.

To put it mildly, I'm just not a Halloween guy . Never have been.  Not even as a child.  I think my last trick or treating expedition took place when I was about 7 years old.  There was something about trick or treating which I always attributed, even at a young age, to begging for food.  That's silly of course but that is genuinely how I felt and still feel to this day years later.  Mrs. DLT has always loved Halloween so there you have it, polar opposites again.

First of all, Halloween, no matter how you shake it, is not a holiday.  Nobody is given the day off because it's October 31st.  Besides, Halloween isn't even a "day".  It's a night, a few hours really.  Millions and millions of dollars are spent for a few hours of darkness activities one night a year.

All that being said, Disney knows how to do Halloween up right, especially when they realize there is money to be made.  From the front of the park and all the way up Main Street, Disneyland is colored in a sea of orange and if I had a dollar for every pumpkin they put on display, well, I could afford a real nice trip to Disneyland with plenty of extras and amenities.

The Mick finally gets an excuse to put on his purple suit.  Pretty snazzy costume although I thought I saw a movie a few years back where a New York City pimp was wearing the same get-up.

Space Mountain opens with its Ghost Galaxy overlay.  A nice touch with enhanced projections, lighting, and sound effects but unless something has changed, most Disneyland regulars think "Is a that all there is?  With a little more time, effort, (and money), this could really be a Ghost Galaxy to remember."

And the big attraction is the reopening of the Haunted Mansion Holidays.  I love HMH but not so much for the Halloween stuff.  I like Sandy Claus and Zero.  I also really enjoy the color that is brought to the venerable attraction for the holiday season when it is traditionally draped in shades of gray for much of the year.

So this is where the Halloween portion of this blog begins.  I've got 6 more weeks to write about this stuff and it all leads to a couple of hours on one night.  Is is all worth it?

Let's Have Lunch - Club 33 Perhaps?

I mentioned in a previous post that my friend from work, Mike, had his birthday lunch at Club 33 last week in Disneyland.  No, he is not a Club 33 member.  Yes, he does have connections.  He's probably eaten there at least a half dozen times or so from the time I began working with him about 12 years ago.  He always brings back pictures for me to ogle over.  A dastardly deed to be sure.

Last week's lunch for Mike and his wife began with a trip to the salad bar where he promptly had a plate of lobster tails, crab claws, chilled shrimp, cheese, and oh yeah, some green leafy stuff.

He proceeded on ordering up some mighty fine looking lamb chops served over creamy polenta while his wife ordered a delectable sable fish which is similar to cod.  Both had high marks for their entrees enjoying them completely.

And it doesn't stop there.  On Mike's dessert plate he showed off the obligatory macaroon with mickey ears, a delicious looking chocolate eclair, and one of my all time favorite desserts, creme brulee.

Can it get any better than this?  This lunch set Mike back about 200 bucks after a cocktail, tax, and tip were added but as an invited guest of a Club 33 member, they also got free admission to the park.  It's actually a pretty good deal.  Mike and I live several hundred miles away from Disneyland but someday, just maybe, we may find ourselves both in Anaheim at the same time.  He'll hook me up.  I think a trip to Club 33 is on my bucket list.

Enchanted - The Movie, Not My State of Mind

Alright, it's Friday night, the long work week is over and all the Disneyland Traveler is looking forward to is getting a good night's sleep and hopefully a refreshed start to the weekend.  Mrs. DisneylandTraveler, on the other hand, wants to rent a movie.  I tell her to check for Thor (a Marvel film - owned by Disney) so she scours the Redbox kiosks searching for the popular movie that was just released a few days ago.  No luck.  As soon as the movie becomes available, it gets reserved by someone using Redbox's online reservation system. It's appearing that a good night's sleep is going to come pretty early since getting the movie is proving to be a difficult proposition.

"What about watching one of our movies?" Mrs. DLT asks as I'm thinking it's only about an hour till I hit the sack. My reaction - what does a pirate say? - oh, yeah - "Arrrrrrr.....". "What about Enchanted?" asks Mrs. DLT.  Grumble, grumble, "Alright" as I give in to watching the movie a little after 8pm.  I'm thinking to myself, "It's not a bad movie and it's not long." Enchanted was the first Blu-Ray movie that was added to our collection.  The generous people at Disney (the movie club) gave it to Mrs. DLT free for her birthday a few years ago (plus shipping and handling).

So the movie starts.  I think this is my third or fourth time seeing the movie since we've owned a copy.  It was released in 2007.  And do you know what?  Even dead tired, I really enjoyed the movie all over again.  Clever, engaging, warm, and in the end, a movie with a lot of heart - a very enjoyable watch.  Did I mention it also isn't very long?

So I'm watching Enchanted but in the back of my mind I'm wondering what's the score of the Boise St football game over on ESPN (which is also owned by Disney)?  I couldn't remember the name of the featured actor in Enchanted.  I knew it was Patrick Something-or-Other (Dempsey) but it was bothering me because I know he is also on the TV show Grey's Anatomy on ABC (also owned by Disney) and I've seen him in a bunch of other movies through the years.  He kind of reminds me of the kind of movie actor Jon Cryer was before that Two and a Half Men thing fell in his lap.  Cryer, by the way, gets a featured voice over role in an upcoming Pixar movie (also owned by Disney).  As for the actress, well, while the movie was playing, I couldn't remember her name either (it is true what they say, as you get older, the memory is the first thing to go).  The credits at the end said Amy Adams.  Amy Adams, Amy Adams, where have I heard that name before?  I had a hunch.  After the movie finished up on the Blu-Ray player I had the machine log into YouTube (isn't technology wonderful).  I typed in the Search box "Muppets 2011 Trailer" hit play and there she was.  Amy Adams is the female lead, if you don't count Miss Piggy, in the new upcoming Muppets movie (also owned by Disney).

Also during the movie, the ball scene features the very nice ballad So Close.  I heard that song before. Where?  Where have I heard that song before?  I quickly tour through Wikipedia and it turns up that the song So Close is featured in World of Color at Disney California Adventure.  Yep.  That's where I've heard it before.

Anyway, so what did we learn from the evening?  Enchanted really is a good movie no matter how tired you are when you watch it and Disney really does own almost everything.

Alone in Disneyland

I'll preface my comments by saying, by definition, I've never made a trip to Disneyland by myself.  I guess that's a good thing because it proves I have family, friends, and loved ones who think enough about me to want to spend time with me because I'm not really that much of a curmudgeon or ogre.  But as things work out, I have found myself spending large amounts of time in Disneyland by myself leaving me the challenge of keeping myself entertained.  As mentioned in previous posts, Mrs. DisneylandTraveler and myself do not keep the same morning hours.  I generally get up at the crack of dawn and like to get to the park when it first opens.  She likes to sleep in and take her time getting ready.  So often there is 2 or 3 hours in the morning where I'm in the park by myself while she is off doing whatever it is she needs to do.  I also took a trip to Disneyland with my sister where, unfortunately, she became sick and had to spend a large amount of time back at the room while I wandered around the parks and lands.

So what about being by yourself in Disneyland?  Is it fun?  Can you really enjoy yourself without being around family and friends?  Like most things in life, that probably is left for individual personal preference but in my case, I know I can enjoy being in Disneyland without knowing a sole.

When I'm alone, all pressure is off because there is no agenda or schedule based on the endless answer to the question "what next?".  Alone, there is no compromise, there are no suggestions, or demands.  You set the schedule.  You set the agenda.  And it may all depend on how you feel on that particular day. Sometimes I like to grab some coffee, find a nice spot on Main St. and just enjoy the atmosphere by watching Disneyland unfold before my eyes with the sights and sounds.  Sometimes I get on the train and make a couple of trips on the "grand circle tour".  Sometimes I like to wander around shooting pictures maybe having the chance to look at a ride, or an attraction, or piece of scenery from a different angle or perspective.  Sometimes I hit the rides I know Mrs. DisneylandTraveler wants no part of (hello, Space Mountain).  There was one morning, where I hit Space Mountain, the Matterhorn, Thunder Mountain Railroad, and Splash Mountain one right after the other and tossed in the Haunted Mansion to boot.  It took about 90 minutes and when I was done, patted myself on the back.  Now that's an agenda.  When I'm alone I can also pick out my own choice in dining and explore menus.  Alone, I also stay out of the stores which is a particular favorite pastime of Mrs. DLT.

But there are some things I also wouldn't do if I'm alone.  No, I probably wouldn't dine at a Disneyland table service restaurant by myself.  I probably wouldn't see a sit down show like Billy Hill or Aladdin (I have seen Fantasmic and the Fireworks display by myself, that's a bit different because basically, you just stand there).  I don't think I would go on any Fantasyland ride by myself outside of the Matterhorn because they are so small and intimate that being by yourself makes you look like some kind of loser.  But all in all, there is plenty to do to keep yourself remarkably entertained.

I've written before that when Mrs. DLT and I take our trips, they are usually for about 5 days in the parks.  I don't think 5 days alone in Disneyland would work out because without being able to share, boredom would set in.  I could see 3 days alone though.

In the end, while this post is about being in Disneyland alone, the preference is to be able to share the magic with someone you love and care about.  That's what takes a memory and makes it into an experience. So I'm grateful for all the trips that me and Mrs. DLT have been able to take, just the two of us, with our son, and with family and friends.  I've said it before that the magic begins when you see the smile on someone else's face and not just your own.