The latest episode of the Discover Universal Podcast featured Chef Jens Dahlmann, VP and executive chef of Universal Orlando Resort culinary operations. Universal provided our first look at Epic Universe food and beverages in February, but Chef Dahlmann revealed more details of some of the park’s unique food options, and the podcast video included photos of some dishes.
“We’re always trying to enhance our food program and enhance the guest experience.”
Chef Jens Dahlmann
Celestial Park
There’s something for everyone in Celestial Park, the center land of Epic Universe that provides the park’s backstory. Because of the story importance of Celestial Park, the team approached the food options as something specific to a place.
They started by discussing Pizza Moon, which Chef Dahlmann described as a “pizza church” with three pizza ovens and unique options. Their crust is made from scratch every day, and one pizza even has an ube crust.
Another pizza is their giant mushroom pie with thinly shaved mushrooms and truffle aioli.
Chef Dahlmann loves Asian food, so was deeply involved in The Blue Dragon Pan-Asian Restaurant. He noted the dining room of the restaurant isn’t done yet, but they’ve thought through everything down to the plateware.
Host Dylan is most excited about the restaurant’s double-fried Korean wings.
Chef Dahlmann referred to Atlantic as their “top tier restaurant” because it offers the best view of Celestial Park, and they had to create food to match. One dish that the hosts are excited about is the Prince Edward Mussels (pictured). Chef Dahlmann hyped up the previously revealed Sea Bass, which comes with carrot mochi and lemongrass broth.
This dish shown on screen was not named, but the chef noted there are plenty of options for guests who don’t prefer seafood, such as chicken, steak, and vegan dishes.
Judging by the pictures of these dishes from The Oak & Star Tavern, the restaurant will have custom paper placemats on their trays.
Chef Dahlmann didn’t describe exactly what these pictured dishes are, but he said the restaurant has two smokers in the building. In addition to smoking, they’ll be char-grilling and direct-heat grilling.
Dahlmann called Oak & Star a “celestial roadhouse” with “out of this world BBQ.”
The direct-to-table Meteor Astropub is a more approachable restaurant for basic palates. Its star platters are burgers with fresh Angus beef cooked to order on house-made buns. Chef Dahlmann said over 90% of the bread in Epic Universe is made from scratch.
In addition to burgers, there will be a fried chicken sandwich and a vegan dog.
This pictured dish looks like classic chicken and waffles.
The last Celestial Park restaurant they discussed was Comet Dogs, which will serve unique hot dogs. Though no pictures of dishes were revealed, Chef Dahlmann said there would be a birria dog with the seasonings of birria in the sausage itself and topped with pineapple and salsa verde.
They also established that a hot dog is not a sandwich.
With regards to the table experience throughout Epic Universe, Chef Dahlmann said there are two full-service restaurants (for now), eight direct-to-table restaurants with mobile order, eight bars, and 10 carts.
Dark Universe
The food of Das Stakehaus is inspired by Dracula and his familiars. Dishes include the Darkmoor Black Wings and skewers (like steak on a stake). Das Stakehaus will also offer draft beers.
In addition to the Red Velvet Death previously teased, desserts include a panna cotta shaped like a jiggling brain. Chef Dahlmann said they were allowed to get gory with the food of Dark Universe and emphasized the importance of food as part of each world’s storytelling.
The Burning Blade Tavern has a small menu of quick to-go food, including a loaded baked potato rolled in char seasoning and spices so it looks almost black and filled with bacon. The tavern will also offer beers.
How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk
In the Isle of Berk is Mead Hall, where guests can enjoy a viking feast and ales. The food is inspired by Nordic cuisine and includes Universal’s take on a Swedish meatball. There will be shareable feasts, and all the food is a little big larger than normal.
One such dish is Hiccup’s grilled salmon, inspired by Hiccup feeding fish to Toothless when they first met. It includes pastrami-seasoned salmon served with roasted root vegetables and a baked potato filled with garlic herb butter and topped with fennel and dill sauce.
Hooligan’s Grog & Gruel will offer more walkable grab-and-go options. Here, guests can get mac and cheese cones inspired by trapizzino (Italian street food). One includes pulled pork, while another is topped with goldfish.
At Spit Fyre Grill, guests can enjoy grilled meats on customizable hearty grain bowls or salads.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic
At The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, the culinary team endeavored to create food representative of classical French dishes.
Café L’air De La Sirène will offer crepes, galettes, and freshly baked pastries. Baguettes and croissants will be available for breakfast. Crepes include a citron, lemon-flavored option.
The Butterbeer crepe, which will be available all day, is freshly baked with cookie butter pastry cream and topped with Butterbeer foam, butterscotch drizzle, shortbread cookie, and fresh strawberries.
The jambon-beurre is a traditional ham and cheese sandwich, but Chef Dahlmann noted they had to make sure the bread had the right crunch so it felt like a French baguette. The cafe will also serve chicken provencal and salad nicoise.
Café L’air De La Sirène is direct-to-table but designed to feel like fine dining that takes you right to Paris.
Le Gobelet Noir, on the other hand, is a darker part of Paris. This restaurant’s menu is inspired by Eastern Europe, including Austria, Grindelwald’s home country. This was also Chef Dahlmann’s opportunity to bring in dishes from his own culture, like schnitzel and smoked sausages.
Le Gobelet Noir’s menu consists of more hearty tavern food than the cafe. One dish is knödel soup, a take on matzo ball soup with chicken dumplings. There will also be shareable feasts and black forest cake.
Super Nintendo World
The hosts and Chef Dahlmann only briefly touched on Super Nintendo World, as all of its food is already available at the versions of the land in Universal Studios Japan and Universal Studios Hollywood. Read our review of the Toadstool Cafe menu at Universal Studios Japan.
Watch the full Discovery Universal Podcast episode below.
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