Festival of The Holidays: Italy and Morocco

Top Left: Triangle Honey Briwat, Top Right: Fusilli did Gragnano alla Carbonara
Bottom Left: Crespelle di Mele, Bottom Right: Grilled Lamb Kefta and Grapes

      On our way to see Ana Gasteyer preform as the narrator for EPCOT's Candlelight Processional, my friend and I stopped at Italy and Morocco's Holiday Kitchens to have something to eat while we waited in the stand by line. From Italy, we had Fusilli di Gragnano alla Carbonara and Crespelle di Mele. From Morocco we had Grilled Lamb Kefta and Grapes and Triangle Honey Briwat. Everything was extremely delicious and tasty.
     The Grilled Lamb Kefta was pretty flavorful of it own. There was 3 Lamb meatballs on the stick, which I thought was really neat. Its not every day I get to eat things on a stick. They tasted more like a beef meatball than a lamb. My guess is because of how they spiced it. They were not dried out at all like some meatballs tend to get. The brightly colored orange sauce, harissa, had such a kick to it. All I could taste was the pepper heat from it. It paired well with the lamb, but it has one wanting a tall glass of milk for the non-spicy eaters. The veggies paired with it were yummy as well. I really loved the subtle cilantro dressing they mixed the pearl onions, julienned Cucumbers and red peppers in. The sauce was creamy, more creamy taste than cilantro taste. The cilantro was so subtle, I didnt know that's what it was until I loooked it up in my Festival passport. The way the veggies were sliced kind of reminded me of the French-cut green beans mom would sometimes serve.
    The Triangle Honey Briwat had a rather unusual taste. It came with two so my friend and I could each have one. My Festival passport says its made from almond paste, rose water and seseme seeds. Upon first bite I knew it was unlike anything I had tried before. The outer later was rather crunchy and flakey, like a crispy croissant, and the inner layer was what threw both of us. It tasted like roses, hunny, and nuts to me (mostly of rose-covered nuts with a subtle hint of hunny), but like eating soap to my friend (her words). I can see how she thought that because of the rosewater used (which is also used in soap). She kept asking me how I could taste the other flavors and I have no idea, I just could. While tasty, it wasn't sweet enough for me.
     Of the two Morocco dishes we had, I'd get the Grilled Lamb with Kefta again.
     The Fusilli had a creamy Parmesan taste. It reminded me and awful lot of L'Alfredo's Fettuccini Alfredo they served years ago in Italy. The pasta was cooked al dente. Not too soft and not too hard. Just springy and chewy enough. The melted cheese sauce was to die for. It was so rich and flavorful and made each bite melt in your mouth.
The Crespelle was heavenly. I have never had such a light and fluffy apple fritter in my life. The Chocolate-Caramel sauce on it was just as divine and a perfect accompaniment to the perfectly fried fritter. There was two fairly large pieces so my friend and I each got a whole piece. Out of the two desserts we tried, the conseus between both of us is that the Crespelle was the winner hands down!
     Of the dishes from Italy, I'd get both of them again because they were both that good.
     Hope you enjoyed my review of Italy and Morrocco's Holiday Kitchens. Until next time, keep cooking with character!