My Big Fat Greek Opening: The Cat and Mouse Show

Tuesday, October 06, 2009 by Liz Doyle.

I’ve been to restaurant openings before, but I have never been to a Disney restaurant opening. That is until I was invited to the “Opa”ning of Cat Cora’s new restaurant Kouzzina, and I'm pretty sure that I am ruined for all other lackluster openings. OK, perhaps I am being a bit dramatic. But there is something about the Disney magic that ignites everything it touches, a 27-year-old magazine editor not to be excluded.

Situated on the Atlantic City-esque boardwalk, Kouzzina is the first celebrity chef-driven restaurant to be opened by Disney and the first signature restaurant for Cora. The family-style restaurant features a menu inspired by Cora’s own Greek heritage. From the entryway studded with family portraits to traditional family recipes to first-generation Greeks cooking in the kitchen-this is as authentic as you can get . . . at least on this side of the Atlantic.

Although I grew up near a relatively Greek-centric area, my exploration into the Mediterranean cuisine prior to this was limited to baklava (from the Sponge Docks in Florida) and the gyro stand at the state fair. Luckily, I was sitting next to Chris Sherman (former St. Pete Times food editor) who graciously helped me navigate the multi-course menu.

It was with a toast from Robert Iger (president of Disney) and a celebratory shot of Ouzo, thrown back with a crowd-wide “Opa!,” that the festivities began. In traditional Greek fashion, this was a family event complete with Cora’s parents, her partner and their four children. It felt as if we had snagged the VIP seat at her kitchen table. The meal was perfectly timed, pristinely plated and overall very impressive.

We had a chance to try various menu items. The Spirro Salad, a simple take on the Greek salad and named after her father, was a light introduction to the Greek flavors. The main course was a mix of traditional items coupled with some of Cora’s signatures, such as the lamb burger with feta and olives, all of which were tasty. But my FAVORITE part of the meal was the dessert spread, a trifecta of baklava, molten chocolate cake and frozen Greek yogurt. Even though I was stuffed, I couldn’t resist sweets.

Cora (and her mother) mingled and danced throughout the crowd, making their way to each table to say hello and make sure we got enough to eat. After a bit more dancing and a few more “Opas,” we were off on an expedition to Everest (the newest ride at Animal Kingdom) and to take in a few other Disney amusements.

Walt had it right: This is where all your dreams come true.

** For more insider tips on Disney, make sure to check out the Top 10 list in Sky's November issue.