Meet Professor Doctor Penelope Tibeaux-Tinker Toothsome, an adventurous 19th century lady who traveled the world in search of new and inventive ways to infuse chocolate into complex recipes with the help of her faithful sidekick, Jacque The Robot. At the end of her long tour, she returned home with a vision to share her new and fascinating knowledge with the world by creating an emporium that everyone near and far could visit.
And that's exactly what the people who designed this fantasy have done. The Emporium at Universal Studios, Orlando, is a steampunk feast for the senses that includes visits to each table by the main characters in the backstory behind this concept. There was a surreal moment when I found myself discussing Cuban pastries (pastelitos) with a Victorian English upper class lady in a bustled dress, and a robot.
Not to mention that as you open the door, you enter a wondrous retail space, the aptly named Emporium, crammed with displays of all things sweet, moslty chocolate, and staff in period dress flashing those big theme park smiles and personalities.
Let's not forget that there's food here too. The brown leather-bound, gold embossed book they call menu is busting with popular fare and a sprinkling of intriguing novelties like Chocolate Almond Bread with Salted Caramel Butter for an appetizer, or a Fire Grilled Pork Chop with Bitter Chocolate Mole Sauce, or Chocolate Brioche S'mores French Toast for brunch. This is the extreme tip of the iceberg, so if you visit, I encourage you to take time to review the menu carefully before you make your choices.
After an enchanting visit to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, mecca for avid fans like me, this fantasy place offered the perfect finale to a magical day. Exhaustion precluded us from ordering overly complex dishes, but my Croque Monsieur offered melted Gruyere, crunchy toasted bread, and good country ham. What I never seem to get is enough Bechamel sauce. I'm starting to think my expectations are too high on this issue.
John had a standard, or classic, as he calls it, cheddar bacon burger. For him, the brioche bun is all the luxury he needs. Although unremarkable, it satisfied his hunger. Our choices came with fries and sweet potato wedges. Both were also satisfying, but predictable. I'm ashamed to say that I let fatigue get the best of me, and I decided to forgo enticing items from the dessert menu like Brookies, Cookies and Cream, and Cream Puff and Eclair for the equally intriguing but less overwhelming Jacque's Specialty Milkshakes menu. I ordered the Heavenly Hazelnut and John tried the Key Lime Pie, and both were refreshing and comforting, but I feel they could've packed a stronger flavor punch.
It's not gourmet dining, but the menu has something for everyone, and all of it is gratifying. Without a doubt, the Emporium is an experience that should not be missed. Fun for the whole family!
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