For an evening with the tastes and sounds of the Bahamas, Cuba, Jamaica, Barbados, and Trinidad, try the Caribbean Carnaval dinner show at Loews Sapphire Falls Resort. Together with a friend, Liliane Opsomer, coauthor of The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World with Kids did so during her last trip to Orlando, and she highly recommends it.
The Tastes
A selection of organic greens topped with a Grilled Pineapple Cilantro-Lime Vinaigrette, Pinto Bean and Shrimp Salad, as well as Green Banana and Yucca Escabeche were among the starters.
The eye-catching whole Mojo Roasted Suckling Pig, set up as a carving station, was cooked to perfection and served with a Coconut-Pineapple Brioche Roll. I had mine with chimichurri sauce and coconut rice.
If you like Caribbean jerk spices, go for the Jerk Chicken paired with Mango-Papaya Relish. The Grilled Snapper came with a salpicón-styled corn and black bean sauce. My favorite dish of the evening was the Ropa Vieja. This traditional Cuban stew is found in slightly different versions throughout the Caribbean. It consists of shredded beef simmered in a sauce of diced tomatoes. The version at the Caribbean Carnaval dinner was served over rice and topped with sweet plantains. I recommend you also pick up a Johnny Cake, a pancake made of cornmeal, to scoop up the sauce. Delicious! More about the history of Rope Vieja and a recipe can be found here.
The mini-desserts included Guava Flan, Coconut & Caramel Rice Pudding, and (my favorite) a Caribbean Rum Cake.
Throughout the meal and the show, guests were offered unlimited beverages, including a Planter’s Punch, beer, wine, and a selection of nonalcoholic drinks.
The Sounds
A steel-drum band entertained us throughout the dinner; at 7 p.m., a show took us on a musical journey through the Caribbean islands. For an hour, several acts of music and dancing conveyed the lively tropical sounds of the Bahamas, Cuba, Jamaica, Barbados, and Trinidad.
Towards the end of the show, the cast included children, and then there was a great Conga line in which the entire audience participated. After the show, the performers were available for photos with all guests.
We enjoyed the show a lot. The cast, in colorful and lively costumes, was energetic, and the music was upbeat. The staff was very attentive and the food was excellent.
Good to Know
The Caribbean Carnaval dinner show is held every Friday at Loews Sapphire Falls Resort. Dinner starts at 6 p.m. followed by the show at 7 p.m. Prices range from $71 to $81 for adults and $36 to $41 for children ages 3 to 9, taxes not included. Prices do include gratuity, nonalcoholic beverages, wine, beer, and punch. Find out more here.
For in-depth information on Universal Orlando check out The Unofficial Guide to Universal Orlando by Seth Kubersky. If you enjoyed this post, sign up for our newsletter here. This article was first published by The Mouse for Less.
