L is for Lilikoi

Lili-who? Lilikoi!

What's lilikoi? I'll tell you!

Lilikoi is a fun word.  Isn't it?

Okay, okay, it's more than a fun word.  Lilikoi is passion fruit.  And it makes for fabulous, fabulous, delicious juice.

But you know who has especially amazing lilikoi juice?

They do.

Who's they? "They" is the Polynesian Resort at Walt Disney World.

See, I've been on a bit of a Disney kick the past week or two.  It's like an itch, and it seems like I get it around this time of year.  Last year I got the itch one day, inadvertently ran across one of those crazy ads for a huge Disney deal, and like less than an hour later we had booked the trip.  And then giggled the rest of the day over it.

Eventually the trip was extended a day, we booked four different rooms before finally settling on the Poly, and we moved it from June to September in order to coincide with our first anniversary...all the while rationalizing to ourselves that this was okay because it would be our last big trip for a while.

The itch is a dangerous thing.

 

At the Polynesian they serve the most amazing Lilikoi juice imaginable.  Not only can you get it at the Kona Cafe (home of Tonga Toast...good Lord), but if you're a concierge guest (which of course we have been these past two trips), you can mosey on over to the lounge at any time to get a cup.  You can even get some while you're checking in since they have chilled dispensers right there by the desks.

That first sip...ahhhh.  It's like liquid sunshine going down your throat. It tastes like...the Polynesian.

The view from our balcony when looking to the right - towards the middle there is Space Mountain, and to the right of that is The Contemporary Resort

There's also a sushi bar next to the restaurant which serves probably my second favorite roll of all time: tempura sushi with mango, wrapped in rice paper and served with lilikoi sauce.

I wish I had a picture of it so it could be my wallpaper and my profile pic and possibly also be carried in my wallet.

Can I just tell you that the first time I had a piece of it, I literally pounded my fist on the table in ecstasy? For real.  So great was my bliss that I made a mini-scene which I'm sure no one noticed because, heck, they were in Disney World.

This is a version of it without the sauce, served at The California Grill.  Which is incidentally the home of my favorite roll of all time: Spicy Kazan.  I think I'm going to cry...

In my head and my heart, lilikoi juice will always be linked with the Poly, and therefore with WDW.  It just makes me happy, and makes my yearn to visit again.

I'm feeling all itchy now...

You can even watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks from your balcony while sipping lilikoi juice!

While I sit here and itch, why don't you go visit my friend Jenny Matlock and participate in her weekly Alphabe-Thursday? This week's letter, in case you hadn't guessed, is L.  It's always so interesting to see where people's imaginations go!