The Lost Continent is like meeting a new person who just seems amazing and about five minutes into the conversation, you realize there’s not a lot going on. It’s a beautiful area. The theming is top-notch. The music transports you to another time and place. The food is excellent. But there’s not a lot to do here.
I have favorite areas here. Like when you cross the bridge from Suess Landing. The upbeat goofy music of Suess fades into the melodic music of the old gods. It transports. It inspires. You cross the bridge into a world where everything is bigger than life. Giant statues, huge buildings, and a crowded marketplace.
It’s in this land that you find hidden treasures. Easily overlooked, the Mystic Fountain is always fun. It gurgles and bubbles and then, magically comes to life to the delight of children and adults alike. If you stop by, take a moment to check out the ground around the fountain. See water? Avoid that area. You can thank me later.
Of course we go on the one attraction left in the area. Poisiden’s Fury! It’s sucks up at least 40 minutes of our day. It’s cheesy. It scares small children. It has one redeeming feature that makes it worthwhile everytime we go. I don’t want to spoil it for anyone, but if you go, you’ll immediately know what I’m talking about. If you don’t have a “well this is cool” moment, I don’t know if we can be friends.
Of course the food is tasty and well-spiced, not the typical chicken fingers and hot dogs found in theme parks. There’s kebabs and risotto and mediterranean bowls and creme brulee and so much more. It’s never disappointed.
And lastly, it can be a quiet haven. There are shaded tables to sip diet cokes. There are hidden spots to rest and look out over the lake. Some of my best times with The Engineer have been sipping a drink while hanging out here.
I guess reading back over all this, there is something behind all that beauty. It’s not what I think a theme park should be. It’s not the thrills and chills. It’s not the rushed pace. It’s a place of calm in the middle of chaos. It’s exactly what it should be. It’s not pretending to have the most advanced rides. It’s not packed full of activities. It offers what it has without apology.
The place I call home is a bit like The Lost Continent. It’s amazing in its quiet way. It’s not full of thrills and chills. It’s not open 24 hours a day. It’s a place people hurry thru on their way to somewhere more exciting. But when you stop and look around, you find good food, good company, and a beauty that takes your breath away.
So this week’s themed dinner is The Lost Continent. It’s maybe not as flashy as others. But it was tasty food, good company, and I can’t ask for more than that.
Tonight we visited The Lost Continent in Islands of Adventure. Known for its incredible food and one terrible attraction, there were many choices to make. In the end, we opted for a mediterranean meal. Our signature cocktail was inspired by the Mythos Potion of the Gods. Who could pass up a name like that? Its a fruity mix that The Engineer enjoyed. Me, well, it was fine. It was sweet and fruity. I figure I’m already sweet and fruity, so no need to add to that! Appetizers included a rosemary and garlic mushroom and mozzarella flatbread, a sundried tomato, kalamata olive, marinated artichoke, and feta flatbread, and deep-fried calamari (straight from a very fancy freezer box!) The main course was marinated chicken kebabs, mediterranean lamb meatballs, pita, and a cucumber and tomato salad. Finally, we dug into a decadent creme brulee of chocolate hazelnut topped with freshly whipped cream and cookie crumbles. I considered licking that ramekin clean!
Menu:
Potion of the Gods
Rosemary, Garlic, Mushroom, and Mozzarella Flatbread
Marinated Artichoke, Kalamata Olive, Sundried Tomato, and Feta Flatbread
Deep-fried Calamari served with Marinara and Sweet Thai Chili Sauce
Marinated Chicken Kebabs
Mediterranean Lamb Meatballs
Toasted Pita Bread
Tomato and Cucumber Salad
Chocolate Hazelnut Creme Brulee topped with Whipped Cream and Cookie Crumbles
Recipes:
Marinated Chicken Kebabs (The Complete Mediterranean Cookbook by America’s Test Kitchen)
Mediterranean Lamb Meatballs (The Complete Mediterranean Cookbook by America’s Test Kitchen)
The Marvel of the Ordinary Life 