Have Geek Will Travel

Back this time to talk about the food and drink we experienced on our recent travels.

While walking around a theme park all day, you’re going to work up an appetite and a thirst. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal in Orlando, FL has some unique ways to take care of those needs for witches, wizards, and muggles alike.

Granted, some things looked more appetizing than others. Think I’ll leave dishes like Stewed Eels to Andrew Zimmern and Bizarre Foods. 😉

Just give me something simple like a big ol’ roasted turkey leg and I’m good! Luckily for me and other not so adventurous eaters there’s the Three Broomsticks for just such a feast.

The Three Broomsticks is located in Hogsmeade across from the Owl Post and within a short walk over to Hogwarts Castle. We were greeted by a friendly staff member and seated right away.

The restaurant/pub was busy both times we visited. On one visit we split the Shepherd’s Pie, the next time I had the smoked turkey leg and chips (fries) and Nicki had fish and chips. The pie was a bit smaller than I normally get at McNamara’s Irish Pub & Restaurant in Nashville, TN (my favorite Irish pub) or when Nicki makes it at home, but it and a bottled water did hit the spot. The turkey leg on the other hand was HUGE!

The interior was filled with antlers or all shapes and sizes, over-sized chandeliers, and lots of wood. It looked like it had all been made out of heavy timbers, stone, and iron many, many years ago. The detail kept me looking around the room as we ate and rested our feet. If it wasn’t for the tourists in shorts or the electric muggle cash-registers it would totally feel like an old English pub and inn.

“The Three Broomsticks and I go way back, further than I care to admit. I can remember when it was One Broomstick!“—Horace Slughorn joking with Harry Potter.

Towards the back of the pub was Hog’s Head – an actual bar, and behind the bar was an animatronic hog head which would occasionally snort at the bar patrons. In the books it is owned by Aberforth Dumbledore – brother of Albus Dumbledore. Here you could order more adult beverages like a variety of domestic and imported beers, specialty drinks, wine, spirits and mixed drinks. Didn’t check to see if they served Firewhisky or not, but Nicki had a bad experience with some concocted by a friend one Halloween so we have tried to forget about that night. I do wish we would have remembered to pick up a Hog’s Head mug for our bar at home. I’m getting old and forgetful. Could have used a Remembrall on this trip!

Now when it came to washing down those meals, you had a few choices any fan of the Harry Potter world will be familiar with- Gilly Water and Pumpkin Juice. They were available at many stands around the park.

I really liked this stand in Diagon Alley across from the Gringotts Money Exchange. It had different magical creatures on each of its corners.

But the most well known of the beverages served at the park is Butterbeer! I’m here to tell ya- it’s good stuff.

Butterbeer comes in two different types- regular or frozen. You can get it in a souvenir mug for a few dollars more, or disposable plastic cup if you want to save some money and/or don’t want to carry the mug around the park with you.

We had our first taste of it at the Leaky Cauldron which is near the entrance to Diagon Alley and Knockturn Alley, but you can get it in several locations around both parks.

Nicki and I both preferred the regular Butterbeer‘s butterscotch and cream soda taste to the frozen one’s sweeter taste, which reminded me of a slushy ice cream birthday cake. Good, but not as smooth or refreshing as the other- and reeeeeeaaaallllly sweet. Not sure which one J. K. Rowling prefers.

We did notice that there were at least two different styles of Butterbeer plastic collector mugs, and at least one other glass version you could purchase at Wiseacre’s Wizarding Equipment. I meant to pick up a glass one on our way out of the park but again I forgot. We did take home two different plastic mugs.

Butterbeer is known to have a slight alcoholic content and be served warm, but the ones severed in the park were non-alcoholic and chilled.

Sirius Black looks like he could use an alcoholic version- or maybe he’s had one too many!

There’s one shop that specializes in selling mostly Butterbeer and we tried some there, too. They had some beer-beer on tap as well.

Now, if you can’t make it to Hogsmeade or Diagon Alley, you can whip up a batch of this brew at home. Here are some recipes from Orlando Informer  and Food Network. Going to have to try and make some myself, but will stay away from making any homemade Firewhisky!

Oh, if you do have a sweet tooth there are a couple places to try- but when it comes to a great selection of candy you have to stop by Honeydukes sweet shop in Hogsmeade. Chocolate Cauldrons, Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans, Chocolate Frogs and more can be purchased at the shop. Nicki bought a couple Chocolate Frogs from Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes (Fred and George’s shop in Diagon Alley) before we left. They each came with a Salazar Slytherin card. Figures…

One place we didn’t try in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter was Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlour in Diagon Alley. It was an ice cream shop across the street from Ollivander’s and Gringotts Bank. With all the Butterbeer I drank that week I had to stay away from the ice cream there. Whenever I did pass by I could see through the windows that it was always packed with customers. I made up for it when we got home and visited our favorite ice cream shop- area 51 in Hernando, MS!  Florean Fortescue’s also serves continental breakfast items and pastries in the morning hours, along with bottled Pumpkin Juice, teas and water.

“What did you expect? …Pumpkin juice!?“—Madam Pomfrey after Harry Potter spat out the Skele-Gro.

One thing I wish had been available to purchase was a bottle of Skele-Gro potion. I didn’t want to drink it, but the bottle was just too cool! The display was pretty neat, too- as the man in the window drank from the glowing Skele-Gro bottle above him his broken arm mended itself. “1100 drops. Bone Regenerator. Bone-fide results every time.”

I meant to ask if they sold any at the park- perhaps at Borgin and Burkes. Will have to check for sure while shopping on our next trip or check online. If they don’t sell them, they are really missing out- especially around Halloween!

Next blog we’ll board the Hogwarts Express!

See you at Platform 9¾…if you can find it!

Lin