ScienceDaily (Nov. 29, 2012) ? New insights into a protein complex that regulates the very tips of chromosomes could improve methods of screening anti-cancer drugs.
Led by bioengineering professor Sua Myong, the research group's findings are published in the journal Structure.
Myong's group focused on understanding the proteins that protect and regulate telomeres, segments of repeating DNA units that cap the ends of chromosomes. Telomeres protect the important gene-coding sections of DNA from loss or damage, the genetic equivalent of aglets -- the covering at the tips of shoelaces that keep the ends of the laces from unraveling or fraying.
Telomeres play an important role in cell aging and death, since each time a cell divides, a little bit is lost from the end of the telomere. Thus, cell biologists postulate that telomere length can determine the lifespan of a cell. Cancer cells, however, have a way to get around this limitation: An enzyme called telomerase that adds length to telomeres is highly active in cancer cells. This allows cancer cells to divide in perpetuity, running amok through tissues and systems.
"Cancer researchers want to get a hold of this problem, control this indefinite lengthening of the telomeres," said Myong, who also is affiliated with the Institute for Genomic Biology at the U. of I. "A lot of the anti-cancer drugs are targeted directly to these telomeres so that they can inhibit telomerase activity. The proteins we study regulate the activity of telomerase."
Using a technique developed at Illinois that allows researchers to watch single molecules interact in real time, Myong's group determined how two proteins called POT-1 and TTP-1 bind to the telomere. POT-1 protects the fragile telomere ends from being attacked by other regulatory proteins that might mistake the end for a broken or damaged area of DNA. When POT-1 and TTP-1 work together in a complex, they promote telomerase activity, an interesting target for cancer researchers.
The group found that on its own, POT-1 binds to the folded-up telomere in distinct steps at particular points in the telomere's DNA sequence, unfolding the telomere in a stepwise manner. However, the POT-1/TTP-1 complex surprised the researchers by binding, then freely sliding back and forth along the telomere end.
"Instead of stepwise binding, what we saw was a mobile protein complex, a dynamic sliding motion," Myong said. "Somehow it was as if the static binding activity of POT-1 is completely lost -- the protein complex just slid back and forth. We were able to reproduce the data and confirm it with many different tail lengths of the telomeric DNA and we know now that the contact between POT-1 and the telomere is somehow altered when the partner protein comes and binds."
Next, the researchers will add telomerase and see how the sliding activity of the POT-1/TTP-1 complex affects telomerase activity. Myong postulates that the sliding may promote telomerase activity -- and thus telomere lengthening -- by making the end of the telomere accessible for the telomerase enzyme to bind.
"We are excited about the possibility that this kind of mobility can increase the telomerase extension activity," Myong said. "It's somehow engaging the enzyme so that it can stay bound to the DNA longer. So it must involve a direct interaction."
Ultimately, understanding the POT-1/TTP-1 complex gives drug developers a new target for anti-cancer drugs, and the assay Myong's group used to monitor the complex could offer a venue for evaluating telomere-targeting drugs.
"We want to extend our a basic science knowledge in telomere biology into causes of cancer and we hope that our assay can be useful for telomere-targeted drug screening," Myong said.
The American Cancer Society and the Human Frontier Science Research Program supported this work.
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ARLINGTON ? As part of the Snohomish County PUD's voluntary "Planet Power" green energy program, AHS has installed solar panels purchased from Silicon Energy on the John C. Larson stadium.
The Arlington School District applied for a grant, available through the PUD, to fund the majority of the cost for installation, which was performed by Arlington Electric.
"Not only will this project reduce our electrical consumption, but it will also be a valuable teaching aid for our students," said Sid Logan, executive director of operations for the Arlington School District, who touted the lower impact on the environment and the cost savings of the solar panels, in addition to the educational potential of the data they will yield.
Solar photovoltaic modules, such as those manufactured by Silicon Energy in Marysville, are a viable energy source in Washington despite the state's number of rainy and cloudy days, since the temperate climate actually helps solar perform better by keeping such systems cooler.
An eight-kilowatt solar array was added to the top of the stadium, with its last four modules installed on Monday, Nov. 5. Since the solar panels produce DC power, inverters will also be installed to convert the electricity to AC.
The energy generated by this system will be used on site, at the stadium or at the school, wherever electricity is needed, to reduce the energy costs for the district and taxpayers. The solar energy will be blended with the school's regular electrical source of power, since there are times, such as at night, when solar power isn't being produced.
The project includes the creation of an interactive Internet webpage to share and monitor the system's performance with students, families and the public. The PUD's goal is to choose high profile projects so that communities can learn more about renewables and solar photovoltaics.
The former CEO of Autonomy slammed Hewlett-Packard's board of directors Tuesday in an open letter for accusing his company of "serious financial impropriety."
"On 20 November Hewlett-Packard (HP) issued a statement accusing unspecified members of Autonomy?s former management team of serious financial impropriety," said Dr. Mike Lynch, the former CEO of Autonomy, in his letter. "It was shocking that HP put non-specific but highly damaging allegations into the public domain without prior notification or contact with me, as former CEO of Autonomy."
"I utterly reject all allegations of impropriety," he said.?
Lynch demanded Hewlett-Packard answer questions regarding its allegations against Autonomy financial practices, including HP's claim that a $5 billion write-down was necessary on Autonomy.?
"Can HP really state that no part of the $5 billion write down was, or should be, attributed to HP?s operational and financial mismanagement of Autonomy since the acquisition?" Lynch said in the letter.?
HP responded to Lynch's letter stating that the matter was now in the hands of authorities, including the UK Serious Fraud Office, the US Securities and Exchange Commission?s Enforcement Division and the US Department of Justice.
"We will defer to them as to how they wish to engage with Dr. Lynch. In addition, HP will take legal action against the parties involved at the appropriate time," the company said in an email statement to CNBC.
HP also said that it had uncovered "extensive evidence" that former Autonomy employees were inflating financial metrics of the company, according to the statement.
The company also made it clear in the statement that the only answers Lynch would be getting would be through a legal process.
"While Dr. Lynch is eager for a debate, we believe the legal process is the correct method in which to bring out the facts and take action on behalf of our shareholders. In that setting, we look forward to hearing Dr. Lynch and other former Autonomy employees answer questions under penalty of perjury," the company said in the statement.
I've been apartment hunting lately (I want a little bigger place, with the option to finally get myself a dog), and here in LA, it's not an easy thing to do. Craigslist is usually the listings tool of choice, but it's so gummed with spam and vague listings here that it can be hard, especially when (like me) you're trying to be a little picky. And while there are a few subscription-based services around, I'm not really interested in paying a subscription to people who should be lusting after me and my perfect credit rating and dependable rent checks anyway.
I hadn't really considered using my iPhone in the search, but when a friend linked me an apartment listed on Lovely, I figured the app would probably be worth a shot. And I'm glad I gave it one: Lovely is, so far, the most useful free tool I've come across. There's a full web interface, but the app is also very simple and intuitive -- it's quick, responsive and very clear.
I particularly like the way pictures and maps are implemented; on Craigslist, the maps link is essentially an afterthought, but on Lovely, that information is put front and center, and loads up fast and clean, even on my iPhone's 4G while out and about. I am not quite sure how the Lovely listings are moderated (I know some of them do come from Craigslist, and you can filter in the app for listings with or without pictures, but it's not clear just which listings make it through or not, or exactly what all of their sources are). However it all works, though, I've found quite a few great places on the few days I've been watching the app, and I'm hoping that sooner or later here I'll find the place I'm looking for.
Perhaps I shouldn't recommend an app like this until I've actually found a place, but Lovely (available on the App Store now) is worth considering no matter what part of the relocation stage you happen to be in. I should also say that I'm looking in Los Angeles, where the community is relatively tech-savvy and the listings are plentiful, so if you're in a less populated or less tech-friendly area, Lovely might not work so well for you. And finally, there's no iPad interface, unfortunately, though I have to presume that's in the works. If you're setting out on an apartment search, or haven't found a good tool yet, give Lovely a shot for sure.
We have just completed a VA?refi on our current home.? We've lived here for 4 years.? Its feeling kind of small though and we want to purchase a new construction here in town with an FHA loan. 1) Will we be able to do this? 2) will it affect our interest rate on our VA?
Monthly income: 7500, current obligations (including current mort/tax/ins) 1890.
EVERETT ? A new mental health court has opened in Snohomish County to help find solutions for people living with mental illness who are caught in the criminal justice system.
The court is designed to solve issues that can't be easily addressed in a traditional court, The Daily Herald reported ( http://is.gd/ccRB5K).
So far, two people have opted into the program. A third person is in the early stages. The program could eventually manage 20 cases.
The pilot project is funded from a portion of a sales tax specifically collected to pay for services for those in the community living with a mental illness and those with substance abuse problems.
These cases would have been in the court system anyway, but are now being diverted to the mental health court in hopes of providing long-term solutions.
Participants likely will be someone "who has gone through the system over and over again," said Everett District Court Judge Tam Bui, who presides over the new court.
The goal is to help people get stable and healthy so they can get out of the cycle, proponents say.
"We're working out what we all need to do to make this a successful program," Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Hal Hupp said.
Hupp will decide whether defendants are legally eligible for the program, by looking at the current charge, as well as any past criminal history. The court generally isn't going to accept anyone charged with a felony and will avoid anyone with a past history of violence.
"We don't want the program to fail because we brought in the wrong person," Hupp said.
Participants who opt into the program must meet certain requirements, such as being engaged in treatment, meeting with court's mental health liaison and following the recommendations of health care providers. The program also requires regular court visits.
The judge, lawyers and a mental health liaison gather before the court hearings to talk about each participant's progress and if there are any additional issues that need to be addressed.
"These cases are expected to be dynamic because we're dealing with people's mental well-being," Bui said.
Participants get much more supervision than if their cases were left on the typical trial track, said Jennifer Bartlett, an attorney with the Snohomish County Public Defender Association.
"There will be more intervention earlier. There's just a lot more supervision and monitoring," she said.
The court will maintain jurisdiction over the cases for two years. If participants fail to meet the requirements, they face being convicted of the charge. If they successfully complete the program, the charge can be dismissed.
"Not only is it humane, but it's the most effective way to deal with this set of the population," Bui said.
DETROIT (AP) ? The Houston Texans have put themselves in a position to be the NFL's first team to seal a spot in the playoffs and to move a step closer toward earning home-field advantage in the AFC.
Houston (9-1) has won four straight and is 4-0 on the road this season, giving the Texans a great shot to be in consecutive postseasons for the first time.
"It shows the progress we've made," said tight end Owen Daniels, who has been with the franchise for seven of its 11 years of existence. "A few years ago, it took us until the end of the season to get that ninth win. We're at that ninth win already.
"We're trying to stack 'em up, but it's good that those are possibilities this early in the season."
Houston needs to win at Detroit (4-6) on Thursday and have a handful of teams lose, or tie, to earn a postseason bid by the end of the weekend.
The Lions, meanwhile, will have to pull off a string of upsets against a slew of good teams to reach the franchise's goal of making it to consecutive postseasons for the first time since the mid-1990s.
Just when it looked like Detroit was living up to the hype generated with last year's breakout season by winning three of four games to climb back .500 earlier this month, the Lions lost two in a row. And that has made last season seem more like an aberration than the start of successful run for a floundering franchise that hit rock bottom in 2008 as the NFL's first 0-16 team.
"We're not thinking about playoffs or anything else," Lions coach Jim Schwartz said. "We're thinking about the Houston Texans and that's plenty for us to think about right now."
Like all good teams, the Texans have proven they can win even when they don't play well.
Houston trailed the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars last week at home by 14 points in the fourth quarter before rallying for a 43-37 win in overtime.
The Texans' defense, which has been among the NFL's best all year, struggled until it made stops when they were needed. It didn't hurt that quarterback Matt Schaub and receiver Andre Johnson had career-best games.
Schaub connected on 43 passes for 527 yards passing, both totals tying for second most in league history, and Johnson set a personal best with 273 yards receiving. His franchise-record fifth touchdown pass was a screen to Johnson, who did the rest on a 48-yard score for the game-winner.
"You just never know in this league week to week what kind of game you're going to be in and we got caught in a shootout type of game with a lot of offense," Houston coach Gary Kubiak said. "We were fortunate enough to find a way to win."
Detroit did enough to lose 24-20 to the Green Bay Packers last week at home, where it had plenty of opportunities to get a much-needed win. The Lions' woes were made worse by a significant injury and distraction.
Left tackle Jeff Backus couldn't finish the first half because of a hamstring injury, which seemed to be in his right leg, and his 186-game starting streak that includes every game of his career is expected to end Thursday.
"It's hard to replace a rock that's been there for 12 years," said veteran center Dominic Raiola. "It's just different without him out there."
Detroit drafted Riley Reiff with the 23rd pick overall this year, planning to groom him as player to eventually replace Backus. The rookie might have to take on defensive end J.J. Watt, who ranks among NFL leaders with 11? sacks and leads all defensive linemen in the league with 11 passes defended.
Houston, though, won't have to worry about No. 2 receiver Titus Young taking advantage of one-one-one coverage because the Lions announced Monday he would be inactive because of his "unacceptable" behavior during the game against the Packers.
"When you're a player, it's your job to make the team happy," Schwartz said. "It's not the team's job to make you happy."
Lions fans have not been happy when it comes to Thanksgiving Day results.
Detroit has lost a franchise-record eight straight on the holiday ? by an average of three-plus touchdowns ? and has only one victory in the last 11 games in its annual showcase after winning nine of 12 games from 1989-2000.
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Online: http://pro32.ap.org/poll and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL
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Follow Larry Lage on Twitter: http://twitter.com/larrylage
A man walks by a securities company in Tokyo Thursday, Nov. 22, 2012. World stock markets rose Thursday after a survey showed that China's manufacturing expanded for the first time in 13 months, rare good news for the struggling global economy. Japan's Nikkei 225 index jumped 1.6 percent to close at 9,366.80 - its highest finish since May 2 - as a recently weakened yen provided a vital boost to the export-heavy index. (AP Photo/Junji Kurokawa)
A man walks by a securities company in Tokyo Thursday, Nov. 22, 2012. World stock markets rose Thursday after a survey showed that China's manufacturing expanded for the first time in 13 months, rare good news for the struggling global economy. Japan's Nikkei 225 index jumped 1.6 percent to close at 9,366.80 - its highest finish since May 2 - as a recently weakened yen provided a vital boost to the export-heavy index. (AP Photo/Junji Kurokawa)
A money trader reacts during the morning trading at a brokerage in Tokyo Thursday, Nov. 22, 2012. In currencies, the euro rose to $1.2859 from $1.2825 late Wednesday in New York. The dollar slipped to 82.73 yen from 82.49 yen. (AP Photo/Junji Kurokawa)
BANGKOK (AP) ? World stock markets rose Thursday after a survey showed that China's manufacturing expanded for the first time in 13 months, rare good news for the struggling global economy. Sentiment also benefited from a cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
HSBC's Purchasing Managers' Index, which combines various measures of manufacturing activity in China, rose to 50.4 for November. That was up from October's PMI of 49.5 and September's PMI of 47.9. Readings above 50 denote growth.
The survey shows that the "economic recovery continues to gain momentum towards the year end," analysts at HSBC said. "However, it is still the early stage of recovery and global economic growth remains fragile."
Stocks in Europe were higher in early trading. Britain's FTSE 100 rose 0.4 percent to 5,775.44. Germany's DAX added 0.5 percent to 7,221.09 and France's CAC-40 advanced 0.3 percent to 3,487.34. U.S. stock markets will be closed for the Thanksgiving holiday and will also close early Friday.
Asian markets also registered strong gains, boosted by the manufacturing news from China, a major market for many countries in the region.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 1 percent to close at 21,743.20. South Korea's Kospi added 0.8 percent to 1,899.50 and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 gained 1 percent to 4,424.20. Benchmarks in Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and Taiwan also advanced.
Japan's Nikkei 225 index jumped 1.6 percent to close at 9,366.80 ? its highest finish since May 2 ? as a recently weakened yen provided a vital boost to the export-heavy index.
Positive news out of Europe and the U.S. also helped sustain investor confidence. In Europe, finance ministers from the 17 countries that use the euro will continue talks Monday to reach an agreement on releasing more money to debt-crippled Greece. Athens is expected to eventually get an overdue ?31.5 billion ($40 billion) loan payment urgently needed to pay its bills.
Investors are also expecting a resolution to the U.S. "fiscal cliff" of tax increases and government spending cuts that are set to take effect Jan. 1 unless Congress and the Obama administration reach a deal first.
Independent analyst Andrew Sullivan in Hong Kong said overall investment sentiment could improve once the U.S. budget issue is dealt with. Traders are also keeping an eye on Japan's election on Dec. 16, which could usher in new leaders calling for bold monetary policies to get the country out of deflation.
"I think over the next few weeks we will see the market continue to grind higher," Sullivan said. "That will give equity investors more confidence as prospects improve."
Among individual stocks, Japan's export shares were among the big gainers. Yamaha Motor Co. jumped 4.8 percent. Sharp Corp. gained 4.3 percent.
South Korean high-tech shares also rose. SK Hynix gained 2.8 percent and Samsung Electronics added 2.4 percent. In Hong Kong, China Mobile Ltd. rose 1.6 percent.
Wall Street got a slight bounce Wednesday after news of a cease-fire agreement between Israel and the Hamas militant group to end eight days of fierce fighting in the Gaza Strip.
Benchmark crude for January delivery was up 24 cents to $87.62 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract rose 63 cents to finish at $87.38 on the Nymex on Wednesday.
In currencies, the euro rose to $1.2859 from $1.2825 late Wednesday in New York. The dollar slipped to 82.73 yen from 82.49 yen.
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Follow Pamela Sampson on Twitter at http://twitter.com/pamelasampson
iPieces? were a revelation to me. They are games to be played on? an ipad.
Jumbo games have just launched?Ludo and Pool games plus two games for the hit children?s TV shows Fireman Sam ? so something for pretty much everyone really! We were sent a copy of each to review and found them to be great fun!?You simply download the free game app from the iTunes store and use their iPieces to bring each game to life through stunning visual animation and entertaining sound effects.
Fireman Sam
The? Fireman Sam game? is a fantastic multi-level game within a game, giving you more value than other apps. Players make their way across the game board on the screen of your iPad by completing a variety of mini-games in order to progress up the board.? It includes ab games little kids will love like ?Fire Rescue, Mission Jupiter, mission Neptune and more. This costs ?12.99 and is suitable from 4 +
iPieces?are super easy to use and practical to transport, iPieces are the ideal game to take out and about with you?and ?just keep in your handbag (you would never get a pool table in there!)
The Ludo iPieces game ?(?9.99) has given a really traditional family game a really up to date makeover traditional playing pieces in a game of Ludo with the animation and sound effects (have to say I found the sound effects v annoying but my kids loved them) . To make the game even more interactive there are mini-games to complete as you make your way around the board.
The iPieces?pool game comes with little stick cues. This costs ?9.99 and is a great gift?I think for a hard to buy male relative with an ipad/ You play using your iPieces pool cues to knock the digital balls around the table and try to pot them. You can represent different nations and it really is lots of fun.
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iPieces have received widespread acclaim since hitting shelves at the end of 2011. It was named one of the Top 5 Kids Gadgets at Toy Fair 2012 by Gadget Show Live.
This?really is a fun, bang up to date way to play more traditional games!
Mystery has surrounded the creation of the Beauty and the Beast-themed Be Our Guest Restaurant ? Disney?s newest dining location ? since we first saw the Be Our Guest Restaurant concept art!
From the announcement that beer and wine would be served for the first time at a Magic Kingdom restaurant to our most recent Be Our Guest guest review, we?ve explored the Beast?s domain from afar.
Be Our Guest Bridge Entrance
Well, not anymore. I finally was able to dine at the Be Our Guest Restaurant in the New Fantasyland at Walt Disney World?s Magic Kingdom! And over the course of several meals I (and my various dining companions) ordered everything on the menu. (Well, the adult menu anyway.) I know how important it is to know what you?re getting when you?re planning your dining in Disney World, and I wanted to be thorough with this one for you guys.
After months (and months) of speculation about the decor and menu, stepping inside Be Our Guest Restaurant was truly exciting.
Be Out Guest Restaurant Check-In Area
After dining there several times this weekend, I?m anxious to bring to you my take on the food, beverages, and decor. So, let?s get started?
Atmosphere
Guests begin their experience by checking in at the Bridge entrance ? a bit like a Gatekeeper?s area. This is where you make your requests for a dining room if you?d like ? the Ballroom or West Wing (the Rose Gallery is usually used only for lunch, though some overflow tables are seated there during dinner currently).
Once you?re checked in, you?ll be given a pager and asked to wait on the bridge. Once your page goes off, head toward the large restaurant entrance to be greeted by the Beast?s servant who will take you to your table!
Be Our Guest Restaurant Entry Doors
Beast's Servant Leads Us To Our Table
Once you?re inside the castle, be sure to peek into the Beast?s Study. It?s the room where lunch guests make their orders, and is located right through the hallway where the Knights are all whispering to one another!
In the study, you might see Beast himself greeting his guests!
This was a surprise for those of us dining at the restaurant the first night of reservations. We?d all been told that Beast would not appear, but at 45 minute intervals throughout the evening he walks through the restaurant (with great fanfare and cheering) and then settles in his study to greet guests who have finished dining.
I?m not sure how long this will go on or if it?s just a temporary test during the restaurant?s first week, but hopefully he?ll stick around!
Look to see if the Beast is greeting visitors in his study!
But all of that is for AFTER you?re finished dining. First, let?s get you to your table!
You?ll likely be seated in the Be Our Guest Restaurant Ballroom, which is the largest dining room (by far) with a grand atmosphere. It?s quite dark in here?and very, VERY loud.
Ballroom
The centerpiece of the room is the painted ceiling, adorned with winged cherubs (which I?m hearing are Imagineers? babies?) and massive chandeliers!
Ballroom Seating
The best part about this room is the lovely snowfall projected outside the windows. Watch it for a while?it?s mesmerizing. You might even see a little flurry!
Snow outside of ballroom
Seating here is comfortable and elegant, with marble tables.
Ballroom Seating
All place settings at Be Our Guest are accentuated with a rose-folded napkin.
Rose napkin at table setting
Now, if you?re up for a cozier atmosphere, consider requesting the West Wing dining room when you check in. I did this for my last meal at Be Our Guest this week and have decided it?s definitely my favorite dining room in the restaurant!
Be Our Guest West Wing Dining Room
If you remember the film, this area was off-limits to Belle when she was in the castle. It held the Enchanted Rose and all of Beast?s belongings. The Enchanted Rose is still enchanted here! Its petals drop throughout the night?
West Wing Enchanted Rose
And when they drop, they signify the time limit the Beast has to break the spell! If he doesn?t find someone to love him before the petals all drop, he will remain the Beast forever!
You can see an intricate example of this in the portrait hanging over the fireplace. The portrait begins as a painting of the Prince.
Prince Portrait in the West Wing
And when petals fall, guests will hear a crash of thunder and see a flash of lightning as the portrait starts to transform into a painting of the Beast!
Watch Closely -- The Prince Morphs into the Beast when Enchanted Rose Petals Fall
And here is the full transformation of the painting! It happens for only an instant while the lightning is flashing, then returns to the portrait of the Prince!
West Wing Beast Portrait
This happens about every 20 minutes during your meal, and the thunder in the room gets progressively louder and stronger as it builds up to the portrait change and petals dropping.
I heard several ?unhappy? babies when that thunder was getting louder, and I know that I would have been freaking out as a little one (I still have to cover my ears to watch fireworks, though, so take that as you will!). You cannot hear the thunder in the Ballroom unless you?re sitting right next to the West Wing entrance.
The tables in the West Wing are warm wood with leather seats, and overall, I find this room much more enchanting and cozy than the Ballroom. I?ll be requesting this one from now on.
Be Our Guest West Wing Dining Room Table
Should there be overbooking on your visit to Be Our Guest for dinner, you might be seated in the Rose Gallery.
Usually used only for lunch, this dining room features portraits of many of the characters you?ll remember from Beauty and the Beast, and the centerpiece here is a massive music box made by Maurice (Belle?s father) for Belle and the Beast when they were married.
Rose Gallery Music Box and Chandelier
The figures turn and dance around while music-box versions of the soundtrack you hear throughout the restaurant play. Be sure to walk around the whole display, each side has a different front detail.
Now that you?re comfortably seated and ready to dine, let?s take a look at what?s available, shall we?
Eats
The overwhelming theme here at Be Our Guest Restaurant is the Enchanted Rose; you?ll find it here on the front of the menu as well as in mosaics, carvings, chairs, columns, and more throughout the restaurant!
See the full Be Our Guest Restaurant Dinner Menu here!
Menu Cover
In addition to the dinner menu, you?ll also be given a beer and wine menu! You can see the Be Our Guest Restaurant Beer and Wine Menus here. There?s a great selection of French wines and French and Belgian beers.
Our friends indulged in some red wine?
Wine
And my dining companion ran the gamut of beers over our several dinners here!
Hoegaarden Wit, Belgium Beer
Beer - Saison Dupont, Belgium
Chimay Blue Belgium beer
Kronenbourg 1664
I stuck to the All-Natural Fruit Punch with Organic Cane Juice and Wildberry Extract topped with lemon-lime foam. This was quite sour with the foam, so if you don?t like the first sip, mix in the foam so that you have a more even flavor.
All-Natural Fruit Punch - sweetened with organic cane juice and wildberry extract topped with lemon-lime foam
You can also order an All-Natural Lemonade with Wildberry Foam. Both of these specialty drinks can be ordered in a souvenir light-up goblet for $18.99.
Castle Souvenir Goblet
Warm bread rolls are brought to the table next, with generous pats of sea-salted butter. I have no idea if these were the same bread rolls that are served elsewhere in the Magic Kingdom (they sure do look the same), but served warm and fresh, they were delicious!
Bread
Of course, we wanted to sample everything on the menu during our several dining reservations (yep ? I was on the phone REALLY early that day in August to get these reservations!), so throughout the meals we ordered every single appetizer.
First up, the Assorted Cured Meats and Sausages ? a charcuterie board that serves two. This included Serrano ham, Smoked Virginia ham, caramelized pearl onions, Sun-Dried Tomato sausage, Apple Raisin sausage, Champagne pate, Chicken and Duck Liver pate, Soppressata, cornichons (little pickles), mustard, and toasted baguette.
The meats were served cold, and were very flavorful. This is definitely a choice for a more grown-up palate, however. The cured meats packed a real punch, and I particularly enjoyed the sun-dried tomato sausage.
Charcuterie Board - Assorted Cured Meats and Sausages served with cornichons, pickled onions, and toasted baguette (serves two)
I was excited to try the French Onion Soup, since it?s always been one of my favorites. It came out bubbly and gorgeous!
The Gruyere cheese was perfect on top, but I wish the broth had been a bit stronger. I found the soup to be a bit lacking in flavor, so if you like your French Onion soup dark and rich, you may be disappointed. Note that this broth is vegetarian, not beef-based.
French Onion Soup - topped with crouton and gruyere cheese
We also sampled the Potato Leek Soup, which was? a true winner!? Rich and creamy, the soup was thick with potato chunks and leeks, and had an incredible flavor.
Warning that some may find this a bit salty (a common grievance about several of the dishes), but I loved it!
Potato Leek Soup
The Mussels Provencal were absolutely gorgeous.? With plenty of savory, buttery sauce, these were rated highly by my dining companion!
Mussels Provencal with white wine, tomato, garlic, onion, basil, and butter
And the Seasonal Salad Trio, including Roasted Beet, Gold Raisin, and Orange Salad; Green Bean, Tomato, and Roasted Shallot Salad; and Watermelon, Radish, and Mint Salad, may remind some diners of something they?d get at Sanaa or Boma in Disney?s Animal Kingdom Lodge!
An interesting addition to this French-inspired menu, but it definitely offers something different to try!
Seasonal Salad Trio -- Roasted Beet, Gold Raisin, and Orange Salad; Green Bean, Tomato, and Roasted Shallot Salad; Watermelon, Radish, and Mint Salad
If you?d rather stick with familiar territory, try the Garden Salad with Champagne Vinaigrette. It also got high marks from our dining companions.
Garden Salad with Champagne Vinaigrette
Are you ready for entrees?! We tried each and every one of these for you, too!
First up, the Sauteed Shrimp and Scallops ? with seasonal vegetables served in puff pastry with a creamy lobster sauce. This dish is 1.) Very pretty! and 2.) Rich and flavorful! If you?re a seafood fan, this is a must-try.
My mom (who joined us at one of the reservations) got it with all scallops (so?Sauteed Scallops and Scallops, I guess), and loved it. She said the addition of the veggies in the mix was a nice contrast to the rich seafood and lobster sauce.
Sauteed Shrimp and Scallops - with seasonal vegetables served in puff pastry with a creamy lobster sauce
The Rotisserie Cornish Hen with roasted fingerling potatoes and seasonal vegetables was probably one of the more disappointing entrees on the menu. A bit dry and ho-hum, even the white wine jus didn?t really jazz it up that much.
The roasted fingerling potatoes were a nice, crunchy accompaniment, however.
Rotisserie Cornish Hen - with roasted fingerling potatoes and seasonal vegetables
One of my favorites on the menu (which I actually ordered twice!) was the Thyme-scented Pork Rack Chop with au gratin macaroni, seasonal vegetables, and red wine au jus.
I don?t know about Thyme scent or anything, but this was downright delicious. It?s pork, so there?s always the chance that it could be overdone and tough, but my portions were pretty perfect.
The Mac and Cheese was of medium bite ? not too strong, but not mild, either. Eventually I ended up just dousing the whole meal in that red wine au jus and smooshing it all together. It was delicious!
Thyme-scented Pork Rack Chop - with au gratin macaroni, seasonal vegetables and red wine au jus
My other favorite? The Grilled Strip Steak with garlic-herb butter and pommes frites.
This dish was truly delicious. A tender steak doused generously in garlic-herb butter is paired with?well?let?s be honest, they?re steak fries?is a great classic combo.
I would definitely prefer a skinnier ?frite? here (that?s what I was used to getting with steak and frites when working in Switzerland), but the dusting of fine salt on the frites was actually very good. And they came with an herb mayo for dipping.
Grilled Strip Steak - with garlic-herb butter and pommes frites
Pommes Frites dipping sauce
The only qualm with the steak: the kitchen seemed to have a bit of trouble cooking to order on our visits. When my companion and I both ordered medium rare cuts, they came out VERY different?
Medium Rare Steak 1
Medium Rare Steak 2
You can see that #1 is on the side of medium to medium well, while #2 is verging on rare. Hopefully they?ll fix this little glitch, since the dish really is delicious.
The vegetarian and vegan dish on the menu (yep ? just one) is the Layered Ratatouille: Oven Baked Zucchini, Eggplant, Mushrooms, Tomatoes, and Caramelized Onions sliced and layered on Quinoa served with Bell Pepper Sauce. The leaf on top is fried Basil.
This dish had? more flavor than I was expecting, and the Bell Pepper Sauce really does add a zing to the quinoa. The caramelized onions and mushrooms were a great addition, I thought.
Layered Ratatouille: Oven Baked Zucchini, Eggplant, Mushrooms, Tomatoes, and Caramelized Onions sliced and layered on Quinoa served with Bell Pepper Sauce
Finally, the Pan-Seared Salmon on Leek Fondue served with creamy saffron-crushed potatoes also got high marks from my dining companions. I didn?t try this one? myself (SO. FULL!), but I was angling for a try of that leek fondue!
Pan-Seared Salmon on Leek Fondue served with creamy saffron-crushed potatoes
Whew!! If you?ve gotten this far, you?ve gotta say for dessert with us!
Once you?re finished with your meal and decide to indulge, your server will bring around this dessert cart in order to prepare? your dessert table-side. Note that when the Be Our Guest menu was first released, dessert was included in the price of your entree. Now, it?s $3.99 extra.
Dessert Cart
I?m a little disappointed that at a restaurant this anticipated the only desserts you have to choose from are some cupcakes and cream puffs ? the same ones that are served at counter-service lunch. I?m really hoping that this changes, and that they introduce some truly exceptional desserts to choose from in the future.
But, in the meantime, here?s a quick review of a few of these goodies!
Of course, my first choice was the Triple Chocolate Cupcake with chocolate sponge cake, chocolate mousse filling, and chocolate ganache. It was quite good, but very, very rich.
Note those little plastic wrappers? Those are REALLY hard to take off. There?s even a sticker at the bottom holding them on. So usually you?ll see Be Our Guest diners just digging into the little cake wrappers with their spoons.
And to represent the cream puff contingent we tried the Passion Fruit Cream Puff ? filled with passion fruit mousse and topped with whipped cream.
This was actually better than I?d though, and I?m eager to sample the chocolate cream puff on my next visit.
Passion Fruit Cream Puff - filled with passion fruit mousse and topped with whipped cream
Passion Fruit Cream Puff inside
Finally, the Lemon-Raspberry Cream Puff is filled with lemon custard, and is the gluten-free, No Sugar Added dessert at Be Our Guest. I didn?t try this one, but the general thought is that it?s too lemony (which means I MUST try it, since I?m a fan of ?too lemony?).
Lemon-Raspberry Cream Puff -filled with lemon custard (Dessert is gluten-free and No Sugar Added)
Now, here?s the real fantastic treat! If you?re celebrating (yep ? gotta be celebrating to get it, apparently), you?ll receive ?The Grey Stuff? for an added sweet at the end of? your meal. This cookies-and-cream whipped panna cotta is deeeeeelicious (just ask the dishes!).
For those of you who don?t know how this fits into the story, Lumiere, the candelabra character in Beauty and the Beast, sings to Belle in the song ?Be Our Guest? to ?try the grey stuff, it?s delicious!?
And it is.
The Grey Stuff
Overall
So, after dining at Be Our Guest Restaurant several times this week, here are my findings:
Atmosphere and Dining Rooms Atmosphere is very nice, especially in the West Wing.? I found the Ballroom to be dark (thus some of the picture quality in this review), and very loud. While it?s beautiful ? and the snow outside IS enchanting ? I felt like I was in a giant cafeteria as the tables are set up in awkward rows.
However, the West Wing was smaller and cozier. It also felt a bit more ?magical,? since so many transformations are taking place there while you dine.
Menu Regarding the menu, it?s small (we seriously just showed you everything on the adult menu except for one cream puff). But it?s got a decent selection of appetizers and entrees. And note that the menu is seasonal ? new additions will be introduced several times per year. I would have liked to see a pasta dish, but I guess that?s not all that French, eh?
There has been a lot of feedback about the food being very salty, and this is probably true. But, like I said, I love salty food, so it was right up my alley. If they take the salt away, I?ll probably find the dishes bland. However, the strong feedback on this end will likely end up with a reduction in the sodium content.
The beer and wine addition was a good fit, I think. However, since the table turnover is quick right now as the restaurant is slightly overbooked, it?s a bit difficult to linger with friends over a bottle of wine. Hopefully that will change in the future, and the pace of the meal will slow down a bit.
And I do hope the dessert menu gets stronger as the restaurant continues to evolve. Right now it?s just too thin for a French-inspired, relatively expensive restaurant. I?m hoping this isn?t the ?wave of the future? for other restaurants?especially since I?m sure it saves Disney plenty of money Dining Plan-wise.
After trying just about everything on the menu, my ideal ordering would go like this: Potato Leek Soup, Grilled Strip Steak, Strawberry Cream Cheese Cupcake. Healthy? No. But quite good.
Service We had some seriously great servers on our visits to Be Our Guest. You can tell they?ve pulled the cream of the crop to work here and open the restaurant, and we were very pleased with service.
Food was quickly delivered, and we didn?t exactly feel rushed. Though, as I mentioned, we were aware that table turnover was quick and the pace of the meal was rapid. I?d like to see that slow down a bit in the future.
Characters We were told there would be no characters here, but as it turns out the Beast does walk through the dining rooms and settle in his study to greet guests after they finish their meals. When we were there, the line to greet the Beast wasn?t very long, and we often saw him sitting all alone in his study. I?m not sure how much longer that meet-n-greet will take place, but if you go to the restaurant, head over and give the Beast some love.
Recommend? Yep, I would recommend this restaurant in its current state. I think several of the dishes are quite good, and the atmosphere is something everyone will want to see at least once.
Don?t forget that you can experience the restaurant for a counter-service lunch with NO reservations. This means you can sit in ANY of the dining rooms you?d like. Since a lot of the restaurant?s pull is seeing inside the Beast?s castle, I?d definitely recommend this.
Remember, you can click here to see a review of the counter-service Lunch at Be Our Guest Restaurant!
Have you dined at Be Our Guest Restaurant, or would you like to? Let us know in the comments below what menu item caught your eye!
