EPCOT Food and Wine Festival

[Amy]

Forgive me if this topic is going on elsewhere, but the search I did didn't seem to turn up anything specific to the Food and Wine festival beyond the entertainment options that happen during the festival.
I recently subscribed to the Disney Food blog since we seem to discuss the foods we all like at Disney quite often. They had a really nice little link that lists all of the dining options that are available this year. Here is a link if anyone is interested... http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2011-epco ... and-menus/
I am also interested in hearing people's opinions of the festival. Who has gone, what have they eaten, are there any options or countries that stand well above the rest of the pack in offerings? The pictures and descriptions I have seen in the past seem quite varied. It looks like you receive a lot of food to try at some countries and barely a taste at other countries. The price is what gets me too. I think if I were handed a card and told to go get whatever I wanted without regard to cost, I would have a much richer and fuller experience than if I was thinking $6, $7, $7.50, cha-ching, cha-ching, cha-ching, cha-ching every few steps

[Wizzard419]

You know, I don't think it's been brought up past the DCA one that was axed.

I would imagine they have a similar set of events like DCA where they are more expensive (not necc. better quality though) and everything with reservations fills up fast.

[Sharonofwindham]

First of all, WOW HAVE THE PRICES GONE UP!!! If I remember correctly, in 2001 they were between $2-4! We certainly didn't hesitate if we wanted to give something a try. Now I'm guessing I would walk right on by unless I saw good size portions of something I would most likely enjoy... immensely . I've been a couple of times, only because we just happened to be there when it was scheduled, but I would recommend it definitely. It's really fun trying new foods that you wouldn't normally have a chance to try, at least not in one place like that.
Telling you about some of the things we tried should be interesting, but here goes... Ireland had some mussels that were in a funky broth that were delicious. China, gotta love China, had some kind of chicken on a stick(how do you like that description ), I think it was some kind of peanut sauce that was on it, TO DIE FOR!! Australia had, get this, shrimp on a barbie, with a small square of some kind of soda bread. YUK! I really expected more from the Aussies . All of it was dry and tasteless. Morroco, some kind of veggie pastry that, I have to say, looked promising, but tasted exactly like progresso soup inside a fancy saltine. There was one more thing I tried at a booth that was near Canada representing one of the states, I want to say Louisiana. Sorry to say, I don't remember what I had, something with crabmeat that was out of this world good! I guess you can pretty much tell I'm not a foodie with those descriptions! If you do go, please fill us in on the delectable details .

[Wizzard419]

Chicken on a stick with peanut sauce? Probably Chicken Satay.

[yodiwan1]

I have been there teh past few years, and most food items were between $3-$5. I tried jsut about everything as well, with very few complaints on the food! I think one of the African dishes and One Chinese dish were the only two I didn't like. I wish I remembered the names of them!

[Amy]

I have been there teh past few years, and most food items were between $3-$5. I tried jsut about everything as well, with very few complaints on the food! I think one of the African dishes and One Chinese dish were the only two I didn't like. I wish I remembered the names of them!

Maybe I was thinking of prices that included a wine pairing? Is there a pass that you can buy so you don't have to whip out the wallet each time? Something along the line of "this ticket is good for 5 samples"?

[MadEye]

Anyone else have an annual tradition when it comes to Food and Wine? Mine would be the escargot in France.

[mindflipper]

I'd pass on the escargot; I'd prefer my food not to have slithered when it was alive...

[Amy]

I'd pass on the escargot; I'd prefer my food not to have slithered when it was alive...

So I suppose that means no snake on a stick either

[mindflipper]

I'd pass on the escargot; I'd prefer my food not to have slithered when it was alive...

So I suppose that means no snake on a stick either

No, you can have mine. Think of it as the frosting from my cupcake.

[Amy]

I'd pass on the escargot; I'd prefer my food not to have slithered when it was alive...

So I suppose that means no snake on a stick either

No, you can have mine. Think of it as the frosting from my cupcake.

Gee, thanks
Yay ~ more frosting for me!!

[mindflipper]

Just hope they remember to skin that "frosting" first before they put it on the stick....

...or at least it's not MmeLeota's favorite phrase on a stick either...

[Amy]

Just hope they remember to skin that "frosting" first before they put it on the stick....

...or at least it's not MmeLeota's favorite phrase on a stick either...

I think the skin would be nice and crispy! I hope they leave it on
I would not want to eat MmeLeota's favorite phrase on a stick ~ ugh

[mindflipper]

Just hope they remember to skin that "frosting" first before they put it on the stick....

...or at least it's not MmeLeota's favorite phrase on a stick either...

I think the skin would be nice and crispy! I hope they leave it on
I would not want to eat MmeLeota's favorite phrase on a stick ~ ugh

I still haven't figured out why someone would put in on a stick in the first place...

[reiki1]

I guess I am coming late to this thread (don't think anyone is online at the moment) - I have been going to the Food and Wine Festival for years. Each year I delve a little deeper into what Disney has to offer. For the last three years we have rented DVC 2 bedroom studios so we can throw a food and wine tasting party while we are in Florida (we have done Saratoga twice, The Tree Houses and this year we will be in Ft. Wilderness). This is wonderful for our friends who can't afford or do not have the time to visit the parks.

Around the World Showcase, the kiosks have been becoming more adventurous - I love escargot but a few years back they changed from traditional escargot to escagot in brioche - basically a little brioche bun with the escargot in typical buttery garlic sauce inside (I must admit I am addicted to them and make a point of getting them every year). Last year my new fav. was actually the Korean lettuce wrap. It doesn't sound like much but when I walked by the kiosk and everyone had these mamouth pieces of beef with a piece of lettuce underneath I just had to get one. It was excellent. Since you are apart of the Disney Food Blog (as am I) you are in possesion of the pictures of what many of the dishes look like. There are some things that are kind of bland, but you usually can't go wrong with the meat dishes. I have seen more desserts and specialty drinks popping up this year so I will definately make sure to save some space for those.

Make a point of stopping in the welcome center in what used to be the Wonders of Life Pavilion (most people miss it) - It is out tradition to make our first stop be there to pick up the program and buy a glass of prosecco (the best bargain - the glass costs about $6 but you get a full champagne glass - not those tiny wine taster glasses that they sell around the world showcase. Most important thing I read on the blog - the Odyssey Center is rumored to be open during the festival (will also have wine and other things) but most important - FREE WIFI and charging stations (my cellphone battery always dies from taking pictures of things and could never find a place to recharge...).

I have done some of the $8 wine tasting seminars (I don't recommend doing them unless you are really interested in what they are lecturing about). There may be some free things to do, be on the look out for those. I have done the French Lunchean - which was a little pricey but was fun - it took place in the French Bistro and the food was delicous (usually a 3 or 4 course meal with wine pairing) and we tasted 4 or 5 different wines (which they kept filling our glasses over and over) - needless to say we "floated" out of that meal.

We also did the Party of the Senses and IMO this is the best thing about the food and wine festival. last year Cirque du Soliel performed continually and there was endless tables of foods and drinks - you are basically paying to gorge yourself on some high-end food. I found that i love Elk, Bison, Cheese and found some really delicious wines and desserts.

Still on my "to-do" list is a signature dinner (we passed it up last year because we were able to get the Chef's Table at Victoria and Albert's during our stay and decided to just go full out on that meal instead).

My advice is to use the blog - plan to do a section of the World Showcase Kiosks each day so you don't gorge and blow your budget and make sure to FAst pas Soarin' and then try to schedule your eats around that!

Enjoy