Happy Friday! To celebrate the start of the weekend, we present the first of our Friday Fives - a weekly blog coming out on Fridays (pretty obvious, we know) - tackling various topics related to Disney Destinations and travel in general. Since we were at Epcot’s Food & Wine Festival last week, we thought it was perfect timing to share… our five favorite things we consumed at Food & Wine.
First, a little background on the festival. Food & Wine is one of Walt Disney World’s most highly anticipated seasonal events. This year, it runs from August 30 to November 12. The festival features food and drink offerings from across the globe, and admission is included with your regular Epcot theme park admission. To taste the featured items is an additional cost, just like anything else you’d eat while at the parks. If you happen to be on the Disney Dining Plan, a majority of the food items qualify as a snack credit - bonus!
In addition to the food, you can pay extra to participate in food and beverage pairings and hands-on cooking seminars/workshops as well as to meet celebrity chefs like Richard Blais (one of our culinary crushes as we’ve seen EVERY SINGLE episode of Top Chef).
What’s free, you ask? Junior chef cooking sessions, character dance parties and the Eat to the Beat Concert Series featuring blast-from-the-past bands like 98 Degrees, Sheila E and Boyz II Men. Nothing like a little jammin’ while you’re noshin’!
But let’s get back to the food and drink featured at the various marketplaces because they are the real stars of the festival. Food prices range from about $4-$8 with the items falling in the snack-size category. They are made for sampling and sharing - so don’t go to the festival alone; bring a friend! The drinks fall in a higher price point - with six-ounce beer portions running around $6, wine at about $8 and frozen cocktails around $12. Beer and wine flights are available as well.
Now, to our five favorite items in order of preference ….
5. Ropa Vieja Empanada
with Tomato Aïoli - $5.25
This was one of the first dishes we tasted, and it was so delicious that we didn’t forget it by the end of our tasting day. Found in the Islands of Caribbean booth, the empanada had a flaky crust with flavorful shredded meat inside. The dish was piping hot, freshly made just for us as we asked for no aioli that is normally drizzled on top. The addition of capers or green olives would have taken this dish over the top for us. The cold Red Stripe was a nice complement!
4. Hummus Fries with Cucumber, Tomato, Onions and Tzatziki Sauce - $5
This dish is a home run for vegetarian festival-goers and carnivores alike. At the Morocco marketplace, the fries are crispy on the outside contrasting with the smooth hummus on the inside. The dish has a nice spicy kick balanced out by the fresh veggies. We could have used more of the cucumber and tomato to help cool us down! The recommended pairing of organic sangria helped a bit :)
3. Grilled Tuna Tataki with Seaweed Salad, Pickled Cucumbers and Wasabi Cream - $5.25
(Sorry, we don’t have a photo. We ate the dish too quickly!)
Located at the Hawaii booth, this item made it on our list for one singular reason - it was one of the few items that was refreshing to eat in the scorching Florida sun and stifling humidity. The tuna also tasted very fresh, and we thought it was a good value. We’ve read that other bloggers haven’t enjoyed it, but the execution was on point during our visit.
2. Maple Bourbon Boursin Cheesecake
with Maple Bourbon Cream, Caramel, and Pecan Crunch - $4.50
This one surprised us as we’re not even cheesecake fans. But this mini-cheesecake in the Cheese Studio in Future World West landed in the number two spot of our list. It was rich as cheesecake should be but not too rich to prevent us from wanting to taste more items afterward. The sweetness of the maple and bourbon contrasted nicely with the savory nature of cheesecake. The size was just right too - it provided the perfect number of bites.
1. Butternut Squash Ravioli
with Brown Butter Vinaigrette, Parmesan Cheese and Pumpkin Seeds - $4.50
We loved, loved this dish at the Wine & Dine Studio located on the path between Future World and World Showcase. The pasta was cooked perfectly al dente; the Parmesan provided natural saltiness; the pumpkin seeds gave the dish some crunch; and the squash was sweet and tasty! Not to mention, the Wine & Dine area is removed from the hustle and bustle of the other marketplaces, making it a more relaxing spot to enjoy a sampling of wine. And at night, the area really shines - the hanging string lights give it a cozy, natural ambiance - as if you’re enjoying an evening at your favorite hangout or friendly neighbor’s patio.
After reading about our experience at Food & Wine, we hope that you are interested in experiencing it yourself (and we apologize if your stomach is now growling; we know ours are).
Next Friday, we’ll share our Five Faves from Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. Stay tuned!