Disney’s Food and Wine Festival 2017

Disney’s Food and Wine Festival is an annual event that showcases cuisine and beverages (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic) from around the world. This event typically runs from August 31 to November 13 every year and is located in Disney’s Epcot theme park at Walt Disney World Resort. The best part is that you don’t have to pay special admission (aside from the regular ticket prices to enter Epcot) to enjoy the event.  Each food sampler or beverage runs from around $3 to $10 dollars and if you want to save on cash, you can share with a friend or family member to try most of it. YUM!

I had the pleasure of attending this event the previous week and I had a blast. Although I was not prepared for the wide ranged selection of food and beverages that I wanted to try, so I decided to play it safe and choose what I knew I would like. From the 35 booths offered, I was only able to enjoy 6.

First stop: China! I was very excited about the world showcase that I ended buying two food items and a drink to start. Roasted Duck in a Bao Bun, Chicken Dumplings dressed with Hoisin sauce, and a Mango Bubble Tea with Assam Black Tea and Milk (Non-Alcoholic) totaled to around 17 dollars (Pictured Above). I’ll admit it was pricy for the serving sizes but it is Disney after all The point was to try most of the booths in the festival. Out of all the foods that I’ve tried, the Bao Bun was my absolute favorite. If it weren’t for the other countries, I would have bought and eaten five more. The dumplings weren’t anything special but they were tasty! To top off my experience with the Chinese booth, the bubble tea was exceptional and lasted me until the next booth. For those of you who have not tried bubble tea, it is typically a fruit flavored milk tea with boiled tapioca pearls at the bottom. It is similar to eating gummy candies but less sweet. Overall, the China booth was a success.

After a few rides and a couple of shows, My family and I backtracked to Mexico for a taco and a couple of Margaritas! They offered the Classic Lime Margarita with a salted rim and a Spicy Apple Margarita (both were priced at $10.25 each). The Classic Margarita was what you would expect but the Spicy Apple Margarita was interesting to say the least. It was not a favorite among my group but I enjoyed it for the drink’s unique flare. It tasted like tamarind but I think the drink had cayenne pepper and apple cider mixed into it. Lastly, the Rib Eye Taco: Marinated Rib Eye was very spicy! Although I wouldn’t expect anything less from Mexico with it’s cuisine that is rich in spicy ingredients. The taco was priced at $6.75 and is recommended for those with an affinity for spice.

No matter what was going on that day, I knew I had to try some wine from Spain! They offered three different wines individually and together as a wine flight which cost $6.50. My sister and I both ordered our own wine flights and tried them all. Pictured from right to left the wine available were Rafael Palacios Bolo Godello from Valdeorras (Red), Bodegas y Viñedos Artazu Garnacha Rosado from Navarra (Rosé), and Casa Castillo Monastrell from Jumilla (White). They were all fairly bitter wine but the one that stood out among the rest was the Bodegas y Viñedos Artazu Garnacha Rosado because it was sweeter than the other two. I am far from a wine connoisseur but from my experience, most people tend to gravitate more towards the sweeter wines. My suggestion would be to order the wine flights in any booth you are planning to try wines from. That you can avoid buying a larger glass of wine you may not like!

At this point, I was feeling very full but did not want my festival experience to end yet. We stumbled into Morocco and I ordered a Spicy Hummus Fries with Cucumber, Tomato, Onions and Tzatziki Sauce priced at $5.00 and the Moroccan Sangria which was priced at $6.00. After I ordered my food, I stood behind a woman who ordered the same thing and she was sorely disappointed that the “Hummus Fries” weren’t potato fries slathered in chick pea hummus. I’ll admit that I was under that impression as well but I was not at all disappointed. This festival is a time for those unfamiliar with foods from other cultures to try and educate themselves while also expanding their tastes. It is also a lesson in treating those from other cultures with respect and understanding that our foods are not similar and that difference is a good thing! Upon further research I actually found that the dish was literally fried hummus formed into a thick, fry like shape covered in veggies and tzatziki sauce. It was delicious and I would recommend trying it if you like spicy foods! The sweet sangria paired with it really well and the wine was the best sangria I’ve ever had.

I had passed by a lot of countries that I would have loved to try but I made sure that I did not miss the Ireland booth! Before going to Disney, I was told about the Honey Mead wine from Ireland and I had to try it. The Bunratty Honey Meade Wine was priced at $5.50 and tasted like smooth liquid alcoholic honey. Needless to say, my sister and I were searching the whole park for a bottle to bring home. The most fascinating fact about this wine is that it is the oldest alcoholic beverage in history, dating back almost 8000 years. It was called the Nectar of the Gods by Ancient Greeks and considered the drink of royalty discovered to be consumed by Queen Sheba, King Solomon, Queen Elizabeth and King Midas. Fun facts aside, this drink is definitely recommended!

Last stop was at the Hawaii Booth! We ordered a Mai Tai featuring Sammy’s Beach Bar Rum priced at $9, a Kalua Pork Slider with Sweet and Sour DOLE® Pineapple Chutney and Spicy Mayonnaise priced at $4.75, and Teriyaki-glazed SPAM® Hash with Potatoes, Peppers and Onions and Spicy Mayonnaise priced at $4. Each food item reminded me of home and tasted very tropical featuring the pineapple and spam. If you are a fan of tropical inspired foods, Hawaii should be your last stop of the night.

Overall my experience was great but I wasn’t prepared for the amount of food and drink I wanted to try and didn’t get to. I suggest planning to spend a few days in Epcot just for the Food and Wine Festival to be able to pace yourself and try everything that appeals to you. They even provide a passport booklet with the menu of each booth and a sticker booklet to “stamp” each country you’ve visited! It was a great addition to the experience and provided efficiency to plan out how you would like to tackle the showcase.

Click Here to view this year’s Menu: http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2017-epcot-food-and-wine-festival-booths-menus-and-food-photos/

Cover Banner Courtesy of Disney/Photos taken by Linda Page

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