10 Things We Loved at the Epcot Food and Wine Festival
The 2017 Epcot Food and Wine Festival ran August 31 – November 13, 2017 and this year we had another chance to experience it firsthand. Our Disney-based food-around-the-world journey started on a Wednesday towards the tail end of the festival. As far as crowds go, the day was perfect. Lines were short and the sidewalks were manageable. As we approached the weekend, things got a lot busier. We’ve heard that the festival is much busier on the weekend and that definitely seemed to be true in our experience. We were able to navigate the crowds by arriving early when the booths opened and going to different parks once the peak hours hit.
With so many options (over 70 different foods alone!), strategic planning was the name of our game. Each food sample costs a few bucks and we didn’t want to completely blow our budget, so we opted to try one or two things at the booths we visited. Prices are generally in the $3 – 6 USD range with a few outliers on the higher side. While we tried a few beers, most of our effort focused on the culinary delights. It’s important to note here that we tried things we thought we would like, with a few stretches mixed in. Some were hits and some were misses but they all contributed to the awesome experience we had overall.
What’d we like most? Without further ado, here are our favorite items from the 2017 Epcot Food and Wine Festival in no particular order (okay, okay… it’s in alphabetical order for some semblance of organization):
Baked Shrimp Scampi Dip with Sourdough Baguette at Coastal Eats ($5.50)
Even a non-seafood eater enjoyed this dip! Packed with shrimp pieces and brimming with creamy, buttery goodness, the shrimp scampi dip at Coastal Eats was one of our favorites. The dish was served with two pieces of sourdough baguette which provided the perfect scoop for the dip, soaking up all of the oozy goodness.
Braised Beef Stroganoff with Tiny Egg Noodles, Wild Mushroom, and Boursin Garlic and Fine Herbs Cheese Sauce at The Cheese Studio ($5.00)
Our initial thought when seeing this one was “meh” and the pickle on top was weird, but after pushing the pickle aside and taking a few bites, we were convinced. The spaetzle-ish noodles at the bottom made the dish feel more special than traditional flat egg noodles. When topped with the accompanying mushroom-flavored cream sauce and hearty portion of beef, this one really stuck with us.
Cabernet Sauvignon Braised Beef with Mashed Potatoes at France ($6.25)
Two tender pieces of beef braised in red wine sauce served on top of mashed potatoes – what’s not to love? If there weren’t so many other booths to try, we would’ve definitely gone back for seconds.
Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup Served with a Pretzel Roll at Canada ($4.75)
Year after year this dish gets rave reviews from attendees and for good reason. One word comes to mind: rich. The portion size seems small upon first glance but it’s appropriate as a sample. Dunking pieces of the pretzel roll really balances out the thick, cheesy goodness. Enjoy this one, it’s worth the hype.
Cauliflower Risotto with Pulled Chicken, Artichokes, Spinach and Parmesan Cheese and Aged Balsamic at The Almond Orchard – $4.75
The Almond Orchard was a brand new booth available for 2017. All of the food items available for purchase were made with Almond Breeze Almondmilk. We almost avoided this stop because nothing completely jumped out at us, but lo and behold, we took a chance on one dish and really liked it. Pieces of chicken and (sneaky) bits of cauliflower were smothered in a sauce similar to spinach and artichoke dip, with a balsamic glaze on top.
Eastern Florida Beer Flight at Epcot Legacy Showplace ($9.00)
M.I.A. Beer Company 305 Golden Ale
Playalinda Brewing Company Blonde Ale
Florida Beer Company Passport 35 Triple Chocolate Milk Stout
The Epcot Legacy Showplace actually had two beer flights available to sample – an Eastern Florida option and a Western Florida option. Both provided us with three samples of beers we otherwise wouldn’t have tried. We definitely recommend getting a taste of some local Sunshine State beers.
Korma Chicken with Cucumber Tomato Salad, Almonds, Cashews, and Warm Naan Bread at India ($5.25)
Full disclosure: this was one of the samples that stretched our traditional palette. The dish was flavorful with a good portion of chicken in a warm curry sauce. Diced cucumbers and tomatoes on top provided a nice crunch and there was plenty of extra sauce to soak up with the naan bread.
Liquid Nitro Chocolate-Almond Truffle with Warm Whiskey Caramel at The Chocolate Studio ($4.75)
If there’s only one dessert item to try at the festival, it’s this one. Smooth, creamy, chocolatey-goodness, and best of all, it’s freezing cold and refreshing to eat on those hot Florida days. The nitro freeze really gives the dish a unique texture. No regrets here!
Schinkennudeln: Pasta Gratin with Ham and Cheese at Germany ($4.00)
One of the heartiest items available at the Food and Wine Festival and at a pretty reasonable price. Seriously. The dish is deliciously cheesy with some small bits of ham here and there. If possible, snag a piece with a darker, broiled cheese crust on top – yum! Very filling.
Sweet Dark Chocolate Raspberry Torte with Whipped Cream and Raspberry Dust at The Chocolate Studio ($4.25)
With a second top ten appearance by The Chocolate Studio booth, this dish is perfect for anyone who has a serious chocolate craving. With a rich, creamy, dark chocolate ganache-like filling surrounded by a chocolate crust, it satisfies any sweet tooth. The top is garnished with a fancy piece of chocolate and a dollop of whipped cream.
