Top 10 Favorites at 2015 Epcot Food and Wine

Well, we ate nearly all the way around the world at this year's Epcot Food and Wine Festival! As always, the outstanding chefs at Walt Disney World and Epcot got it right. Nearly every dish we had was creative, perfectly seasoned and executed and gave us the opportunity to try another country's cuisine. For example, my husband discovered that he may like African food, based on the very spicy and flavorful Buttered Chicken with Micro Cilantro and Naan Bread. 

We tried so many dishes - and a few drinks and desserts too - and narrowed them down to our Top 10 Favorites, to save you time and money. 

1. Lobster and Seafood Fishermen's Pie at the Ireland pavilion. This was my personal favorite meal of the Festival. The lobster, tiny scallops and shrimp were not overcooked, and we loved the flavor of the sauce. The only complaint: the mashed potatoes were so smooth, I wondered if they were fake. This was also the most filling dish I had, compared to other dishes that seem so skimpy.

2. Liquid Nitro Almond Truffle at the new Chew Lab pavilion. While the outside of this scrumptious dessert is "frozen" with liquid nitrogen, the inside is the most delicious dark chocolate mousse I have had. The crispy, crunchy almond sprinkles on top pair perfectly with the mousse. Don't waste your time on other desserts; get this one.

3. Croissant with Escargot in France. I love that the France pavilion switched it up this year from the traditional escargot to baking the snails in a croissant. The croissant was delicious, but the herb garlic butter inside and on top of the croissant made this dish.

4. Loaded Mac 'n Cheese with Pepper Bacon. While we were too full to try this dish, I have heard so many good things from others that I can safely recommend this! Some even say it is the best mac 'n cheese they have had. 

5. Buttered Chicken with Micro Cilantro and Naan Bread in Africa. Let me tell you, this one was a surprise for us. The sauce was so spicy and flavorful, and the buttered, lightly toasted bread was a perfect accompaniment.

6. Tequila flight - in Mexico of course! Tequila is not my thing, but the people I was with loved the dark gold tequila, saying it tasted better than Patron!

7.  "Le Cellier" Wild Mushroom Filet Mignon with Truffle Butter Sauce in Canada. The beef was cooked perfectly and this dish was very flavorful.

8. Lamb Meatball with Spicy Tomato Chutney in New Zealand. The spicy tomato chutney was a nice surprise, and paired perfectly with the lamb.

9. Roasted Verlasso Salmon with Quinoa Salad and Arugula Chimichurri in Patagonia. The salmon was cooked perfectly, and we liked the light salad and flavorful chimichurri.

10. Crispy Pork Belly with Black Beans and Tomato at the Brazil pavilion. We featured this one last because ours was slightly overcooked. Still, it was very flavorful and delicious.

Also see:

Top 8 New Dishes at Epcot Food and Wine

The Best Dishes at Epcot Food and Wine Festival

Top 8 New Dishes at Epcot Food and Wine

Loaded Macaroni and Cheese

Every year, there are a ton of new events that are offered as part of the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival. However, I don't want to pay for those pricey events with celebrity chefs. I just want to try the new food dishes at all the different countries around Epcot. 

This year, the Festival features 30 new dishes. Here are the ones I am most excited about trying:

1. Loaded Macaroni and Cheese with Nueske's Pepper Bacon at the new Farm Fresh Pavilion. Of course, bacon pairs perfectly with mac 'n cheese!

2. Seared Venison Loin with Wild Mushroom Marsala Sauce in the New Zealand pavilion. I pretty much always love what New Zealand has to offer!

Grouper with Coconut Sauce

3. Pesado con Coco - Seared Grouper with Pigeon Peas, Rice and Coconut Sauce in the Dominican Republic pavilion. I love grouper...and coconut! This pavilion also has a new Yucca Souffle with Griddled Cheese!

4. Liquid Nitrogen Chocolate-Almond Truffle with Warm Whiskey Caramel at the new Chew Lab pavilion. It will be my second dessert made with liquid nitrogen! Plus, it contains most of my favorite dessert flavors combined into one scrumptious mouthful.

5. Croissant Aux Escargots: Escargot Croissant with Garlic and Parsley in the France pavilion. I always get the escargot dish here. I am curious to see what a combination of escargot and croissant taste like - I am sure it is delicious!

6. Pork Spareribs with red wine, fennel and cheesy mascarpone grits in the new Sustainable Chew pavilion.

7. Layered Meat Pie with Mashed Yucca in Brazil. I have never tried this, but it sounds delicious.

8. Miso Udon with steamed shrimp, vegetables and noodles in a spicy broth in the Japan pavilion.

I also want to try the new liquid nitrogen cocktail - Smoking Hibiscus. I will visit the Food and Wine Festival soon, and let you know the best - and worst dishes - we ate. Watch for more details. 

*Sign up to receive emails on new Flavorful Excursions' posts, so you don't miss our review!

Related posts:

What's new at Epcot Food and Wine Fest

http://www.flavorfulexcursions.net/2014/09/whats-new-at-epcot-food-and-wine.html

The Best Dishes at Epcot Food and Wine Fest

http://www.flavorfulexcursions.net/2012/10/the-best-dishes-at-epcot-food-wine.html

Don't Miss New Events at Epcot Food & Wine

In addition to my favorite activity - "eating around the world" - during the annual Epcot Food and Wine Festival, I love all the special dinners and culinary classes that go on during the festival. The average person can see cooking demonstrations by celebrity chefs, or taste food they never would have tried.

This year, the Festival added many fun new events. Here are my favorites:

* Italian White Truffle & Wine Pairing Dinner: Enjoy a luxurious, five-course meal featuring truffles, set in an Italian summer villa atmosphere.

* Party for the Senses: The biggest Food and Wine Festival event every year, this upscale dinner features Disney chefs from all over the world, preparing dishes from their country. Get tickets now for the October 25 dinner.

* Dining Through the Decades - A Tribute to Walt Disney: Honoring Walt Disney's creative genius, this dinner is served with a side of fantasy and magic. I can't wait to see the unique dishes - and wine pairings - the chefs come up with.

* Mediterranean Food & Wine Pairing: The menu is inspired by the spice trades of Africa and Europe and is held in the restaurant at Morocco. I love the atmosphere at this restaurant!

* Late Nights Live: this year, you can stay after the regular park hours and take part in a street party with dancing, food and drinks! I love this addition for Orlando residents who want to enjoy the festival in the evening.

* Food for Thought: Join celebrity chefs for cooking tips, their personal stories, and tastes of their delicious food. Featured chefs this year: Robert Irvine, Andrew Zimmern, Rick Bayless, Cat Cora, and others!

To obtain reservations for these special events, call 407-939-3378.

What's New at Epcot Food and Wine Festival

Today marks the start of the fabulous, over-the-top Epcot Food and Wine Festival, an event I look forward to every year. This really gives me a chance to try foods from all over the world, while walking around a beautiful park, at my own pace. Every year, Epcot ups the ante on classes, special events and the type of food offered at each country. 

Here are the top new foods and beverages you will want to try this year:

At the new Patagonia Pavilion (featuring South American dishes), check out the Roasted Salmon with Arugula Chimichurri, the Grilled Beef Skewers, and the Beef Empanadas. Several delicious wines are also being served at this pavilion. While the Australian pavilion always features some sort of lamb dish, this year you can also get

Conch Salad

Garlic Shrimp with Roasted Tomatoes and Pavlova, a dessert that features custard and berries inside a crispy meringue shell.

Instead of its traditional escargot dish, the French Pavilion is featuring a delectable-looking Escargot Tart with garlic, spinach, bacon and Parmesan. At the new Farm Fresh Pavilion, check out the Griddled "Yard Bird", griddled chicken with braised greens and habanero sauce. I love that this pavilion features several Orlando and Florida ales as well. The new Conch Salad at the Puerto Rico Pavilion looks very tasty as well!

Of course I want to try these new dishes, but I also have to stick with some of my old favorites, such as the Belgian Waffles with Berry Compote and Whipped Cream in Belgium. Please let me know your favorites - and the new dishes you try this year - in the comments section below.

When: Sept. 19 - Nov. 10, 2014

Craving Great Mexican? Visit Mexico in Epcot

We dined at San Angel Inn at Mexico in Epcot for the first time this week. Do you know the restaurant I am talking about it? Seating is right in front of the water and the huge Aztec Temple replica. The atmosphere and the food is delicious as well. 

We were pleasantly suprised at the flavor and quality of the food at San Angel Inn. We loved the Enchiladas, Pollo a las Rajas and Arrachera con Chilaquiles. The chicken in the Pollo a las Rajas was very tender and flavorful, as was the poblano rice. The enchiladas were delicious and not too spicy. The Arrachera con Chilaquiles featured a New York strip steak cooked perfectly with layers of corn tortillas fried and topped with queso fresco. Very yummy!

Like other Disney restaurants, entrees are fairly pricy ($20-$30 each), but there are cheaper options with appetizers, soups, and salads. 

Have you dined here? If so, let us know which dishes you liked best.

Try New Food and Drinks at Epcot Flower and Garden Festival

I love how Walt Disney World in Orlando has changed things up this year and added food and drinks to the annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival! Epcot's talented chefs have created fresh dishes that are inspired by gardens and backyard living.

For example, the Florida Fresh at World Showcase Promenade features Shrimp and Stone Ground Grits with andouille sausage, Zellwood corn, tomatoes and cilantro. Other tasty dishes around the World Showcase include: "Frushi", made with fresh fruits and coconut rice; Smokehouse barbecue, and Angel Food Cake with Florida Strawberries. 

Meanwhile, fresh fruits and veggies are the inspiration behind the alcoholic drinks and "mocktails" during this year's Festival. The Dole Whip has been upgraded to include spiced rum - there is nothing that sounds bad about that! Florida Orange Groves Winery is featuring its Hot Sun Tomato Wine. The refreshing-looking non-alcoholic beverages include Wild Berry Slush and Frozen Desert Violet Lemonade. I can't wait to try these.

Of course, the Flower & Garden Festival has all of the other things that makes this annual event so popular, including the unbelievable topiaries, HGTV seminars, and the fun Flower Power concert series. To see all the photos from this year's Festival, visit Flavorful Excursions' Facebook page.

When: March 20 - May 19, 2013

The Best Dishes at Epcot Food & Wine Festival

Beef Filet- Canada

Hmmm, what to try, what to try? There are always so many foods - and beverages - I like at the Epcot Food & Wine Festival that I have to be picky. Before I went this year, I asked friends and bloggers their favorites, and I downloaded the Food & Wine app (there are a few - the one I liked was FW Passport), which lists the foods and drinks at each marketplace.

First, we had to try the highly-recommended Beef Filet with Wine and Mushrooms at the Canada marketplace. The meat was cooked perfectly - medium - and was flavored so well. This was probably our favorite dish of the whole event. The Moosehead Beer in Canada is a light ale that was really smooth. 

Another favorite food of the evening was Crispy Shrimp Tacos from Mexico. The shrimp is light and flavorful and all the ingredients on the tortilla blend very well together. This station also features a Lime Strawberry Margarita, which fellow Food & Wine guests said was not that great. Instead, they recommended a "frozen vodka slushie" from the Smirnoff booth. Well, I tried all night, and could not find a Smirnoff booth. What a let down!

Trio of Desserts - Dessert & Champagne

We also loved the Escargots Persillade en Brioche at the France pavilion. It was actually prepared a bit better this year! My favorite dessert of the night was also found in France: the Creme Brulee au Chocolate au Lait, which tastes exactly like chocolate milk with a crisp carmelized sugar topping. Many times, restaurants mess up on Creme Brulee, so this was a pleasant surprise. 

Of course we HAD to try the Belgium Waffle with Berry Compote and Whipped Cream in Belgium. Who does not love waffles?! This waffle was cooked perfectly: crispy on the outside and warm and gooey on the inside. However, the Berry Compote was way too sweet and overpowering. Chefs need to leave much of this sauce off the waffle. 

We ended the night with White Chocolate Macadamia Mousse with Dark Chocolate Pearls at the new Dessert & Champagne marketplace. It had a nice spice kick at the end, but I was disappointed with the texture of the mousse. It was dense instead of light and fluffy. 

Kalua Pork Slider - Hawaii

We were so full, we missed eating one of the best dishes at the Festival: the Lobster & Scallop Fisherman's Pie in Ireland. I would highly recommend this delectable meal. What food and drinks have you tried at this year's Epcot Food & Wine Festival? Let us know which ones to try next time we go! The event runs through November 12.

Discover Sweets & Liquor at Epcot Food & Wine Festival

Photo by Jerry Blank

Guest post by Dennis Blank

Really. Virtually every type of dessert a person could want is available at 3D Disney's Dessert Discovery during the Epcot Food and Wine Festival. On Fridays - October 12, October 26, and November 2 -  Epcot visitors can pay $55 extra for this unique event. 

A few of the scrumptious desserts offered include: chocolate fudge, cream-filled pastries, homemade cookies, and Driscoll's over-sized strawberries. There were also a few meat, cheese, and bread tables. The new trend we noticed was berry-infused waters, including fresh cranberries floating on top of ice-cold drinking water.

3D Disney's Dessert Discovery is sponsored by Pinnacle Vodka, so the liquor is flowing throughout the evening: not just vodka, but also unlimited supplies of various rums, wine, and cordials are offered. Disappointing was the weak, lukewarm coffee and lackluster hot chocolate. 

Photo by Jerry Blank

In addition to the flambe dessert stations, something that really added to the atmosphere of this event was a three-piece band playing old Elvis and Beatles tunes, and pretty much any "oldie" song relating to sweets. 

Although you may have to wait 45 minutes to get into this event, we recommend checking it out as part of the great Epcot Food & Wine Festival. Other sweet events during this year's Festival include: Sweet Sundays, The Discovery of Chocolate, and The Discovery of Grand Marnier.

What's New at Epcot Food & Wine Festival

Shrimp Ceviche at Florida Marketplace Booth

If you are like me and you look forward to the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival every year, then you will definitely want to check out the new pavilions and food this year. Plus, the festival is a few days longer this year, kicking off September 28 and running through November 12.

New food marketplaces include a TERRA Vegan Marketplace booth, which offers Chili Colorado with House Made Chips and Cashew Cheese and Trik'n Chick'n Curry with Basmati Rice. The Florida Marketplace will also make its debut, offering dishes such as Florida Shrimp Ceviche and White Corn Arepa with Mangalitsa Pork Rillette and Zellwood Sweet Corn Salad. The foods, beers, and wine offered at each country's marketplace can be found here: http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/epcot/special-events/epcot-international-food-and-wine-festival/marketplace/.

The Festival has also added VIP Marketplace Chef Tours. Every Wednesday, Food and Wine Festival chefs will host walking tours of the World Showcase booths. So, those on the tour can taste five dishes and five beverages from various marketplaces and hear about culinary secrets from the chefs. 

Party For The Senses

Party For The Senses - a culinary extravaganza where renowned chefs such as Robert Irvine cook for guests - is back this year. While you are tasting amazing, gourmet food, Cirque de Soleil performs! Note that this is a separate event from the regular festival, and costs around $130 per person, depending on the date. There is much more going on at this wonderful event, and I will update you on other things to do and see throughout the Food and Wine Festival.

Savor Wines & Desserts at new Epcot Cellar

Tutto Gusto, inside
Epcot's Italy Pavilion

As a local to Orlando, I am always excited when Disney World adds something different to its food and beverage offerings. This month, the new Tutto Gusto wine cellar opened in the Italy Pavilion at Epcot, and I love the feel of it. Different from other bustling restaurants in the Disney parks, the atmosphere at Tutto Gusto provides a place for visitors to relax and sip wine with good friends. The rustic wine cellar has a luxurious feel, with wall hangings, marble and chandeliers direct from Italy.

Tutto Gusto's menu of over 200 Italian wines includes the 2009 Merlot San Giuseppe and the 2010 Rose Regale Banfi. I am also impressed with the extensive menu of small plates and desserts that pair perfectly with wine. Selections include: Prosciutto di Parma, Sopressata (lightly smoked, sweet pork sausage), a wide selection of Italian cheeses, and Cozze (mussels, white wine and tomato). You can also order full-size portions of Tutto Gusto's pastas, including the Gambretti, which includes shrimp, chili and garlic. Although it may sound simple, you need to try the eatery's Panna Cotta al Limoncello, with amaretti cookies and raspberries. The chefs really got this one spot on.