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

Fun, Local Food & Wine Tastings

Cafe Tu Tu Tango at Baldwin Park

‘Tis the season for food and wine festivals in Central Florida. There are too many great events to cover all of them today, but I will tell you about the two coming up soon: The 2012 Food & Wine Festival at Baldwin Park this Saturday, March 10, and the Taste of Lake Mary on Monday, March 19.

Normally, I would be so excited about the Baldwin Park event because of the quality restaurateurs that will be serving up food and beverages including Café Tu Tu Tango, 4 Rivers Smokehouse, Funky Monkey, Stonewood Grill, Shula’s 347, and Tibby’s New Orleans Kitchen. However, the cost is $65 each, which is too pricey for me. The fee reflects the evening’s great cause, though: the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

J.W. Marriott Primo at Baldwin Park

The Taste of Lake Mary is somewhat more reasonably-priced at $40 per person or $75 per couple. It also features food from some of the highest-quality restaurants in Orlando, such as Fishbones, Liam Fitzpatrick’s, Stonewood Grill, Shula’s 347, and Fin-esse.

Where & When:

March 10, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m., New Broad Street, Baldwin Park.

March 19, 5:30 – 8:00 p.m., Park Place at Heathrow, 1501 International Parkway, Lake Mary.