A Culinary Journey: How to Savor the Flavors of Every Country in Epcot's Food and Wine Festival
Are you ready to embark on a culinary journey like no other? Get your taste buds ready because Epcot's Food and Wine Festival is back, bringing an explosion of flavors from around the world right to your plate. From tantalizing bites to delightful sips, this festival is a foodie's paradise, offering an incredible opportunity to savor the diverse cuisines of every country in one place. So fasten your seatbelts as we take you on a gastronomic adventure through Epcot's Food and Wine Festival, exploring how you can experience the mouthwatering delights from every corner of the globe without ever leaving Disney World!
Introduction to Epcot's Food and Wine Festival
Epcot's International Food & Wine Festival is a must for any foodie. The festival features dishes and drinks from over 30 countries, making it the perfect way to sample the culinary delights of the world without leaving Orlando.
The festival runs over 100 days from July 27th through November18th, so there's plenty of time to try everything on offer. And with over 100 different food and drink items to choose from, you'll need all the time you can get!
To help you make the most of your experience, we've put together a guide to Epcot's Food & Wine Festival. In it, you'll find information on the best dishes and drinks from each country, as well as tips on how to navigate the festival and make the most of your time (and money).
So whether you're a first-time visitor or a seasoned pro, read on for our essential guide to Epcot's International Food & Wine Festival.
Top Tips for Enjoying the Festival
If you're looking to enjoy all that Epcot's International Food & Wine Festival has to offer, here are some top tips to keep in mind:
1. Plan your visit in advance and make sure to check the festival schedule so you don't miss out on any of the events or demonstrations that interest you. They have live music, scavenger hunts, and so much more.
2. Don't try to do everything in one day – pace yourself and savor the experience by enjoying a few select countries each day. If you only have one day be sure to share with your partner so you don't get to full or drunk ;) before tasting each country.
3. Be sure to try some new foods and drinks – it's all part of the fun! And don't forget to take advantage of the many samples available throughout the park.
4.Make sure to stop by some of the merchandise booths – there are always great souvenirs to be found.
5. Last but not least, relax and have fun! This is a truly unique event so take advantage of everything it has to offer. TAKE PICTURES
Exploring the Different Countries and Their Cuisines
To help you make the most of your culinary journey, we've put together a guide to some of the best dishes and drinks from each country represented at the festival. Bon appetit!
Africa: You'll find plenty of flavorful African dishes at this year's festival, including Kenyan Coffee Barbecued Beef with Sweet Potato-Corn Mealie Pap and Kachumbari Slaw, Peri-Peri Skewered Shrimp with Citrus-Flavored Couscous.
Australia: Australia is known for its fresh seafood, and you'll find plenty of it at the festival. Highlights include Sweet-and-Spicy Bush Berry Shrimp with Pepper, Onion, Snap Peas and Sweet Chili Sauce and for dessert try Lamington: Yellow Cake with Raspberry Filling with Chocolate and Coconut.
Canada: When visiting Canada you have to try the Canadian Cheddar and Bacon Soup served with a Pretzel Roll and Canadian Filet Mignon served with Mushrooms, Boursin Black Truffle and Sea Salt Mashed Potatoes and a Boursin Black Truffle and Sea Salt Whipped Butter.
Dishes From Each Country
Ireland : Fisherman’s Seafood Pie
France: Beignet aux Trois Fromages: Warm Beignet filled with Three Cheese Blend
Greece: Lamb Gyro with Shaved Lettuce, Tomatoes, Red Onion and Tzatziki on Warm Flatbread
Belgium: Belgian Waffle with Berry Compote and Whipped Cream
Brazil: Feijoada: Black Beans with Pork Belly, Brazil Nut Pesto and BEN’S ORIGINAL™ Long Grain White Rice
Japan: Fire Taiko Roll*: Sushi Roll with Spicy Tuna, Cucumber and Pickled Daikon Radish served with Spicy Sauce
Italy: Focaccia Ripiena: Freshly Baked Focaccia, Beef Meatballs, Tomato Sauce and Burrata Cheese
Spain: Seafood Salad with Shrimp, Bay Scallops, Mussels, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, White Balsamic Vinegar and Smoked Paprika
Germany: Apple Strudel with Vanilla Sauce
The Alps: Dark Chocolate Fondue with Berries, Pound Cake and Meringues
India: Potato and Pea Samosa with Coriander-Lime Cream (plant-based item)
China: Dandan Noodles: Spicy Pork with Sichuan Sauce, Peanut Butter and Sesame
Mexico: Taco de Costilla: Slow-braised Beef Short Rib on a Corn Tortilla with Salsa de Chile Morita, Avocado Mousse and Spring Onion
And SO MUCH MORE......
pistachio cake from Morocco
Pairings: Drinks to Go With Your Meal
There are endless possibilities when it comes to food and drink pairings. The best way to figure out what goes well together is to experiment and find what you like. But, we've gone ahead and put together some suggested pairing for each country represented at the Epcot Food and Wine Festival.
Drinking Around the World:
Mexico - Trouble in Paradise Margarita
Canada - Canadian beer
China - Fiery Dream
France - Parisian Cosmo Slush
Morocco - Red wine or Moroccan mint tea
Japan - Sake Passion Cocktail
The American Adventure - Beer Flight
Italy -Italian Sangria Red or White
Best Places to Eat in the Park
There are so many great places to eat in the park during the Epcot Food and Wine Festival! I suggest exploring all the countries instead of sitting down in a restaurant but if your trip and party are more of the sit down type here is a list of places to try :
The Garden Grill Restaurant - This place has an incredible view of Living with the Land, and the food is farm-to-table fresh. The rotating platform takes you on a journey through time as you watch the farmers work in the greenhouse below. Your friends Chip and Dale will even be there!
Le Cellier Steakhouse - If you like a good steak walk your way over to Canada and enjoy one at Le Cellier Steakhouse. You will need to make a reservation to eat here and be prepared to dress in business causal. So make sure you have time to change your park clothes before heading in for your meal.
Rose and Crown - This place has to be one of my favorites. It's family friendly and in my opinion has some of the best fish and chips to offer! The restaurant sits on the world showcase so you can sit outside and have a water front view!
Biergarten - If you want an experience walk over to Germany and get ready to walk right into an outdoor festival in a Bavarian Village. While you enjoy the show and the village you can get as much to eat as you'd like from the german themed buffet filled with bratwurst, pretzels, pork schnitzel, and much more.
Budgeting Tips for Eating Around Epcot
If you're looking to try a little bit of everything at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, but don't want to break the bank, here are a few budget-friendly tips:
1. Share dishes with friends or family. Most of the small plates served at the Festival booths are designed for two or more people to share, so take advantage of that and order a few different items to sample between your group.
2. Stick to one or two days. The Festival runs for over a month, so there's no need to try and do it all in one day (unless you really want to!). Spread out your visit (and your budget) by picking one or two days to enjoy the Festival offerings..
4. Skip the souvenirs…for now.Epcot's Food & Wine Festival is full of tempting souvenirs like cookbooks, kitchen gadgets, and even wine glasses emblazoned with your favorite booth's logo. But resist the urge to impulse buy – instead, focus on enjoying the food and the drinks.
Taking a culinary journey through Epcot's Food and Wine Festival is an unforgettable experience. From the unique flavors of each country to the delicious dishes that are prepared, there is something for everyone to enjoy. It is a great way to explore different cultures and discover new foods you may have never tasted before. Whether it’s your first visit or fifteenth visit, you will be sure to savor every flavor this incredible event has to offer.
