Our annual trips in November coincide, each year, with the Epcot Food and Wine festival – fortunately!
This year we were holidaying with friends who had not experienced this gastronomic delight before and so we took great pleasure in not only exploring the worldwide variety of food and drink, but also introducing our friends to this annual Epcot celebration. Here you can dine on starters, entrees, and deserts, all washed down with wine, beer or lager from a different country for each course. In what order you consume them is totally up to you!
On our first day we entered at what I tend to think of as the ‘back entrance’ to Epcot’s World Showcase, between England and France. My tip is to park at Disney’s Boardwalk and then walk or take one of the numerous boats. Armed with the Festival brochure we decided to turn right and head anti-clockwise around World Showcase.
We first encountered France where, in addition to the usual restaurants and ice cream vendor, a temporary stand had been set up selling escargots, goats cheese pastries and Crème Brulee with chocolate – the latter tempting the ladies in our party. I decided to wait until Spain (surprisingly just next door to France! ) before sampling my first dish which was ‘papas con chorizo’ or spicy sausage with potatoes. Feeling the need for a drink I headed just a few yards down the road to Japan and opted for a Kirin Ichiban draught beer, but was unable to stop myself being tempted to a portion of Tokyo Sushi Roll with Crabmeat – although I did share it with my other half, while she sipped on plum wine. Our friends soon caught up with us having made a temporary diversion via India to sample the Vegetable Curry with Basmati Rice. We were truly dining ‘cosmopolitan’!
As luck would have it one of my favourite Epcot live shows was just about to start and so while sampling my sushi I was able to feel the real flavour of Japan by listening to Matsuriza the Japanese Taiko drummers. Truly awe inspiring – well in my opinion anyway.
Further visits to Epcot involved the consumption of Florida shrimp sautéed with ginger and lime, Maple glazed salmon in Canada, Macadamia Nut Tartlet in Australia and more than one glass of Samuel Adams 11th Anniversary Festival Beer (roll on the 12th Anniversary brew! )
But the Food and Wine Festival is not just about roaming around trying samples of a variety of cuisine – it can be educational as well. There are numerous complimentary culinary programmes – usually held at Odyssey and also wine seminars held in the Estate Hall and the Vineyard Hall, both at the Festival Centre. Experts from vineyards and restaurants all over the world help to make these seminars truly enthralling. There are also activities for children including ‘Nuts about Peanuts’ and ‘The Buzz About Honey’.
This year we were holidaying with friends who had not experienced this gastronomic delight before and so we took great pleasure in not only exploring the worldwide variety of food and drink, but also introducing our friends to this annual Epcot celebration. Here you can dine on starters, entrees, and deserts, all washed down with wine, beer or lager from a different country for each course. In what order you consume them is totally up to you!
On our first day we entered at what I tend to think of as the ‘back entrance’ to Epcot’s World Showcase, between England and France. My tip is to park at Disney’s Boardwalk and then walk or take one of the numerous boats. Armed with the Festival brochure we decided to turn right and head anti-clockwise around World Showcase.
We first encountered France where, in addition to the usual restaurants and ice cream vendor, a temporary stand had been set up selling escargots, goats cheese pastries and Crème Brulee with chocolate – the latter tempting the ladies in our party. I decided to wait until Spain (surprisingly just next door to France! ) before sampling my first dish which was ‘papas con chorizo’ or spicy sausage with potatoes. Feeling the need for a drink I headed just a few yards down the road to Japan and opted for a Kirin Ichiban draught beer, but was unable to stop myself being tempted to a portion of Tokyo Sushi Roll with Crabmeat – although I did share it with my other half, while she sipped on plum wine. Our friends soon caught up with us having made a temporary diversion via India to sample the Vegetable Curry with Basmati Rice. We were truly dining ‘cosmopolitan’!
As luck would have it one of my favourite Epcot live shows was just about to start and so while sampling my sushi I was able to feel the real flavour of Japan by listening to Matsuriza the Japanese Taiko drummers. Truly awe inspiring – well in my opinion anyway.
Further visits to Epcot involved the consumption of Florida shrimp sautéed with ginger and lime, Maple glazed salmon in Canada, Macadamia Nut Tartlet in Australia and more than one glass of Samuel Adams 11th Anniversary Festival Beer (roll on the 12th Anniversary brew! )
But the Food and Wine Festival is not just about roaming around trying samples of a variety of cuisine – it can be educational as well. There are numerous complimentary culinary programmes – usually held at Odyssey and also wine seminars held in the Estate Hall and the Vineyard Hall, both at the Festival Centre. Experts from vineyards and restaurants all over the world help to make these seminars truly enthralling. There are also activities for children including ‘Nuts about Peanuts’ and ‘The Buzz About Honey’.