Disney Rambles is back because if there’s one thing I can talk about forever (besides K-pop) it’s Disney! Plus, my mom and I just got back from a lovely trip to the most magical place on earth, and even though we’ve been quite a few times, we did a bunch of new stuff that was incredibly fun and interesting!
I know what you’re thinking: Jessica, surely you’ve done Food and Wine before. You’ve gone for the Halloween party for almost 4 years straight now. Food and Wine is at the same time as Halloween. Of course you haven’t skipped Epcot’s biggest Festival.
Oops.
But the good news is that now I have witnessed and experienced Food and Wine in all it’s glory, and let me tell you, it was marvelous. Let’s talk about what we ate!
Favorites:
Ireland: Warm Irish Cheddar Cheese and Stout Dip with Irish Brown Bread
THANK YOU IRELAND FOR THIS GIFT. This Cheese and stout dip was the first thing I ate at Food and Wine, and it was definitely one of my favorites. I could have easily gone back for seconds. I restrained myself because there were so many other things to try, but Ireland seriously gets 5 full stars for this deliciousness. My mom thought it was a bit rich so it wasn’t her favorite, but I loved it.
The Wine and Dine Studio: Butternut Squash Ravioli with Brown Butter Vinaigrette, Parmesan Cheese and Pumpkin Seeds
This one was a wild card, but man did it pay off. I didn’t know what to expect from this butternut squash ravioli but it ended up being one of my favorites! It was sweeter than I was expecting, but not in a sugar sweet kind of way.
Yummy:
Japan: Teriyaki Chicken Bun: Steamed Bun filled with Chicken, Vegetables and a Sweet Teriyaki Sauce
Yum! I love teriyaki anything, so this was a winner. Inside was chicken, veggies, and plenty of sweet teriyaki sauce.
China: Chicken Dumplings with Chinese Slaw
I’m not usually a huge fan of dumplings, but these were delicious! Plus they had (I think) a sweet-and-sour sauce on them that really brought the whole thing together. So good!
France: Boeuf Braisé à la Bordelaise, Pomme Dauphine: Beef Braised in Cabernet Sauvignon with Red Onions and Puffed Potatoes
This was a bit like the Pot Roast we make at home, so while it was yummy, it wasn’t necessarily super exciting. Definitely tasty in the wine sauce, and those puffed potatoes are WEIRD. They’re sort of bread-like? I have a hard time describing them because they’re really unlike anything else I can compare them to.
The Chocolate Experience: Ghirardelli® Drinking Chocolate (Non-alcoholic)
You didn’t think I would forget desserts, did you? This was another wild card. Ever since I saw the movie Chocolat, I’ve wanted to try drinking chocolate. My mom was convinced I was going to hate it, but surprisingly, I thought it was incredibly delicious. It was SO rich, and there was no way I could have drunk more than the tiny cup they gave us, but I wanted to go back and get more the next day (I didn’t, but I totally could have!)
Not-so-favorite
Refreshment Port: DOLE WHIP® Pineapple Soft-serve with Bacardi Coconut Rum
If you’re a Disney fan, you know that the Dole Whip is a classic that’s really a rite of passage for every new Disney goer. Well, at Food and Wine, they take it up a notch. I’m not much of a drinker, but if I’m going to drink something, it’s likely the drink will have Coconut Rum in it, so this immediately caught my eye. While it was tasty, as Dole Whips always are, the Bacardi was essentially all at the bottom, so when we got down there, it was pretty much straight rum. I guess just get the regular dole whip and save your money for a better mixed beverage.
The Alps: Warm Raclette Swiss Cheese with Baby Potatoes, Cornichons and Baguette
THE RACLETTE. This was so disappointing. I had such high hopes for this, since DFB had sung its praises over and over again. I think our troubles started when the cast member handed me a serving that had maybe 1/3 the amount of cheese you see in this picture. The bread tasted stale to me to. Not just crunchy, but like, it actually tasted stale. So sad.
The Alps: Blueberry and Almond Frangipane Tart with Crème Fraîche Cream and Blue Diamond® Almonds
This was actually pretty decent. The whipped cream was delicious, and the tart was good. It was more tart than I was expecting I guess, so it wasn’t my favorite. The poor Alps just did not get my votes this time around.
So that was all we had time for! I know what you’re thinking. “That’s all?? That’s a ton!” Food and Wine is a blast, although it was super hot the day we went, which was no fun. If you want to check out everything else you can sample at the Festival, check out Disney Food Blog!
Which one of these would you like to try to the most? Have you ever been to Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival? What was your favorite dish?