My 31st Bday at F&WF: A Pictoral

[DisneyFreq]

DH (Buddy) and I (Shannon) visited Epcot for the weekend to celebrate my birthday. We arrived at POP on Sept 26th, checked in to relax and took a dip in the pool. We then got changed and headed over to downtown disney for a bit of a "pub-crawl."

We started off at Planet Hollywood.

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We ordered the VIP Platter - Chicken Crunch, Buffalo Wings, Texas Tostados and Spinach dip $18.99. My favorite was the spinach dip, DH loved the chicken crunch (mild sweetness with some crunch..think they're coated in corn flakes). I don't eat wings but DH said they were pretty standard. I thought the texas tostados where pretty boring and unorignal, BBQ chicken with some cheese baked on a chip. We stuck to beer here. They have a french beer on tap that we found to our liking!

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Next we headed over to the Paradiso 37.

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We ordered the Paradiso 37 Sampler - "Flavors of the Americas - a sharing style platter of our signature street foods: Peruvian Beef Skewers, Argentinean Chorizo Skewers, Central American Crazy Corn, Caribbean Crab and Fish Fritters, Mac & Cheese Bites and North American Corn Dogs $18.99"

This is no longer on the menu but they will serve it upon request. Another couple at the bar saw us eating it and requested it as well. The best of this bunch IMHO is the corn. DH liked the fritters. The most bazaar bit is the sauces: a pesto, sour cream, and a mustard dip. None of the dips really match up with the items. I was told when we were almost done that the pesto is for the macaroni bites (which were rather bland)...it went together just OK. Our bartender said this platter was about to be revamped anyhow. Too much fried food in my opinion...we had a hard time finishing that side (the meat skewers and corn were gone immediately).

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Of course we had some mojitos

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We also had the sangria ($25 for a small pitcher). If you're undecided between the white and red they'll give you a sample of each). My real complaint here is the fruit is mostly peel so you can't sit and munch on alcohol soaked fruit when you're done.

Our last stop of the night was Raglan road.

I was full but DH somehow still had more room.

Simply Smoked Salmon - Choice Irish smoked salmon served with capers, shallots and creme fraiche $12.50

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I kept ordering Killian Reds...at that point I was too buzzed to remember what DH ordered. It started POURING outside so we were forced to sit and keep drinking for another hour. ;)

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[DisneyFreq]

I have to get ready to take the squirts to their football games, I'll finish up this thread tonight/tomorrow.

Next Up and day of drinking and eating around the world...followed by more drinking and eating. Honestly I still can't believe we kept it all down!

[dizneeat]

I'm in! This sounds interesting! :lmao:

[luvpooh]

love it! we always do a 'pub crawl' at DTD our first night, it's the best!
looking forward to reading the rest! :)

[BriarRosie]

The chicken is coated in Cap'n Crunch. ;)

So much fried food...that's where the alcohol comes in! ;)

[TigerKat]

Love the "pub crawl"!! We're planning one for our last night at Universal's City Walk.

[mimi'sgirl]

Happy belated Birthday! Can't wait for rest.

[DisneyFreq]

Alright I have a few minutes between games.

Sunday, September 27...my birthday!

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We decided that since we did F&WF clockwise last time and wound up skipping the last half dozen booths due to protruding bellies..that this time we would go counter clockwise.


Let me also mention that I don't eat seafood so those dishes DH tried by himself. He's not a sweet eater so I guess it balances out.

First stop San Juan

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We had the Arroz con Pollo. Large portion! Just okay...a little on the greasy side.

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We wanted to stop at Greece but the line was too long. The greek salad looked really good tho.

Onto Montreal

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We ordered the Maple Glazed Salmon, Spicy Chicken Sausage with Sweet Corn Polenta, and two moosehead beers.

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These were easily our favorites (the sausage for me and the salmon for bud).
The sausage had a fruit compote that paired nicely with spice and the polenta was just the cherry on top. VERY good. Bud loved the salmon. I did try the lentils (a cold lentil salad with a vinaigrette dressing). I liked it so much I attempted to imitate it here and it didn't turn out that great. I also tried a bite of the salmon (just to shut up hubby who's always trying to convert me to a seafood lover). It wasn't fishy thats all I can really say. Dh raved about it!

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Next up Wellington

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We had the Lamb Slider and Seared Sea Scallop with Vegetable Slaw and Lemon Oil. The lamb slider was my biggest disappointment of the whole festival. It had a very plain tomato sauce and it came off as being very "sloppy joe" ish. Not that I dislike sloppy joes, I just expected something more creative. Dh was disappointed to get only ONE scallop for nearly $5 but he said at least it was cooked correctly.

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[oybolshoi]

Happy belated birthday ... enjoying your reviews so far! :goodvibes

[TigerKat]

Happy belated birthday!!!!

[TheMaxRebo]

What a great way to spend your Birthday! ... Happy Belated Birthday BTW!!!!

Great start and the Montreal food look great!

[kabuki]

Happy 31st! Great pictures -thank you! Can't wait for more!:thumbsup2

[DisneyFreq]

Wow..thanks for all the birthday wishes..makes me feel like I'm back at EPCOT. I think I must have had at least 50 "happy birthdays" from CMs who spotted my button that day...including one guy who serenaded me with the whole Bday song before he would take my order. :lmao:

Next up...CORK!

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Dh had the Lobster & Scallop Fisherman's Pie and I ate the Warm Chocolate Lava Cake with Bailey's Ganache (I couldn't even get him to try one bite...oh well, more for me!)

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It was really good but VERY rich. Not one of those desserts I would eat multiples of. I cruise carnival often and its not too different from the chocolate lava cake served on board...well, much smaller! But I liked the sauce the best. Would have gone nicely with some vanilla bean ice cream but I'm not sure how well it would have held up in the heat. (By the way, we wobbled between scorching heat and heavy downpours for most of the day).

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Dh declared this his favorite dish thus far, with the salmon from Montreal running a close second. And check out what was at the bottom...a WHOLE lobster claw! It was actually doubled over in the bottom of the pie.

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We ordered the cosmo slush and pomegranate kir in France. I found the slush to be WAY to sweet and I love sweet drinks. The kir was the perfect combo of slightly sweet and bubbly. Hmmm, I'd like another please! This would be a perfect drink for those of you afraid of wine but in love with wine coolers! ;)

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[DisneyFreq]

Next was the beer hop. I'm not sure how much has been explained about this thus far but I'll go into detail.

There are two booths with 4 beers each. The hop entitles you to 4oz of any combination of 4 beers, including 4 samples of the SAME beer should you choose. They give you a little passport that they stamp as you collect your samples. DH and I shared this hop. We chose 2 beers at each booth and traded half way thru. Steller deal in my opinion.

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Beer hop selections:

Hacker Pschorr Oktoberfest:
Brewer: Germany
Style: Oktoberfest
Description: This is one of the premier Oktoberfest beers in the world.The beer is dark amber in color, slightly heavy, with a well balanced mix between malty and hoppy.

Presidente
Brewer: Dominica Republic
Style: Lager
Description: Light yellow in appearance with a slight hint of malt, a bit hoppy, and a touch of sweetness to the taste.

Peroni
Brewed: Italy
Style: Lager
Description: This lager contains tastes such as light grains, nuts, and some crisp hops. Fruit sensations such as apple and grape become more apparent as the beer begins to warm.

Grolsch lager
Brewed: Holland
Style: Lager
Description: From the first initial sweetness to the final rounded bitterness, this lager has a distinctive and perfectly balanced taste with a clean, biscuity malt character.

Affligem Blonde Ale
Brewer: Belgium
Style: Abbey Ale
Description: Cloudy amber-orange with a high frothy head, medium body, and on dry finish, Blonde shows its citrusy sweetness in fine balance with flavors of warm spices.

Murphy's Irish Stout
Brewed: Ireland
Style: Dry Stout
Description: Murphy's Irish Stout is smooth and creamy with a subtle bitterness. This truly satisfying stout is one to be savored.

Pilsner Urquell
Brewed: Czech Republic
Style: Pilsner
Description: The world's first golden beer. By name it means an especially hoppy, golden beer brewed in Pilsen, the city from which Pilsner received its name. It has an intensely rewarding taste that remains true to its origins.

Kona Fire Rock Pale Ale
Brewed: Hawaii
Style: Pale Ale
Description: Kona Pale Ale is brewed with fire-roasted two-row malted barley and premium hops, crystal clear water, and an abundant supply of perseverance.

Seeing as we have had lots of "tastings" of Presidente, Grolsch and Murphy's we decided to try the oktoberfest, peroni, affligem blonde, and kona fire rock.

Our favorite was the oktoberfest (but its also one of our favorite styles so it probably wasn't a fair match). We lived in Hawaii for several years and I find it funny I've never heard of the Kona Fire Rock Ale...you'll notice that its made with 2 row barley vs. 6....just like Sam Adams...which explains why it tasted so familiar!

If you've never had presidente I recommend you start there. Don't go expecting the people running the booths to make suggestions/recommendations. Sadly, both booths were being run by NON-beer drinking folks. What a disappointment and sad misappropriation of staff.

[DisneyFreq]

Next stop Morocco!

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I'm a huge falafel lover and I haven't had one in forever so I had to have one. Dh ordered a Casa beer.

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I didn't like it at all. It had a lot of mustard in it it and it left a bad aftertaste in my mouth. Now I'm not sure if the falafel I had before was a more americanized version....but the difference was pretty extreme.

Next stop Japan. Kirin beer (yum) and spicy tuna roll. This has got to be the BEST bargain on beer. Not only does it taste great, but you get 20oz for 7.75 when most booths are charging 11.50-12.00 for 22oz!

The spicy tuna roll left Dh very conflicted. He said it was one of the best things hes ever eaten and his favorite so far. But it upset him greatly to have to put the fisherman's pie in 2nd place.

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Next stop New Orleans.

We ordered the Cajun Style Crawfish Etouffee and Praline Bread Pudding with Bourbon Caramel Sauce. Bud said the etoufee was good and I found the bread pudding yummy! I didn't really notice a bourbon taste but the pralines were prevalent. My only complaint was the bread pudding was a little less firm than I'd prefer.

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Somehow I missed this pic from our second stop in Santiago.

We ordered the rock shrimp ceviche, corn and cheese arepa, and Natura Carmenere. Bud said the ceviche was good and commented on the fact that there were three whole shrimp (as apposed to pulverized). Its topped with popcorn...I thought it was a bit weird but Bud didn't comment so I guess it went well. The arepe was sort of a corn pancake with peppers in it and a white cheese on top. Very good. Bud said he liked it better than the ceviche. In fact I'm going to find a recipe for these, they don't look terribly complicated.

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[DisneyFreq]

Of course, we had to stop for the Sam Adams tasting. Love the anniversary beer...really does taste like blackberries!

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In Vienna we tried the Mushroom Soup with Chive Dumplings and Leth Riesling. The soup is not just "essence" of mushrooms...the base is made from pureed mushrooms. I loved it...very earthy.

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Next stop Munich.

We ordered the Nuernberger Sausage in a Pretzel Roll and Apple Strudel with Vanilla Sauce. I have to admit I didn't eat any of the sausage. Lets face it, I was running out of room and I've had it before...I KNOW its good so I let Bud pack it in..tho I never can figure out where he puts it all. Bud is a BIG apple pie lover..me..not so much. But I did love this strudel. In fact I declare it the BEST DESSERT of the WHOLE F&WF. I had to stop myself at the halfway point (even tho I was beyond stuffed) to make sure there was enough for Bud to try.

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I want to also mention that my husband generally laughs about all the time I spend on chat boards (gasp, yes I frequent HCW and CC in addition to DIS). And he gets aggravated that I stop him from digging in to take pics first. However, only a few stops into this fest, he started posing the food. Yes I said posing. He wanted to get flowers in the background or buildings or waterscapes. I mean...I felt like the assistant to the photographer for one of the culinary magazines! He started to get irritated with me when I just plopped stuff down on top of a trash can and whipped out the camera. What bothered me was his constant need to precariously balance food on railings. I'm going to get really UPSET if my $8 drink takes a dive into the drink. You know what I mean?

[oybolshoi]

Was Sam Adams still giving out free key chains / bottle openers with the beer tastings? We felt like it was the only thing that made up for the stinginess of their samples when we attended one a couple of years ago. I don't expect a full beer (although Inbev didn't have a problem with that back in the good old days) but something more than a spit cup would be nice, don't you think? :laughing:

[Ciciwoowoo]

I love the pub crawl idea!!! :goodvibes

I am enjoying your reviews!

[dizneeat]

Great reviews! Keep them coming!!! ;)

Thanks for taking the time! :goodvibes

[DisneyFreq]

I don't mind the size of the beer samples. You get a mouthful. I like the information/history that goes along with the beer just as much and the samples are to make the point of the orator. Anyhow..yes to the key chain! Its quality as usual!

Okay..so we're trucking along and I'm stuffed and we stroll past Australia. Bud says "do you want anything"..."no, I'm too full." "well I'm not going to get anything unless you get something and I want to try that baramundi." "Fine..get me the lampchop I guess" Seared Barramundi with Blistered Cherry Tomatoes, Arugula and Lemon Oil and Grilled Lamp Chop with Red Wine Sauce and Murray River Sea Salt

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Haha...and guess who set up that pic? I'm glad I let him bully me because the lamp chop quickly shoots to the top of my list of favorites. Its surprising to see "salt" listed in the title but you really do pick up on it. It compliments to the juice in the meat and the tang in the sauce. SO yummy...I only left DH a small piece of gristle on the end. He said the Baramundi was quite good..but no competition for his precious spicy tuna roll.

Next stop Shanghai

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We ordered Chicken Urumqi, a Happy Lychee, and Tsing Tao Beer. When the CM saw that it was my birthday he added an extra splash of special to my Happy Lychee...which was quite good. I was hoping to have a lychee floating in it but they gave me a slice of lime. The chicken is extremely SALTY. I took one bite and stopped eating it. DH loves salty food (hes a heart attack waiting to happen) and he had no problems finishing it off. If they had served it with some rice it probably would have been a little more edible.

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We stopped at Barcelona and ordered a taste of Spain. A good value. I love stuff like this...little samples of lots of different things. I esp love the bread with the tomato sauce. The cheese is kind of bland to eat on its own so try to pair it with other things on the plate. My real complaint here is the ham wasn't sliced paper thin (as it should be) which made it a little chewy like beef jerky.

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[DisneyFreq]

Okay folks..coming up on the end of our nosh around the world.

As we pass Cape Town its pouring rain so we run to the booth and share the cashiers umbrella. We all have a nice chat about the weather and then a few minutes later a couple dawned in space suits walk up giving us dirty looks. Oh..I guess we should order something huh.....give us the tenderloin!

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Notice how wet the pic looks?! Anyhow, I love African inspired dishes but we both hated this. The sweet potatoes were good but the tenderloin was NOT tender and the sauce on top was so sweet it made my toes curl. Dh kept following me around trying to get me to help him finish if off and I finally told him to just throw it away.

As a sweet lover...and donut lover I couldn't pass India by without trying the Gulab Jamun with Rose Syrup and Pistachios

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Um...Yuck.There was nothing rose about the syrup, it was just sugar water and the donuts were sugarless and soaked up the syrup until they were soggy. I guess it was a texture thing. The pistachios were good tho...but how can you go wrong there (shell, chop, serve)?

I'm a big cheese lover so I was super psyched about the mouse catch. We bought the platter with all three cheeses and purchased all the drink pairings.

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Maybe its just me but I love flavorful cheeses. I don't like a hint I want to be knocked on my rear. In fact, I want people to walk past me and say "whats that smell?" With one exception, these cheese were very bland. The best of the bunch is the Dorothea...which is a goat cheese so its not surprising. It pairs VERY well with Heineken. The rest of it I could take or leave.

So here we are, headed back to future world thinking my culinary adventures are done for the day when Bud spots the Buenos Aires booth. He stops to get an empanada.
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I didn't like this either. The fact that I was full may have been coloring my opinion a bit. The dough seemed over cooked and the filling was a bit gamey. Bud liked it alot tho so I guess its a matter of taste. He did turn around a feed a corner of the dough to the fish and turtles as we passed over the waterway into future world.

Well that concludes my pictoral. We had a great time. I hope to go next year but our local area came out with a "Taste of..." for navarre, navarre beach, pensacola, and ft walton...it runs a bit like F&WF so we may wind up trying that instead if they decide to do it again.

[Mad Hattered]

Thanks for the great pics and opinions!!:thumbsup2 And a happy belated birthday, as well!

[Briarmom]

Love the pictures and reviews. :thumbsup2