2016 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival: September 14 - November 14, 2016

[gypsy_at_heart]

Now see, I'm from Quebec and I've never had a butter tart or Nanaimo bars in my life.

More proof that you can't represent a whole country in a booth with a handful of food items... obviously.

It's funny you say that because I had a friend who lived in Quebec for a few years and she ordered Nanimo bars from M&M meats all the time - I know they aren't as all over the place as they are in some other parts of Canada though. Still I've never seen a huge popularity of cheese soup in all my travel, that one still confuses me. We do have some great cheese though!

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

It's funny you say that because I had a friend who lived in Quebec for a few years and she ordered Nanimo bars from M&M meats all the time - I know they aren't as all over the place as they are in some other parts of Canada though. Still I've never seen a huge popularity of cheese soup in all my travel, that one still confuses me. We do have some great cheese though!

Canadian cheddar and beer -- what's not to love??

And truly, I never even heard of Nanaimo bars. That's not saying they're impossible to get in Quebec, but I'd suspect she really had to go looking for a supplier!

 

[JerseyJanice]

The Canadian F&W kiosk had Nanaimo bars I think in 2011.

They consider the cheese soup Canadian because it contains Canadian bacon and cheddar plus Moosehead Ale.

 

[gypsy_at_heart]

Canadian cheddar and beer -- what's not to love??

And truly, I never even heard of Nanaimo bars. That's not saying they're impossible to get in Quebec, but I'd suspect she really had to go looking for a supplier!

They are a bit of a sugar rush! Butter, sugar, custard powder and chocolate make up the most of it lol. with a chocolate coconut sort of base. Butter tarts remind me a bit of sugar pie... but more liquid. But sorry, I think I'm a bit OT, I really am hungry! XD

Generally I'm drawn to the more southern style foods when I travel around the southern US - simply because we don't have that much of it in my neck of the woods and I like trying things that are harder to get back home. But for the food and Wine booths I think I'm most looking forward to the Mojo Pork with Black Beans, Cilantro Rice, and Pickled Red Onions or the Grilled Sweet and Spicy Bush Berry Shrimp - has anyone tried these yet?

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

They are a bit of a sugar rush! Butter, sugar, custard powder and chocolate make up the most of it lol. with a chocolate coconut sort of base. Butter tarts remind me a bit of sugar pie... but more liquid. But sorry, I think I'm a bit OT, I really am hungry! XD

I love a good sugar rush -- sounds tasty!!

 

[loves to dive]

Did make it to two more booths, first a wine seminar.

They used the small plastic wine glasses for this, which made it difficult to swirl. Not sure why they did it, all the other's I've been to this week used real glass wine glasses. Maybe because it was the last event of the night. The wine was o.k.

USA - Lobster roll. I only got this because I'm not a fan of carrot cake and we smoked two butts and had pulled pork for a week, froze at least one butts worth so I really didn't want any more pork. Saying that is a sin in Georgia but I figure I'm in Florida so no one back home will know. The Lobster roll was covered in a mayo type sauce and very messy. The lobster was tough, which happens with lobster but on the plus side, the bread was actually very good. For $7.50 which is the high end of food at the festival, I'd say skip it.


Brazil - Brazilian cheese bread. I had this last year and really liked it. It was a big portion, two small rolls, nice and fluffy and tender. I got a sort of crab taste out of it but that could have been left over lobster taste in my mouth. I enjoyed it despite that.


And my reason for not eating a lot, mint chocolate chip ice cream cone from France. I missed two booths, France and Italy so didn't do too bad.

 

[patster734]

How crowded was Epcot today?

 

[churchlady]

Joining in this thread - 69 days here! My DSIL and I will be attending the last 5 days of F&W. This will be my 3rd year in a row at F&W. If any new folks need some info/help, my TRs are in my signature from the past 2 years. I also am a complete dork and have a tracking spreadsheet in my signature, as well. I have a terrible memory for details, so I have a tendency to over-document.

Love the tracker!

 

[lovingeire]

@loves to dive thanks for sharing your F&W experience with it! I've enjoyed your reviews and photos!

 

[vettegirl]

That is a shame the lobster roll is not as good as it once was. I am still going to try it.

 

[gypsy_at_heart]

Does anyone know if there is any sort of posted schedule for book signings? Or do you just kind of find out the day of?

 

[Lesverts]

Canadian cheddar and beer -- what's not to love??

And truly, I never even heard of Nanaimo bars. That's not saying they're impossible to get in Quebec, but I'd suspect she really had to go looking for a supplier!

There are about 50 M&M Food Markets in Quebec that would sell them. Many in Quebecois dominate areas. So it wouldn't be too hard.

I'd be sitting at that booth all day long if Disney decided to offer the Caesar as one of the mixed drinks. It would be the best youtube reaction video.

 

[churchlady]

Wine tasting at 1
View attachment 195219
View attachment 195220
View attachment 195222
Can't go wrong with Kim Crawford wine so I enjoyed it.[/QUOTE]

Not to be greedy, but those look like some pretty small tasting portions...is it just me?

 

[jerseygal]

And my reason for not eating a lot, mint chocolate chip ice cream cone from France. I missed two booths, France and Italy so didn't do too bad.
View attachment 195459

YUMMY! ALWAYS room for delicious ice cream!

 

[pepperandchips]

I think I'm most looking forward to the Mojo Pork with Black Beans, Cilantro Rice, and Pickled Red Onions or the Grilled Sweet and Spicy Bush Berry Shrimp - has anyone tried these yet?

I tried the pork dish at the F&W preview event this summer - it was one of my favorite dishes there! The pork had a great flavor and wasn't too heavy and the beans were perfectly seasoned and delicious. As for the shrimp dish, it's a returning favorite - we have enjoyed this in the past and I suspect you will like it this year too. I do remember that I thought it was a small portion and I was not keen on the pineapple in it, but otherwise loved the flavor.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

There are about 50 M&M Food Markets in Quebec that would sell them. Many in Quebecois dominate areas. So it wouldn't be too hard.

Terrific. I asked some friends and none of them were familiar with it either. Oh well.

My point remains that it's impossible to pick 2-3 food items that will feel to EVERY Canadian like they represent their country. Impossible. Fits squarely in the "can't make everyone happy" category.

 

[kaseyC]

Love this thread. Thanks to those sharing their experiences. We head out tomorrow. I'm meeting my BFF from high school and we are spending a few days at the F&W Festival. We booked one of the Mix it, Make it and Celebrate it Hands on workshops. Has anyone done any of those so far? We are going on Wednesday evening.

 

[huey578]

Thinking about doing a 5:30pm wine seminar but we have dinner reservations at 6:30pm @ Teppan Edo. Do we have enough time to make it or should I get an earlier seminar? TIA

 

[ellie05]

I can't wait to hear about the behind the scenes at Trader Sam's review. Waiting not so patiently for sept 21st.

 

[IbeAbitGOOFY]

Does anyone know how many items the F&W tray will hold?