Disney's California Food & Wine Festival 2009

[glendalais]

Today (24 April) marks the start of Disney's California Food & Wine Festival 2009 at Disney's California Adventure Park.

To help kick things off, there will be cooking demonstrations from the festival broadcast on the "KTLA Morning News" television programme this morning from 5:00 AM to 10:00 AM, Pacific Daylight Time.

Viewers in and around Los Angeles, California may watch the programme on KTLA-TV, Channel 5.

Viewers in and around San Diego, California and Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico may watch on KSWB-TV, Channel 69 (Cable Channel 5).

In addition, KTLA-TV is carried as a Superstation by cable and satellite carriers across the United States and Canada.

 

[roxy72]

Today (24 April) marks the start of Disney's California Food & Wine Festival 2009 at Disney's California Adventure Park.

To help kick things off, there will be cooking demonstrations from the festival broadcast on the "KTLA Morning News" television programme this morning from 5:00 AM to 10:00 AM, Pacific Daylight Time.

Viewers in and around Los Angeles, California may watch the programme on KTLA-TV, Channel 5.

Viewers in and around San Diego, California and Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico may watch on KSWB-TV, Channel 69 (Cable Channel 5).

In addition, KTLA-TV is carried as a Superstation by cable and satellite carriers across the United States and Canada.

Yay! Now, I'm going to be at DLR next week for a few days. Can you tell me if this food and wine festival has small booths where you can buy food from different countries?

The reason I ask is because there was a great Trip Report from a gal who went to a similar event at Disneyworld...There were booths set up, sellling food from different countries. It looked awesome. I've never been to this event at Disneyland and am wondering if it's similar.

 

[glendalais]

Yay! Now, I'm going to be at DLR next week for a few days. Can you tell me if this food and wine festival has small booths where you can buy food from different countries?

The reason I ask is because there was a great Trip Report from a gal who went to a similar event at Disneyworld...There were booths set up, sellling food from different countries. It looked awesome. I've never been to this event at Disneyland and am wondering if it's similar.

Generally, no, there are no Food Booths.

However, Festival-inspired dishes will be available at select Counter Service restaurants throughout Disney's California Adventure Park, along with expertly paired beers and wines.

 

[mechurchlady]

Thank God I inherited my darker skin as the line for the Sunshine Plaza was up to an hour wait and more especially for famous chefs. Much of the lines was in the sun and there were few places not in the sun. A lady said the free wine sampling was up to an hour the last time she did that and that she spent her Hawaii trip money on the pay to participate events.

If I do another Sunshine Plaza Chef thing I will bring sunscreen for my nose and be prepared for a long hot day. Very confusing the system for the line there.

Robert Irvine was so funny and showed us how to make a pepper sauce, taught us some tricks, and made a cheese and grits dish. We got a sample as it was yummy and gluten free and if it was not then Robert would do CPR on me.

Newly wed dude is on stage helping when he is asked to watch the peppers. They are suateeing and then smoking. The dude never shook the pan or tried to stir the peppers and Robert had fun with jokees about roasted blackened pepper sauce. So Robert tried to get the dude to put the peppers in a blender but robert did that. Then Robert realizes that there is smoke because the dude had left the empty pan on the stove.

 

[roxy72]

Generally, no, there are no Food Booths.

However, Festival-inspired dishes will be available at select Counter Service restaurants throughout Disney's California Adventure Park, along with expertly paired beers and wines.

Thanks for the info. Food Booths sound more user-friend to me. It's less expensive and less intimidating than a long demonstration.

Do you happen to have any idea what related meals will be available at select Counter Service restaurants? I am very curious!

 

[mechurchlady]

DCA does not have the room for the lines for the food booths. As it is the cooking shows are way long. ARound here free foods would mean long lines for sure. It was crowded except in Hollywood, Soarin area, Redwoods and Boardwalk and Wharf. People were crowding around Junior Chef in Bountiful Harvest. It is a fun event but plan on using up time for lines.

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

I did an interview with the Disney executive in charge of the event a couple weeks ago and basically what they did was to take some of the most popular dishes from the tasting area they had over previous years (where you could get small tapas-sized dishes for about $3-5 a plate) and make them into full-sized lunch portions that several people could share or that one person could have for a meal. The (way better than Le Cellier's) wine and cheese soup will be at Pacific Wharf Cafe. The slider burgers will be at another location (my guess would be Taste Pilots). Other counter service and sit-down locations will have other special entrees.

They also have a new temporary festival lounge they are opening upstairs at the Golden Vine, which will feature many tapas dishes for purchase (open only to age 21 and up - no kids with adults).

Lots of really great things to try. If you'd like to hear my interview on the DIS Unplugged Podcast, it was in this week's discussion show (the last 20 minutes of airtime) and can be reached by the link at the bottom of any forum page (like this one). You can listen directly on your computer or go to iTunes and download us for free.

 

[renegade7]

Love to hear if anyone has been yet this year. I will be there 5/6-5/9. Anyone going to be there then? I have done WDW's festival a few times, but this is my first time out here. Do people get dressed up for the dinners (doing Flora Springs on 5/8)? I remember the write up having dress suggestions for the dinners at WDW. Thanks!

 

[saffy]

You know, I agree that the lines this weekend were long, but compared to the past 2 years, they really were not bad at all! The new location handles crowds much better. There were umbrellas set up throughout the line, and the way they have the line placed, there were actually seats this year! That's a nice change! The tent they have this year will also withstand the weather a lot better than in the past - I can see this being much more pleasant as the weather starts getting hotter and hotter!
Yes, there are limited seats so you do have to arrive early. But, overall, they did a good job of trying to accomodate people.

And Robert Irvine was much hotter than I had anticipated he would be!

 

[JadaB]

I feel like asking this is going to sound pretty dumb, but thought I'd put myself out there

Is it ok to attend the classes in your park wear? We will be attending the intro to wine tasting and figure everyone else will be in their t-shirts, shorts, flip flops etc. too. I know its no gourmet event or anything but wanted to ask lol. We're F&W newbies; it always seems to land after the May trip!

 

[toocherie]

I feel like asking this is going to sound pretty dumb, but thought I'd put myself out there

Is it ok to attend the classes in your park wear? We will be attending the intro to wine tasting and figure everyone else will be in their t-shirts, shorts, flip flops etc. too. I know its no gourmet event or anything but wanted to ask lol. We're F&W newbies; it always seems to land after the May trip!

Some people dress up; some are in park clothes. It's all good.

 

[toocherie]

I did an interview with the Disney executive in charge of the event a couple weeks ago and basically what they did was to take some of the most popular dishes from the tasting area they had over previous years (where you could get small tapas-sized dishes for about $3-5 a plate) and make them into full-sized lunch portions that several people could share or that one person could have for a meal. The (way better than Le Cellier's) wine and cheese soup will be at Pacific Wharf Cafe. The slider burgers will be at another location (my guess would be Taste Pilots). Other counter service and sit-down locations will have other special entrees.

They also have a new temporary festival lounge they are opening upstairs at the Golden Vine, which will feature many tapas dishes for purchase (open only to age 21 and up - no kids with adults).

Lots of really great things to try. If you'd like to hear my interview on the DIS Unplugged Podcast, it was in this week's discussion show (the last 20 minutes of airtime) and can be reached by the link at the bottom of any forum page (like this one). You can listen directly on your computer or go to iTunes and download us for free.

I am attending some of the signature events and have good expectations for those--but overall I think the food and wine "festival" at DCA is pretty lame. Nancy, could you PM me with contact info for someone in charge--I've been wanting to make suggestions for a couple of years having attended several events. Last year the festival wine events were really a joke so I haven't signed up for any of those. I think making entree sized portions of items and then not even having a list available of where these special items are is just stupid. People are not going to walk from restaurant to restaurant seeking entrees out. There are large open spaces along the wharf on the Golden Vine side--they could set up booths there. The lines at Epcot don't get THAT long. The Lucky Fortune Cookery set up was ok, not great, but at least it was something. This event really needs to be taken to the next level, but I guess as long as it brings in people they don't feel the need to do so.

 

[mechurchlady]

I feel like asking this is going to sound pretty dumb, but thought I'd put myself out there

Is it ok to attend the classes in your park wear? We will be attending the intro to wine tasting and figure everyone else will be in their t-shirts, shorts, flip flops etc. too. I know its no gourmet event or anything but wanted to ask lol. We're F&W newbies; it always seems to land after the May trip!

For all the free events like the wine walks, beer walks, demonstration kitchens, and junior chef are as is and they allow anyone into the shows and other free events. I come in my dark blue pants, my very old purple griaffe top and flip flops. I am quite a sight for sore eyes.


As for the lines they were done well but at the last Robert Irvine show the people who waited the longest ended up behind a lot of people and one group kept growing growing and growing. I need to see someone at the event high up to explain how I found a way to cheat the system. I would not do that but still need to explain so they can stop people from cheating. At the Robert Irvine show the problem is that people did not get a ticket right away. This meant that one person held the line spot and in half an hour or so I went from about 15th in line to 27th in line. As for the sun I have the peeling nose and reddish arms to prove it and I was in line with an octogenarian white lady in front of me who was turning red. There is more shade and places to sit but there is still not enough shade to protect from the sun. I rarely peel my nose let alone turn red or burn by the way.

Still hoping to go to an event. Visa has room but not going to use it yet.

 

[Stacerita]

I am attending some of the signature events and have good expectations for those--but overall I think the food and wine "festival" at DCA is pretty lame. Nancy, could you PM me with contact info for someone in charge--I've been wanting to make suggestions for a couple of years having attended several events. Last year the festival wine events were really a joke so I haven't signed up for any of those. I think making entree sized portions of items and then not even having a list available of where these special items are is just stupid. People are not going to walk from restaurant to restaurant seeking entrees out. There are large open spaces along the wharf on the Golden Vine side--they could set up booths there. The lines at Epcot don't get THAT long. The Lucky Fortune Cookery set up was ok, not great, but at least it was something. This event really needs to be taken to the next level, but I guess as long as it brings in people they don't feel the need to do so.

Cheryl - I know someone, through someone else actually, and let me talk to her and if its the right person, I will forward you their info.

 

[ScooterL]

Love to hear if anyone has been yet this year. I will be there 5/6-5/9. Anyone going to be there then? I have done WDW's festival a few times, but this is my first time out here. Do people get dressed up for the dinners (doing Flora Springs on 5/8)? I remember the write up having dress suggestions for the dinners at WDW. Thanks!

I was there this weekend, and went to the Winemaker dinner on Friday (awesome!). Yes, people get a bit dressed up for the dinners - I saw guys in suits, though mostly it was just slacks and button-down shirt for the men, and the women wore dressy tops and slacks. I would feel uncomfortable going in just park attire (and definitely no shorts!!!).

 

[ScooterL]

Do you happen to have any idea what related meals will be available at select Counter Service restaurants? I am very curious!

AllEars has the menus up: http://allears.net/dlr/tp/dca/fw09/dcafw09a.htm

 

[jemilah]

Thanks ScooterL !

 

[ScooterL]

There are large open spaces along the wharf on the Golden Vine side--they could set up booths there. The lines at Epcot don't get THAT long. The Lucky Fortune Cookery set up was ok, not great, but at least it was something.

I spoke to Jim Ames, the Director of the Festival, about this a couple years ago. He told me that the laws are different in California than in Florida, and that's the reason that they are not able to set up the food booths here. Bummer.

 

[Bev1016]

Hi!
We're going to be at DL/DCA the last week of May, and I'm very excited about attending some of the complimentary events.

I have a couple of questions for those of you who've been (or who just know more than I do )

1. What are the "Kitchen Conversations" that are listed on the schedules? I haven't been able to find anything out about these programs.

2. It sounds like I should plan on waiting about an hour to get into the cooking demonstrations--is that correct? I'm planning on going Tuesday-Friday, and I don't think I'll be seeing any celebrity chefs.

Thanks!

 

[renegade7]

i was there this weekend, and went to the winemaker dinner on friday (awesome!). Yes, people get a bit dressed up for the dinners - i saw guys in suits, though mostly it was just slacks and button-down shirt for the men, and the women wore dressy tops and slacks. I would feel uncomfortable going in just park attire (and definitely no shorts!!!).

thanks!