Disney's California Food & Wine Festival 2009

[ScooterL]

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

The Kitchen Conversations are demonstrations on cooking techniques (how to chop veggies or cut meat) or on using spices, selecting produce, things like that. There do not appear to be any samples offered, or at least not on Friday and Saturday. They were sparsely attended, too - the two that I saw had plenty of seats available even after they started.

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.

On weekdays I really doubt that you'll have to wait an hour, especially for the first session of the day. Probably 30 minutes would be plenty of time. That might not be the case on Friday, though - if you're there on the 29th, then there is an Artisan Chocolatier at 10:30 (I would SO be there if I didn't have other plans!!!) and guest chef Kerry Simon at 2:30. So I'd plan to arrive early for those. For the chocolate session you might need to be there even before they open the park gates at 9:30 to be able to get in.

 

[mechurchlady]

Expect a wait of up to 4 hours or more if the chef is famous. 3+ hours and anyone not there at 2.5 hours lucked out. Kerry Simon is the chef and it is going to be packed that Thursday and Friday.

Wine Walks, there are 2, and beer walk is four free samples and the wine one had a passport. There are seminars like the chef one where a limited amount of people get to set down and get a lecture on the finer points of a certain brand of wine or beer and spirits along with samples. Fiday, Saturday adn Sunday is the Junior Chef program and it is fun.

I skipped kitchen conversations as I was in that three hour line.

Also try the food as they have Nestle Delicias mango/cream frozen novelty bars, lobster rolls, salads and so much more at various restaurants around DCA. BRING SUNSCREEN

 

[toocherie]

thanks!

even the intro to wine tasting class I went to last year people dressed up somewhat--but there were also people in shorts.

 

[fairykin]

TooCherie and I were disappointed in the food selections the resturants featured for the food and wine event. We were told that they could be changing depending on the response from people.

I believe Toocherie really liked the Food and Wine feature of the slider trio at Ariels..it looked yummy!

 

[Bev1016]

Thanks for all of the tips!
I think I'll pass on Kerry Simon and stick to the various international cuisines. I would like to get into one of the Ghiradelli seminars, but I'll see how the lines are to those.

Another quick question (sorry to have so many):
Have any of you had kids do the Jr. Chef classes? If so, how close are adults allowed to get? My nieces would like to do it, but they're pretty shy. If we have to completely leave them, I don't think they'll do it.

Is the wait for Jr. Chef about an hour as well?

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

We did Jr Chef last weekend and you stand just outside the 20x20 tent area. The kids are within 5 feet from the edge. Parents are allowed in with small kids - I went in with my 3 yr old.

The staff does a really great job of engaging them and Goofy plays games in the middle. Each child is assigned a "job" in the recipe making process. Really very clever the way they broke it up.

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

TooCherie and I were disappointed in the food selections the resturants featured for the food and wine event. We were told that they could be changing depending on the response from people.

I believe Toocherie really liked the Food and Wine feature of the slider trio at Ariels..it looked yummy!

Dawn - We had it last weekend too - we didn't see you guys! We felt it wasn't worth the $14 they charged for it. Last year, you got 2 of them for $6.95. The cost now averages $4.60 per slider!

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

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,

Jim Ames was the gentleman I worked with, too. I would be happy to PM you with his email.

For the record, I also felt the food offering issue was a big problem this year. And I felt the pricing was a bit of an issue, too. We had the sliders last year - 2 for $6.95. This year - 3 for $14 We bought it for the sake of reviewing it, but boy, did it not impress me. They were dry and tiny! The cheese soup wasn't even as good as I had remembered, although the portion was doable for the price. I really disliked having to go to all the food places to hunt down the food, too.

I think they need to come up with a plan and stick to it... I plan on doing a blog on the Food and sending the link to Jim. I just don't relish having to pay and go and eat more of the special items first, for an educated opinion...

 

[mechurchlady]

I saw at CVS the Delicias line of frozen treats so as far as I can tell that Mango cream frozen bar really is nothing special and you can get the line in stores.

So your are saying I could get three cheddarburgers, three crisscross fries or onion rings, a drink for the price of 6 sliders. Wow that was an easy choice to make, lol. I was looking at the chicken tamales and normally a home made one costs me about a dollar so I am wondering if I should try them and if they are gluten free. The only GF items there is chicken kid taco and the sides. I will be glad when that dive rethemes.

Next time I am going to try the lobster roll on gluten free bread and then maybe the tamales. $4.99 for an empanada, wow. Someone will have to try that as I cannot and I know some Mexican bakeries in my area the I can get lots of goodies for that price.

I will be back either Friday or Saturday and definitely on Sunday if I can get Calvin on the bus.

 

[fairykin]

Hey There, Miss Nancy! Always great to see one of your posts.

Ahhhhh.. it would have been so nice to meet you, finally!

My Husband and I are going to do the Napa Rose Cooking class.. and then also another wine thing.. and then a speciality dinner.

hhmmm... I was very suprised at the "speciality offerings", I've been looking forward to this since i learned about it last year. There was nothing i even wanted to try. And if you weren't into seafood, well you would be excluded from alot.

Let's hope they change it as they said that option was open.

I also thought they should have had little flyers that said what specialty feature of the food and wine festival was at what eatery. And that seems pretty basic.

It would cost alot less to print that and most likely produce more revenue than the food and wine festival booklets which feature quite a few things which are already sold out.

They should have had event pins, at the resturants where food and wine specialties, were at for purchase. There was a lacking in the fluidity of marketing on this event. We are coming all the way from Texas for this event and it's a good thing we have reserved the things we did or I would be disappointed.

Was it like this last year? The reviews I read were very good. So much so that it had me looking forward to this allllll year.

 

[betterlatethannever]

Thanks for the food reports.

What about the wines?

How much wine do you get at the various counter service places?

Last year it seemed the wine samples ranged from 1-4 ounces for the $6-$7, depending on the location. Is it more consistant this year?

Ed

 

[glendalais]

How much wine do you get at the various counter service places?

Guests purchasing wine at any Disneyland Resort Counter Service location will receive one glass of about 30 mL.

 

[betterlatethannever]

Guests purchasing wine at any Disneyland Resort Counter Service location will receive one glass of about 30 mL.

Thank you.

So, last year, the 1 oz. was the correct amount (I thought I was getting shorted at those places).


Ed

 

[fairycat]

Traditionally a wine sample is 1oz, but as part of a wine flight they are a 2oz pour. I purchased both last year as well as by the glass. I found over all the pours to be correct, taking in slight human error into consideration

ETA: I also purchased 1/2 glass pours as well at DCA in the past, though don't remember if they were available at F&W

 

[mechurchlady]

http://allears.net/dlr/tp/dca/fw09/dcafw09a.htm

Wine Flight: A tasting (2 oz) of three different wines
Prices range from $13 to $21

Yuzu juice is from a Japanese citrus plant. Riviera Lobster Salad in Brioche Baguette with Chips is what has been called a lobster roll.

I want to try these: Chilled Seafood Martini, Chicken Tamales, tataki salad

 

[ScooterL]

I had the chicken tamales - they were quite good! It would be nice if they kept them on the menu AFTER the Festival, like they did with a few of the food items at other places last year.

 

[mechurchlady]

I can only have their kid meal chicken tacos. I am from the land of the fajitas and tamales so I will go to DCA for cheddar burgers and tri-tip while going to the Mexico born people's restaurants for real authentic Mexican food. I hear fajitas calling me, sigh, not dinner time.

 

[renegade7]

Did anyone out here try the NEW! World Celebration Dinners on Wed. 4/29? Interested for some feedback. On the fence about trying Spain next week.

 

[mechurchlady]

What is available as of today.

Behind the Scenes: GUY FIERI, KEEGAN GERHARD, Tommy Lasorda
Winemaker Dinners: Flora Springs Winery and Kenwood Vineyards are all that are left for this series.
Napa Rose Cooking School: Only May 23, 2009 is open
Wine Introduction Courses: All are open
Festival Wine Reception: All are open
Taste: All are open

Sweet Sundays is sold out as is the Behind the Scenes with the Lassiters.

 

[mechurchlady]

What is available as of today.

Behind the Scenes: GUY FIERI, KEEGAN GERHARD, Tommy Lasorda
Winemaker Dinners: Flora Springs Winery and Kenwood Vineyards are all that are left for this series.
Napa Rose Cooking School: Only May 23, 2009 is open
Wine Introduction Courses: All are open
Festival Wine Reception: All are open
Taste: All are open

Sweet Sundays is sold out as is the Behind the Scenes with the Lassiters.