***Epcot Food And Wine Festival Info 2008***

[Mish19]

I spoke to a very nice CM last night, she didn't have any new F&W news but did give me a scare. I asked her about PFTS and she clicked around and said, "Oh wow, they changed the name!" I was like - WHAT?!. Then she said, "sorry sorry, I made a mistake, I was looking at a different screen".
We laughed and she said it should be out pretty soon.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

Here were my desserts from Sweet Sundays last year.

First was "coffee and donuts", but the deal was that there was coffee inside of them.

This is where I had the "stunt dessert" which looked nothing like what the presenters were doing. They were making a Sicilian Cassata, a cannoli type of cake. The Disney chefs made individual desserts of it:

The last was Mexican Chocolate Cake. I think it looked better than I was expecting it to taste. I thought it was not very chocolatey, mostly tasted like a spice cake. It was good, but it wasn't like the brownies Rick Bayless made a few years ago at a Lunch and Learn using Mexican chocolate.

Overall, I liked the event, and the desserts were mostly good overall. This year I won't be doing the event because I wish to do other things I skipped last year, like the food and wine pairings I like very much.

Thanks so much for posting this, Briar! I was curious about this event as I tend to be a picky eater and have doubts about PFTS. Any other pics and info about other events you've gone to? I'm still having a hard time deciding which to surprise Sean with.

 

[gattra]

Anyone know the dates for 09 yet?

 

[oybolshoi]

Anyone know the dates for 09 yet?

That may be a new record! They haven't even released the information for this year's festival.

You can count on the festival dates being the last weekend in September, the entire month of October and the first two weeks of November. That's about the only thing you can rely on, aside from the annual price increase for the special dining events.

 

[oybolshoi]

Last years poster was done by Heather French, I love her stuff, a few years ago we bought her poster then proceeded to redecorate the dinning room around it ! She is not doing the festival poster this year but she is always a featured artist at F&W, and can usually be found at the booth by the water just before Canada (don't know what they call that it's only there during F&W and F&G) Stop by and see her!
Heather is doing a special appearance in Sept at the wine shop good friends of mine own b/c I hooked them up I'm so excited.

Thanks for the information, I'll be sure to keep an eye out for her.

 

[DizDragonfly]

From the Orlando Sentinel (I tried to post the link, but my post count isn't high enough).

Epcot to host gold-standard chefs' contest

Scott Joseph | Sentinel food critic
July 17, 2008

Opening weekend of the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival will feature the U.S. competition for the prestigious Bocuse d'Or World Cuisine Contest.

Since its inception in 1987, the biennial competition has only taken place at the National Restaurant Association's convention in Chicago.

Jerome Bocuse, general manager of Chefs de France at Epcot and son of Bocuse d'Or founder Paul Bocuse, will announce the eight American finalists this morning at a news conference at db Bistro Moderne in New York City.

Dieter Hannig, global vice president for food and beverage at Walt Disney World, also will participate in the announcement, along with New York chef Daniel Boulud and Gerard Collomb, mayor of Lyon, France.

According to Jerome Bocuse, the eight finalists are Michael Rotondo, chef de cuisine at Charlie Trotter's, Chicago; Timothy Hollingsworth, sous chef, French Laundry, Napa, Calif.; Damon Wise, corporate chef, Craft restaurants, New York; Hung Huynh, Top Chef winner; Rogers Powell, instructor, French Culinary Institute, New York; Richard Rosendale, chef and owner, Rosendale's, Columbus, Ohio, and U.S. Culinary Olympic Team captain; Percy Whatley, executive chef, Delaware North ***., Yosemite, Calif.; and Kevin Sbraga, culinary director, Garces Restaurant Group, Philadelphia.

The finalists were selected from applicants across the country who submitted recipes for review by a panel of judges.

During the semifinals at Epcot in the fall, the participants will be required to prepare dishes from a list of supplied ingredients within a limited time frame.

The winner of the semifinals will represent the United States at the Bocuse d'Or in Lyon in January.

Twenty-four countries will participate for gold, silver and bronze medals.

The highest an American has ever finished in the Bocuse d'Or is sixth place.

"We think that this will give an incredible opportunity to be recognized here in Central Florida as a food destination," Hannig said in an e-mail. "This is very exciting."

Bocuse, speaking from New York on Wednesday, said he hopes to create an awareness about the Bocuse d'Or in the United States.

"If you go to Europe, everyone knows about it," he said. "It's the most challenging competition in the world."

Bocuse said he pushed to have the U.S. semifinals moved to Epcot to make them accessible to the general public.

The 2008 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival takes place Sept. 26 through Nov. 9.

 

[PNO4TE]

From the Orlando Sentinel (I tried to post the link, but my post count isn't high enough).

Now wouldn't that be delightful to watch!

 

[TDC Nala]

The booking window was pushed back another week this year (last year: August 6, this year: August 11) so I wouldn't doubt that we might see the schedules in the first week of August instead of in July this year.

If they come out this weekend, I will be out of town without a computer, so I won't be able to put them on the first post of this thread until at least Monday night, possibly Tuesday.

 

[Sawx04]

From the Orlando Sentinel (I tried to post the link, but my post count isn't high enough).

Hmmm...I wonder if this means no Party for the Senses for the 1st weekend of F&W? I've seen some posts suggest that the space would be used for this contest. Can anyone confirm?

 

[chip&dale&fun]

From the Orlando Sentinel (I tried to post the link, but my post count isn't high enough).

We can help you with your post count, but until then, if you wish to post a link, just put spaces in between the link to break it out and not be a real link -- just let us know.

 

[BriarRosie]

Hmmm...I wonder if this means no Party for the Senses for the 1st weekend of F&W? I've seen some posts suggest that the space would be used for this contest. Can anyone confirm?

We're not counting our chickens until we actually see the event schedule. Anything anyone says about this now will be pure conjecture. It's possible we'll lose a PFTS on that Saturday. But it's quite possible the contest will run Friday and Saturday during the daytime. Unless we hear that that World Showplace will hold the banquet for this contest, I'm staying optimistic.

Party for the Senses is a huge moneymaker, and I can't see Disney abolishing it unless it had another event that would bring in some dough. Even though my trip is after that weekend, I'm still curious to find out what will eventually be planned that weekend. Gotta get some vicarious thrills in there somewhere.

 

[kabuki]

We're not counting our chickens until we actually see the event schedule. Anything anyone says about this now will be pure conjecture. It's possible we'll lose a PFTS on that Saturday. But it's quite possible the contest will run Friday and Saturday during the daytime. Unless we hear that that World Showplace will hold the banquet for this contest, I'm staying optimistic.

Party for the Senses is a huge moneymaker, and I can't see Disney abolishing it unless it had another event that would bring in some dough. Even though my trip is after that weekend, I'm still curious to find out what will eventually be planned that weekend. Gotta get some vicarious thrills in there somewhere.

Darn Lori!
We wont be at PFTS at the same time this year! I look forward to seeing the back of my head in your posts.. how else do I judge my haircut!

 

[PNO4TE]

We're not counting our chickens until we actually see the event schedule. Anything anyone says about this now will be pure conjecture. It's possible we'll lose a PFTS on that Saturday. But it's quite possible the contest will run Friday and Saturday during the daytime. Unless we hear that that World Showplace will hold the banquet for this contest, I'm staying optimistic.

Party for the Senses is a huge moneymaker, and I can't see Disney abolishing it unless it had another event that would bring in some dough. Even though my trip is after that weekend, I'm still curious to find out what will eventually be planned that weekend. Gotta get some vicarious thrills in there somewhere.

As long as we are supposin'
Wouldn't it be neat to have the competition on Friday/Saturday and then those 8 chefs taking part in the PFTS that Saturday evening?

 

[DizDragonfly]

We can help you with your post count, but until then, if you wish to post a link, just put spaces in between the link to break it out and not be a real link -- just let us know.

Thanks for the tip!

Karen

 

[lilyv]

As long as we are supposin'
Wouldn't it be neat to have the competition on Friday/Saturday and then those 8 chefs taking part in the PFTS that Saturday evening?

They have a big event planned for the evening of Sat, September 27th.
"The weekend will culminate in a Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony. Approximately 300 paying guests will attend the dinner, which will also feature a silent auction to raise funds for the USA Bocuse d'Or team. Special guests for the dinner will include the competing USA chefs teams...."

http://www.bocusedorusa.org/competition.html

 

[TDC Nala]

They have a big event planned for the evening of Sat, September 28th.
"The weekend will culminate in a Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony. Approximately 300 paying guests will attend the dinner, which will also feature a silent auction to raise funds for the USA Bocuse d'Or team. Special guests for the dinner will include the competing USA chefs teams...."

http://www.bocusedorusa.org/competition.html

September 28 is a Sunday, you are probably talking about the 27th.

Although it's likely the gala will take place in the World Showplace, can't tell for certain.

Once I remember them switching a P4TS from Saturday to Friday because of some other event planned for the Showplace.

 

[lilyv]

September 28 is a Sunday, you are probably talking about the 27th.

Although it's likely the gala will take place in the World Showplace, can't tell for certain.

Once I remember them switching a P4TS from Saturday to Friday because of some other event planned for the Showplace.

TCD Nala-I will go back and change the date---it was an error. Thanks for the heads up!

I will be at F&W that weekend. I've been reading the foodie sites, and there seems to be a lot of enthusiasm for this event far beyond Disney folks. Will be interesting to see how they accommodate all the folks who wish to attend both/either the selection and the dinner. We'll stay tuned!

 

[PNO4TE]

They have a big event planned for the evening of Sat, September 27th.
"The weekend will culminate in a Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony. Approximately 300 paying guests will attend the dinner, which will also feature a silent auction to raise funds for the USA Bocuse d'Or team. Special guests for the dinner will include the competing USA chefs teams...."

http://www.bocusedorusa.org/competition.html

Although it's likely the gala will take place in the World Showplace, can't tell for certain.

Once I remember them switching a P4TS from Saturday to Friday because of some other event planned for the Showplace.

I will be at F&W that weekend. I've been reading the foodie sites, and there seems to be a lot of enthusiasm for this event far beyond Disney folks. Will be interesting to see how they accommodate all the folks who wish to attend both/either the selection and the dinner. We'll stay tuned!

Well, darn... I will be very curious to see how this impacts crowds and scheduling for opening weekend since we will also be there then. I am glad that we are staying through the following Wednesday evening. Hopefully some of the locals and competition attendees will be gone by Monday evening or Tuesday.

I still think it would be an amazing event to watch.

 

[PatriciaH]

So, new news. I e-mailed Rosa at DDE and asked when events will be out. She said the booking date got changed to 8/25/08 7am and events will be posted the previous Friday (22.) Way late I feel! Hard to plan just a month ahead. I will keep checking dining and post events if I see them!

 

[SamSam]

So, new news. I e-mailed Rosa at DDE and asked when events will be out. She said the booking date got changed to 8/25/08 7am and events will be posted the previous Friday (22.) Way late I feel! Hard to plan just a month ahead. I will keep checking dining and post events if I see them!

Whoa!!! That is late for booking, AND only 3 days to decide which events. I really hope Rosa is wrong about this.