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

[kabuki]

The just posted the Cook Book and the Bottle listings and the Cheese Tastings to WDWinfo!
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/guides/epcot/events/index.htm

My husband and I just ate at John Ash's place in Santa Rosa Ca. ( he is one of the chefs doing Cook Book and Bottle!) and it was amazing! Just if anyone is picking one to do!

 

[TDC Nala]

I have decided to put the link in the first post since the information is being posted in bits and I don't have time to keep up with cutting and pasting it.

I did about three John Ash events over the years and I would recommend him (saw him hanging around the Adventurers Club also, so he gets points for that)

The most interesting thing about this schedule is- no pairings at Le Cellier or Coral Reef. Although this is still a partial schedule...

 

[oybolshoi]

$70 per person for a cheese tasting? Did you guys read the review of this event that was posted on All Ears from last year? It wasn't that the event was bad but it sure sounded like the tasting portions were less than generous.

And I find it interesting, too, that there are still only three F&W pairings listed. And did you notice that Italy has been moved to Saturday afternoon? In the past it's been held on Sunday and the Bistro pairing was on Saturdays ... we were hoping to do the Bistro pairing this year since we're skipping PFTS.

This is driving me wonky!!

 

[*NikkiBell*]

Thank goodness for some trickling of info! I can't wait for more!

 

[TDC Nala]

The Bistro pairing wasn't all that.

I have seen one event so far that I might actually do (not counting the pfts)

 

[oybolshoi]

The Bistro pairing wasn't all that.

I'd still like to try it at least once ... we wanted to try all of the pairings once and still need to hit up Japan, Italy, and France.... some day.

I have seen one event so far that I might actually do (not counting the pfts)

Which one?

And does anyone know if there's any food involved in those vertical wine tastings at CA Grill? Seems like an awful lot of wine to try in two hours without any food to soak it up.

 

[MinnieMeg]

They serve a cheese plate at the vertical wine tastings.

Meg

 

[oybolshoi]

They serve a cheese plate at the vertical wine tastings.

Meg

Thanks. What did you think of this event, if you don't mind my asking. This one doesn't seem to get a lot of discussion around the DIS. Or maybe it does and I've just managed to miss it ...

 

[gismo1554]

Sorry if this has already been answered but haven't got time to scroll through on here:

The Cheese & Wine Tastings - what exactly do you get for your money? How many samples of cheese and wine? Is it worth the $70 they are charging this year?

 

[luvpooh]

Sorry if this has already been answered but haven't got time to scroll through on here:

The Cheese & Wine Tastings - what exactly do you get for your money? How many samples of cheese and wine? Is it worth the $70 they are charging this year?

I didn't do it last year, but the year before (and the price was a lot better, maybe $45/person?). It was at the Beach Club rather than in the Odyssey. I don't know if they have changed it since last year, but the year before was TERRIBLE.

You walked in (weren't seated by anyone) and there were 3 seats per table, so a lot of couples got split up. There was a plate with 4 or 5 cheeses (slivers), some crackers, some fruit. Then you got a glass of red and a glass of white.

We went during the Italy week, and the people lecturing were from igourmet.com, so they really weren't that informative. What they did 'lecture' about was very boring, and it seemed like a big plug for their website.

We did find our favorite red wine from that experience (I generally can't drink red wines b/c they make me sick), and a great truffle cheese (let me know if you want info on either), but the whole experience was lacking. They didn't even give you more wine if you finished your glass.

Like I said, I don't know if it changed last year, because it looks like there are specific people from a cheese store(?) giving the presentations, and individual wineries.

I'm just bummed that for both the cheese pairing announced today/yesterday and the cook, book, bottle announced for the week we will be there, for both events the winery is TBA.

 

[luvpooh]

I talked to DH last night about doing the Italy food and wine pairing and he was enthusiastic...until I reminded him about the no cancel policy.
He doesn't want to do it now out of principle, and a certain amount of logic. I may try to use the last minute walk up method that other people mentioned being successful with last year.

 

[oybolshoi]

I talked to DH last night about doing the Italy food and wine pairing and he was enthusiastic...until I reminded him about the no cancel policy.
He doesn't want to do it now out of principle, and a certain amount of logic. I may try to use the last minute walk up method that other people mentioned being successful with last year.

We've been talking about that pairing too ... our date would be 10/11 if we end up being able to book it.

 

[gismo1554]

I didn't do it last year, but the year before (and the price was a lot better, maybe $45/person?). It was at the Beach Club rather than in the Odyssey. I don't know if they have changed it since last year, but the year before was TERRIBLE.

You walked in (weren't seated by anyone) and there were 3 seats per table, so a lot of couples got split up. There was a plate with 4 or 5 cheeses (slivers), some crackers, some fruit. Then you got a glass of red and a glass of white.

Thanks for this. I'm starting to lean more towards the Sweet Sundays now

 

[lilyv]

I didn't do it last year, but the year before (and the price was a lot better, maybe $45/person?). It was at the Beach Club rather than in the Odyssey. I don't know if they have changed it since last year, but the year before was TERRIBLE.

You walked in (weren't seated by anyone) and there were 3 seats per table, so a lot of couples got split up. There was a plate with 4 or 5 cheeses (slivers), some crackers, some fruit. Then you got a glass of red and a glass of white.

We went during the Italy week, and the people lecturing were from igourmet.com, so they really weren't that informative. What they did 'lecture' about was very boring, and it seemed like a big plug for their website.

We did find our favorite red wine from that experience (I generally can't drink red wines b/c they make me sick), and a great truffle cheese (let me know if you want info on either), but the whole experience was lacking. They didn't even give you more wine if you finished your glass.

Like I said, I don't know if it changed last year, because it looks like there are specific people from a cheese store(?) giving the presentations, and individual wineries.

I'm just bummed that for both the cheese pairing announced today/yesterday and the cook, book, bottle announced for the week we will be there, for both events the winery is TBA.

This really doesn't sound like an event worth the $$ to me. We'll have a rental car, so maybe we'll just pick up an interesting wine or two and hold our own private tasting over a couple of nights. The three seats per table thing...good grief...what was Disney thinking?

 

[Kidoctr]

This really doesn't sound like an event worth the $$ to me. We'll have a rental car, so maybe we'll just pick up an interesting wine or two and hold our own private tasting over a couple of nights. The three seats per table thing...good grief...what was Disney thinking?

Last year's cheese tasting was $60 per person. We had a completely different experience than above, though. We did the cheese tasting with Max McCalman of Artisanal Premium cheese and thought it was excellent. We got HUGE pieces of cheese and learned a lot from Max. There was so much cheese that I wrapped up my pieces in a napkin and took them with me (had a fridge in our hotel room). I snacked on that cheese for a couple of days! In fact, here's the picture I took from our cheese tasting: http://kidoctr.smugmug.com/photos/205533575_rG7AY-S.jpg

We enjoyed it a lot and will do it again if the schedule is right!

 

[DISNEYDUET]

What a sample! Thanks for the info Eve!

 

[luvpooh]

Last year's cheese tasting was $60 per person. We had a completely different experience than above, though. We did the cheese tasting with Max McCalman of Artisanal Premium cheese and thought it was excellent. We got HUGE pieces of cheese and learned a lot from Max. There was so much cheese that I wrapped up my pieces in a napkin and took them with me (had a fridge in our hotel room). I snacked on that cheese for a couple of days! In fact, here's the picture I took from our cheese tasting: http://kidoctr.smugmug.com/photos/205533575_rG7AY-S.jpg

We enjoyed it a lot and will do it again if the schedule is right!

that is easily 5 times the amount of cheese I remember receiving the year before!
I'm still not sure that it's worth the $, considering for less than double the price you can do PFTS, or for less money ($55) you can do a food and wine pairing. JMHO

 

[PatriciaH]

There is a huge cheese table at PFTS too!

I am still waiting on the Signature Dinners (lunches too?), other F&W pairings and the Regional Feasts. Notice how a lot of demos are at the Festival (WOL) Center now and not the Oddyessy.

 

[DISNEYDUET]

Looks like the only event we will be doing is the Saki/sushi pairing.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

So, I have finally made my decision! I am going to surprise DBF with PFTS! Yay! I am so dang excited! Is this one of the events I'll need to wake up early to book? lol