EPCOT Food and Wine Festival, Sept. 25 - Nov 16 2015

[itsthatdisneygirl]

I cant wait till they release the menu's. For those that have been there is it more "meat" items and less "veggie" items? When I went to flower and garden last year I loved all the non meat items they had. I do eat Chicken but dont eat red/white meat or fish..

From 2014 here it seems that the majority of the offerings for you would be deserts or snacks but there are some main dishes. I included the Crabless crabcake because it isn't actually crab as it comes from the Terra booth which is vegan

South African Bobotie with Turkey and Mushrooms
Pavlova (Crispy Meringue Shell with Fresh Berries and Vanilla Creme)
Belgian Waffle with Warm Chocolate Ganache and Whipped Cream
Belgian Waffle with Berry Compote with Berry Compote and Whipped Cream
Pao de Queijo – Brazilian cheese bread
Cocadas – Brazilian coconut candy
Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup
Chicken Potstickers
Craft beer snack mix — A sweet and savory blend of nuts, fruits and crackers
Muffuletta pinwheels with house-made pickles
Spicy pimento cheese dip with whole-wheat crackers
Dessert Trio: Passion fruit coconut creamsicle, blueberry lime cheesecake roll, and chocolate espresso opera cake
Griddled “Yard Bird” with braised greens and house-made habanero sauce
Gratin de crozet de savoie: Wheat pasta gratin with mushrooms and Gruyere cheese
Crème brûlée caramel fleur de sel: Sea salt caramel crème brûlée topped with caramelized sugar
Berliner: Yeast doughnut filled with apricot jam
Vegetarian moussaka
Griddled Greek cheese with pistachios and honey (gluten free)
Chicken gyro with tzatziki Sauce
Spanakopita
Artisan cheese plate featuring Cabot Cloth wrapped cheddar, Purple Haze chèvre goat cheese and Cave Man blue
Fresh baked carrot cake with Craisins® and cream cheese icing
Kerrygold® cheese selection: Reserve cheddar, Dubliner with Irish Stout and Skellig
Warm chocolate pudding with Kerrygold Irish Cream Liqueur Custard
Ravioli alla caprese: Cheese ravioli, tomato sauce, mozzarella, parmesan and basil
Filetto di pollo, con funghi al marsala: Chicken tenderloin, cremini mushrooms, marsala sauce and ciabatta bread
Cannoli al cioccolato: Chocolate-covered cannoli filled with sweet ricotta, chocolate and candied fruit
Teriyaki gyoza bun: Steamed bun filled with chicken, vegetables and sweet teriyaki sauce
Sweet corn cheese cake
Baklava
Tostones (fried green plantains with mayo ketchup)
FlanCocho: Vanilla caramel custard with chocolate coffee cake
Fried Chicken Chunks with Dole Pineapple Sweet and Sour Sauce
Vegetarian haggis with neeps and tatties: Griddled vegetable cake with rutabaga and mashed potatoes
Crannachan: A traditional Scottish dessert trifle with raspberries, toasted oats, and whipped cream
Lemongrass chicken curry with coconut and jasmine rice
Blackened Chick’n Breast, farro wheat and spicy gumbo sauce featuring Gardein™ Chick’n Breast
CraB’less CraB Cake with pepper slaw and Cajun remoulade featuring Gardein

 

[FeralCatRogue]

They did have more meat then veggie items, but there were a lot of vegetarian and even vegan choices. They mark in the passport which items are vegetarian and on the signs with a green boxed V. Looking thru my last years book there are 27 vegetarian marked items and 49 non-vegetarian items.

 

[kristenrice]

OK...this is probably a stupid question...but can someone explain the Party for the Senses to me???

I see that the cost (w/ reserved seating) is about $200/person. Does this include all the food? What food(s) are included? Is it like the entire festival offered up in an AYCE manner? Is there any extra charges for the food/beverage offerings? My mom has never been to F&W before and I've never done (or even looked into) the PFTS event. I'm wondering if this will be a "convenient" way to enjoy all the festival has to offer in a single night or if it is more of an entertainment thing and more expensive than it is worth.

Any advice? We each have about $100 budgeted to spend on food at the festival and the extra $100 might be worth it to us...as our birthday presents!

 

[TDC Nala]

1. Yes the cost includes all the food and beverages.
2. Whatever they serve. Each PFTS has different items and different chefs. They will usually release who is there and what they are cooking ahead of time (not this far ahead.)
3) No, the food and beverages offered are different from those offered at the kiosks.
4) It is different from experiencing the outside part of the festival. It is more of a party with food tastings, although you can sample as much food and/or drinks as you like. Most of the food samples are higher end than what you will get in the kiosks, the chefs are there and preparing the items or they have a staff preparing the items while they hand them out.
5) The general admission does not get you a designated chair. It was supposed to be a cocktail party kind of thing. Many guests "stake out" their tables and do not let other guests sit at them. To guarantee yourself seating, you must pay extra for a reserved table.

 

[kristenrice]

1. Yes the cost includes all the food and beverages.
2. Whatever they serve. Each PFTS has different items and different chefs. They will usually release who is there and what they are cooking ahead of time (not this far ahead.)
3) No, the food and beverages offered are different from those offered at the kiosks.
4) It is different from experiencing the outside part of the festival. It is more of a party with food tastings, although you can sample as much food and/or drinks as you like. Most of the food samples are higher end than what you will get in the kiosks, the chefs are there and preparing the items or they have a staff preparing the items while they hand them out.
5) The general admission does not get you a designated chair. It was supposed to be a cocktail party kind of thing. Many guests "stake out" their tables and do not let other guests sit at them. To guarantee yourself seating, you must pay extra for a reserved table.

This is very helpful information! I did see that there is an extra charge for the reserved seating and that is what we would be interested in doing, if we do this at all.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I will say that it helps to be slightly adventurous with PFTS. The chefs often "indulge" themselves with things they probably couldn't do at a Disney restaurant or kiosk. And then the guest chefs are showing off. It's good, but if you only like "steak and potatoes" you will be unhappy.

Here a couple of sites I found with some past menu info The first one also gives a good description of the general admission and "Table holding" LOL!

http://themommaven.com/2009/10/epcots-party/


http://www.extrawdwmagic.com/?p=2672

 

[TDC Nala]

I see that first one was written in 2009 - by one of those mom bloggers who Disney comped to get them to blog about it. Seven of them, plus husbands and the gal from WDW Media. Was 2009 the year of the comps or was that 2008? Whichever year it was, I remember seeing two men get in an actual fistfight over a chair. Security came and got them.

After that, they started offering a separate guaranteed seating category.

 

[crostorfer]

Still mulling around a long weekend visit in October for another F&W. I really hope that the Parisian Breakfast at Le Chefs de France is offered again this year.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I see that first one was written in 2009 - by one of those mom bloggers who Disney comped to get them to blog about it. Seven of them, plus husbands and the gal from WDW Media. Was 2009 the year of the comps or was that 2008? Whichever year it was, I remember seeing two men get in an actual fistfight over a chair. Security came and got them.

After that, they started offering a separate guaranteed seating category.

Yes, but the general admission still reminded me of the running of the Bulls at Paloma.

 

[jenjersnap]

Did anyone here attend the 2014 3D Dessert party *and* a previous year? Just curious if it has changed, for better or worse, or is about the same. We went to one in 2013 and it was very disappointing, TBH, with boring and not-very-tasty desserts. But, it will be just me and my 11-year-old on this trip and I am trying to think of F&W activities we can do so I am considering a re-visit of the event (there were lots of kids at the one my DH and I attended, so much so that we regretted not bringing our crew...the food was more suited to their age group, IMO, though the adult drinks were tasty, definitely the best part for us).

Also thinking I may book the Parisian breakfast. I realize this is dependent on these events being available this year, of course! Any other (more) Food and (less) Wine events that would be ok for him to attend? Thanks!

 

[kmrada]

Yes, but the general admission still reminded me of the running of the Bulls at Paloma.

Jeezy Pete...I want to gorge myself on the food not get gored by F&W guests! This thread really helps to make some decisions about which extra events we might want to attend or pass on. Much Appreciated!!

 

[MakiraMarlena]

There isn't much that is geared for children. Parisian Breakfast may be just the thing, I have seen several posters over the years say they were going to bring children to that (as an aside, one guy was really astonished that they told him he had to pay admission for an infant, which is normal for F&W events, so parents take note!). Some of the culinary demos at the festival center will be good if your kids are teens or preteens who are interested in the culinary arts. Many kids would be bored. Persons under 21 are not allowed at the festival center beverage demos.

Once in awhile there has been a "family" event where celebrity chefs demonstrate "healthy" meals with their children. I have never been to those events but I have heard they do not draw many children to the audience, possibly because of the expense (there are no child prices for F&W events). One year I attended a French Regional Lunch and a tablemate was an 11 year old girl. She was well behaved, but somewhat bored and didn't like the food. The restaurant staff did offer to get her a Coke which her parents declined. I don't remember them offering alternative food. She was the only child I have ever seen at that event and I've been to a lot of them. I can't recall seeing children at any other event except the big ones at the Festival Center, and after they stopped giving out comps the number of kids at PFTS fell precipitously.

I don't know about the 3D dessert party because I only went once, when it was first introduced. I do see posters on the boards who say they are bringing their children. I also know there is a lot of alcohol served at this event.

 

[jenjersnap]

There isn't much that is geared for children. Parisian Breakfast may be just the thing, I have seen several posters over the years say they were going to bring children to that (as an aside, one guy was really astonished that they told him he had to pay admission for an infant, which is normal for F&W events, so parents take note!). Some of the culinary demos at the festival center will be good if your kids are teens or preteens who are interested in the culinary arts. Many kids would be bored. Persons under 21 are not allowed at the festival center beverage demos.

Once in awhile there has been a "family" event where celebrity chefs demonstrate "healthy" meals with their children. I have never been to those events but I have heard they do not draw many children to the audience, possibly because of the expense (there are no child prices for F&W events). One year I attended a French Regional Lunch and a tablemate was an 11 year old girl. She was well behaved, but somewhat bored and didn't like the food. The restaurant staff did offer to get her a Coke which her parents declined. I don't remember them offering alternative food. She was the only child I have ever seen at that event and I've been to a lot of them. I can't recall seeing children at any other event except the big ones at the Festival Center, and after they stopped giving out comps the number of kids at PFTS fell precipitously.

I don't know about the 3D dessert party because I only went once, when it was first introduced. I do see posters on the boards who say they are bringing their children. I also know there is a lot of alcohol served at this event.

Thanks for the response. I am not really expecting anything geared for kids, just events where both he - and the other adults attending - would be comfortable with him tagging along. He is very interested in food and wants to be a chef so I may look over the demos when they are announced. I wouldn't take him to one of the lunches, I don't think, he wouldn't have issues with the food but I would feel like it would be a little wasteful paying for the included wine/tequila/beer. I know you are paying for it at 3DD too, but, with the sampling, I feel like it is less obvious and there were a couple fun non-alcoholic drinks for him to try too. I hope that makes sense but it could just be rationalization to make the 3DD work for us.

So, you do see the occasional kid at PFTS still?

 

[FeralCatRogue]

I saw quite a few kids at the demos I went to if he wisehs to be a chef he may find it quite interesting to go to a deminar or two. They do a lot of wine talk, but they show you exactly how to make the food live.

 

[Straughn]

I am hoping to go to the TIW F&W preview luncheon on July 12. Any idea, based on previous experience, when the email to register will be sent? Also how much notice do they give you between the email and the opening of the window to register?
Thanks.

 

[dsanner106]

I am hoping to go to the TIW F&W preview luncheon on July 12. Any idea, based on previous experience, when the email to register will be sent? Also how much notice do they give you between the email and the opening of the window to register?
Thanks.

I do not recall the offering of a preview in prior years. I have had TIW for several years and certainly knew nothing about it if so.
Good luck, hoping to find a way down for that too.
Drew

 

[Simba's Mom]

I'm still awaiting any word on the culinary demos. Does anyone remember when the info/chefs come out? I'm remembering that the info doesn't usually come out until late July. Rats, I hope I remember wrong-I really don't want that long of a wait!

 

[SamSam]

So glad to see this thread started for this year! We love the Food and Wine Festival (go every year) and this thread has the best information!

 

[amandaC]

Thanks for the response. I am not really expecting anything geared for kids, just events where both he - and the other adults attending - would be comfortable with him tagging along. He is very interested in food and wants to be a chef so I may look over the demos when they are announced. I wouldn't take him to one of the lunches, I don't think, he wouldn't have issues with the food but I would feel like it would be a little wasteful paying for the included wine/tequila/beer. I know you are paying for it at 3DD too, but, with the sampling, I feel like it is less obvious and there were a couple fun non-alcoholic drinks for him to try too. I hope that makes sense but it could just be rationalization to make the 3DD work for us.

So, you do see the occasional kid at PFTS still?

We took our boys to both the PFTS and the 3DD two years ago (they were 15 and 13). My husband is a chef and they are both fairly adventurous eaters. They both loved both parties. They actually liked PFTS a little bit more. It is pricey since it's the same price for them as it is for us, but we really enjoyed it. We plan to all go again this year.

I've seen even younger kids- the key is that they need to be adventurous eaters. Otherwise, I think it would be a waste.

 

[TakeMe2DisneyNow]

The email I received says July 12th. Are there two different events?

There are Tables in Wonderland emails we are supposed to receive? How have I missed out on that. We have a current TIW membership. What to do about this? I need the info!