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

[Simba's Mom]

Seminar info is up!!!

Great! But I can't find it. Can you please give me a link?

 

[jedijill]

Great! But I can't find it. Can you please give me a link?

Check out Post #1 on Page 1 for all links.

Jill in CO

 

[TDC Nala]

also, Allears says Eat to the Beat concert dining packages are back. a link to their page with restaurants and prices is on the first post too. They will go on sale July 30.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Thanks so much! Now to decide whether to see the Grand Floridian pastry, Yak and Yeti shrimp, or Cape May Cafe (can't even remember what) on October 20th, 21st, or 22nd. Let the planning begin!

 

[FeralCatRogue]

not very many celebrity chefs in the 15 section as last year had it seems :/

 

[gottalovepluto]

Can anyone help me out with some basic info about chefs coming from Publix Supermarkets? As a Californian I know nothing about it and googling it simply looks like a supermarket chain but there is a chef from there doing a demonstration on duck Nov 10 and I do love duck! Are these chefs who design maybe pre-made dishes for the chain or something link that?

 

[samsteele]

Re the culinary demonstrations, don't be too disappointed or put off if the known chef demos are sold out by the time they open up for general public booking. Last year, I attended 2 culinary demonstrations (or deminars). One was by a better known chef from the American Southwest who made scallops. The other by a local Publix chef who did duck. The duck was the much better micro dish IMHO. I had been looking forward to the known chef's scallop and it just wasn't that great. The Orlando Publix chef was incredible . . . both food wise & his personality. This year, I have it narrowed down to 2 possibles and will see what is available on general booking. One is a well known chef from the Northeast with shrimp. The other is a Florida Publix chef doing skatewing. If both are available, think I'll probably go with the Publix guy. Just saying. You never can tell with these things and you may be pleasantly surprised

Edit: LOL must have posted just before the above posts re few known celebrity chefs & the Publix crew. Timing is funny. Anyway, still relevant info. ps I don't live in Florida (from Canada) so don't know much about the Publix chefs save for my good experience at the deminar last Fall. I do know that Publix is the grocery store of choice for many Floridians because they find the food quality & selection superior and love the deli selections.

 

[River Country]

Publix Mayo rocks

 

[gottalovepluto]

Well then duck here I (hopefully) come thanks @samsteele

Question about "TBD" postings, any idea when Disney eventually gets the info out on these? I'd love to do a mixology seminar on Nov 9 but there is no info for that date at all right now.

 

[GWhitten98]

Ok no one of particular interest listed as any of the chefs on the dates we will be there so do I really need to book ahead of time? We will be at Epcot every afternoon except Sat of 5 day trip. Can I go pick up a ticket for demos that day once WS opens at 11? Also what luck do I have that all the mixology demos for our entire trip are TBD..WTH! I guess I will have to wait to choose those as well.

 

[Straughn]

I am a bit underwhelmed by the food seminars and the wine tastings. For the 20th, I was hoping for some heavy hitters. The only way to see the well known ones is the more expensive events. Sigh!

 

[FeralCatRogue]

Its all luck if you can book that day, I was able to book about 10 mins before at the festival center for one on the last day with an unknown person. But I would not risk it if its something you really want.

 

[samsteele]

Luck plays a huge role with last minute tickets. I also noticed lots of locals at the deminars last year. When chatting with them, they gave me the impression that 1) named chefs are most popular (and returning chefs have a local following at F&W) then 2) the somewhat more $ food items (eg lobster, scallop, bison, duck) are next in line for choice. If you truly don't see anything that appeals and don't much care who is giving the deminar and what the food is, then with 5 days of possible, you would likely grab 2 tickets for 1 demo. ps the 2 that I attended last year were full or nearly full.

 

[PrincessJen09]

I have a a question about the demonstrations and mixology sessions. Do you just sit and watch someone make the dish or drink? Is there any participation? Do you get to sample any of it? I am just trying to understand what exactly happens so we know how many of them to book. Thanks!

 

[karrit2000]

I have a a question about the demonstrations and mixology sessions. Do you just sit and watch someone make the dish or drink? Is there any participation? Do you get to sample any of it? I am just trying to understand what exactly happens so we know how many of them to book. Thanks!

For Mixology they have a Mixologist demonstrate how to make several drinks and you get a small version of whatever they mix to taste. I've only attended one a couple of years ago and I think we got three different drink samples.

At the Demonstrations a chef shows you how to prepare their chosen dish or dessert item and you receive a tasting portion to sample along with a sample of wine they've chosen to pair it with.

The wine seminars you get three tasting samples of different wines from the seminar sponsor. Not sure about the other beverages as I haven't attended any of those.

They also spend some time answering questions from the audience at each. Beware that for the Culinary Demos the Hostess rather than the Chef tends to dominate the sessions.

 

[crazy4wdw]

I am a bit underwhelmed by the food seminars and the wine tastings. For the 20th, I was hoping for some heavy hitters. The only way to see the well known ones is the more expensive events. Sigh!

I don't see any culinary demos that are of any interest to me. Very disappointing. There are several beverage tasting events that I am interested in booking.

 

[randumb0]

Is it me or are the Parisian events still not posted? I cant seem to find them

 

[karrit2000]

Is it me or are the Parisian events still not posted? I cant seem to find them

Still nothing about the Parisian events or the Sampler Package. Hoping for a TIW e-mail but they may not send it until next week. Last year they sent it early and then the night before Booking opened the Premium package & Late Nights Live event were added if you went in to download the booklet again. I called as soon as I saw it to ask for more details and the girl knew nothing about it. As I was talking to her the supervisor was handing her pages they had just printed that was the same info I already had.

 

[Kitchensink]

Any guesses on what the "Culinary Adventures in Signature Dining" lunches at ESPN Club will be like? It's hard to imagine paying $119 for lunch there, but maybe it will be something special and unique?! (Have those taken place there in years past?)

I talked with Chef Anthony last year and he was planning for a beer pairing luncheon to be held in a small section of the restaurant. This will be the first year for this event.
Karen

 

[YodasMom]

Is it me or are the Parisian events still not posted? I cant seem to find them

They're listed but not with the dates of the events. Description just mentions the days of the week and times they are held but states on "select" dates. They still need to clarify the dates, or if they are going to be weekly through out the festival.