Food and Wine Festival booth listing scan

[ghidorah97]

Lots of complaints about the number of free seminars. I guess since it has been five years since I last attended, I wasn't really bothered with the number.

We just got back last night and attended two culinary demos on Saturday, and they were both spectacular, so I've left with a VERY strong positive feeling about the free activities. I am, admittedly, surprised at the light Monday through Wednesday schedules, but since my trip was just a long weekend, it didn't bother me at all.

I'll be working on a detailed review of my Bocuse d'Or Grand Gala experience, along with pics of me with John Besh, Daniel Boulud, Paul Bocuse and others(assuming they all came out okay) and, of course, the FOOD!

Brad

 

[webray]

Ok, pics and review of the Bocuse weekend for hubby and I posted on review board. Hope you enjoy.

Brad..can't belive we missed you!

 

[kabuki]

Lots of complaints about the number of free seminars. I guess since it has been five years since I last attended, I wasn't really bothered with the number.

We just got back last night and attended two culinary demos on Saturday, and they were both spectacular, so I've left with a VERY strong positive feeling about the free activities. I am, admittedly, surprised at the light Monday through Wednesday schedules, but since my trip was just a long weekend, it didn't bother me at all.

I'll be working on a detailed review of my Bocuse d'Or Grand Gala experience, along with pics of me with John Besh, Daniel Boulud, Paul Bocuse and others(assuming they all came out okay) and, of course, the FOOD!

Brad

Thanks for letting us know about the free seminars! My husband and I usually try and do a lot of the wine ones. Do you know how many people that classes are able to hold (an estimate)?
Can't wait for your Bocuse review!

 

[AladdinsPrincess]

Hi all,

My husband and I just returned from a 3-day weeked at the F&W Fest. I have mixed feelings! We are big fans of the wine seminars so I was crushed to see the dramatic drop in seminars this year. In addition to that blow on Friday, we were also frustrated by the fact that all day, no one working for Epcot could tell us whether or not the food booths would be open for EMH. Most of them said no, but then the booths ended up being open till about 10 pm. Seemed like they stayed open till they were out of food. Way to stress me out though!!

I felt like the food was more expensive this year but I also thought the portion sizes were bigger. DH and I would hit two or three booths and be full! In three days, we didn't come close to sampling everything we wanted to. I also thought the quality of the food was terrific. The beef tenderloin in San Francisco was awesome, the tuna in Spain was great, and the shrimp plates in both India and Australia were nice sized, plump shrimp.

We also watched the Bocuse d'Or competitions during the day which were spectacular. Amazing to see such world famous chefs! Almost made me forget my dissapointment over the lack of wine seminars.

We had a great time overall and will be back next weekend. And the weekend after that...

K

 

[ghidorah97]

Brad..can't belive we missed you!

I'm very sorry that we didn't run into each other! Would have really enjoyed the opportunity to say hi to a fellow DIS foodie! Can't wait to go through your pics when I get home tonight. I am definitely VERY disappointed that I didn't know about the AMEX VIP benefits beforehand. They really came through for you!

Thanks for letting us know about the free seminars! My husband and I usually try and do a lot of the wine ones. Do you know how many people that classes are able to hold (an estimate)?
Can't wait for your Bocuse review!

While I didn't attend any of the wine ones, the seating capacity seemed about the same to me as the culinary ones which I guesstimated at about 100. They have three demo areas -- one for wine/champagne/liquors, one for culinary, and another for "authentic tastes"/author interviews (the authentic tastes were things like vanilla (you tasted a couple different types of vanilla) and maple syrup).

I thought the set-up inside was very well-designed and thought-out. Definitely appreciated that I didn't have to wait in a line outside!

 

[kabuki]

I'm very sorry that we didn't run into each other! Would have really enjoyed the opportunity to say hi to a fellow DIS foodie! Can't wait to go through your pics when I get home tonight. I am definitely VERY disappointed that I didn't know about the AMEX VIP benefits beforehand. They really came through for you!



While I didn't attend any of the wine ones, the seating capacity seemed about the same to me as the culinary ones which I guesstimated at about 100. They have three demo areas -- one for wine/champagne/liquors, one for culinary, and another for "authentic tastes"/author interviews (the authentic tastes were things like vanilla (you tasted a couple different types of vanilla) and maple syrup).

I thought the set-up inside was very well-designed and thought-out. Definitely appreciated that I didn't have to wait in a line outside!

Thanks for the info!

 

[disneynutz]

I am definitely VERY disappointed that I didn't know about the AMEX VIP benefits beforehand. They really came through for you!

I'm always looking for benefits!!! Where do I find more info?

Thanks

 

[MickeyNicki]

For anyone that has been to the F&W 08 can you tell me if Twinnings Tea in England has the ice tea stand and if there is a daquiri stand at the entrance to the countries like in 07?

Many thanks!

 

[weluvslinkydog]

Thanks to all of the great first reports! I CAN'T WAIT!

So...about 100 people? Do you think that is about the same as last year for the wine seminars? I was wondering if they may have expanded the seating to compensate for the seminars being fewer in number?

also...I will check through this further to see if I can figure out the AMEX benefits? was that just for the special event you attended?

Thanks!

 

[kathyg]

I was glancing at the brochure that was posted here and it said that all events (unless ohterwise noted) are held at the Welcome Center. So, OK....where is the Welcome Center????

 

[karrit2000]

In the old Wonders of Life Pavilion. It is in Future World between Universe of Energy & Mission Space.

 

[TDC Nala]

Was at the festival center today and they had a demo schedule set up for Wednesday. No demos in the culinary demo venue Monday or Tuesday.

 

[iluvpluto27]

Thanks to all of the great first reports! I CAN'T WAIT!

So...about 100 people? Do you think that is about the same as last year for the wine seminars? I was wondering if they may have expanded the seating to compensate for the seminars being fewer in number?

also...I will check through this further to see if I can figure out the AMEX benefits? was that just for the special event you attended?

Thanks!

Hi, I was there today and the seating didn't look much bigger than last year. We got there before 12, thinking about attending the 12:45 seminar and there was already a huge queue. Last year on a weekday we could arrive about 20 minutes ahead of schedule and have no problems getting in. The seminars are good but I'm not waiting for nearly an hour for them. We'll try again later this week, and see what the queues are like then.

 

[webray]

I'm always looking for benefits!!! Where do I find more info?

Thanks

Bocuse d'or may or may not be back ever again. NO need to worry about it now, the shortest time would be 2010.

 

[webray]

also...I will check through this further to see if I can figure out the AMEX benefits? was that just for the special event you attended?

Thanks!

That was just for the bocuse event..and that may or may not be back ever again.

 

[webray]

For anyone that has been to the F&W 08 can you tell me if Twinnings Tea in England has the ice tea stand and if there is a daquiri stand at the entrance to the countries like in 07?

Many thanks!

Don't recall any daquiri stand. I didn't see the little twinnings tea truck either, doesn't mean it wasn't there though. We were excited to get to Bocuse event and festival center.

 

[AladdinsPrincess]

Nope, no Twinings tea this year in the UK. Last year, the Dominican Republic had a whole big set up but they're not there this year either. A couple of the other countries had frozen cocktails although they are much smaller cups and about the same price.