Food and Wine Festival Booths w/Pics

[kathyg]

Just got back yesterday and thought I would post some of our pics and mini reviews of the Food and Wine Festival Booths. Just DH and myself on this 8 day vacation. It was our first trip without the kids, so we had plenty of time to enjoy the booths. We spent at least four afternoons (booths open at 11:00
AM) trying the food and still didn't get to sample everything. Tried to go light on the wine and beer because it was really, really hot plus we wanted to leave room for the food. Even though we shared each portion we couldn't eat as much as I would have liked.

Anyway,this is my first time reviewing the food and posting pics...hope you'll enjoy! I have pics of the booths and some of the menus too.

Montreal, Canada Booth

Cheddar Cheese Soup and Maple Glazed Salmon with Arugula and Roasted Corn

These were both terrific. The soup portion was small but very rich. The salmon was roasted perfectly and the aurgula was a tasty match. Couldn't really taste the corn though, but it certainly didn't matter. Definitelty recommend this booth.

 

[MemoryMakers2669]

Looking forward to your report! I love F&W.

 

[kathyg]

Athens, Greece

Spanakopita (Spinach and Cheese in Phyllo)

This was as good as any you'll find (and I love Greek food!). Since DH is not a spinach eater, I had this all to myself. It was wonderful and I wish I had gotten back to eat another.

San Juan, Puerto Rico

Mofongo (Mashed Platains with Baby Shrimp) and Plantain and Beef Casserole

The Plantain and Beef Casserole was the better of the two. The Mofongo was a bit too sweet for me. The plantains really overpowered both dishes so that was really the predominate flavor. Both dishes tasted quite similar. I love plantains, but would have like a bit more distinctive flavors.

More to come.....

 

[MickeyNicki]

Thanks for your pictures....we will be there in a week!

 

[romarbeardies]

Great review. We are looking forward to our first time at the Food and Wine Festive Oct 25-Nov 7 so this review is most timely. Love the pictures and can't wait for the rest

 

[kathyg]

Santiago, Chile

Spicy Beef Empanada, Dulce de Leche

The Empanada was delicious...not overly spicy with a nice, flaky crust. The Dulce de Leche was perfect....one of the best desserts at the booths (IMHO). Cold, smooth and creamy with a topping of what tasted like sweet bread and sliced almonds. Perfect combination!!

The Mouse Catch

Selection of Three Cheeses and Heineken Beer

This was one of our favorites. OK, well the cold beer on a HOT day didn't hurt much. But the cheese selection was so good that my DH (who is not a cheese eater) began ordering cheese plates at our dinners! The cheeses were: Asiago (a cow's milk cheese from Italy)- this was between a soft and crumbly texture, slightly sharp but very smooth. Excellent! ...Monchego (a sheep's milk cheese from Spain) - semi firm and creamy with a slight salty taste. Yummy!... and, Dorothea (goat's milk cheese from Holland) firm but soft and slightly nutty. Also excellent. I could have stayed here for an hour just munching on cheese and sipping a cold Heineken. All that was missing were some slices french baguette!

More coming.....

 

[ghidorah97]

Great pics! Thanks so much for sharing.

I guess I'm in the minority with my views on the Mofongo and the Plantain/Beef Casserole @ Puerto Rico. I loved them both!

Brad

 

[BriarRosie]

Yay! I loved the empanada and dulce de leche from last year. I can't wait to try the new stuff as well as my old favorites. The cheese especially. I get Manchego cheese from Whole Foods all the time.

 

[cdtommie]

Thanks for the pictures and reviews - too bad they didn't offer any craft beer to go along with great cheeses...Disney is so far behind on beer...really depressing.

 

[kathyg]

I'm so glad you are enjoying the reviews and pics. Doing this makes me want to go back and try the things I missed (and get seconds on the ones I liked). Here's some more....

Vienna, Austria

Beef Goulash w/Bacon Dumpling and Tafelspitz (Boiled Beef Brisket w/Red Potatoes and Horseradish Cream Sauce

These two weren't bad....just OK, really. The beef brisket wasn't very flavorful. The beef goulash was better, although I didn't care for the dumpling.

New Delhi, India

Samosa w/Tamarind Sauce

Once again, I thought this was somewhat flavorless. It was stuffed with potatoes and peas, but it had no flavor. The sauce didn't add much either.

 

[kathyg]

Munich, Germany

Sausage w/Sauerkraut in a Pretzel Roll

Spaetzle w/Creamy Mushroom Ragout and Apple Strudel

The sausage in the pretzel roll was really, really good. I was expecting a hot dog like thing, but it was so different...especially because of the pretzel roll which is...duh....like a pretzel. I was happy I had this all to myself since DH detests sauerkraut.

The spaetzle, on the other hand, my husband practically had to himself. I tasted it and was so disappointed. I don't know what I expected, but this wasn't it. The spaetzle was a bit hard (I thought it would be more like pasta, but it seems that it was a bit fried). The mushroom ragout tasted way to earthy for my taste. I love mushrooms, but the taste of this was strong. DH loved it though...licked the plate clean.

We both agreed, however, that the strudel was terrific. The pastry was perfect and the apples sweet and fresh. Would definitely recommend this to anyone who loves desserts.


Wellington, New Zealand

Bay Scallops w/Baby Greens and Cranberry Vinaigrette, Lamb Slider on a Brioche Roll and Kiwi Meringue Tart

Of all the booths I wanted to try, this was the one I looked forward to the most and the one I was most disappointed in.

The lamb slider was way to overpowered by the sauce which tasted like it came out of a brown gravy envelope. If they had used less sauce (or something else...maybe a chutney) it would have been so much better. The lamb was tender and flavorful, but its flavor was lost under all the sauce. The scallops were boring....totally tasteless. The kiwi tartlet was cute, but had a peculiar taste (and I'm not talking kiwi). Just didn't do it for me. However, DH seemed to like everything cause he gobbled it all up!

 

[Dawn16]

Thanks, these are awesome. Just what I was looking for in terms of F&W reviews! We leave on the 23rd and can't wait. Keem 'em coming!

 

[plutosgirl]

Thanks so much!! I can't wait to get there!!!!!

 

[mimi'sgirl]

Love your review. Thank you. Was looking forward to the lamb slider too. We leave in 20 days.

 

[kathyg]

Louisiana

Seafood Gumbo, Crawfish Etoufee and Praline Bread Pudding

These were very spicy (at least for me...though probably not for most). I had a taste of each but couldn't eat anymore because of the spice. They also kind of tasted the same to me but I was sorry I couldn't enjoy them as much as DH did. He thought they were perfect!! Too bad they didn't make a "mild" version, because I know I would have loved it too. The bread pudding was good...not great. A bit too sweet, especially with the caramel sauce.


Melbourne, Australia

Pepperberry Prawns on the Barbie w/Sweet Potato Has, Grilled Lamb Chops with Caramelized Onion Jam and Wattleseed Mousse

The lamb chop was far and away my absolute favorite of the festival. What's not to like about a lamb chop anyway? It was so good that I went back our last morning and drooled over another one while my DH (who was observing Yom Kippur) drooled vicariously and then averted his eyes. These chops were done to perfection! And it's hard to believe that the topping was just onions....unless Australian onions are shaped liked small berries and just as sweet. But whatever that topping was, it was perfection!!!!

The prawns were also very good, but I didn't think that the sweet potato hash was a great accompaniment. Probably just me...but I thought the sweet potato overshadowed the delicate taste of the shrimp. But still, I would definitely get this again.

So, what is a wattleseed, you ask? Well, I did and was told that it was similar to a poppy seed. I really couldn't taste any poppyseed, but the wattleseed just didn't move me. Enough said.

More coming up.....

 

[TigerKat]

Thanks so much for the pics and reviews. I'm taking notes and will be ready to roam the booths.......

 

[kathyg]

Krakow, Poland

Kielbasa and Potato Pierogies with Carmalized Onions and Sour Cream

I don't know where the Kielbasa went in the picture. I know it was there, although there wasn't that much so it may be hiding under the onion. The kielbasa was just ok. The pierogies was really heavy and very dense...not at all like homemade. I only had my first pierogies (is that a singular or a plural???) last year when I went to my future daughter-in-law's house. They were amazing....so light and airy. These were nothing like that. Maybe I would have liked them (it) if I hadn't had the real thing.

Mexico City

Chilaquiles, Quesadilla con Chorizo and Capirotada

The quesadilla was really good, although for the life of me I couldn't taste any chorizo...unless, of course, chorizo means cheese (which I know it doesn't). Nonetheless, it was good, gooey and cheesy. I'm really not sure what he chilaquiles was because I had one little bite and didn't care for it. My husband told me it had chicken in it and had a strong poultry taste (which he knows I cannot stomach). The green chile topping was not very spicy for those who don't like the heat. He liked it though. The dessert was very tasty, but for the life of me I couldn't taste any chocolate. It was like a very, very dense bread pudding, not overly sweet though, with raisins, I think. I did like it and would have had seconds if I had the time.

Still more.....

 

[kathyg]

Shanghai, China

Chicken Sha Cha and Pork Pot Stickers

The pot stickers were good...as good as you would get at your local chinese restaurant. They were on the heavy side, so don't expect something light and airy. The filling was good and the sauce piquant enough to balance out the dough. I barely nibbled on the chicken because, as I said before, I don't like that intense poultry taste and I gag if I see skin. But the nibble I had was good and DH really enjoyed it.

More.....

 

[kathyg]

San Francisco

Roasted Beet Salad with Goat Cheese and Strawberry Shortcake

I was so looking forward to the roasted beet salad since it is one of my all time favorites. I suppose when your expectations are high, you are bound to be disappointed. This was so, so tasteless. Hard to imagine that a beet could be tasteless, but believe me it was. The goat cheese was ok, but the dressing did absolutely nothing to enhance or compliment the flavors of the beets, the cheese or the greens. Hard to believe that this one could be boring but it definitely was. The strawberry shortcake, on the other hand, was wonderful. The strawberries were plump, sweet and juicy, the shortcake crumbly, moist and not overly sweet, and the whipped cream perfect. All I can say is I wish I had one right now. Try it...you won't be disappointed!!!!

Bologna, Italy

Baked Ziti and Moretti Beer

This was our last morning at the F&W Festival and I was craving some pasta even though it was only 11:00 AM. I was hesitant to try this since I'm Italian and am rarely excited by Italian food other than my own. But I was pleasantly surprised! The portion was the largest of any we experienced at the booths and because it was Yom Kippur, I had to eat this all myself while my repentent husband could only glance on longingly. The pasta was actually al dente (not mushy like I expected), the sauce light and the cheese sufficient. I think it may have had meat in it (or those brown specks were parts of those nasty bugs I saw flying around). Anyway, the meat was definitely not a star in this dish. All in all, it was tasty and I would not hesitate to recommend it. The Moretti beer was consumed only to ward off pre-flight jitters, but it was also tasty going down.

Last, but not least (or maybe it is least)

Lyon, France

Goat Cheese and Leek Quiche, Milk Chocolate Creme Brulee and Chardonnay Macon-Villages Georges Duboeuf

One thing I will say about French food is that it is either really good or really bad. In this case it was a dissatisfying ending to an otherwise tasty jaunt through the Food and Wine Festival booths. The quiche could have been better but for the leeks and the pastry. The pastry was as heavy as a hockey puck and the leeks seem to have been pulled from the discarded trim pile (think of chewing on the top of an artichoke leaf). Moving on to the creme brulee...what could be bad??? Well, it tasted just like a sugar free jello chocolate pudding pack...only worse. Both went in the trash after two small bites (I gave each another chance after the first bite). The wine, again, was only purchased to aide in my quest to curtail my pre-flight jitters. Though it didn't succeed in that, it was a fine thirst quencher. My advise is to spend your disney dollars elsewhere.

Coming up....a few closing thoughts.

 

[frdeb1999]

Love the pics and review!