Food & Wine Festival from April 16 to May 31, 2010

[caldisneyfan]

I have been watching on disneys sight every few days. Here are the details is anyone going??


Signature Events

Signature Events** provide once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for food lovers to enjoy world-class cuisine — including cooking classes, wine tastings and dishes inspired by celebrity chefs.

Online registration for Signature Events starts February 16, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. Please check back as we will be updating our schedule.

Celebrate "The Art of Flavor" and enjoy the following exciting Signature Events. On the menu for the fifth annual Festival:



Taste Food-Wine-Life Eat, drink and enjoy a celebration for all your senses! Experience the most anticipated event of the Festival in "grand-tasting" style.


Date: Saturday, May 29, 2010
Time: 7:00 to 10:00 p.m.
Price: $135 per person, plus tax. Gratuity included.

Advanced reservations are required — online registration for Signature Events begins February 16, 2010. Please check back for details.

Admission to Disney's California Adventure® Park is not required for this event. It is recommended that Guests be at least 21 years of age to attend this event.


Napa Rose Cooking School Led by Executive Chef Andrew Sutton, this very popular event takes place in the beautiful show kitchen of the Napa Rose restaurant on selected Saturday mornings during the Festival. Awaken your inner chef as you create your own culinary masterpiece, a gourmet four-course meal, which is enjoyed at the conclusion of the class.


Date: Saturdays, April 17, May 1, 8, 15 and 22
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Location: Napa Rose, Disney's Grand California Hotel®
Price: $475 per person, plus tax. Gratuity included.

Advanced reservations are required — online registration for Signature Events begins February 16, 2010. Please check back for details.

Guests must be at least 18 years of age to attend this event. For your safety, closed-toe shoes and long pants are required.


Winemaker Dinners Raise a glass and toast the artistry of renowned winemakers. Select Friday evenings at Steakhouse 55, Chef Jason Martin creates an exceptional pairing menu to showcase outstanding wines and the winemakers who create them.


Date: Fridays, April 23, 30, May 14 and 21
Time: 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Location: Steakhouse 55, Disneyland® Hotel
Price: $135 per person, plus tax. Gratuity included.

Scheduled to Attend
April 23: Jeff Stewart, Buena Vista Carneros
April 30: Diana Schweiger, Schweiger Vineyards
May 14: Don Hartford, Hartford Family Wines
May 21: Groth Vineyards & Winery

Advanced reservations are required — online registration for Signature Events begins February 16, 2010. Please check back for details.


NEW! Brewmaster Dinner The essential ingredients for this memorable evening include fresh seasonal fare artfully paired with quality, handcrafted beers from the Karl Strauss Brewing Company.


Dates: Friday, May 7
Time: 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Location: Steakhouse 55, the Disneyland® Hotel
Price: $110 per person, plus tax. Gratuity included.

Advanced reservations are required — online registration for Signature Events begins February 16, 2010. Please check back for details.


Sweet Sundays The sweetest event of the 2009 Festival is back and just as sweet as ever! Presented by Martini & Rossi and Ghiradelli, this event presents outstanding pastry chefs, bakers and chocolatiers on select Sunday mornings in the new Festival Showplace.


Date: Sundays, April 18, May 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30
Time: 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Location: Festival Showplace, Hollywood Pictures Backlot, Disney's California Adventure® Park
Price: $70 per person, plus tax, gratuity included.

Advanced reservations are required — online registration for Signature Events begins February 16, 2010. Please check back for details.

Theme Park admission is required for this event and is not included in the event price.


"Taste Wine Like an Expert" Select Saturday afternoons at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel® & Spa. Join Advanced Sommelier Joy Cushing for a course that introduces you to the joys of wine tasting and the unique characteristics found in every glass. You will use your newfound skills to participate in a "blind tasting" to identify four different wines.


Dates: Saturdays, May 1, 8, 15 and 22
Time: 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Location: Disney's Grand Californian Hotel® Conference Center
Price: $55 per person, plus tax, gratuity included.

Advanced reservations are required — online registration for Signature Events begins February 16, 2010. Please check back for details.
Guests must be at least 21 years of age to attend this event.

Seminars & Demonstrations

Learn about your favorite foods and wines as experts share their knowledge and passion. Reservations are not required. These events are first-come, first-seated and will fill up quickly. You are encouraged to arrive early. Queues will form outside of the venue.


Wine, Beer and Spirits Education and Tasting Seminars

Explore the exciting world of wine, beer and spirits by attending an educational seminar led by a noted winemaker, master brewer, distiller or Disneyland® Resort sommelier.

All events and schedules are subject to change without notice. Guests must be at least 21 years of age to attend wine, beer or spirits seminars, demonstrations and events. Please bring valid photo identification. Guests must purchase a tasting wristband to attend Wine, Beer and Spirits Education and Tasting Seminars. Wristbands are available for purchase in the queue before each seminar for $1.00, cash only, while supplies last.


Culinary Demonstrations

Enjoy delicious demonstrations with chefs from Disneyland® Resort and Downtown Disney® District, as well as from noted guest chefs and celebrity chefs. Watch the experts in action and learn new twists on timeless classics, the A to Zs of spices, essential cooking tips and more.



Junior Chef

Join the fun at this hands-on culinary experience designed for aspiring chefs ages 11 and under.



Places to Discover

Enjoy the talents of artists and musicians, encourage your junior chef, or quench your thirst from an international beer menu at the Brewers Collection. Located in Stage 12, the Festival Showplace lets you sample the delicious tapas menu at the "Taste of California" Marketplace; attend an event, demonstration or seminar; shop for unique merchandise; or purchase from a vast selection of wines showcased at the Festival's seminars and events.


Festival Welcome Center
Located in the entrance plaza of Disney's California Adventure® Park, the Festival Welcome Center is the hub for all up-to-date Festival information including daily event schedules and Signature Event reservations (if available).


Festival Artisans

Be sure to visit the local artisans while browsing an array of culinary and wine-inspired crafts, original art, and gourmet home and food products. Located in the Pacific Wharf.


Festival-Inspired Dining

Enjoy unique Festival foods created especially for Disney's California Food & Wine Festival and welcome back some of your favorites. Delicious Festival-inspired items are available throughout Disney's California Adventure® Park. Expertly paired wines and beer may also be available for purchase.

Selected Disneyland® Resort restaurants will offer prix-fixe dining options highlighting the tastes celebrated at the Fifth Annual Disney's California Food & Wine Festival.


Festival Wine Walks

Your passport to the wines of the world! Take a tasting tour of the finest wine regions and travel the globe without ever leaving the Festival. Each walk allows you to purchase a tasting passport and select up to four tastes from around the world, or from a single region.


Festival Beer Walk

Celebrate the fine art of beer-making and sample amazing ales, lagers and craft beer from around the globe.


Brewer's Collection

Enjoy a wide selection of international beer and Festival treats. Selected beers are available by the glass.

 

[nunzia]

I'm going! None of the signature events really grabbed me, but I'm looking forward to all the other things..Is there a place with details about last year's festival?

 

[franandaj]

I'm going to five of the signature events including the cooking school. I'm so excited I've already started my Trip Report/Review by recapping 2008 & 2009!

 

[Grumpy Grandma]

I've never been to the CA Food and Wine but have been to Epcot. I've been trying to find out if they have any band playing like in Florida - eat to the beat? Can anyone answer this???

 

[franandaj]

I've never been to the CA Food and Wine but have been to Epcot. I've been trying to find out if they have any band playing like in Florida - eat to the beat? Can anyone answer this???

No, there isn't really any kind of stage where they could do this. The festival focuses a lot more on the Wine (beer & spirits) aspects too. The kiosks at Epcot serve mostly food with paired wines, but there are "Wine & Beer Walks" in DCA, where you purchase a "passport" and that entitles you to three or four pours of the wines they are featuring. In addition they have tastings (used to be complimentary, this year they will be $1) that take place 3-4 times throughout the day, different wineries, breweries, or I even did a tequila one. They take place all day, however one winery/brewery/distillery might be repeated over the course of a weekend or the festival.

I know they had these tastings at Epcot but because of the weather, they are all held in the Festival Pavillion, so you don't really see them. At DCA they are held in a special garden seating area, and the queue is right out in a major walkway, or the Beer and Spirits are held right in the middle of the Pacific Wharf area. Personally I like the CA Festival better, but maybe that's because I can go almost every weekend or even during the week if I wanted!

 

[Grumpy Grandma]

Thanks for the info frananda. I was hoping it was more like the Epcot one. As a side note I'm in Northern Ca but would like to relocate to Long Beach - small world.

 

[pdxJolene]

We didn't plan for it, but I'll be there April 14-18th so were planning on catching some of it Saturday night! I'm really hoping it doesn't effect the ride wait times TOO much, hopefully everyone will have too much booze in them to be spinnin' around! Is all but the actual comsumption of alcohol available for minors to enjoy?




And Happy St. Patty's day to everyone!

 

[Luv4Disney]

We too have only been to the Epcot Food & Wine Festival. Is it only wine tastings?

 

[franandaj]

We didn't plan for it, but I'll be there April 14-18th so were planning on catching some of it Saturday night! I'm really hoping it doesn't effect the ride wait times TOO much, hopefully everyone will have too much booze in them to be spinnin' around! Is all but the actual comsumption of alcohol available for minors to enjoy?

The CA F&W Festival is still one of the hidden gems at the park, not too many people know about it (at least that was the case last year). Also most of the people going for the Festival aren't going so much for the rides, they are going to see the cooking demonstrations and do the tastings.

We too have only been to the Epcot Food & Wine Festival. Is it only wine tastings?

There are three tents (or at least I'm basing this on last year), one for culinary demos, one for wine (this actually takes place on a patio in the Golden Vine Winery) and a beer & spirits tent. These are events that occur 3-4 times daily and you just get in line and have a seat about 15 minutes before the event. Sometimes they are simple demos by a local chef and sometimes there are celebrities there, in the case of celebrities count on waiting 3-4 hours to get a seat. You get a sample of whatever food is made, during the demo. These demos are much more prominent than at Epcot as the culinary tent is in Sunshine Plaza which is sort of the equivalent of "at the end of Main Street" for DCA.

This year they are introducing the "Taste of California" Marketplace which will serve tapas sized tasting plates (for purchase of course), and I expect this will be similar to the Epcot kiosks. The Food Police in California has much stricter laws than in Florida so evidently setting up the kiosks around the park is not allowed. In fact the Festival Director Jim Ames told me last year that the health department came to every one of his events last year to inspect for storage, temperature, handling etc.

Those two things are the only areas that persons under 21 can go to, culinary demos and ToCM, all the other events including Signature events, one must be 21. They have the Lounge at the Golden Vine Winery where they serve appetizers and small plates along with flights of wine or wine by the glass, but no one under 21 is allowed up there either.

I've been working on sort of a "Pre Trip Report" recapping my experiences for the last two years and there is a link in my signature. My next post will include pictures from the culinary demos (I only attended two last year) and a couple of tastings from the Beer & Spirits tent. Mostly I attended Signature Events last year, this year I hope to do a little more of the every day offerings.