Have you been to F&W festival this year?

[ufgator]

I'm going this weekend and will be at the Food and Wine Festival on Friday. I just wanted to know how it is this year and what not to miss (or what to avoid). I know www.allearsnet.com has info but I just wanted to hear what others personally thought. Thanks!

 

[Ted and Holly]

We have been attending the cooking presentations. They have been very good.

Ted

 

[SG1Fan]

check out the trip reports section. Alot of people are reporting on it within the last week or 2. I will be there in 10 days .

 

[RickNWendy]

Check times at USA for a free beer tasting presented by Sam Adams

Very good overall. Seems slightly higher pricing from what I heard about a year or 2 ago. No complaints though!

 

[skiwee1]

We were there last week. I generally don't eat the food or drink the wine though! The few times I've had the food I've thought it nasty. We did break down and get a shrimp roll from the Florida stand. I mean, how bad could it be since it was local, right? Well it was BAD. The shrimp had no flavor and it came swimming in some watery looking juice, trying to be mayo perhaps, and it made the little roll soggy. One bite and we tossed them. That was my F&W experience for this year. We did get to see Kool and the Gang in concert. That was the only thing good about the F&W Festival.

 

[chyam]

Totally different experience here..........I was there last week and went 4 nights in a row, mostly to enjoy Starship but also to eat........I had the Boma Beef from South Africa, Cheddar Cheese soup from Canada (also the maple fudge!) The chocolate creme burlee from France, Beef Stoganoff and some others and I found it all to be good, many people I spoke to enjoyed the Salmon in Norway, I can't eat fish or seafood, but anyone that I spoke to said they were enjoying the food. I also tried the Ice Wine in Canada, and Goats do roam wine in South Africa, I will be returning for some day trips throughout the month, and am really looking forward to the GOOD food.

 

[MariaTia2]

Do you have to have cash at the F & W food stands or will they accept room charge? Thanks -

 

[safetymom]

I had the shrimp roll and my daughter and I loved it! The ice wine in Canada is great. Chocolate Creme Brulee in France was very good. I love the Greek booth. Also enjoyed the Shrimp on the Barbie from Australia was good.

I haven't had a bad meal yet. It does seem though that I am seeing more and more people that maybe should cut down on their drinking.

It was very very crowded tonight around the American area with the Beach Boys concert.

 

[AFMom]

My mouth is watering just thinking about it! The Chicken Tikka at the India booth is wonderful!!! My DH really liked the Durban Chicken at the South African booth.... Let's see,,,, We weren't too impressed with Italy's chocolate stuff - thought we should have skipped that one - Oh! Spain's gaspacho was great!
Have fun eating your way around - wish I was back again!

 

[lovethattink]

We were there tonight. It was packed, especially around the American Pavilion. The Beach Boys were great! Yes, they do I saw a sign at one of the booths that they do accept certain credit cards and room keys.

 

[AladdinsPrincess]

We were there the past two weekends and LOVED it! I think we sampled a few things that didn't suit us, but it really just depends on your personal tastes. I love the maple salmon in Canada, the spanikopita in Greece and pretty much anything at the chocolate piedmont booth! Try to take advantage of a wine tasting seminar - they're free and fun and we always learn a little something to dazzle our friends with at the next dinner party! The concerts at night really make it a party atmosphere too. We had a fantastic time - hope you will too!

 

[Pugsley]

Our favorite thing was the baked ziti in Italy. Yum! I also always love the chicken taco in Mexico. I really like shrimp, but wasn't too impressed with the two kinds of shrimp I tried. The one in Canada was too peppery for me and there was another shrimp dish (I can't remember which booth -- it wasn't the Florida one) that was wrapped in lettuce and it didn't have much taste. Had a blast and saw Kool and the Gang and Starship. Especially loved Kool and the Gang; they sounded as good as ever and the place was rockin!

 

[princess pooh]

Originally posted by Ted and Holly
We have been attending the cooking presentations. They have been very good.

Ted

I did two of those and they were a lot of fun! The samples were really yummy . If Jon Ashton is presenting anything do not miss it!!!! He was so funny, I was crying from laughing so hard!

This was my first F&W and I hope I can go back next year. I liked being able to try different kinds of food . There sure were a lot of tipsy people though!

Did anyone see "The Art of Preparing Tea"? I wanted to catch it but we ran out of time

 

[bunnyfoo]

I really liked the booth from India and loved the quesedilla from Mexico and the lamb from New Zealand. The curry soup from Japan and the peanut chicken skewer from China were also tasty too. I didn't care for the spicy shrimp from Florida, the tempura dish from Japan or the cheddar cheese soup from Canada (I thought it was waaay too salty).

I picked up a recipe book from the F&W festival center which includes recipes for all the dishes they serve at the booths. Tonight I'm going to try making the vegetarian curry from India

 

[floridagirrl2]

DH and I were there a week and a half ago--we also saw Kool and the Gang (and will see Three Dog Night when we return in another weekand a half!).

The first night, we ate at The Rose and Crown and were too full to do any sampling. We just strolled around the World and listened to The British Invasion in England, rode on the Rio in Mexico, watched the Chinese acrobats, etc.

The second night, DH wasn't hungry (except for beer ) and so I was the only one to sample food--I had the veggie couscous in Morocco plus a tasty Moroccan white wine. I also had veggie curry in India and a glass of Iron Horse Fairy Tale cuvee (sparkling white wine).

We had a fantastic time and are looking forward to returning for 3 nights at the end of October.

 

[Ted and Holly]

Originally posted by princess pooh
I did two of those and they were a lot of fun! The samples were really yummy . If Jon Ashton is presenting anything do not miss it!!!! He was so funny, I was crying from laughing so hard!

This was my first F&W and I hope I can go back next year. I liked being able to try different kinds of food . There sure were a lot of tipsy people though!

Did anyone see "The Art of Preparing Tea"? I wanted to catch it but we ran out of time

SHHH!!!! PLEASE don't let that sectret out of the bag! You already need to line up for Jon an hour ahead of time!

Ok, now that you DID mention it, I'd like to add that the Jon Ashton presentations are one of the most entertaining things I have seen at WDW.

Princess Pooh - Did you see the Scallop or the Bread and Soup presentation?

Ted

 

[jiminyC_fan]

Ok guys, I leave in a week and plan to go but.......I have heard of the food part but never knew about the bands. How cool is that? How do I find out who is playing next Thurs or Fri? Thanks!

 

[chyam]

If you are talking about the 14th and 15th the band will be The Temptations Review if you are talking about the 21st and 22nd it will be The Commodores.

 

[princess pooh]

Originally posted by Ted and Holly
Princess Pooh - Did you see the Scallop or the Bread and Soup presentation?

Ted [/B]

Bread and soup . That was actually the longest line I waited in the whole trip but it was worth it! My mom is still talking about it.

 

[Ted and Holly]

Originally posted by princess pooh
Bread and soup . That was actually the longest line I waited in the whole trip but it was worth it! My mom is still talking about it.

"Oohhhhh! Ahhhhh!"

That was definitely a GREAT time. And not to mention, the 45 minute presentation lasted an hour and a half.

We actually skipped the 5:45pm presentation and got in line when that presentation was being let in. We never left the area after the 4:30 presentation let out. We know how popular Jon is and we knew it would be a packed house.

We plan on seeing every Jon Ashton presentation. They are just too good to miss!

Ted