No Louisiana at FW Festival??!!??

[~tinkerbell~]

Has anybody noticed? At this year's Food and Wine Festival they no longer have Louisiana in the Marketplace? The crawfish etoufee and the Caramel Bourbon bread pudding (I think that's what it was called) were two of my absolute favorites, I thought they were fantastic. I believe they were highly rated on All Ears too. I wonder why they did away with it?

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Reasons:
1) It is not a country.
2) Unknown quality of Gulf seafood (you know, oil).

 

[TDC Nala]

Louisiana may have also declined to sponsor a booth this year (or, they weren't asked). But there will be bread pudding somewhere in the American pavilion.

 

[redzinner]

Louisiana may have also declined to sponsor a booth this year (or, they weren't asked). But there will be bread pudding somewhere in the American pavilion.

The Hops and Barley kiosk is scheduled to serve Pecan Bread Pudding as a sweet.

 

[MODisneyfan]

Reasons:
2) Unknown quality of Gulf seafood (you know, oil).

There is a VERY high chance that is the reason.. That would my best bet. Maybe after everything is cleaned up they will bring it back!

 

[mimlou]

Considering that the Louisiana kiosk had crawfish dish and not shrimp or other saltwater seafood, theimpact of the oil spill on Louisiana seafood from the the gulf would not be the reason for not having Louisiana kiosk. Crawfish is a freshwater creature living in basins and ponds...not near the gulf!

 

[Rafikifan]

Considering that the Louisiana kiosk had crawfish dish and not shrimp or other saltwater seafood, theimpact of the oil spill on Louisiana seafood from the the gulf would not be the reason for not having Louisiana kiosk. Crawfish is a freshwater creature living in basins and ponds...not near the gulf!

This is correct. Crawfish aren't affected by the oil spill.

 

[msjprincess]

Don't they usually have a different state each year?

I know when we went in 2004 there was a Florida booth and in 2007 there was an Oklahoma booth.

 

[karrit2000]

The special booths are dependent upon someone being willing to pay for sponsoring them. I attended a special event in May where they told us that the representative from the Puglia Region of Italy would be in attendance again this year yet there is no mention of it in the guidebook. They had a special area set up for their food demos in past years. Personally I miss the Australia Walk-about set up more than the Louisiana one. They also had a special Booth for Spain a few years back that I didn't really get a chance to visit. I think a lot of former and/or prospective sponsors are very hesitant to commit to a 6 week sponsorship in today's economy. I'm hoping that there will be some unannounced surprises for this years festival but I'm not counting on it. The special exhibits appear to be totally nonexistent this year. In past years they had special exhibitions that didn't run for the entire festival but would only be there for a week or two.

 

[JarrothsMom]

You have just decided what I am making for dinner tonight..mmmm...I am a Texan Cajun!!!

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Don't they usually have a different state each year?

I know when we went in 2004 there was a Florida booth and in 2007 there was an Oklahoma booth.

I read the same thing a few years ago. I read they're supposed to be highlighting different US states each year.

 

[TDC Nala]

They may have changed their minds about highlighting different US states each and every year. Disney changes its collective mind quite often.

 

[Polydweller]

They may have changed their minds about highlighting different US states each and every year. Disney changes its collective mind quite often.

You can't really put that on Disney. The booth has to be sponsored by someone and if they don't find a sponsor then no booth.

 

[oybolshoi]

I read the same thing a few years ago. I read they're supposed to be highlighting different US states each year.

I never heard that.

I think it's totally random - Disney approaches cities and / or states and feels them out for interest. It's all part of their state and local tourism budget and who the heck really has room to waste on that this year? I'd be outraged to find out that our tax dollars were going to Disney to sponsor a booth on the off chance that it might drum up some tourism when teachers and police officers are being furloughed.

 

[triciari]

Is there a link where I can see what is offered?

 

[TDC Nala]

It's definitely possible that Disney did not plan to have any state sponsored booths this year.

 

[Mr. Pig]

Here is a list of the 2010 offerings

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/guides/epcot/events/FWmenus.htm

 

[Cheshire Figment]

They may have changed their minds about highlighting different US states each and every year. Disney changes its collective mind quite often.

I would suggest editing this to remove "collective" and replace it with "alleged".

 

[karrit2000]

I would suggest editing this to remove "collective" and replace it with "alleged".

I second this motion.

 

[mom_of_3_70737]

I seriously doubt that the oil spill is the reason. We live in SW Louisiana and the oil spill has surely affected people along our coast's livelyhood, out wetlands/marshlands, and some of the seafood, but there is still plenty that is ok to eat! We went out to a local favorite seafood restaurant tonight and had a wonderful meat of local favorites!