Our Food & Wine Festival Capsule Reviews with Photos - Complete!

[Sweet Melissa]

Pugmalion1 and I (along with the Swedish Chef) spent several days enjoying the festival marketplace booths at Epcot's International Food & Wine Festival last week. We thought we'd upload our photos and give brief reviews of the items we tasted, booth by booth.

Table of Contents

Page One

• Australia
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Caribbean
• Mexico
• Scandanavia
• China
• South Korea
• South Africa
• Cheese
• Brewer's Collection
• Germany
• Poland
• Italy
• Fife & Drum
• Hops & Barley

Page Two

• Singapore
• Japan
• New Zealand
• Morocco
• Portugal
• Belgium
• France
• Ireland
• Canada
• Greece

Page Three

• Desserts and Champagne
• Hawaiʻi
• Craft Beers


So without further ado, let's get started!

Australia

The only thing we had from the Australia booth was the Grilled Lamb Chop with Potato-Goat Cheese Salad and Shiraz Reduction.

We thought that the lamb chop was cooked perfectly, and its minimal seasoning amplified the natural flavor of the lamb without being a distraction. The potato salad was delicious. It had a dressing that was vinegary, though not overpowering. The goat cheese was a little harder and more salty than I was expecting, more like a feta than a chèvre. It worked well with the other flavors regardless. So did the Shiraz reduction, although we both agreed that it could have been reduced a little more so that it would have a stronger flavor and be more viscous. As it was, it didn't taste like enough of the alcohol had cooked out of it.


Brazil

Brazil's National Dish - Feijoada (Black Bean and Pork Stew)

Danny (Pugmalion1) liked the Feijoada because it reminded him of a Southern black bean recipe. I thought it was a little lacking in flavor. I wish the pork had more of a presence. I couldn't really taste it at all.

Seared Mahi-Mahi with Steamed Rice, Hearts of Palm and Coconut-Lime Sauce

We were both lukewarm on this. We actually passed on this item several times because the booth smelled "fishy", which is almost never a good thing. Eventually our curiosity was piqued enough to try it, but it was kind of flavorless. I remember really liking the hearts of palm, but the rest of the dish is unremarkable.


Argentina

Beef Empanada

Grilled Beef Skewer with Chimichurri Sauce and Boniato Purée

The empanada was not exciting. It had a nice, flaky pastry (which is not my thing at all) and it had a mellow spice profile that one could easily recreate at home with only minimal experimentation.

The beef skewer, however, was perfect! Seriously, the flank steak was ideally marinated, and the chimichurri sauce was extremely refreshing. We had no experience with boniato prior to trying this dish but definitely want to acquaint ourselves with it now. We aren't fans of the more traditional sweet potatoes because they're a little too sweet, but the boniato was a great balance of sweet and savory.

Up Next: Caribbean, Mexico and Scandanavia. Stay tuned!

 

[Montegut]

Thanks so much for this report. We'll be in Disney next year, coincidentally at the same time as F&W, but we've got the Deluxe Dining Plan and want to eat at a lot of the restaurants. Thanks for your reviews, so we can weed out what to try and not try. Though husband is up for anything! I'm a picky eater and will save my appetite for other things, like desserts! I was interested in the mahi, so glad you gave a report. I don't eat fish, but was interested in the hearts of palm. I will definitely do the empanada and beef skewer, though. Husband will love the lamb, so will definitely steer him that way. Looking forward to more of your reports!

 

[jabead]

Great reviews of the F & W booths! I can't wait to read the rest. I'm really looking forward to trying all of the items you have reviewed so far...well, except for the black bean stew, which just doesn't look or sound appealing to me. I'll be there in just 5 more days so getting really, really excited!

 

[Linda67]

Excellent reviews

Love the Swedish Chef!

 

[Pugmalion1]

Great reviews of the F & W booths! I can't wait to read the rest. I'm really looking forward to trying all of the items you have reviewed so far...well, except for the black bean stew, which just doesn't look or sound appealing to me. I'll be there in just 5 more days so getting really, really excited!

I actually really enjoyed the black bean stew. It's very reminiscent of a black bean soup you might find in a soul food restaurant or a Cuban joint, but with a slightly more subtle pork flavor. I would say that if it's a chilly morning, it would be a perfect way to start your walk around the World Showcase, especailly considering that the booth is right in the middle of the entrance to the lagoon area.

 

[Sweet Melissa]

Caribbean

Jerk Spiced Chicken Drumstick with Mango Salsa

I only had a couple bites of this, although I was pleased with the jerk spices and how moist the meat was. I'm not crazy about mango salsa in general because it's a little too sweet and mango is not one of my favorite fruits. This one was also a little watery. Perhaps Danny will chime in with his thoughts on the dish; I know he liked it.

Ropa Vieja (Slowly Braised Beef) with White Rice and Frozen Rock Coconut Mojito

We both very much enjoyed the flavor of the ropa vieja, but overabundance of the braising liquid makes the whole dish a little soggy. I would have liked it if the rice were stickier so that it could absorb some of the extra liquid.

The mojito was refreshing and I'm sure that anyone who likes mojitos will enjoy it. The only hint of coconut we detected was that the drink was sweeter than most mojitos. I didn't care for the fact that the drink was frozen. I understand why it's necessary for the volume of drinks sold at the Festival, but it's just improper to make a mojito without muddling the mint and serving it on the rocks.


Mexico

Grilled Ribeye Taco with Chipotle Pepper Sauce and Scallions

This was an excellent taco that we look forward to recreating at home. The seasoning on the ribeye tasted of peppers and cumin. The sauce milder than we expected. Our only issue with the taco's construction was in the two very large pieces of scallion. It would be better if they were chopped into smaller pieces as the overcooked scallions were rubbery and difficult to bite through.

Crispy Shrimp Taco with Chipotle Lime Mayo and Cabbage, Strawberry Lime Margarita on the Rocks

I'm not a big fan of breading, so I didn't like this taco as well as the other one. Danny disagrees; he loved this taco. Anybody who likes breaded shrimp should definitely try it. The chipotle lime mayo was wonderfully spicy and tart, and the cabbage was crisp.

The Strawberry Lime margarita was excellent! We prefer margaritas on the rocks and we thought that this one was easily good enough to be on one of the Mexico pavilion's permanent menus. Strawberry and lime are such a great flavor combination that this seems like a no-brainer. I hope this drink finds a home in La Cava del Tequila or La Cantina de San Angel. The raspberry lime margarita at La Hacienda de San Angel is probably too similar for the strawberry lime margarita to end up there.


Scandanavia

Xante Sunshine Cocktail

Not pictured: Swedish Meatballs with Lingonberries, Carlsberg Beer

The Xante Sunshine tasted just as sunny as its name implied. Xante is a pear cognac and the main ingredient in this sweet, summery drink. The drink also contains lime juice, lemonade and elderflower syrup. The flavor is complex and difficult to describe. It's sweet, tangy, heathery, floral and toasty all at once. Anybody who enjoys cordials or sweeter drinks should definitely try it. It was a little sweeter than Danny normally enjoys, but even he liked it.

Danny will have to chime in here to talk about the Carlsberg. Although I do like lagers, I thought that this Danish offering was a little weak. I'm not a big beer drinker, though. Danny's opinions on such matters will carry much more weight than mine.

The Swedish meatballs had only a mild flavor. Although I'm sure there was a moderate amount of spice in the meatballs themselves, the majority of the flavor came from the brown gravy and lingonberry sauce. Being a big fan of cranberries, which are very similar to lingonberries, I enjoyed their involvement in this dish the most. The sweet, tart berries added some much much appreciated depth to the flavor profile of the meatballs.


China

To be honest, there's just no time for Chinese food in Epcot. Wanting to get our passport stamped, we did try a couple of the drinks offered.

Green Tea Plum Wine Cooler

We really disliked this drink. It was cloyingly sweet -- exactly the wrong thing to order on a hot, sunny day. The ice didn't chill it at all. We took a couple sips each and then threw it out.

Happy Lychee

The Happy Lychee was at least more refreshing. Danny likes those horrible lychee gummy candies they sell at the Mitsukoshi department store in the Japan pavilion, but I can't stand the way they smell. I liked this drink more than those candies, but lychee does not make my top ten list of favorite fruits. It probably doesn't even make my top 40. I tried a bit and gave the rest to Danny, who liked the drink a little more than I did. He thought it was pretty sweet, but enjoyed the fruity flavor. He thought it started to taste a little gross when it got warmer, which happened quickly because there wasn't enough ice in the drink. Because of that, Danny drank it faster than he wanted to. That compounded with the drink's fairly high alcohol content were a bit of a kick in the head.


In the Next Installment: South Korea, South Africa, Cheese and the Brewer's Collection

 

[Pugmalion1]

On the jerk chicken... It was okay, but it lacked flavor in pretty much every aspect. I like the jerk spices, but there just wasn't enough applied to the meat. The chicken was cooked properly, but it would have benefited greatly from some sort of noticeable marinade. As it stands, it's basically just a piece of fairly bland roasted chicken with subtly Jamaican undertones. I really liked the mango salsa, though. How it's meant to be a condiment for the chicken, I don't quite understand, but it was tasty and refreshing as a stand alone.

On the shrimp taco... I liked it just as much as the rib eye taco. I think this is the first year I've experienced where the Mexico kiosk was an all-around winner. It's usually only good for drinks, as the food is nothing more than an offshoot of the quick service location. Both tacos were tasty and well worth the comparatively low price. I think the emergence of La Hacienda and La Cava have done wonders for the pavilion during Food and Wine.

On the Carlsburg... It's an average beer. There are better pilsners and lagers from neighboring regions, and some of them are available in the festival. If you need a stamp and want a beer, you won't be disappointed, but you won't exactly be blown away, either.

 

[Sweet Melissa]

South Korea

Lettuce Wrap with Roast Pork and Kimchi Slaw

This was Danny's #1 favorite from the festival last year, and it was just as good this year. It has something in common with some of his other favorite Disney eats in that it's messy to eat, but worth the effort (Grand Floridian Burger, I'm talking about you). The kimchi slaw is crisp and vinegary with a little heat. The squiggle of sauce you see atop the wrap is slightly sweet and contains whole sesame seeds. The pork itself also has a hint of spice and sweetness. Wrap it all up in crunchy, refreshing iceberg lettuce, and this dish is a big winner. Just make sure to grab a few napkins because it is a little drippy and messy.

Boolgogi BBQ Beef with Steamed Rice and Kimchi

Much to our surprise and delight, we liked this dish even more than the lettuce wrap. The kimchi probably isn't traditional but we enjoyed its heat and spice even more in its "whole" form than we do in the slaw of the lettuce wrap. The meat was a little sweet, which was a good balance for the kimchi. The rice was perfectly sticky and starchy. It would have been perfect for sopping up the runny mess of the ropa vieja at the Caribbean booth. All in all, the two dishes we tasted in Korea were both outstanding.


South Africa

Bunny Chow

Although I love South African wines, it was just too sunny and warm the days we were in Epcot for me to have a taste for wine. Thus, I passed on the La Capra. But we didn't want to miss the Bunny Chow. Unfortunately, it was a little plain for us. We were hoping it would have a more prominent curry flavor. We understand that some [crazy] people don't enjoy strong curries like we do, but we thought that the bunny chow's curry was just too mild, and the vegetables weren't particularly robust either. I also wasn't a fan of the popover pastry-type bread vessel in which it was served. Parts of it were soggy, and parts were hard as a rock. This was one of the dishes I was most looking forward to trying, and so was probably the most disappointing to me after I tried it.


Cheese and Brewer's Collection

We are reviewing these together because we always visited one in conjunction with the other. I applaud the genius who placed these booths directly across from one another, because beer and cheese is a heavenly combination.

Artisan Cheese Selection and Altenmünster Oktoberfest

The artisan cheese plate is, left to right:
• Le Délice de Bourgogne (Didier Lincet, France) - a triple cream cow's milk cheese with fig topping.
• Thomasville Tomme (Sweet Grass Dairy, Georgia, USA) - an aged raw cow's milk cheese with Craisins for an accompaniment.
• Chèvre Affiné (Wyngaard Kaas, Holland) - a cave-aged goat cheese paired with honey.

We can't say a bad thing about any one of these cheeses. The Le Délice was strong, creamy, buttery-rich and smooth. It was delicious with the fig, and was Danny's favorite of the three. The Thomasville Tomme had a great texture with tiny "eyes" and a flavor that reminded us of a mild aged Cheddar. The Chèvre Affiné was my favorite of the three because I like anything goaty. I also love honey, and the wildflower honey paired with this cheese was ideal. It's aged for 4 months, which is on the long side for goat cheese, but it was still relatively mild.

The Altenmünster Oktoberfest was sold out last year when we attempted to taste it. Since we've never sought it out at home, we were looking forward to having a chance to try it this year. As such, it was disappointing to finally taste it only to discover that it was too light for an Oktoberfest and not hoppy enough for Danny's taste (or even mine).

Cheese Fondue with Sourdough Bread, Braufactum Roog (Smoked Wheat Bier)

That dark beer barely present in the background of this photo is the Braufactum Roog. Don't worry, this beer was ordered more than once and a better photo will surface later in the report. The idea of a smoked wheat ale really appealed to Danny, so he was excited to try it and even happier to declare it the best beer of the festival. It's rich and slightly smoky with a nose of banana. Any beer fans that don't try this yet complain that the festival's beer offerings are lacking do themselves and everyone else a disservice.

Prior to embarking on our vacation, I had read a few reports and blogs saying that the fondue was "different" this year. It was "not as good" as before and tasted too "winey." I honestly have no idea what these people are talking about. I was actually looking forward to more of a wine taste, but I thought the fondue tasted exactly the same this year as it did last year. The big difference was that the accompaniment this year was better. Last year's roasted potatoes were upgraded to a sourdough demi-baguette. That said, although the baguette is better, it's still not perfect. I am a Nor-Cal girl. My standards for sourdough are high. Plus, the fondue is serving is larger than the bread can handle. I recommend solving this problem with a delicious soft pretzel from the Germany pavilion. Trust me, you'll thank me later.


In the Next Chapter: Germany, Poland, Italy, and the USA Outposts. It's like a Hetalia episode!

 

[SweetSpot]

I actually really enjoyed the black bean stew. It's very reminiscent of a black bean soup you might find in a soul food restaurant or a Cuban joint, but with a slightly more subtle pork flavor. I would say that if it's a chilly morning, it would be a perfect way to start your walk around the World Showcase, especailly considering that the booth is right in the middle of the entrance to the lagoon area.

I really didn't care for the black bean stew. They were sold out and we waited for a new batch and mine was very heavy with what tasted like halfed slices of kiebasa. More meat than beans and no actual flavor to it just bland. I think batches vary because I love black beans in anything and wouldn't get this again.

 

[bowbat]

Nice reviews! Not a fan of lychee here, either. The sushi place we favor always gives us hard lychee candies with our check, and they taste like bad breath. Blech.

 

[Montegut]

I love the posing of the pictures. Is there a display at each booth of the dishes so you can see what they have?

Also, do you have to actually purchase something at the booth to get them to stamp your passport? I'm kind of picky, but maybe between the two of us, my husband and I will get one passport filled, if that's the case.

I am enjoying your reviews, as we're going for our 30th anniversary next year, during the Festival. We're Foodies, so we're super excited!

I love, love the cheeses. What country were those at?

 

[Sweet Melissa]

Thanks so much for this report. We'll be in Disney next year, coincidentally at the same time as F&W, but we've got the Deluxe Dining Plan and want to eat at a lot of the restaurants. Thanks for your reviews, so we can weed out what to try and not try. Though husband is up for anything! I'm a picky eater and will save my appetite for other things, like desserts! I was interested in the mahi, so glad you gave a report. I don't eat fish, but was interested in the hearts of palm. I will definitely do the empanada and beef skewer, though. Husband will love the lamb, so will definitely steer him that way. Looking forward to more of your reports!

Thank you! Our plan of attack for the Festival Marketplace booths is to sleep in, hit the World Showcase right as it opens at 11:00 AM, and utilize the booths' offerings for brunch. We stop snacking as soon as we stop feeling hungry, then are free to have a late dinner that night (usually at a signature restaurant). Our strategy sounds like it might work for you and the dining plan too.

Great reviews of the F & W booths! I can't wait to read the rest. I'm really looking forward to trying all of the items you have reviewed so far...well, except for the black bean stew, which just doesn't look or sound appealing to me. I'll be there in just 5 more days so getting really, really excited!

Thank you! Enjoy your trip!

Excellent reviews

Love the Swedish Chef!

Thanks! We bork him too.

Nice reviews! Not a fan of lychee here, either. The sushi place we favor always gives us hard lychee candies with our check, and they taste like bad breath. Blech.

LOL! Bad breath is a great way to put it.

I love the posing of the pictures. Is there a display at each booth of the dishes so you can see what they have?

Also, do you have to actually purchase something at the booth to get them to stamp your passport? I'm kind of picky, but maybe between the two of us, my husband and I will get one passport filled, if that's the case.

I am enjoying your reviews, as we're going for our 30th anniversary next year, during the Festival. We're Foodies, so we're super excited!

I love, love the cheeses. What country were those at?

There isn't a food display at the booths, but often the booths are busy enough that they stage a few plates in anticipation of people ordering them. If you're curious about a dish, just scope out the booth for a couple minutes. You'll probably see someone order it.

I saw lots of people walking up to the cashiers and asking just for a stamp, so no, you don't have to purchase anything to get a stamp. I do think it's cheating, though!

The Cheese booth is a standalone booth, not attached to any country. It's across from the Brewer's Collection booth. Both are situated between the Germany and South Africa booths. Of course, the layout and items offered are bound to be at least a little different next year.

 

[Sweet Melissa]

Germany

Apple Strudel with Werther's Original Caramel and Vanilla Sauce

The beer pictured with the apple strudel is the Braufactum Roog from the Brewer's Collection booth, which was discussed in the previous installment.

The apple strudel was one of the better desserts we tried over the course of the week. It would be difficult for me to find fault with anything covered in caramel and vanilla sauces. Add cinnamon-spiced apples, buttery pastry and toasted breadcrumbs to the mix, and it's easy to see why this is a festival favorite.



Poland

Belvedere Strawberry Balsamic Chiller

I overheard lots of people balking at the idea of drinking balsamic. To them I can only say, clearly you've never had a good balsamic vinegar. The best balsamics could easily be drunk like a glass of wine. Not strangers to doing just that, we looked forward to this drink last year and were underwhelmed. Last year, the drink tasted mostly like strawberry purée. We gave it another try this year because we love strawberries and balsamic, and I'm glad we did. The drink seems to have improved some. This year, the balsamic had a larger presence. The drink was less syrupy and a little more complex. It was also served in a slightly larger cup and at a higher price. It's a delicious, sweet, fruity drink, well worth giving a chance.

* For those interested in the concept of this drink and other variations of it, the Bluezoo lounge is currently serving a similar concoction with gin and black pepper that I highly recommend.



Italy

Ravioli di formaggio all'Emiliana (Baked Cheese Ravioli with Creamy Beef Bolognese, Parmigiano and Mozzarella)

My apologies for the really good picture of ... my purse. It's not a great shot of the ravioli itself. It does display something that I think is important, though: this dish is served in what looks like a microwave dinner tray. And the taste matches the vessel. I know the description makes this dish seem like it's something special, but no exaggeration, it tastes just like Chef Boy-Ar-Dee. This dish is a disappointing failure. The black sheep of Italian cuisine.

The truth is, we usually pass the Italy booth at the Food & Wine Festival entirely. Prosecco, bellinis, decent wine and those delicious Italian Margheritas can be found year-round at the permanent Tutto Italia kiosk, and we've never thought that the food was worth our time. We are of Italian descent. We love Italian food and we cook it very well. We see no need to submit ourselves to the assembly line junk served in the Italy pavilion. But this year, submit we did. Lessons learned, right?



Fife & Drum

Jim Beam Red Stag Lemonade

The Fife & Drum's sole festival offering was much better than we expected. We generally like our whiskey to be unflavored and unencumbered by anything more than a chilled glass. Jim Beam's black cherry cordial might be a bit of an abomination on its own, but it works very well in frozen lemonade form. There's a good balance of sweet and tart in the drink. It had none of the medicinal taste I was afraid would accompany a cherry flavored whiskey. It didn't have much of a whiskey taste at all, in fact. It would actually be refreshing on hot days. I hope the Fife & Drum puts this in a bigger glass and sells it year-round.



Hops & Barley

Linda Bean's Perfect Maine Lobster Roll, Samuel Adams 16th Anniversary Festival Ale

The lobster roll was surprising. Danny expected some lobster salad with too much mayonnaise to be plopped onto a bun. What we actually received was two large chunks of claw meat, minimal mayonnaise, dill and what tasted like garlic butter on a soft white roll. We both really liked this and actually had a second one later in the trip.

The Festival Ale was only passable. It's a standard Sam Adams Boston Ale. It's disappointing to think that the Festival beers are probably just normal Sam Adams offerings relabeled for Food & Wine, but we suspect that is the case. I'd recommend skipping the mystery beer and going for the Latitude 48°, the Cream Stout or the Cherry Wheat instead. Not that you'd have trouble finding any of these things at your corner liquor store.


In the next post we briefly visit Singapore, then spend a lot of time in Japan.

 

[Montegut]

You guys are amazing. Those photos look professionally posed. Thank you so much for taking the time to photograph all your samplings!

 

[Pugmalion1]

I would definitely say I was surprised by the lobster roll, in that I think it might have been one of my favorite dishes of the festival. It's also one of the most expensive dishes in the festival, so the fact that I got it twice that week I think speaks well for its quality.

 

[MickeyNicki]

I had to laugh at your balsamic talk..my uncle loves balsamic vinegar and has been known to spend lots of $$ on it. We went over their house for dinner and my entire family were drinking shots...of VINEGAR! It was hysterical!

 

[TigerKat]

We LOVED the Happy Lychee and the Red Stag Lemonade! Also loved the lamb chop and the lettuce wrap. The lobster roll was a huge improvement on the previous years attempts. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Sweet Melissa]

Singapore

Shrimp Cake on a Sugarcane Skewer with Singapore Noodles

We discussed the shrimp cake with some other guests at the festival, and the consensus was that the only good thing about the dish was the sugar cane skewer. Everything else was incredibly bland.

Singapore Sling

If only the Singapore Sling were similarly tame. Danny and I not strangers to strong drinks. I invite anybody in North Jersey to stop by and view our recycling bin as evidence of this. This drink, however, disregarded good taste in favor of a heavy pour. Unless I were to find myself in a very specific scene of Who Framed Roger Rabbit, I would not recommend this drink to anyone.

All in all, Singapore was our least favorite booth this year.



Japan

Spicy Tuna Roll

I feel like this was a better roll in previous years. I know that we've ordered it at least once before and enjoyed it well enough. That wasn't the case this year. For a spicy tuna roll, it was very dry and had virtually no detectable heat. If you're a sushi fan, avoid this. If you're not a sushi fan, well, I'll assume you'd be getting the California roll anyway.

Pork Kakuni, Itami Onigoroshi Sake

The pork Kakuni was delicious. It had a wonderful Pacific Island flavor profile and was braised so well that its consistency went past "moist" and ventured toward "jellied." This is another menu item that we look forward to making at home.

We asked the attendants at the booth to recommend a sake to us, and advised that we would prefer a drier sake. It was still sweeter than we like, but it was mild and crisp. Not a bad wine choice for a sunny afternoon.

Tuna and Salmon Sensation

I get really excited when I think about the Tuna and Salmon Sensation. It really is sensational. We already loved the Tuna Sensation from previous years. Then they added salmon! Our favorite fish! This is not a dish I'll be trying to make at home because I just don't trust myself with sashimi-grade fish. It makes me that much more reverent of it. The fish is so fresh, the avocado ripe and buttery. The marinade is savory, with strong soy and sesame flavors and a hint of vinegar. I do warn that people sensitive to salt may be overwhelmed by the soy marinade. Have a bottle of water handy.

Tomorrow we visit New Zealand, Morocco and Belgium. See ya real soon!

 

[vettegirl]

I love your little chef, so cute!!

 

[Pugmalion1]

Yeah, the Singapore Sling was pretty awful. I believe that on more than one occasion we referred back to it as engine degreaser. It's one thing to make a drink strong, but it's quite another to make it taste like turpentine flavored with rotting fruit. There really is nothing redeeming about the concoction.