Recommendations for Food And Wine Festival

[howlinmad]

My gf and I are going to the Food And Wine Festival this year, and want to do some of the seminars / events etc.

What experiences have you had of the FAWF, and what would you recommend doing?

We are particularly interested in doing a signature dining experience.

Share at will....

Thanks

 

[MakiraMarlena]

The events and signature dinners are a mixed bag. What do you like, and how much do you want to spend? Quality on each event can vary WIDELY from year to year, so no promises.

 

[jcvalenti]

I have found most of the cooking demonstrations to be cursory and more valuable for seeing a "personality" than learning anything about cooking. We went to see Jamie Deen a few years back and he was fun and entertaining.

They used to offer some very good, very in depth wine seminars at the Festival Welcome Center (I specifically liked the one Karen MacNeil used to host), but over time, they seem to care less and less about providing in depth educational opportunities. The "mixology" sessions done almost daily are short and fun, and usually worth the time and minimal cost.

What I have very much enjoyed over the last few years are the more casual wine meals offered in the country. We did an Italian Regional Lunch at Tutto Gusto the other year that was really fun, and the French Regional Burgundy Lunch was also really, really well done. An Italian beer lunch last year at Via Napoli was also fun, and introduced us to the most bizarre dessert I've ever had - a fabulous sauteed eggplant and nutella dish. I think all of these represented very solid combinations of good food, entertaining presentation and good ambiance, and I would recommend any of them.

I've never done the big "Party for the Senses" event, as the reviews I see posted here make it sound horrid - with crowds of people rushing the gates at open practically coming to blows over stand up tables and never strolling the event as it seems it was intended. Can't speak to that one.

 

[howlinmad]

If we were going to do a signature dining experience, it would be on the lower end of the scale ($100 - $149).

But I am very tempted by other experiences. The Mexican Tequila Lunch sounds amazing from past menus.

I hope that spirits confidential is back this year; I haven't heard anything about it though.

I have found most of the cooking demonstrations to be cursory and more valuable for seeing a "personality" than learning anything about cooking. We went to see Jamie Deen a few years back and he was fun and entertaining.

They used to offer some very good, very in depth wine seminars at the Festival Welcome Center (I specifically liked the one Karen MacNeil used to host), but over time, they seem to care less and less about providing in depth educational opportunities. The "mixology" sessions done almost daily are short and fun, and usually worth the time and minimal cost.

What I have very much enjoyed over the last few years are the more casual wine meals offered in the country. We did an Italian Regional Lunch at Tutto Gusto the other year that was really fun, and the French Regional Burgundy Lunch was also really, really well done. An Italian beer lunch last year at Via Napoli was also fun, and introduced us to the most bizarre dessert I've ever had - a fabulous sauteed eggplant and nutella dish. I think all of these represented very solid combinations of good food, entertaining presentation and good ambiance, and I would recommend any of them.

I've never done the big "Party for the Senses" event, as the reviews I see posted here make it sound horrid - with crowds of people rushing the gates at open practically coming to blows over stand up tables and never strolling the event as it seems it was intended. Can't speak to that one.

What was the Tutto Gusto experience like?

 

[TDC Nala]

Spirits Confidential is not offered this year.

Mexican Tequila Lunch is a good one to do.

 

[Tinkerdreams]

Don't know if it's being offered this year but last year they did a chocolate dinner. Every course had chocolate used in its preparation. I believe it was $160 a person.

I heard it was very popular and delicious!!

 

[jcvalenti]

What was the Tutto Gusto experience like?

Tutto Gusto was hosting an Italian Regional Lunch / Wine Tasting, designed to give you a brief tour of Italy and it's wines (and I mean brief, as there are more different grapes used in Italian winemaking than anywhere else in the world). The event was jointly hosted by one of the managers at Tutto Gusto, who introduced the small plates, and a representative from a local wine wholesaler, who paired a number of different whites and reds with each course. I don't recall the exact price, but it was relatively reasonable ... like $55 - 70 / person, I think.

I believe there were 5 or 6 wines, something like 2 whites, 3 reds and a prossecco served with desert. All of the wines were very good - one of them so good I emailed my local wine shop mid meal with a picture of the label to have them get me a case (and it was a white ... I don't usually even like whites). The dishes were all competently prepared and enjoyable, and ranged from a small cheese and charcuterie starter to some simple pastas and a delicious sauteed fish course.

There were probably 50 to 60 guests, and it lasted around an hour and a half. They had all of Tutto Gusto closed off for the luncheon. There was clearly a wide range of experience as far as wine and cuisine, but everyone was friendly and having a good time, and there was plenty of opportunity for questions and answers for those who wanted to learn more. The wait staff was professional and fun, like at every venue in the Italian pavilion.

We spent so much time talking to the manager about the wines and talking about our love of Italian wine that he invited us back that afternoon to taste some other wines with him, as his guests, which was one of the most generous and entertaining afternoons we have ever spent at Disney.

As you can see, I'm a big fan. If you're looking for a special event during Food & Wine, this is a nice one. Gives you a nice sit down experience, and doesn't take away from your time wandering the world showcase.

FYI - the French Burgundy lunch was also enjoyable and recommended, but as you can guess, I just think Italians are a lot more fun.