My daughter wasn't feeling well but now that we're over that hump and I know we'll be ok tomorrow to head home (2 days later than expected) I can type up a little more...
Now that my mind is cleared, I really loved this event and would do it again (and hope they keep doing these). At first it seemed a little plain like it was bare minimum but once they opened up the main room, you got a comfortable seat, and started to just eat and drink all you wanted it became obvious that this was a great way to experience the food part of this show. The background music was songs from the artists that will be performing during Garden Rocks dinging/concert event... They had the center of the room setup with plenty of tables both sitting and standing. everyone had a chair. There was plenty of staff around and it wasn't just any old cast member, it was the whose who of epcot, tiw and flower and garden. The food was arranged with 2 main "tables" on either side of the seating. It was a nice screen to say what that half had. It would be 1 dish to try plus a beverage (or a couple) per side that fit it. There was also some other tables along the front without paired drinks. Off to 1 side was the table to pick up your edible potted plant (and plant it in your own pot if you wanted it more interactive) as a great coffee and tea section with anything you might want to add to it (except alcohol). There was a little theme to what food was placed with the spicy options in 1 area, more of the salads and fresh stuff in another, deserts near each other. It made it easy to grab a few tasting plates and site down to try them out. some of the food was easy to eat while holding it and plenty of standing tables nearby if you didn't want to sit...
The food was prepared by the chefs that designed them. It was nice to be able to meet them. It was kept warm with real burners carefully tended by them and if anything was a little cooler, they would just fire up a burner to get you something even more fresh. most the hot food was plated as you wanted it, they would ask if there was anything you wanted omitted. If it was spicy be adding something like jalapenos, they asked before they put it on like a garnish. If it was gluten, they would make you a gluten free if asked in front of you (it was an egg bread aka french toast so it was literally cooked in front of you). A variety of beers, wine, champange and some nice mixed drinks. some of them at non-alcohol alternatives and it was being served by the brewers, wineries or and companies that made the alcohol part (gin, vodka, etc). so you could find out a lot more about it. Water was out on every serving table to help yourself. Probably the only thing missing was soda but I could see pete getting his diet coke hand delivered by epcots executive chef which I thought was a nice touch.
The theme this year seems to be "fresh epcot". There was some type of edible plant as part of almost every dish. Some was just some simple greens like a clover or small flower.
As I'm not a podcast or blog reviewer, i looked at each dish for what it was. I wasn't trying to decide my favorite and just enjoying each thing on it's own merits. I didn't taste anything bad and have to say it was all really balanced and smartly plated. If there was a cheese (for example, the florida Larder board which was a Orlando Made Ricotta Cheese, Cahaba farms micro onions, country pate (liverwurst pate) house made pickles served on a cracker had the cheese to the side which was really light and perfect to be able to add just the amount to make it a great dish since I'm nota ricotta cheese fan).
The only thing I could say could have been better was the Homemade potato and Cheddar cheese buscuit with smoked salmon tartare. Basically a smoked salmon sandwhich on a cheese biscuit. It was great and I had a second helping but it wasn't nyc deli salmon tartare. It was better than most and definitely the best I've had around WDW or orlando.
I"m not a big drinker, especially with my daughter around but I did try a tasting size of a few things. I don't really like beer but the Maple Bacon Stout from Shipyard Brewing Company was nice. McKenzie's had a Black Cherry Hard Cider that was amazing. I love black cherry soda and get it direct from the brewers in nyc. This was on pair with them and being a hard cider, made it even better. I'll be stocking that one at home
. The WaterMelon and Cucumber slush was great both virgin as just a slush and the Hendrick's Gin just made it even better.
1 surprising thing was the Macaroon Chocolat Framboise from Fleur De Lys. It was basically a large Raspberry Macaron (about double the circumference of a normal macaron but more like a large cookie thickness. It was basically a generous fudge center with a surprise of a really good Raspberry Jam in the center. Perfectly made and served in a little french newspaper. The honey Baklava was also a real baklava and not a fluffy american version. I used to hav neighbors that made it like this. I can see many calling this too dense and not flakey enough but let me tell you, if it's a correctly made Baklava and very generous on the fresh honey.
Let's assume in the normal around the world setting the food was an average of $7 a tasting, I probably ate a good $150 including the beverages I tried. The gift bag and potted plant easily would have made it more, plus them talking a few minutes about the upcoming show, the history, hearing the music for the dinner, great slide show photos on screens the entire time of the prep work the cast members do not only for the show but the landscaping around the property.. Having a real down to earth conversation from people in charge of epcot, the food, the event, the horticulture department and it was more than worth the cost and I'm excited for the next one! I really hope they do this for food and wine also and find a way to integrate the flat rate into the full event... If your going to do a preview of food for Tables In Wonderland members, this was the way to do it.
The attendees started to disperse about 1:15-1:30. We ate for around an hour when there was the short 10-15 minutes of talk. The room was ours until 2:30 but I was full. I considered just sitting around digesting and getting a last second dive in to make it the only meal today but we left really satisfied near 1:40ish.
