Two Trips in Two Weeks....A F & W Extravaganza!

[cbg1027]

Love the look of the signature dinners at F&W - with two kids we stick to the booths but it's certainly something that appeals for th future.

They are definitely something to look forward to! Or it may be worth sending the kids to one of kid's clubs for a few hours.

glad you all had a good lunch - those events at Bistro remain one of the best F&W deals you can get.

And I first read about them from YOU! You also were partially responsible for convincing me to sign up, so thank you!

I was one of the few people that needed to give the Frunch a "do over" because the first one I did was a disaster in the food department. I'm glad I did, and I probably would have enjoyed this one.

I saw some reviews of one that people said was less than stellar! Wasn't it Burgundy or Bordeaux?

Wow Abby, that looks like a really good lunch!!!!!

You are truly lucky you live so close to WDW and are able to just go for a short vacation. Since there is no chance for us to do so, we will live through you!

Yes, I am very fortunate to be able to just hop down for a weekend! And I will have to live through you since you can do weekends trips to Italy and DLRP!

I read this update with a twang of jealousy. I was supposed to be at that table with you!!!!! I know we couldn't have made the journey given the state of health, but I still lament our missing F&W.

I'd seen another's report of this lunch, but yours looked at lot better, I don't know if it was the pictures or the commentary. I will definitely be booking one of these lunches in 2012.

Can I ask a favor? I found one of your old reports where you reviewed the Boma/Jiko culinary tour. Would you mind if I quoted that on my PTR? I would certainly give you credit, but you explained everything so nicely and took great pictures. We're planning on doing that tour on our trip in May.

I'm sorry you weren't able to make it. Hopefully you can try again for this fall!

Are you referring to Dis Yoda's review of this lunch? I know she didn't care for it, but I think it was more a matter or things just not being to her tastes. The food was certainly well executed.

Of course you can use my Boma/Jiko Tour reviews! I'm flattered you want to! Oh definitely do those tours....worth it for the samples alone! There's one at Sanaa as well, but I haven't been able to do it yet!

 

[franandaj]

I'm sorry you weren't able to make it. Hopefully you can try again for this fall!

Are you referring to Dis Yoda's review of this lunch? I know she didn't care for it, but I think it was more a matter or things just not being to her tastes. The food was certainly well executed.

Of course you can use my Boma/Jiko Tour reviews! I'm flattered you want to! Oh definitely do those tours....worth it for the samples alone! There's one at Sanaa as well, but I haven't been able to do it yet!

I'm going to definitely plan on doing a French lunch next year! It may have been DisYodas report, I don't remember. I would have been like you, apprehensive, but I probably would have enjoyed all the courses as well.

On my PTR, we are bringing a friend who has neer been to WDW and barely DLR, so I'm trying to show her pictures of the experiences that we hope to enjoy. I found a couple different posts of the tour, but yours is the most concise and informative so thanks for letting me quote it into my PTR!

I think we're going to do the wine and cheese tasting at 3PM and then the tour at 4PM.

 

[TanzUnited99]

on going back to Disney in a week!!

I'm glad the baguettes were good and you enjoyed the meal!

 

[TigerKat]

I totally agree the Frunch is a great deal and we'll definitely be doing another one in October. Also will repeat the Truffle lunch and tequila lunch if they are offered again.

 

[hmgray95]

Hi Abby! Back on the Dis since I'm planning the December trip, so I'll be following along. Great reviews so far!

Heather

 

[cbg1027]

Hello DISboards....sorry I've been so MIA! I just started a new job about three weeks ago, so my time for DISing has gotten way too limited.

Since I'm so far behind I'm going to try and continue this DR with very short posts - mostly just pictures, a few words, and a grade!

So on to it!

After the French Regional Lunch, Gram joined me at Epcot and she snacked around the booths. I was soooo full and had the Dessert Party later that evening so we didn't eat too much.

Gram had the Lamb Chop form the Australia booth, which I will review ina later post from when I got to taste one.

At the Scandinavia Booth, Gram saw Rice Pudding with Strawberries and had to have one:

I had a few bites of this was better than I expected. I'm not a huge rice pudding fan, but this was a nice sweet and creamy indulgence with fragrant, ripe berries.
Grade: B

Gram decided she wanted some of the Pork Pot Stickers form the China booth next:

These were good, but just an average pot sticker. I enjoyed the soy-based sauce they served with, but they weren't anything to write home about.
Grade: C+

We then had to stop at the Cheese booth for the Artisan Cheese Selection:

From left to right: Sweet Grass Dairy's Thomasville Tomme and honey, Delice de Bourgogne and dried cranberries, Wyngaard Chevre Affineurs Goat Gouda with dates and almonds.

I loved all the cheeses and their accompaniments, but I would have preferred a fresh baguette instead of crackers.
Grade: A

Just a little side note - Sweet Grass Dairy is a local cheese maker for me! They're located about 30 minutes from my house in South Georgia and make a lot of wonderful artisan cheeses, so I was really excited to see one of their products featured at the festival!

So that was it for the dinner time munching! next up is the 3D Dessert Discovery Party!

 

[TanzUnited99]

Hey Abby! Glad to hear that the job is going well.

Great food pics and looking forward to hearing about the 3D Dessert Discovery Party

 

[cbg1027]

I'm sorry I've been MIA on this food review. Some of these reviews are somewhat irrelevant now, but I love going back and looking at my photos, so I'm just going to finish this up with photos and titles of what we're looking at!

3D - Disney's Dessert Discovery Party


Dessert station line with assorted Mini Whoopie Pies, Strawberry Guava Bavarois, Espresso Panna Cotta, Chocolate Eclairs, Bavarian Cream Puffs, Cannoli, and Linzer Diamonds.

The Whoopie Pies:

Espresso Panna Cotta:

Close up of the Strawberry Guava Bavarois, Cannoli, and Chocolate Eclair:

Allergen-free offerings from babycakes:

Breads and Crackers at the Cheese Station:

Cheese and assorted accompaniment (the white blocks in the front are honeycomb!)

Assorted cheeses with honeycomb, pistachios, crackers, sundried-tomato pesto, and roasted potatoes.

Assorted fruits at the make-your-own parfait or fruit salad station:

My fruit salad and Iced Green Tea:

Donuts flambeed in Red Stag Cherry Bourbon

Polenta Cakes:

Assorted charcuterie for a break from all the sweets:

Chocolate Chili Cupcakes:

Funnel Cake Bread Pudding:

Candy Station:

 

[cbg1027]

Meditteranean Sliders Combo - Three Pita Pockets, one with Lamb schwarma, one with Chicken schwarma and one with Falafel, all served with Lettuce, Tomatoes, Onions, Cucumber, and Tahini Sauce.
Lentil Salad, Tabbouleh, and Hummus on the side.

Lamb Schwarma Pocket close up:

And Baklava for dessert, of course!

Mint Tea:

 

[cbg1027]

This was an event in Bistro de Paris all about making and tasting things with Grand Marnier!

The table setting:

We started with a glass of Moet et Chandon Ice Imperial - a champagne designed to be served over Ice:

Then there was a tasting of the three kinds of Grand Marnier:

We then made our own Grand Smash - a cocktail with muddle mint and lemon, Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge, shaken with ice, and strained in a glass:

Next up was the Crepes Suzette Demonstration:

Dessert plates, featuring a Crepe Suzette and an Orange Chocolate Mousse in Chocolate Wafers:

 

[cbg1027]

A very special dinner with my Grandma!

Table Setting:

Personalized Birthday Menus:

Kalamata Olive Bread and Multigrain Bread, and Butter with Citrus Sea Salt:

The beautiful open and kitchen:

Wine Time! Jean-Luc Colombo Viognier 'La Violette', Rhone River Valley, France, 2009

Sumac-Rubbed Wagyu Beef Carpaccio with Quail Egg, Fried Capers, and Sesame-Semolina Crackers:

Greek Country Salad - Roasted Baby Veggies, Pickled Pearl Onions, Olives, Crispy Feta, and Lemon-Tomato Emulsion

Beautiful Little Filet Mignon with Roasted Veggies for Gram:

Grilled Swordfish over Trenne Pasta with White Anchovy Tomato Sauce, Kalamata Olives, Roasted Fennel, Baby Artichokes, and Black Truffle Vinaigrette:

Warm Chocolate Banana Torte with Vanilla Ice Cream and a edible Chocolate Decoration:

Trio of Housemade Gelato - Vanilla, Raspberry, and Chocolate:

A 'Party Favor' for later - Housemade Almond Biscotti!

 

[cbg1027]

Australia, Lamb Chops Time - we couldn't share, Gram had to have her OWN!

Close up of the Grilled Lamb Chop with Potato Goat Cheese Salad and Shiraz Reduction:

Off to Mexico for Shrimp Tacos:

Scandinavia Tasting Plate with Shrimp Salad, Cured Salmon and Cured Herring:

South Korea - Lettuce Wrap with Roasted Pork and Kimchee Slaw:

South Africa - Bunny Chow (Curried Veggies in a Bread Bowl)

Germany - Nuernberger Sausage on a Pretzel Roll

Germany - Apple Strudel with Caramel and Vanilla Sauces

Italy - Chocolate Cannoli

And that was all our stomach space!

 

[cbg1027]

We need dinner before heading home, so we hit up WPE for something light and take out to bring home!

Half of a Pesto Chicken Salad Pita with Housemade Chips:

Margherita Pizza to take home:

Four Cheese Pesto Pizza - parmesan, mozzerella, fontina, and goat cheese

Ceasar Salad for Home:

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

OMG, so much incredible-looking food. I don't know where to start...whoopie pies, babycakes, flambéed donuts, chocolate chili cupcakes, polenta cake, funnel cake bread pudding (that one blew my mind), Tangierine Cafe, the crêpe suzette from Bistro, everything from Citricos, F&W snacks (like the Australian lamb chop), and the pesto pizza from WPE. Thanks so much for posting those pics! I'm feeling extra hungry right now.

 

[dizneeat]

Abby, nice to see you back.
Guess, work is keeping you busy.

Thanks for all the food pics - yum, yum, yum. You are making me super excited for our upcoming trip in exactly 90 days. You wouldn't plan a short trip in late August/September like last year?

 

[franandaj]

Wow! I'm glad that you are keeping up the report since we were going to be at a number of these events together before I had to cancel.

I'm rebooking my trip and the weekend I'm going is the same weekend as the Swan and Dolphin classic. I'm debating between the Desserts, PFTS, Classic and dining at CA Grill. The Dessert Party looks awesome, so I might be reconsidering things. The only thing I DO have booked is the CA Grill, and I might consider changing that. GREAT REPORT!!!!!

 

[deenbrad]

Crispy feta? Sounds like a brilliant idea!

 

[Krissalee]

I just read the entire report!

I'm glad you and your grandma get to share WDW and the F&W Fest together! My own grandma would have loved it! Such special memories you are creating.

I am really liking reliving last years special events. I am thinking about my trip this F&W Fest and wondering what events will be available and how many Frunches I can book !!!!

 

[cbg1027]

Wow! I'm glad that you are keeping up the report since we were going to be at a number of these events together before I had to cancel.

I'm rebooking my trip and the weekend I'm going is the same weekend as the Swan and Dolphin classic. I'm debating between the Desserts, PFTS, Classic and dining at CA Grill. The Dessert Party looks awesome, so I might be reconsidering things. The only thing I DO have booked is the CA Grill, and I might consider changing that. GREAT REPORT!!!!!

Thanks for reading along!
DEFINITELY do the the dessert party! It was amazing. But I would skip dinner....there was sooooo much to sample, and I they did have some savory items so you don't have to get a sugar overload. I neglected to get photos of all the fabulous booze. They had cocktails, liqours, wine, and beer of all sorts.

CG is wonderful, but it is there year round whereas the dessert party is only a small part of the year.

Abby, nice to see you back.
Guess, work is keeping you busy.

Thanks for all the food pics - yum, yum, yum. You are making me super excited for our upcoming trip in exactly 90 days. You wouldn't plan a short trip in late August/September like last year?

Work is definitely keeping me busy - that or I just am not used to working full time!

Karin, you never know when me and the DBF might decide to pop down to Disney. We're going 26-28 May and we only planned this about a month in advance. We WILL have out own little DIS meet one day!

I just read the entire report!

I'm glad you and your grandma get to share WDW and the F&W Fest together! My own grandma would have loved it! Such special memories you are creating.

I am really liking reliving last years special events. I am thinking about my trip this F&W Fest and wondering what events will be available and how many Frunches I can book !!!!

Wow thanks for reading!

I want to book Frunches for this year too, but word on the street is that there won't be any. Bistro is closing for a renovation, in July I think, and is not scheduled to open again until late October or November. People with Bistro ADR's in earl October are getting emails about cancellations. So one would assume this means no Frunches either.

 

[franandaj]

Thanks for reading along!
DEFINITELY do the the dessert party! It was amazing. But I would skip dinner....there was sooooo much to sample, and I they did have some savory items so you don't have to get a sugar overload. I neglected to get photos of all the fabulous booze. They had cocktails, liqours, wine, and beer of all sorts.

CG is wonderful, but it is there year round whereas the dessert party is only a small part of the year.

I want to book Frunches for this year too, but word on the street is that there won't be any. Bistro is closing for a renovation, in July I think, and is not scheduled to open again until late October or November. People with Bistro ADR's in earl October are getting emails about cancellations. So one would assume this means no Frunches either.

I know what you mean about CG, but since WDW is so far away and now I've cancelled my last two trips (last weeks trip got scrubbed one day out), I'm feeling like we'll never get there again!

I should have put two and two together with the Bistro closing, how could they do the frunches? Or the GM tastin?

Those were two of my highlights of the festival!