WE took 1300 pictures I better do a report! (updated 2/20 DONE!)

[Narnia]

Eww half eaten food keep the pics coming even if it offends the picky foodie

 

[kabuki]

Great start. Looking forward to more. Love Jason's comments!

I say Thank you and Jason says Thank you!

 

[kabuki]

Eww half eaten food keep the pics coming even if it offends the picky foodie

I have to say I am the "pre-eater" of the group! Jason is always saying.. don't you want a picture of that? UMMM! I'm hungry!

 

[kabuki]

After breakfast it's off to Epcot because this is the reason for our trip - FOOD AND WINE FESTIVAL! So in keeping with tradition we head to the old Wonders of Life Pavilion which is now, for the last two years the Festival Welcome Center.

I love that they moved the welcome center here and the free classes, it is nice not to wait in the heat and or rain, not that we wouldn't do it but it is a nice option!
In keeping with tradition we start with a morning Sparkling Wine - I mean it is 6 am California Time- so we are ahead of the game!

See how happy I am with my wine and gift card for the booths?!


Jason Comment: Our tradition of starting with the day with Sparkling is actually something we try to do every day on vacation - because, yes, it make us smile A LOT!

Jason Comment: Besides, we need a way to pass the time until the wine classes begin. This should be called THE WINE and food Festival

 

[TigerKat]

Great start. Starting the day with a Sparkling sounds like a game plan to me!

 

[kabuki]

We visited the Festival Center A LOT over the 10 days and did some great Wine Classes and thought we would devote this section to that, giving our insight to this years offerings!

1st some pictures -

Wine Store

Jason Comment: This was my vote for this years Christmas card. However, the last few years our cards have all been pictures of wine, wineries and drinking adventures. Maybe this year another backdrop so as to not encourage the family to host an intervention.

One thing we always do is talk to the many wonderful Disney Cast Members at the center. This year Nancy was among the many great people who helped us enjoy our time there. If anyone should be going before the festival ends, please tell her we said hello!

 

[kabuki]

Great start. Starting the day with a Sparkling sounds like a game plan to me!

Thanks TigerKat! I always appreciate some New Orleans love!

 

[kabuki]

The area that holds the free wine talks

 

[kabuki]

The classes seemed to hold the same amout of people as last year. They came around about a 1/2 hour before each one and gave us a "ticket"

The classes were always full but we never waited over a 1/2 hour for any of them. We did quite a few classes and thought that even though they had fewer classes this year that the quality of them were great. The last couple years they would have a beverages distributor come in and basically talk on three wines he sold. They didn't have any more interest on the wine then selling them. This year everyone was from the winery in some way and had a lot more to offer.

 

[kabuki]

Jason's Comment: I love wine. And not all free wine is good wine. This year, however, the caliber of wines and presenters were top notch. I only hope they decide to do more of them next year!

The final thoughts about the free wine talks for us - Again the week plus we went, we didn't have problems getting into the classes. As the week got closer to Columbus Day it was busier but not over crowded. The speakers were wonderful. We didn't do any of the food demos or the paid event BUT our friends did do the Ming Tsai kitchen lunch while we were in a wine talk next door. This was the biggest mistake this year. You could hear everything from both camps and although I was willing to give some leeway on this because I was at a free event, my friends who paid $75 each for a talk with a chef, one scallop and a small glass of wine, thought that this wasn't acceptable. They need to hold the paid event someplace were they are not being disturbed by the people walking by or other events going on!
We purchased a few wines at the wine store and had them sent to the International Gateway for pick up without at glitch. The wines they sold were very reasonable and we found only a few dollars more then what you would pay at a store at home. They also offered some great new choices.

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

I'm jumping on board! Bring on the reviews!

 

[ghidorah97]

This was the biggest mistake this year. You could hear everything from both camps and although I was willing to give some leeway on this because I was at a free event, my friends who paid $75 each for a talk with a chef, one scallop and a small glass of wine, thought that this wasn't acceptable. They need to hold the paid event someplace were they are not being disturbed by the people walking by or other events going on!

I was definitely worried about that when I saw the set-up. I didn't do any of the paid events in the Festival Center, but feel for those that did since it wasn't a "private" event.

 

[oybolshoi]

I couldn't agree more with your comment ... we thought the set-up for Kitchen Conversation was extremely unsatisfactory and will not participate in it again unless it's held in a more private location.

And I love the picture of your kitty that you're using as your avatar! So cute!!!

The final thoughts about the free wine talks for us - Again the week plus we went, we didn't have problems getting into the classes. As the week got closer to Columbus Day it was busier but not over crowded. The speakers were wonderful. We didn't do any of the food demos or the paid event BUT our friends did do the Ming Tsai kitchen lunch while we were in a wine talk next door. This was the biggest mistake this year. You could hear everything from both camps and although I was willing to give some leeway on this because I was at a free event, my friends who paid $75 each for a talk with a chef, one scallop and a small glass of wine, thought that this wasn't acceptable. They need to hold the paid event someplace were they are not being disturbed by the people walking by or other events going on!

 

[kabuki]

I was definitely worried about that when I saw the set-up. I didn't do any of the paid events in the Festival Center, but feel for those that did since it wasn't a "private" event.

I know how distracting that people walking by while we tried to listen to the wine talks was. I felt for my friends who really said it was hard to hear a paid event!

I couldn't agree more with your comment ... we thought the set-up for Kitchen Conversation was extremely unsatisfactory and will not participate in it again unless it's held in a more private location.

And I love the picture of your kitty that you're using as your avatar! So cute!!!

I am sorry that you guys were among the ones who had to be the guinea pig for others with this. I don't know why they don't put the paid events at the Odyssey again!
and thank you! That is KABUKI! I stole her name for the DIS!

I'm jumping on board! Bring on the reviews!

Yea! Thanks for joining! I will get Jason and get some more reviews!

 

[kabuki]

OK! Since we took SO many pictures we can't do it day by day so the Food and Wine booth selection will be done by BOOTH instead of date! Got it? GOOD!

Jason's Comment : Must try everything!


1st some pictures of the walk into Epcot with the decoations up. We loved the art work this year!

 

[kabuki]

1st booth!
Reims, Champagne
All Moet &Chandon Wines

All good but for the price I spent my sparkling money on the Prosseco in the Welcome Center!

 

[kabuki]

Booth 2
Santiago, Chile

Jason's Comment: The wine pairings at all booths by Disney this year are really good! Montes wines at this booth were some of my favorites.

Spicy Beef Empanada - it was not spicy at ALL and didn't have much flavor!

Shrimp with Cilantro Salsa Jason's Comment: Just OK!

Jason's Comment: Best thing of this booth we didn't get a picture of! It was the Dulce de Leche! YUM!


One side note from me .. Jason LOVES SUGAR! See above comment!

 

[kabuki]

3 Booth
Buenos Aires, Argentina

Grilled Beef with Chimichurri Sauce and the Torrontes from Bordega Norton
This was for me OK. The beef was over cooked and I make better chimichurri but for a mass made meal it was good. Jason liked this more then I did. The wine is one we both really liked.

Beef and Corn Pie
This was like strange custard with ground beef and no other flavor. It was also very Hot and burned my mouth! The wine was Reserva Malbec and was very good!

 

[49rt67]

Looking forward to more reviews! DH & I love the F & W Fest too!

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

I don't know if you guys noticed this or not, but we had noticed that the food quality and portion size DID seem to very from day to day. While we were there we had a great beef and chimmichurri dish...the next day...blah! Another day DH got burnt Kielbasa in Poland, I got ONE slice of kielbasa...two days later we both got three properly cooked slices of kielbasa-it was all over the board. I only tried the spicy beef empanada once, it was good, but I agree-not spicy at all.