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

[kabuki]

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.

We DID notice this.. I have to admit making a pig of myself on the lamp chops but a couple got way over cooked and we had a few things happen this way. We thought that the earlier we got to the booth the better it was. Over all I think the food was great compared to last year and having done some catering I can't imagine what it takes to get it out to people but yes, consistency it still an issue!

 

[bound2travel]

Just to let you know, I did the Sweet Sunday on the 19th. Disney heard all the comments about the distractions and closed off that section of the center until the program was over. While I was seated at the front, I didn't really notice any noise from other areas of the festival center.

I too found the empanadas to be not spicy. Look forward to more of your comments.

 

[jeminni]

Enjoying your reviews. I love the pictures from the F&W festival booths and the yummy looking breakfast at Spoodles ( but no sangria there? ) Looking forward to more.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

0-stupid:30 That's an hour I don't hope to see while in Disney!

Love the tradition of starting the day with sparkling wine. I may have to adopt that tradition. And thanks for the tip on the prosecco in the festival center! You can be sure I'll be checking that out.

 

[kabuki]

Just to let you know, I did the Sweet Sunday on the 19th. Disney heard all the comments about the distractions and closed off that section of the center until the program was over. While I was seated at the front, I didn't really notice any noise from other areas of the festival center.

I too found the empanadas to be not spicy. Look forward to more of your comments.
QUOTE]
Well that is good that they closed it off and took what people are saying seriously! Did you enjoy Sweet Sundays? I have never done one![/

Enjoying your reviews. I love the pictures from the F&W festival booths and the yummy looking breakfast at Spoodles ( but no sangria there? ) Looking forward to more.

Well.. I hate to say it but we initially picked Spoodles because they are the only restaurant in the area last has Bloody Mary's listed on the morning menu and then we didn't have one! Thanks for the nice comments!

0-stupid:30 That's an hour I don't hope to see while in Disney!

Love the tradition of starting the day with sparkling wine. I may have to adopt that tradition. And thanks for the tip on the prosecco in the festival center! You can be sure I'll be checking that out.

Please adopt away! It is a way I know I am on VACATION!

 

[SunnieRN]

Loving your reviews and pictures!
Since I've never been to the food and wine festival, I hope you don't mind a question. Do the samples have different prices, or is there one set price dependent upon whether you get the wine pairing?
The shrimp in cilantro looked so good! But I love cilantro. Looking forward to more!

 

[kabuki]

Loving your reviews and pictures!
Since I've never been to the food and wine festival, I hope you don't mind a question. Do the samples have different prices, or is there one set price dependent upon whether you get the wine pairing?
The shrimp in cilantro looked so good! But I love cilantro. Looking forward to more!

I never mind a question and I actually know the answer to this one so we are way a head of the game. Each item is priced individually. Disney has given what they believe it the appropriate pairing but if you want wine they don't have a "combo" price you just order the food item and the wine item.

Here is a sign of food to be reviewed later on but it will give you a picture of the menu and prices!

Hope this helps!

OK off to get the husband to do a review before he leaves for San Fran!

 

[kabuki]

OK off to Mouse Catch ... hmmm.. what the heck is this we thought before we realized it was I gourmet.com's booth of cheese! Thank goodness it wasn't what it sounded like! Anyway - it was three cheeses and wine pairings. Dorthea, Asiago, and Manchango. All good but nothing you can't get at most mega-marts these days!

We got the three cheese sampler! I love cheese and just needed to have all three!

Jason's Comment: The Asiago was the best to me and I had to fight my wofe for my one 1/2 share!

 

[oybolshoi]

We really enjoyed the cheese, too ... thought it was quite tasty with a glass of proseco!

Jay and I were partial to the manchego although we thought all three were tasty.

speaking of cheese ... if I may go off topic for a moment ... were you able to try that white stilton at PFTS on the 11th? Omigawd ... I thought I'd died and gone to bacterial by-product heaven.

 

[kabuki]

We now are off to Mexico City!

(my friend Zeke who gave me the DRUNK OK to use his image and his girlfriends in my reviews! is the one at the booth - this is my disclaimer!)

Quesadilla con Chorizo

I live in San Diego .. This is breakfast on the weekends but again the mantra from Jason .. must try it all! IT was good.. but again.. a quesadilla!

Chilaquies! This is one of our favorites and we have about 50 of them each trip!

Jason's comment: Best idea is to eat them at the wall just outside the entrance to Mexico-land. Bring on the A/C! Here is the proper way to eat them!

YES BACK OFF! ALL MINE GIRLS!

Capirotada

Basically Bread Pudding!
Jason loved this!

 

[kabuki]

We really enjoyed the cheese, too ... thought it was quite tasty with a glass of proseco!

Jay and I were partial to the manchego although we thought all three were tasty.

speaking of cheese ... if I may go off topic for a moment ... were you able to try that white stilton at PFTS on the 11th? Omigawd ... I thought I'd died and gone to bacterial by-product heaven.

UMMM! Not off subject! We are on Cheese! and yes!!! We did! I wanted to smuggle the wheel out in my bag but I left it in the room!
Did you get the igourmet.com coupon for $10 off an order!?
I see one smelly package arriving from UPS!!!!

 

[oybolshoi]

UMMM! Not off subject! We are on Cheese! and yes!!! We did! I wanted to smuggle the wheel out in my bag but I left it in the room!
Did you get the igourmet.com coupon for $10 off an order!?
I see one smelly package arriving from UPS!!!!

Yes, we have the coupon! Actually we had two but I gave one to a friend of mine at work who is as big a cheese fiend as you and I are. Jay and I are thinking of ordering a sampler from Igourmet around the holidays as part of our annual Welcome-to-the-house-now-eat-and-get-out Family Gathering.

 

[kabuki]

Yes, we have the coupon! Actually we had two but I gave one to a friend of mine at work who is as big a cheese fiend as you and I are. Jay and I are thinking of ordering a sampler from Igourmet around the holidays as part of our annual Welcome-to-the-house-now-eat-and-get-out Family Gathering.

Your so funny! We have had a holiday wine and cheese party every year also for friends but we make them bring a bottle of wine and some cheeses that pairs with it. This way at the end of the night I have A LOT OF cheese left! Happy Holidays to ME!

 

[kabuki]

Barcelona, Spain

Chilled Tomato and Garlic Soup and Poema Cava Brut!
I loved the soup .. it was perfect on a hot day!
The Cava was wonderful and we picked a couple bottles up at
home for $9.99 at Bev. Mo. and I think it was $12.95 a bottle that the
Festival Center Wine Shop!

We had the Seared Tuna also but the picture didn't come out. I thought it was ok but the Tuna was tuff!

Jason's Comments: The churro with chocolate sauce was exactly that....nothing fancy, and quite dull. I second Chelsi's comments on the Poema - great every day we were there.

 

[kabuki]

Vienna Austria!

We again had everything here but only this picture -
Beef Goulash with a bacon dumpling and the Iby Zweigelt (bless you )

OK! I admit .. you had me at Bacon Dumpling. I didn't know what to expect but I wanted to try this! The beef goulash was not the best I have ever had but it was good and the dumpling was more like polenta with bacon in it. I liked it but didn't love it! The red wine with it was nice and dry and we both liked it a lot. The star from this booth TO ME (Jason is begging for his comment) was the Leth Gruner Veltliner wine! It was white and cool and crisp with just a bit of sweet and I loved it -especially with the not so light food being served at this booth!

Jason's Comment:The Apricot Cake was the best dessert of the booths. Soft, not too sweet and all-over apricotty (?). I greatly missed my macadamia nut cake and flourless chocolate cake from years past - but this was a great "stand in." one big YUM to this entire booth!!!

 

[onelilspark]

Wow! I tried quite a lot of the food around the world, you've barely gotten started and I can tell already you'll have me beat!!

The cheese sampler was one of my favorites Though I didn't get the crackers (which is okay...I work for their competitor!!)

And thanks for the pictures of the Festival Center. This was my second year going to F&W and I've yet to actually go to the Festival Center...apparently I'm too busy stuffing my face...

 

[kabuki]

Shanghai, China

OK! A bit of a rant but.. OH WELL! All the great food in China and we always get the SAME THING?! Pot Stickers and Sha Cha Chicken (which is always just strange bits of chicken parts in stranger sauce)! Come on! I mean I love a good pot sticker but they couldn't try one new thing sometime. I know that if you changed some things (like the soup in Canada) people would have a cow but you can't tell me that they can't do something new ..

With That we give you - PORK POT STICKERS

They were PORKY - They were POT STICKERIFIC!

 

[kabuki]

Wow! I tried quite a lot of the food around the world, you've barely gotten started and I can tell already you'll have me beat!!

The cheese sampler was one of my favorites Though I didn't get the crackers (which is okay...I work for their competitor!!)

And thanks for the pictures of the Festival Center. This was my second year going to F&W and I've yet to actually go to the Festival Center...apparently I'm too busy stuffing my face...

Your welcome for the pictures. Next time try and make it when the heat is bad. It's a nice place to get some a/c that isn't too bogged down with people!

As for us and having you beat.. it's a sickness! Our friends do triathlons and we triatha-EAT!

 

[kabuki]

New Delhi, India

Red Curry Shrimp over Rice and a Kingfisher Lager

This was another new item and I have to say very good! I am always scared of the shrimp at the booths. They tend to be very FISHY but these were good, not over cooked and the curry was good. It even had a bit of spice to it. The beer was very good also. I am not a big beer person but do like it with spicy food!


Jason's Comments: Make a point of trying every "BLANC" at the booths. Each is different and wonderful. These two were crisp, fruity and a good pairing with the tamarind and curry dishes.....Hell, while you are at try EVERY white and redl!!! I tried to

 

[FormrCastMbr]

Great reviews! We'll be enjoying all of this very shortly (aside from me being pregnant and not able to enjoy the wine).

We loved the Chilaquiles last year! I made the recipe at home and it came out really good!

Thanks!