We like to look back at each year’s Epcot International Food & Wine Festival before we really charge into Holidays at Disney World – it really helps us when we start planning the next year’s Festival. Our “festival habits” have changed a lot in recent years…
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | |
| Signature Dinners | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Culinary Demonstrations | 6 | 9 | 16 | 4 |
| Beverage Seminars | 12 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Mixology Seminars | n/a | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Lunches (food pairings at Epcot restaurants) | 2 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
| Special Events | Party for the Senses | Disney Dessert Discovery Party | Sweet Sundays | 0 |
Last year (2012) was huge and we found that we didn’t enjoy running back and forth to Epcot so much; there was too much going on to really enjoy things…
This year, we actually skipped one Culinary Demonstration and one Mixology Seminar that we had reservations for…
Anyway, back to wrapping things up and telling you what we thought was GREAT, GOOD, FAIR, or POOR
Culinary Demonstrations
| Kevin Dundon, Raglan Road | GREAT |
| Michael Gonsalves, Golden Oaks | Great |
| Nick Crispino, Cinderella Castle | Poor |
| Alisa Malavenda, POSH Salt™ | Poor, but she was great last year |
Lunches
| Italian Regional Lunch | Great food, Fair education |
| Tequila Lunch | Great food, education & fun, definitely want to do again |
| Italy Craft Beer | Good craft beers, Fair food |
| Food & Sake | We’re torn between Great & Good, we’re likely to do again |
| Tequila Lunch redone | See comments above |
Marketplace Booths
I’m going to skip adult beverages, they’ve been reviewed here.
| Terra | Didn’t eat anything from here |
| Brazil – Crispy Pork Belly | Poor |
| Argentina | Didn’t eat anything from here |
| Australia –Garlic ShrimpLamb Chop | GoodGood |
| Mexico | Didn’t eat anything from here |
| Singapore – seared mahi mahi | Good |
| China – Mongolian beef bun | Good to Great |
| South Korea –Kimchi DogLettuce Wrap with Roast Pork | Great (had it twice)Great |
| Africa –Berbere Style BeefSpinach & Paneer Pocket | Good to GreatGood |
| Cheese –Blue Cheese SouffleCheese Selection | PoorPoor |
| Germany – Schinkennudlen | Good |
| Poland – Zapiekanki | Good, but served not warm |
| Italy | Didn’t eat anything from here |
| Hops & Barley | Didn’t eat anything from here |
| Florida Local – Shrimp Cerviche | Good to Great |
| Japan | Didn’t eat anything from here |
| Morocco | Didn’t eat anything from here |
| New Zealand –Green Lip MusselsVenison Sausage
Lamb Meatball |
GoodGreat, had twice
Fair |
| Belgium | Didn’t eat anything from here |
| France | Didn’t eat anything from here |
| Ireland – Lobster and Seafood Pie | Fair to Good |
| Canada | Didn’t eat anything from here |
| Greece – Taste of Greece | Good |
| Refreshment Port | Didn’t eat anything from here |
| Desserts & Champagne | Didn’t eat anything from here |
| Hawaii –Pork SliderTuna Poke | Fair, almost good but too sweetGood, but not impressive |
| Scotland –Seared SalmonVegetarian Haggis | GreatGreat |
There it is, a summary (and before December 1st!)… Now on to the Christmas Holidays. We don’t expect as much coverage as last year, we have more extensive travel plans during the month of December and Thanksgiving was as late as possible this year (shortening the holiday season at Walt Disney World)…