Highlights of the Food and Wine Festival

[OKWTink]

As I promised, we'll visit the Festival again and again, you and I.

The photos in this segment are from this past weekend. I was having some trouble with Camera, so you'll forgive the poor quality, yes?

Vermont, the state featured in the special exhibit in the US, changes some of it's booths each week. This week there was a company that offers fresh Christmas trees (shipped) and wreaths. Beautiful and made me wonder if I dared have one shipped to me for the holidays.

Maple syrup was again featured, but this time pure, not infused.

The cooking demonstration was blueberry fool. The woman from the audience that made it (while the chef stood to the side and instructed) was allowed to eat it. :D Looked very tasty!

The featured concert this weekend was Starship. Mickey still sounds the same. That is a feat that is all to infrequently done in by time!

"I must have been through about a million girls, I love and I leave 'em alone.... their tears left me cold as a stone...but then I fooled around and fell in love..."

Remember that one? Deep sensuous backbeat? Well the audience remembered it too. Never thought I'd see quite so many displays of "dirty dancing" in EPCOT! Something about the tempo, eh?

So, on to the photos and less of my chatter.

Australia continues to be a favorite. I tasted there this time. The Beef was quite tender and nice, and the sauce was savory. I had a sip of the wine, a Penguin merlot. In a word? Disgusting. I won't be buying a bottle of that for the rack!

Couldn't resist another shot of the native dancers. You'll notice the changes in the body paint. If you look hard, way over in the bottom right hand corner is a hint of the didge player. It's wicked to get directly in front of him, as he's nearly hidden by the speakers.

Australia: The food, the menu, what I tasted, and the incredible dancers.

[OKWTink]

Peru is another featured country. There is a rather nice merchandise booth, the obligatory food booth and a small area where folk dance and music are presented.

It is a very colorful area, and the workers as well as performers are quite friendly.

I tasted the papas rellenas, and must admit, I much prefer Bongo's. However, the corn relish was spicy and nice, but I'd like it better with something else.

Again, I apologize for the quality of these photos. The performers were moving quite fast, and that contributed to the difficulty of getting a clear shot. I'm not sure what was going on with the food shots, other than too much light.

Such as they are: Peru, the Dancers and Musicians:

[OKWTink]

The food:

[OKWTink]

If you tire of wine tasting, wine seminars, beer tasting and beer seminars you can attends Twinings Tea Tasting Seminar! It is a nice little event, held in the outdoor seating area to the immediate left of the Rose and Crown.

All participants received a silver (color) tea caddy and four tea bags. There is a nice bit of history presented and some interesting statistics. Did you know that Samuel Johnson drank forty cups of tea each day!

I only really liked the English Afternoon Tea. The Green Tea with Jasmine was far too perfumy and the Lemon and Ginger was far too heavy on the ginger!

I was surprised that the session ended with pouring your tea of choice over ice, but it is one way to drink tea. I combined the English Afternoon tea with a touch of the Lemon and Ginger. It was pleasant.

I'm going to try to attend the Beer Tasting Seminar here, but that will wait for the "onsite" weekend.

The Tea Tasting Seminar:

[OKWTink]

India, as a food booth is represented this year. The offerings are quite limited, but it is a very popular booth. They were out of one of their beer selections and the vegetarian dish. The Chicken Tikka that I tasted was quite nice. The yogurt based sauce was flavorful and the chicken savoury with spices. This is one of those dishes that I will enjoy making at home.

[OKWTink]

Valencia, Spain has added mannequins in folk dress to their pavillion display.

I intitially started to crop the photos to just show you the styles of dress, but then decided to stop doing that. I think the surrounding background gives a better feel for what is present at the festival.

These mannequins are commanding a bit of attention. One little boy attempted to take one of the women mannequins by the hand and ended up with her entire hand in his. Needless to say, he was a little startled and turned to Dad for help. Dad returned the hand to the end of the mannequins arm, and the little boy looked quite relieved. Made me think of Steven. The child was about his age and size.

I also tried the nougat available at the food booth. It was hard and quite crunchy. I'll stick to the French and Italian nougats of my childhood, thanks.

The Valencia Folk Dress:

[OKWTink]

The last photos for this weekend's visit are of Ireland. I tasted the whisky flan. It was delicious as always, and my guest had a small Guinness. I've been too long from Ireland. I had a sip of the Guinness and it tasted quite nice. Clearly, it's time for me to return and remind my taste buds what the true Guinness tastes like!

I also tasted the chocolate creme brulee and the crepe at France. The crepe was filled with soft cheese and bits of ham, quite nice actually, although the crepe was a bit tough. The creme brulee was a real disappointment. Loose and more like rennet, and the chocolate just didn't work. I didn't photograph those this weekend, as they were captured in the shot from last weekend.

The festival was much more crowded this weekend. Folks were forming long snaking queues, some surprisingly so. The concert was heavily attended with one of the show times seeing the queue reach from the Theatre entrance, down to Italy and doubling back on itself to fill the isola area, with the end of the line headed back up toward the theatre!

The weather was perfect. Warm and breezy and unrelenting sunshine. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves immensely, including the performers and characters who were out in full force, both in the countries and on the Character Bus.

Ireland's food and Menu:

[OKWTink]

So there is our second visit to the Food and Wine Festival. I will continue with this thread, updating with photos with each consecutive visit. I will not be able to attend each weekend, but for those weekends that I do attend, I'll try to take photos of things you've not yet seen.

The Party For the Senses will be something to look forward to!

I hope you like this bit of the Festival. I hope it gives you at least a tiny feel for what it is like.

Take care now and thank you for sharing these moments at EPCOT with me!

[clio]

Thanks, it all looks wonderful. Do they give out the recipes?

[OKWTink]

No longer. They once had recipe cards at each booth. They stopped doing that. Then, if you wanted recipes you had to go to the welcome center and request copies where they would print them out for you. They stopped that. Then they had a system where they would email you recipes. They stopped that.

Now, you can purchase a recipe book for $6.50. This is the second year in a row they've done that. It makes it difficult for those of us who go year after year. Many of the recipes are the same, so who wants a book each year for just one or two new recipes? :rolleyes:

[Wendy]

:clap: Thankyou, 'Tink!
You managed to capture the red tinge (was it evening/dusk) in the photo of the Australians, something I've never seen since living in Australia. :) Brought back many wonderful memories.

Oh, I think Redkop's packed his suitcase already.............he'll be over to join you for the beer tasting in the UK and Guiness in Ireland!!! :wink: :D

[OKWTink]

Yes, Wendy! It was dusk when I shot the photo of the dancers (and the rest of the Aussie ones; that's why the menu has a flash mark).

[Redkop]

did someone say a beer tasting seminar.........suitcase is located, now where is my passport............wait for me Tink :D

[Mickeymac]

I like the movement in the Dance piccies, tink, no need to apologize for them! It makes me feel like I'm really watching them twirl. :D

I half expected you to say the mannequins were alive and had to reread the hand bit a few times. :rolleyes:

[Whitequeen]

Thank you, 'Tink. Another Sunday afternoon treat for me. :thumbs:

I feel like I've had a stroll around WS. :D

[Redkop]

I feel like I've had a stroll around WS. :D

in a few weeks you will do and i am dead jealous............still i expect after a few drinks it wont be a stroll :rotfl:

[OKWTink]

They do have the mannequins posed in a very lifelike manner don't they?

Well then, I'm waiting redkop. Think you can get here by the 5th of November? :D That's when the real tasting shall begin! :lol:

[Redkop]

Well then, I'm waiting redkop. Think you can get here by the 5th of November? :D That's when the real tasting shall begin! :lol:

wild horses wouldnt stop me at the mo :D

[MystikPiglit]

They do have the mannequins posed in a very lifelike manner don't they?
Well then, I'm waiting redkop. Think you can get here by the 5th of November? :D That's when the real tasting shall begin! :lol:
I'm planning to be there on the 5th. :thumbs: Any tips? :D

[OKWTink]

:D Sure! Visit every booth that looks good to you and sample every libation that seems refreshing! :D

There are several seminars to choose from too! Wine, beer and the tea.

You'll not have a bit of a problem finding lovely things to taste!

So then? Are you bringing redkop with you MystikPiglet? :D

[MystikPiglit]

So then? Are you bringing redkop with you MystikPiglet? :D

No thanks, will have enough trouble with my own beer monster! :rolleyes:

Thanks for tips...wine & tea for me then :) Beer for DH (hopefully not too much though! :eek: )

[BigThunder]

Tink, do they have the same countries & entertainment throughout the festival or does it change weekly? My 11 year old DD would really enjoy seeing the dancers from Peru. Anything else you suggest for a very inquisitive child? We usually avoid all of this but after seeing your photos I think we may really slow down & take it in a bit more.

[OKWTink]

Most of the entertainment and food kiosks are the same. Some of the children's displays (like the honey exhibit) will change periodically.

I would think and 11 year old would have a grand time at the Festival. There are a number of things do to that children will enjoy, free samples, live demonstrations, the dancers from Peru and Australia both. Germany has the live musical entertainment too.

I personally believe that they are having more characters out in the indivudual countries too. :yes:

[BigThunder]

Oh goody! I am really excited now. Epcot is Courtney's second favorite park after MK. She loves meeting the people from other countries, looking at their clothing, listening to their language & seeing the items in the shops. She's not much on trying different foods, pretty much like her mother there! Which is one reason I never took much time at the F & W Festival. I will do it now though! I am very anxious.
Thanks OKWTink for sparking my interest with your lovely photos.

[OKWTink]

Many of the foods are not too ambitious or strange. The chicken tikka in India, for instance, is simply skewered chicken with a bit of yogurt based sauce. You could ask them to put the sauce to the side, as they add it as you order. That way if you didn't care for it, you wouldn't have to have it.

There is a nice lemon chicken over rice at Morocco too. I've not had it this year, but it was quite nice last year.

There will be many things for the both of you to try!

[BigThunder]

lemon chicken over rice, that sounds yummy! My stomach is growling as I type.

[marivigi]

Thanks for sharing again Tink!

We will definetly be visiting in Ocotber ... hopefully next year... all that food just looks yummy!!!

How do you manage to eat it all?

[uscwest]

You eat it all by planning SEVERAL days at EPCOT during F&W. :lol:

[OKWTink]

Bringing a friend, or friends helps. :) You purchase what looks good to you and then share. You can taste much more that way. Also, through the years the portions of the samples have gotten much smaller. The whisky flan for instance (at Ireland) really is only two mouthfuls.

I've a few more photos to put up from this past weekend (here it is already Wednesday!) but I'm not sure if I'll get to it before I leave. :blush: I'm a little behind in things and might run out of time before tomorrow.

At any rate, if I don't get them up now, I will when I return along with photos of the Party for the Senses! I am really looking forward to that!

[marivigi]

You eat it all by planning SEVERAL days at EPCOT during F&W. :lol:

:lmao: you dont say!

and I suppose living within a few miles of WDW helps as well... :rotfl:

[marivigi]

I like that idea of sharing, that way you really do get to taste much more!