18th Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Opens Today
The 18th Epcot International Food & Wine Festival opened today so we decided to check it out early this year as there have been some new additions well worth exploring.
The first thing you’ll want to do is grab a Marketplace Discovery Passport and embark on a global tasting tour during the vent that runs from today through to 11th November at Epcot. The 46-day festival is a chance to celebrate food-and-drink from all over the globe marketplaces as well as high-energy concerts and premium dining events. The event also gives a debut to a Scotland Marketplace and adds fresh flavor to the Brazil Marketplace that is returning by popular demand. Griddled lobster tail with garlic butter sizzles at the Hops & Barley Marketplace by American Adventure, and the aromas of more than 25 ethnic and specialized marketplaces — Africa, France, South Korea and Florida Local included — waft across the World Showcase Promenade. Guests can have their own complimentary “passport” stamped at each location for a fun festival souvenir.
In wine news, the festival is one of the first venues in Florida to serve wine on tap in kegs under a new Florida law allowing wine to be dispensed from sustainable stainless-steel containers. Guests can taste a Cabernet and Chardonnay from kegs at the Festival Center and sample a Pinot Gris and a Pinot Noir from kegs at the park’s Cool post.
Disney guests can catch culinary demonstrations by celebrity chefs like Cat Cora, Warren Brown and Jamie Deen. Chef Carla Hall, host of ABC’s “The Chew,” will appear at the Festival Center Sept. 28 and 29 for a cooking demo, signings of her book “Cooking with Love: Comfort Food That Hugs You” and for a Sweet Sundays brunch event.
Daily wine tastings and mixology seminars offer new sips to guests. Nightly Eat to the Beat concerts keep the party rockin’, and six bands make their festival debut this year. In Future World, the iconic Ocean Spray Cranberry Bog returns for a third year to introduce families to the cranberry’s rich agricultural heritage.
Fresh For 2013!
New marketplace debuts; favorites return -The new Scotland Marketplace designed by Walt Disney Imagineering features traditional dishes with a twist including Scottish salmon, vegetarian haggis and beverages including a Loch Lomond cocktail and Scotch whisky flight from Glenfiddich Whisky. Scottish partners have worked with Disney to develop cuisine with a distinctly Scottish origin or theme to delight guests’ tastebuds. The Brazil Marketplace returns by popular demand with an exciting new menu that includes Crispy Pork Belly with Black Beans and Xingu Black Beer. Terra, which debuted last year, returns with vegan favorite Trick’n Chick’n Curry.
Fan favorites rock the house at Eat to the Beat! Concerts – “We Got the Beat” with The Go-Go’s (Sept. 30-Oct. 1) and five other musical acts are set to make first appearances at Eat to the Beat nightly concerts. Also new to the festival stage: Edwin McCain (Oct. 10-11), The Manhattan Transfer (Oct. 12-13), Wilson Phillips (Oct. 14-15), Spin Doctors (Oct. 31-Nov. 1), and Christopher Cross (Nov. 2-3) Nineteen bands are slated, with STARSHIP starring Mickey Thomas kicking off the concert series Sept. 27-29. Returning fan favorites include The Pointer Sisters, Smash Mouth, Boyz II Men, Sister Hazel, Air Supply, Hanson and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.
Celebrity chefs cook and dish – Renowned chefs like Warren Brown, Paula DaSilva, Jamie Deen, Emily Ellyn, Duskie Estes and John Stewart, Gale Gand, Rock Harper, Jeff Henderson, Robert Irvine, Dean Max, Art Smith, Allen Susser, “Cake Boss” Buddy Valastro, Bryan and Michael Voltaggio and Andrew Zimmern share their talents during culinary demos and premium events.
Festival Welcome Center buzzes with activities – Guests can make the most of complimentary Authentic Taste seminars. Culinary demonstrations and wine seminars feature new tastes and sips for a nominal fee.
Reserved culinary events draw foodies — Special culinary programs showcase a lineup of renowned winemakers, guest chefs and speakers like Master Sommelier Andrea Robinson as they participate in elegant dinners, luncheons, seminars and wine schools.
Other festival highlights include:
More than 270 chefs including Disney chefs and culinary stars from across the country
Party for the Senses grand tasting events Oct. 5, 12, 19, 26, and Nov. 2 featuring tempting bites from eminent chefs, more than 50 wines and beers and live entertainment.
Premium events including “Scotland: Land of Food & Drink” the new “Parisian Breakfast” on Sundays, ”3D” Disney’s Dessert Discovery on select Fridays, and Cheese Seminars on Saturdays.
It’s really quite the event and judging from the early crowds just two hours in today, it’s going to be as popular as ever! Have fun!
More photos at www.FloridaLeisurePhotography.com
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