Ten Things You Must Try at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival in 2016

While trying EVERYTHING from all the 30+ kiosks at the Food and Wine Festival would be a dream come true , we’re fairly sure we would need to be physically rolled out of Epcot if we did so! So, we’ve gathered a list of ten things we feel you must try at the Food and Wine Festival this year. Some are oldies but goodies while others are completely new and are definitely on our must try list!

10 – Schinkennudeln (Say that 10 times fast, or even just once correctly!)

@ Germany

What would a trip to the Epcot Food and Wine Festival be without a stop by the beloved Germany kiosk? Here you’ll want to try any one of their hearty selections of food and drinks that will leave you ready to strap on those lederhosen and greet everyone with “Guten Tag!”

• Roast Bratwurst in a Hard Roll
• Schinkennudeln: Pasta Gratin with Ham and Cheese (TOP PICK)
• Apple Strudel with Vanilla Sauce

Straight for Mosel, a German wine region, you’ll entice your taste buds with these selections:

• Radeberger Zwickel Pilsner (Unfiltered)
• J&H Selbach Bernkasteler Kurfürstlay Riesling Auslese, Mosel
• Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese, Mosel
• J&H Selbach Bernkasteler Kurfürstlay Riesling, Mosel

9 – Grilled Spicy Edamame

@ Japan

Sure, you might be thinking – Japan – a typical cuisine option most of us can get just about anywhere. The Japan kiosk at the festival is worth stopping by… and maybe visit again if you decide to take a second walk around the World Showcase. Authentic Japan cuisine:

• Spicy Sushi Roll: Tuna and Salmon with Kazan Volcano Sauce
• Grilled Spicy Edamame tossed with Sesame Oil, Soy Sauce and Chili Powder (TOP PICK)
• Garlic Shrimp: Marinated Shrimp sautéed with Garlic and Butter and served over Rice

Don’t forget one of these “Land of the Rising Sun” beverages:

• Kirin Pale Lager
• Sapporo Black Lager
• Pineapple Breeze Sake Cocktail
• Echigo “Northern Bloom” Junmai Sake
• Stella Artois Hard Cidre

8 –  Chilled Tomato Gazpacho with Lump Crab Meat

@ Greenhouse Guru Hosted by Village Farms

A newbie making our must try list is the Greenhouse Guru. This kiosk isn’t just dishing out fresh food, but vaunts it’s eco-friendly, greenhouse-grown tomato dishes specifically. Since we love tomatoes, we will be stopping by the Greenhouse Guru for a taste of a tomato fresh off the vine.

• Chilled Tomato Gazpacho with Lump Crab Meat (TOP PICK)
• Duck Confit with Creamy Polenta and Fire-roasted Salsa
• Herloom Tomato Salad with Goat Cheese, Aged Balsamic Vinegar and Micro-Basil
• Mini San Marzano Tomatoes

What goes well with a tomato based menu item? The Greenhouse Guru has these beverage options lined up for us:

• Chateau Ste. Michelle Cold Creek Vineyard Riesling, Columbia Valley, Washington
• Acrobat Pinot Noir, Eugene, Oregon

7 – Jamaican Beef Patty

@ Islands of the Caribbean

The Islands of the Caribbean have arrived new to the festival this year! We are ready to dive into the Caribbean culture through the sense of taste. While our top pick might be the Jamaican Beef Patty, we are totally going to indulge on a little piece of each of these wonderful menu items:

• Jamaican Beef Patty (TOP PICK)
• Mojo Pork with Black Beans, Cilantro Rice and Pickled Red Onions
• Pescado con Coco: Seared Grouper, Pigeon Peas and Rice with Coconut Sauce
• Quesito: Puff Pastry with Sweetened Cream Cheese and Guava Sauce

What would a Caribbean dish be without a Caribbean beverage?

• Presidente Pilsner
• Frozen Mojito
• Caribbean Sangria

6 –  Best Damn Hard Root Beer Float

@ Desserts & Champagne

You can’t go wrong with desserts and champagne all in one kiosk! Champagne, France serves up some above and beyond beverages that we can’t help but let ourselves order a couple of these sweet drink desserts:

• Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin “Yellow Label” Brut
• Dom Pérignon Brut
• Nicolas Feuillatte Brut Rosé
• Moët & Chandon Ice Impérial
• Hard Soda Floats with Vanilla Soft-Serve (alcoholic) – Best Damn Hard Root Beer Float, Sprecher (TOP PICK)
• Hard Cherry Cola Float or Sprecher Hard Orange Cream Soda Float
• Soda Floats with Vanilla Soft-Serve (non-alcoholic) – Coca-Cola Float, Grape Fanta Float or Strawberry Fanta Float

5 – Peanut Butter and White Chocolate Mousse

@ The CHEW Collective

If you haven’t heard, ABC’s daytime talk show “The CHEW” is making its way to the Epcot Food and Wine Festival this year where they will host segments for their show and put on live demonstrations. We are extremely excited because the Emmy award-winning Cast has selected what they are calling “21^st-century flavor revolution” items to be indulged in by those of us interested in a taste! We are definitely going to try one of each of these delightful CHEW Collective menu items:

• Ricotta and Zucchini Ravioli with Rustic Tomato Sauce
• Grilled Beef Skewer with Romaine, Apricots and Feta Cheese
• Peanut Butter and White Chocolate Mousse with a Caramel Drizzle (TOP PICK)

Partner any of these selections with their two California beverage options:

• Festival Chardonnay
• Festival Cabernet Sauvignon

 4 – Berbere-style Beef Tenderloin Tips

@ Africa

Our favorite part about the Africa kiosk is that we feel the spirit of Africa culture truly comes to life through their incredible dishes. Our top pick may be the Berbere-style Beef Tenderloin Tips but you really can’t go wrong with the chicken either:

• Buttered Chicken with Micro Cilantro and Naan Bread
• Berbere-style Beef Tenderloin Tips with Onions, Jalapeños, Tomato and Pap (TOP PICK)

Interesting South Africa beverage tastes that are extremely unique and curious on the taste buds:

• Indaba Chenin Blanc, Western Cape
• Simonsig Pinotage, Stellenbosch
• Jam Jar Sweet Shiraz, Western Cape

3 – Loaded Mac ‘n’ Cheese

@ Farm Fresh

It’s called Farm Fresh because it truly is and this is obvious with every bite into their refreshing food and sip of beverages. We don’t always go the healthy route at Disney World, but this is one place to get your healthy feasting on:

• Chicken and Dumplings: Stewed Chicken with Mushrooms and Spinach
• Pickled Beet Salad with Herbed Goat Cheese, Minus 8 Vinaigrette and Toasted Walnuts
• Loaded Mac ‘n’ Cheese with Nueske’s Pepper Bacon, Cheddar Cheese, Peppers and Green Onions (TOP PICK)

We love their unique beverage options that are just as fresh as the food:

• Woodchuck Raspberry Hard Cider
• Wyder’s Dry Pear Hard Cider
• Two Henrys Elderberry Hard Cider
• Florida Orange Groves Mango Mama Wine

2 – Belgian Waffle

@ Belgium

We just had to put this oldie but goodie on the list! There is just something about these Belgian Waffles that make our mouths water for more! If you aren’t a waffle fan, Belgium will still keep those taste bud in check with their beef and potatoes option:

• Beer-braised Beef served with Smoked Gouda Mashed Potatoes
• Belgian Waffle with Berry Compote and Whipped Cream
• Belgian Waffle with Warm Chocolate Ganache and Whipped Cream (TOP PICK)

You’ll be thirsty after enjoying your wholesome waffle, so snag one of these too:

• Hoegaarden Witbier
• Leffe Blonde Belgian Pale Ale

1 – Liquid Nitro Chocolate-Almond Truffle

@ Chocolate Studio

New to this year’s festival is the “Chocolate Studio”. Key word here – CHOCOLATE. This mini confectionery shop boasts being a “one-stop chocolate shop” by serving these delectable delights of heavenly goodness:

• Red Wine Chocolate Truffle
• Ghirardelli® Chocolate Raspberry Torte
• Liquid Nitro Chocolate-Almond Truffle with Warm Whiskey Caramel (TOP PICK)

Check out this list of beverages that partners beautifully with the already sweet menu:

• Justin Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles, California
• Rosa Regale Sweet Red Sparkling Wine, Piedmont, California
• Fonseca Bin No. 27 Port, Douro Valley, Portugal
• Blandy’s Alvada 5-Year-Old Madeira, Portugal