Disney Food Blog was kind enough to share the just released menus for the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival 2019 and I’ve been combing through them to see what I’m most excited to try – for the first time or again(!) – this year.
The Festival starts on August 29th this year (in case you want to be somewhere besides you-know-where that day…) and ends on November 23rd. And it looks like we’ll have a total of 32 booths and a handful of other locations to check out this time around.
Descriptions of any new items are from the Disney Food Blog article linked here.
Notable Absences:
What’s NOT on these initial lists this year?
- Greece – We loved this booth last year – from the loaded Greek “nachos” to the bougatsa. If it indeed isn’t coming back, we’ll miss it for sure.
- New Zealand
The mussels and lamb meatball have always been favorites, so we’ll miss this one too if it indeed isn’t coming back.
- The Almond Orchard – I know a lot of people enjoyed this booth. But if it indeed isn’t coming back, breathe easy because the banana almond soft-serve sundae will be at the Shimmering Sips Mimosa Bar this year!
- Others: Taste Track and Light Lab also aren’t making an appearance on the DFB list, but this might just be because they’re off the beaten path – especially Taste Track, which has become a bit of a year-’round thing.
New Booths:
- The Alps
I might be most excited for this new entrant, which will have (1) warm raclette swiss cheese (omg) with baby potatoes, cornichons and a baguette, (2) venison stew with crushed potatoes, and (3) a blueberry and almond frangipane tart with crème fraîche and Blue Diamond® almonds – not to mention a frozen rosé.
- Appleseed Orchard
The charcuterie and cheese plate featuring Burton’s Maplewood Farm applejack brandy barrel aged maple syrup sounds kind of killer. As does the caramel-apple popcorn. This booth is also going to have a crazy long list of drinks, including, not surprisingly, quite a few ciders.
Returning Booths:
Active Eats Salmon – 2018
Similar to last year’s offerings, which you can find reviewed here.
- Africa – Several new and interesting items, including (1) Kenyan Coffee Barbecue Beef Tenderloin with Sweet Potato and Corn Mealie Pap and Kachumbari Slaw, (2) Spicy Kenyan Vegan Githeri with White Beans, Pigeon Peas, Curry Rice Pilaf and Kachumbari Slaw, and (3) Piri Piri Skewered Shrimp with Citrus-scented Couscous.
- Australia – A spin on last year’s savory items, reviewed here, and a new deconstructed pavlova with pastry cream, citrus-macerated berries and lemon myrtle meringue. I’m excited to see this replacing the lamington, which was fine but nothing exciting.
- Belgium – More or less the same as last year – beer-braised beef and sweet and savory waffles.
- Brazil
Brazil – 2018
A repeat of last year, which you can find reviewed here. I loved the seafood stew and of course the cheese bread and am happy that they’re not messing with a good thing.
- Canada – A repeat of prior years – cheddar cheese and bacon soup and filet.
- The Cheese Studio
Maple Bourbon Cheesecake – 2018
The stroganoff and maple bourbon cheesecake return, which you can find reviewed here, and they’ve changed out the cheese trio for a black pepper Boursin® soufflé with fig marmalade that sounds amazing.
- China – We get the chicken dumplings and black pepper shrimp back again but trade the xi’an pancake and duck bao for wuxi spareribs and a mala chicken and shrimp bao. China was a surprise standout last year so I’m looking forward to trying what they’ve come up with this year.
- Chocolate Studio
Nitro Truffle – 2018
Repeats from last year, including the liquid nitro chocolate-almond truffle that was a favorite.
- Coastal Eats – We get the lump crab cake and shrimp and scallop dip back – but lose the seared scallops. Here’s hoping the new pacifico true striped bass tostada with slaw and fire-roasted tomatillo sauce that’s replacing them is as amazing at it sounds.
- Earth Eats
IMPOSSIBLETM Burger – 2018
We get the IMPOSSIBLETM burger back – which is good because it was amazing – and also get an IMPOSSIBLETM cottage pie. The steakhouse blended burger has been moved to Flavors from Fire.
- Flavors from Fire
This was my absolute favorite booth last year, hands down – so I was braced for any changes. Relieved to see we’re getting versions of the smoked corned beef, chimichurri skirt steak, and chocolate picante back again. But we’re losing the piggy wings!! This one hurts….
- France – We get our snail croissant back (my kids will be so thrilled…) and add a cheese fondue, braised beef, and crème brûlée with chocolate hazelnut cream.
- Germany – Basically the same as last year’s offerings.
- Hawai’i
Hawai’i Booth – 2018
Exactly the same as last year, which you can find reviewed here.
- Hops & Barley
Same as last year, including the lobster roll that made my top 10 last year.
- India
The same offerings as last year, including the Mango Lassi with Somrus Indian Cream Liqueur that made my top 10 drinks last year.
- Ireland
The same offerings as last year, including the Guinness Baileys Shake that made my top 10 drinks last year.
- Islands of the Caribbean
The same offerings as last year, including the frozen mojito that made my top 10 drinks last year.
- Italy – One of the few booths that looks almost entirely new this year (though happily they’re repeating the Italian Margarita with Limoncello and tequila). According to DFB, they’ll be offering the following pretty much all new food items:
- Ravioli Carbonara: Parmesan and Pecorino Ravioli, Egg Yolk, Cream, and Bacon
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- Costine di Maiale: Balsamic-glazed and Oven-roasted Pork Ribs
- Pollo: Crispy Chicken with Marinara Sauce
- Traditional Sicilian Cannoli: Crisp Pastry filled with Sweet Ricotta, Chocolate, and Candied Orange
- Chocolate-Hazelnut Cake: Vanilla Cake and Chocolate-Hazelnut Mascarpone Cream dipped in Chocolate
- Japan
Chicken Bun – 2018
We get the teriyaki chicken bun that everyone (but me) loved back again, along with the spicy tuna and salmon roll – both of which are reviewed here. But we trade the beef nigiri for “Frothy Ramen: Chilled Noodles and Dashi Broth with a Light Foam Topping,” which sounds very interesting.
- Mexico – Another booth that’s almost entirely new!! And all of it looks amazing.
- Taco de Puerco: Shredded Pork Belly on a Corn Tortilla with Salsa Verde
- Tostada de Carne: Braised Beef on a Corn Tostada with Mole Oaxaqueño and Chicharrón Dust
- Capirotada de Chocolate: Chocolate Bread Pudding served with Chocolate Abuelita Crème Anglaise
- Morocco – We get back our beloved hummus fries and chocolate baklava – but trade the kefta pocket for a NY strip steak green shermoula flatbread with fresh radish and tomato salsa that I cannot wait to try.
- Refreshment Outpost – Last year we just got a spicy hot dog. This year we get a Nigerian Meat Pie and a “No Worries Panna Cotta” that’s described as raspberry, papaya, and mango panna cotta with a cookie crumble base topped with a Lion King white chocolate. Hakuna M’yes please.
- Refreshment Port – The new poutine here is a duck confit with fig demi sauce and brie cheese fondue that sounds more intriguing than either of the ones that were offered last year. Also, you’ll be able to get the spiked Dole Whip® and Dragon Berry Refresher again – but this year they’re also offering a barbecue Bloody Mary with smoked garlic sausage and a house-made pickle skewer served with a mustard and barbecue rub rim that I’m definitely going to be trying.
- Shimmering Sips Mimosa Bar – Several desserts here (including the banana almond soft serve sundae that was at the Almond Orchard last year) and lots of mimosa options.
- Spain – More or less the same offerings as last year – the charcuterie cone, paella, and seafood salad.
- Thailand
Thailand – Food & Wine 2018
Very similar to last year, but they list a shrimp and cold noodle salad instead of the shrimp and scallop cake and cold noodle salad that they offered last year.
- The Wine & Dine Studio
Hugely relieved that other than switching out some cheeses on the artisan cheese trio this appears to be unchanged – which means we get our seared scallops and butternut squash ravioli back again. These were reviewed here last year and were both easily in the top 5 savory items for the whole festival.
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And that’s a wrap!! What are you most excited to try????
