Alrighty, here we are again, to talk about the other BIG happening in WDW right now – Epcot’s International Food and Wine Festival. I am just as excited to chat about this event today as I was to tell you about Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party.

Just so you understand my enthusiasm, let me elaborate – I love food. I love to make it and I love to eat it. I LOVE wine. Probably more than food. Maybe. It’s a tough call… Anyway, I also love to photograph food I make or that is served to me. My husband teases me about this constantly. He calls me a hipster and says I embarrass him. We went to California Grill last year on our honeymoon and he wouldn’t let me take any pictures of the food. I should have. The food was as BEAUTIFUL as it was delicious. Now all I have are my memories… *Sigh.

So now that I’ve shared, you can imagine the kind of excitement this event can bring. I am going to be honest with you though, I’ve only been to this event once, a couple of years ago before I developed the habit of photographing food. So unfortunately I don’t have a lot of pictures. But I DO have a ton of information and tips for you! Hooray! So much so, in fact, that I am breaking Epcot Food and Wine Festival into two posts.

The Basics: Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, this year, began on September 27th and will be running daily through November 11th. This insanely large event breaks down into two main categories: Food Marketplaces and Special Events (seminars, demonstrations, concerts, celebrity appearances, etc.).

Today, in Part 1, we are focusing on the Food Marketplaces.

You will need an admission ticket into Epcot to visit Food & Wine Fez, and from there some events are free and some are of an additional cost. The Food Marketplaces are all a-la-carte. So you can purchase as much or as little as you would like to taste.

This year there are 30 (holy cow!) Food Marketplaces. Some of the Food Marketplaces have several things to eat and drink while others may only have one or two offerings. You can certainly try a little flavor from around the world. Here are this year’s Food Marketplaces and their offerings:

• Terra – This tantalizing menu was developed with a focus on things that come from the earth. Munch on: Trick’n chick’n curry with basmati rice featuring Gardein chick’n breast, Chili Colorado with house-made chips and chashew cheese featuring Gardein beefless tips, and Chocolate cake with coconut mousee and passion fruit sauce. Sip on: Fresh watermelon juice, Napa Smith Organic IPA, The Vegan Vine Chardonnay, The Vegan Vine Red Blend.

• Brazil – To Eat: Seared scallop with ragout of tomatoes, peppers, hearts of palm, and steamed rice or Crispy pork belly with black beans, onions, avocado, and cilantro. To Drink: Cerveharias Kaiser Brewery Xingu Black Beer, Carnaval Moscato White, and Frozen Caipirinha featuring LeBlon Cachaça.

• Argentina – Taste the Beef empanada, or the Grilled beef skewer with Chimichurri sauce and boniato purée. To drink:
  • Pascual Toso Sparkling Brut
  • Terrazas Reserva Malbec
  • Terrazas Reserva Torrontes
  • Kaiken Cabernet Sauvignon

• Australia – Head down under with these food and beverage options:
  • Garlic shrimp with roasted tomatoes, lemon myrtle and rapini
  • Grilled lamb chop with mint pesto and potato crunchies
  • Pavlova – crispy meringue shell with fresh Driscoll’s berries and vanilla custard.
  • Rosemont Estate Pinot Grigio
  • Wolf Blass Gold Label Chardonnay
  • Rosemont Estate Merlot
  • Penfolds Bin 8 Carbernet Shiraz

• Mexico – This booth is bringing classic Mexican flavors that are sure to delight. A comer y beber:
  • Shrimp taco with purple cabbage
  • Taco de ribeye with salsa de chipotle
  • Rice pudding
  • Dos Equis Beer
  • Sangria
  • Tequila Flight
  • Mango-Habanero Margarita

• Singapore – Travel to far-away places with the flavors in this Food Marketplace:
  • Lemongrass chicken curry with coconut and jasmine rice
  • Seared mahi mahi with jasmine rice and “Singa” sauce
  • Tiger Beer
  • Marqués de Caceres Satinela
  • Singapore Sling featuring Hendricks Gin and Cherry Herring

• China – This Food Marketplace has a large selection of China’s flavors. Food offerings: Mongolian beef in a steamed bun, Black pepper shrimp with suchuan noodles, Chicken potstickers, and Silky spun ice with toppings (3 flavors, coconut, strawberry and chocolate). Beverage offerings include: Tsing Tao Beer, Francis Ford Coppola Su Yuen Riesling, Francis Ford Coppola Su Yuen Syrah, Kung Fu Punch with vodka, Happy Lychee with vodka, and Lychee-aerated water.

• South Korea – Have a true taste of Asia with these offerings:
  • Kimchi dog with spicy mustard sauce
  • Lettuce wrap with roast pork and kimchi slaw
  • Bohae Black Raspberry Wine – Bokbunjajoo
  • Jinro Chamisul Soju
  • Soju Fruit Slushy featuring Jinro Chamisul Soju

• Africa – Try the Berbere-style beef with onions, jelapeños, tomato, okra, and pap or the Spinach and paneer cheese pocket. To drink you’ll find Man Vintners Chenin Blanc, The Wolftrap Red, and Porcupine Ridge Syrah.

• Cheese – This Food Marketplace is featuring Once Upon a Vine’s The Lost Slipper Sauvignon Blanc, The Fairest Chardonnay, The Big Bad Red Blend, and A Charming Pinot. They would all make an excellent pairing to the Almond-crusted blue cheese soufflé with fig jam, or the Artisan cheese selection including: Beechers Flagship Reserve served with honey, La Bonne Vie Triple Cream Brie served with apricot jam, and Wijngaard Goat Gouda with Craisin bread.

• Brewer’s Collection – This impressive collection can be tried singly, or in two different flight options.
  • Schöfferhofer Grapefruit
  • Radeberger Pilsner
  • Altenmünster Oktoberfest
  • BraufactuM Parlor
  • BraufactuM Roog Smoked Wheat Beer
  • Warsteiner Premium Verum
  • BraufactuM Darkon
  • Warsteiner Premium Dunkel

   

• Germany – Delight your German side at this Food Marketplace offering traditional eats and a host of beverages. To eat: Schniken nudel (pasta gratin with ham and cheese), Roast bratwurst in a pretzel roll, Apple strudel with Werther’s Original Karamel and vanilla sauce. To drink: Altenmünster Oktoberfest, BraufactuM Darkon, J&H Selback Bernkasteler Kurfürstlay Reisling Auslese, Weingut Pitthan Dornfelder Dry Barrique Style

• Poland – Good eats: Kielbasa and potato pierogie with caramelized onions and sour cream or Zapiekanki (toasted mushroom, caramelized onion, and cheese break with house-made ketchup). Good drinks: Okocim Brewery, Okocim O. K. Beer, Frozen Szarlotka (apple pie) featuring Zubrowka Bison Grass Vodka, Temptation Zinfandel

• Italy – This menu is made of traditional dishes from this well-loved culture’s cuisine that will have your mouth watering.
  • Ravioli de formaggio all’emiliana (baked cheese ravioli with creamy beef bolognese sauce, parmesean and mozerella)
  • Salsiccia e “papacelli” Napoletani (sweet Italian sausage with peppers and onions on ciabatta bread)
  • Cannoli al cioccolato (chocolate covered cannoli filled with sweet ricotta, chocolate, and candied fruit)
  • Moretti Beer
  • Prosecco Zardetto
  • Pinot Grigio Mezzacorona
  • Chianti Castello di Querceto
  • Italian Margherita

• American Adventure Coffee Cart – Here you can find your coffee fix. Shakin’ Jamaican coffee is made with Kahlua, with a touch or either vanilla or caramel. You can choose to have it hot or cold.

• Hops & Barley – New England is brought straight to you with the tastes of this menu. If you can’t decide which beer floats your fancy, you can go for the flight option.
  • Lobster roll with lemon herb mayo
  • Griddled lobster tail with garlic herb butter
  • New England clam chowder with a side of Tobasco
  • Craisin bread pudding with Gran Marnier anglaise
  • La Crema Sonoma Coast Chardonnay
  • Rogue Chocolate Stout
  • Iron Horse Fairy Tale Cuvée
  • Samuel Adams Boston Lager
  • Samuel Adams Octoberfest
  • Samuel Adams Cherry Wheat

• Florida Local – This spot is all about celebrating the Florida flavors. Dine on the Florida grass-fed beef slider with white cheddar and sweet & hot pickles, or try the Florida shrimp ceviche with fire-roasted vegetables and micro cilantro. Beverage offerings from the sunshine state: Florida Orange Groves Hurricane Class 5 White Sangria, Florida Orange Groves Key Limen Florida Key Lime Wine, Orlando Brewing Sun Shade Organic Pale Ale, and Cigar City Brewing’s Florida Cracker Belgium-Style White Ale.

• Japan – Presenting traditional Japanese dishes, this booth will delight the sushi and teriyaki lover. To eat: California roll, Spicy hand roll (tuna and salmon with chili pepper, soy sauce, and sesame oil topped with Kazan Volcano sauce), Teriyaki chicken hand roll (marinated dark meat chicken with sushi rice topped with teriyaki sauce), Youki tofu (topped with miso sauce, edemame, and served with grilled veggies). To drink: Sapporo Draft Beer, Saki: Junmai Ginjo Yuki “Snow,” Green Tea Colada

• Morocco – To eat: Kefta pocket, Harissa chicken roll, Baklava. To drink: Casa Beer, Ksar White, Sangria, Mimosa Royale

• New Zealand – Well known for their wines, this booth is certainly offering a charming sampling of New Zealand grapes. Not to be outdone by the wines, the food offerings are full of flavor:
  • Steamed Green Lip Mussels with Garlic Butter and Toasted Bread Crumbs
  • Venison sausage with picked mushrooms, baby arugula, and black currant reduction
  • Lamb meatball with spicy tomato chutney
  • Kim Crawford Pinot Grigio
  • Mohua Sauvignon Blanc
  • Kim Crawford Unoaked Chardonnay
  • Kim Crawford Pinot Noir

• Belgium – Belgium is bringing the waffle! Try the Potato and leek waffle with braised beef, or the Belgium waffle with warm chocolate ganache and whipped cream, or a Belgium waffle with berry compote featuring Driscoll’s berries. On tap you’ll find Hoegaarden, Stella Artois, Leffe Blonde, and Leffe Brune – served singly or try a beer flight. Chilled coffee featuring Godiva Chocolate Liqueur is also available.

• France – Rich traditional flavors make up this menu from the country with a long-standing classic culinary history.
  • Escargots persillade en brioche (garlic and parsley snails in brioche)
  • Boeuf bourguignon (braised short ribs in cabernet with mashed potatoes)
  • Crème brûlée au chocolat au lait (chocolate milk crème brûlée tropped with caramelized sugar)
  • Beer Kronenbourg Blanc
  • Chardonnay, Macon-Villages, La Côte Blanche
  • Cabernet Sauvignon, Bordeaux, Château Bonnet
  • Sparkling Pomegranate Kir
  • Eiffel Sour Cosmo Slush (vodka, Grey Goose Cherry Noir, Gran Marnier, and cranberry juice)

• Ireland – This Food Marketplace is bringing the best of Ireland’s favorites:
  • Lobster and seafood fisherman’s pie
  • Kerrygold cheese selection: reserve cheddar, Dubliner with Irish Stout, Skellig
  • Warm Chocolate pudding with Bailey’s custard
  • Guinness Draught
  • Bunratty Meade Honey Wine
  • Chilled Irish Coffee featuring Bunratty Potcheen

• Canada – To eat: Canadian cheddar cheese soup (yes please!), Seared rainbow trout with bacon, frisee, maple Minus 8 vinaigrette, or “Le Cellier” wild mushroom beef filet mignon with truffle butter sauce. To drink: Moosehead Lager, La Face Neige Apple Ice Wine, La Face Neige Sparkling, and Mission Hill Family Estate Syrah.

• Greece – Taste the classic Mediterranean flavors of Greece in this extensive menu. To eat: Taste of Greece – grilled and marinated calamari, hitipiti, eggplant dip, olives and pita bread, Griddled Greek cheese with pistachios and honey, Chicken gyro with tzatziki sauce, Spanakopita, or Dannon Oikos Blueberry Greek Nonfat Yogurt Cup. To drink: Domaine Skouras Moscofilero, Siglas Assyrtiko/Athiri, Apha Estate Axia Syrah-Xinomavro, or Ouzo by Metaxa

• Refreshment Port – Dole Pineapple is the star of the show here! Try these tropical delights:
  • Dole pineapple fritters
  • Fried Shrimp with Dole pineapple sweet & sour sauce
  • Fried chicken chunks with Dole pineapple sweet & sour sauce
  • Orange Dole Whip
  • Orange Dole Whip with Crème de Cacao White
  • Frozen Dragon Berry Colada featuring Bacardi Dragon Berry Rum

• Desserts & Champagne – It’s as if this Food Marketplace was made just for me, filled with sweet delights and bubbling wine. Dessert offerings: Chocolate orange cupcake, Hazelnut chocolate cheesecake, Morello cherry pistachio mousse, Guylian Belgian chocolate seashell truffles. Can’t decide?  Don’t worry, they offer a Dessert trio option. To Drink:
  • Pyranud Weiss Cream Beer
  • Möet & Chandon Ice Impérial
  • Möet & Chandon Impérial
  • Möet & Chandon Nectar Impérial
  • Nicolas Feuillatte Rosé
  • Frozen S’mores

• Hawai’i – Through this menu I can almost hear the ocean and the ukulele. Eats: Kalua pork slider with sweet and sour Dole pineapple chutney and spicy mayonnaise or Tuna Poke with seaweed salad and lotus root chips. Beverages: Kona Brewing Company’s Big Wave Golden Ale, Kona Brewing Company’s Pipeline Porter, Lucien Albrecht Gewurztraminer Réserve, Aulani Sunrise featuring Ocean Vodka

• Scotland *NEW THIS YEAR* – A delightful menu full of tradition is a great way to welcome this beautiful country to Epcot’s International Food and Wine Festival.
  Food: Seared Scottish salmon with cauliflower puree, watercress and malt vinaigrette, Vegetarian haggis with neeps & tatties (grilled vegetable cake with rutabaga and mashed potatoes), Scottish banoffee tart with bananas, Scottish whisky toffee, Walkers Shortbread Cookies and sweet cream. Drinks: Innis & Gunn Original, Loch Lomond featuring Glenfiddich, and Glenfiddich Scotch Flight.

• Craft Beers – A selection of craft beers that would please any beer lover can be tried singly, or in two different flight options. (Here is where my hubby would want to stay.)
  • Dogfish Head Brewery, Namaste
  • Abita Brewing Company, Fall Fest
  • Leinenkugel’s Seasonal Shandy
  • Florida Beer Company, Devil’s Triangle
  • New Belgium Brewing Company, Fat Tire
  • Widmer Brothers Brewing, Alchemy Ale
  • Red Hook, Audible Ale
  • Sierra Nevada, Torpedo Extra IPA

As you can plainly see, you could eat and drink ALL STINKING DAY and still probably not try every Food Marketplace. Hubby thinks that a long weekend should be devoted to the sole purpose of taking in as much of the festival as possible. I have to say that it’s not a bad idea.

Whether you have one day or 4 days to check it out, here are my TIPS to make the most out of your time visiting the Food Marketplaces in the World Showcase:

• Plan Ahead and Prioritize – Make sure you make yourself aware of all of the food & beverage offerings. Pick up a Food & Wine Fez guide and mark what you most want to try. If you are still wanting more, you can go back for your second choices.
• Share, Share, Share! – While all of the portions at the Marketplaces are sized with the idea of sampling in mind, sharing with a friend or family member is the best way to go. You will save on cost, and room in your tummy, so you can try more flavors.
• Budget – Know how much you are willing to spend ahead of time. Taking a specific amount of cash, or buying one of the Food & Wine Fez prepaid giftcards will keep you from overspending.
• Pace Yourself – Make sure to give yourself enough time for what you want to experience. The World Showcase is huge, so be sure to factor time for walking, as well as the Food Marketplace lines.
• Avoid the Weekends – If possible visit the Food & Wine Fez Monday – Thursday. The weekends draw in the locals (understandably!), so the lines are often longer.