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Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Can't get enough of the Epcot Food and Wine festival? GOOD NEWS!

Dawn Nikithser February 18, 2014 0

Finally, the popularity of the annual Epcot International Food and Wine Festival has been given a boost -- an entire extra week to nosh and nibble!

The Disney Parks blog announced that the 2014 festival will be extended to a record 53 days this year. That's terrific news for those of us who want to return again and again, but don't always dig the crowds during the busiest days. The official dates are September 19-November 10, 2014. No other details have been announced (such as pavilions, special dinners and tastings, Eat to the Beat line-up, or special guests), but we will be keeping ears (and mouths!) open and let you know as soon as we do.

Mmmmm. I can taste Fall already. Can't you?

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Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Epcot's Food & Wine Festival is just around the corner!

Dawn Nikithser August 13, 2013 0

Where has the year gone? It feels like just yesterday, we were watching to see if Punxsutawney Phil was going to see his shadow this year. But here it is, already almost Fall. But that also means that Epcot's International Food & Wine Festival is almost here! Mark your calendars September 27 through November 11, and buy a new belt.

With 25 sampling and noshing opportunities, everyone is sure to find something to tempt their palette. From cheese ravioli, sushi, and vegetarian "chicken" curry to waffles, apple strudel, and craisin bread pudding, if you leave hungry, it's your own darn fault. And don't forget the wine and beer that has been carefully paired with the various dishes. (We'd HIGHLY recommend looking into places to stay on the Disney grounds - it's no fun if someone has to be designated driver at a wine festival!)

On the off chance that food and wine aren't your thing, fear not. The Food & Wine Festival is paired with a musical festival, too. At the Eat the Beat Concert Series, you can feast your ears on a "diverse menu of music" from Big Bad Voodoo Daddy to Hanson. Check the website to see when your favorite band is playing.

And for those of you for whom food is EVERYTHING, make sure you check out the demos and seminars that are available. Save us a spot and a glass of wine at the cheese seminars, please!

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Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Plans for EPCOT Food and Wine Festival 2011 announced today!

Dawn Nikithser June 14, 2011 0

While not all of the details are ready, enough were announced today to set mouths watering and schedules planning for this year's EPCOT International Food & Wine Festivals. The festival will run from September 30 to November 13, so there will be plenty of time to get in and enjoy this massively-popular foodie event.

More than 25 marketplaces will be featured this year, all serving delicious and inexpensive tapas-style offerings, plus wines, beers and cocktails from the featured countries. Three BRAND NEW marketplaces will debut this year: Hawaii (featuring Kahlua pork sliders), the Caribbean (featuring ropa vieja) and Portugal (featuring calamari salad).

Here's the scoop on the rest of the new stuff, straight from the official Disney Parks Blog:

The new Odyssey Lounge opens, where guests can check in with friends and family back home, play games and surf the web while enjoying a specialty cocktail or a glass of wine or beer. There’s even a charging station for mobile phones and other electronic devices.

Celeb chefs are back – top culinarians like Jeff Henderson, Cat Cora, Alan Wong, Gale Gand, Suvir Saran, Jamie Deen, Rock Harper, Celina Tio and more. All told, more than 270 chefs participate.

There’s always fun stuff at the Festival Welcome Center, from a wine bar to tasting seminars and free sessions with cookbook authors.

Eat to the Beat! Concert Series is back at America Gardens Theatre with first timers the Pointer Sisters, The Orchestra starring former members of ELO and Gin Blossoms. Taylor Dayne kicks it off opening weekend.

Also back are First Bites Opening Reception on Sept. 29 (one time only); Kitchen Memories (formerly Celebrating Family and Friends in the Kitchen); Mixology Seminar, and “3D” Disney Dessert Discovery. And of course the grand Party for the Senses!

A new Cranberry Bog display by Craisins tells the story behind the cranberry’s rich

agricultural heritage.

The Party for the Senses grand tasting events and other special wine and culinary programs require reservations and separate event admission. Guests can call 407/WDW-FEST (939-3378) for information and to make reservations for special events and programs (Aug. 16 is the date you can start booking). Festival details are available at www.disneyworld.com/foodandwine.

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Thursday, September 30, 2010

This weekend, the Foodies take over Walt Disney World

Dawn Nikithser September 30, 2010 0

October 1, 2010 is opening day of the 15th Annual EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival. This event -- which runs through November 14 -- is the food event of the year for Orlando. EPCOT's World Showcase will offer tastes and treats from all over the world, with booths offering sample-sized plates and sample-sized wines and liquors showcasing the best of worldwide cuisine. This year, the cuisines represented will be from 23 different regional cuisines, plus a few special booths featuring additional delicious delicacies. Here's the full list:

Argentina
Australia
Belgium (new for 2010)
Brazil
The Brewer's Collection (featuring beers from around the world)
Canada
Charcuterie and Cheese (meats and cheeses, including fondues and smoked game)
Chile
China
Desserts and Champagne
France
Germany
Greece
Hops and Barley (more beer, this time mostly domestic)
Ireland
Italy
Japan
Mexico
Morocco
New Zealand
Poland
Puerto Rico
Singapore
South Africa
South Korea (new for 2010)
Spain
United States

This is a fantastic event for adults, but kids can have fun too, especially if they are adventurous eaters (or if you're a parent looking for a fun and relatively inexpensive way to get them to try new things).

In addition to the food booths, the F&W Festival has loads of entertainment, including the Eat to the Beat concert series, where performers past and present hit the stage nightly to play their greatest hits. This year's lineup includes names like Taylor Dane, Rick Springfield, Kool and the Gang, and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy; for the full lineup and the dates each will be playing, check the festival website.

Special tastings and seminars will also be taking place. Some are included with the price of admission -- that's your regular Disney ticket -- while others require reservations and an additional cost. The included seminars are:

The Authentic Taste Seminars (Fri-Sun at 2pm and 6pm): a 30-minute seminar celebrating the origins and uses of some of the purest ingredients in world cuisine
Authors Without Borders (Fri-Sun 12:15pm and 4pm): Authors from the culinary world will speak about popular topics in a 30-minute conversation.
"Seasons of the Vine" (continuous showings daily): This seven-minute film gives a behind-the-scenes peek into how grapes become wine

This event is massive and attracts foodies from all over the world, including huge numbers of Florida residents who make the annual pilgrimage just for this event. It's well worth the price of a one-day, one-park ticket, but if you've got a multi-day pass, this is definitely a park you don't want to miss. Expect long lines at the food booths (especially on weekends) and some difficulty securing reservations at popular restaurants and festival special events -- many of the special events sell out quickly, so call 407-WDW-DINE to see what your options are.

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Friday, August 20, 2010

Five Things To Do in Orlando This Weekend: July 20-22, 2010

Dawn Nikithser August 20, 2010 0

Expensive and Exclusive: It's a huge long-shot, but sometimes last minute cancellations mean the dining experience of a lifetime at Victoria & Albert's at the Walt Disney World Grande Floridian Resort & Spa. Three options await, each one more indulgent and expensive than the last: the regular pris fixe tasting menu, the astonishing Chef's Table, and the newest luxury experience, Queen Victoria's Room. The average dinner bill for two will set you back a couple hundred dollars, and that price will go up based on which dining option you get and how you choose to handle their extensive and amazing wine list (wine pairings are also available). Dress for the occasion, too -- jackets for gentleman and semi-formal attire for the ladies. Call 407-WDW-DINE if you're willing to splash out on a memorable meal.

Cheap and Cheesy: The August Stomp at Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards is a harvest season must-do. There are grape stomping contests, live music all weekend, games for the kids and complimentary wine tours and tastings for the adults. You get all this for a suggested $2 donation to benefit the South Lake Boys and Girls Clubs. It's well worth the drive to Clermont, a mere 40 minutes from the Lake Buena Vista area.

Free and Easy: Legos! Head over to Downtown Disney Marketplace's LEGO Imagination Center, where huge tables with hundreds of the iconic blocks await your building pleasure. Take pictures with the massive, "WOW" models, like a 12-foot T-Rex, a larger than life Titan XP Robot, and asleeping tourist on a bench outside. Peek into special showcase portholes to see LEGO motion activated scenes, then gawk at the gigantic Pick A Brick wall - the world's largest - featuring bricks of every conceivable color and variety! Employees to demonstrations and hands-on events for young and old, including mural construction and beat-the-clock building contests.

Great for Grownups: Masterpiece Theater aficionados will know him from the weirdly-wonderful opening credits of the long-runnig PBS series, but there is much more to the art of Edward Gorey (1925-2000). The New Yorker described him as “a man of enormous erudition...an artist and writer of genius,” and now the Orlando Museum of Art is featuring him in an exclusive exhibit -- Elegant Enigmas: The Art of Edward Gorey. The exhibit is on view until Halloween and, given the macabre feature of many of Gorey's pen and ink drawings, the exhibition is bound to get a lot mroe crowded as that haunted season nears. Get in early and spend some time with the more than 170 objects on loan from the The Edward Gorey Charitable Trust.

Fun for Families: The World Food Festival at the Florida Mall is a great way to sample cuisine from four different world locales -- Asian, Mediterranean, American, and Hispanic -- in a comfortable, central Florida atmosphere. Ten dollars gets you ten samples, with more available for purchase if you like. There an Irish and German Beer Garden for the adults, loads of free demos and shows for the kids, and a healthy dose of cultural arts for all. And when you're done, there's loads of window shopping in the massive mall.

My Pick: If money is no object, it's V&A's all the way. I've eaten there four times and each meal was better than the last. Don't miss the Kona chocolate souffle.

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Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Sea World shares a sweet secret

Dawn Nikithser August 11, 2010 0

Secret recipe, that is! Sea World's Cypress Bakery in the park's Key West area is a favorite among park guests. The bakery fresh bakes all their sweet treats every morning and their convenient location right by the park entrance/exit make it a perfect way to start and end the day.

One of the tastiest treats the bakery offers is Florida Key Lime Pie and now, thanks to the graciousness of the Sea World Blog, you can have this classic dessert whenever you want. Here is the Sea World Orlando Cypress Bakery recipe, adapted to 10 easy steps for the home cook:

Graham Cracker Crust:*

¾ cup melted butter

1¼ cups graham cracker crumbs

Pie Filling:

3 cups sweetened condensed milk

3 egg yolks

¾ cup Key Lime juice**

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 280 degrees
Grease and paper an 8" springform cake pan or pie pan
Mix butter and graham cracker crumbs, then firmly press 2 cups of the crumb and butter mixture into the sides and bottom of the pan, with the edges slightly thicker than the center
In a separate bowl, mix the milk and egg until well blended.
Add lime juice to mixture
Pour the pie filling into the crust
Place cake pan in the oven in a water bath (cookie sheet holding water)
Bake at 280 degrees for 55 minute
Remove from pans while still warm but not hot
Chill for at least one hour, then garnish with whipped cream and serve

Enjoy!

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Thursday, June 18, 2009

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival: Eat to the Beat 2009

The Blogster June 18, 2009 0

It may seem too soon to be talking about the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, which is held September 25 – November 8 of this year. But, how can you not talk about it when there is SO much fun to look forward to at this year’s celebration, especially this year’s music line up for the Eat to the Beat concert series!

Showcasing the flavors of the world is just the beginning of this wonderful annual festival. Held at Epcot every fall, the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival features marketplaces of food, wine, beer, and other beverages in every country of Epcot’s World Showcase. At the festival you can also take part in classes and demonstrations by world renowned chefs and wine makers.

Though the food and beverages may take the cake (no pun intended) at this event, the music of the Eat to the Beat concert series is the icing on top of that cake! The list of performers was recently released earlier this month. The concert series will be featuring 17 different acts from all over the music scene, so there is sure to be something for everyone in your party. This year, there are several Grammy-winning bands and five newcomers to the festival, as well. Performing nightly at 5:15 pm, 6:30 pm, and 7:45 pm daily:

September 25-27: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
September 28-29: Richard Marx
September 30-October 3: Starship featuring Mickey Thomas
October 4-6: En Vogue
October 7-8: Better Than Ezra
October 9-11: Sister Hazel
October 12-13: Kool & The Gang
October 14-16: Spyro Gyra
October 17-18: Jon Secada
October 19-20: Sister Sledge
October 21-22: Vanessa Carlton
October 23-25: Taylor Dayne
October 26-28: Boyz II Men
October 29-31: John Waite
November 1-2: Night Ranger
November 3-5: Billy Ocean
November 6-8: Los Lobos

You will not want to miss any of these all-star performances at this year’s Epcot International Food & Wine Festival! The International Food and Wine Festival is included with your admission to Epcot. So, to secure your spot for one of these great concerts, make sure you purchase your Disney tickets ahead of time with DWTickets.com.

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Monday, October 27, 2008

Fall Fun for the Not-So-Halloween Inclined

The Blogster October 27, 2008 0

It happens – people grow out of donning costumes every year and lose a taste for candy (or never develop one). Some just aren’t into the whole horror and terror thing. Some people, believe it or not, simply aren’t a fan of Halloween, and come every October, these poor souls find themselves surrounded by a barrage of Halloween decorations, spooky events like Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights and Busch Gardens Tampa Howl-O-Scream, and flocks of children showing up at their door begging for candy. What can you do if you’re such a person in Orlando, Florida, during the fall? Quite a lot, actually – one of the great things about a major metropolis like Orlando is that there’s always something to do for every different kind of person. So those who want a break from Halloween will have no trouble finding one at these great late October and early November events.

Velvet Sessions at the Hard Rock Hotel
On October 30th, enjoy the Hard Rock’s monthly rock n’ roll cocktail party. Each session combines creative cocktails with live music from the hottest rock bands. This month’s session will feature singer-songwriter Eddie Money, who will perform hits such as “Two Tickets to Paradise,” “Shakin’,” “Walk on Water,” and more. The party’s admission includes free drinks, hors de oeuvres, and warm-up tunes from 6:30 to 8:30 pm, so be sure to get there early to take advantage of the pre-show fun.

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
We’ve written plenty about the famed food festival at Walt Disney World, so we won’t rehash all he particulars. But the end of the month is a great time to hit up the festival if you haven’t already; Eat to the Beat performers include Boyz II Men on the 29th and 30th, and the Atlanta Rhythm Section will be performing from Halloween to November 2nd. You can also catch one of the few City Tastes events on October 31st, where you can experience a taste of Italy and meet noted chefs, taste regional brews and wines, and enjoy live entertainment. Also on Halloween, be sure to see a one-day only cooking demonstration from Marimar Torres of the Catalan Country Kitchen in Sonoma, California.

Jazzed in Sanford
On November 1st, check out the free monthly Jazz Concert series held in Magnolia Square in downtown Sanford from 4 pm to 7 pm. It’s a cool, relaxing event in the historic brick square near award-winning restaurants, a wine bar, coffee bar, and martini club. This month’s concert features renowned guitar player Michael Leasure. Admission is free, so bring your jazz beret and enjoy the tunes.

Alfa Romeo Car Show
On November 1st, the Mid Florida Alfa Romeo Owners Club will host the annual Alfa Romeo Car Show in Downtown Celebration’s Town Center from 10 am to 3 pm. Fifty cars will be shown at the event, including an extremely rare Fiat Bianchina, and a rare 1959 Alfa Romeo Giuletta Spring. These Italian built automobiles first began manufacturing vehicles in 1913 and stopped importing cars into the US in 1995, so this is a rare chance to see these one-of-a-kind automobiles!

So if you’re not a Halloween enthusiast and you’re just counting the days until the holiday season passes, escape the craze with one of these unique Orlando events. Or, you can always hit up Orlando theme parks like Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or Universal Studios, which doesn’t become Halloween-ified until nighttime. Best yet, you can save on discount tickets for these great parks at DWTickets.com. Have fun not trick or treating!

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Wednesday, September 03, 2008

Eat to the Beat at Epcot Food & Wine Festival

The Blogster September 03, 2008

The 13th annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival is just around the corner, and this year’s celebrations of all things yummy to drink and eat promises some great beats to go along with the eats. The Eat to the Beat concert series is always a favorite with Epcot guests, and not just because the live shows are included with your Disney ticket.

Every year, the Eat to the Beat concert series at the Epcot Food & Wine Festival brings in something for every musical taste, and this year is no exception. Seven Grammy award winning artists are just a portion of the 18 popular acts that will hit the America Gardens Theatre stage during the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, which starts on Sept. 26, and runs through Nov. 9.

Here’s what the lineup looks like:

Epcot Food & Wine Festival Eat to the Beat concerts – September

Sept. 26-27: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy (new this year)
Sept. 28-30: Sheena Easton

Epcot Food & Wine Festival Eat to the Beat concerts – October

Oct. 1-4: Starship starring Mickey Thomas
Oct. 5-7: En Vogue (new this year)
Oct. 8-9: Jonny Lang (new this year)
Oct. 10-12: The Smithereens (new this year)
Oct. 13-14: Sister Hazel (new this year)
Oct. 15-16: David Sanborn
Oct. 17-18: Jon Secada
Oct. 19-21: Spyro Gyra (new this year)
Oct. 22-23: Otis Day & the Knights
Oct. 24-26: Exposé
Oct. 27-28: Kool & The Gang
Oct. 29-30: Boyz II Men (new this year)
Oct. 31-Nov. 2: Atlanta Rhythm Section (new this year)

Epcot Food & Wine Festival Eat to the Beat concerts – November

Nov. 3-5: David Cassidy
Nov. 6-7: Night Ranger (new this year)
Nov. 8-9: Los Lobos (new this year)

The Eat to the Beat bands have shows every night as part of the Epcot Food & Wine Festival, and the shows are free as long as you have a Disney ticket for admission to Epcot. The Eat to the Beat concerts take place at the America Gardens Theatre in the America Pavilion at Epcot at 5:15, 6:30 and 7:45 p.m. daily.

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Friday, August 29, 2008

Top Chefs Will Open 13th Annual Epcot International Food & Wine Fest

The Blogster August 29, 2008 0

The top “foodie” cities of the world will be highlighted at this year’s Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, and the top chefs will be starting Epcot’s Food & Wine Festival with an international cuisine competition that is making its debut at the Disney theme park in September.

Some of the world’s best chefs will be cooking against each other in the Bocuse d’Or USA, a prestigious cooking competition during the opening weekend of the Epcot Food & Wine Festival on Sept. 26 and 27. The culinary stars that are participating include the likes of Daniel Boulud, Thomas Keller and Jerome Bocuse, the man in charge at the Chefs de France restaurant located in Epcot’s France Pavilion.

Each chef will have one assistant, and is tasked with preparing sophisticated fish and meat dishes that will be judged by a panel of their peers. Each platter will be evaluated based upon the following specific criteria: creativity, presentation, taste and technical precision. This elaborate cooking contest will take place before a live audience of Epcot guests, and attendance is included with a Disney ticket. The winning chef moves on to compete in the international Bocuse d’Or cuisine contest in Lyon, France in January.

A few other highlights of the 13th Annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival are:

The Festival Welcome Center, which is the hub of all the Epcot Food & Wine Fest action. Here you will find a Champagne and Wine Bar along with a host of free wine seminars, book signings with your favorite chefs and festival merchandise like pins and the official cookbook.

Celebrity chefs and Disney chefs will be on hand for cooking demonstrations, hosting tasty tasting events and much more. So far, this year’s celeb chef list is shaping up nicely with the following already scheduled to appear:

Tory McPhail of Commander’s Palace
Rock Harper of Hell’s Kitchen
Tre Wilcox from Top Chef Season 3
Cat Cora
Jamie Deen
Allen Suuer
Jeff Henderson
Gale Grand
Robert Irvine
Todd English
Warren Brown

And of course there is the ever-popular Eat to the Beat! concert series, with live music to enhance the delicious treats that await Epcot guests throughout the Food & Wine Festival. All you need to treat your taste buds is a Disney ticket, so get yours today!

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