Header Ads

Everything You NEED to Eat and Drink at the 2023 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival

July 28, 2023 ,

Not all dishes at the 2023 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival are created equal.

Food and Wine Festival

Some are new, while others are old. Some may BLOW you away, while others won’t impress you at all (or worse, are just plain bad). So how do you know where to start and what to get when there are TONS of booths and menu items to pick from? We’re here to help!

We have eaten and drank our way through the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival (all in the name of research, of course 😉), to share our picks for the VERY best of the best (or, as we like to say, best of the fest!). What is worth your hard-earned cash and calories? We did the work for you and now we’re spilling ALL the details.

Click here to subscribe

So, without any further delay, let’s dive into our picks for the BEST eats and drinks at the 2023 EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival!

NEW BESTS

These items are brand NEW in 2023 and they did NOT disappoint.

Tostada de Carnitas at Mexico

First up we have the Tostada de Carnitas, which is Braised Pork on a Fried Corn Tortilla with Black Beans, Avocado Mousse, Queso Fresco, and Chives. WOW. This is a dish we really enjoyed!

Tostada de Carnitas: Braised Pork on a Fried Corn Tortilla with Black Beans, Avocado Mousse, Queso Fresco and Chives

The corn tortilla did a great job of staying crispy and holding up despite how long it stayed out with us. It was wonderfully crunchy, which mixed well with the nice creaminess of the black beans and avocado mousse. Plus, the pork was fatty and tender — YUM. Add the queso fresco to all of that — which provided a great flavor — and you have one winner of a dish! Savory, salty, creamy, and crunchy — this had it all. Try this dish for $7.75.

Click here for our FULL REVIEW of the Mexico Booth

Dr. Lo Alcohol-Removed Riesling at Germany

This new drink — the Dr. Lo Alcohol-Removed Riesling — impressed us big time! The drink was sweet but incredibly smooth. There was also a touch of sourness, but in a great way that added a sense of balance. Think of a green grape in liquid form with touches of sour and sweet in it, and that’s EXACTLY the flavor that this drink nailed!

Dr. Lo Alcohol-Removed Riesling

We also liked that it didn’t have much of an aftertaste. If you’re looking for something a little different, that is an alcohol-removed drink, give this one a try for $6.50.

Learn more about the Germany booth here!

Dark Chocolate Fondue at The Alps

FOLKS. BUCKLE UP. If you love chocolate and fondue, you MUST (we mean, absolutely MUST) stop by The Alps booth this year. In 2023, a new dish was introduced here which is the Dark Chocolate Fondue with Berries, Pound Cake, and Meringues. It is plant-based and priced at $5.75. HOLY MOLY.

Dark Chocolate Fondue with Berries, Pound Cake, and Meringues

This fondue was SO good. The chocolate itself was not overly sweet, but instead felt nicely balanced and paired GREAT with the items served to dunk in it. Plus, we totally forgot that this was even plant-based while eating it — so don’t let that concern you. The only thing that gave away its plant-based nature was the poundcake, which was on the dense side and sort of floury. But still, that didn’t take away from our love of this dessert AT ALL. Get it for $5.75 and let your chocolate dreams come true.

Click here for our FULL REVIEW of The Alps Booth

Crispy Duck Bao Bun at China

Alright, we’ve got another AMAZING eat for you to try, this time over at the China booth. The NEW Crispy Duck Bao Bun with Hoisin Sauce is a do-not-miss dish here! In fact, it’s one of the best bao buns we’ve had in all of Disney World.

Crispy Duck Bao Bun with Hoisin Sauce

The bao bun itself was wonderfully pillowy and a touch sweet, with a good bounceback when you bite into it. The duck fell apart when we were eating it (in a great way). Combine the saltiness of the duck with the sweetness of the sauce and the brightness of the green onions and you have a dish that we’ll happily get over and over again. Try it for $5.25.

Click here for our FULL REVIEW of the China Booth

Fiery Dream at China

If you’re looking for a seriously incredible and unique drink at the Food & Wine Festival, look no further. We found it for you at the China booth! The Fiery Dream is made with Citrus Vodka, Triple Sec, guava nectar, and spicy hot honey syrup and is priced at $13.75. This drink was fantastic. It had a fruity and refreshing taste to start with, and then the little bit of heat (hence the name Fiery!) starts to hit you in the back of your throat.

Fiery Dream Cocktail

This was one of the more unique drinks we’ve had at Disney World in a while and we absolutely loved it. Give it a try the next time you’re in the park and let us know what you think.

Florida Orange Groves Winery Sparkling Peach Wine at Refreshment Port

We’ve GOT to give a shout-out to the Peach Wine at Refreshment Port! This thing was seriously delicious! It was delicate, sweet, and light, with almost a slight floral touch to it. As a follow-up to the heavy poutine (also served at this booth, which we’ll talk about in a second), this was really enjoyable. Plus, we loved how refreshing it tasted — awesome on a hot Florida day.

Florida Orange Groves Winery Sparkling Peach

It had a touch of acidity and bitterness too (sort of like a yellowy peach in terms of flavor) which helped to balance the sweetness. Our reporter shared that they’d easily drink FIVE more glasses of this — so yeah, be prepared for this to become one of those drinks you’ll just get over and over again as you visit EPCOT in the next few months. Try it for $11.

See more about Refreshment Port here!

Returning Bests

These items are ones we’ve had in the past and they’ve thankfully returned in 2023, bringing a whole lot of deliciousness with them.

Adobo Yuca Fries at The Fry Basket

We cannot express how thrilled we are to see the Adobo Yuca Fries with Garlic-Cilantro Aïoli back on the menu at The Fry Basket in 2023. These things seriously impressed us in 2022 and were our FAVORITE things at the booth that year.

In 2022, their texture was fantastic (perfectly crunchy), their flavor was spot-on (like Texas toast garlic bread in French fry form), and the sauce served with them offered a delicious tangy flavor.

Adobo Yuca Fries with garlic-cilantro aïoli

The fries did NOT disappoint this year. They were once again the BEST thing at this booth. The flavor of the aïoli was fantastic (light on the cilantro), the breading on the fries was dreamy (delightfully crispy!), and the fries were incredibly garlicky in the BEST way possible. Imagine the most amazing garlic bread you’ve ever had in your life but in a wedge/fry form. Trust us when we say you do NOT want to miss these. Get them for $5.50.

See our full review of The Fry Basket here!

Braised Beef Poutine at Refreshment Port Hosted by Boursin Cheese

This dish is a favorite of ours and we have a feeling it could become a favorite of yours too! The Braised Beef Poutine features French fries with braised beef, Boursin Garlic & Fine Herbs cheese sauce, cheese curds, crumbled Boursin Garlic & Fine Herbs, and gherkin relish. SO MUCH YUM in one plate!

Braised Beef Poutine

This really has it all. In 2022, the portion size was great and it was full of hearty flavors (though, admittedly the relish was something we could have done without). This year, we were big fans again (and the relish actually didn’t bother our reporter who tried it!).

The dish was savory and rich, the meat fell apart so easily, the flavors mixed well with the herby Boursin cheese, and when you get a crispy fry with all of the toppings in one bite it is PERFECTION. Plus, this year we liked how the relish added an acidity to cut through the richness of the poutine. The fries do get soggier the longer you let the dish sit (of course), so just be careful there! But, overall, this is a dish we’d HIGHLY recommend. Try it for $10.

Click here to see more about Refreshment Port

Smoked Corned Beef at Flavors from Fire

The Smoked Corned Beef is BACK people and it is something you do NOT want to skip. This deliciousness is served with house-made potato chips, cheese curds, pickled onions, and beer-cheese fondue. And no, we don’t blame you for drooling all over your screens at the sight of that cheese.

Smoked Corned Beef with house-made potato chips, cheese curds, pickled onions, and beer-cheese fondue

In 2022, we felt the balance of flavors and textures was fantastic — there was the salty beef, creamy cheese, a little tang from the pickled onions, and the crunchiness of the chips. In 2023, we loved the dish just as much! The mix of textures added such great dimension to the dish, the cheese was AMAZING (we couldn’t get enough of it), and it was a warm, comforting WIN. Try it for $6.50.

Learn all about Flavors from Fire here!

Freshly Baked Carrot Cake at Flavors of America

In the past, this delicious dessert has been at the Hops and Barley booth, but this year it has appeared at the NEW Flavors of America booth and we’re soooooo glad it has returned. The Freshly Baked Carrot Cake comes with Cream Cheese Icing and it is a sticky sensation.

Carrot Cake

Once again, this cake delivered! It tasted more like a nutty spice cake than a carrot cake, but we didn’t mind! It was dense (but not dry), and the icing (though it can harden a little) melts on your mouth, has a hint of a tang to it, and isn’t overly sweet. If you want something that just screams autumn, we think you’ll love this. Grab a friend and a fork and dive into this snack for $4.50.

See all about Flavors of America here!

Mango Lassi at India

The Mango Lassi is not a new drink, but it has made a special appearance on our Best of the Fest list this year because it really impressed us! We got the non-alcoholic version for $5, but you can get it with Sōmrus Chai Cream Liqueur for $11. In the past, we’ve felt like this drink had a lot of mango flavor and was pretty milky in consistency (sort of like a milkshake but a little lighter).

This year it was one of our favorites! It was very light for being a milk-based drink, and it had a great, fruity flavor.

Mango Lassi

We found it to be really fresh. It can be great if you need something to cool you down from the Florida heat or cool you down after eating some of the more spicy dishes at the Festival. If you want something fun and non-alcoholic (or alcoholic should you so choose), this is a great pick!

Click here to read more about the India booth!

Spicy Githeri at Refreshment Outpost

This next dish is SO easy to miss, but is not one you should overlook! The returning Spicy Githeri features White Beans, Pigeon Peas, Curried BEN’S ORIGINAL™ Long Grain & Wild Rice, and Kachumbari Slaw. In 2022, we found this to be really flavorful, and it packed a bit of heat. The flavors and textures balanced each other well. And 2023, we’re pleased to say that we were NOT left disappointed by this dish and it impressed our reporter so much that it earned a spot on this list.

Spicy Githeri with White Beans, Pigeon Peas, Curried BEN’S ORIGINAL™ Long Grain & Wild Rice and Kachumbari Slaw

The rice was cooked well and was flavorful, the vegetables provided a nice burst of flavor, the greens added a crunchy texture, and we LOVED the spicy kick to it. The spice is a bit more of a slow burn that creeps up on you though, so be aware of that! You can try this dish for $5.

Read our full review of Refreshment Outpost here

Warm Chocolate Pudding Cake at Ireland

This returning cake — served with Irish cream liqueur custard — is one we’ve really enjoyed in the past, but this year it was SO GOOD we just had to include it as a best of the fest item. Priced at $4.75, this is a relatively cheap dish, making it an even more fantastic buy.

Warm Chocolate Pudding Cake

This year, the dessert was decadent, rich, and chocolatey. The cake itself was moist and melty, in the best way. And you could taste the booze in the dish, but only a little bit. Plus, the custard was creamy and wonderful. Basically, if you love chocolate and Irish cream, don’t think twice, BUY THIS.

Read our full review of the Ireland booth here!

Warm Raclette Swiss Cheese with Alpine Ham at The Alps

Oh look, it’s…another dish with lots of cheese!! Can you blame us though?! The Warm Raclette Swiss Cheese is an ICONIC dish at the Festival and one we can’t stop recommending! We particularly enjoy the version with Alpine Ham, Baby Potatoes, Cornichons, and Baguette.

Warm Raclette Swiss Cheese with Alpine Ham, Baby Potatoes, Cornichons and Baguette

In 2022, the cheese was amazing, the ham added a smokey flavor, and everything was cooked well. The bread was a little dry, but when it’s covered in a GIANT layer of cheese, that ceases to be a big issue. 😆  In 2023, it once again was a hot, savory snack that felt like a warm, comforting hug. It was also a great portion size, which can really leave you feeling full (in a good way). Grab the Raclette cheese for $5.25 — you can thank us later! 😉

See our review of The Alps here!

Teriyaki Chicken Bun at Japan

This returning dish has been a hit over and over again and this year it once again impressed us! The Teriyaki Chicken Bun is made with a steamed bun filled with chicken, vegetables, and teriyaki sauce. In the past, we’ve listed it as a Best of the Fest item for kids and adults and it’s making a return appearance once again!

Teriyaki Chicken Bun

This year, it was about 60% bao, 40% filling, and 100% delicious. It was meaty, with enough sweetness in the teriyaki sauce to really complement the dough. Get it for $7.50, and don’t be surprised if you come back for another!

See our full review of the Japan booth here!

Mimosa Flight at Shimmering Sips Hosted by CORKCICLE

If you’re looking for an incredible set of drinks to pick up at the Food & Wine Festival, the Mimosa Flight at Shimmering Sips is one of our picks. We couldn’t go more than 5 minutes without someone asking us where we got this — so just be prepared to make some people jealous around you!

This flight lets you sample a little bit of everything — the Tropical Mimosa (sparkling wine and Minute Maid Passion Fruit, orange, and guava juices — P.O.G. juice!), the Berry Mimosa (berry fizz sparkling wine and white cranberry juice– NEW), and the Blood Orange Mimosa (sparkling wine and blood orange juice).

Mimosa Flight

The Berry Mimosa is new this year but we’re still marking this as a returning item overall. The Berry Mimosa tasted (to us) like a cranberry and grape juice combination, but slightly more elevated.

Berry Mimosa

The Blood Orange mimosa really captured the flavor of blood oranges, but take note — it does have pulp so that’s something you’ll just want to be aware of.

Blood Orange Mimosa with Sparkling Wine and Blood Orange Juice

The POG juice mimosa was our favorite. It was fruity, tangy, and sweet. There really is something for everyone here.

Tropical Mimosa with Sparkling Wine and Minute Maid® Passion Fruit, Orange, and Guava Juices

And you can get it all for $14.

See more about Shimmering Sips here

Canadian Cheddar and Bacon Soup at Canada

What can we say? We love our cheese! And if you do too, then the Canadian Cheddar and Bacon Soup is a MUST-GET. Yes, even if that means drinking hot soup in the blazing hot Florida sun.

Canadian Cheddar and Bacon Soup served with a pretzel roll

This is a staple dish of the Food & Wine Festival for a good reason. Typically, the soup is packed with delicious flavors. Dip your pretzel bread in all that cheesy goodness and you’ve got a serious WINNER on your hands. In 2023, we found the soup to be incredibly rich and creamy with a great bacon flavor that added the right touch of saltiness. The pretzel roll was soft and pulled apart easily (you GOTTA dip the bread in the cheese). Basically, this soup keeps winning at life and we keep loving it. Make the soup all yours for $6.

Click here to learn more about the Canada booth

Canadian Filet Mignon at Canada

We’re sticking with Canada for one more item — the classic Filet Mignon. This is a Canadian Filet Mignon served with mushrooms, Boursin Black Truffle & Sea Salt mashed potatoes and a Boursin Black Truffle & Sea Salt whipped butter. And yeah, it’s as amazing as it sounds.

Canadian Filet Mignon

In 2022, the beef was incredibly delicious, so easy to cut into, and paired perfectly with that truffle butter sauce. Rich and wonderful, it’s a great way to sample a delicious steak without a Le Cellier reservation. In 2023, this once again did NOT disappoint. The mashed potatoes were a great addition (herbaceous and creamy), the steak was wonderfully tender and buttery, the mushrooms added a nice earthy flavor, and the truffle sauce was complex (we just wish there would have been more of it). Grab the filet for $9.75.

Beer-Braised Beef at Belgium

This is a dish that has given us mixed results in the past, but in 2022 it made our best of the fest list and we’re thrilled to have it reappear here again. The Beer-Braised Beef is served with Smoked Gouda Mashed Potatoes.

Beer-Braised Beef served with Smoked Gouda Mashed Potatoes

In the past, it has sometimes been overly salty or featured overdone meat. But in 2022, it delivered on flavor and quality. Oftentimes, Food & Wine Festival dishes are prepared in advance and left to sit out for a while, but the beauty of this dish is that it’s delightful and savory no matter how long it’s out for. And in 2023, it was fantastic once again. The beef was tender, the mashed potatoes were creamy, and overall the dish was super enjoyable. 10/10 would recommend. Get the braised beef for $6.

Click here to learn more about the Belgium booth

Honorable Mention — Schinkennudeln at Germany

Next up we have a classic — the Schinkennudeln. This dish is made with Pasta Gratin with Ham, Onions, and Cheese, it’s typically an absolute win. In 2022, we absolutely LOVED it, but the slice we got this year sadly didn’t impress us.

Now, there wasn’t anything bad about it in 2023, and it’s a great option for those who love baked mac ‘n’ cheese. But the portion size this year was strangely smaller than what we’ve seen in the past and it was a little greasy. 

Schinkennudeln: Pasta Gratin with Ham, Onions, and Cheese

We also felt like the flavors weren’t all that powerful. The ham came through when you got a bite with a ham piece in it, but there weren’t all that many in the dish. And there wasn’t really a lot of onion flavor either. We’re hoping that this was just a one-time issue, perhaps just with the cut we got or the fact that we tried this on the first day of the Festival. That’s why this item still gets an honorable mention on our list — because typically it is a tried and true favorite. So, hopefully, things will improve! If you give it a try (it’s $5), be sure to let us know your thoughts.

Click here to see more about the Schinkennudeln

BEST Plant-Based Dish of the Fest

The IMPOSSIBLE Burger Slider at Flavors from Fire

If you’re looking for a plant-based dish at the Food & Wine Festival that’ll SURPRISE you with its flavors, head on over to Flavors from Fire and grab the Impossible Burger Slider! This returning dish features wasabi cream and spicy Asian slaw on a sesame seed bun. It’s priced at $6.

The IMPOSSIBLE Burger Slider with wasabi cream and spicy Asian slaw on a sesame seed bun

In the past, we’ve felt like the portion size has been a great value for the price but the texture of the Impossible “meat” has sometimes been a bit “off.” This year, however, we really liked this dish! This actually has a surprising KICK to it in the best way possible (that Wasabi is not playing around). Plus, the Impossible “meat” had a better texture and now we can say this item is one we’d recommend both to plant-based eaters and meat-eaters alike!

See a full review of the Flavors from Fire booth here!

IMPOSSIBLE Moussaka at Greece

One of the NEW dishes to arrive at the Festival this year is the IMPOSSIBLE Moussaka at the Greece Booth and it was a HIT for us. This is sort of like a lasagna/casserole dish with eggplant, the IMPOSSIBLE meat, and more items. And we really liked it! The dish was heavy, rich, and felt like its very own mini-meal.

Moussaka

It might not be great on a super hot day (because it is very filling), but it’s hearty, comforting, and the ingredients blend together really well. Plus, we loved the bechamel sauce on top, which was sweet and creamy. It might not slam you with a ton of flavor, but this dish does a great job of being that comforting little casserole you want to tuck into after a long day (and it’ll fill you up!). Get it for $5.50.

Read more about the Greece booth here

Potato and Pea Samosa at India

The Potato and Pea Samosa with Coriander-Lime Cream is a returning dish that has seen some great improvements this year! In the past, we’ve found the dish to be soggy and very spicy. This year, we were surprised by the spice, but the pastry dough was wonderfully crispy and flaky (while the inside was nice and soft). Alright! We have a win!

Potato and Pea Samosa with Coriander-Lime Cream

The coriander lime cream was also a nice touch since it added a sense of freshness to the dish. The peas on the inside added a lot of flavor, but they were on the mushy side so just be aware of that if you don’t love mushy textures. Also, this was a touch salty, but we didn’t mind that all too much. If you’re looking for a flavorful and fun plant-based dish, give this one a try!  You can get it for $5.50.

See more about the India booth here!

Surprise Hits!

Italian Hot Beef Sandwich at Flavors of America

The NEW Italian Hot Beef Sandwich with Shaved Beef, Spicy Giardiniera, and Au Jus on a French Roll was one our team didn’t feel strongly enough about to place in the main best of the fest list, but we still had to give it a mention here somehow, which is how the surprise hit category got devised!

Italian Hot Beef Sandwich with Shaved Beef, Spicy Giardiniera, and Au Jus on a French Roll

This sandwich was lighter than we expected, but also juicy, hearty, and a little herbaceous. There was a nice spicy kick from the giardiniera, but it wasn’t SUPER intense. The beef was very savory and almost briny — we LOVED it. The bread gets soggy with the au jus, but we don’t regret dipping it in there at all.

Overall, it’s a fairly simple dish that really just is what it claims to be — a hot Italian beef sandwich. It does have quite a few things going on with it (which can be offputting for some), but we were surprised by just how much we enjoyed it and we think you might be too! Try it for $6.25.

See more about Flavors of America here!

Frozen Roseberry at Joffrey’s Coffee Near Canada

No, you’re not reading that wrong — we’ve got a Joffrey’s Coffee creation on this list! While you might think of these as rather “basic” options and may overlook them, you should NOT walk past this drink (hence why this is in the surprising hits category). The NEW Frozen Roseberry drink is a blend of Frozen Lemon and Strawberry-Rose Syrup and we LOVED it.

Frozen Roseberry: A Refreshing Blend of Frozen Lemon and Strawberry-Rose Syrup

Seriously, folks, this was amazing. It was sweet yet tart in all the right ways and oh-so-refreshing for a hot day in EPCOT. We got more of a strawberry flavor and not as much of a rose flavor, but there is just a hint of something that makes it a little unique which might be the rose (but thankfully it wasn’t overly floral). We opted for the non-alcoholic version, which is $6.49, but you can get it with Grey Goose Vodka for $14.99.

See more about the Joffrey’s Festival drinks here!

CONTROVERSIAL Best of the Fest

These next eats are controversial picks — some of our team LOVES them, others absolutely DETEST them. Where will you stand? You’ll have to read our notes and decide whether they’re worth a buy for yourself. If you do taste them, be sure to come back to this post and drop us a comment with your thoughts!

Griddled Cheese at Greece

At the Greece booth, you’ll find the divisive Griddled Cheese with pistachios and honey. It has made our Best of the Fest list in the past. One time we tried it, we found that it had a great mix of savory and sweet flavors — creamy cheese, sweet honey, and salty pistachios — a nice combo. But 2022 changed things.

In 2022, a different reporter tried the dish and was…not impressed. To them, the flavor was strangely pungent and the honey didn’t mix well, though the pistachios and cheese textures were nice. In 2023, this was back to being a pretty good pick!

Griddled Cheese with pistachios and honey

Our reporter found the cheese (goat cheese) to be quite rich. Plus, they liked how the honey paired with the cheese, and thought the pistachios added a great crunch and nutty flavor that helped to bring out the cheese flavor even more. Where will you stand on this cheesy treat? You’ll have to try it and find out! Get this dish for $5.

See more about the Greece booth here

Beignet at France

This next one is another that has REALLY divided our team in the past…and it continues to do so. The Beignet aux Trois Fromages is a Warm Beignet filled with Three Cheese Blend. Sounds like a dream, right? Well, for some it has been. In 2022, one of our team members said it was the BEST thing they had all day. They thought the peppery cheese sauce was delicious and the toasted cheese on top had a great texture.

Beignet aux Trois Fromages: Warm Beignet filled with Three Cheese Blend

But, in 2021 our team was not all convinced. Some of our reporters that year HATED IT, while one absolutely adored this cheesy creation. In 2023, our reporter who tried it was on the “hate” side of this debate. Our team member who tried it this year said it would actually be one of their picks for the WORST of the fest. 😆

In their opinion, the savory filling (which they described as a gritty gravy) was NOT the way to go. For a small dish, this can sure cause some big divisions. If you give it a try (it’s priced at $6.95) be sure to drop us a comment and let us know what you thought!

More details about the France booth can be found here!

STRANGEST Item at the Fest

Pickle Milkshake at Brew-Wing

Y’all, you know we couldn’t make this list without at least mentioning the new Pickle Milkshake(!!!) at the Festival! This is a non-alcoholic treat that costs $5.75. And it is…something else.

Pickle Milkshake

One of our reporters who tried this said that it was extremely dill-heavy, tangy, and creamy. It had a smooth texture without any chunks, which we think is a good thing? But they noted that as someone who loves pickles, the shake was more of a dill milkshake to them.

On another visit, a separate reporter tried the shake and said that in their opinion the shake tasted like you were drinking from a pickle jar, but with the consistency of ice cream. 😟 They described it as “better than you think” and explained that it tasted salty, sour, and briney.

Pickle Milkshake

So…yeah…it’s…a pickle shake. Will you love it? Will you hate it? Will you get a batch that has a stronger dill flavor or a stronger pickle flavor? You’ll have to taste it to find out. If you are brave enough to taste it, be sure to drop us a comment with your thoughts ’cause we would love to know how you feel about this!

See more about Brew-Wing here!

Most SHOCKING Item at the Fest

Unnecessarily Spicy, Yet Extremely Tasty Scotch Bonnet Pepper-Curry Wings at Brew-Wing

This next item was so shocking to us that we had to create a new category just to talk about it. New to the Brew-Wing booth this year is the Unnecessarily Spicy, Yet Extremely Tasty Scotch Bonnet Pepper-Curry Wings, priced at $7.50.

FRIENDS. BE WARNED. They are not kidding when they say these are “unnecessarily spicy.” Our lips were quite literally tingling (as if we had put on lip-plumping gloss) for minutes after eating these. We were DESPERATELY seeking water after this one with our lips on fire. 🔥🔥🔥

Scotch Bonnet

The wings had a heavy curry flavor, which made them multi-dimensional, and the topping was very creamy, but just watch out for the spice level on these. They can REALLY surprise you!

BEST Booth of the FEST

Alright, now that we’ve covered all of the best individual items, let’s talk about what booth (or booths!) wins the top place overall.

Japan Booth — WINNER

We truly mean it when we say (at least in our opinion) you CANNOT order a bad thing at the Japan booth this year! The Teriyaki Bun made our Best of the Fest list as an individual item above, but ALL of the items at this booth seriously impressed us.

Japan Booth Spread

The Fire Taiko Roll (a sushi roll with spicy tuna, cucumber, and pickled Daikon Radish served with spicy sauce) had a nice spicy tuna that wasn’t overwhelmingly hot. It can be a little controversial with some because of the tuna flavor, so just keep that in mind. But one of our reporters loved it!

The Beef Wa-Gyu-Don had some heavy beef and almost caramelized onions (which gave it a great sweet flavor). And it had plenty of other items that really helped balance the dish as a whole in terms of both flavor and texture.

Beef Wa-Gyu Don

We also really enjoyed the Sake Passion Cocktail, which we think could be a great pick for those who don’t love the taste of alcohol. It reminded us heavily of mango and was so nice and sweet you really couldn’t taste the sake at all.

Sake Passion Cocktail

Overall, the booth as a whole felt like it provided a well-balanced meal. You could get a little bit of everything and really be satisfied. We’d easily get all of these items over again and we think you could enjoy getting them all too!

See our full review of the Japan booth here

The Fry Basket — Runner-Up

Not all of the items at The Fry Basket are necessarily exceptional stand-out dishes, but we do feel like the booth as a whole is one of those you absolutely MUST visit, even if it’s just to get one or two items. The Adobo Yuca Fries are by far our favorites here and are WELL worth your time.

Full Fry Spread 2023

But we can’t deny that the Fry Flight is ICONIC. It comes with Sea Salt and Malt Vinegar Fries, BBQ Bacon Fries with smoked aïoli, and Sweet Potato Casserole Fries with candied pecans, toasted marshmallow cream, and maple bourbon glaze. (Note that you can also order the individual flavors here by request.)

The Sweet Potato Casserole Fries were our favorite fries in the flight, and they really captured the flavors of sweet potato pie in the BEST way possible. Think of them like bite-sized sweet potato casseroles, complete with marshmallow fluff and everything!

The Salt & Vinegar fries were not our favorite here — they were just boring, but probably a “safe” choice for those who don’t want anything too adventurous.

And then there were the BBQ Bacon Fries, which tasted like Lay’s BBQ chips in a great way. They had a nice smoky chipotle flavor going on, which elevated them beyond your basic BBQ taste.

Fry Flight

Then we’ve got the NEW Pickle Fries with dill ranch. These were basically just fried pickles. They were wonderfully crispy though and had a crumbly breadcrumb coating. Plus, the sauce completed them really well, and was a nice bonus. We heard a lot of people raving about these. To us, they’re basically just fried pickles — nothing too different if you’ve had those loads of times before — but we did enjoy eating them!

Pickle Fries with dill ranch

On top of all of that, you can get the Salty Dog Cocktail here with Boyd & Blair Potato Vodka with Grapefruit Juice, Ginger, Simple Syrup, and Lime with a Salted Rim. That’s a drink we’ve really enjoyed in past years and found to be light, sweet, and tart.

All in all, each individual item at the booth might not blow you away on its own (save for those Yuca Fries), but it’s the kind of booth you just gotta go to because…well…it’s a booth full of FRIES!!! And several of them are quite tasty!

See more about the Fry Basket booth here

Best of the Fest for Kids

Looking for a few dishes the kiddos will love? Here are a few dishes we think little ones will really like trying.

Apple Strudel with Vanilla Sauce at Germany

First up, we have the classic Apple Strudel with Vanilla Sauce from Germany. This has been a favorite of ours for years and it did NOT disappoint this year.

Apple Strudel with Vanilla Sauce

The flavors are simple enough that picky eaters won’t be deterred and when mixed with the vanilla sauce it makes for an extra delicious experience. This year, we felt like it really captured that apple pie flavor and the pastry was wonderfully flaky. That all paired with the vanilla sauce well (that sauce was INCREDIBLE by the way). If you have a little one that enjoys apple pie, vanilla sauce, and pastries, this is an easy pick.

Also, note that our reporter fully recommended this one for the main Best of the Fest list. In other words, don’t overlook this just ’cause we put it in the kiddo category. Adults — we think you’ll love this too! Get it for $4.50.

See more about the Germany booth here

Belgian Waffle with Berry Compote and Whipped Cream at Belgium

Another easy pick for the little ones is the Belgian Waffle with Berry Compote and Whipped Cream. Seriously, a waffle and berries — what’s NOT to love?!

Belgian Waffle with Berry Compote and Whipped Cream

Last year, the chocolate version made our Best of the Fest list for kiddos, but this year the berries version impressed us way more. The Berry Compote really carried the team in this dessert this year, and the strawberries were divine! We felt like they were actually some of the freshest berries we’d had at the Festival this year. The waffle was a little plain, but that can actually be a bonus for the kiddos. Overall, for $5, we think it’s a snack little ones will likely gobble up with ease!

Click here for more on the Belgium booth

WOWZERS. That was a LOT of food. Be sure to bring those stretchy pants when visiting EPCOT during this Festival — you’ll need them!

Don’t forget that you’ll have until November 18th to give these items a try! And as always, check back with us for all the Disney food news you need.

Click here for a FULL LOOK at the menus for the Food & Wine Festival

IT'S WINE & DINE TIME!

Food & Wine Festival can be a bummer. You stand in line waiting for what looks like the perfect treat, and it's a bust. But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE EPCOT Food & Wine Festival experience.

If you're planning a day or a week at the festival, we've got every performance, activity, and tasty nosh detailed out so you can make the most of your time and money. Listen, it's a tough job eating and documenting the nearly 200 bites and sips, but we do it all for YOU!

Save 20% on the 2023 DFB Guide to EPCOT's International Food & Wine Festival with code CHEFS.

Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!

Which of these dishes are you most excited to try? Tell us in the comments!

The post Everything You NEED to Eat and Drink at the 2023 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival first appeared on the disney food blog.



from the disney food blog https://ift.tt/8BFozsd

Post a Comment

No comments

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments ( Atom )