Favorites Returning to Epcot Food and Wine Festival 2019

Over the past eleven years as Disney annual passholders, our family has come to love Epcot’s Food & Wine Festival. We spend more time in Epcot during those weeks, than we do all the other parks the rest of the year, and for good reason. 

If you’re planning a trip to Walt Disney World any time during this year’s Food & Wine Festival, we’ve got the tips on which of our favorite foods will be returning. Also, insight on some new things coming we are excited to try. 

Marketplaces

Active Eats

I loved these fruit and nut snack bites last year, and looking forward to trying out the new version this year. House-made mixture of apricots, almonds, pecans, coconut, puffed rice and chocolate chips (V) (GF) (KA)

Australia

I’m happy to see the Grilled Sweet and Spicy Bushberry Shrimp with Pineapple, Pepper, Onion and Snap Peas (GF) will be coming back. 

Josephine is super sad to see Lamington leave the menu, but I must say, the Deconstructed Pavlova with pastry cream, citrus-macerated berries and lemon myrtle meringue (KA) (GF) (V) sounds delicious!! 

Belgium

The Beer-braised Beef served with smoked gouda mashed potatoes is worth getting. The beef melts in your mouth! Shown here with the Leffe Blonde Belgian Pale Ale, which returns this year too.

Plus the Belgian waffle desserts with either warm chocolate ganache and whipped cream (V) (KA) or with berry compote and whipped cream (V) (KA).

Brazil

TOP PICK!!! I believe we spent more money at the Brazil booth last year, than any other food booth. The Crispy Pork Belly with black beans, tomato and onions (GF) was so good. Plus the Pão de Queijo: Brazilian cheese bread (GF) (V) (KA) was our FAVORITE!! This is a MUST TRY in our opinion. The whole family liked it! 

Canada

If you’re looking for something a little more hearty, then the Le Cellier Wild Mushroom Beef Filet Mignon with truffle-butter sauce (GF) is a perfect choice. You get a very decent sized portion, and it’s cooked so perfectly. 

Opposed to popular opinion, we are NOT fans of the Canadian Cheddar Cheese & Bacon Soup. New beer this year sounds interesting to me. Collective Arts Saint of Circumstance Citrus Blonde, Hamilton, Ontario. I’ll be trying it out with my filet. 

The Cheese Studio

Let’s talk desserts! The Maple Bourbon Cheesecake with maple bourbon cream, caramel and pecan crunch (V) was HANDS DOWN our FAVORITE!!!! Can’t even remember how many times we had it. 

The Chocolate Studio

Chocolate lovers, this is for you. The Liquid Nitro Chocolate-Almond Truffle with warm whiskey-caramel (GF) was super yummy!! I wish we had gotten it more than once, but when the Maple Bourbon Cheesecake is right next door…. Pictured with the returning Dark Chocolate Raspberry Tart with whipped cream (KA), which we also liked.

Josephine liked the Twinings® Pumpkin Spice Chai Tea and Chocolate Shake (non-alcoholic) (KA), but you can also get this with caramel vodka. Sounds yummy!! 

Coastal Eats

The girls don’t care for all the additions to the Lump Crab Cake with napa cabbage slaw and avocado-lemongrass cream, but it’s a darn good crab cake. Annie is sad to see the Seared Scallops leave though. 

Earth Eats, Hosted by IMPOSSIBLE™ Foods

Last year Josephine was excited to try The IMPOSSIBLE™ Burger Slider with wasabi cream and spicy Asian slaw on a sesame seed bun (V), of course without the slaw. She likes spicy, so the wasabi is what attracted her to waning to try it. And she liked this one. The new offering this year will be the IMPOSSIBLE™ Cottage Pie: IMPOSSIBLE™ ground meat with carrots, mushrooms, and peas topped with mashed cauliflower, white beans, and mozzarella (V) sounds pretty good too. I plan to try it. 

New flavors for the organic kombucha will be green apple, pineapple passionfruit, and mixed berry. I’m not a green apple flavored fan, but I plan to try the other two. 

France

We don’t get Crème Brûlèe often, so when we have the chance, we get it. In the past it’s had some kind of berries on it, but hazelnut creme on top is new this year.(V) (GF) (KA) Yum! As for drinks, I just may need to try this: La Passion Martini Slushy: Vodka, Grey Goose Le Citron, Cranberry and Passion Fruit Juice.

Germany

We are happy to see the bratwurst in a pretzel roll (KA) come back. This is usually Josephine’s staple choice while we’re hanging out for the Eat to the Beat concerts. A couple years ago, they didn’t have them, and I’m sure they got a lot of backlash for it.  Plus we also get the Apple Strudel with vanilla sauce (V) (KA) at least once. 

Germany Brewer’s Collection

Schöfferhofer Hefeweizen Pomegranate beer returns to the Brewer’s Collection near Germany. This may be my “go to” beer during concerts. 

Hawaii

Don’t miss the Kalua Pork Slider with sweet-and-sour DOLE® pineapple chutney and spicy mayonnaise (KA). I’ve been getting these for a couple years now, and love it. Along with a Maui Brewing Company Bikini Blonde Lager. On the top of my list will be the Passion Fruit Cheesecake with toasted macadamia nuts (KA) (GF) (V), because I never got to try it last year. It just sounds so good! 

Hops & Barley

Be sure to try the New England Lobster Roll with fresh herb mayonnaise and griddled roll. Another choice we get several times, partly because it’s close to the concerts. But that doesn’t make it any less than a top favorite for our family. Even though we love the lobster roll, it’s worth trying the New Brunswick Slider,  slow-braised beef brisket “pot roast style” with horseradish cream and crispy fried onions on a potato roll with pickled vegetables on the side

Ireland

There’s definitely no shortage of delicious desserts. The Warm Chocolate Pudding with Irish Cream Liqueur Custard (V) is decadent. Another one for the chocolate lovers. 

Islands of the Caribbean

After going through all the offerings, I have the new Quesito, a puff pastry with sweetened cream cheese and guava sauce (V) (KA) on my list. I’m a sucker for cream cheese, and this sounds wonderful. 

Italy

All new menu is on hand for Italy, and this makes me very happy. They didn’t have anything that appealed to us in previous years. The new choices all sound great to me. 

Ravioli Carbonara: Parmesan and Pecorino Ravioli, Egg Yolk, Cream, and Bacon

Costine di Maiale: balsamic-glazed and oven-roasted pork ribs

Pollo: crispy chicken with marinara sauce (KA)

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 (KA)

Japan

New for this year, and I think the girls will want to try this one, is the Frothy Ramen, chilled noodles and Dashi broth with a light foam topping. 

Mexico

Although it’s sad to see things we liked leave the Mexico booth, at least the new choices sound just as good. Looking forward to trying all of it. 

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 chicharron dust

Capirotada de Chocolate: chocolate bread pudding served with chocolate abuelita crème anglaise

Shimmering Sips Mimosa Bar

Last year the Mimosa Bar was in the festival center.  We missed out trying the Banana Almond Soft-serve Sundae made with Blue Diamond Almond Breeze® Almondmilk, fresh berries, and chocolate almond streusel (V) (KA) from the Almond Orchard booth by Blue Diamond, which did not return this year. You can find it at the Mimosa Bar, so I’m making sure to try it out this year! 

More new offerings are Cheesecake Trio: raspberry, chocolate, and New York-style cheesecake bites (V) (KA). More cheesecake, you know you can find me there! Ice cream is another weak spot for me, and the Shimmering Strawberry Soft-serve in a waffle cone (V) (KA) will be getting in my belly. 

Additional Locations

Block & Hans

So sad there’s no Karbach Brewing Love Street on tap, because this was my “go to” last year during concerts. The only brew that sounds good to me is the Orlando Brewing Blonde Ale. 

Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company

There are four locations for Joffrey’s and they each have different offerings during the festival. At the Future World East location, they have an Acai Surprise, which is frozen wildberry and acai topped with Grey Goose Vodka. I just may have to try this one. 

Refreshment Outpost

How about a new No Worries Panna Cott, that has raspberry, papaya, and mango panna cotta with a cookie crumble base topped with a Lion King white chocolate (KA)? Does that sounds good? It sure does to me. And a Savanna Smoothie with coconut milk, agave, and Amarula Cream Liqueur could be a perfect pairing! 

Refreshment Port

It’s always a good day when they have DOLE WHIP® (V) (KA) available in Epcot. And even better when you can get it with Bacardi Coconut Rum. 

NEW

The Alps

Very excited for the new Swiss inspired choices. 

Warm Raclette Swiss Cheese with baby potatoes, cornichons and baguette (V) (KA)

Venison Stew with crushed potatoes

Blueberry and Almond Frangipane Tart with crème fraîche cream and Blue Diamond® almonds (V) (KA)

Appleseed Orchard

Just hearing the name of this booth makes me miss fall time in Michigan. Charcuterie and Cheese Plate featuring Burton’s Maplewood Farm Applejack Brandy Barrel Aged Maple Syrup and 

Caramel-Apple Popcorn (KA). Playalinda Brewing Co. Apple Pie Beer sounds like it will go great with the popcorn. 

Opening October 1st

Cool Wash

Offering assorted Coca-Cola slushies with mix-ins like Swedish Fish, Jelly Drops, Boba Pearls, and Pop Rocks. Sounds like this will be very popular. If you want to be an adult, you can grab a Coca-Cola Orange Vanilla with St Petersburg Gin. 

The Donut Box

Do donuts peak your interest? I believe this will be a festival favorite. 

Sweet Corn Fritter with Fresno and Red Pepper Jelly (V)

Strawberry-dusted Yeast Donut Holes (V) (KA)

Strawberry Smoothie made with Blue Diamond Almond Breeze Almondmilk® (non-alcoholic) (KA)

Central 28 Beer Company Boston Cream Donut Ale, DeBary, FL

Black and White Coffee Cocktail garnished with a Fresh Yeast Donut with Chocolate Espresso Bean Crumbles

I will be all about trying the Boston Cream Donut Ale from Central 28. You can even check out our review of their brewery HERE. 

Leaving

As always, with new additions, comes take aways. There will be no Greece booth this year.  We will miss our baklava. 

(GF) indicates Gluten/wheat-friendly (KA) indicates Kid-approved (Dishes designed with kids in mind.) (V) indicates Vegetarian