The Epcot Food and Wine Festival 2017 has officially kicked off and this year, bringing more countries, celebration days, and new delicious offerings than ever before.
This year brings new dishes that will satisfy the taste buds of any foodie.
WATCH – EPCOT FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL 2017 KICK OFF:
Next Eats, which is returning from last year’s festival, has expanded and now features more kiosks.
Active Eats is full of offerings that are meant to fuel your body and fill you with energy. Specialtys of this kiosk include the Loaded Mac ‘n’ Cheese, served with nuke’s pepper bacon, cheddar peppers and green onions and the Sweet Avocado Crema, which comes with strawberries, yellow cake and tortilla streusel.
Coastal Eats features items that can be found in oceans around the world. Definitely a stop for the foodie who loves good seafood. Items found in this kiosk include Lump Crab Cakes served with napa cabbage slaw and avocado lemongrass cream and Baked Shrimp Scampi Dip, paired with a sourdough baguette. My personal favorite from this kiosk is the Seared Scallops, which come with roasted corn, butterbean succotash and chili-chipotle butter sauce.
Flavors from Fire has offerings that will set your mouth on fire! This kiosk is where guests can find spicy food and beverage options. Some of these options include Piggy Wings, made with roasted Korean barbecue sauce and sesame seeds and Smoke Corned Beef, which is put together with crispy potatoes, pickled onions and blonde ale beer fondue, featuring Belgioioso Romano and American Grans cheeses.
Earth Eats will be returning from last year’s event and will feature cuisine inspired by the ABC show “The Chew.” Dishes that guests can chow on here include the Ricotta and Zucchini Ravioli, served with rustic tomato sauce and the Grilled Beef Skewer, which is paired with romaine, apricots and feta.
Another new addition to the 2017 Epcot Food & Wine Festival is Light Lab. This area is located in the building that contains Club Cool and Starbucks.
In this new area, guests can enjoy bubbly drafts, spirited concoctions and cool neon colored glow in the dark globes, signs, furniture and drinks. This area also offers vitamin waters, special brews and even a cotton candy drink.
Strips of neon light run around the entire room and every item within the area glows. Behind the bar is where you can find the most vivid scene of color inside the lab.
Some of the Light Labs offerings include The Glownut, T=CC2: Vanilla Tonic Water and Cotton Candy (Non-Alcoholic), RGB: Citrus Apple Freeze (Non-Alcoholic), Bleu Spectrum: Blanc de Bleu Cuvée Mousseux with Boba Pearls and Elysian Brewing Space Dust IPA, Seattle, WA.
If you have a milk allergy, rejoice! Another new addition to this year’s festival is The Almond Orchard Hosted by Blue Diamond Almond Breeze. Here is where guests can divulge in dairy free dishes and desserts.
Starting with my personal favorite from the kiosk, the Banana Almond Sundae, which comes with soft-serve ice-cream, fresh berries and crunchy chocolate oats. The dairy free dishes offered at the location include the Cauliflower Risotto with pulled chicken, artichokes, spinach and parmesan cheese and aged balsamic and the Fire-roasted Tomato Hummus topped with Blue Diamond Salt & Vinegar Almonds and served with Blue Diamond Nut Thins.
New countries that have returned to the festival this year include India, Spain and Thailand. These countries haven’t been featured at the festival since 2009, with the exception of Spain, returning for the first time since 2010.
Spain is back with all new festive offerings, which include a Charcuterie in a Cone, served with a selection of imported meats, cheeses and olives with an herb vinaigrette. Another delicious sampling that can be found at the kiosk is the Sweet Olive Oil Cake, which is served with powdered sugar and lemon curd.
India is where guests can enjoy Warm Indian Bread, served with pickled garlic, mango salsa and coriander pesto dips. Here is where you can also try the Madras Red Curry, which comes with roasted cauliflower, baby carrots, chickpeas and basmati rice.
In Thailand you can find Red Hot Spicy Thai Curry Beef with steamed rice and the Seared Shrimp and Scallop cake, which is served with with cold noodle salad. I must warn you, these options are on the spicer side.
For more information and tickets to the 2017 Epcot Food & Wine Festival, be sure to refer to the official website. If you want a more in-depth look at some of the food offerings, be sure to check out our earlier coverage of the event here.
