EPCOT's 2024 Food & Wine Festival offered a fantastic array of flavors and dishes from around the world. From delectable sweets to savory bites, here's a rundown of everything we tasted and our verdict on each!
1. The Alps: Warm Raclette Swiss Cheese with Ham - $5.75
The melted Swiss cheese, paired with ham, baby potatoes, and baguette, was undeniably tasty. However, the cheese was simply topped in a clump upon the dippers, and it was incredibly challenging to eat. It was delicious but a bit too cumbersome, especially for walking around a food festival.
Rating: 6/10
2. The Alps: Dark Chocolate Fondue - $6.00
A true standout of the festival, this fondue was like a warm, gooey lava cake in dip form (and if you know me, you know I LOVE lava cakes). It was so good I ended up eating it straight from the bowl after finishing my dippers! And the dippers themselves were delicious (it came with berries, pound cake, and merengue)!
Rating: 10/10
3. Belgium: Belgian Waffle (Chocolate) - $5.50
A delightful dessert covered in chocolate and whipped cream. This waffle is a crowd-pleaser, combining rich flavors and satisfying textures. I don't think anyone can hate Belgian chocolate and Belgian waffles together!
Rating: 9/10
4. Belgium: Belgian Waffle (Berry) - $5.50
This waffle was also great but could have been enhanced with a chocolate drizzle to balance the tartness of the berries. Still, a solid treat that was delicious and full of flavor.
Rating: 8/10
5. Bramblewood Bites: Grilled Cider-Brined Pork Tenderloin - $6.75
Though I'm not a fan of pork tenderloin, my husband loved this dish. It was well-balanced and flavorful, making it a hit for pork enthusiasts. And this dish is also BEAUTIFUL! Photo-worthy and yummy means high marks for us.
Rating: 8/10
6. Canada: Cheddar Cheese and Bacon Soup - $6.00
The soup was very tasty with the pretzel roll, but it was a bit too sharp on its own and challenging to enjoy in the hot Florida weather. Although I liked the taste enough, I couldn't finish it on my own with the heat and humidity and had to throw it out halfway through. I think it honestly would be more successful as a cheese dip with more pretzel bread dippers.
Rating: 6/10
7. Festival Favorites: BBQ Pork Rinds - $5.00
I gave these a try but couldn't get past the taste and texture of both the cheese and the pork rinds themselves. I found the seasoning strange - Not for me, unfortunately.
Rating: 2/10
8. Festival Favorites: Frozen S’mores Milk Shake - $4.75
Refreshing and delicious, this shake was perfect for cooling off in the heat. It had a rich chocolate flavor and was a creamy delight. The marshmallows and everything on top didn't get in the way either, which I usually find with milkshakes like this. Loved this one!
Rating: 8/10
9. Forest & Field: Pumpkin Mascarpone Ravioli - $5.25
My favorite savory dish of the festival! The ravioli, paired with hazelnut praline, sage butter, and pecorino cheese, was a harmonious blend of flavors and texture. This is the ONLY dish we tried that we got a second one of, it was THAT good! Highly recommend.
Rating: 10/10
10. France: Moelleux aux Oignons - $7.95
Had a couple of bites but couldn't get past the unusual texture and taste. It's kinda like a creamy egg casserole, and just wasn't my thing.
Rating: 2/10
11. France: Brioche aux Escargots - $7.95
A first-time experience with escargot for me. While the brioche and cream were delicious, the escargot itself wasn't to my taste. But overall is a cheap and tasty way to try escargot from France, so it wasn't the worst for me.
Rating: 4/10
12. The Fry Basket: Fry Flight - $8.00
A fun assortment of fries, including Truffle-Parmesan, Barbecue Bacon, and Sweet Potato Casserole fries. The Sweet Potato Casserole fries were the standout here, a nice blend of sweet and salty, and tasted just like a sweet potato casserole. The truffle parmesan fries were also very good, but nothing super special. The barbecue bacon fries seemed to use the same kind of seasoning as the BBQ pork rinds that I wasn't a fan of, so those one were just fine. But 2/3 is great in my book, and this is an easy snack to share!
Rating: 7/10
13. Germany: Bratwurst on a Pretzel Roll - $6.25
The bratwurst and pretzel roll were tasty, but the lack of a sauce made it a bit dry. I believe it was supposed to come with mustard, but ours had none. It just lacked flavor without it and was too dry for our tastes, which was disappointing.
Rating: 6/10
14. Germany: Apple Strudel - $4.75
While I'm personally not a fan of apple desserts, my husband is and really enjoyed this strudel. It was reminiscent of a classic apple pie. We wished it was served warm though!
Rating: 7/10
15. India: Chicken Tikka Masala - $6.25
Even though I'm not usually into tikka masala, this dish struck the right balance of flavor and spice for even me. My husband, a big fan of tikka masala, loved it.
Rating: 8/10
16. Japan: Teriyaki Chicken Bun - $7.95
My husband's favorite savory dish of the day. The bun and its filling were flavorful and delicious, making it a memorable part of the festival for both of us.
Rating: 10/10
17. Japan: Sake - $12.00
Another favorite for my husband. He enjoyed it with the teriyaki chicken bun. I don't love strong alcohol tastes, so it wasn't for me, but he rated it highly.
Rating: 9/10
18. Macatizers: Truffle Macaroni and Cheese - $6.50
Flavorful and tasty, though not the best mac and cheese I've had. I enjoyed the mac and cheeses that I had at Disney California Adventure's Food & Wine Festival more. Still, it was a solid choice.
Rating: 7/10
19. Macatizers: Traditional Macaroni & Cheese - $5.50
Good, but not as impressive as the truffle version. It was a decent offering but didn't stand out as much.
Rating: 6/10
20. Mexico: Pan de Elote - $6.00
A unique dessert with corn, cheese, and chocolate. The flavor was intriguing, though the texture was a bit unusual for me. Still, this dessert was very good!
Rating: 7/10
21. Refreshment Outpost: Chocolate Amarula Mousse Dome - $6.25
Delicious and creamy, and full of unique and fantastic flavors. Though it fell slightly behind the Alps Chocolate Fondue, this is still a fantastic dessert.
Rating: 9/10
Overall, the 2024 Food & Wine Festival at EPCOT delivered a mix of hits and misses, but it was a delightful experience with plenty of culinary highlights! I also just think it was amazing that we were able to try over 20 dishes for a pretty low cost overall. I'd say the Festival overall was a 10/10 for me that I would absolutely try to do again!
-Jill
Commentaires