Crisp pork belly from the Brazil booth

Crisp pork belly from the Brazil booth available during the Epcot Food & Wine Festival.

Different Foods from Party for the Senses

Seared diver scallop with popcorn, brussel sprouts by Matt Carter at The House Brasserie in Scottsdale, Az.


Heirloom tomato salad with sheep's milk feta, crispy eggplant by Alex Seidel from the Fruition Restaurant in Denver, CO.


Tuna tartare by Mark Boor from Fulton's Crab House in Downtown Disney Marketplace in WDW.


Assorted chocolates by Viktoria Richards Chocolates in New Port Richey, FL.


Pan seared Mahi Mahi with asian pot stickers, ginger sesame drizzle by Ana C. Rivera & Kit Miller from Sci-Fi Dine-in in Disney's Hollywood Studios.


Xi'an rou jai mo by Sun Shu Sen from the China pavilion located in Epcot.


Duck confit tagliatelle with pine mushrooms, fermented garlic paste & poached egg by Rochelle Daniel from L'Auberge de Sedona in Sedona, AZ.


Grilled spicy octopus by Dean Max from 3030 Ocean in Boca Raton, FL.


Lamb biriyani with saffron braised baby vegetables by Jeff Brenchley in Sanaa located in Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge.


Petite spicy chicken meatball by Jeff Henderson from Chef Jeff Catering in Las Vegas, NV.

Different Foods from Party for the Senses on October 19, 2013 at Epcot, click each picture to read description.

Loch Lomond Cocktail

Loch Lomond Cocktail (Scotch, Drambuie, and dry Vermouth) from the Scotland booth available during the Epcot Food & Wine festival.

From Bean to the Bar at Epcot

By: Nick, co-writer of the Disney Musings Blog

There are some sweet creations and free chocolate samples to be had at Epcot's International Food and Wine Festival Center.

The Chocolate Experience: From Bean to the Bar is presented by Ghirardelli Chocolate.

Here you can find the history of Ghirardelli...

...learn about how chocolate is made...

...and DRINK chocolate! No, it's not like drinking a hot chocolate. This is "Drinking Chocolate", and it is like sipping on an amazing chocolate bar! You can also buy wine, but I was just there for  the chocolate!

You can also buy chocolate bars of course.

Bags of the little sample sizes.

Build your own tin with whatever flavor you'd like.

There are even artistic creations created with the sweets on display.

 

If you look closely, you may spot a couple of hidden Mickey's in the display below.
 

For last years chocolate art creations, please check out this great article from our friend Gaylin. And did I mention the free samples? It's worth stopping by this wonderful spot if just for that!

This article was originally posted on the Disney Musings Blog, which Nick co-writes with his wife, Barbie. 
Please LIKE Disney Musings on Facebook.

Orange dole whip from the Refreshment Port

Orange dole whip from the Refreshment Port located in the World showcase, available during the Epcot Food & Wine Festival.

Vegetarian Haggis from the Scotland booth

Vegetarian Haggis from the Scotland booth available during the Epcot Food & Wine festival.

Dole pineapple fritters from The Refreshment Port

Dole pineapple fritters from The Refreshment Port located in Epcot available during the Food & wine festival.

Taste of Greece

Escargots

Rice puddin

Greek salad with pita bread from the Greece Booth

Greek salad with pita bread from the Greece Booth available during the Epcot Food & Wine Festival.

Empanadas from the Argentina booth

Empanadas from the Argentina booth available during the Epcot Food & Wine Festival.

Ropa vieja from the Caribbean booth

Ropa vieja from the Caribbean booth available during the Epcot Food & Wine Festival.

Kerrygold® Cheese Selection

Kerrygold® Cheese Selection: aged-Irish cheddar, dubliner and cashel blue with apple chutney and brown bread from the Ireland Booth available during the Epcot Food & Wine Festival.

Ravioli di Formaggio All’emiliana from the Italy booth

Ravioli di Formaggio All’emiliana from the Italy booth available during the Epcot Food and Wine Festival.

Trio of Artisan Cheeses

Trio of Artisan Cheeses: Beecher’s Flagship Reserve Cheddar, La Bonne Vie Goat Brie and Rogue River Creamery Echo Mountain Blue Cheese from the Cheese Booth available during the Epcot Food & Wine Festival.

Blue Moon seasonal ale, Epcot Food & Wine Festival

Blue Moon seasonal ale from the Craft Beers booth available during the Epcot Food & Wine Festival.

Lobster and seafood fisherman’s pie from the Ireland Booth

Lobster and seafood fisherman’s pie from the Ireland Booth available during the Epcot Food & Wine Festival.

How I Plan For Epcot's International Food and Wine Festival

By: Nick, co-writer of the Disney Musings Blog

It seems that every year Epcot's International Food and Wine Festival gets bigger and requires more forethought and planning. The dates for the Festival are September 27th- November 11th.
I usually check out what the Disney Parks Blog, the Disney Food Blog , the Food Festival Blog, and The Tips From the Disney Divas and Devos Blog, have posted for the latest information and tips for planning.

Here's what we do to plan.

To start, there are several tastings, seminars, and special events, many of which require reservations.
Pick which ones you'd like to attend, and call 407-WDW-FEST (939-3378).
I check out park hours during my visit. I'm a morning person, so the plan is to go to one of the other parks with early Extra Magic Hours, have lunch at that park, and take an afternoon break. We'll then visit Epcot during the evening. If possible, we avoid the weekends. That's when a lot of locals go and it gets VERY crowded.
On 2 days, usually Friday and whichever day Epcot has early EMHs, we'll hit the food booths early, and visit another park in the evening.

Also, as soon as the menus come out for the booths, we'll go through it and decide what interests us.
I make a copy of this paired down list, and pair it down even further by highlighting the must haves.
Pacing yourself is key, for a variety of reasons, which is why I pick those must haves. 

Financially, this is an expensive event if you plan to try a bit of everything. Sure, on the surface, $3-$7 for a sample may not seem like much, but this adds up quickly!
As for paying at the booths, we get gift cards. It's quicker than cash, and an easier way to keep track of what you are spending. They sell little ones with wrist bands, so they are also convenient.

Then there is the alcohol, which can add up even faster than the food.
I have tried the suggested food and wine pairings in years past, and then had a beer or 2, and then a mixed drink. This is a bad idea. Trust me!

We'll be at the Festival during it's opening week, so stop by the Disney Musings, Disney Food Love, and the Epcot Food and Wine Addicts Facebook pages for photos and reports.

I hope some of these tips help, and perhaps we'll see you at the Festival! Enjoy!

Portions of this article were originally posted on the Disney Musings Blog.

Photographing Your Food While at Disney Parks

By: Nick Maglio

I'm going through every photo from our Disney vacations, and I see a lot, I mean A LOT, of pictures of food.
If you are reading this blog, I know I'm not the only person who loves photos of Disney Food!
I used to write Trip Reports for the DVC fan sites I belong to, and now write restaurant reviews for the Disney Musings Blog, as well as the Tips From the Disney Divas and Devos Blog, and photos are integral to these articles.
But I also take these photos because it helps me remember a good, great, or even bad, meal.

All these examples are from early October, 2009.

We take photos of where we are eating.

 Sanaa, Animal Kingdom Lodge Kidani Village

 Wolfgang Puck Express, Downtown Disney

We take photos of what we are eating.

 

 Wolfgang Puck Express

 Beaches and Cream, Yacht and Beach Club

Pictures of food being made.

Beaches and Cream

 Pictures of waiting for the food.

Beaches and Cream

The food being eaten.

  Beaches and Cream

A photo of food theft! Blatant food theft!

Wolfgang Puck Express

Before photos...

Beaches and Cream

...and after photos.

For more on the Banana Split at Beaches and Cream, please check out this post.

Epcot's International Food and Wine Festival at Walt Disney World is our favorite time to take pictures of food. We pose it as attractively as possible.

So, remember, Mom said don't play with your food, but she didn't say anything about photographing it!

Portions of this article were originally posted on the Disney Musings Blog which Nick co-writes with his wife Barbie.