I moved to Orlando just over 5 years ago in 2007, which is when I finally was able to experience Epcot’s International Food & Wine Festival for the first time. Although I’d been visiting WDW since shortly after I was born, school and work largely prevented me from visiting during the festival. I’m sure many of you can relate!
Quartino of Chianti at Tutto Gusto
I was going through my festival cookbooks, and one is from the 2007 festival. Most of the recipes seen at the kiosks in 2007 were in the book (I’ll note which ones weren’t with an asterisk). Recipes have changed over the years, which always proves to be interested reading for me! I thought it would be fun to take a look back at the food and see what’s changed in the last 5 years as we lead into the 2012 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. It’s almost here!
The cookbook had the countries arranged by region, which I’ve done below. There are a few that we’ve seen before, and some have had a few tweaks over the years. I’ve highlighted ones that are interesting to me, that I don’t believe I ordered in 2007 (and might just need to cook at home!). I’d love to hear which ones you would like to try!
North America
Canada
Maple Glazed Salmon with Arugula and Roasted Corn
Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup
Maple Custard Topped with Almond Crumble
Hops and Barley Market
New England Crab Cakes with Barley-Lentil Salad
Chicken Drums Glazed with Samuel Adams Boston Lager
Oklahoma
Three Sisters Soup (Composed of red onion, Poblano chili pepper, Corn, zucchini, and pinto beans)
Seared Buffalo with Scalloped Wild Onions
Native American Peach Buckle
Pecan Pie
2011 Hops & Barley Linda Bean’s Perfect Lobster Roll
United States
Maine Lobster Roll
Barbecued Pork Spare Ribs with Grilled Corn
California Strawberry Shortcake
Latin America
2011 Argentina Beef Empanada Filling
Argentina
Spicy Beef Empanada
Grilled Beef Sirloin with Chimichuri Sauce
Dulce de Leche
Chile
Tomatican con Manchego – Tomato, Corn & Garbanzo Bean Stew with Manchego
Camaron con Pebre – Sauteed Shrimp with Cilantro Sauce
Strawberry and Mango Salad with Cilantro
Mexico
Quesadilla con Chorizo – Spicy Sausage & Cheese in a Flour Tortilla
Chilaquiles – Baked Tortillas with Chicken & Cheese
Peru
Causa de Cangrejo – Seasoned Mashed Potatoes with Crab Salad
Arroz con Pato – Roast Duck with Cilantro Rice
Alfajores de Lucuma – Lucuma Cream with Peruvian Sugar Cookies
Continental Europe
2011 France Escargot Persillade en Brioche
France
Escargots Persillade en Brioche – Classic Provence-Style Snails with Garlic Butter and Parsley in Brioche
Quiche au Fromage de Chevre – Goat Cheese and Sun-dried Tomato Quiche
Coupe de Sorbets Champagne, Framboise et Chocolate Blanc – Champagne, Raspberry & White Chocolate Sorbets
2010 Germany Apfel (Apple) Strudel
Germany (Oktoberfest)
Spaetzle with Creamy Mushroom Ragout
Debriziner Sausage with Sauerkraut on Pretzel Rolls
Apple Strudel
Greece’s Spanikopita
Greece
Greek Salad with Pita Bread
Spanakopita – Savory Spinach and Cheese Pastry
Karydopita - Walnut Coffee Cake
2010 Ireland Kerrygold Cheese Selection featuring Brown Bread
Ireland
Chilled Potato Leek Soup with an Irish Cheddar Cheese Crisp
Boxty with Bacon Chips and Herb Butter
Irish Brown Bread
Italy
Insalata Caprese*
Pizza with Fennel Sausage, Bell Peppers, San Marzano Tomatoes and Mozzarella Cheese
Lasagne al Forno – Baked Pasta with Meat Ragu, Ricotta and Parmesan Cheese
Zuppa Inglese – Rum-Soaked Cake with Vanilla Cream, Candied-Fruite and Meringue
2010 Taste of Spain - Serrano Ham, Chorizo, Manchego cheese,
Green Olives and Tomato Bread
Spain
Taste of Spain featuring Spanish Olives, Marcona Almonds, and Chorizo Sausage*
Spicy Calamari Stew with Saffron Rice
Papas con Chorizo – Potatoes & Spicy Sausage
Eastern Europe
2010 Poland Kielbasa and Potato Pierogies
with Caramelized Onions and Sour Cream
2010 Poland Golobki (Cabbage Rolls with Spiced Beef)
Poland
Cabbage Rolls with Spiced Beef
Kielbasa and Potato Pierogies with Sour Cream
Paczki – Polish doughnut with Apricot filling*
Turkey
Mezes: Patlican Salatasi – Eggplant Salad
Mezes: Cucumber & Tomato Salad
Turkish Black Olives were also served along with Pita Bread for the Meze*
Manti – Spiced Beef Ravioli with Yogurt and Paprika Butter
Authentic Pistachio Baklava from Turkey
Caribbean
Dominican Republic
Mofongo – Mashed Yucca with Pork Cracklings & Shrimp
Pastelon de Platenos Amarillas – Ripe Plantain Casserole with Avocado
Dulce de Coco – Caramel & Coconut Flan
Africa
2011 Morocco Kefta Pocket
Morocco
Walnut and Honey Baklava
Bastilla – Savory Chicken Pastry
Kefta – Grilled Beef and Hummus in a Pita Pocket
South Africa
Durban Spiced Chicken on Sugarcane
Bobotie with Mango Chutney – Traditional Beef & Potato Casserole
Spice Cake with Vanilla Rooibas Infused Fruits
Asia
China
Chicken Sha Cha
Pork Pot Stickers
Caramel and Ginger Ice Cream
India
Curried Butternut Squash Soup
Samosas with Tamarind Sauce – Spicy Pea & Potato Pastries
Indian Rice and Coconut Pudding
2010 Japan California Roll
Japan
Spicy Tuna Roll
Vegetable Roll
California Sushi Roll
Crispy Sukiyaki Beef Roll*
Pacific Rim
2011 Australia Shrimp on the Barbie with Pepper Berry Citrus Glaze
2011 Australia Grilled Lamb Chop
with Potato Goat Cheese Salad and Shiraz Reduction
Australia
Shrimp on the Barbie
Grilled Lamb Chops with Caramelized Onions
Macadamia Nut & Chocolate Bars
2010 New Zealand Lamb Slider with Tomato Chutney
New Zealand
Bay Scallop and Seafood Medley Salad (Kiosk name: Marinated Seafood Salad)
Lamb Slider
Kiwi and Custard Roll
Which items featured in 2007 would you still like to see today? Do you recall any items from the festival that you didn’t care for?
That was a fun look back! Our first Food & Wine Festival was in 2006, but we didn’t even know it was going on until we got there, and I don’t even think we realized right away that all these booths set up around the World Showcase were a special event. 2007 was the first year we really got in to it. We’ve only missed one festival since then and have no immediate plans to make that mistake again!
Once you’ve been, it would be hard to miss it again! Glad to hear that you’ve been able to make it down almost every year since!
The first year I went I think was 2000 when Rick Bayless (who was really nice and friendly and his food was very yummy) and Bobby Flay (who was kinda an ass and his pork loin was unimpressive) were there. The Grand Tastings (aka Party for the Senses) was only $60!
The next time I went was 2004 or 2005 (can’t really remember) and I haven’t missed a year yet. Hopefully my oncologist will clear me in time for me to go this year. ::keeping my fingers crossed::
Haha, I’ve heard such comments about Flay before. I haven’t done any of the Party of the Senses type events, especially with the price tags they have now. We tend to prefer to spend the money on a room at one of the resorts, as the parties seem to leave us unimpressed for the price. I really hope you are cleared to come down this year! I’m sure the Festival would miss you!
I agree. All the signature dining things are just too expensive (although I would love one of these days to do the V&A one, if I’m not dead by then lol). My friends and I would rather spend the money staying at Beach or Boardwalk and having a really nice dinner on Saturday night.
I still need to get to V&A. We like staying at the Deluxe resorts and having one nice dinner during the trip.
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