Tasting My Way Around The World – Take 3

On November 3rd, we were up early (3 AM to be exact) to run in the Wine and Dine 5K, which started and ended in the Epcot parking lot. It also went around most of the World Showcase Lagoon, which was a really fun experience! After we finished our race and got cleaned up, we headed to Epcot to reward ourselves with some goodies from the Food and Wine Fest. This was my third trip this year to the festival. To see what I ate on the past two trips, check out Take 1 and Take 2.

Once we arrived at Epcot, a little after 10 AM, we got pictures with our medals and rode Soarin’ before I headed to Shimmering Sips to get a Mimosa Flight. I have had this flight on other trips and it continues to be a must-get every year. The flavors this year were a Tropical Mimosa, made with Passion Fruit, Orange, and Guava Juices, A Berry Mimosa that contained Berry Fizz Sparking Wine and White Cranberry Juice, and a Blood Orange Mimosa, made with Blood Orange Juice. I really liked them all, but I think my favorite one was the Tropical Mimosa as I really love the combination of the juices used in this drink. I also came back on my birthday, several days later, to get another round.

While I was waiting in line, Marc headed over to the Fry Basket to get an order of Pickle Fries and a Sea Salt and Lime Beer. This is one of my favorite beers at the whole festival and I ordered it several times. It is light and refreshing, with a hint of salt and lime. I have also had the Pickle Fries a couple of times on previous trips, but Marc had not. He really enjoyed both of these items.

Once Marc got back, I grabbed the Southern Pimento Cheese from Wine and Wedge to eat with my Mimosa Flight. It came with some pieces of pita bread as well as pickled cucumbers, carrots, and radishes. It was really good and paired well with the Mimosas. This booth will be open through the end of the year so I may have to get this item again when I am back in December for the Festival of The Holidays.

Next, Marc got an order of Ramen with Shaved Beef and a Parish Brewing Strawberry Mochi Berliner Weisse from the Noodle exchange. The Ramen was served with shitake mushrooms, pickled carrots and daikon radish, shaved peppers, and a soy egg in citrus-sesame broth. The flavors paired really well together and it was a nice savory dish. The beer was also really good. It had a strong strawberry flavor but was not overly sweet. It was one that I would probably get again in the future.

For our next stop, Marc wanted to try the Focaccia Ripiena from Italy. This was a focaccia roll filled with meatballs and topped with tomato sauce and burrata cheese. Marc liked it, but I thought it was a little bland. None of the dishes I have tried in the past from Italy’s festival booths have impressed me very much, this one included. It wasn’t terrible, just not something I would order in the future.

For our last stop of the day, we headed to my favorite pavilion, Morocco. Here I ordered the Moroccan Stone Bread and the Pistachio Cake. I have ordered the Stone Bread multiple times in the past and it continues to be one of my favorite things on the festival menus. It is served with Hummua, Chermoula, and Zhoug Dips. The Pistachio Cake is something I have been wanting to try, and it didn’t disappoint. It had a light pistachio flavor that was not overbearing and was served with cinnamon pastry cream and candied walnuts. I would order this again in the future if it is offered.

On our next trip to Epcot the following evening, Marc got an order of Roasted Irish Sausage and a Kilkenny Irish Cream Ale. The sausage with served with Colcannon Potatoes and Onion Gravy. We have had this in the past and really liked it. It was excellent again this year and was just the thing to top off a great day. I had been up since 3 AM to run in the 10K, and we had made it to all four parks to take medal pictures, ending our evening in Epcot to watch Epcot Forever.

A few days later, we headed back to Epcot to try a few more items from our list. I got the Fry Flight and the Sea Salt and Lime Beer from the Fry Basket. The Fry Flight had Sea Salt and Malt Vinegar, BBQ Bacon, and Sweet Potato Casserole Fries. I liked all three, but we both agreed that the Salt and Vinegar ones were our favorite. The beer was of course good as always.

Marc had been wanting to try one of the cake pops from the Swirled Showcase kiosk, so he grabbed one of those. It was a Mickey-shaped Liquid Nitro Cake Pop. He liked it so much that he ended up getting it again when we returned to Epcot on my birthday.

The last thing I ate at this year’s festival was the Chilaquiles from Flavors of America. I had this last month and really liked it so much that it was worth getting a second time. It is Corn Tortilla Chips tossed in Salsa Verde with Ranchero Chicken, Queso Fresco, Cilantro-Lime Crema, and a Soft Poached Egg. Just like I stated last time I reviewed this dish, you need to eat it fairly quickly as the chips become soggy if you wait too long, but the flavor is really good, so that was not too hard to do.

All in all, I feel like I was able to try quite a few great dishes at this year’s Food and Wine Fest, and can’t wait to come back next year to see what is new and what favorites will return.