Flowers and Gardens – two things Disney World does REALLY well. But during the Epcot Flower and Garden festival those beautiful things come together with delicious food, live music, and events that will make you swoon. Don’t believe me? Let’s check it out!
I was there during the very first day of the festival, March 1, and got to see everything brand spankin’ new. But a trip to the Festival Center (the old Epcot Horizons building) and a peek at the “Making of” video (ironically located in the Making of Me theater), I learned that every single topiary is checked each night for freshness and continuity. They change the flowers once during the 90 day festival, but otherwise, things look fresh and perfect each and every day guests are in the park. Amazing, right?
We got this fancy little passport at the front of the park, listing all the food and drinks available in the World Showcase. It comes with stickers to add to each page once you’ve made a stop in that area. Adding a stamp to your Passport, so to speak.
I was able to try quite a few food items, though there were some that I was disappointed to miss. Here are some of my favorites:
- Maple Popcorn Shake with Crown Royal Maple Whiskey – NEW Northern Bloom Cart
This was perfectly strong, cold, and sweet…all at the same time. The popcorn was a nice touch, though it got a little soggy when I waited to eat it last. I should have eaten it sooner, but that didn’t stop this little cocktail from packing a punch.
2. Beef Tenderloin Tips with Mushroom Bordelaise Sauce – NEW Northern Bloom Cart
There is a similar dish at the Epcot Food and Wine Festival that we absolutely loved a couple of years ago. My hubby is definitely a “meat and potatoes” kind of guy, so this was right up his alley. I didn’t get to taste the meat because he ate it all (shocker) but I got to taste the yum
my sauce, veggies, and mashed potatoes. Super filling for the price, too. Loved this one!
3. La Vie en Rose Frozen Slush – Fleur de Lys in France
This was cold and refreshing! I asked twice if there was alcohol in this because I honestly didn’t taste any – there was, FYI. The presentation was great as well. One of my favorite beverages at the entire festival, for sure. Plus, it’s pink!
4. Tarte à l’Onion Alsacienne – Fleur de Lys in France
The Onion Tart was an excellent Vegan option – warm, flaky, and certainly tasted like it had cheese on it. But of course, there was no dairy at all, which was great for me. It was heavier than I imagined it would be, which didn’t bother me because I wanted something a little more substantial to help soak up some of the alcohol (seriously, though) but it wasn’t as heavy as, say, a meat dish would be. I am actually going to try to recreate this dish at home!
5. Meatball Parmigiana – Primavera Kitchen in Italy
My husband LOVES meatballs, ya’ll. He loves them so much that he prefers I make them from scratch using my brother’s recipe over any other type of meatballs. So when he saw they had meatball parmigiana, this was a no-brainer for him. This veal and beef combo made the softest and most delicious meatballs I’ve had (since my brother’s, ya’ll…family is family).
6. Frozen Italian Margarita with Limoncello and Tequila – Primavera Kitchen in Italy
This was my FAVORITE beverage at the Epcot Food and Wine Festival in 2015. I had two of them! This time around didn’t disappoint either. It’s refreshing, sweet, and citrusy, all wrapped up in one sweet cup. This is a must try drink!
7. Watermelon Cucumber Slush – Florida Fresh
The unique thing about this booth is that all the ingredients were locally sourced in Orlando. I loved how refreshing this drink was. I opted for the non-alcoholic option since I had already had alcohol at a couple of other booths, but I didn’t regret that choice! The watermelon was definitely the starring role of this drink, but the cucumber was right there, backing up the leading lady. It was delicious and refreshing, perfect for the Orlando heat!
8. Home-Made Falafel with Pickled Beet and Turnip, Tomato Salad and Tahini Sauce – Taste of Marrakesh
I love beets, and this dish definitely made me happy in that department. I thought the Falafel was a little dry for my tastes, but this was actually my mom’s favorite thing she tried. It was a light dish with lots of great texture and flavor. Delicious!
I was disappointed to miss out on the Hibiscus Margarita in Mexico, but I walked though that area more than once and couldn’t figure out where to buy this drink. It could have been because the crowds were a little thicker, but during Food and Wine, the margarita cart was parked prominently in front. I was looking for something like that but just didn’t see it. I also wanted to try more dessert items, like the Macaron in France, the Warm Wild Berry Buckle at the NEW Berry Basket, and FlanCocho: Vanilla Caramel Custard with Chocolate Coffee Cake at La Isla Fresca. There’s just SO much food to try that you can’t possibly get to taste everything in one day!
If you want a detailed list of all the foods available at the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival 2017, check out Disney Food Blog. I totally agree with their idea that “Food IS a Theme Park” and they’ve done a good bit of research on all the foods as well.
Oh and one more thing…Do you follow me on Instagram? Check out my stories for my funny and sometimes crazy anecdotes throughout the day. I am working on my new YouTube series called Carpool Mom-fessions that has some of the same ideas, and I hope you’ll join me when I finally have it up and running. Editing video and being a mom, ya’ll. Need I say more?
Have you visited any of the Epcot festivals? Let me know in the comments below. And since this is a beloved Disney post, I’ll sign off by saying…
See ya real soon!
