So we waited to venture around World Showcase and the 2010 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival until yesterday. We figured the crowds would be light, since it was a weekday, and the weather was absolutely perfect so here are some pictures and thoughts on our first pass around the festival.
As always, we start our culinary journey in Greece; it is one of my personal favorite places I have never been but I love the cuisine. The Spanokopita has been a traditional favorite for years and this year it is as good as it always has been. The filo dough was light and crispy, not burned, and the spinach/feta combination was perfect.
Along with the Spanokopita, we also got a serving of Souvlaki with tzatziki sauce. Had not had this at previous festivals, but enjoyed it immensely. The chicken was flavorful and tender and the tzatziki sauce was just perfect.
Considering it was a little too warm to enjoy Canada’s cheddar cheese soup, we made our way further into World Showcase, with our projected stop at France.
Now I have always been an adventurous individual when it comes to foods; that does not always pertain my dining companions, particularly my children so I was on my own with the next choice – escargots. They are served very simply in a trio of tiny bread bowls. Despite the simple presentation the escargots were exceptionally tasty. The combination of the slightly crispy texture of the bread combined with buttery consistency of the snails and the perfect amount of garlic made these a wonderful choice.
If you are hesitant to try snails, I urge you to give them a try. They are high in protein and have been part of our diets since prehistoric times.
After a couple of great selections, we happened upon the Spanish and Belgian kiosks. Although the Spanish offerings were quite tempting, the Belgians won over my little girl with their amazing dish of waffles and compote. The waffles were cooked to perfection and the compote offered the right combination of blueberry tartness to the whipped cream’s sweetness. We also tried a glass of cold coffee with a hint of Godiva liquer which was very refreshing and offered a nice complement to the waffles.
The first samples we tried at the festival were exceptional well done. The variety offered a bit of the festival favorites as well as some new dishes. Despite being a Tuesday, the park was filling up fairly quickly which leads me to hope that the economy is shaping up for a lot of people and they are returning to the Walt Disney World Resort to enjoy some well-deserved relaxation.
Will the rest of the offerings measure up to our expectations? We’ll continue our tour around the 2010 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival soon. If you have been to the festival, what has been your favorite dish?
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