What’s new at the 2017 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival

Believe it or not, the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival starts at the end of this month. Beginning August 31 you’ll be able to enjoy a whole new world of tastes and sips around the World Showcase lagoon and now stretching even further into Future World that ever before. Among the many offerings are five new marketplace booths in the Future World are and three long absent favorites returning to World Showcase.

We recently were invited to a special preview of the coming foodie favorite event. While there we had the chance to interview Executive Chef Gregg Hannon about what’s new at the festival this year:

New this year are five marketplaces with unique themes including:

• Active Eats will present a fresh approach to those with an active lifestyle.
• Coastal eats will let you feast on flavors of the sea partnered with wines from the Pacific coastline.
• Flavors from Fire will add some spice to your festival experience
• Light Lab is the first totally indoors marketplace which will allow you to enjoy food and spirits with a unique glow-in-the-dark appeal.

Additionally, the global marketplaces welcome back three countries that have been missing for at least 7 years — India, Thailand, and Spain.

I’m also really looking forward to the new experiences coming to the Odyssey pavilion. In addition to a selection of craft beers, you’ll enjoy culinary delights that pay tribute to EPCOT’s 35 year history. These include:

• Chilled Scotch Egg wrapped in Sausage with Mustard Sauce
• Zesty Cheeseburger and Cheddar Cheese Macaroni Handwich
• L’Orange Cotton Candy: A Mixture of Lime and Orange Cotton Candy

But that’s not all that’s new. The menus for this year’s Festival Marketplaces contain many new items along with some old favorites:

 

Flavors from Fire
Piggy Wings: Roasted Pork Wings with Korean BBQ Sauce and Sesame Seeds
Smoked Corned Beef with Warm Crispy Potatoes, Pickled Onions, and Blonde Ale Beer Fondue featuring BelGioioso Romano and American Grana Cheeses
Sweet Pancake with Spicy Chipotle Chicken Sausage, Onion Jam, and Maple Butter Syrup
Chocolate Picante: Dark Chocolate Mousse with Cayenne Pepper, Chili Powder, and Raspberry Dust
Orlando Brewery Smokin’ Blackwater Porter
Ravenswood Zinfandel, Napa Valley
Swine Brine featuring Evan Williams Bourbon

Light Lab
Beverage
T=C2: Tonic Water and Cotton Candy (non-alcoholic)
RGB: Citrus Apple Freeze (non-alcoholic)
Bleu Spectrum: Blanc de Bleu Cuvée Mousseux with Boba Pearls
Left Hand Brewing Company Polestar Pilsner, Longmont, CO
Playalinda Brewing Company Robonaut Red Ale, Titusville, FL
Elysian Brewing Space Dust IPA, Seattle, WA
Sixpoint Brewery Mad Scientist Radiant Flux, Brooklyn, NY
Founders Brewing Company Green Zebra Watermelon Gose Ale, Grand Rapids, MI
Blue Point Brewing Company Hoptical Illusion IPA, Patchogue, NY

Space Flight

Left Hand Brewing Company Polestar Pilsner
Playalinda Brewing Company Robonaut Red Ale
Elysian Brewing Space Dust IPA

Light Flight

Sixpoint Brewery Mad Scientist Radiant Flux
Founders Brewing Company Green Zebra Watermelon Gose Ale
Blue Point Brewing Company Hoptical Illusion IPA

Earth Eats Inspired by ABC’s “The Chew”
Ricotta and Zucchini Ravioli with Rustic Tomato Sauce (vegetarian)
Grilled Beef Skewer with Romaine, Apricots, and Feta Cheese
Peanut Butter and White Chocolate Mousse with a Caramel Drizzle (gluten friendly)
Kurt Russell’s Gogi Wines Chardonnay “Goldie,” California
Kurt Russell’s Gogi Wines Pinot Noir, California
Redstone Meadery Black Raspberry Mead

Active Eats
Loaded Mac ‘n’ Cheese with Nueske’s Pepper Bacon, Cheddar Cheese, Peppers, and Green Onions
Roasted Verlasso Salmon with Quinoa Salad and Arugula Chimichurri (gluten friendly)
Sweet Avocado Crema with Strawberries, Yellow Cake, and Tortilla Streusel (vegetarian)
M.I.A. Beer Company HRD WTR Cucumber & Lemon Lime Hard Sparkling Water, Doral, FL
Chateau Ste. Michelle Cold Creek Riesling, Washington
Evolution by Sokol Blosser Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley

Coastal Eats
Lump Crab Cake with Napa Cabbage Slaw and Avocado Lemongrass Cream
Baked Shrimp Scampi Dip with Sourdough Baguette
Seared Scallops with Roasted Corn and Butterbean Succotash and Chili-chipotle Butter Sauce
Erath Pinot Gris, Oregon
Soter Planet Pinot Noir, Oregon

The Chocolate Studio
Liquid Nitro Chocolate-Almond Truffle with Warm Whiskey-Caramel (gluten friendly)
Sweet Dark Chocolate Raspberry Torte with Whipped Cream and Raspberry Dust (vegetarian)
Justin Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles
Banfi Rosa Regale, Piedmont
Lenotti Recioto della Valpolicella, Italy
RL Buller Fine Muscat

Epcot Legacy Showplace
Chilled Scotch Egg wrapped in Sausage with Mustard Sauce
Zesty Cheeseburger and Cheddar Cheese Macaroni Handwich
L’Orange Cotton Candy: A mixture of Lime and Orange Cotton Candy (vegetarian)
Bright Horizons: Sprite with Multi-flavored Boba Pearls (non-alcoholic)
M.I.A Beer Company 305 Golden Ale, Doral, FL
Playalinda Brewing Company Blonde Ale, Titusville, FL
Florida Beer Company Passport 35 Triple Chocolate Milk Stout, Cape Canaveral, FL
JDub’s Passion Wheat, Sarasota, FL
Central 28 Trekkerbier Farmhouse Ale, DeBary, FL
Cigar City Guayabera Citra Pale Ale, Tampa, FL

Eastern Florida Flight

M.I.A. Beer Company 305 Golden Ale
Playalinda Brewing Company Blonde Ale
Florida Beer Company Passport 35 Triple Chocolate Milk Stout

Western Florida Flight

JDub’s Passion Wheat
Central 28 Trekkerbier Farmhouse Ale
Cigar City Guayabera Citra Pale Ale

The Cheese Studio Hosted by Boursin Cheese
Braised Beef “Stroganoff” with Tiny Egg Noodles, Wild Mushroom, and Boursin Garlic and Fine Herbs Cheese Sauce
Savory Caramelized Onion Boursin Garlic and Fine Herbs Cheese Tart with cold Arugula Salad and Aged Balsamic (vegetarian)
Cheese Trio: Profiterole topped with Boursin Garlic and Fine Herbs Cheese and Orange Apricot Jam; Smoked Salmon Pinwheel with Boursin Shallot and Chive Cheese and Everything Seasoning; Strawberry Macaroon with Boursin Pepper Cheese
Leth Steinagrund Gruner Veltliner, Austria
Liberated Pinot Noir, California

The Wine & Dine Studio
Seared Scallops, Truffled Celery Root Purée, Brussels Sprouts, and Wild Mushrooms featuring Melissa’s Produce
Pulled Duck Confit with Cannellini Bean Ragoût and Zinfandel Reduction
Trio of Artisan Cheese (vegetarian): Fromager d’Affinois de Excellence with Toasted Baguette; Point Reyes Original Blue with Apricot Jam; Point Reyes Toma with Honey
Artist Palette of Wine and Cheese: Trio of Artisan Cheese Paired with Round Pond Estate Sauvignon Blanc, St. Francis Chardonnay and Recuerdo Malbec
Round Pond Estate Sauvignon Blanc, Rutherford
St. Francis Chardonnay, Sonoma County
Recuerdo Malbec, Argentina
Eden Canyon “Jolie” Red Blend, California
Meiomi Rosé, California

Islands of the Caribbean
Jamaican Beef Patty with Mango Salsa
Mojo Pork with Black Beans, Cilantro Rice, and Pickled Red Onions (gluten friendly)
Quesito: Puff Pastry with Sweetened Cream Cheese and Guava Sauce (vegetarian)
Carib Lager
Caribbean White Sangria
Frozen Mojito

New Zealand
Steamed Green Lip Mussels with Garlic Butter and Toasted Breadcrumbs
Lamb Meatball with Spicy Tomato Chutney
Seared Venison Loin with Wild Mushroom Marsala Sauce and Kumara Purée
Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough
Nobilo Icon Pinot Noir, Marlborough
Frozen Wine Cocktail featuring Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc

Australia
Grilled Sweet and Spicy Bush Berry Shrimp with Pineapple, Pepper, Onion, and Snap Peas (gluten friendly)
Grilled Lamb T-Bone with Mint Pesto and Potato Crunchies (gluten friendly)
Lamington: Yellow Cake Dipped in Chocolate and Shredded Coconut (vegetarian)
Coopers Brewery Original Pale Ale
Robert Oatley McLaren Vale Shiraz
Hope Estate “Wollombi Brook” Semillon, Hunter Valley

The Almond Orchard Hosted by Blue Diamond Almond Breeze
Cauliflower Risotto with Pulled Chicken, Artichokes, Spinach and Parmesan Cheese with Aged Balsamic
Fire-roasted Tomato Hummus topped with Blue Diamond Salt & Vinegar Almonds served with Blue Diamond Nut Thins
Banana Almond Soft-serve Sundae with Fresh Berries and Crunchy Chocolate Oats

Patagonia
Beef Empanada
Grilled Beef Skewer with Chimichurri Sauce and Boniato Purée (gluten friendly)
Verum Pinot Noir, Rio Negro
Bodega Noemía de Patagonia “A Lisa” Malbec, Rio Negro
Passion Fruit Cheesecake with Toasted Macadamia Nuts

Hawai’i
Kalua Pork Slider with Sweet and Sour DOLE Pineapple Chutney and Spicy Mayonnaise
Grilled Tuna Tataki with Seaweed Salad, Pickled Cucumbers, and Wasabi Cream
Teriyaki-glazed SPAM Hash with Potatoes, Peppers, Onions, and Spicy Mayonnaise
Passion Fruit Cheesecake with Toasted Macadamia Nuts
Maui Brewing Company Bikini Blonde Lager
Florida Orange Groves Sparkling Pineapple Wine
Mai Tai featuring Sammy’s Beach Bar Rum

Farm Fresh
Crispy Chicken with Griddled Cornbread and Red Eye Gravy
Roasted Beet Salad with Green Beans, Feta Cheese, Minus 8 Vinaigrette, and Toasted Walnuts (vegetarian and gluten friendly)
Gumption Citrus Freak Hard Cider, Middlebury, VT
Woodchuck Raspberry Hard Cider, Middlebury, VT
Two Henrys Elderberry Cream Hard Cider, Plant City, FL
Florida Orange Groves Mango Mama Wine
Cider flight

Greece
Loaded Greek “Nachos”: Pita Chips, Meatless Sausage Crumbles, and Vegan Tzatziki (vegetarian)
Taste of Greece: Stuffed Grape Leaves with Lemon Dill Sauce, Grilled Octopus and Feta Cheese Dip with Warm Pita
Spanakopita (vegetarian)
Bougatsa: Warm Phyllo Dough Strudel with Sweet Vanilla Custard, Lemon Honey Syrup and Cinnamon (vegetarian)
Domaine Skouras Moscofilero, Peloponnese
Domaine Sigalas Assyrtiko, Santorini
Argyros Atlantis Red Blend, Santorini

Thailand
Marinated Chicken with Peanut Sauce and Stir-fried Vegetables
Seared Shrimp and Scallop Cake with Cold Noodle Salad
Red Hot Spicy Thai Curry Beef with Steamed Rice
Helfrich Gewürztraminer, Alsace
Singha Lager

Mexico
Rib Eye Taco: Marinated Rib Eye, Roasted Chipotle Sauce, and Grilled Scallions on a Corn Tortilla
Tequila Chipotle Shrimp: Served on a Black Bean Huarache garnished with Red and Green Cabbage, Queso Fresco, and Crema Mexicana
Cajeta Mousse served with Cajeta Sauce and White Chocolate Flakes
Prickly Pear Margarita
Classic Pomegranate Margarita
Mexican-style Sangria
Pacifico Lager with Floater

China
Beijing Roasted Duck Bao Bun with Hoisin Sauce
Spicy Chicken Bao Bun
Black Pepper Shrimp with Garlic Noodles
Chicken Potstickers
Mango Bubble Tea with Assam Black Tea and Milk (non-alcoholic)
Tsingtao Lager
Ritzy Lychee with Courvoisier Cognac VS and Smirnoff Vodka
Happy Peach with DeKuyper Peach Liqueur and Myers’s Dark Rum
Kung Fu Punch with Smirnoff Vodka and Bols Triple Sec
BaiJoe Punch: Chinese Bai Jiu Spirit, Lychee, Coconut and Pineapple Juice
Warm Indian Bread with Pickled Garlic, Mango Salsa and Coriander Pesto Dips Korma Chicken with Cucumber Tomato Salad, Almonds, Cashews, and Warm Naan Bread

India
Warm Indian Bread with Pickled Garlic, Mango Salsa and Coriander Pesto Dips (vegetarian)
Madras Red Curry with Roasted Cauliflower, Baby Carrots, Chickpeas, and Basmati Rice (vegetarian and gluten friendly)
Korma Chicken with Cucumber Tomato Salad, Almonds, Cashews, and Warm Naan Bread
Pistachio Cardamom Bundt Cake with Chocolate Coconut Mousse (vegetarian)
Mango Lassi (non-alcoholic)
Sula Chenin Blanc, Nashik
Sula Shiraz, Nashik
Kingfisher Lager

Africa
Berbere-style Beef Tenderloin Tips with Onions, Jalapeños, Tomato, and Pap (gluten friendly)
Spicy Ethiopian Red Lentil Stew with Vegan Yogurt and Quinoa (vegetarian)
Spinach and Paneer Cheese Pocket with Mint Raita (vegetarian)
Ernie Els “Big Easy” Chenin Blanc, Western Cape
Simonsig Pinotage, Stellenbosch
Jam Jar Sweet Shiraz, Western Cape
Wine flight

Brewer’s Collection
Lebkuchenherz: Decorated Gingerbread Heart
Radeberger Zwickel Pilsner (Unfiltered)
Hacker-Pschorr Hefe Weisse Naturtrüb
Schöfferhofer Hefeweizen Pomegranate Beer
Beer flight

Germany
Schinkennudeln: Pasta Gratin with Ham and Cheese
Roast Bratwurst in a Pretzel Roll
Apple Strudel with Vanilla Sauce (vegetarian)
Lebkuchenherz: Decorated Gingerbread Heart
Radeberger Zwickel Pilsner (Unfiltered)
Selbach Bernkasteler Kurfürstlay Riesling Kabinett, Mosel
Dr. Heyden Oppenheimer Sacträger Riesling Spätlese, Rheinhessen
Selbach Riesling Classic Dry, Mosel
Wine flight

Spain
Charcuterie in a Cone with a selection of imported Spanish Meats, Cheeses, and Olives with an Herb Vinaigrette
Traditional Spanish Paella with Shrimp, Mussels, Chicken, and Crispy Chorizo (gluten friendly)
Seafood Salad with Shrimp, Bay Scallops and Mussels, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, White Balsamic Vinegar, and Smoked Paprika (gluten friendly)
Sweet Olive Oil Cake with Powdered Sugar and Lemon Curd
Rafael Palacios Bolo Godello, Valdeorras
Bodegas y Viñedos Artazu Garnacha Rosado, Navarra
Casa Castillo Monastrell, Jumilla
Wine flight

Italy
Crispy Calamari with Spicy Pomodoro Sauce
Absolut Penne: Vodka Sauce with Shrimp
Cannoli al Cioccolato: Chocolate-covered Cannoli Filled with Sweet Ricotta, Chocolate and Candied Fruit
Pinot Grigio
Chianti
Prosecco
Corbinello
Moscato
Frozen Margarita with Limoncello and Tequila
Moretti Lager Beer
Moretti La Rossa Double Malt Beer

Hops & Barley
New England Lobster Roll
Smoked Beef Brisket and Pimento Cheese served on Griddled Garlic Toast
Freshly Baked Carrot Cake and Cream Cheese Icing (vegetarian)
New Belgium Brewing Fat Tire White Ale, Fort Collins, CO
Anchor Brewing Liberty Ale, San Francisco, CA
Orange Blossom Brewing Foxtail Cold Brew Coffee Pilsner, Orlando, FL
Mer Soleil Reserve Chardonnay, Santa Lucia Highlands
Atalon Pauline’s Cuvée Red Blend, Napa Valley
Beer flight

Japan
Wasabi Shumai Steamed Pork Dumpling
Salmon BLT Sushi Roll
Teriyaki Ginger Pork
Pom Pineapple Sake Cocktail
Kara Tamba Tarekuchi Dry Sake
Yukikiage “Snow Shadow” Junmai Sake
Sapporo Lager

Morocco
Kefta Pocket: Seasoned Ground Beef in a Pita Pocket
Spicy Hummus Fries with Cucumber, Tomato, Onions, and Tzatziki Sauce (vegetarian)
Chocolate Baklava: Rolled Phyllo Dough with Toasted Almonds and Dark Chocolate Sauce (vegetarian)
Mimosa Royale: Sparkling Wine and Orange Juice topped with Orange Liqueur
Les Trois Domaines Guerrouane White Wine, Meknes
Moroccan Sangria
Casa Pale Lager

Belgium
Beer-braised Beef served with Smoked Gouda Mashed Potatoes
Belgian Waffle with Warm Chocolate Ganache and Whipped Cream (vegetarian)
Belgian Waffle with Berry Compote and Whipped Cream (vegetarian)
Hoegaarden Witbier
Leffe Blonde Belgian Pale Ale
Stella Artois Hard Cidre
Chilled Coffee featuring Godiva Chocolate Liqueur
Beer flight

Brazil
Escondidinho de Carne – “Little Hidden One”: Layered Meat Pie with Mashed Yucca (gluten friendly)
Crispy Pork Belly with Black Beans, Tomato, and Onions (gluten friendly)
Pão de Queijo: Brazilian Cheese Bread (vegetarian and gluten friendly)
M.I.A. Beer Company Barbosa Black Beer, Doral, FL
Lidio Carraro Chardonnay
Frozen Caipirinha featuring LeBlon Cachaça

France
Moelleux au Fromage de Chèvre et Épinards: Warm Goat Cheese Pudding with Spinach (vegetarian and gluten friendly)
Croissant aux Escargots: Escargot Croissant with Garlic and Parsley
Boeuf Bourguignon, Purée de Pommes de Terre:Cabernet Sauvignon Braised Beef with Mashed Potatoes
Crème Brûlée à la Confiture de Framboises: Crème Brûlée with Housemade Raspberry Jam (vegetarian and gluten friendly)
La Passion Martini Slush: Vodka, Grey Goose Le Citron, Cranberry and Passion Fruit Juice
Chardonnay, Bouchard Ainé & Fils
Château les Graves de Barrau Merlot and Cabernet Blend, Bordeaux
St-Germain Sparkling Kir: Sparkling Wine and St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur
Kronenbourg Blanc 1664 Pale Lager

Ireland
Roasted Irish Sausage with Colcannon Potatoes and Onion Gravy
Warm Irish Cheddar Cheese and Stout Dip with Irish Brown Bread (vegetarian)
Warm Chocolate Pudding with Irish Cream Liqueur Custard
Twinings Pumpkin Chai Tea and Caramel Shake (non-alcoholic)
Bunratty Meade Honey Wine
Guinness Blonde American Lager
Twinings Pumpkin Chai Tea Frozen Cocktail with Caramel Vodka

Scotland
Fresh Potato Pancake with Scottish Smoked Salmon and Herbed Sour Cream
Traditional Scottish Lamb Stew with Neeps and Tatties
The Tipsy Laird: Whiskey-soaked Cake with Lemon Cream and Toasted Oats (vegetarian)
Belhaven Brewery Scottish Ale
Citrus Thistle featuring Hendrick’s Gin

Canada
Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup served with a Pretzel Roll
“Le Cellier” Wild Mushroom Beef Filet Mignon with Truffle-Butter Sauce (gluten friendly)
Moosehead Radler: Lager infused with Grapefruit, Grape and Lemon Juices, New Brunswick Neige Premiere “Apple Ice Wine”, Québec
Fielding Estate Red Conception, Niagara Peninsula

Which menu items from the past are on your must-have list and which from the new column will you be trying this year?