EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival Unveils Expanded Food and Drink Options
EPCOT Food and Wine festival fans, you might want to pack your bags early this year and come down during the Flower and Garden festival. Some of the fall magic is being added to the spring festival and beautiful things are happening.
This year, new Garden Marketplaces are making their food and beverage debut at the 20th Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival which runs from March 6-May 19, 2013. The annual festival will highlight the natural progression from garden to table at the 12 Garden Marketplaces around World Showcase.
Frankly, this move is long overdue. It makes no sense for Disney to restrict the goodness we all love about the Food and Wine festival to just those six weeks of the year. Yes, the festivals are meant to draw guests to the parks in what is usually a down time in terms of tourism visits. But to be honest, there really isn’t an off-season at Walt Disney World anymore. EPCOT could take advantage of this shift by becoming known world wide as a mecca for amazing food and drink and the chefs and artists who bring them to the public. There are a few obstacles in the way (Disney Dining Plan for one), but many of the facilities required to make this happen already exist.
“That progression is showcased with raised garden beds around the marketplaces that will be growing some of the produce and herbs in the dishes,” says Epcot Executive Chef Jens Dahlmann. “We want to show our guests how food grows to help make that connection from the kitchen to the garden.”
“Each marketplace has three to four dishes, and they are unique to the festival,” says Dahlmann. Culinary creations from Epcot chefs range from smokehouse barbecue to sweet “frushi” made with fresh fruits and coconut rice, and are paired perfectly with refreshing brews and beverages at each location.
Of course, some have started calling this Booze and Blooms. But it’s in good spirit, I think. I mean how can it not be after looking at this amazing menu of food and drinks Disney is preparing:
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