An updated report:
Three days of F&W so far, and we've made it over there for at least a couple of booths each day.
The Premium Package is absolutely gold with the dining plan that came with our room (most call it free dining, but I don't want to get jumped on again).
Today we were in the premium area serving Canada and Ireland. Hubby and I both wanted the filets and soup, and I wanted the cheese plate while he wanted the lava cake. I also got the apple ice wine for grins. I'm actually a little concerned that we won't use all of our credits because we can use them so efficiently at the festival, so we've been paying cash for anything less than $4, optional snack credits over that, and a Quick Serve credit whenever it makes sense. All of our premium package credits are going to alcoholic drinks, as that's the most efficient use of them. Hubby and I have an agreement: I math, and he maps. It gets everything done most efficiently.
When we were at Ireland and Canada, we got: 2 filets (Canada) and a cheese tray (Ireland) on one QS credit ($19 on a QS anyone?!). Then we got two cups of soup on snack credits, and I used one of our premium tabs on the apple ice wine.
The CM at the PP booth for Ireland and Canada said initially that she thought it all had to be from one booth in order for the snacks from quick service credits to work - so I asked sweetly if they would just give it a try for me, because another CM at the area serving Sustainable Chew and the Chew Lab swore up and down it would work. Logically, it would, because the conversion has to happen in one transaction. The only limiting factor at F&W is that the kiosks are not served by the same register EXCEPT in the premium areas. Enjoy your quickservice credits, ladies and gents with the premium package and a dining plan!
Now, the food is another story...
We can't stay away from the nitro truffles at chew lab, and the protein offerings are delish as well. I've had two smoking hibiscuses. Hom Nom.
Creme Brulee and Escargot in France are great. We'll be back for more of that, as well as the beef dish. The pomegranate Kir wasn't my favourite, but I finished it which is more than I can say for my friend's Tabouleh Martini on Sunday. She regretted that life choice and we both decided that life was too short to drink alcohol we did not enjoy.
Chicken Gyro was good says hubby.
Le Cellier Filets let us down so hard it hurt. The truffle butter and mushrooms were fine, but the steak was OVER (painfully so) done. I ate about half of mine, and one of our premium package hosts asked how things were tasting. I pointed to the inside of the filet and asked if anyone was aware how painfully overcooked those filets were. He looked at mine and hubby's and whisked them away, bringing us fresh and less-cooked ones fairly quickly and without fuss.
The cheddar cheese soup was too peppery for me, but hubby loved it.
Lava cake... oh... lava cake. So good.
And the cheese selection for Ireland was delightful. Nothing to write home about, but delightful.
The sea scallop in Scotland was dry, but good.
And there is more australian lamb chop in my future, and hubby's.
Thank you to all who have gone before and posted!!! I've learned so much and been able to apply it so easily!!! You're the best, and I hope I can give more back.
I'm still not on a computer that can post photos, and I'm not so great at getting them before we dive in, so I'll try harder, but no guarantees.
To the person asking about how to survive the rain, there are umbrellas and a decent amount of cover in various areas around the showecase. I've definitely seen it outside of the premium areas. Also, the showcase gets a little quiet when it rains, so those umbrellas have less competition for them. The rain has been pretty soft most of the time, and hubby and I just brave it out and hike along. We're from Seattle, though, and categorically opposed to the use of handheld umbrellas of any sort, so YMMV.
