AAshleySEG
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 16, 2012
Today is the opening day for the 2014 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, so we were ready and raring to get there!! We actually slept in a little for once, I think I got up at like 7:00am! I was so excited about that! When we got outside, to go to the buses though it started to rain, so we made sure to take our umbrellas! We were meeting our friends at Sunshine Seasons at about 10:00 or a little after so once we made it to Epcot we headed over that way! Before we got over there we did stop for a Photopass Photo, we did a few cute shots, then were on our way! Oh and our Disneybounds today?? Figment and Dreamfinder! Very Epcot appropriate! Anywho moving on...
We knew we didn't want to get a huge breakfast, and so this is our favorite place to go to get some Croissants and just sit and watch everyone rush into Soarin'!
I got a regular Butter Croissant, and Jeremy got the Chocolate one. Oh and by the way! I know some of you are interested so I will just stick it in right here! I made my version of these croissants at home and if you are interested in the recipe you can click on the photo of my croissants to see it on my blog! If not, let's continue shall we?
After we finished eating our breakfast, we started trying to look at the map and figure out what we wanted to eat! It was a really difficult decision too, We looked at it for quite a while, but I think in the end we just decided to wing it for now. We decided to start at the Scotland booth and just go around until we couldn't eat anymore!
A little bit after 10:00, our friends met us down there, and we started heading over towards Test Track. The three of them meaning, Jeremy, Dan, and Mindy were going to ride Test Track with our fastpasses, and I wanted to run over to the Festival Center and grab us some passports to get stamped! So we split up and I headed to the left, and they went to the right. When I had the passports I went back over to wait for them at the end of Test Track. I think the photo is a little funny, because Jeremy forgot where the camera was, but Dan sure didn't!!
We headed out of Test Track...and guess what?? It was 11:00, so we all know what that means!! Time for some Food!!!!! The first booth we got to this time was Scotland. Oh I almost forgot, also when I went over to the Festival Center I loaded up one of those wristband gift cards with funds, so it would be easier to pay for everything! That way, I also knew how much I was going to spend and stuff! So back to Scotland...we chose 3 things from there! I am going to number everything that we got, so we can see how many we got by the time we left!!
1. Seared Sea Scallop with Spinach-Cheddar Gratin and Crispy Bacon - Scotland
This was amazingly delicious!! It was so good in fact, that this is another one of those dishes that I recreated at home. If I do say so myself, and I know Jeremy did, the one I made at home was better...LOL Here is a photo of the one I made at home, and the same as before, if you want the recipe for it, feel free to click the photo
2. Vegetarian Haggis with Neeps and Tatties - Scotland
This was one of the most memorable dishes for me last year, and while it was still definitely good, it wasn't as good as I had remembered it being. I guess next to that Scallop, it was a little underwhelming, and then the potatoes and rutabaga were a little bland. Hopefully they were just having an off day it being the first and everything, I dunno, but I will try it again later on in the year and I hope it is as good as I remember it being last year!
3. Fresh Potato Pancake with Smoked Scottish Salmon and Herb Sour Cream - Scotland
Out of the three things we tried at this booth, this was probably our least favorite, don't get me wrong, there was nothing at all wrong with it, just compared to the other two dishes, it fell a little flat. It was just sort of boring actually, and it was sad because I really love smoked salmon, and potato pancakes for that matter.
Once we were finished with Scotland, we moved right next door to the Hawaii Booth! This booth had Jeremy's favorite dish of the festival so far! Out of everything we tried, this is what Jeremy liked the most!! He loved it so much in fact that I was a nice wife and only took one bite, he sort of inhaled the rest!
4. Kalua Pork Slider with Sweet and Sour Dole Pineapple Chutney and Spicy Mayonnaise - Hawai'i
5. "Dessert Trio" Passion Fruit Coconut Creamsicle, Blueberry Lime Cheesecake Roll, Chocolate Espresso Opera Cake - Desserts & Champagne
We were split between all of us on which one of these was the best. They were all good desserts, nothing amazing about them, well to us anyway, but they were ok. My least favorite was the Opera Cake, it was kind of dry and mealy, none of us were fans. Jeremy liked the Cheesecake roll the best, I thought it was pretty good too. My favorite was the creamsicle thing, I just love fruit desserts, and if you have read my reports before you already know that...LOL!!
We skipped over the Puerto Rico booth for next time, and then stopped in the Refreshment Port because Dan & Mindy insisted that I try the dreaded "Cronut" which is some sort of baby hybrid of a Croissant and a Doughnut. I am not a huge fan of really sweet things, and like you just read, normally I prefer fruity things as opposed to chocolate and sugary stuff...(yeah I know I eat cupcakes and love them, I am a crazy person) just bare with me!
6. Croissant Doughnut with Cinnamon Sugar - Refreshment Port
It wasn't so bad actually, it was a tad on the "deep fried" side, which was a little heavy, but it definitely wasn't as bad as I was making it out in my head to be, so I would more than likely get it again! That's why you should always try new things, they may surprise you in the end! We skipped over Greece for now, and then made it to Canada!
7. Seared Rainbow Trout with Bacon, Frisee, and L8 Harvest, Minus 8 Vinaigrette - Canada
This is another dish that we really loved last year, but fell a little flat this year, the sear on the trout was pretty much nonexistent which kind of left us with a soft skinned non-crispy fish. We just had to peel off the skin to eat it. The flavor was still awesome!! So I still recommend getting it, if you like seafood! Dan doesn't like seafood, he even tried it and enjoyed it! Last year the skin was crispy and delicious, but I am just going to hope that they were really busy, considering the Canada booth is always booming!
We have eaten seven things so far, and have not even made it out of Canada yet!! We still have almost all of World Showcase to go!! What will we eat next?? Stay tuned to find out!
We knew we didn't want to get a huge breakfast, and so this is our favorite place to go to get some Croissants and just sit and watch everyone rush into Soarin'!
I got a regular Butter Croissant, and Jeremy got the Chocolate one. Oh and by the way! I know some of you are interested so I will just stick it in right here! I made my version of these croissants at home and if you are interested in the recipe you can click on the photo of my croissants to see it on my blog! If not, let's continue shall we?
After we finished eating our breakfast, we started trying to look at the map and figure out what we wanted to eat! It was a really difficult decision too, We looked at it for quite a while, but I think in the end we just decided to wing it for now. We decided to start at the Scotland booth and just go around until we couldn't eat anymore!
A little bit after 10:00, our friends met us down there, and we started heading over towards Test Track. The three of them meaning, Jeremy, Dan, and Mindy were going to ride Test Track with our fastpasses, and I wanted to run over to the Festival Center and grab us some passports to get stamped! So we split up and I headed to the left, and they went to the right. When I had the passports I went back over to wait for them at the end of Test Track. I think the photo is a little funny, because Jeremy forgot where the camera was, but Dan sure didn't!!
We headed out of Test Track...and guess what?? It was 11:00, so we all know what that means!! Time for some Food!!!!! The first booth we got to this time was Scotland. Oh I almost forgot, also when I went over to the Festival Center I loaded up one of those wristband gift cards with funds, so it would be easier to pay for everything! That way, I also knew how much I was going to spend and stuff! So back to Scotland...we chose 3 things from there! I am going to number everything that we got, so we can see how many we got by the time we left!!
1. Seared Sea Scallop with Spinach-Cheddar Gratin and Crispy Bacon - Scotland
This was amazingly delicious!! It was so good in fact, that this is another one of those dishes that I recreated at home. If I do say so myself, and I know Jeremy did, the one I made at home was better...LOL Here is a photo of the one I made at home, and the same as before, if you want the recipe for it, feel free to click the photo
2. Vegetarian Haggis with Neeps and Tatties - Scotland
This was one of the most memorable dishes for me last year, and while it was still definitely good, it wasn't as good as I had remembered it being. I guess next to that Scallop, it was a little underwhelming, and then the potatoes and rutabaga were a little bland. Hopefully they were just having an off day it being the first and everything, I dunno, but I will try it again later on in the year and I hope it is as good as I remember it being last year!
3. Fresh Potato Pancake with Smoked Scottish Salmon and Herb Sour Cream - Scotland
Out of the three things we tried at this booth, this was probably our least favorite, don't get me wrong, there was nothing at all wrong with it, just compared to the other two dishes, it fell a little flat. It was just sort of boring actually, and it was sad because I really love smoked salmon, and potato pancakes for that matter.
Once we were finished with Scotland, we moved right next door to the Hawaii Booth! This booth had Jeremy's favorite dish of the festival so far! Out of everything we tried, this is what Jeremy liked the most!! He loved it so much in fact that I was a nice wife and only took one bite, he sort of inhaled the rest!
4. Kalua Pork Slider with Sweet and Sour Dole Pineapple Chutney and Spicy Mayonnaise - Hawai'i
5. "Dessert Trio" Passion Fruit Coconut Creamsicle, Blueberry Lime Cheesecake Roll, Chocolate Espresso Opera Cake - Desserts & Champagne
We were split between all of us on which one of these was the best. They were all good desserts, nothing amazing about them, well to us anyway, but they were ok. My least favorite was the Opera Cake, it was kind of dry and mealy, none of us were fans. Jeremy liked the Cheesecake roll the best, I thought it was pretty good too. My favorite was the creamsicle thing, I just love fruit desserts, and if you have read my reports before you already know that...LOL!!
We skipped over the Puerto Rico booth for next time, and then stopped in the Refreshment Port because Dan & Mindy insisted that I try the dreaded "Cronut" which is some sort of baby hybrid of a Croissant and a Doughnut. I am not a huge fan of really sweet things, and like you just read, normally I prefer fruity things as opposed to chocolate and sugary stuff...(yeah I know I eat cupcakes and love them, I am a crazy person) just bare with me!
6. Croissant Doughnut with Cinnamon Sugar - Refreshment Port
It wasn't so bad actually, it was a tad on the "deep fried" side, which was a little heavy, but it definitely wasn't as bad as I was making it out in my head to be, so I would more than likely get it again! That's why you should always try new things, they may surprise you in the end! We skipped over Greece for now, and then made it to Canada!
7. Seared Rainbow Trout with Bacon, Frisee, and L8 Harvest, Minus 8 Vinaigrette - Canada
This is another dish that we really loved last year, but fell a little flat this year, the sear on the trout was pretty much nonexistent which kind of left us with a soft skinned non-crispy fish. We just had to peel off the skin to eat it. The flavor was still awesome!! So I still recommend getting it, if you like seafood! Dan doesn't like seafood, he even tried it and enjoyed it! Last year the skin was crispy and delicious, but I am just going to hope that they were really busy, considering the Canada booth is always booming!
We have eaten seven things so far, and have not even made it out of Canada yet!! We still have almost all of World Showcase to go!! What will we eat next?? Stay tuned to find out!
anyways loving the food and wine pics!! I can't wait to try them myself!!! The pork slider is the number 1 thing I want to try. It makes my mouth water just thinking about it... Lol. As always good job so far!
