I’m so excited that the Epcot Food and Wine Festival is just around the corner! Mark your calendars for August 31-November 13, when we celebrate 75 incredible days of food, wine, and more!
The festival begins earlier than ever before this year, so we’re busy preparing and planning to make the most of our time there. And I suggest you do the same!
While taking in Low Cost Seminars and Demonstrations or splurging on a Special Event or two is super fun, my favorite festival pastime is still strolling along the World Showcase Promenade and taking in both new and familiar eats and drinks at the festival Marketplace Booths.
While we await news of just exactly what that means, and to see what if any new booths are announced, today we’re sharing the five booths you absolutely cannot miss at the Epcot Food and Wine Festival this year!
Note — Disney has not released their official list of Epcot Food and Wine Festival booths, yet, so these are subject to change. To make sure you get notified FIRST when this year’s booths are finalized, join the Disney Food Blog Newsletter!
So, What’s New?
There’s always something fun and new to look forward to each year. And this year will be no exception. Disney promises 35 booths to celebrate 35 years of Epcot awesomeness. So far, we’re getting a look at two newly returning booths that promise to offer some delicious and exotic fare.
Spain
, last seen on the World Showcase Promenade in 2010, returns to the festival this year. Since Spain has a rich culture of beautifully prepared regional foods, we look forward to seeing this menu!
So far, we’ve confirmed a new Spain menu item, Charcuterie in a Cone. What a cool way to have your snack and stroll with it too. 😀 I’m pretty sure this plus a glass of Spanish wine will be very nice on a festival evening.
In addition, there’s a very real chance that we’ll see variations on dishes that have been featured here before. Look for possibilities such as Seared Albacore Tuna with Romesco Sauce, Snapper Escabeche, Spanish Almond Cake, or Crema Catalana, along with some interesting Spanish wines and beer.
And maybe even a Cider from the Basque region? Because that would be totally awesome.
India
In 2017, the Epcot Food and Wine Festival will also welcome back the India booth! We last saw this fan favorite in 2009.
Exotic flavors and spices are the name of the game here. We are already anticipating two new dishes, Korma Chicken and Pistachio Cardamom Cake with Coconut Chocolate Mousse.
Other menu items that may reappear include Mango Lassi, Sambals, and sweets that incorporate Rose Syrup, like Gulab Jamun. And I’m crossing my fingers that Vegetable Samosas will pop up somewhere. 😀
Whatever they feature, we can’t wait to try everything!
Start Your Planning NOW!
News! The DFB Guide to the 2017 Epcot Food & Wine Festival e-Book is now available! NOTE: This is our preliminary 2017 Guide. This guide will be updated and a final edition will be emailed to you as soon as Disney finalizes the remaining details of the festival.
This 250+-page guide to the Festival offers insider tips and advice as well as all of the details you need to know to plan your best Festival visit ever.
Your purchase includes several bonus items as well — including a full daily schedule of events at the Festival and a printable World Showcase Booth Menu Checklist to carry with you as you Eat around the World!
Order your 2017 edition today! Don’t miss a moment of the fun! NOTE: This is our preliminary 2017 Guide. This guide will be updated and a final edition will be emailed to you as soon as Disney finalizes the remaining details of the festival.
Use code Chefs at check-out for a 20% discount!
Be sure to stay tuned to Disney Food Blog for all of the latest coverage about the 2017 Epcot Food and Wine Festival. We’ll have the details FIRST!
Earth Eats
We can now confirm for you that the crew from The Chew will once again make the trek to Florida for the festival. The popular ABC daytime series will film episodes right in the heart of Epcot. For all the details about dates and tickets, be sure to check out our news post!
But we can also confirm that The Chew will once again headline a Food and Wine Festival booth! This year’s booth, Earth Eats, will bring back popular Chew-inspired recipes with returning favorites such as Grilled Beef Skewer with Romaine, Apricots and Feta Cheese; Ricotta and Zucchini Ravioli with Rustic Tomato Sauce; and Peanut Butter and White Chocolate Mousse with Caramel Drizzle.
We look forward to seeing if they’ll bring any new dishes or drinks to the mix!
But What About the Classics?
We have some suggestions there, toooo! (Of course we do.) Here are some of the booths that deliver delicious flavors consistently, year after year.
Canada
O, Canada! How we love you. And your Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup.
Seriously. No Epcot Food and Wine Festival would be complete without at least one helping of that soup. And last year, they threw in a Pretzel Bread Stick (!!!!) for good measure. No joke. People make advance dining reservations at Le Cellier Steakhouse just for that soup and those breadsticks.
But wait! There’s more!! Because you must also try the festival’s long reigning best-selling dish (and one of my favorite things anywhere, ever), the “Le Cellier” Wild Mushroom Beef Filet Mignon with Truffle Butter Sauce.
Wash it down with your choice of Canadian beers or even an Ice Wine.
My last piece of advice for Canada? Save room for seconds. You’ll thank me.
Hops and Barley
At Hops & Barley, the focus is on American beer, but that doesn’t mean we don’t love the eats here, too.
Last year, not one, but two Hops & Barley dishes made our Best of the Fest list. The Smoked Beef Brisket and Pimento Cheese Served on Griddled Garlic Toast was incredible. PLEASE BRING THIS BACK, DISNEY!
Not on our list, but admittedly intriguing, was the New England Lobster Roll. While it’s not the biggest portion you’ll indulge in during your festival graze, it’s still pretty tasty.
But if it’s around for 2017, go for the Freshly Baked Carrot Cake and Cream Cheese Icing. I love carrot cake anyway, but this version is served warm with warm cream cheese icing and it is So. Good. (If you can’t wait to try it, make it at home with this handy recipe.)
You guys. GET THIS.
Now, remember, all things are subject to change. But we’re pretty sure these will be five of the booths to watch this year at the Food and Wine Fest!
Looking for all the 2017 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Details? We’ve got ’em!!
2017 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Index
2017 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Booth and Menu Index
2017 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Special Events
2017 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Low-Cost Seminars and Demonstrations
2017 Eat to the Beat Concert Schedule
Epcot Food and Wine Festival Fans Facebook Page
2017 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Wine and Dine Half Marathon
2017 Swan and Dolphin Food and Wine Classic
Food and Wine Festival 101
2016 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Menus and FOOD PHOTOS
2016 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Gluten Free Items
How to Book Epcot Food & Wine Festival Events
To book all special events and demonstrations, call 407-WDW-FEST (939-3378) starting July 20. Join the Disney Food Blog Newsletter to find out as soon as we do about details and booking dates! Culinary Demonstrations and Beverage Seminars and general admission for some special events may be bookable online at www.epcotfoodfestival.com as well as by phone.
Tables in Wonderland members, Annual Passholders, Disney Vacation Club Members, and Golden Oak Residents may be eligible for a $2 discount (per person, per event) for beverage and seminars and culinary demos taking place Mon-Thurs during the festival. These members may be able to book seminars, demos, and workshops early on July 18. This is unconfirmed at this time. Discounts are by phone only at 407-WDW-FEST (939-3378). Stay tuned to DisneyFoodBlog.com and the Disney Food Blog Newsletter for details.
Chase Disney Visa Cardholders may be able to book select special events, demos, and seminars on July 18. Again, this is unconfirmed as well. A limited number of seats are available for the booking date.
Now we wanna hear from YOU! What are your can’t miss booths at the Epcot Food and Wine Festival? Leave a comment and let us know below!
Phillip says
I know you’re trying to keep the hype going but this was useless. Sorry ;-(
Hannah says
Love pistachios…love cardamom and love coconut….that cake sounds amazing…
Mark says
Spain and India sound fun. I will wait for your real photos before making a final decision.
AJ says
Mark — We’ll have them soon!
AJ says
Phillip — Thanks for your comment and for sharing your thoughts. I’m sure this was useful to some folks 😀 And luckily, the Food and Wine festival creates its own hype.
Jeff says
Thank you for this. I can’t wait to return to the F & W this September.
Phillip….was it really worth the 25 seconds you spent to write that post?
Certainly not……….go away.
Jean says
Thank you for all that you guys do!!! I personally love this growing excitement for the Food & Wine, and I am so pumped for 35 booths this year! I can’t believe that I’ve attended for 3 years in a row now, and I still haven’t gotten the filet at Canada. The line is always so long! I just need to buck up and go for it (or, perhaps more wisely, just visit around mid-day). 🙂
Megan says
This article was most definitely NOT useless. We’ve gone to F&W the last 2 out of 3 years, and in my excitement and anticipation for those upcoming vacations, I sucked up every single article I could. And for anyone planning a trip this fall, forming some sort of game plan and list of can’t miss booths to try (and with the festival getting bigger and bigger, you truly do need an organized way to tackle it), articles like this are nothing but helpful.
Don says
This was definitely helpful and keep up the hype. My wife and I have been to one other F&W and love reading all the posts leading up to our trip in September so that we can have a game plan in advance.
Leslie says
Does anyone know how far in advance WDW released the demonstrations and other events available prior to the booking date last year? I was reviewing the 2016 info, and the booking was mid-July. I’m hoping for plenty of time to weigh the options.
Ami says
This will be out first experience with food and wine, as well as the quick service dining plan. I’m wondering if one quick service credit can be exchanged for three snack credits at the food and wine booths, as they can be at other locations.
Brooke says
Leslie — Special Events info came out on 6/26, and Seminar and Demo info was released on 7/11 last year. We expect it very, very soon. Please stay tuned. We’ll be sharing it via posts, and we’ll send it in newsletters as well.
Jayne Haas says
We live near Disney and are very fortunate since we love going there, a lot! Food and Wine is great every year and love the new food profiles from India and Spain. And this article was definitely not useless.
Brooke says
Jayne — Yay! We’re so glad you found it to be helpful. Thanks for taking the time to write!
Brooke says
Ami — That’s how it’s been in years past, although sometimes, guests run into glitches with making it happen at the individual booths, especially in the early days of the festival. The one rule to keep in mind is that you have to use all three of the snack credits at the same time and at the same booth. You can’t split them up. Best of luck! Let us know how it turns out for you!
Ami says
Thank you Brooke. We will be there on the first day, so we will see how it goes!
Kimberly says
I’m so glad India will be included! So excited to visit at least 20 times like I do every year. Thanks, as always, for the updates.
Brooke says
Ami — You’re welcome! We’ll be at a media event for the festival later this week, and we’ll confirm that Disney plans to make this work for guests again this year! 😀
Cindy says
Thanks for the latest info. I live so far away and this helps me know what booths to go to so I can try some of the food you have reviewed. Can’t wait to get back there!