Yesterday, we attended a media event for the 2013 Epcot Food and Wine Festival!
We had the opportunity to speak to some of the chefs, check out some of the festival merchandise, and of course — taste a few 2013 Epcot Food and Wine dishes that we haven’t seen yet!
Today, we are happy to bring you a few more details from the event and share some of the pictures that we were able to capture. And stay tuned later in the article for details on new Epcot Food and Wine Festival merchandise (including this year’s cookbook!), find out what the heck that Vegetarian Haggis is going to be like, get gluten-free updates, and more!
Sneak Peek at Some NEW 2013 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Booth Items
We began with a Griddled Lobster Tail with Garlic Herb Butter from the Hops & Barley Booth. The fresh lobster tails will be fully cooked within the marketplace booths, so guests will have the full experience of savoring the rich aroma as they’re grilled.
Griddled Lobster Tail with Garlic Herb Butter
I found the tail to be a good size, perfect for a small appetizer. And the Garlic Herb Butter enhanced the lobster’s flavor.
Another fun addition will be the Orange Dole Whip at Refreshment Port. The orange-flavored soft serve will be available by itself, or you can add Creme de Cacao White for a grown up creamsicle!
Orange Dole Whip with Cherry Man Farm to Market Maraschino
Incidentally, the smallest details matter here. Dole Whips are garnished with Cherry Man Farm to Market Maraschinos. These all natural maraschino cherries contain no artificial dyes.
Orange Dole Whip -- Different Angle
At the Desserts and Champagne Booth, you’ll find Frozen S’mores. This chocolate smoothie tastes like a sweet chocolate marshmallow. Garnished with Graham Crackers, Mini Marshmallows, and Chocolate Shavings, we predict that the kiddos especially will love this one!
Frozen S'more with Garnishes
We also had the chance to taste the much talked about Scottish Banoffee Tart. Many Scots have let us know that this dish is actually English in origin!
Scottish Banoffee Tart
Wherever it comes from, we’ll be ordering this one at the festival. Yum.
The South African Booth of previous years has been updated this year to be an African Booth.
Berbere Style Beef with Onions, Jalapeños, Tomato, Okra and Pap is a new dish this year, and offers a nice combination of meat and vegetables that pack a punch! The dish is served on a bed of pap, a starch that’s similar to soft grits.
Berbere Style Beef with Onions, Jalapeños, Tomato, Okra and Pap
I know lots of you are excited about the inclusion of Innis & Gunn Beer at the Scotland Booth. After seeing this bottle and reading a bit about it, I am too!
Innis & Gunn Scottish Beer
We also had the chance to sample the Loch Lomond Cocktail. A combination of Glenfiddich® 12 year, Drambuie, and Dry Vermouth, it has just a touch of sweetness.
Loch Lomond Cocktail
What About the Veggie Haggis?!?
OK, everyone’s been asking about the Vegetarian Haggis at the Scotland Booth (new for 2013!!), so we got the details for you!
Scotland Booth Information and the Scotland Passport Stamp!
We didn’t have a chance to sample the dish, which is actually being imported from a Scottish supplier, but Epcot’s Executive Chef Jens Dahlmann had a lot to say about it!
“Vegetarian haggis is becoming more and more popular in Scotland,” said Chef Dahlmann. “When I tasted the product, I was really blown away. It’s really tastes like a beautiful, grainy vegetable patty. Think of a veggie burger, but a really, really good one. It will be peppery and very tasty. We serve it with neeps and tatties, or rutabagas and potatoes, so it’s very traditional, but yet it’s a different spin.”
Gluten-Free Offerings?
We’ve been getting daily requests at DFB for a 2013 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Gluten Free Menu, so of course we asked about this.
For 2012 there was an official gluten-free menu released for the Food and Wine Festival, but unfortunately, it doesn’t appear that Epcot will be releasing that information in an official format this year.
As we expected, it comes down to liability. Because the dishes are actually prepared within the booths themselves, cross-contamination for both gluten and food allergens is hard to avoid. As a result, while there is not a list of “officially gluten-free” menu options (unless specified), Chef Dahlmann encourages guests with concerns about gluten to discuss their dietary needs with the Marketplace staff.
Leave off the Bread and this Epcot Food and Wine Festival Cheese Plate Becomes Gluten Free
Chefs manning the Marketplaces are equipped to prepare gluten-free options for guests. Often, a menu item can be made gluten-free by simply eliminating a component, like bread, or a sauce. So while you may not be armed with the information ahead of time in the form of a gluten-free menu, definitely speak to the staff. They will happily work with guests who require special diet options.
2013 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Exclusive Beer!
Marianne Hunnel, Area Manager, Event Content Development for the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, scopes out beverages that pair beautifully with the festival food.
One of the details we were excited to hear about was the introduction of an Orlando Brewing Company Beer that will be produced exclusively for the festival. While we are awaiting a photo of the label and final word of the name, it’s tentatively called Sun Shade Pale Ale. Look for this exclusive local beer at the Florida Local Booth!
2013 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Merchandise Details
A big part of the fun of each year’s festival is all of the “must have it!” stuff that you find at the Festival Center and shops around World Showcase.
2013 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Poster
This year’s chef mascot will be featured on many of the items that you can take home as souvenirs.
2013 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Merchandise
AND, he will also appear prominently on one of the festival’s hottest items — the Food and Wine Festival Cookbook!
2013 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Cookbook Cover
We couldn’t resist showing you a sneak peek of all the recipes this year’s book will include. Note that Disney has also included recipes from some of the festival’s special events again this year! Very cool.
Chocolate Bacon Bark? Sign me up. And the Donut flambe has been very popular at the Disney Dessert Discovery 3D Dessert event!
Food and Wine Cookbook Table of Contents
Beer fans will be interested to see the 2013 Brews Around the World merch!
2103 Brews Around the World Logo
As you can see, there’s a lot to anticipate about this year’s festival! I’ll see you there in just a couple of weeks!
Want More Details About the 2013 Epcot Food and Wine Festival?
We work hard to keep you in the know about everything Food and Wine Festival related! Be sure to join our Disney Food Blog Newsletter for the latest information and details. And keep an eye on our 2013 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Page for updates.
2013 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Index
2013 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Menus and FOOD PHOTOS
2013 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Special Events
2013 Epcot Food & Wine Festival Low-Cost/Free Seminars and Activities
2013 Eat to the Beat Concert Schedule: Full List Now Available
Epcot Food and Wine Festival Fans Facebook Page
2013 Wine and Dine Half Marathon Weekend Events
2013 Tower of Terror 10-miler Events
2013 Swan and Dolphin Food and Wine Classic: Menus, Booking Info available!
2012 Epcot Food & Wine Festival Marketplace Booth/Kiosk MENUS and FOOD PHOTOS
2012 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Reviews, and 2011 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Reviews
2012 Epcot Food and Wine Festival’s Gluten Free Items
News! The DFB Guide to the 2013 Epcot Food & Wine Festival e-Book is now available!
This 190+-page e-Book has everything you need to know — including full-color photos and expert tips — for making your visit to the 2013 Epcot Food and Wine Festival the best Disney trip, yet! We’ve compiled all of our best advice so that you save money, save time, and have a blast.
Use code CHEFS at check-out for a $3 discount!
DFB author Brooke Fehr attended this event on behalf of Disney Food Blog, however, she was not obligated to report on the event. Disney Food Blog was not compensated in any way to attend the event. Read more about our Disclosure Policy here.
Our handy (and portable!) ebook guides make sure you get the best deals and can plan a vacation of a lifetime.
I get more excited for my FOOD & WINE weekend everyday!!!
I don’t usually buy many souvenirs, but this post is leaving me with a very long shopping list.
Oh, and I’m betting the reason they are shying away from the “gluten-free” statement is that leaving something off the plate may be enough for someone who is gluten-sensitive but not sufficient for someone with celiac. My friend’s son can have anything that has been prepared on shared equipment.
For the third year in a row, I will happily purchase the F&W cookbook… and I can bet my other half will happily get the frozen s’mores. S’mores are her favorite!
so tell me, is the lobster tail a snack credit on the DDP?
I’m going to need a souvenir defibrillator by the end of the first day.
Any idea when a map will be available? With a family of 4, we need to get a plan of attack down or we will never be able to wander our way through all of the booths.
Is that a little tray with built-in cup holder I see in the merchandise??? I could use that at my work table at home! 😀
Can hardly wait to go again this year. Always try to hit it at least twice each year! Good review as always DFB.
I’m surprised you haven’t had more English people than Scottish telling you about the provenance of Banoffee Pie — we’re very proud of it! The F&WF version bears no resemblance to the real deal, but I’m prepared to take the risk. 😀 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banoffee_pie
Awesome! Any word on whether the vegetarian haggis will be vegan as well? Thanks for keeping us up-to-date!
OK, so it looks like the banoffee tart doesn’t have a crust? Am I seeing this correctly? I don’t eat wheat so I would be really excited if this tart had no crust!
I had Banoffee pie in England and it was very good, although I still prefer sticky toffee pudding.
The Berbere Style Beef looks good. Too bad the recipe isn’t in the cookbook
Sue — Yes, I’m sure that’s definitely part of it.
Ben — So cool! I’m excited about the cookbook too. And I hope she likes the frozen s’more!
Alicia — We’re still awaiting snack credit details and pricing, but we’ll publish as soon as we have it. 🙂
Mark — We didn’t have the info as early as normal this year, but we did pull together a map for the Disney Food Blog Guide to the 2013 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival e-Book. There are also some great planning tips in there for making the best out of the festival. Good luck!
Amanda — Yes! It’s back. And I think the cup holder might be a little more substantial this year, to hold a stem or a cup.
Suzanne — Thanks! And thanks so much for reading. 🙂
Debbie — The story that we’re hearing is that the Scottish have sort of adopted the dish and made it theirs as well. It’s delicious, so hats off to the British for coming up with it for sure! 😀
Tofu — Thank you for reading! I double checked with Chef Dahlmann, and the haggis is vegan. However, at least as of now, the potatoes that are served on the side are served with butter.
Grace — Actually, there is a chocolate cookie crust. It’s a little tough to tell from the photo.
Beth — Yes, Sticky Toffee Pudding is a favorite of mine, too. 🙂
Disappointed about no gluten free menu this year. I definitely get it but it would be nice to have a gluten “friendly” menu. At least know what is gluten free to start with would be helpful rather than wandering aimlessly. Not nearly as excited about this now. :/
Some of us can’t make it to Orlando due to family issues,or finances….why can’t we buy a cookbook online??? This past years festival took place at a time my husband was still in rehab from an auto accident . Wish I could get a copy of the cookbook too.