We are just a little over a month away from the start of the Epcot Food and Wine Festival, and it’s all starting to fall into place!

Soon, we’ll be hanging out, trying new things and enjoying old favorites at Marketplace Booths. And with 35 booths to choose from, situated within World Showcase as well as Future World, there are tons of great eats and drinks to choose from!

(See all of the menus here.)

We expect to eat way more than 12 things 😉 — but you need to start somewhere! So whether you’re crunched for time, on a budget, or just want the CliffsNotes version of what you’ve gotta try, we’re getting you ready for this year’s Dine Around by sharing the 12 Things You MUST Eat at the Epcot Food and Wine Festival.

Schöfferhofer Hefeweizen Pomegranate Beer

OK, this is not only new to the Festival…it’s completely new altogether! One of our favorite breweries has done it again. Previously known for their grapefruit beer, this festival-exclusive (YEP, you can ONLY get it at the festival!) Pomegranate variety is off the charts. Find it at the Brewers Collection Booth!

Le Cellier Filet and Canadian Cheddar Soup — Canada

The Canada Booth is the undisputed champion of the festival. No — seriously. Sales at this booth top all others (which has been known to spark a little competition among the “countries,” we hear).

And while it’s a given that we’re stopping here for the Le Cellier Filet, you might have a hard choice to make between this dish (it’s soooo gooooooood) and the Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup.

So do what we do. Don’t choose.

Done and Done. You’re welcome.

Loaded Mac ‘n’ Cheese — Active Eats

So this one has bounced around a bit.  It was at Farm Fresh (Because why?), but now it’s at Active Eats. We assume this is because giant carb loading is helpful when you’re walking a thousand hundred miles a day.

Whatever. Loaded Mac ‘n’ Cheese with Nueske’s® Pepper Bacon, Cheddar Cheese, Peppers and Green Onions? Get it.

Escondidinho de Carne – Brazil

When is Shepherd’s Pie even better? When it comes from Brazil and has a cool name, like Escondidinho de Carne, or “Little Hidden One”. It’s a savory pie, layered with meat and mashed yucca, a nice, slightly sweeter starch than potato.

And it’s awesome.

Liquid Nitro Chocolate-Almond Truffle — Chocolate Studio

If you’re looking for a little something sweet, you’ve gotta head to the Chocolate Studio to try the Liquid Nitro Chocolate-Almond Truffle with Warm Whiskey-Caramel.

It’s hot, it’s cold, it’s chocolate, and at least in the past, it was massive. What’s not to love?

Seared Scallops — Coastal Eats

We were pretty excited to see Coastal Eats as one of the new booths this year. And to make this inaugual year a success, they’re going with a perennial food and wine favorite: Seared Scallops.

Served with Roasted Corn and Butterbean Succotash and a Chili-Chipotle Butter Sauce, this was one of our favorite new dishes at festival preview events, and I think you’re gonna love it. A lot.

Smoked Corned Beef with Beer Fondue — Flavors From Fire

But in the top spot so far this year, we found a new love: the Smoked Corned Beef with Warm Crispy Potatoes (aka potato chips). Find it at Flavors From Fire, a new booth that celebrates heat!

With Pickled Onions and a Blonde Ale Beer Fondue made with Romano and America Grana Cheeses, this one takes the prize for incredible, rich flavors.

Teriyaki-glazed SPAM® Hash — Hawai’i

We’ve grown accustomed to visiting the Hawai’i Booth each year for our serving of Kalua Pork Sliders. That combo of slow-roasted Pork with a tangy Pineapple Chutney is killer (and here’s a recipe if you need to scratch that itch TODAY.)

But there’s a NKOTB, and the Teriyaki-glazed SPAM® Hash with Potatoes, Peppers and Onions, and Spicy Mayonnaise is surprisingly tasty.

Wash it down with a Maui Brewing Company Bikini Blonde Lager, and you have the makings of a perfect Hawai’ian mini meal.

Smoked Beef Brisket and Pimento Cheese — Hops and Barley

I know, I know. You’ve seen this before. But it’s okay, because part of the excitement each year is welcoming back those favorites alongside all that’s new and adventurous. And this dish is totally top tier.

The Smoked Beef Brisket and Pimento Cheese served on Griddled Garlic Toast at Hops and Barley is amazing. Rich and tender, with all of that thick Texas Toast to keep you from making a total mess.

But grab a fork and some napkins anyway. You’re gonna need them.

Warm Irish Cheddar Cheese and Stout Dip — Ireland

Another stop that hasn’t changed things up for about a bazillion years is Ireland — and they’re featuring two new dishes!

While we await the chance to sample Roasted Irish Sausage with Colcannon Potatoes and Onion Gravy (not gonna lie — we have high hopes), I tried the Warm Irish Cheddar Cheese and Stout Dip with Irish Brown Bread at a preview event and it’s rivaling the corned beef for my favorite dish of the festival right now.

I realize this comes as a surprise to absolutely no one, but that combo of beer and Irish cheese in a cheese sauce with a hearty bread for dipping had me going back for seconds and thirds.

Red Hot Spicy Thai Curry Beef — Thailand

Finally, we make our way around to one of the booths that returns this year — Thailand.

The booth offers a good variety of flavors. We’ve tried the Red Hot Spicy Thai Curry Beef with Steamed Rice and love the heat you find in this dish.

We’re looking forward to trying the other options here, such as Marinated Chicken with Peanut Sauce and Stir-fried Vegetables and Seared Shrimp and Scallop Cake with Cold Noodle Salad. With all of those hashes, stews and cheesy dishes at other stops, this lighter fare will feel like spa food, I’m guessing. 😀

Want More Epcot Food and Wine Festival Info?

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Now tell me: What are your top dishes to try at this year’s Epcot Food and Wine Festival? Leave a comment and let us know!