food IS a theme park
Caramel is one of those flavors of fall, and Karamell-Küche in Epcot’s Germany Pavilion is celebrating fall with some new Caramel Squares!
Karamell-Küche Coconut Caramel Square
The two new squares we found, and just had to try, are Coconut Caramel and Caramel Macchiato. [Read more…]
has become a destination all its own within Epcot’s Germany Pavilion.
And with good reason! Even among the Pavilion’s diverse offerings within Biergarten (a Table Service buffet complete with festive entertainment), Sommerfest (the Counter Service spot with NUDEL GRATINNNNN), and Bier Carts and Hovels, Karamell-Küche focuses on one thing, and one thing only:
CARAMEL!
From seriously addictive Caramel Corn to Caramel Bacon Squares to the ah-mazing Caramel Pecan Bar (you gotta try it!), it’s hard to take in all the different iterations of caramel treats tucked within the Caramel Kitchen’s bakery case.
And speaking of different iterations… I noticed a change to one of my favorite golden treats on my last visit when I spotted a sign for the Caramel Butter Bar. It was front and center ahead of what looked suspiciously like the old Caramel Covered Shortbread — also previously known as the Chewy Caramel Bar.
Caramel Butter Bar
I wasn’t super concerned at first because this particular snack has been known by a few different names over the years, but basically remained a dependable combo of thick caramel poured atop and in between layers of buttery shortbread.
I figured I was good to go because the “new” Caramel Butter Bar looks… virtually identical to its predecessor. See? [Read more…]
Hey Guys! We’re back with another DFB Video today! We’re taking a Food Tour of Epcot’s Germany Pavilion and answering a VERY important question: Nosh or Not?
Gingerbread Heart from the Germany Pavilion
From Sommerfest to Biergarten to Karamell-Küche, Epcot’s Germany is PACKED with fantastic food finds. I mean, when your options revolve around beer, pretzels, and caramel, what’s not to love? Oh, and did we mention wine and cheese? Germany’s got it all… and SO much more. So check out our latest DFB Video and explore Germany with us. You may learn some treats you didn’t know about before, and find a few more things to add to your very own Nosh List! [Read more…]
has been churning out ooey, gooey caramel treats in Epcot’s Germany Pavilion since it opened nearly SEVEN years ago.
(I started this blog just over 8 years ago, by the way. Time sure flies when you’re eating your way around Walt Disney World!)
Anyway, it’s all in the name: it’s the Caramel Kitchen, brought to us by Werther’s Caramel. It’s for those of us — and there are those of us 😉 — who adore all things caramel maaaaybe even a bit more than the other candy darling: CHOCOLATE.
Now, that’s not to say that Karamell-Küche doesn’t have a few things in that golden bakery case for chocoholics. Not at all. You’ll find chocolate poured over a Caramel Apple, covering a caramel square, or topping Mickey’s ears on a Krispie Treat.
And now there’s one more that the chocolate lovers — and caramel lovers, of course! — can add to the list to try.
It’s the new Chocolate Caramel Swirl.
Karamell Kuche Chocolate Caramel Swirl
Everything you need to know is found in the first glance: it’s a thick cut swirl of chocolate and caramel, finished with chocolate sprinkles surrounding the outer layer. Well, there is one more thing you’d probably like to know: the Chocolate Caramel Swirl comes in at $4.49 or a Disney Dining Plan snack credit. [Read more…]
OK, I MUST DO THIS!!!
If food, wine, travel, and Disney top the list of things you love, then this is the trip for you!
©Disney
Disney has announced that their luxury travel brand, Adventures by Disney, is teaming with AmaWaterways to offer a special Rhine Food & Wine River Cruise. [Read more…]
Editor’s Note: New entrees and side items were recently added to the menu.
Alrighty, all — it’s time to take a little field trip to Deutschland!! We’re headed to Sommerfest!
This place is as simple and what-you-see-is-what-you-get as possible, but sometimes simple and easy is exactly what you need on a long Epcot touring day. When you don’t have an advance dining reservation and you’re headed toward Epcot’s Germany Pavilion, you might consider stopping at this little counter service spot!
Sausage. Pretzel. Beer. Cake. What more do you need? Let’s check it out!
Atmosphere is kind of limited, since this is basically in the giant stone waiting area of Biergarten, the pavilion’s table service restaurant. That said, the waiting area itself is very well themed and has a fun old world feel to it. That’s really something I love about the whole Germany Pavilion.
Mural Welcoming Guests
Sommerfest is located at the back of the Pavilion. Head through the “town square,” past the counter selling beer and Jägermeister on your right, to the awning that reads “Sommerfest Snacks”.
Outside View
Turn the corner to the left, and you’re there! It really isn’t much more than a serving counter. You’ll head back out to the sunshine to find a seat in the square by the fountain once you get your food.
Speaking of seating — there’s not much of it. There are a few tables scattered inside the big covered area, and a couple of them outside as well. But if you’re visiting during prime meal hours or a busy Disney season, those WILL all be taken when you get your food. Many folks perch on the edge of the fountain, or even sit on the ground to eat up.
And one other thing — there’s almost always a line here. But your patience will be rewarded.
Cast Members at Sommerfest
Cast Members here, who are from Germany of course, know [Read more…]
I have a bit of a gummy bear addiction.
During a Walt Disney World visit in December, I was distressed to find that the epic giant gummy bears had completely vanished from Epcot’s Germany pavilion. Yes, I know that they’re readily available elsewhere, but I found it comforting to walk by and admire their shiny, sugary smiles each time I walked the World Showcase.
RIP Giant Gummy Bears -- now no longer available in the Germany pavilion
Fast forward a few weeks later to another trip and another loop around the Showcase. Still no giant gummies, but in their place was a new product, Choco Gomis, a dual layer chocolate bar with embedded gummy bears. I had never seen anything as glorious as this, even on my recent trip to gummy-centric Germany.
Obviously this was a must purchase item.
I bought both the blue and pink packages, thinking that they were different flavors, but as it turns out, they were exactly the same.
Opening the wrapper reveals a thin sliver of milk chocolate, topped by a more substantial layer of white “yogurt” chocolate. Nestled in each square is one perfect glossy gummy bear.
For the amount of candy you get, the bars are a little pricey, but the [Read more…]
I’m back from another fun-filled, fabulous Adventures by Disney trip.
Neuschwanstein Castle -- Inspiration for Sleeping Beauty Castle
This time it was the “Once Upon A Fairytale” adventure that covered the Germany destinations of Heidelberg, Waldeck, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, and Munich.
There were castles and historic villages, archery and the coolest museum tour imaginable (Steiff bears EVERYWHERE), but I’m sure you’re not surprised when I say that the highlight for me was the food.
All the many permutations of schnitzel, spaetzel and strudel are too numerous to mention (truly, we ate schnitzel and spaetzel every day), but here is a taste of what else we saw and tasted.
Our first official stop of the tour was Heidelberg Castle. From a foodie perspective, the big attraction was the world’s largest wine barrel, the Heidelberg Tun.
Our guide informed us that the Tun holds more than 55,000 gallons of wine. While long empty, it was actually functional for a number of years. But apparently wine stored in 55,000 gallon barrels is kind of nasty. Who knew?
So the giant-cask contents were used to hydrate servants and other common-folk. Royalty and nobles were served from normal-sized bottles.
The world's largest wine barrel.
During our second evening of the trip, we dined at Zum Güldenen Schaf (Golden Sheep) restaurant on the Hauptstrasse in Heidelberg.
This sprawling venue was decorated with heraldic symbols, portraiture, and charming hand-carved benches.
Dinner started with a choice of salad with prosciutto-wrapped goat cheese or a creamy potato soup.
Among the dinner options were pasta with mushroom sauce and [Read more…]
Walt Disney World is gearing up for this year’s Epcot Food and Wine Festival beginning September 28 and running through November 12, 2012.
Let’s take a look at the fun ways that the Disney chefs are preparing courtesy of the Disney Parks Blog.
Cutting up apples…
then making dough.
I’m thinking about Germany’s apple strudel now.
Apfel Strudel featuring Werther’s Original Karamell Sauce and Vanilla Sauce
Here, the chefs are busy [Read more…]
We recently released our newest e-Book — The DFB Mini-Guide to Epcot Snacks, and now we get to show off a little of what’s in it! This portable tome will take care of all of your cravings: Salty? Yep. Savory? Of course. Sweet? …Are you kidding me. 😉
By now, you know that I just love food “crawls”, which are essentially little adventures to complete with your family and friends! Just eat each item to complete the crawl! And today I’d like to share the Epcot Classics Snack Crawl that we developed for our Epcot Snacks guidebook. But don’t worry — this doesn’t give too much away! We have five other snack crawls through Epcot in the book, along with 180 pages of snack reviews and other bonus items! Here we go…
Your first stop on the Epcot Classics Snack Crawl has quickly become an iconic spot in Epcot! Travel to Karamell-Küche, the luscious caramel candy store in Germany, and pick up some caramel popcorn. Deceptively simple, this stuff is addictive. Go ahead and get an extra bag — for midnight munchies, of course.
Caramel Popcorn
Prefer something not-so-sweet to start out? Grab a classic, hand-twisted German pretzel instead! 🙂 Believe me; there’s plenty of sweet to come!
It’s time to make your way to the Funnel Cake Kiosk in the American Adventure pavilion to pick up a true theme park classic — Funnel Cake! It’s your choice whether you select one that is plain or covered in extra [Read more…]
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