2017 Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival Outdoor Kitchens

The 2017 Epcot Flower and Garden Festival just started a few days ago and the menus this year look awesome!  The festival runs each year in the springtime, this year’s dates are March 1 to May 29.  There are amazing exhibits, play structures for kids, live music, and food booths that are very similar to the Food and Wine Festival.

These “Outdoor Kitchens” are going to have local and exotic options that are made with garden fresh ingredients.  These are small plates, not full meals, so you can expect to pay between $3 and $8 for one selection.  And because this is Epcot, you’re able to imbibe in some of the specialty cocktails and beers each booth has to offer!

Let’s check out what’s on the menu!

Bauernmarkt: Farmer’s Market

Potato Pancakes with House-made Apple Sauce – $3.75

Potato Pancake with Caramelized Ham, Onions and Herb Sour Cream – $4.25

Roasted Bratwurst with Curry Ketchup and Paprika-spiced Chips  – $5.25

Warm Cheese Strudel with Mixed Berries – $4.00

Beverages

Hugo-Charles De Fere “Organic” Brut with Elderflower and Mint – $9.50

Paulaner Original Munich Lager – $4.25

Schöfferhofer Hefeweizen – $4.25

Köstritzer Schwarzbier Black Lager – $4.25

Beer Flight – $9.50

The Berry Basket

Lamb chop with Quinoa Salad and Blackberry Gastrique – $7.25

Field Greens with fresh Strawberries, Blue Cheese, Strawberry Vinaigrette and Spice Pecans – $4.75

Warm Wild Berry Buckle with Pepperberry Sorbet – $4.25

Beverages:

Founders Raubeaus Pure Raspberry Ale – $4.25

Island Grove Blueberry Moscato – $5.25

Twinings® Green Tea Berry Mint Julep (also in non-alcoholic) – $8.75, $4.25

Cider House

Pear Cider-brined Shredded Corned Beef with Braised Cabbage and Branston Dressing with Pears – $5.50

House-made Potato and Cheddar Cheese Biscuit with Smoked Salmon Tartare – $5.25

Freshly Baked Lemon Scone with Crème Fraîche and Mixed Berries  – $3.75

Beverages

McKenzie’s Black Cherry Hard Cider – $4.50

Caribe Blood Orange Tropical Hard Cider – $4.50

Ciderboys Strawberry Magic Hard Strawberry Cider – $4.50

Martinelli’s Sparkling Cider, California (Non-alcoholic) – $4.75

Fleur de Lys

Tarte à l’Onion Alsacienne: Alsatian Onion Tart with Sautéed Onions, Fresh Thyme and Rosemary on a Flaky Puff Pastry Crust  – $4.75

Poulet aux Écrevisses, Riz Pilaf: Baked Chicken with Crawfish served with Rice Pilaf – $5.75

Macaron Chocolat Framboise: Large Raspberry Macaron with Chocolate Fudge and Raspberry Jam – $4.75

Beverages

La Vie en Rose Frozen Slush: Grey Goose Vodka Orange, St. Germain Liquor, White and Red Cranberry Juice – $9.95

Kir Pomegranate, Sparkling Wine, Pama Pomegranate Liquor – $7.95

Brut de Pêche, Natural Peach Sparkling Wine – $7.50

Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blend, C’est La Vie – $5.00

Kronenbourg Blanc 1664 – $4.25

Florida Fresh

Carne Asada with Black Bean Cake and Cilantro Lime Sour Cream – $6.50

Shrimp and Stone-ground Grits with Andouille Sausage, Sweet Corn , Tomatoes and Cilantro  – $6.50

Florida Larder Board: Orlando-made Ricotta Cheese, Cahaba Farms Micro Onions, Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Balsamic, Country Pâté and House-made Pickles – $5.75

Key Lime Tart with Toasted Meringue – $4.25

Beverages

Key Lime Sparkling Wine  – $11.75

Quat Seasonal Fruit Ale – $4.25

Mirth and Merriment Golden Ale – $4.25

Feast of Flowers Farmhouse Ale – $4.25

Beer Flight – $9.50

Watermelon Cucumber Slush with Tamiami Florida Gin – $11.75

Watermelon Cucumber Slush (Non-alcoholic) – $4.25

Fresh-Squeezed Watermelon Juice (Non-alcoholic) – $3.25

Hanami

Frushi: Fresh Pineapple, Strawberry and Melon rolled with Raspberry Coconut Rice, sprinkled with Toasted Coconut and Whipped Cream on the side – $5.75

Ahi Tuna Poke Sesame Ginger – $8.00

Beef Teriyaki Udon: Thin-sliced Beef, Onions and Noodles tossed on the grill with Soy and Ginger – $6.20

Beverages

SapporoPremium Black Lager – $4.25

Kirin Ichiban Pale Ale – $4.00

Matcha Sake Cocktail – $7.50

Amabuki Kurenai Junmai Sake – $8.50

Ozeki Shin Junmai Sake – $8.50

Dasani Water – $3.00

Jardin de Fiestas

Chile Relleno de Picadillo: Battered Poblano Pepper filled with Ground Beef covered with Tomato Sauce and Garnished with Queso Fresco and Toasted Almonds – $6.00

Brocheta de Pollo con Salsa Morita: Grilled Chicken with Red and Green Bell Pepper served with Salsa Chile Morita and Garnished with Micro-Cilantro and Edible Flowers – $6.00

Tres Leches: Vanilla Sponge Cake, Cajeta, Condensed Milk and Evaporated Milk and Garnished with Orange Zest – $3.95

Beverages

Hibiscus Margarita – $10.25

Elderflower Pineapple Margarita – $11.25

Watermelon White Sangria – $8.75

Pacifico Draft Beer with Kahlua Floater – $6.75

Dasani Water – $3.00

La Isla Fresca

Jamaican-braised Beef with Pigeon Pea Rice and Micro Cilantro – $6.00

Sugar Cane Shrimp Skewer with Steamed Rice and Coconut Lime Sauce – $6.50

Caribbean Conch Salad with Avocado, Mango and Onions – $5.00

FlanCocho: Vanilla Caramel Custard with Chocolate Coffee Cake – $3.75

Beverages

Red Stripe Jamaican Style Lager – $4.25

Frozen Simply Tropical™ Juice Drink with Cruzan Mango Rum – $9.25

Frozen Simply Tropical Juice Drink (Non-alcoholic) – $4.25

Lotus House

Spicy Chicken Lettuce Wrap – $5.95

Beijing-Style Candied Strawberries – $5.50

Vegetable Spring Rolls – $4.50

Beverages

Oolong Peach Bubble Tea – $6.75

Kung Fu Punch: Vodka, Triple Sec, Mango and Orange Juice – $8.75

Dragon Pearl: Beer, Honey, Cream and Tapioca Pearls – $8.75

M.S.G: A cooler of Mango Wine, Strawberry and Ginger Ale – $8.75

Plum Wine Cooler – $8.75

Tsingtao Beer – $3.50

Dasani Bottled Water – $3.00, DDP Snack Eligible

Northern Bloom

Seared Scallops with French Green Beans, Butter Potatoes, Brown Butter Vinaigrette and Apple wood Smoked Bacon – $6.25

Beef Tenderloin Tips, Mushroom Bordelaise Sauce, Whipped Potatoes with Garden Vegetables – $6.50

Nanaimo Bar – $4.25

Beverages

Maple Popcorn Shake with Crown Royal Maple Whiskey – $11.75

Maple Popcorn Shake (non-alcoholic) – $4.50

Unibroue Maudite Amber Ale – $5.00

Unibroue À Tout Le Monde Saison – $5.00

Unibroue Éphémère White Ale – $5.00

Beer Flight – $11.00

Pineapple Promenade

Spicy Hot Dog with Pineapple Chutney and Plantain Chips – $7.50

Pineapple Soft-Serve – $4.75

Beverages

Sparkling Pineapple Wine – $11.75

Pineapple Mana – $4.25

Pineapple Soft-Serve with Parrot Bay Coconut Rum – $10.25

Frozen Desert Violet Lemonade (Non-alcoholic) – $3.50

Primavera Kitchen

Antipasto Misto: Cerignola Olives, Sweet Soppressata and Salami, Ovolini, Mozzarella, Sweet Roasted Peppers and Ciabatta Bread – $6.00

Meatball Parmigiana: Hand-made Beef and Veal Meatballs, Tomato Sauce, Mozzarella, Parmigiana and Fresh Basil – $7.00

Strawberry Tiramisu: Ladyfingers, Mascarpone Cream and Marinated Strawberries topped with Strawberry Sauce – $5.50

Beverages

Pinot Grigio – $8.00

Chianti – $8.00

Prosecco – $9.00

Corbinello – $8.00

Moscato – $8.00

Bellini Sparkling Wine and Peach purée – $10.00

Rossini Sparkling Wine and Marinated strawberries – $10.00

Frozen Italian Margarita with Limoncello and Tequila – $10.00

Moretti Lager – $5.50

Moretti La Rossa – $5.50

Dasani Water – $3.00

The Smokehouse: Barbecues and Brews

Pulled Pig Slider with Coleslaw and Crispy Onions – $6.00

Smoked Pork Ribs with Black Bean and Corn Salad – $6.75

Beef Brisket Burnt Ends Hash with White Cheddar Fondue and Pickled Jalapeños – $6.25

Warm Chocolate Cake with Bourbon-Salted Caramel Sauce and Spiced Pecans – $3.75

Beverage

Zen of Zin Old Vine – $5.25

Orange Blossom Pilsner – $4.25

3 Daughters Phantasmas IPA – $4.25

Shipyard Maple Bacon Stout – $4.25

Beer Flight – $9.50

Frozen Lemonade with Firefly Blackberry Moonshine – $11.75

Frozen Lemonade (Non-alcoholic) – $3.25

Taste of Marrakesh

Merguez “Hot Dog” Sausage: Spicy Beef and Lamb with Satueed Onions and Green Peppers – $6.00

Home-Made Falafel with Pickled Beet and Turnip, Tomato Salad and Tahini Sauce – $5.00

Baklava – $4.00

Beverages

Desert Rose: Sparkling Wine topped with Pomegranate Liqueur – $8.00

White Sangria – $5.00

Guerrouane Red Wine – $4.00

Casa Beer – $4.00

Dasani Water – $3.00

Urban Farm Eats

Watermelon Salad with Pickled Onions, B&W Gourmet Farms Baby Arugula, Feta and Balsamic Reduction – $4.00

Seared Pork Tenderloin with Mushroom Ragoût, Spring Vegetables and Fingerling Potatoes – $6.25

Crabless Cake with Crispy Vegetable Slaw, Lemon Vinaigrette and Old Bay Remoulade – $6.25

Beverages

Avivé Natural Peach Sparkling Wine – $9.50

King Estate Acrobat Pinot Noir – $5.25

Wildflower Pale Ale – $4.25

Urban Mary with House-made Pickled Green Bean – $10.75

Urban Fairy Cocktail – $11.00

Have you made a list of all the things you’d like to try this year?  Everything sounds delicious!

Unique Dining Outside of the Parks – Part II

Tired of the same old restaurants in the parks at Walt Disney World, or just looking for something new?  Check out the first installment check it out here to learn about unique dining options in the Magic Kingdom and Epcot Resort areas. **LINK** 

Animal Kingdom Resort Area:
La
ndscape of Flavors located in the Art of Animation is one of the few quick service restaurants on my list of unique dining.  It makes the list due to its lunch and dinner menus where you can custom make any different types of meals such as pasta, omelet, burgers, and salads.  It is fun to custom make your own pasta with sauce and meat choices.  It is sure to win over even the pickiest of eaters.

 Dine with Animal Specialist with in the Animal Kingdom Lodge is a 4 course lunch at Sanaa where you can learn all about the animals that are just outside the windows of the restaurant!  This is a truly intimate lunch that is limited to 12 guests.  Once you are finished eating you will head into a secure area for and up close and personal encounter with radiated tortoises. 

wanyama-resort-safari-and-dinner-05

Photo via Disney.com

Wanyama Safari is available only to guests of Animal Kingdom Lodge and features a 90 minute tour with unique vantage points for observing the animals.  It is limited to 12 guests so you will have a very personalized tour.  Prior to the safari you will have a reception with the chefs and cultural representative from Jiko and then conclude your safari with a fabulous dinner at Jiko.  This is a one of a kind dining experience.

Disney Springs:
If you are in the mood for some fantastic food by a famous chef you will want to see Morimoto Asia at Disney Springs.  There is a large sushi menu and plenty of Pan-Asian food for every palate. The menu is extensive with lots of seafood but plenty of steak, noodle and chicken dishes.  Don’t miss this fantastic restaurant.

Wolfgang Puck Express is an easy choice for a single table service credit with amazing food.  People always rave about the macaroni and cheese as well as the bacon wrapped meatloaf.  Not to be mistaken with Wolfgang Puck Grand Café, the express is just a smaller version of the main restaurant by the celebrity chef. Here is a great review we have!

Boathouse

Photo via Disney.com

The Boathouse is another recent addition to Disney Springs, right on the water front.  You cannot beat the location and ambience at Disney Springs and the food is pretty darn amazing too.  They feature American, seafood and steaks and have gotten a reputation for the gigantic Gibsons S’mores Baked Alaska that serves four!

What other restaurants would you add to the lineup of unique offerings outside of a Walt Disney World park?  Let us know!

Unique Dining Outside of the Parks – Part I

Sometimes when planning dining reservations for a Walt Disney World vacation people focus on restaurants in the parks.   Fortunately, there are many, many choices outside of the parks and if you plan correctly going to a dining reservation outside of the parks doesn’t have to take a lot of time out of your day.  Of if you aren’t planning to visit a park you can still have plenty of fun and even meet some Disney friends!

 Magic Kingdom Resort Area:
Grand Floridian Resort has two very unique character meal options both at the same restaurant, 1900 Park Fare.  For breakfast you can meet Mary Poppins, Alice, the Mad Hatter, Tigger and Winnie the Pooh.  For dinner you can meet up with Cinderella, Prince Charming, Lady Tremaine and her daughters Anastasia and Drizella.

Also at the Grand Floridian there is Victoria & Albert’s a very upscale restaurant, having an AAA Five Diamond rating since 2000.  There is also the highly coveted Chef’s Table at Victoria & Albert’s which features 13 courses and the chef personally conversing between courses.  This is definitely a bucket list item!

victoria-and-alberts-00

Photo via Disney.com

Citricos Dining with an Imagineer is a very unique option outside of the park.  Who wouldn’t love to pick the brain of a Disney Imagineer?  This is your chance to ask questions and learn about the behind the scenes of Walt Disney World. 

Within the Wilderness Lodge you will find the Whispering Canyon Café, a buffet with some shenanigans.  If you love great food, a neat atmosphere and sassy and fun cast members you will want to make the trip to Wilderness Lodge for this family style bottomless platters!  Just be careful when you ask for ketchup or straws!

 In the Polynesian Village Resort there is a unique character meal featuring Lilo and Stitch as well at Mickey and Pluto in Hawaiian gear.  Lilo is not featured anywhere else so if you have a person who loves Lilo and Stitch this is THE place to go!

 Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue is located at the Campsites at Fort Wilderness and boasts an amazing dinner show with great food, fun, vaudeville comedy, singing and dancing.  And of course Strawberry Shortcake!  There are multiple shows each day in different price categories based on your seat.  You can read Tara’s review here.

Epcot Resort Area:
Another great character meal option is at the Beach Club, Cape May Café!  This is a character meal for breakfast only and features Minnie and friends in their beach attire!  So if you are in Epcot or Hollywood Studios or staying at an Epcot are resort this is a fantastic option that isn’t as well-known as other character meals.  You can read a review right here! 

cape-may-cafe-gallery02

Photo via Disney.com

Beaches and Cream in the Beach Club boasts more than just ice cream.  This old-fashioned soda fountain has a full menu of burgers, salads, sandwiches, and soup.  But most people are coming for The Kitchen Sink.  This creation has scoops of 5 different types of ice creams, every topping imaginable plus a whole can of whipped cream.  You will need the whole family to finish this monster!  But beware when you order it you will cause some heads to turn since the whole restaurant will light up as this treat makes its way to your table.

 Todd English’s bluezoo located in the Dolphin Hotel is a sleeper choice.  It is a pricey dinner, so maybe for a special occasion this is a great choice.  It has won numerous awards and does awesome seafood as well as plenty of beef, chicken and pork dishes to keep everyone happy.  They even feature a pretty great kid’s menu if you are bringing the whole family.  The restaurant itself is beautiful and you will want to get dressed up for this dinner.

bluezoo

Photo via Disney.com


Check back soon for more  dining suggestions on the Animal Kingdom Resort area and Disney Springs!

 

Which Resort Is Right For Me? Foodie Edition

As a travel agent, it’s very important to me that I find the resort that best fits my client’s needs and the needs of their family. That’s why I’m putting together a series of posts that help you decide which resort is right for you.

Are you a “foodie”?  Are you always thinking about what’s for dinner…while you’re eating breakfast?  If so, this post is going to help you decide which resort is right for you when you’ve got nibbles on your noggin.

This post is going to skew Deluxe resort heavy, mainly because there are more restaurants to choose from at those resorts, but hang around because I think you’ll like where I’m going with this.

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort – Deluxe

If you’d like to get a small taste of Hawaii, try ‘Ohana.  If you go for breakfast, try the POG juice.  It’s a guest favorite!

‘Ohana menu

Disney’s Beach Club Resort – Deluxe

If you stay here, you’ll be on site for one of my favorites, Beaches & Cream Soda Shop!  This adorable diner has typical grill fare like burgers and fries, but also has the BEST ice cream on Disney property.  If you’ve got some friends and are hungry for some sweet treats, try The Kitchen Sink!

Beaches & Cream Soda Shop menu

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge – Deluxe

Serving a mix of African, Indian, and Mediterranean style cooking, Jiko – The Cooking Place is sure to please those with an adventurous palate.

Jiko – The Cooking Place menu

Art of Animation – Value

I know a Value level resort seems like an unlikely place to find great food but their food court, Landscape of Flavors, is my one of my favorite quick service stops on Disney property.  They have a vast section of dishes from Create-Your-Own pasta to Tandoori Shrimp.  Everyone in the family is sure to find something they love.

Landscape of Flavors menu