REVIEW: Earth Eats in Future World, Epcot International Food and Wine Festival 2017

WDWNT on September 19, 2017

Welcome to a marketplace review for the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival 2017, taking place in the park from August 31st through November 13th, 2017. This review will cover  “Earth Eats”, which is located in Future World West behind Club Cool, in the cluster labeled as “Next Eats”.

Earth Eats

width=

width=

 

Food:

  • Ricotta and Zucchini Ravioli with Rustic Tomato Sauce –  $4.75
  • Grilled Beef Skewer with Romaine, Apricots, and Feta Cheese –  $5.25
  • Peanut Butter and White Chocolate Mousse with a Caramel Drizzle –  $3.50

Beverages:

  • Kurt Russell’s Gogi Wines Chardonnay “Goldie”, California –  $10.00
  • Kurt Russell’s Gigi Wines Pinot Noir, California –  $15.00
  • Redstone Meadery Black Raspberry Mead, Colorado –  $7.00

width=

Ricotta and Zucchini Ravioli with Rustic Tomato Sauce –  $4.75

width=

Vegetarian dishes usually aren’t my thing, but this particular ravioli is a real winner, The ricotta cheese and zucchini are blended together nicely for a flavor combination you won’t soon forget.

Grilled Beef Skewer with Romaine, Apricots, and Feta Cheese –  $5.25

width=

This is fine, but there are a dozen better beef dishes you can find at other marketplaces around World Showcase. Also, where did the accompaniments go? Below is a picture from last year, with more of the advertised cheese…

width=

Peanut Butter and White Chocolate Mousse with a Caramel Drizzle –  $3.50

width=

I think I ordered the Peanut Butter and White Chocolate Mousse with a caramel drizzle at least 5-7 times last year when it debuted. I love any dessert with peanut butter, but the light mousse mixed with the caramel flavoring is just about perfect.

Kurt Russell’s Gogi Wines Chardonnay “Goldie”, California –  $10.00, Kurt Russell’s Gigi Wines Pinot Noir, California –  $15.00

width=

Please enjoy my classy picture of wines over a receipt, with way too much silverware in the background and a dirty table underneath

Kurt Russell’s Goldie is honestly one of the best Chardonnay varieties you’re going to find at Epcot, let alone Food and Wine. It’s $50 a bottle for the 2013 vintage, making $10 a glass not the worst deal at the event. Considering the light crispness of the wine, it’s well validated at the price point, and somehow all comes back around to Guardians of the Galaxy being in Epcot…

The Pinot Noir comes in at $75 a bottle for the 2013 vintage, justifying $15 a glass. This wine brings forward notes of plenty of fruit, making for a very flavorful wine that most will enjoy. It’s a perfect use of those Tasting Sampler tabs we told you not to buy (but you probably did anyway).

Redstone Meadery Black Raspberry Mead, Colorado –  $7.00

width=

This thing is pretty weird. It’s basically an alcoholic carbonated drink with a black raspberry flavor. I thought it was quite refreshing for a hot day and probably a good choice for those who don’t like a strong alcohol taste with their drinks.

REVIEW: Active Eats in Future World, Epcot International Food and Wine Festival 2017

WDWNT on September 19, 2017

Welcome to a marketplace review for the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival 2017, taking place in the park from August 31st through November 13th, 2017. This review will cover a brand new booth called “Active Eats”, which is located in Future World West, in the “Next Eats” cluster behind Club Cool.

Active Eats

width=

Food:

  • Loaded Mac ‘n’ Cheese with Nueske’s Pepper Bacon, Cheddar Cheese, Peppers, and Green Onions –  $4.75
  • Roasted Verlasso Salmon with Quinoa Salad and Arugula Chimichurri –  $5.50
  • Sweet Avocado Crema with Strawberries, Yellow Cake, and Tortilla Streusel –  $3.75

Beverages:

  • M.I.A. Beer Company HRD WTR Cucumber & Lemon Lime Hard Sparkling Wine, Doral, FL –  $4.00
  • Chateau Ste. Michelle Cold Creek Riesling, Columbia Valley, WA –  $6.00
  • Evolution by Sokol Blosser Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, OR –  $6.00

width=

Loaded Mac ‘n’ Cheese with Nueske’s Pepper Bacon, Cheddar Cheese, Peppers, and Green Onions –  $4.75

width=

Yes, the Loaded Mac and Cheese is still a fantastic blend of bacon, peppers, green onion, and cheese, and yes, the portion size can be small. We had two fantastic servings of this already, and while it may be on the tiny side, I think it is still worth buying if you enjoy dishes with a lot of spice.

Roasted Verlasso Salmon with Quinoa Salad and Arugula Chimichurri –  $5.50

width=

The Verlasso Salmon is well prepared and quite flavorful, and the quinoa salad is good enough. I wouldn’t tell you not to order this, but it also isn’t a dish that would come to mind when you ask me for the better dishes at the Festival.

Sweet Avocado Crema with Strawberries, Yellow Cake, and Tortilla Streusel –  $3.75

width=

Hands down the best new item of 2017, the avocado crema steals the show. I’ve had this twice now, and both times it was absolutely off the charts. The softness of the yellow cake, the sweet flavor of the strawberries and avocado crema, and the sugary crunch of the toppings make for a surprisingly good dessert. While you may be drooling over the return of your favorite chocolate snack this year, I think you may have a new favorite once you try this.

M.I.A. Beer Company HRD WTR Cucumber & Lemon Lime Hard Sparkling Wine, Doral, FL –  $4.00

width=

I can’t say that I’ve ever had “Hard Water”, but I can’t say it wasn’t refreshing or enjoyable either. Given that the event has started in August, an alcoholic drink closest in substance to water is a nice touch, even if it is a fad that never really caught on. Likely the most refreshing alcoholic drink at the event, I say give this a try.

SaveSave

REVIEW: Coastal Eats in Future World, Epcot International Food and Wine Festival 2017

WDWNT on September 19, 2017

Welcome to a marketplace review for the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival 2017, taking place in the park from August 31st through November 13th, 2017. This review will cover a brand new booth called “Coastal Eats”, which is located in Future World West, in the “Next Eats” cluster behind Club Cool.

Coastal Eats

width=

Food:

  • Lump Crab Cake with Napa Cabbage Slaw and Avocado Lemongrass Cream –  $5.00
  • Baked Shrimp Scampi Dip with Sourdough Baguette –  $5.50
  • Seared Scallops with Roasted Corn and Butterbean Succotash and Chili Chipotle Butter Sauce –  $6.00

Beverages:

  • Erath Pinot Gris, Oregon –  $6.00
  • Soter Planet Pinot Noir, Oregon –  $7.00

width=

Lump Crab Cake with Napa Cabbage Slaw and Avocado Lemongrass Cream –  $5.00

width=

This is a surprisingly healthy serving for Food and Wine and the flavor did not disappoint. While I’m pretty tired of avocado seemingly being on top of everything at these events, it pairs well here for a dish I would highly recommend for the seafood-lover.

Baked Shrimp Scampi Dip with Sourdough Baguette –  $5.50

width=

Another surprising sizable and shareable dish, the baked shrimp scampi is another I would recommend from this booth. The buttery and flavorful shrimp go nicely soaked into the sourdough bread.

Seared Scallops with Roasted Corn and Butterbean Succotash and Chili Chipotle Butter Sauce –  $6.00

width=

I have yet to be disappointed by a scallops dish at this festival, and this new attempt may be my favorite yet. The chili-chipotle butter sauce is fantastic, combining spice and flavor nicely with the perfectly seared seafood.