REVIEW: Delectable Desserts Found Only at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at the Magic Kingdom

WDWNT on November 20, 2017

‘Tis the Season to be jolly, to celebrate, and to eat lots of delicious snacks! We made our way out to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at the Magic Kingdom and tried a few different offerings, so here are our thoughts to help you on your sweet journey:

Eggnog Custard Dessert – $4.99

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Eggnog Custard topped with a Spiced-Chocolate Cake, Meringue, and a Scrooge McDuck Chocolate Gold Coin

You’ve got to be a big fan of eggnog to enjoy this dessert and luckily, I am! I really enjoyed this because it featured a delicious eggnog custard. Honestly the chocolate cake is a bit much in my opinion but still was completely delicious. The Scrooge McDuck gold coin is an awesome touch and this is yours for just $4.99 at Storybook Treats in Fantasyland. Again, this won’t be for everyone…

Enchanted Christmas Belle Dessert – $5.99

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White Chocolate Peppermint Mousse with Yellow Glaze and topped with a White Chocolate Enchanted Christmas Belle

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Honestly, this was the least favorite in the group mainly for the yellow glaze which ruined the peppermint mouse inside. Even if you’re a peppermint fan, you could skip this one. But if you choose to try it, you can find it for $5.99 at Gaston’s Tavern.

Chocolate Yule Log – $4.99

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Chocolate Mousse, Chocolate Flourless Cake topped with Chocolate Ganache, and Powdered Sugar featuring Chip & Dale and Donald Duck

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This was a delicious yule log dessert that everyone in the group loved, but just couldn’t finish because of how rich it was. This is definitely highly recommended, but be aware of how rich and chocolatey it is. It’s also quite sizable. This is available at Pecos Bill’s for $4.99.

Red Velvet Mickey Waffles – $6.49

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Red velvet Mickey waffles, vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, caramel sauce, and holiday sprinkles.

If you buy one dessert at the Magic Kingdom Christmas Party, let this be it. The red velvet Mickey waffles are perfect in flavor and paired nicely with vanilla ice cream, complemented nicely by the drizzle of caramel sauce. Please do yourself a favor and put this on your party agenda now. It is available only at Sleepy Hollow Refreshments in Liberty Square.

Sandy Claws Dessert – $4.99

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Orange vanilla cake, cranberry cherry mousse, white crispy pearls, cream cheese buttercream, holiday sprinkles, and a Sandy Claws white chocolate

Also available at Sleepy Hollow, the only thing that’s a nightmare about this is the taste. This is way to sweet, the consistency is gross, and the push-pop design does not make it easy to eat. The cake it itself was good, but there is way too much of what is basically an icing mix in-between. If you want to eat the most overly sweet, least enjoyable icing by itself, this is the dessert for you I guess.

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REVIEW: Warm Salted Caramel Pretzel with Chocolate Sauce, Lunching Pad at Magic Kingdom

WDWNT on November 10, 2017

The Lunching Pad in Tomorrowland at the Magic Kingdom is now serving a sweet alternative to their other stuffed pretzels, a warm salted caramel pretzel.

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Warm Salted Caramel Pretzel ($4.79)

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Rather than stuffed with any sort of cheese, this pretzel is stuffed with a warm caramel sauce, with the salted portion coming from the exterior of the pretzel. The pretzel includes a nice-sized cup of chocolate sauce as well. Without the sauce, the pretzel is solid, with a nice flavor the caramel and doughy pretzel, but the sauce is what makes this something truly special.

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It is pretty rich and decadent, and I’m not sure any one person should or could eat a full pretzel because of this, but the combination of salt, caramel, and chocolate is perfection.

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This is a serious new contender for best snack in the park, easily the best of the chocolate or caramel varieties. It’s plenty big to share and won’t disappoint in flavor.

REVIEW: New 7-Layer Rice Bowl and Coco Cupcake at Fairfax Fare, Disney’s Hollywood Studios

WDWNT on October 25, 2017

We of course reviewed Fairfax Fare on Sunset Boulevard at Disney’s Hollywood Studios when the menu went tex-mex almost one year ago. Well, now a new option has joined the menu, a 7(Yeah, 7)-Layer Rice Bowl.

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The rice bowl replaces the Loaded Baked Potato, which has been a staple here for the last few years.

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The Coco Dulce de Leche Cupcake is also here, but is available at several locations throughout the park.

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7-Layer Rice Bowl – ($11.29)

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The rice bowl comes in three varieties: pulled pork, grilled chicken, or vegan chili. We went with the pork and the vegan chili versions.

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Without diving into them, it is really hard to tell which one is which thanks to the plethora of other ingredients in the dish. That being said, there is plenty of the main course underneath all of that in both versions. Above is the vegan chili, below is the pulled pork, neither in an actual bowl.

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The menu describes the items as “Pulled Pork served over Cilantro Rice, Black Beans, Roasted Corn Medley, Pico de Gallo and Sour Cream topped with Cheddar served with warm Tortillas” and “Vegan Chili served over Cilantro Rice, Black Beans, Roasted Corn Medley, Pico de Gallo and Sour Cream topped with Cheddar served with warm Tortillas”. You can also add “guacamole” for $1.00…

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Here is the “Wholly Guacamole” you get for your dollar. It is not very good.

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Overall, the rice bowls are pretty good and you likely get a lot more of everything than you would with the fajita dish from here, so the question really is do you want to eat with your hands or a fork. Personally, I think you can do a lot worse with counter service at Hollywood Studios, so Fairfax is still number 1-2 on my list. These aren’t terrible, but they aren’t life changing either, but in terms of size, they are a pretty decent value comparably with other quick serve items at the Studios.

Coco Dulce de Leche Cupcake ($5.99)

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The Coco cupcake is one of the better ones in recent memory, featuring a vanilla cake, colorful icing, and a center filled with sweet dulce de leche.

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It’s deftly worth a try if it’s there on your next visit.

The Rest

Again, if you would like a review of the other items at Fairfax Fare, please check out our previous review.

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REVIEW: AbracadaBAR at Disney’s Boardwalk Adds Food, New Drinks to Fix Magic-Lacking Menu

WDWNT on October 25, 2017

Abracadabar at Disney’s Boardwalk was a huge disappointment when it opened. After many months of hype that there would be another unique bar experience with a strong theme at Walt Disney World, we were all more than ready to burst through those doors and enjoy many nights of drinks, small bites, and fun. I was so excited that I waited outside for hours to be the first guest ever to enter the establishment. I ended up hating the menu so much that I never even felt compelled to write a review of my experience.

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There was no food and the drink menu catered to a very narrow audience. Needless to say, some sort of change was needed. It took a long time to get here, but those menu changes has finally materialized.

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Sadly, the really awesome “magic” menu books are gone, but there is an expanded menu, now with food options. Many of these are available next door at Flying Fish, but that doesn’t make this a bad thing. In this review, we’ll focus on items only at Abracadabar.

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New to the cocktail menu is the Hoodunit’s Punch.

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There are also some pretty interesting flights now.

Hoodunit’s Punch ($12.50)

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Comprised of Captain Morgan, orange juice, pineapple juice, and coconut, the Hoodunit’s Punch is nothing special, but it will do the trick if you aren’t a fan of the old-timer cocktails that comprise the rest of the menu. I appreciate that they are trying different things, but maybe go for something using these flavors that is slightly unique?

Unique Flavors Flight ($22.00)

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While it is on the pricey side, this is one of the more enjoyable bourbon flights on property, and presentation wise it was more than pleasant.

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The Tap 357 Maple Rye is from Canada, so you may not easily find that elsewhere.

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The High West Campfire is our favorite of the bunch.

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And of course, the Woodford is fairly common, but overall a fun flight nonetheless.

Thrice Spiced Fries ($11.00)

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Topped with Feta Cheese, a Sriracha Aioli, and a spice blend, these fries are one of the best bar food items I’ve had at Walt Disney World. I’ve mentioned in several reviews how much I enjoy both steak fries and spicy dishes, and this combines two of my loves. They aren’t so spicy as I think anyone would find it to be overwhelming, and the presence of the feta does a nice job balancing out the flavors. I will be back for these a few times.

Fish Bites and Fries ($14.00)

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Pardon my French, but this dish was trash. While the straw fries are still great, even without the seasoning, the fried fish tasted like it was removed from a bag frozen and thrown into the oven. I would not recommend these under any circumstance.

OVERALL

The presence of some food makes a trip to Abracadabar more feasible, and the drink menu has some fine additions to boot. Abracadabar has a brilliant interior and is a great place to sit and relax, the menu just needed a kick in the rear honestly. I think some more creative, sweeter drinks to balance out the old-time cocktails would make this a can’t miss experience for everyone, and hopefully that will be addressed in the months ahead. Oh, and please remove the Fish Bites…

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REVIEW: Cozy Cone Motel Snacks & More for Cars Land’s Haul-O-Ween Celebration

WDWNT on October 7, 2017

As part of Haul-O-Ween in Cars Land at Disney California Adventure, the Cozy Cone has a bevy of ghoulish-cious treats that will be offered only until October 31st, 2017. We tried them all (of course), and here are our thoughts on these seasonal offerings:

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Halloween Churro – $4.50 (Cone 1)

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How is it? Well, I’m not the biggest fan of pumpkin flavored snacks nor churros, so I was surprised and delighted when I enjoyed this one. The pumpkin flavor wasn’t overpowering and the churros tasted like it was fresh out of the oven.

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“Slow Burnin’ Mac and Cheese Cone” – $8.99 (Cone 3)

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“Pasta with spicy red pepper cheese sauce, topped with chili-cheese puffs, served in black cauldron cone”

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I wish this would stay all year long, because it is fantastic. A spicy version of the solid Disneyland counter service mac and cheese with a lot more flavor from red pepper cheese sauce. The bread cone wasn’t bad either.

“Spoke-y Cone Macaron” (Cone 4)

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A macaron filled with marshmallow buttercream and candy corn.

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This is super sweet, but I really enjoyed it, especially when I would find a hidden piece of candy corn in a bite. The marshmallow cream is rather pleasant between the two soft pastry pieces. Personally, this is a must order for me.

Popcone with “Junkyard JamBOOree Mix” – $5.49 (Cone 5)

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An optional add-on of M&M’s, candy corn, chocolate covered pretzels, boston baked beans, and ghost quins to any flavor of Popcone offered.

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I’m not sure there are many flavors here that would go good with the mix, but butter should be fine. We went for white cheddar, which I also thought was enjoyable.

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I really love snack mix and this one was absolutely delightful and a HUGE portion for the price. The Cozy Cone already offers a decent serving of popcorn, but it being mixed with all of these other items makes it much heavier, certainly enough for any family to share. The candy corn was the only item that doesn’t really mix well in a bite with popcorn, but otherwise, everything went together nicely. Again, I wish I could have this all year long.

16 ($10.99) or 32oz. ($12.99) Traffic Cone Sipper with Halloween Sticker (All Cones)

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It’s kind of disappointing that they just offer a sticker pack with the cone cups for you to customize it, but the cone cups also haven’t been available to guests since May 2015, so its a good time to pick them up if you don’t have them.

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I’m not going to lie, I did put some thought into buying 5 of these and decorating these like the actual Cozy Cones…

REVIEW: Cafe Orleans at Disneyland Drastically Revamps Menu

WDWNT on September 27, 2017

A Disneyland tradition for us, we just had to make a reservation to dine at Cafe Orleans in New Orleans Square while we’re in Anaheim covering all of the HalloweenTime festivities. While we expected one new seasonal item for the celebration, we were instead greeted by drastically different menu…

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For those unfamiliar, here is the previous menu:

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Luckily, the beloved gumbo is still the seasonal soup, but our server said it will be changing. Also, the Monte Cristo has remained, which is important since Blue Bayou no longer serves it.

Bourbon Street Chicken ($20)

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The Bourbon Street Chicken was an excellent boneless chicken breast, seasoned brilliantly, with well prepared rice and the most amazing brussel sprouts. This was one of the best entrees I’ve ever had anywhere at the Disneyland Resort.

Steak and Potatoes ($22.00)

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The steak and potatoes were pretty good as well, accompanied by fantastic mashed potatoes, and once again, those amazing brussel sprouts. It wasn’t the best steak, but it was one of the better under $25 steaks I’ve had in a theme park.

Overall

Overall, I think a lot of guests will be upset with the changes here, but both of the new items we had were fantastic. Besides that, my usual favorites (the pommes frites and the Monte Cristo) are still here so I have zero problem with the major alterations. If anything, I now have a much tougher entree choice than I had before.

REVIEW: The Cheese Studio in Future World, Epcot International Food and Wine Festival

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 “The Cheese Studio”, which is located in Future World West in the pathway to World Showcase near the Imagination pavilion.

The Cheese Studio

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Food:

  • Braised Beef “Stroganoff” with Tiny Egg Noodles, Wild Mushroom, and Boursin Garlic and Fine Herbs Cheese Sauce –  $5.00
  • Savory Caramelized Onion and Boursin Garlic and Fine Herbs Cheese Tart with Cold Arugula Salad and Aged Balsamic –  $4.50
  • Cheese Trio: Profiterole topped with Boursin Garlic and Fine Herbs Cheese and Orange Apricot Jam, Smoked Salmon Pinwheel with Boursin Shallot and Chive Cheese and Everything Seasoning and Strawberry Macaroon with Boursin Pepper Cheese –  $5.50

Beverages:

  • Leth Steinagrund Grüner Veltliner, Austria –  $5.00
  • Liberated Pinot Noir, California –  $6.50

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Braised Beef “Stroganoff” with Tiny Egg Noodles, Wild Mushroom, and Boursin Garlic and Fine Herbs Cheese Sauce –  $5.00

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I would say that is is a good dish, not great. The “stroganoff” isn’t very flavorful, but the egg noodles underneath were quite good.

Savory Caramelized Onion and Boursin Garlic and Fine Herbs Cheese Tart with Cold Arugula Salad and Aged Balsamic –  $4.50

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Not only is this a massive serving for $4.50, it is also as good as it is large. The cheese, arugula,balsamic, onion, and garlic all made for a pleasant combination that I will likely be back for. Well, at least if I leave plenty of room, because this thing is massive, likely as filling as your average counter service meal at Epcot.

Cheese Trio: Profiterole topped with Boursin Garlic and Fine Herbs Cheese and Orange Apricot Jam, Smoked Salmon Pinwheel with Boursin Shallot and Chive Cheese and Everything Seasoning and Strawberry Macaroon with Boursin Pepper Cheese –  $5.50

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Another new favorite, this interesting take on the cheese trio is a must order. While the profiterole was a little forgettable, both the salmon and the macaroon were bursting with flavor and both tasted incredibly fresh.

Leth Steinagrund Grüner Veltliner, Austria –  $5.00

The Gruner Veltliner is indigenous to Austria, where these specific grapes are grown and harvested. This white is worth a try if you’ve never had this variety of wine before, this is what Food & Wine is best at.

Liberated Pinot Noir, California –  $6.50

Named for breaking the trend of overly ripe fruit and high alcohol contents of other pinot Noir. $18 for a fairly common bottle, interesting enough if you’re up for $6.50 a glass, but the Gruner Veltliner is a more unique option

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REVIEW: Light Lab 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 the brand new “Light Lab”, which is located in Future World West behind Club Cool and Epcot Character Spot. Strangely, this marketplace is split into two, with the 3 specialty beverages and the “glow nut” only available in a specially lit room, while beers are available just outside at a set of counters.

Light Lab

Food:

  • The Glownut (Limited Edition) –  $3.00

Beverages:

  • T=C2: Vanilla Tonic Water and Cotton Candy (non-alcoholic) –  $3.75
  • RGB: Citrus Apple Freeze (non-alcoholic) –  $3.75
  • Bleu Spectrum: Blanc de Bleu Cuvée Mousseuz with Boba Pearls –  $9.00
  • Left Hand Brewing Company Polestar Pilsner, Longmont, CO –  $4.25
  • Playalinda Brewing Company Robonaut Red Ale, Titusville, FL –  $4.25
  • Elysian Brewing Space Dust IPA, Seattle, WA –  $4.25
  • Sixpoint Brewery Mad Scientist Radiant Flux, Brooklyn, NY –  $4.25
  • Founders Brewing Company Green Zebra Watermelon Gose Ale, Grand Rapids, MI –  $4.25
  • Blue Point Brewing Company Optical Illusion IPA, Patchogue, NY –  $4.25
  • Space Flight –  $9.00
    • Left Hand Brewing Company Polestar Pilsner, Longmont, CO
    • Playalinda Brewing Company Robonaut Red Ale, Titusville, FL
    • Elysian Brewing Space Dust IPA, Seattle, WA
  • Light Flight –  $9.00
    • Sixpoint Brewery Mad Scientist Radiant Flux, Brooklyn, NY
    • Founders Brewing Company Green Zebra Watermelon Gose Ale, Grand Rapids, MI
    • Blue Point Brewing Company Optical Illusion IPA, Patchogue, NY

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The Glownut (Limited Edition) –  $3.00

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Don’t let the lighting fool you, this was nothing special. Blue sprinkles and white icing with lighting that any non-DSLR camera simply can not capture doesn’t make this anything different than what it is: a doughnut you can buy at any of the Joffrey’s carts at any Walt Disney World theme park. Don’t get me wrong, it isn’t bad, but it’s just an average doughnut that they will have in short supply each day.

T=C2: Vanilla Tonic Water and Cotton Candy (non-alcoholic) –  $3.75

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If you watch the video towards the top of this post, you can watch the “scientists” make this drink, which is pretty fun. Well, I wish it tasted half as fun. It’s basically sugar water. Sure, kids will have fun watching it be made, and it could make for a fun video for your social media account, but you might as well throw it away after that.

RGB: Citrus Apple Freeze (non-alcoholic) –  $3.75

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While this is slightly better, I still would not recommend it. It’s also called a freeze, but did not appear frozen in any way during the first two days of the festival. On top of that, it had no special presentation as they just had a bunch standing by and handed it to me once I presented my receipt. This seems like a waste at a booth with such a unique presentation style.

Bleu Spectrum: Blanc de Bleu Cuvée Mousseuz with Boba Pearls –  $9.00

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Taking a page from the Festival of the Arts, this is a glass of colored champagne with boba balls in it. While there is no straw this time, it’s still the exact same thing. While the boba balls and champagne together make for a good flavor, this isn’t the best way to enjoy them. Drinking it in this way means you are having a bunch of champagne followed by the boba. Not a bad drink option, but there has got to be a better way to ingest it…

Space Flight –  $9.00

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The Left Hand Brewing Company Polestar Pilsner was absolutely terrible, out of the eight people in our group, no one liked it. The Robonaut and the Space Dust were both good, but you can always find the Space Dust IPA at Geyser Point.

Light Flight –  $9.00

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The Mad Scientist Radiant Flux is a fantastic sour beer, the Green Zebra is a decent shandy, and Hoptical Illusion (which can be found at Abracadabar) was pretty awful in my opinion. I’m not sure either flight is worth it unless you really NEED to try all of these for yourself, but as always, you can just get the individual pours as well.

In review, the interior area of Light Lab is wonderfully themed and quite pleasant, it’s just a shame that there is almost nothing worth having from here.

REVIEW: Flavors From Fire Marketplace in Future World (Including That Mustard Pork Drink), 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 the brand-new “Flavors From Fire” kiosk, which is located behind Epcot Character Spot in Future World.

Flavors From Fire

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Food:

  • Piggy Wings: Roasted Pork Wings with Korean BBQ Sauce and Sesame Seeds –  $4.50
  • Smoked Corned Beef with Warm Crispy Potatoes, Pickled Onions and Blonde Ale Beer Fondue featuring BelGioioso Romano and America Grana Cheeses – $5.00
  • Sweet Pancake with Spicy Chipotle Chicken Sausage, Onion Jam and Maple Butter Syrup – $4.00
  • Chocolate Picante: Dark Chocolate Mousse with Cayenne Pepper, Chili Powder and Raspberry Dust – $3.25

Beverages:

  • Orlando Brewery Smokin’ Blackwater Porter – $4.25
  • Ravenswood Zinfandel, Napa Valley – $6.50
  • Swine Brine featuring Evan Williams Bourbon – $8.25

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Piggy Wings: Roasted Pork Wings with Korean BBQ Sauce and Sesame Seeds –  $4.50

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While no longer at the Odyssey, the quality of the Piggy Wings has not changed and they are still rather enjoyable. Two wings for $4.50 isn’t a bargain, but these are still good enough that you’ll forget that they were over $2 each.

Smoked Corned Beef with Warm Crispy Potatoes, Pickled Onions and Blonde Ale Beer Fondue featuring BelGioioso Romano and America Grana Cheeses – $5.00

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A new favorite, this dish is pretty perfect. The smoked corned beef was flavorful and tender, the chips were good, and the beer fondue was the perfect pairing for it all. A absolute must at this year’s festival.

Sweet Pancake with Spicy Chipotle Chicken Sausage, Onion Jam and Maple Butter Syrup – $4.00

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There have been a lot of similar pancake dishes at the Epcot Festivals through the years, but this is one of my absolute favorites. The chicken sausage is spicy and flavorful, there pancake itself is delightful, and the toppings tie the whole thing together nicely. This is yet another must from this booth.

Chocolate Picante: Dark Chocolate Mousse with Cayenne Pepper, Chili Powder and Raspberry Dust – $3.25

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A little bit about me: I love chocolate mousse and I love spice. So, may I introduce you to the love of my life: the Chocolate Picante. Not only could it stand a lone as a fantastic dark chocolate mousse, the peppers, powder, and dust on and in it make it that much better. It’s often hard to go wrong with any dessert at the festival, so this isn’t a huge surprise, but I’ll be ordering this a few times over the next… 2 and a half months? This festival is so long that i may actually get tired of going to it…

Swine Brine featuring Evan Williams Bourbon – $8.25

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The Swine Brine is definitely the most unique of the new items offered this year at the festival, and many were surprised at just how good this ended up being. The drink is a combination of apple juice, lemon juice, bourbon, and mustard, which sounds pretty terrible. Needless to say, everyone in our group grimaced before they tried it, but they ended up enjoying it. I don’t suggest dropping the pork into it though…

I personally hate mustard, but it doesn’t have a strong presence in the taste, but neither does the bourbon. As good as the drink was, the wing on top paled on comparison to the Piggy Wings we had just eaten. Still, I would order this again.

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REVIEW: The Wine and Dine Studio in Future World, Epcot International Food and Wine Festival 2017

WDWNT on September 19, 2017

Welcome to a Marketplace Booth review for the 2019 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, taking place in the park from August 29 to November 23, 2019. This review will cover the Wine & Dine Studio kiosk located in Future World West. This is a one-stop-shop for some fancy wine during the 2019 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. (Note that the menu prices do not include tax!)

For our complete coverage of the 2019 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, head to our festival landing page here.

Wine & Dine Studio Booth at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival 2019

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Food:

  • Seared Scallops, Truffled Celery Root Purée, Brussels Sprouts, and Wild Mushrooms featuring Melissa’s Produce –  $5.75
  • Pulled Duck Confit with Cannellini Bean Ragoût and Zinfandel Reduction –  $5.50
  • Trio of Artisan Cheese –  $5.25
    • Fromager d’Affinois de Excellence with Toasted Baguette
    • Point Reyes Original Blue with Apricot Jam
    • Point Reyes Toma with Honey
  • Artist Palette of Wine and Cheese –  $11.25
    • Trio of Artisan Cheese paired with Round Pond Estate Sauvignon Blanc, St. Francis Chardonnay, and Recuerdo Malbec

Beverages:

  • Round Pond Estate Sauvignon Blanc, Rutherford –  $6.00
  • St. Francis Chardonnay, Sonoma County –  $6.00
  • Recuerdo Malbec, Argentina –  $6.50
  • Eden Canyon “Jolie” Red Blend, California –  $9.00
  • Meiomi Rosé, California –  $5.00

Seared Scallops, Truffled Celery Root Purée, Brussels Sprouts, and Wild Mushrooms featuring Melissa’s Produce –  $5.75

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Scallops can be pretty hit or miss at the Festival in my experience, and this one is a definite hit. Cooked perfectly, the scallop is nicely accented by the celery root puree, Brussels sprouts, and wild mushrooms.

Pulled Duck Confit with Cannellini Bean Ragoût and Zinfandel Reduction –  $5.50

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OK, so this is a picture from last year and there are different accompaniments, but this dish is usually on point, offering a very tender sampling of the bird. The accompaniments come from last year’s pork tenderloin, which was also quite good, so I can’t imagine that this will disappoint.

Artist Palette of Wine and Cheese –  $11.25

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For the price, this is the best value sampler available at the event. It basically offers a combination of a dish and three wines from the menu for $11.25. All of the cheeses and wines are are rather enjoyable as well, with the Recuerdo Malbec being a personal favorite of mine (although not a great value on its own, as you’ll see below).

While we did not have many of the wines in individual servings, here are some thoughts on the value:

Round Pond Estate Sauvignon Blanc, Rutherford –  $6.00

 

Ringing in at $6 a glass is a very lousy value compared to the average 2016 vintage running $25 at your local wine store. If you enjoy pleasant wine aromas, anticipate notes of melon, peach, and amoretto.

St. Francis Chardonnay, Sonoma County –  $6.00

$6 for a glass, or $15 for a bottle at home. We recommend passing entirely.

Recuerdo Malbec, Argentina –  $6.50

Expect notes of blackberries and plum, according to Wine.com, but also $6.50 a glass compared to $20 a bottle at home. You can do better.

Eden Canyon “Jolie” Red Blend, California –  $9.00

$9 for a glass is steep, but from what we’ve found the last vintage was in 2011 which almost validates the $9. For a few bucks more you can get a much better red at Earth Eats

Meiomi Rosé, California –  $5.00

2015 vintage, $5 a glass or $25 for a bottle at home. This is the best value at Wine and Dine in terms of wine.

Location of the Wine & Dine Studio at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival

The Wine & Dine Studio is located in Future World West along the pathway between the Imagination pavilion and World Showcase. The Wine & Dine Studio is Number 5 on the map below.

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More Information