Disney4me Posted June 16, 2016 Report Share Posted June 16, 2016 It’s hard to believe that the 2016 Epcot Food and Wine Festival is right around the corner! This year, it stretches to a full two months! The fun begins September 14 and runs 62 days — ending November 14! While there’s so much to eat, drink, and explore, it’s always fun to take in a few of the Special Events happening throughout the festival. Events are varied, and include premium parties like Party for the Senses as well as special lunches and dinners that emphasize food and beverage pairings. In the past we’ve really enjoyed these experiences, ranging from Beverage Pairings in Japan to Beer and Food Pairing in Italy — and even a Tequila Pairing in Mexico! Last year, we decided that it was time to try a few new experiences. And since we had already tried the Moroccan Wine Pairing (loved it!), the other event in the Morocco Pavilion piqued our interest. Wondering About ALL of the Epcot Food and Wine Festival Events? The DFB Guide to the 2016 Epcot Food & Wine Festival e-Book is now available for pre-order! This 250+-page guide to the Festival offers insider tips and advice as well as all of the details you need to know to plan your best Festival visit ever. Your purchase includes several bonus items as well — including a full daily schedule of events at the Festival and a printable World Showcase Booth Menu Checklist to carry with you as you Eat around the World! Order your 2016 edition today and we’ll immediately send you the 2015 edition for FREE to get started on planning right away! Don’t miss a moment of the fun! Use code Chefs at check-out for a 20% off the cover price! And now, onto the review! Mediterranean Food and Wine Pairing in the Morocco Pavilion The Mediterranean Food and Wine Pairing event took place at Spice Road Table in Epcot’s Morocco Pavilion. Spice Road Table and the Newly Renovated Morocco Shops Last year, the event took place at sort of an odd time — Tuesdays from 3:30-5:30. Not quite lunch and not quite dinner, we weren’t sure what to expect as we entered the beautiful tapas restaurant. So armed with a very light lunch ;-), we made our way in. Unexpectedly, we were greeted with a glass of Cava, a dry sparkling white wine from Spain. Kila Cava Label Glasses of Cava Greet Us While We’re Waiting for the Event to Begin Served in plastic champagne flutes, the crisp, dry sparkling wine was a fitting aperitif as guests milled around, waiting to be seated. My Glass. Cheers! When it was time to take our places, we filed into Spice Road Table’s indoor dining area, where the smaller tables were joined together. Table Settings Finding Seats This type of seating is customary for festival events. Normally, guests simply find a seat, and it’s pretty much guaranteed that you’ll be sitting with strangers. If that’s something that makes you uncomfortable, you may want to plan to attend with a group of friends. Table Settings Another word of warning — you may have to move to accommodate other guests with different numbers in their parties. Because I was a single, I was asked to move once to make way for a party of three at the table where I originally sat. No worries, though! Once seated, I made friends easily with the large group at my table. My Spot Upon arriving at my seat, I took stock of my place setting. The paper placemat included labels for four wines (SO smart, just in case you love one of them), three of which were already poured. All of the wines we sampled during the tasting were from Spain. My Place at the Table A menu also gave us an idea of the dishes we would be sampling with each course. Both the wine and food line ups looked promising! Wines and Menu — Click to Enlarge Spice Road Table’s sommelier, Raphael, introduced himself and then gave us a brief lesson in tasting wine. Sommelier Raphael The Chef was also on hand to talk us through the dishes we would enjoy. The Chef Speaking About the Dishes Raphael shared suggestions for how to approach each wine and food pairing and we were encouraged to engage all of our senses as we sampled each wine. We were invited to hold the wines up to the light to check out the color before we sniffed and swirled our glasses. I had already enjoyed the Cava before entering the event, of course. The second wine, Paso A Paso, was a Verdejo from Spain. While I detected a few herbal notes that made for a lovely contrast, mostly what came through was pleasantly citrusy. I instantly thought this would be a really nice choice for our hot and humid Florida Summers. Paso A Paso Verdejo But the wine truly blossomed with the pairing. The dish offered with the Verdejo was Shrimp with Fresh Corn, Plum Tomatoes, Garlic, and Ouzo Lemon Butter, and it was incredible. Rich and buttery, the lemon and Ouzo were perfection, and both complemented the wine perfectly. Shrimp with Fresh Corn, Plum Tomatoes, Garlic, and Ouzo Lemon Butter The next wine to try was Bodegas Borsao Campo de Borja Borsao, a Rosé made with Grenache. Ripe but not overly sweet strawberries are the dominant flavors here, and I thought this was a lovely progression from the whites we had already enjoyed. Borsao Rose Held to the Light Our next course was Spicy Tuna with Eggplant, Capers Salad, Zucchini, and Basil Oil. There was nothing that I did not love about this dish! Spicy Tuna with Eggplant, Capers Salad, Zucchini, and Basil Oil The tuna, which was a fairly hearty portion, was well cooked. Although this shot is a little messy, I wanted you to see the Salad beneath the fish. It was excellent, and the sweet Raisins worked beautifully with the meaty fish and dry yet fruity wine. Spicy Tuna with Eggplant, Capers Salad, Zucchini, and Basil Oil — The Salad Beneath Our third wine, the Bodegas Breca Garnacha de Fuego, is actually a wine that I’ve had before. I hadn’t been impressed with an earlier vintage that I’d tried. This go ’round was different, however. I found it to be more mellow and rich, with ripe cherries and tobacco coming through. Garnacha de Fuego Grenache, or Garnacha, is lovely when paired with Lamb, and that’s the direction that they went here. For our third course, we enjoyed Coriander Crusted Lamb with Basmati Rice, Roasted Tomatoes, and Zucchini. Coriander Crusted Lamb with Basmati Rice, Roasted Tomatoes, and Zucchini Aside from the fact that the lamb was just a tiny bit more done than I would like, I give high marks to the dish. The meat was tender and complex in flavor. The wine-fortified sauce matched the wine we were drinking in a lovely way. Coriander Crusted Lamb with Basmati Rice, Roasted Tomatoes, and Zucchini Lamb Chop — Up Close The crushed Coriander lent an exotic flavor as well as a bit of texture and visual interest. Coriander Crust Once our plates were cleared, our servers brought around glasses of our fifth and final wine, Jorge Ordonez & Co. Seleccion Especial No. 1. The dessert is made with Muscatel, and the grapes are dried on the vine before being harvested and pressed. Sweet without crossing into cloying, this was a lovely example of a dessert wine from a region and varietal that I hadn’t previously enjoyed. Muscatel Dessert Wine Our sweet ending came in the form of a few different Moroccan Pastries. Pastries I couldn’t get enough of the first, with its layers of shredded Phyllo and ground Pistachios. Pastries — Up Close The other selection, a rolled pastry reminiscent of Baklava, was also delicious. Pastries — Up Close Thoroughly satisfied with the meal, I was ready to head out for a stroll along the promenade. My “in-between lunch and dinner” was so substantial that it ended up serving as an early supper Overall I was very pleased with this event. After all, what’s not to love about spending your afternoon eating delicious food, exploring new-to-you wines, and making new friends? With decent portions and an interesting wine selection, the Mediterranean Food and Wine Pairing made for a nice little treat. It’s a Special Event that feels special, and yet won’t break the bank. For more details on the Epcot Food and Wine Festival, stay tuned to the DFB Epcot Food and Wine Festival Main Page, and don’t forget to join the Disney Food Blog newsletter! 2016 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Index 2016 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Booth and Menu Index2016 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Special Events2016 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Low-Cost Seminars and Demonstrations2016 Eat to the Beat Concert ScheduleEpcot Food and Wine Festival Fans Facebook Page2016 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Wine and Dine Half Marathon2016 Swan and Dolphin Food and Wine ClassicFood and Wine Festival 1012015 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Menus and FOOD PHOTOS2015 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Gluten Free Items How to Book Epcot Food & Wine Festival Events To book all special events and demonstrations, call 407-WDW-FEST (939-3378). Join the Disney Food Blog Newsletter to find out as soon as we do about details and booking dates! Culinary Demonstrations, Beverage Seminars, Mixology Seminars, and general admission for some special events may be bookable online at www.epcotfoodfestival.com as well as by phone. Tables in Wonderland members, Annual Passholders, Disney Vacation Club Members, and Golden Oak Residents may be eligible for a discount (per person, per event) for beverage and mixology seminars and culinary demos taking place Mon-Thurs during the festival. Discounts are by phone only at 407-WDW-FEST (939-3378). Stay tuned to DisneyFoodBlog.com and the Disney Food Blog Newsletter for details. Chase Disney Visa Cardholders may be able to book select special events, demos, and seminars early. A limited number of seats would be available for the TBD booking date. What do you think of the Mediterranean Food and Wine Pairing? Let us know by sharing your thoughts in comments! Disney Food Blog Fans, be sure to check out our DFB Disney World Dining Guide e-Books! Find great deals at DFBStore.com! Also, come on over and: Subscribe to our Newsletter Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook Fan Related posts: Guest Review: Tutto Italia Food and Wine Pairing at the Epcot Food & Wine Festival Epcot Food and Wine Festival Review: Japan Food and Beverage Pairing Guest Review: Epcot Food and Wine Festival Pizza and Beer Pairing Event at Via Napoli View the full article Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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