21st Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Starts Today at Walt Disney World Resort

[Disney4me]

You know your taste buds have been waiting all year.

And in just a couple hours, the marketplaces at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival will be serving up hundreds of new flavor combinations in portions designed to share and sample.

For your first visit with us (you know you’ll be back again – and again – over the next 61 days…) you can spend the whole day eating at all five of our new marketplaces.

Islands of the Caribbean can be your first stop. The mojo pork, melt-in-your-mouth quesitos and refreshing sangria is a great way to start.

At the Chew Collective, inspired by the ABC Emmy-award winning show that visits next month and will tape a week’s worth of shows, the popular ricotta and zucchini ravioli returns. It pairs nicely with this year’s Festival wines – choose the Chardonnay or Cabernet Sauvignon. Why not try both?

Stroll around World Showplace and check out more than two dozen marketplaces. Hop on attractions like the new Frozen Ever After and Soarin’ Around the World in Future World.

If you’re heading back to Future World, stop by the new Wine and Dine Studio for the seared scallop with celery root puree and caramelized brussel sprouts (these aren’t the ones your mama served. I’d eat a whole plate of these! Sorry mom…)

Late afternoon, visit the Festival Center to catch a culinary demonstration. Today’s is Sushi 101; throughout the festival you can learn about mixology, pairings and more.

A light snack along the way is at Greenhouse Guru Hosted by Village Farms – the chilled gazpacho with lump crab meat.

You’ll wrap up just in time to catch the Eat to the Beat concerts of the night. Festival first-timer Wang Chung kicks off the night, and the festival.

Before you wrap up your first visit, one more sweet stop, at the new Chocolate Studio. Pick up one of our Red Wine Chocolate Truffles for a rich treat as you head out.

Of course, there are so many ways to enjoy your first visit – share with us how you plan to spend yours!

View the full article