Disney4me Posted July 13, 2017 Report Share Posted July 13, 2017 Summer is in full swing, and that means lots of long, lazy days, summer fun, barbecues — and the 2017 Epcot Food and Wine Festival will be here before we know it! Festival Center During the Epcot Food and Wine Festival While we love spending time at the festival, hitting up all the great eats and drinks at Festival Booths, I also love to carve out a little time to attend a Culinary Demonstration or Beverage Seminar. And I have to say, of the two, the culinary demos are my favorite. These Low Cost Events take place daily in the Chef’s Showcase at Festival Center, and offer guests a great opportunity to see a live cooking demonstration. Chef’s Showcase, Festival Center But even better, the events include a tasting portion of the dish that’s prepared during the demonstration, and usually include a beverage pairing as well. Last year, we had the opportunity to attend a couple culinary demonstrations. Join us as we share our experience at one of them today. Lobster Creole with Pam Brandon, Katie Farmand, and Heather McPherson The day I attended, there were some notable guests on the Chef’s Showcase stage. Familiar favorite Pam Smith hosted the event. She was joined by Pam Brandon, Katie Farmand, and Heather McPherson, authors of Good Catch: Recipes and Stories Celebrating the Best of Florida’s Waters. Festival Chardonnay, the Epcot Food and Wine Festival Cookbook, and Good Catch All three authors are also notable in their own right. While Heather is a well known former Orlando Sentinel food critic, mother-daughter duo Pam and Katie may be a little more familiar to Disney audiences. Pam has co-authored several Disney cookbooks and writes for Disney Parks Blog, while Katie shares hosting duties on the stages of Festival Center with Pam Smith. Pam Smith with (L-R) Heather McPherson, Pam Brandon, and Katie Farmand Pam, Katie, and Heather are passionate about promoting the use of local ingredients whenever possible. The book celebrates the bounty of seafood in the state of Florida with anecdotes and recipes from fisherman and locally-owned restaurants statewide. Start Your Planning NOW! News! The DFB Guide to the 2017 Epcot Food & Wine Festival e-Book is now available for pre-order! And if you pre-order the 2017 edition, you get the 2016 edition (with TONS of great info!) for FREE!!! 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 2017 edition today and we’ll immediately send you the 2016 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% discount! Be sure to stay tuned to Disney Food Blog for all of the latest coverage about the 2017 Epcot Food and Wine Festival. We’ll have the details FIRST! For the demo, the trio shared a recipe for Lobster Creole from Garcia’s Seafood Grille and Fish Market. Founded more than 40 years ago by a family escaping communist Cuba, the combination restaurant and market, located on the Miami River in Miami, is still run by “mami and her sons.” Lobster Creole Recipe — Click to Enlarge While the Pam and the writers shared a little about the history of the restaurant as well as the recipe, servers passed out glasses of 2016 Festival Chardonnay to pair with the dish. 2016 Festival Chardonnay The recipe combines locally-sourced Florida spiny lobster with aromatic vegetables familiar in Creole cooking: tomatoes, peppers, and onions. As the authors shared details, the space filled with the smells of special seasonings, sauteed veggies, and briny lobster. Catching all of the details was easy, thanks to large monitors situated on either side of the stage. Culinary Demo — Lobster Creole Heather shared that the recipe was a great way to “stretch” expensive seafood ingredients. She also suggested cold water lobster, langoustines, or even shrimp would work well in place of the spiny lobster. As the crew finished preparing the dish, we were served generous samples to try. I loved it! And the pairing with the medium-bodied Chardonnay was a good one. The wine stood up nicely to the richness of the lobster and the light, tomato-based sauce. Lobster Creole I walked away with a nice snack and a lovely recipe to try at home. Whether you’re a veteran of the Epcot Food and Wine Festival, or this is your first visit to the event, be sure to book a culinary demonstration or a beverage seminar. At $17 per person, the price point is super affordable. And besides, you’re basically attending a live cooking show — with samples. Fun + delicious always = awesome. Want to Know More About the 2017 Epcot Food and Wine Festival? Here are ALL the details! 2017 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Index 2017 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Booth and Menu Index2017 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Special Events2017 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Low-Cost Seminars and Demonstrations2017 Eat to the Beat Concert ScheduleEpcot Food and Wine Festival Fans Facebook Page2017 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Wine and Dine Half Marathon2017 Swan and Dolphin Food and Wine ClassicFood and Wine Festival 1012016 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Menus and FOOD PHOTOS2016 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) starting July 20 at 7:00AM ET. Culinary Demonstrations and Beverage 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 are eligible for a $2 discount (per person, per event) for beverage and seminars and culinary demos taking place Mon-Thurs during the festival. Members of these groups can also book low cost culinary demonstrations and seminars early on July 18th beginning at 9:00AM ET. 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 on July 18. Again, this is unconfirmed as well. A limited number of seats are available for the booking date. So now let’s hear from you. Are you planning to attend a culinary demo at Epcot Food and Wine Festival? 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: 2011 Epcot Food & Wine Festival Culinary and Beverage Demo Info FINALLY Available Guest Review: Chef Robert Irvine Culinary Demo at Epcot Food & Wine Festival Review: Cake Boss Buddy Valastro’s Culinary Demo at the Epcot Food and Wine Festival View the full article Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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