The theme for the 2008 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival was “Cities in Wonderland.” With graphics inspired by the late Mary Blair (creator of the look and design of “it’s a small world”), the festival took guests to cities around the world with renowned cuisine and wine. Montreal, Canada; Reims, France; Barcelona, Spain; New Dehli, India, and more.
The festival takes place primarily around the World Showcase promenade at Epcot. A festival center occupies the old Wonders of Life pavilion. It is here you will find a wine bar (Champagne in the morning is always a good way to start the day!), a merchandise shop, a well-stocked wine shop that features most of the wines appearing in the festival, and a book shop. The festival center is also the location for the free wine seminars and cooking demonstrations.
The main feature of the festival is the twenty-plus food kiosks located around World Showcase. This part of Epcot has always had various forms of international cuisine available, but the selection is at least double during the festival. So, without further ado, here are the details about the food kiosks.
- Reims, France–featuring Moët & Chandon: Impérial, Rosé Impérial, Nectar Impérial, and Nectar Impérial Rosé.
- Santiago, Chile–featuring shrimp with cilantro salsa, spicy beef empanada (one of my favorites), dulce de leche. Wines: Montes “Limited Selection” Sauvignon Blanc, Classic Series Chardonnay, Alpha Syrah, and “Limited Selection” Cabernet-Carmenère.
- Buenos Aires, Argentina–beef and corn pie, grilled beef with chimichurri sauce. Wines: Bodea Norton Chardonnay, Torrontes, Reserva Malbec, and Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon.
- The Mouse Catch–selection of dorothea, holland, asiago pressato, and manchego cheeses along with Heineken beer, Martini & Rossi prosecco, and Marqués de Cáceres Rioja.
- Mexico City, Mexico–Chilaquiles, quesadilla con chorizo (another favorite), capirotada. Wines: L.A. Cetto Chardonnay, Petite Sirah, and Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, along with Dos Equis beer and a cinnamon rice milk.
- Barcelona, Spain–chilled tomato and garlic soup (excellent), seared tuna loin with spicy red pepper coulis and garlic-herb ciabatta, churro with chocolate sauce. Wines: Poema Cava Brut, Bodega Don Olegario Albariño, Bodegas Julián Chivite Gran Feudo Rosé, and Abadía Retuerta Selección Especial.
- Vienna, Austria–Beef goulash with a bacon dumpling, tafelspitz and apricot cake. Wines: Leth Grüner Veltliner, Leth Riesling and Iby Zweigelt.
- Shanghai, China-Chicken sha cha, pork pot stickers, ginger ice cream. Wines: Dragon Hollow Chardonnay, Plum Wine, along with Tsing Tao beer and a mango-gingerita.
- New Delhi, India–Samosa with tamarind sauce, red curry shrimp over rice, mango mousse. Wines: Sula Sauvignon Blanc (surprisingly good), Sula Chenin Blanc, along with Kingfisher premium lager beer.
- Cape Town, South Africa–Durban spiced chicken with coconut milk-infused root vegetables (always a favorite), bobotie with mango chutney, spice cake with chocolate sauce. Wines: Fairview’s Sauvignon Blanc, Goats do Roam White, Pinotage and the Goatfather red blend.
- Melbourne, Australia–Pepperberry prawns on the barbie with sweet potato hash, chilled barramundi fish with a fennel slaw, grilled lamb chops with caramalized onion jam, and wattleseed mousse. Wines: Yellowglen Pink Sparkling, Cooralook Chardonnay, Cooralook Pinot Noir, Green Point Shiraz, along with Foster’s Lager (in Australia? Really?)
- Munich, Germany–Spaetzle with creamy mushroom ragoût, Regensburger sausage with sauerkraut in a pretzel roll (not bad!), and apple strudel. Wines: S.A. Prühm Essence Riesling, Blue Slate Riesling, Graacher Himmelreich Spätlese, and Schloss Reinhartshausen Old Vines Riesling, along with Beck’s pilsner and Beck’s Oktoberfest.
- Bologna, Italy–Pizza with sausage, baked ziti, cream puff with mascarpone and Gianduja chocolate. Wines: Tantinel Prosecco, Sartori Pinot Grigio, Placido Chianti, along with Moretti beer and Virgin Primavera.
- Cork, Ireland–Potato leek soup with a Dubliner cheese stick, boxty with bacon chips and Kerrygold garlic and fresh herb butter, Irish cheese selection of reserve cheddar, dubliner and invernia with apple chutney and brown bread. Guinness Draught or frozen Irish coffee to wash it all down.
- “Hops and Barley”–Boston crab cake with corn and barley salad, New England lobster roll, and a whole throng of Sam Adams beers.
- San Francisco, USA–Roasted beet salad with goat cheese, seared beef medallion with cheddar cheese polenta (outstanding), California strawberry shortcake (also outstanding). Wines: Sterling Vineyards Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc, Rosenblum Cellars Kathy’s Cuvee Viognier, Dynamite Vineyards Merlot, Beauliue Vineyard Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.
- Tokyo, Japan–Spicy tuna roll, California sushi roll, seaweed salad with shrimp and mandarin oranges. Ozeki dry sake, Hana raspberry sake, Takara plum wine, along with Kirin Ichiban beer and Ocha Gyokuru iced green tea.
- Wellington, New Zealand–Bay scallops with baby greens and cranberry vinaigrette, lamb slider on a brioche roll (outstanding), kiwi meringue tartlet. Wines: Villa Maria’s Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc, Private Bin Unoaked Chardonnay, Private Bin Riesling, Private Bin Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon.
- Marrakesh, Morocco–Grilled beef and hummus in a pita pocket (mine never had hummus), chicken brewat rolls, walnut baklava. Wines: Guerrouane Red, Bodegas Pinford Moscatel, Zambra Sangria, along with Casa beer and iced mint tea.
- Louisiana, USA–Louisiana seafood gumbo, crawfish etouffée, praline bread pudding, bourbon caramel sauce. Abita’s Amber and Purple Haze beers.
- Lyon, France–Escargot persillade en brioche, goat cheese and leek quiche, mile chocolate crème brûlée. Wines: Sparkling pomegranate kir, Michel Picard Vouvray, Georges Duboeuf Macon-Villages, Château Haut-Monain Bordeaux (rouge), along with Orangeade.
- Istanbul, Turkey–Meze, manti with yogurt sauce, pistachio baklava. Wines: Kavaklidere Cankaya white, Selection Beyaz white, Yakut red, Selection Kirmizi red, along with Efes pilsener beer.
- Montreal, Canada–Cheddar cheese soup (always good), maple glazed salmon with arugula and roasted corn (probably the most popular selection of all), maple custard topped with almond crumblee. Wines: Château des Charmes Chardonnay, Riesling, Merlot, Vidal icewine, along with Moosehead beer.
- Athens, Greece–Greek salad, spanakopita, honey and spice cookie. Wines: Boutari Moschofilero, Oenoforos Asprolithi, Vatistas Cabernet Sauvignon-Agiorghitiko blend, and Kourtaki Mavrodaphne of Patras.
- Krakow, Poland–Creamy wild mushroom soup, kielbasa and potato perogies with caramalized onions and sour cream. Chopin Vodka raspberry cocktail.
- San Juan, Puerto Rico–Mofongo, plantain and beef casserole, “gypsy’s arm” jelly roll. Frozen piña colada and frozen mojito to top it off.
In addition, there’s a Greek wine bar along with a wine bar featuring the wines of New York.
Each day featured about five free wine seminars, and there were a number of longer programs, such as a master class in Champagne.
The 2009 festival runs from September 25 through November 8, so make your plans now!