Epcot International Food and Wine Festival
By: Christine Arteta
Published: June 17, 2011

The biggest, most spectacular, and much awaited 16th annual Epcot International Food and Wine Festival at the Walt Disney World Resort is coming again this fall! The Festival is scheduled to begin on September 30 and will last for 45 days. What to expect in this year’s celebration? Disney Parks Food Writer and blogger, Pam Brandon, shares what’s new this year. A lot! Aside from the specialty food items, wine bar, and food tasting seminars, there will be different demonstrations, nightly concerts, parties and more. There will be debut marketplaces and foods like Kahlua pork sliders from Hawaii, ropa vieja from the Caribbean Islands, and calamari salad from Portugal. The new odyssey lounge will open where guests can stay and take a break, play a game or surf the web while enjoying a glass of wine, beer or specialty cocktail. There will be free sessions with a cookbook author at the Festival Welcome center. Shops are always open so you can buy souvenirs or other items anytime.
Expect to meet over 270 chefs in the festival. Celebrity chefs, cookbook authors and top culinarians like Jeff Henderson, Cat Cora, Alan Wong, Gale Gand, Suvir Saran, Jamie Deen, and more will be there for cooking demonstrations and official book signings. Different chefs and winemakers from around the world gather to prepare new and mouthwatering regional dishes, wines, and beers for everyone to taste. At the America Gardens Theatre, performers like the Pointer Sisters, Gin Blossoms, The Orchestra, and Taylor Dayne will entertain you - nonstop parties to keep the celebration going!
First Bites Opening Reception is scheduled for September 29th. Attend the Kitchen Memories, Mixology Seminar, Party for the Senses, Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon, and the 3-D Disney Dessert Discovery! Whether you love cooking, eating or traveling, this celebration is for you!