Advertisement
Epcot International Food & Wine Festival 2007
The 12th annual fall event will run for six weeks, from September 28 November 11, 2007. All festival events are included with regular Epcot admission.
The festival features such activities as the Great American Gardeners lecture series, the Eat to the Beat Concert Series and Disney Gardening at Home presentations, as well as many floral displays and dozens of the topiaries that at one time could be seen all over Walt Disney World.
Here's a rundown on what's going on at the Festival in 2007:
- Festival Center events
- International marketplaces
- Seminars and tastings
- Child-focused events
- Eat to the Beat concert series
- Special Events
Culinary demonstrations have always been a mainstay of the event. Photo by Sue Holland.
Festival Center events
The Festival Welcome Center inside the Wonders of Life pavilion is open daily from park open to park close. Inside the center, you can:
- Attend wine seminars
- Visit the Champagne and Wine Bar
- Get information on the daily schedule of events
- Celebrity Book Signings
- Purchase wine at the Festival Wine Shop, where you can purchase any of more than 300 selections from the various wineries showcased at the Festival
- Meet representatives from the more than 100 wineries in attendance
- Purchase wine by the glass at the Meet the Winemaker location
South Africa's marketplace is located near the Outpost. Photo by Sue Holland.
International marketplaces provide tastes from around the world
Two dozen culinary marketplaces featuring foods and beverages from around the world tempt you all around the World Showcase. The appetizer-sized portions range from $2.00-$4.50, and most of the locations offer food and beverage pairings. Oklahoma, Peru, and the Dominican Republic are new additions this year. The complete list of marketplaces is:
- Africa: South Africa; Morocco
- Eastern Europe: Poland; Turkey
- Asia: China; India; Japan
- North America: Canada; United States; Oklahoma; Hops & Barley Market
- Latin America: Mexico; Chile; Argentina; Peru
- Caribbean: Dominican Repulic
- Pacific Rim: New Zealand; Australia
- Continental Europe: France; Ireland; Greece; Italy; Germany; Spain; Champagne
Even at eleven-thirty in the morning, the Specialty Beer Garden was doing a bit of business during the 2003 Flower & Garden Festival. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.
Seminars and tastings teach about foods and beverages
Special tastings and seminars take place around World Showcase most days, providing a chance to get more insight into how to compare various foods and beverages.
- Twinings Tea Bar Discover the history of Twinings Tea, features an iced tea bar.
- The History of Beer in America at the American Adventure daily, features complimentary seminars daily at 12:30, 1:15, 2:45, 4:15, 5:15, and 6:30p.m.
- Turkey Welcomes You visit the Grand Bazaar and other sites from Turkey. Daily culinary demonstrations and demonstrations of the traditional art of coffee making.
- Peru Observe Lima's best chefs preparing authentic Peruvian specialties, visit with native artists and visit a shop for Peruvian textiles and hand-carved gourds.
- Australia: Discover Down Under Purchase an Aussie Walkabout Passport and join a tasting tour of four major wine regions.
- Dominican Republic Enjoy daily culinary demonstrations from The Caribbean Kitchen and entertainment by authentic Meringue dancers. Discover the art of crafting amber jewelry and relax with a rum cocktail available for purchase at the Sugar Cane Bar.
Child-focused events and features
To make sure young ones don't feel left out, the festival also includes these child-focused activities:
- Behind the Seeds Greenhouse Tour Bring the entire family for a backstage tour of The Land greenhouses and fish farm. Sample a greenhouse vegetable, release lady bugs, and feed the fish, too! Get close-up views of giant fruits, good bugs, and alligators — and take home ideas for growing your own gardens.
- Oklahoma 1907-2007 This year, Oklahoma is celebrating 100 years of statehood! Explore its unique history and extraordinary future when you step into this experience featuring activities for the entire family. Enjoy Chuck Wagon and Native American cooking demonstrations, listen to Native American storytellers, and indulge the youngsters in activities in an authentic tipi.
- Pearville Fair Visit this slice of Americana where pears take center stage. Celebrate one of the most important crops from the great Northwest at a traditional county fair. Discover the variety, flavor, diversity and nutritional importance of pears in a series of activities that are designed to engage and enlighten guests of all ages.
- Epcot Junior Chef Program "Making Toll House Cookies" the daily culinary opportunity fits in nicely with the festival. Every day from 11:30 a.m. 3:30 p.m., kids ages 4 10 can make their own cookies at The Land pavilion.
- Kidcot the usual masks decorated by children are replaced by a special chef's mask for the Festival. Visit the Kidcot Fun Stops at each of the 11 World Showcase pavilions and three additional locations to get special stamps and charms to complete the mask.
The Buzz About Honey tent appeared during the 2003 Flower & Garden Festival. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.
Eat to the Beat Concert Series
Concerts take place three times nightly at the America Gardens Theatre, at 5:45, 7:00 and 8:15 p.m. Be careful if you decide to dance after sampling too much food from the international marketplaces, as your stomach may not appreciate it. [Note: As always, entertainment is subject to change without notice.]
- September 28 29: Al Stewart
- October 30 October 1: Otis Day and the Knights
- October 2 3: The Beach Boys
- October 4 6: The Original Family Stone
- October 7 9: Sheena Easton
- October 10 13: Starship
- October 14 16: David Cassidy
- October 17 18: Little Richard
- October 19 21: Juice Newton
- October 22 25: The Four Tops
- October 26 27: The Village People
- October 28 30: The Outlaws
- October 31 November 3: John Secada
- November 4 6: Chubby Checker and the Wildcats
- November 7 8: The Contours featuring Sylvester Potts
- November 9 11: David Sanborn
The Festival del Cioccolato entry in Italy Pavilion was popular during the 2003 Food & Wine Festival. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.
Special events provide hard-ticketed culinary experiences
The number of events that require separate, advance payment have exploded this year. Nearly 150 different events of 14 types with prices ranging from $40 to $300 per person will probably all sell out. Many of these events sell out in the first day or two of reservations becoming available. Reservations, which can be made at 407-WDW-FEST (407-939-3378), for these events opened on July 31. Nearly all take place in Epcot, though some are located in various high-end restaurants around Walt Disney World. Separate theme park admission required unless indicated otherwise.
Sweet Sundays At the Odyssey Restaurant between Future World and World Showcase on Sundays from 10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. ($65 per person, plus tax, gratuity included). Starting with a continental breakfast, watch a celebrity pastry chef create three dessert items that you sample throughout the event.
- September 30: Will Goldfarb, Room 4 Dessert, New York, NY
- October 7: Colette Peters, Colette's Cakes, New York, NY
- October 14: Keri Fisher, Villanova, PA and Greg Case, MA, Co-authors of One Cake, One Hundred Desserts
- October 21: Geraldine Randlesome, Creative Cutters, Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada
- October 28: Richard Ruskell, Montage Resort and Spa, Laguna Beach, CA
- November 4: Mindy Segal, HOT CHOCOLATE, Chicago, IL
- November 11: Warren Brown, Sugar Rush, Food Network and CakeLove, Washington, DC and Mary Meyers, CakeLove, Washington, DC
The Cook, the Book and the Bottle At the Odyssey Restaurant between Future World and World Showcase on Fridays from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ($150 per person, plus tax, gratuity included). A celebrity chef prepares a themed three-course lunch for you, and you also receive an autographed book and commemorative bottle of wine.
- September 28: Champagne: Mireille Guiliano, Former President and CEO of Veuve Clicquot, Inc., New York, NY
- October 5: Global/Thai: Nirmala Narine, Nirmala's Kitchen, Long Island, NY
- October 12: German: Chef Walter Staib, City Tavern, Philadelphia, PA
- October 19: Hawaiian: Chef Alan Wong, Alan Wong's Restaurant, Honolulu, HI
- October 26: French: Chef Jean Fleury, Paul Bocuse Brasseries, Lyon, France
- November 2: Napa Valley: Chef Joyce Goldstein & Evan Goldstein, M.S., San Francisco, CA
- November 9: Indian: Suvir Saran, Dévi, New York, NY
Odyssey Kitchen Conversations At the Odyssey Restaurant between Future World and World Showcase on Thursdays from 3:00 p.m to 4:30 pm or 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm depending on the day. ($75 per person, plus tax, gratuity included). Celebrity Chefs chat with guests, demonstrate themed food preparation, and provide an autographed copy of their book.
- October 4: American: G. Garvin, TV One's Turn Up the Heat, Los Angeles, CA
- October 11: American: Jeff Henderson, Author of Cooked, Las Vegas, NV
- October 18: Hawaiian/Asian: Roy Yamaguchi, Roy's Restaurant, Honolulu, HI
- October 25: American Sushi: Chef Tracy Griffith, Author of Sushi American Style, Napa Valley, CA
- November 1: Sardinia: Efisio Farris, Gourmet Sardinia, and Arcodoro & Pomodoro, Restaurants, Houston, TX
- Sunday November 4: Greek: Cat Cora, Iron Chef America, Food Network
- November 8: American: Todd English, bluezoo, Orlando, FL and Olives Restaurant, Charlestown, MA
Chefs A' Field - Kis on the Farm At the Odyssey Restaurant between Future World and World Showcase on Wednesdays from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ($135 per person, plus tax, gratuity included). Well-known chefs and their kids lead guests to the field and back to the kitchen, then turn the gathered ingredients into a three-course meal. Based on the popular PBS television series. All guests also receive a complimentary copy of the Chefs A' Field book.
- October 3: Jason Wilson, Crush Restaurant, Seattle, WA Wild Foraging & Island Duck Eggs - treasures from the Pacific Northwest
- October 10: Holly Smith, Café Juanita, Kirkland, WA Seattle Charcuterie
- October 17: Bill Telepan, Telepan Restaurant, New York, NY Ice Cream, From a Cow – a milking adventure in upstate New York!
- October 24: Bruce Sherman, North Pond Restaurant, Chicago, IL Artisan Chèvre - hand-crafted goat cheese from Wisconsin
- October 31: Michel Nischan, Dressing Room, Westport, CT Winter Bay Scallops - nuggets of gold from Cape Cod
- November 7: Robert Wiedmaier, Marcel's and Brasserie Beck's, Washington, DC Rockfish Round-Up – Striped bass from the Chesapeake
Cheese Tastings At the Odyssey Restaurant between Future World and World Showcase on Saturdays from 2:00 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. ($60 per person, plus tax, gratuity included). Explore cheeses from aorund the world with Expert fromagers.
- September 29: France
- October 6: Italy
- October 13: Spain
- October 20: Italy
- October 27: USA
- November 3 : Italy
- November 10: France
Afternoon Tea with Stephen Twining At Ariel's at the Yacht and Beach Club Resort on Saturday September 29 and October 6, Sunday September 30 and October 7 from 3-5:00 p.m. ($75 per person, plus tax, gratuity included). Enjoy a classic afternoon tea combined with a presentation by Stephen Twining, part of the Twining's Tea family. Theme park admission is not required for this event.
Epcot Wine Schools On selected Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ($150 per person, plus tax, gratuity included - $160 for the Octeober 6 and 13th events). A comprehensive program including continental breakfast and lunch, this is facilitated by a prestigious wine authority and provides a certificate of completion. Theme park admission is not required for this event.
- Saturday, September 29: Champagne with Möet Hennessy, Charles Curtis, M.W. (Wonders of Life Pavilion)
- Sunday, October 6: Burgundy with Maison Louis Jadot, Olivier Masmondet (Bistro de Paris, France Pavilion)
- Saturday, October 13: Italy with Castello Banfi, Sharron McCarthy, CWE (Tutto Italia, Italy Pavilion)
- Sunday, October 20: Spain with Doug Frost, MS, MW (Wonders of Life Pavilion)
- Sunday, October 27: South America with Concha y Toro & Viñedos Emiliana, Sebastian Lopez (Wonders of Life Pavilion)
- Sat. November 3: Greece with Steve Olson ( Wonders of Life Pavilion)
- Sun. November 10: South Africa with Fairview, Robin Back (Wonders of Life Pavilion )
Vertical Wine Tastings At the California Grill at the Contemporary Resort on Saturdays from 1:30-3 p.m. ($135 per person, plus tax, gratuity included, $175 for the November 3rd event). Guests experience an educational tasting of 10 vintages from a specific vineyard. Theme park admission is not required.
- September 29: Napa Valley, Fife Vineyards Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
- October 6: Napa Valley, Robert Mondavi Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
- October 13: Napa Valley, Charles Krug Winery Cabernet Sauvignon
- October 20: Napa Valley, Joseph Phelps Cabernet Sauvignon
- October 27: Spain , Montecillo Gran Reserva Especial, Rioja
- November 3: Bordeaux, Château Cos d'Estournel
- November 10: Napa Valley, Beringer Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Food & Wine Pairings At various Epcot restaurants on different days and times at each location ($45 per person, plus tax, gratuity included). Three different wines and three tasting portions are provided at each session.
- Teppan Edo Matsunoma Lounge (Sake, sushi and sashimi), Japan Pavilion, Mondays, October 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 & November 5 from 3:30-5 p.m.
- Restaurant Marrakesh (Mediterranean flavors), Morocco Pavilion, Tuesdays, October 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, November 6 from 3:30-5 p.m.
- Coral Reef (Featured wineries and menu selection will change daily), The Seas with Nemo & Friends, Wednesdays, October 3, 10, 24, November 7; Thursdays, October 11, November 8; Fridays, September 28, October 12, November 9 from 3-4:30 p.m.
- Seas Salon (Featured wineries and menu selection will change daily), The Seas with Nemo & Friends, Wednesdays, October 17, 31; Thursdays, October 4, 18, 25, November 1; Fridays, October 5, 19, 26, November 2 from 3-4:30 p.m.
- Le Cellier Steakhouse (Contemporary Northwestern flavors), Canada Pavilion, Fridays, September 28, October 5, 12, 19, 26, November 2 & 9 from 3-4:30 p.m.
- Bistro de Paris (A selection of the finest charcuterie and cheese), France Pavilion, Saturdays, September 28, October 13, 20, 24 & November 3, 10, from 2:30-4 p.m.
- Tutto Italia (Regional Italian specialties), Italy Pavilion, Sundays, September 30, October7, 14, 21, 28, November 4 & 11 from 2:30-4 p.m.
- Rose & Crown Dining Room and Pub (Scotch and food pairing), United Kingdom Pavilion, Sunday, October 21 from 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Party for the Senses - Eat, Drink and Celebrate At the World Showplace between the Canada and U.K. pavilions on Saturdays from 6:30-9 p.m. ($135 per person, plus tax, gratuity included). This highly-popular event starts with reserved seats at the 7:00 performance of that evening's Eat to the Beat concerts, followed by an event featuring more than 25 chefs and over 70 wines and beers at tasting stations throughout the pavilion while Cirque du Soleil La Nouba provides entertainment.
Exquisite Evenings at Epcot At the Odyssey Restaurant between Future World and World Showcase on Friday evenings from 6:30-9 p.m. ($210 per person, plus tax, gratuity included). This top-priced event features a team of celebrity and Walt Disney World chefs preparing a five-course meal, while a wine expert provides information and recommendations. Theme Park admission is not required for this event.
- October 5: The Vineyard Collage, California; Chef: Terry Letson, Fumé Bistro & Bar, Napa Valley, CA; Pastry Chef: Antony Fernandez, The Ritz-Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation, Greensboro, GA; Wineries: Caymus Vineyards, Napa Valley and Piper & Charles Heidsieck, Champagne, France
- October 12: A Tuscan Renaissance; Chef: Cesare Casella, Maremma, New York, NY; Pastry Chef: Noah French, Roy's Restaurant Corporate Pastry Chef, Chandler, AZ;Wineries: Castello Banfi, Tuscany Italy and Cecchi, Tuscany, Italy
- October 19: A Northwest Silhouette; Chef/Pastry: John Sundstrom, Lark Restaurant, Seattle, WA; Wineries: Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, Washington State and Erath, Oregon
- October 26: Whimsical Masters; Chefs: Duskie Estes and John Stewart, Zazu & Bovolo Restuarants & Farm, Santa Rosa, CA; Pastry Chef: Leah Bayly, Zazu & Bovolo Restuarants & Farm, Santa Rosa, CA; Wineries: Silver Oak, Alexander and Napa Valley and Gary Farrell, Sonoma
- November 2 : Inspiration for Anton Ego; Chef: Jean-Robert de Cavel, Jean-Robert at Pigall's, Cincinnati, OH; Pastry Chef: Frederic Monti, The Greenbrier®, White Sulphur Springs, WV; Winery: Château Cos d' Estournel, Bordeaux France and Bollinger, Champagne France
- Novmber 9 : Contemporary Italian; Chef: John Sarich, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, Woodinville, WA; Pastry Chef: Carlos Salazar, MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, NV;Winery: Antinori, Tuscany
Regional Feasts At the Odyssey Restaurant between Future World and World Showcase on various dates from 6:30-9 p.m. ($150 per person, plus tax, gratuity included). Each of these events will feature cuisine from different regions of the world. Theme Park admission is not required for this event.
- October 10: Mexico: A Michoacán Memory
- October 17: Peru: Passion for Pisco
- October 24: Puglia, Italy: Taste of Puglia
- October 31: Turkey: Turkish Treasures
- November 1: Greece: Toast to Bacchus
- November 7: Oklahoma: A Centennial Celebration
- November 8: New England: A Brewer's Tale - An Evening with Jim Koch, founder of Samuel Adams beer (American Adventure Pavillion)
Signature Dining At various Walt Disney World restaurants on various days, Lunch: 12:30 - 3:00 p.m., Dinner: 6:30 - 9:00 p.m. ($155 per person, plus tax, gratuity included, $350 per person for the November 4th event). Celebrity chefs join Walt Disney World chefs to prepare special five-course dinners.
- September 30: Inspirations from India; Lunch at Jiko - The Cooking Place, Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge; Host Chef: Brett Hill; Chef: Suvir Saran, Dévi, New York, NY
- October 14: An Artful Table; Signature Dinner at California Grill, Disney's Contemporary Resort; Host Chef: Jens Dahlmann; Chef: David Anderson, Madeleine Bistro, Tarzana, CA
- October 21: A Blue Montage Dinner at The Seas Salon, The Seas with Nemo & Friends, Epcot®; Chef: Epcot Chefs
- October 28: Rhône Impressionist; Dinner at Bistro de Paris, Franc Pavilion, Epcot; Host Chef: Bruno Vrignon; Chef: Jean Fleury, Paul Bocuse Brasseries, Lyon, France
- November 4: A Portrait of Elegance; Dinner at Victoria & Albert's, Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa (6:00 - 9:00 p.m.); Host Chef: Scott Hunnel; Chef: Jean-Louis Gerin Restaurant JEAN-LOUIS, Greenwich, CT
- November 9: The Modern Tableau; Signature Dinner at Todd English's blue zoo, The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort; Host Chef: Christopher Windus; Chef: Todd English, bluezoo, Orlando, FL and Olives Restaurant, Charleston, MA
- November 11: The Boating Party; Lunch at Flying Fish Café, Disney's BoardWalk Resort; Host Chef: Tim Keating; Chef: Robert Boone, Striped Bass Restaurant, Philadelphia, PA