2009 International Food and Wine Festival menus and pricing

Arecheri

New Member
I went today for my first Food & Wine Festival. Below is the country and items I sampled today with a short personal description and opinion. I am not big alcoholic beverage drinker nor a great food critic, but since the menu is the topic, thought I'd share a few of my thoughts.

--New Orleans, USA-- Spicy Cajun Crawfish and Vegetable Stew
This was served as a cajun chowder that contained crawfish, vegetables, rice, and cheese. This was my first time tasting crawfish. I'm not sure what to think because it entire dish was great, but I couldn't taste the crawfish too much other than a fishy flavor to the chowder.



I am not trying to be mean about this post but I do have to correct you on the terminology of our cooking. Down here in New Orleans we do not have spicy cajun crawfish & vegetable stew. And it is not a chowder.

It is called crawfish etouffee. It is more on the lines of rice and "gravy." Sometimes people put a bit more of the "gravy" on the rice but it's not a chowder. The base of an étouffée is either a dark brown-red roux. Like many Louisiana dishes, onions, green peppers and celery (a combination often referred to as the holy trinity) form the base of an étouffée and a wonderful addition is the crawfish. It is one of the richest dishes we have down here. Very very tasty. You should also chase it with an Abita Amber.
 

culturenthrills

Well-Known Member
No what is ridiculous is that the lobster roll is now $7.25. Unless I am wrong it has gone up at least $2 over the last 3 years and oh yeah lobster is at some of the lowest prices it has been in years. So they are making even more of a profit off of it than they did before.
 

jakeman

Well-Known Member
No what is ridiculous is that the lobster roll is now $7.25. Unless I am wrong it has gone up at least $2 over the last 3 years and oh yeah lobster is at some of the lowest prices it has been in years. So they are making even more of a profit off of it than they did before.
You don't need the lobster roll though.

If it is too expensive, then don't buy it.

I'm not.
 

Tiggerish

Resident Redhead
Premium Member
Could we have at least one F&W thread that is not taken over by jakeman and WDW1974's debate?? If you want to continue that discussion, take it back to the thread where you started it, guys! :wave:

Although this is the first F&WF I've missed since 2000 (because, basically, I agree with the meat of both arguments in the debate--it has been made very expensive this year and so I am choosing not to attend), I am pleased to see that there is some variety in the menus this year versus the past couple of years. At least Italy is not serving the sicilian pizza that I could get at hundreds of locations throughout NYC! And while I enjoyed the seafood salad that New Zealand has been serving up the past two years, a seared sea scallop is a change that I would have liked to try.

I am curious to know how the seminars are faring now that they are a paid event. Visiting the website where DVC members can pre-purchase discounted tickets, it looks like there are a number of seminars that did sell out, and a great number that still have tickets available.
 

Tiggerish

Resident Redhead
Premium Member
Do you mean the wine seminar tix that I mentioned just above? I got emails from Tables in Wonderland and DVC, since I am a member in both. The emails had a link where you could sign up--same link works for both, when you get to the site you just have to attest that you are either a TiW or DVC member (I never got past looking at the schedules since I'm not going, so I don't know but am sure you have to input your member number before paying and being confirmed). As of last week, there were still tickets available for quite a few seminars.

Here is info from the email:

Tables in Wonderland (and DVC) Members have a special opportunity to purchase discounted advance tickets to the culinary demonstrations and wine/beverage seminars at the Epcot® International Food & Wine Festival, taking place September 25 - November 8, 2009.


Beginning Wednesday August 26, a limited number of discounted tickets will be available for Tables in Wonderland (and DVC) Members to purchase online in advance of the general public. The discounted rate is $5 a person (regularly $8 a person) while they last. (Events are expected to sell out.) Please note that the discount won't be available at the event, so advance purchase is required to get the discounted rate. Discounted tickets, if available, may be purchased until 24 hours before the start of any individual session.


The culinary demonstrations and wine/beverage seminars, which last about 45 minutes, let participants learn from featured chefs and wine presenters, pick up a few tips and taste the featured items. Everyone must have a ticket to attend, and attendees must be 21 years of age or older to consume alcoholic beverages.


To register for the culinary demonstrations and wine/beverage seminars at the discounted rate, visit


http://www.register123.com/profile/web/index.cfm?PKwebID=0x173908616f
 
Thanks. I actually just found the link on the DVC Members website. It looks like a lot of stuff for the weekend I was looking at were unavailable.

You are prompted for your pass number, TIW card number or Member number after you select the date and tickets you need (I just wanted to see if you were asked for this, so I chose a random date).

Has anyone been to these wine tastings before? I'm trying to figure out if $16 is worth it for this, or should I just spend the money on an actual glass of wine! :)
 

Tiggerish

Resident Redhead
Premium Member
I've been to many of the wine seminars and found them very informative (and tasty), and enjoyed the heck out of them. That was when they were free.

Having said that, assuming that there is no change in the quality of the seminar, I would have paid $5 to attend them--I just would have attended fewer of them. Of course, last year I had no choice, I only got to attend one seminar over the course of five days.

(last year, due to the number of seminars being cut in half, and people getting up before one was over to get in line for the next one really cut down on the number of seats available if you wanted to do anything besides stand in line for seminars)

If you want to learn something about the wine itself, go ahead and try one at $8 pp to see if you find it "worth it". Heck, you can't get a glass of wine at a booth for less than $2, and you will get at least 3 portions of wine at a seminar, so it's a pretty close value, and then you can judge whether the wine education is worth the remaining $2.

I have to be honest, though, and say that even though it's been my experience that they will sometimes pour nice wines at the seminars, ones that you might pay closer to $4 a serving for at a booth, I wouldn't pay $8 to get into a seminar.
I realize that doesn't make any sense considering that I've basically just proven to myself that the wine seminar is often a much better deal than buying the mid- to higher-priced wines at the booths, but I guess it will take me a couple of years to make the jump from $0 to $8. :hammer:
 
Thanks for your opinion! :)

It sounds silly, I know, and cheap to be questioning whether to spend $16. We are only going up for the weekend, so we are trying not to spend much more money than what we've spent already. I'm just trying to decide whether the wine tasting would be worth the money, or I should go get $16 worth of groceries!
 

jakeman

Well-Known Member
Could we have at least one F&W thread that is not taken over by jakeman and WDW1974's debate?? If you want to continue that discussion, take it back to the thread where you started it, guys! :wave:
We can't. Someone brought politics (not WDW1974) into the thread and it was locked. :lol:

However, I'm not going to allow a negative slant on a 99% outstanding event be presented without countering it.

In my opinion, this is the best time to go to Epcot if you like food. Yes it's overpriced. Yes it is Americanized for the most part. But it is an awesome place to taste many dishes in one place I wouldn't have access to in such a short period of time.

Regarding the seminars though, it really seems to depend on the winery. We had one were it was four sample. We drank, watched a video and then left.

Another we were given the different wines that make up a particular chardonay and had to try and "build" it ourselves. This was by far the most fun we had at anyone of them. Of course at the end the guy told us not to buy wine at Disney because it was horribly over priced. We haven't seen that winery back since...:lookaroun
Thanks for your opinion! :)

It sounds silly, I know, and cheap to be questioning whether to spend $16. We are only going up for the weekend, so we are trying not to spend much more money than what we've spent already. I'm just trying to decide whether the wine tasting would be worth the money, or I should go get $16 worth of groceries!
It really depend on how much you like wine. As I stated above, it really is a crap shoot on whether you get a good seminar or not.

Before committing you might want to take a stroll around the WS. There was a wine walk-about last year (I think it has been replaced by beer this year) that you got samples and interact with the wineries. You might be surprised at what is going on back there and find you don't need the formality of a seminar.
 
Regarding the seminars though, it really seems to depend on the winery. We had one were is was four sample. We drank, watched a video and then left.

Another we were given the different wines that make up a particular chardonay and had to try and "build" it ourselves. This was by far the most fun we had at anyone of them. Of course at the end the guy told us not to buy wine at Disney because it was horribly over priced. We haven't seen that winery back since...:lookaroun
It really depend on how much you like wine. As I stated above, it really is a crap shoot on whether you get a good seminar or not.

Thanks Jake. I still can't decide! I noticed the Sam Adams beer tasting is free though. Maybe we should just do that! :lol:

I take a wine tasting class now and enjoy it, although it can be boring at times. I could get extra credit by doing this..so maybe I should just do it!
 

jakeman

Well-Known Member
No problem!

I did edit my post with another idea:
Before committing you might want to take a stroll around the WS. There was a wine walk-about last year (I think it has been replaced by beer this year) that you got samples and interact with the wineries. You might be surprised at what is going on back there and find you don't need the formality of a seminar.
If you can make time for the Sam Adams and like beer, I would recommend that.

I enjoy different beers more than wines most of the time and Sam puts out some good ones, except the Festival brew has been odd the past few years.
 

sknydave

Active Member
The portions are really small for the price they charge. I absolutely love the cheddar cheese soup at Le Cellier, and Canada's stand was selling it for, what, $4? It was basically a thimble of soup for a dollar less than they charge for a cup in the restaurant.
 

CBOMB

Active Member
I'm afraid at the prices they are charging for the appetizers, I would find it difficult to enjoy myself due to the sizes that have been described. I'm sure Disney is counting on people being more free with their money, After all, it is WDW, and what's a few extra bucks. Are the wine, and beer offerings at least normal size?

Jakeman I have to agree it's very unique to find this many food, wine, and beer offerings in such a small, and beautiful area. I'm sure people will continue to enjoy the Food & Wine Festival like they always have. I'm starting to believe they will never reach a price point, no matter how much they raise prices, that will make people say no thank you.
 

jakeman

Well-Known Member
I'm afraid at the prices they are charging for the appetizers, I would find it difficult to enjoy myself due to the sizes that have been described. I'm sure Disney is counting on people being more free with their money, After all, it is WDW, and what's a few extra bucks. Are the wine, and beer offerings at least normal size?

Jakeman I have to agree it's very unique to find this many food, wine, and beer offerings in such a small, and beautiful area. I'm sure people will continue to enjoy the Food & Wine Festival like they always have. I'm starting to believe they will never reach a price point, no matter how much they raise prices, that will make people say no thank you.
I don't know.

I know the wife and I are refraining from Party for the Senses this year until we hear some reviews about how the new $200 price point for preferred seating affects the common folk like us.

By refrain, I mean we are skipping it. $135 is too much to pay to potentially get screwed over by someone willing to fork out $65 more dollars than me. I don't have any animosity towards those that can and will pay, just using that as an example.

For the booths, I'm not sure. Just based on my personal experience, the booths don't have a particular price threshold, but they do have the potential to cannabalize other funds. Then again, we go down specifically for this festival.

It's a hard question, one that I will freely admit I don't have the answer to. There is so much regard this event that we don't know about it's hard to say. For example, how does Disney see this? Is it a local event that out-of-towners can partake in? Or is it an event to bolster a slow time of year? Whichever one wins out can completely change how things are viewed.
 

Tiggerish

Resident Redhead
Premium Member
I'm counting on you giving a report of your experiences at the F&W festival this year Jake.

Me, too! I want to hear from someone who's been there before and knows the portion sizes, etc. from past years and can give an accurate comparison to this year, on behalf of all of us who love the event and were unable to go this year.
 

CBOMB

Active Member
Me, too! I want to hear from someone who's been there before and knows the portion sizes, etc. from past years and can give an accurate comparison to this year, on behalf of all of us who love the event and were unable to go this year.
Plus I know he will give an honest opinion if the once free wine tastings were worth the $8 they now cost.
 

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