Walt Disney World adds taste of ‘Food and Wine’ to Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival via Garden Marketplaces

in Disney, Entertainment, Theme Parks

When Walt Disney World first added HGTV stars to the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival a few years ago, the line between that popular annual event and the park’s Flower and Garden Festival began to blur. This year Disney takes a giant step further in almost combining these two happenings by adding a Garden Marketplace throughout the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival, offering unique food and drinks around the World Showcase promenade.

It all takes place daily March 6 – May 19, 2013, included with Epcot park admission. Among amazing topiaries and gardens, the new food-and-beverage Garden Marketplaces will add taste to the sensory experience of attending this event. A total of 11 marketplaces will show off unique flavors in a familiar format to anyone who has attended the Food and Wine Festival.

The menu includes marketplaces like Smokehouse Barbecue and Brew at American Adventure courtyard, Florida Fresh, Primavera Kitchen at Italy, and Hanami at Japan. But the most popular items may very well be the drinks, particularly the alcoholic options, with the stand out being a twist on a Magic Kingdom and Disneyland fan favorite: Dole Whip with Spiced Rum.

Below is the complete menu of small plates followed by a few photos and more extensive descriptions. Menu items noted with ** are part of TRYit, Disney’s new campaign that encourages children to try something new.

Intermissions Cafe:
Beet Lollipop**
Grapes
Fruit & Cheese Plate
Vegan Trio
Southwest Chicken Wrap
Tuna Salad with Pita
Italian Salad
Asian Tuna Salad with Noodles
New Planet™ 3R Raspberry Ale (Gluten Free) (12 oz.)
Blue Point’s Spring Fling (12 oz.)
Florida Orange Groves, Mango Mama, Mango Wine
Florida Orange Groves, Blueberry Blue, Blueberry Wine
DeLoach Vineyards Heritage Reserve Chardonnay
DeLoach Vineyards Heritage Reserve Pinot Noir
Poema Cava Brut Rosé

Pineapple Promenade at World Showcase Promenade:
Dole® Whip
Dole® Whip with Siesta Key Spiced Rum
Pineapple Upside Down Cake featuring Dole® Pineapple
Dole® Pineapple Fruit Cup
Frozen Desert Violet Lemonade – Non Alcoholic
Samuel Adams® Cream Stout

The Cottage: (Savories, Trifles and Tea at United Kingdom pavilion)
Potato, Chive and Cheddar Cheese Biscuit with Smoked Salmon Tartare and Sour Cream
Baked Goat’s Brie with Kumquat Chutney**
Waterkist Farms Heirloom Tomatoes with house-made Mozzarella, Minus 8 Vinegar and Basil**
Chocolate Trifle
Berry Trifle
Ginger and Tea Trifle
Trio of Trifles
Hot Teas (Earl Grey, English Breakfast, Lemon Green Tea, Jasmine Green Tea, Spiced Apple Chai, Pumpkin Chai, Mixed Berry Black Tea, Pomegranate and Raspberry, Camomile Honey & Vanilla, Honeybush, Mandarin and Orange, Pure Peppermint, Lemon & Ginger)
Peach Cold Brewed Iced Tea
Mixed Berries Cold Brewed Iced Tea
Poema Cava Brut Rosé
Chilled Rose Blush Lemonade – Non alcoholic

L’Orangerie at France:
Tarte à la ratatouille et fromage de chèvre (Zucchini, eggplant, bell peppers, onions and tomato tart with goat cheese)**
Terrine Campagnarde, baguette et compote de cerises (Country style pâté served with baguette and cherry compote)
Verrine charlotte au pèches (Caramelized peaches and rosemary and light vanilla cream)
La Vie en Rose Frozen Slush (Grey Goose Vodka Orange,
St. Germain liquor with White and Red Cranberry Juice)
Muscat Pétillant, Sparkling Muscat Charles de Fère
Chardonnay, White Burgundy, Macon Village Georges Duboeuf
Cabernet Sauvignon, Bordeaux Beau-Rivage
Kronenbourg Blanc 1664, (Fruity White Beer with Citrus Notes)

Taste of Marrakesh at Morocco:
Spiced Lamb Kebab with Vegetable Couscous Salad
Harissa and Lamb Confit Chicken Drumettes with Chermoula and Cucumber Salad
Baghrir (Moroccan pancake with honey, almonds and Argan Oil)**
Desert Rose
White Sangria
Guerrouane Red
Casa Beer
Mint Iced Tea

Hanami at Japan:
Frushi (Fresh strawberries, pineapple and cantaloupe rolled with coconut rice, atop a raspberry sauce sprinkled with toasted coconut and whipped cream)**
Chirashi Hanazushi (Grilled Salmon, cooked shrimp and crab stick served over a bed of fragrant ginger rice with Volcano and Dynamite sauce)
YakiSoba Pan (Fresh grilled carrots, onions and cabbage with Japanese noodles and teriyaki sauce served on a bun with mayonnaise and Beni Shoga)
Green Tea Flan (Silky custard with macha green tea and caramel glaze)
Yuzu Rita
Fruit Sake
Hana Awaka
Frozen Kirin Ichiban

The Smokehouse at American Adventure:
Pulled Pig Slider with Cole Slaw
Smoked Beef Brisket with Collard Greens and Jalapeño Corn Bread
Rocky Road Brownie Mousse
Mama’s Little Yella Pils (Czech style Pilsner)
Liberty Ale from Anchor Brewing Company, San Francisco, Ca. (India Pale Ale)
Red Ale from Orlando Brewing, Orlando, Fla. (Red Ale- Organic)
Blackwater Porter from Orlando Brewing Company, Orlando, Fla. (Stout- Organic)
The Original Rib Shack Red Wine
Beer Flight

Primavera Kitchen at Italy:
Asparagi con Aragosta all’Ortolana (Green asparagus, lobster, garden cocktail sauce)
Lasagna Primavera (Spinach Lasagna, green peas, zucchini, mushrooms, broccolini, béchamel and fresh tomatoes, with garlic and basil leaves) **
Panna Cotta al Limoncello (Limoncello flavored Panna Cotta, wild berries)
Fontana Candida, Pinot Grigio
Castello di Querceto, Chianti
Bosco del Merlo, Prosecco
White Peach Bellini
Strawberry Rossini
Italian Primavera
Birrificio Del Ducato – Nuova Mattina (Spring Saison Ale)
Birrificio Le Baladin – Nora (Specialty Ale)
Birra Del Borgo – Rubus Lamponi (Specialty Wild Fruit Ale)
Beer Flight

Bauernmarkt, near Germany:
Savory Bread Pudding with Spring Peas and Wild Mushroom Ragout
German Meatloaf Sandwich with Sweet Mustard and Fried Shallots
Potato Pancakes with house made Apple Sauce**
Florida Avenue American Wheat Ale
Krombacher Hefeweizen
Goose Island Brewing Company’s Honker Ale
Blue Point’s Toasted Lager
Beer Flight
Hugo – Charles De Fere “Organic” Brut with Elderflower and Mint
Krombacher Hefeweizen

Lotus House in China:
Beijing-Style Candied Strawberries
Spring Pancake with Grilled Chicken and Green Apple**
Pan-Fried Vegetable Bun
Peach-Oolong Bubble Tea
Kung Fu Punch (Vodka and Triple Sec with Mango and Orange Juice)
South Sea Storm (Guava with Light and Dark Rum)
Plum Wine
Tsing – Tao Beer
Lychee Aerated Water
Peach Aerated Water

Jardin de Fiestas in Mexico:
Tacos de Carnitas (Pork Tacos topped with Tamarindo salsa, served on a flour tortilla with Chicharrón)
Tostada (Crab tostada served with Chipotle Mayo and Valentina Salsa)
Flan de Guayaba (Guava Custard)
Conga Fruit Punch – Non Alcoholic
Corona Light Draft Beer
Rosita Margarita
Organic Tequila Flight

Florida Fresh at World Showcase Promenade:
Watermelon Salad with pickled Red Onions, Baby Arugula, Feta Cheese and Balsamic Reduction**
Shrimp and Stone Ground Grits with Andouille Sausage, Zellwood Corn, Tomatoes and Cilantro
Angel Food Cake with macerated Florida Berries**
Florida Orange Groves, Hot Sun, Tomato Wine
Florida Orange Groves, 40 Karat, Carrot Wine
Orange Blossom Pilsner
Strawberry Slush – Non Alcoholic

Fruits by the Glass at World Showcase Plaza:
Watermelon Passion Fruit Cocktail
Wild Berry Slush – Non Alcoholic
Sea Dog Blue Paw Wild Blueberry**
New Planet™ 3R Raspberry Ale (Gluten Free)
Florida Orange Groves, Mango Mama, Mango Wine
Florida Orange Groves, Blueberry Blue, Blueberry Wine
DeLoach Vineyards Heritage Reserve Chardonnay
DeLoach Vineyards Heritage Reserve Pinot Noir


Fresh Waterkist Farms Heirloom Tomatoes are paired with house-made Mozzarella, Minus 8 Vinegar and fresh Basil to create a mouth-watering dish at The Cottage: Savories, Trifles and Tea garden marketplace by the United Kingdom Pavilion.

The new Florida Fresh garden marketplace features Shrimp and Stone Ground Grits with Andouille Sausage, fresh Zellwood Corn, Tomatoes and Cilantro.

Florida Fresh garden marketplace also melds fresh flavors to offer Watermelon Salad with pickled Red Onions, Baby Arugula, Feta Cheese and Balsamic Reduction.

Garden gnome Mickey Mouse, nestled in a bed of berry plants at Epcot, eyes a sweet dish — Angel Food Cake with macerated Florida Berries — to be featured at the new Florida Fresh garden marketplace.

Savory goodness of a Pulled Pig Slider with Cole Slaw will be featured at The Smokehouse: Barbecue and Brews marketplace in The American Adventure Courtyard.

And what of the drinks?

Fresh fruits, herbs and veggies inspire a menu of cocktails and non-alcoholic “mocktails” for guests, such as the Chilled Rose Blush Lemonade (The Cottage marketplace near UK pavilion), Frozen Desert Violet Lemonade (Pineapple Promenade marketplace) and Strawberry Slush (Florida Fresh marketplace).

There’s also a Watermelon Passion Fruit Cocktail, Orange Blossom Pilsner (both Florida Fresh marketplace) and Blueberry Blue wine (Fruits by the Glass marketplace).

Florida watermelon and sugar cane make a statement as ingredients in the Watermelon Passion Fruit Cocktail served with Cane Vodka from Florida Distillery LLC featured at the Florida Fresh garden marketplace.

Heading the teams creating and installing the marketplaces are Beverage Manager Marianne Hunnel, Epcot Executive Chef Jens Dahlmann and Festival Horticulture Manager Eric Darden.

Beyond the food and drink offerings, a variety of new experiences will also be included in the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival this year:

  • A new, circus-like “Land of Oz” play area based on the Disney fantastical film adventure “Oz: The Great and Powerful” to be released March 8, 2013. The interactive children’s play zone will feature play systems adorned with giant flowers and designed to stretch kids’ imaginations and muscles. Midway-style games, red-and-white circus-themed tents and the “Oz Movie Garden” of intriguing plants will capture the spirit of the upcoming film.  Also on tap: photo opportunities and the “great and powerful Oz’s” crashed hot-air balloon. Imagination Walkway
  • Larger-than-life Fab Five Disney character topiary.  Floral versions of Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Pluto and Donald Duck (with Daisy Duck in a cameo) star in a celebratory cookout scene in living topiary color. The 14-foot-tall Goofy topiary will bobble an anniversary cake while Donald and Daisy play badminton, Mickey fires up the grill, Pluto swipes a link of hot dogs and Minnie chills out on a colorful blanket of blossoms. Epcot Front Entrance
  • Illuminated Gardens in the park’s Future World and World Showcase will twinkle and glow over the festival’s world-famous Disney gardens and topiaries each festival evening. Epcot Future World and World Showcase
  • Throughout the 75-day garden party, festival surprises will include new topiaries, children’s play areas, HGTV celebrity designers, daily hands-on gardening seminars and a Festival Center packed with events, as well as top Flower Power rockers of the 1960s and ’70s performing.

    Every Friday through Sunday, HGTV design celebrities will host Festival Center seminars.  During opening weekend, March 8-10, Chris Lambton of “Going Yard” will appear; other designers scheduled to take the stage include David Bromstad of “Color Splash” and Meg Caswell of “Meg’s Great Rooms.”

    More festival highlights include:

    • “Monsters University” topiary:  Floral representations of Mike and Sully from the hit Disney-Pixar film “Monsters, Inc.” and stars of Disney-Pixar’s June 2013 release, “Monsters University,” will join the festivities as new topiary family members.  On the Future World Walkway
    • Phineas and Ferb topiary:  The popular Disney Channel animated celebs limit their shenanigans to go green for a family photo-op.  Behind Spaceship Earth
    • “Radiator Springs” interactive play zone:  Race car Lightning McQueen and tow truck “Mater” of the Disney-Pixar film “Cars 2″ will be the well-maintained topiary stars of this play area.  On the Test Track Walkway
    • Flower Power Firsts:  1970s top disco band The Village People (April 19-21) and 1960s singer-songwriter Tommy Roe (May 3-5) bring on the Flower Power beat when they take the concert stage.  At America Gardens Theatre
    • Tinker Bell’s Butterfly House: Eight fanciful fairy topiaries of Pixie Hollow, including Tinker Bell, Fawn, Vidia and Terrence, take over the Butterfly House this year where hundreds of colorful winged beauties flit to life.  On the Imagination Walkway

    In all, more than 100 topiaries, 240 floating mini-gardens, dozens of flower towers and sweeping beds of multi-colored blooms will add floral splendor to the park landscape. Speaking of “flower power,” the Flower Power concert series kicks off March 6-10 with Micky Dolenz (“I’m a Believer”) and continues each weekend with pop favorites including:

    March 15-17:              Chubby Checker & The Wildcats

    March 22-24:             The Guess Who

    March 29-31:             Nelson

    April 5-7:                    The Turtles featuring Flo & Eddie

    April 12-14:                Paul Revere & the Raiders

    April 19-21:                The Village People (new!)

    April 26-28:                The Orchestra, Featuring Former Members of ELO and ELO II

    May 3-5:                     Tommy Roe (new!)

    May 10-12:                 Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone

    May 17-19:                 Starship starring Mickey Thomas.

    More information can be found on the official Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival web site: www.EpcotinSpring.com.

    View Comments (8)